I caught the tail end of the musical portion of a special fundraiser for the Moose Hall, April 6 at the Moose Hall.

 While they had 100 people at its peak, the crowd had started to thin by the time I arrived, just in time to see southern Alberta country musician Trevor Panczak and a trimmed down Rough Stock. They played a tight set as Rob Habetler, who usually plays keyboard with the band, played tambourine with them.

 They still had a few people two stepping as they played a variety of old school country hits by the likes of Merle Haggard. His version of  George Strait’s “Fireman” was one of my favourites.

 Toni Vere was up next. The former Lethbridgian has since moved to Calgary where she is best known for playing with Hashmagandy. And while she didn’t sing any Hashmagandy songs, she sang some superb classic country.

 Bassist Tracy Edgar sang a couple of songs while she sang back up, while concert organizer Sheena Lawson joined them  to add extra tambourine and background vocals.

It is always entertaining to see  former Lethbridgians Andrew and Julie Scott.

 The husband and wife duo always entertain as they did at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, April 6.

 They had a decent crowd who had started to clear out by the time they took the stage at approximately 10:30 p.m..

 They played a couple songs from Andrew Scott’s last CD Songs from the Empire” including “Bernadette.” Julie Scott brushed her drums and smiled, suppressed a laugh while Andrew yodeled a solo in between telling stories.

— By Richard Amery, L.A Beat Editor

Calgary’s The Bow Djangos  helped the Lethbridge folk club swing— gypsy style at Wolf’s Den, April 6.

They had approximately 60 people in the audience enjoying stories, some intense guitar work and  a lot of fun.

Their second set included a lot of gypsy swing standards, all of which featured beautiful interplay between violin, clarinet, two guitars, stand up bass and  several  different voices. They all sat on stools, peering at music stands while grinning away and grooving, waiting for an opening to strut their best stuff.

Stand-up bassist Countess Tess Bassie sat down, but was an affable host, cracking a couple corny jokes and explaining a brief history of the band’s songs and gypsy jazz music in general.
 One of the highlights was “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” which I hadn’t heard for many years.

Their version of Django Reinhardt’s “Swing 48,” was another highlight.

  The audience applauded politely after each solo, particularly the guitar solos.

 They also played some newer  gypsy swing songs from France and even a Canadian gypsy jazz song in Guy Lombardo’s “Coquette.”
They ended with Django Reinhard’s “Belleville.”

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Canadian songwriting icon Ron Sexsmith played a beautiful set  of original music for an enraptured crowd hanging on his every word, March 30 at the Geomatic Attic.
 throughout he sang pleasant melodies with his strong tenor voice.

 Unfortunately I only caught the three song encore. But he and his band were locked in with each other and added excellent multi-part vocal harmonies.

One highlight was “Brandy Alexander,” which he noted he wrote with Leslie Feist.
 While the band was an integral part of this show, he ended his show on a softer, solo acoustic note.