It has been a long few months with no live music to enjoy. A lot of artists have been woodshedding and making new music, some have been releasing new CDs or perfoming online, but it’s just not the same watching a concert on a computer screen versus being  there in person and enjoying the vibe and the camaraderie of fellow music lovers.
I’ve felt a little adrift and without purpose not having music to cover. I forgot how much I enjoyed  it when I went to the first post Covid Honker’s open mic a few weeks ago with the Trippy Hippys.

 Knock on wood, things are cautiously re-opening as Stage 2 of Covid recovery begins on Friday, June 12.
A  few entertainment venues have  already started to reopen. The Slice restarted their Thursday open mics two weeks ago and Honker’s Pub’s open mics returned two weeks ago. They had a Saturday open mic two weeks ago and both Friday and Saturday open mics last weekend. They also opened up a patio in their parking lot.
Good Times also reopened with regular live comedy. They focussed on local comedy for the last two weeks. This week they feature Calgary comedian Malik Elassal on Saturday, June 13. He will be performing two shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Good Times is back to regularly scheduled  programming now with their comedy open mic on Tuesdays, trivia on Wednesday, A local comedy showcase on Thursdays and  touring acts on Saturdays. Acts are to be announced. And the time has been tweaked.

 

This week, The Owl Acoustic Lounge reopens their stage for Phenomenorm, who will be spinning funk music of Friday, June 12
All venues are following proper social distancing protocols with limited capacity and sanitization stations. Phase 2 means outdoor and indoor seated events have a maximum 100 capacity, while indoor social events have a maximum of 50 people.  Use your common sense if you are  going out by washing your hands regularly and staying home if you feel sick.

There are a lot of online concerts and performances through several groups Facebook groups including Theatre Outré as well as  individual local artists. Average Joes is hosting a virtual duelling pianos concert on Friday, June 12 with Cal Toth plus  Anna McBryan and Kate Laroque beginning at  7:30 p.m. On Facebook live.

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden also opens on Thursday, June 11.
Movie Mill reopens on  Friday with  showings of Sonic the Hedgehog, Bad Boys for Live, Emma, my Spy, Trolls World Tour, Jumanji : The Next Level and Jurrasic Park (1993) showing.