Honker’s Pub is giving back to the Lethbridge music community with a a mini musicifestival in their parking lot, Saturday, July 10 beginning at 4 p.m.

“All of these musicians have supported us throughout the pandemic by ordering fo

od. They’ve been aching to get back on stage,” said Honkers Pub owner Vicky Vanden Hoek.

“ We usually have a big festival to celebrate our birthday, which is March 17, but everything closed March 15 last year, so we had to cancel it.  We missed last year. We wanted to do something this year, but we didn’t know what was going to happen in March, so we thought we’d put on a little music festival in July,” she said.

“I’m not cancelling any more shows due to weather or anything now. Because we cancelled last year and we couldn’t do anything for a year,” she said, adding they have the Nest  next door and a covered tent for the musicians.

The performers are familiar faces at Honker‘s jams.

 Kelly Klimchuk’s band  Holy Roller and Roller Coasters opens the show at 4 p.m., followed by The Trippy Hippys  (Laurie Wintoniak and Joy Pizzingrilli), bluesman Steve Keenan, Coda Lite aka Sheldon Shukaliak and Ben Lamb, Dream Catcher  (Shawna Lorraine,  Mark Hall, Jack Horne and Raz Bruce) at 9 p.m., Frankie G and Vic Brown aka Driving While Blind playing the blues until sunset and the Mark Hall band at 10 p.m. before opening the stage inside for an open jam.

“ I want to keep it affordable and make sure the musicians are getting paid because they all have second jobs. So there is a  $10 cover for seven bands,” she said.

“ I value  the local  music community and want to give back to them. So I booked this date a long time ago. I didn’t know so much  was going to be happening,” she said.

“ The Lethbridge music community is big and yet enough and small enough  that we should be working together. So usually if  another venue is having something I won’t have anything or have it earlier,” she said, adding  the Mark Hall band  played there on Saturday and were done in time to do their Tragically Hip tribute the Hip Trip at the Slice later on.

“People will be out cruising for Street Machine Weekend, so we thought wed have music for them, she said.

The Lethbridge Kinsmen club will be running a 50 50 draw with half the proceeds going to the Kinsmen and the other half to the winner. There will also be a beef on the bun special and drink specials. The $10 cover also includes and entry into a draw for a Coors Banquet guitar.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor