I only hit a few of the New Years Eve gigs in Lethbridge featuring live music.
 There were a variety of different styles of music and good sized crowds for all of them.

 I started things off at  the Owl Acoustic Lounge, where Darryl Düus and friends were playing  a Blues Brothers themed set of upbeat blues classics for  a good sized crowd.

Most of the tables were reserved and full, and when Düus took the stage had them in the palm of his hand, beginning with a hot version of ‘Red House,’ followed by an excellent version of ‘Sweet Home Chicago.’

He and his band kept the energy up with  a little Hendrix

— ‘Voodoo Chile,’ sounded excellent.

 Then Düus wandered in to the audience and out into a chilly New Year’s eve night soloing on  ‘Boot Hill,’ before wnadering back in, stopping at the bar then every table, where he borrowed a salt shaker for a tasteful slide guitar solo.

 He took a break, then I went to the Slice, where Treeline, featuring special guest Sean Brewer on guitar and mandolin were in the middle of old school country music.

They played several upbeat originals including  several from their latest CD ‘Tavern,’ as well as some covers of Steve Earle and Waylon Jennigns among others.
  This line up also featured Clayton Smith on drums, Tyler Bird on stand up bass and Taylor Ackerman and Ryan Dyck trading lead guitar and lead vocal duties.
 They had a good sized crowd waltzing and two stepping in the new year.

For something more low key, clasiscal guitarist Dale Ketcheson was playing straight from 6 p.m. to midnight for a special New Year’s Eve dinner for a good sized crowd.

For the complete opposite to that, Hank and Lily, dressed as characters from the movie ‘A Clockwork Orange,’ plyayed upbeat  unusual punk style rock music for another good sized crowd at Cudos Lounge. The Necessities and the Barefoot Band were also on the bill.

They also are scheduled to play a surprise last minute show at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on New Years Day with Sonis McAllister and the Barracuda Orchestre.