It is all about multi-band shows this week.

First off, the seeds of a new winter music festival  are being planted this weekend, March 11-12 at the Slice.

 The Prairie Folk Tournament features  several local roots/ folk and country acts playing the Slice over two Days, Oh My Darling, Shaela Miller and Rob Ursel on March 11 followed by the Skilletlikkers, Tom Phillips and Andrew Neville  being backed by Treeline on March 12.

Weekend passes are available at Blueprint Records and the Slice are $25 otherwise it is $15 per night. The shows will begin at 9 p.m. sharp.

The other big event is The Lethbridge College Student Association’s second installment  of band wars.

 It features  some veterans of the  last band wars including the Living Luca, Caste of Shadows, Enceladus, Penny Fortune and Dead Voice as well as some  familiar faces, though new to this event including Chief Mountain, Eyes of Isis, Lock N’ Load plus Decimate the Silence and James Clare. The 10 bands face off for the top prize of $800 and second prize of $200.The top bands will be decided by a panel of judges and audience response. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Bands have tickets to sell or buy them at the LCSA office.

 A couple other highlights coming up this week will be the return of Audio/Rocketry and Rum Runner, who play Cudos, March 11 and a David Bowie Tribute with Jon Vorbrock at the Owl, March 12. The other big show is the return of  Toronto based bluesman Wild T and the Spirit whoa re sure to tear the roof off the Slice with their show, March 13

It is also a big week for open mics and band wars.

  The New Weather Machine hosts the Slice’s jam tonight. It will begin at 9:30 p.m.

 This is also the first week  to “open for the bands” at Average Joes.

Through the next three months, Average Joes open mics will be a band wars during which participants will  compte for a pretty sweet prize package — the chance to open for some pretty well known bands, Dr. Hook, Nazareth and Sweet.

The contest will run every Thursday night in Joe’s Garage during the Live Jam session. It is open to all genres of music, bands or solo acts, which combine both instrumentals and singing. Profanity is not allowed). Each night, a winner will be announced who will have an opportunity to return in June for a playoff.

Each Thursday night during March 10, 17, 24 and 31, contestants will be vying for a spot in a playoff on June 2. The winner of the playoff will then open the Dr. Hook concert on June 23 with a 30 minute set. The three opening act winners will also receive 15 free tickets to their show, an opportunity to record a single at LA Studio Productions, a 4’ x 8’ custom banner for their band from Budweiser, and $500 dollars in Average Joe’s gift certificates.