Saturday Aug. 1 was all about the ladies. I caught most of Alyssa McQuaid’s last set at the Mocha Cabana. Her resonant and melodic pipes will take this local girl a long way in the business. She has a new CD coming out fairly soon, as soon as  the photography and cover art are completed.

The, myself and perhaps 20 others were charmed into falling in love with the sweet country harmonies of Victoria bluegrass/country trio the Gruff, playing the Slice.  Guitarist Jenny Ritter, drummer Phaedra Kemp and stand-up bassist Terri Upton played off each other well, exhibited a quirky sense of humour and some really outstanding music enhanced by Chris Herbst’s tasteful dobro playing.

Then it was time to get rocked by the Pack A.D. who tore the roof of Henotic for approximately 40 people digging the Vancouver duo’s blend of grunge, hard rock and blues.

Singer/guitarist Becky Black howled the blues like a tortured soul, her leather lunged pipes  sounding like a cross between the Headpins’ Darby Mills and Janis Joplin. Drummer Maya Miller pounded the skins like a woman possessed by the spirit of Keith Moon. I kept expecting her kit to either burst into flames of collapse into itself. Their hour some long set was thunderous. I hope they come back soon. I can see why the Pack A.D are one of  the darlings of the alternative music community.

I also caught the very last  gravel voiced song from Darryl Düus and the One Shoe Blues Band who wound up a two day stint at the Lethbridge Casino. They wound up the set with a scorching version of “Who Do You Love,” guitarist/singer Düus wandered into crowd and played for each of the half dozen in attendance.