The last couple weeks of May are going to cook with lots of great shows happening.
Hamilton singer songwriter Royal Wood and his band play two sold out shows at the Geomatic Attic, May 22 and 23 with Vancouver twins Fionn opening the shows.
The Geomatic Attic really is the place to be this month, as they also bring back Ottawa blues/rock duo MonkeyJunk, May 25, who return to Lethbridge fresh off winning their second Juno award for their most recent CD “Time To Roll. Tickets are $37.50 in advance, $40 at the door. The show begins at 8 p.m.
On June 15, the Geomatic Attic wind up their season with Vancouver rockabilly trio Cousin Harley, who are touring in support of their new tribute to Merle Travis “Blue Smoke”. Tickets for that show are also $37.50 in advance, $40 at the door. The show begins at 8 p.m.
Then the Geomatic Attic gets ready for the second annual Wide Skies music Festival, which will be an impressive three days filled with music in the Southminster United Church and outside as well. The first night, Monday, July 30 features Saskatchewan roots/ blues band Little Miss Higgins opening for acclaimed South Carolina folk duo Shovels and Rope, who are playing the Calgary Folk Festival on the weekend. Tickets for that show cost $60. The music begins at 8 p.m.
There will be a free outdoor show the next day, July 31 featuring the Weber Brothers, Vancouver blues duo Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, Shakura S’Aida Skinny Dyck and the Chicken Catchers and guests. There will be a beer gardens as well as food trucks, vendors, artisans and lots of fun. Skinny Dyck will also be organizing an after party at the Owl Acoustic Lounge as well as the side stage during the festival including a lot of talent including Calgary songwriter Tom Phillips.
Frazey Ford, formerly of the Be Good Tanyas, returns to Lethbridge for another ticketed event inside the Southminster United Church, Aug. 1 with Seattle indie rock band the Cave Singers. Tickets for that show are $50, or you can get a festival pass for $90 including admission to all of the events.
But that’s not for a few months yet.
There is still a lot going on this week.
The Smokehouse hosts another great punk show, May 23 with Montreal psychobilly veterans the Gutter Demons plus local bands Chief Mountain, the Hockey Moms and 13 to Go. Doors open at 7:30 with the bands beginning at 8 p.m. Admission is $10.
For rap fans, local rap collective the Blood Rez Crew have an official CD release party at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, may 23 with Amber AKA Shorty, Chuckbones, Heidi Mason,Olivia Tailfeathers, Fox Eyes, SMG (Killa Cam and Doggystar), UKS, Cat Storm and the Reckless Gents and DJ hooligan Admission is $10.
They feature local punk band J Blissettes’s tour kick-off, May 25 with Edmonton alternative rock band the Archaics.
The Owl Acoustic Lounge features Whitehorse songwriter Declan O Donovan, may 26 with local signer songwriter Tyson Borsoom.
And, last, but not least, The Owl welcomes back Calgary Celtic punk band the RiverJacks to host their jam on Monday, May 28.
Speaking of old friends, the Slice welcomes back Edmonton groove rock trio Tallest to Shortest, May 26 with local alternative rock band Queen of the Worms and Taylor Ackerman’s band Global Acid Reset.
The Slice features Rockuronium and Failed Re-entry, two bands made up of local doctors and hospital workers, May 25.
The biggest event at the Slice is the South country Fair songwriting Competition finals which is on a Sunday this year, May 27. There will be 13 local songwriters competing for a chance to perform on the South Stage of this year’s South country fair plus weekend passes and cash. Songwriters include Chris Gheran (Sweet Jean); Alex Ginella ( Desolation Bound); Kathryn Smith (Unpleasant); Tanner James (This Morning, with you, drinking coffee); Rebecca Lappa ( Lay Me Down in Greener Pastures); Megan Brown ( True What They Say) ; George Arsene (Buckaroo); Tara Warburton ( Raise Up My Spirit) Nancy Laberge ( Every Word Counts); Taylor Lang (You Choose to Love); Chris Drew ( Hard Times) Cathy Hawley: ( An Old Song) and Ian Smith ( Ramblin' Rosie's Blues ) Doors opens at 5 p.m. with the music beginning at 7 p.m. Show up early to get a seat as the event is usually packed.
Over at Average Joes, Cal Toth’s dueling pianos returns, May 25.
And for more mainstream country and pop, Breanne Urban and Southern Flyer return to Casino Lethbridge, May 25 and 26.
Local jazz band Herb Hicks Jazz Quartet return to the Mocha Cabana, May 25.
If you just want to laugh this week, drunk improv returns to Club Didi, May 25 at 9 p.m. Admission to that show is $10
And it is great to have musician Taylor Ackerman back in Lethbridge. He brings his band Global Acid Reset to the Smokehouse on Sunday, May 27 for Skinny Dyck’s matinee series. the show is from 4-6 p.m.
