Coronavirus fears lead to cancellations and closures though smaller shows continue

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This week is  not so much about what is going on, but what has been cancelled due to coronavirus fears. Megan Brown  plays with the Junkman’s Quire this week and hosts the Slice's open mic. Photo by Richard Amery
 The provincial government has prohibited any gathering with more than 250 people, which has lead to a lot of fallout in the community.
 The Galt Museum, Casa, Lethbridge Public Library, SAAG, Multicultural Centre, Helen Schuler Nature Centre, all arenas, Cor Van Ray YMCA and ATB Centre and  Fritz Sick, Stan Siwik and Nicholas Sheran swimming pools have all been temporarily closed.


The Lethbridge And District Music and Speech arts festival , which was to take place March 23-April 4 all over the city, has been cancelled.
 So have all events at  the Enmax Centre and Exhibition park including the Home and Garden show.
All CKXU Fundrive events, from March 13-21 have been cancelled including the Shiverettes show that was to be at the Lethbridge Rugby Club, March 21 to  wind up the University of Lethbridge based community radio station’s annual fundraiser.
The Glorious Sons’ March 17 concert at the Enmax Centre has also been postponed as has Matthew Good’s upcoming April 4 concert. It has been rescheduled to a date to be determined. Tickets  for the shows will still be honoured.


Smaller shows have also been affected. Vancouver Celtic punks the Real McKenzies show  which was to take place, march 16 has been postponed. Advance tickets will be refunded.
 Blues harp master Carlos Del Junco has also cancelled his tour including his  March 21  Lethbridge Folk Club show at The Lethbridge College Cave. The Folk Cub  will honour tickets to this show at  their future  performances.
The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra has also cancelled their “Striking Rhythms” concert at Southminster united Church, March 16.
 For theatre, the last four shows of New West Theatre’s production of Ken Cameron’s Dear Johnny Deere were cancelled last week.
 Theatre Outre is also postponing their  March 26-29 production of the Sissy Duckling, They hope to remount it when the  situation settles.
The University of Lethbridge is also exploring options for their  production of In Tongues. They may stream it or postpone it until the Fall.

Comedy  club Good Times has also closed for two weeks.
 So what’s left? Music is a beautiful way to escape the news and pandemic panic. It should be common sense, but  don’t go out if you are feeling sick and remember to wash your hands throughly and regularly with soap and water.


Quite a few things are happening, though smaller venues are taking shows day by day, there are still a few shows happening.
 The Lethbridge Firefighters Pipes and Drums annual St Patrick Day Pub Crawl begins at 3 p.m. at  Backstreet West, followed by  visits to the Kingsman  Alehouse, Mojos West, Backstreet South, Spectrum Ale Works, Hudson’s Pub and ending at Average Joes at 9 p.m.. Unfortunately that event was cancelled late Monday.

 Gabe Thaine’s St. Patrick’s Day  High Level Variety show has jud been  cancelled. An open jam will take place instead.

 The show, featuring the Gabe Thaine band performing sea shanties, belly dancing by Maddy Young, Lakshjit Gill’s comedy, juggling  and theatre by Michael Bartz and performances by Blue, Corduroy Brown, Chris Drew and more, will be rescheduled.  Tickets are $5 in advance $10 at the door.


 Other  St. Patrick’s Day shows include Uncovered with Breanne Urban playing Pop’s Pub South at 7 p.m.

And the Junkman’s Quire play The Owl Acoustic Lounge at 9 p.m. That was also cancelled late Monday.
 The Greg Jones Benefit scheduled for March 21 at the Owl has been postponed, but the Owl Acoustic Lounge will have a show to be announced.
 Bailey Kate plays the Owl Acoustic lounge, March 20.

The Slice features local  band Queen of the Worms, March 20 and  they have a big punk rock show, March 21 with Broken Yolks, Less Miserable, the Hockey Moms and The Youngbloods.
 Makiisma hosts the Slice’s open mic, March 19.
 Though a lot of shows have been canceled for the weekend, there are a few remaining including Suzanne Scott and the Dusty Road band at Casino Lethbridge Friday and Saturday. as of March 17, Casino Lethbridge is also closing temporarily.
 The Andi Roberts band featuring Bridgette Yarwood and Tyrants of Chaos’ big rocking ’80s partys planned at Cité des Prairies, March 21 has also been postponed.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 March 2020 10:13 )