Winnipeg folk pop trio Sweet Alibi are ready bring their sweet harmonies back to Lethbridge, Sept. 29 at the Slice along with a more pop  inspired CD “ Make A Scene.”

 Amber Nielsen hasn't stopped running since things opened up,  as she was just in Lethbridge in July supporting Richard Inman for Upside Downtown, is excited to return to Lethbridge with Sweet Alibi band mates, Jessica Rae Ayre (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica) and Michelle Anderson (electric guitar/banjo/ background vocals) plus  bassist Alisdair Dunlop and drummer Sandy Fernandez.

 “ I’ve been playing with Richard Inman and before that I was touring with Sweet Alibi,” Neilsen said.

 She is excited about the new CD, agreeing. the band’s sound has evolved.

“it still has folk rock roots. This time we worked with producer Matt Schellenberg and Matt Peters  (from Royal Canoe). We experimented with different sounds, so it has evolved organically,” she said, noting there are a few horns on the new album.

“It’s our fourth album. We’ve tried to make each album different,” she continued.

Since the interview, they won  a WCMA Award for Roots Artist of the Year.

 “ I think we were touring with the band the last time we were in Lethbridge, which has been a few years (in 2015 for the Lethbridge Folk Club).”

 They recorded the CD right before the pandemic , but were unable to tour on it, so Neilsen is excited to finally be able to support the new music.

“I love the way it sounds. it’s exactly like we wanted . So were excited to tour, though we aren”t bringing the horns, ” she continued, adding they have been playing a lot more soft seat theatres in Germany.

“ It’s fun to play theatres,” she said.

“ We did a small tour of Germany in the summer and we hope to go back next year,” she said.

“ It’s definitely a been a fun year,” she continued.

 They explore a variety of emotions through the lyrics for this CD.

“A lot of them are about the open road and the changes in relationships and the sacrifices you have to make,” she explained.

 She enjoyed writing with and recording with Richard Inman in their band Fortune Block.

“He’s a great songwriter. I’ve known him for years, since about 2016. He’s a great friend,” she said.

 She is looking forward to the Lethbridge show.

“We’ll be playing the whole album and a couple of songs you’ll love to hear from the other albums,” she said.

“ We have a lot of fun playing,” she said.

Neilsen said the Winnipeg scene is thriving.

“ There’s always new young bands forming and playing. And They other musicians have always got your back,” she said.

Sweet Alibi play the Slice, Sept. 29 with Chris Drew opening the show. Tickets are $11.67 through Eventbrite.

 They are also playing the Ironwood in Calgary on Oct. 1.

— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor