New West Theatre is proceeding with caution due to Covid, so they have only announced two new  shows in their upcoming season.

“We’re still proceeding with caution,” said New West theatre artistic director Kelly Reay, who is excited to be back in the Yates Theatre.

He noted the Yates and Sterndale Bennett Theatre are both part of the vaccine exemption program, so patrons will have to show proof of vaccination, medical proof of exemption or a negative Covid test and wear masks while enjoying the show.

“ But we’re still optimistic. So we’re only releasing the schedule a piece at a time,” Reay continued, noting with so much negativity in the air, it is all the more important to spread joy and positivity.

 The first big show will be “Ode To Joy,” another of New West Theatre’s much enjoyed comedy-music revues. It will run in the Yates Theatre from Dec. 15-31.

“It will star the usual cast of characters performing new and old favourites,” he continued.

“Given the way the world is today, we really feel like our duty is to bring joy and laughter to people. Live performances bring people together. We want to provide a little bit of levity,” he said, adding they will announce more shows as things hopefully improve.

Jr. Gone Wild  is excited to have a new CD “Still Got the Jacket,” coming out in November and about returning to Lethbridge to play the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Saturday.

“ We’re just excited to play anywhere, said frontman Mike McDonald.

“ We’re stoked to have a new album out that will bring us out of the  reunion band category and into the  more relevant category. So we’re excited to to do the work to support it,” McDonald continued.

 They sat down together in lead guitarist/ steel guitarist Steve Loree’s Nanton studio to record the new music in summer 2020.

 The Edmonton country punk pioneers emerged out of  Edmonton’s eclectic alternative rock  scene in the early ’80s which included the likes of SNFU.

 They were active from 1983-1995, but reunited about nine years ago. They released a single “Barricades,” which is on the new CD and recorded a countrified cover of SNFU’s “Cannibal Cafe’ for a still unreleased SNFU tribute CD.

“ It still hasn’t been released, so we weren’t sure whether to put it on this CD,” he said.

 The 16 track CD includes a note perfect of Chilliwack’s  “Fly at Night.” 

“I think it’s a little faster than the original. But I’m almost too afraid to listen to the original to check,” McDonald said.

“We had that idea back on “Too Dumb To Quit,” which Chilliwack’s Bill Henderson produced.  We talked about recording it but never recorded it, but we revisited the idea again for this album. We talked to Bill and sent to he track to him in his studio on Salt Springs Island. So he has this little guitar duet with Steve Loree at the end of the song,” he said.

Check out some live music to recover from Thanksgiving.

 Most of the week is dominated by tribute acts and open mics

 However the fun begins on Tuesday, Oct. 12 with a blues jam at the Slice hosted by  Keith Catfish Woodrow.

 Tuesdays are busy days now as the Owl Acoustic Lounge has their weekly open mic and  Good Times’ weekly comedy open mic is also on Tuesday.

 Scott Davidson and some of his talented music students are back at the Slice on Wednesday, Oct. 13 as he hosts another Alumni night at the Slice.  If you miss that show  There is another Scott Davidson alumni night at the Slice on Oct. 22.

 The Owl Acoustic Lounge welcomes back Tyler Allen and the Red Hot Hayseeds for a mid week show on Thursday, Oct. 14.

 There is more comedy at the Canadian Brewhouse  on Thursday for Comedy Club night.

As always the Slice has their weekly open mic on Thursdays.

A new group called JD including Danny Douglas, Jackie French  and Jasmine Mitchell host the open mic at Honker’s Pub on Friday.  They will begin at 7 p.m. with a 45 minute set and will open the stage to jammers after.Coda Lite hosts their Saturday afternoon jam.

The Lethbridge Girls Rock Camp’s family jam returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Saturday afternoon, at 2 p.m.

Steel Cut rock Casino Lethbridge Friday and Saturday.

 Bridgette Yarwood and her new band including Yarwood on vocals, guitar and keyboards, bassist/vocalist Ian Morrice, guitarist/vocalist Mel Gaydos  and drummer Beau Sommerfeldt make a long awaited return to the Slice on Friday, Oct. 15. The Decadent Phase’s Doors tribute will open the show.

 The Decadent Phase will play their own show at the Slice on Saturday.

 Richard Inmann returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge with his band, Friday, Oct. 15

 And Edmonton country punk pioneers Jr. Gone Wild return to the Owl Acoustic Lounge.

Their new CD “Still Got the Jacket” is due out  Nov. 12. Admission is $10.