Celebrate Canada Day with a cornucopia of free festivals happening over the long weekend featuring a variety of live music.
The Mosaic Music festival features Latin and jazz music in Galt Gardens on Saturday, June 29.
JUNO award nominated Venezuelan percussionist Luis “El Pana” Tovar opens up the Mosaic festival at 1:30 p.m. followed by Calgary based soul and funk musician Lynn Maric at 3 p.m.
Local jazz favourites Midnight Channel hot the stage at 4: 30 p.m. with their fusion of jazz and exotic sounds and instruments exploring the realms of jazz.
Saskatoon based reggae band Oral Fuentes completes the Mosaic with a touch of reggae mixed with Afro/ Latin music at 6 p.m.
Western Canadian Ribfest returns to Lethbridge Friday Through Monday. The expanded festival has moved to Exhibition Park this year.
There are a variety of music performing throughout the weekend for the free festival.
Yukon based indie rock trio the Vanstones are doing double duty on Friday, beginning with the opening set at 5 p.m.
They will be playing the Slice later that night with Nelson, B.C based “Yacht Rock Princess” Paris Pick and the Pricks and Kootenay indie folk musician Damian Albas . There is a $15 cover for the Slice show.
Friday’s Lineup at Ribfest includes Justin Sutton and former Lethhbridgian Dan Berdusco at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at Ribfest features Chase Morgan at 5 p.m.; Brettyn Rose at 6 p.m. and Saints and Sinners playing all your favourite hits at 7:15 p.m.
Sunday is a full day at Ribfest with the Cornhole Tourney opening the day at noon.. Karen Romanchuk performs at 2:30 p.m.. The Lethbridge Big Band Follows at 3:45. Jolene Draper and the inquisitive Few are on at 5 p.m. After the 50 50 draw at 6:15, The James Oldenburg duo plays at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday is movie day at Ribfest, with two Canadian movies playing.
Admission is free to Ribfest
Across the park, Canada Day celebration kick into full gear in Henderson lake Park with The Lethbridge Community Band kicking off celebrations at 11 a.m. followed by the Band Formerly Known as Karen, Lewis and pam, The Southern Alberta Chinese association, Horizon at 1:15, Metis Juggling with Roy Pogerzelski, Jum Nuts, Can Dance Studio and Bell Fountain performing at 2:55 p.m. before the opening ceremonies.
After the opening ceremonies at 4 p.m., local outlaw country band Badlands hit the stage at 4:45 followed by Darian Bagnall and Brooklyn Fowler.
Dave McCann performs at 5:45 p.m.
The Latin Soul Dance Studios perform at 6:45 followed by the Bamboo Guppies and Zenon+.
Cody Hall plays country music at 8:30 p.m. and After the YQL Variety Dance, Paul Kype and Texas Flood shut down the celebrations beginning at 9:45 p.m.
Domesticated Divas host Canada Day celebrations in Galt Gardens. The event is a fundraiser for the interfaith Food Bank. There will be live music on the community Stage from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.. including Olivia Blue doing a land acknowledgement and performing at 9 a.m., , Timid The Brave, Horizon who play at 10 a.m.. Maple CONfusion, Maple Fusion followed by Reid and Writes at 11:45 a.m. Wildflower Whiskey perform at 12:45 followed by Circle Ridge Country, Meghan Cooley, Unbolted, The Milkmen an Audio Smith at 4 p.m.
The Domesticated Divas host an outdoor market, plus a Charity Breakfast, food trucks and a show and shine hosted by the Family Centre. There will also be Tipi and Indigenous education hosted by Bridging Worlds Consulting and an artisans market.
The festivals don't stop after this weekend. Classical music festival Centric Music Festival kicks off on Wednesday, July 3 with Jesse Plessis performing a mixture of Schubert and the Fleet Foxes in the Casa Community room at 7 p.m.
But before that, there is a lot happening this week.
Tonight, Scottish singer Simon Kemptson plays the Slice , Tuesday, June 25. The Edinburgh based musician has been described as ‘one of Scotland]s very best singer-songwriters.” He is on at 9 p.m. There is a $15 cover for the show.
There will be no open mic at the Owl Acoustic Lounge tonight or on July 2.
It’s the end of the month, which means the Owl Acoustic Lounge hosts their monthly poetry open mic with Teri Petz, Wednesday, June 26.
Jazz lovers will want to be at The Owl Acoustic Lounge on Thursday, June 27 as they host HBO3 plus Mike Carter and Ryan Heseltine playing a full show at 8:30 p.m.
It is also jazz night at the Watertower Grill on Wednesday.The LoveCats will be playing from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday.
If you like the music of ABBA, ABBA tribute ABRA Cadabra performs at the Yates Theatre, Thursday, June 27. Tickets are $78. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $78.
There is more than one way to rock this week. The Shameful Hussies will be playing outlaw country and rockabilly at Casino Lethbridge at 8 p.m. each night, Friday and Saturday.
Taber born, Calgary based indie rock musician Tanner James returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Friday, June 28 with Brett Cassidy.
Fawns joins Makiisma at the Owl Acoustic lounge, Saturday, June 29 with alternative rock and doom folk music. Admission is by donation.
There are a couple excellent punk rock related shows this weekend.
Lethbridge punk/ art rock/ neu wave band the non-ultras will be playing Theoretically Brewing, June 29 with Calgary noise rock and punk band Dial Up and Calgary experimental punk band Puppet wipes. The show begins at 7 p.m. Admission is pay what you can.
There will be miles of punk rock fun at the Slice with post hardcore/ melodic metalcore band A Mile West, Calgary band Victoria Lies and local favourites the Hockey Moms plus Catapult, will tear things up on stage at the Slice beginning at 9 p.m.. There is $15 cover for the show.
There is no live music at Hinkers Pub this weekend for the long weekend .
If You want to laugh, Tommy Mellor returns to Good Times, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. . Tickets are $19.95. And Brian and Cole host Pro Amateur Night at Good Times on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Admission is five dollars
— by Richard Amery, L.A Beat Editor
