The News

Coaldale Kinsmen plan battle of the bands for September

Tuesday, 18 August 2009 11:32 Richard Amery

If your rock or country band wants to get a little bit more exposure and maybe win a few bucks, then check out a new battle of the bands which the Coaldale Kinsmen Club are organizing for Sept. 19 in conjunction with the Coaldale Foodbank Corn Roast.

“This is a rehearsal for next year’s Settler’s Days,” said organizer Monty Wells who had originally planned to hold the event during Settler Days in July.

“It’s just for country and rock bands because this is a family affair and we don’t want any vulgar language,” Wells continued adding four Lethbridge bands have already entered including Ernest and Rexx. There is no entrance fee and the winning band gets a cash prize to be determined depending on the number of bands who enter plus they get to play a show during the dance at the end of the night for all of their new fans. Each band must prepare between three and 15 songs.

A drum kit and amps will be supplied so all bands need to do is bring their instruments, though Wells said keyboardists will have to bring their own keyboards and amps.

Bands must register before Sept. 10 by calling Monty Wells at 403-315-1856

or e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor/publisher

Sonic bombing with the Hot Blood Bombers this week

Tuesday, 18 August 2009 11:15 Richard Amery

The Hot BLood Bombers hit Henotic , Aug. 23. Photo Submitted

If you had your fill of country music after Whoop -Up Days, then get your rock on with the Hot Blood Bombers on Aug. 23.

The Regina based old school rock n’ roll trio play Henotic with Winnipeg’s Hot Live Guys and Lethbridge’s own Myelin Sheaths for a special Sunday night show.

“We’re going out to Vancouver and back and playing 10-11 dates,” said Hot Blood Bombers’ guitarist/vocalist David Schneider, promising the set will include mostly new material from their upcoming fourth CD. The band’s sounds combines a variety of old school rock sounds including early ’70s punks like MC5 and the New York Dolls.

“Whenever we tour we usually play all new songs. We play whatever we want. Usually the newest material seems to be what we want to play,” he continued adding that made it easy to record the new CD in three days after coming off a winter-spring tour which included a stop at the Slice in February.

“It’s just getting mixed and mastered. It might be ready for our September and October tour (which will take the band across Canada),” Schneider said of the CD, which was recorded over three days in May.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 August 2009 11:30 ) Read more...

Get ready to rock and roll with Social Code and Buckcherry

Tuesday, 18 August 2009 10:15 Richard Amery

The countdown is on for the third CD from Edmonton band Social Code, aptly entitled “Rock N’ Roll,” which will be released Sept. 1.

But first they play Bully’s in Exhibition Park, Aug, 24 with Buckcherry, Default and Inward Eye, the beginning of a five date tour with Buckcherry.

Social Code is looking forward to opening for Buckcherry at Bully’s, Aug, 24. Photo Submitted

The band has gone back to their roots, playing a more of a raw classic rock musical style rather than the pop punk which was their bread and butter a few short years ago.

“We changed it (their sound) up a little bit,” said vocalist Travis Nesbitt.

“We all grew up listening to bands like Led Zeppelin and the Beatles. I think every guy in a band did. So we made a concentrated effort to take our music to t

he next level. It’s not that we stopped listening to it, its just we decided to see what would happen if we merged what we were doing with that sound and see what came up,” Nesbitt continued adding they recorded their third CD in bassist Logan Jacobs’ studio, with the help of Buckcherry producer John Travis, who has also produced Kid Rock.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 August 2009 10:49 ) Read more...

Summer highlights include Whoop-Up Days for Trevor Panczac

Tuesday, 18 August 2009 10:06 Richard Amery

Trevor Panczak is enjoying another busy summer. Photo Submitted

It’s been another busy summer for local country musicians Trevor Panczac and Rough Stock, whose high profile summer gigs included the Rotary Dragon Boat Races, the Calgary Stampede and Whoop-Up Days.

“We’re headlining Saturday night which is a pretty huge honour for us. We’re also pretty happy to be playing the Taber Cornfest as well. We’re just trying to build our home base,” Panczak said adding the group has been supporting Ronald McDonald House, which helps families stay together when children fall ill, since they began playing.

“It’s a good fit for us. UFA (where Panczak works during the day) is on board with them and our bassist’s two children went to Ronald McDonald House,” he continued, adding one dollar from the sale of each of his debut EP “Roll On” is donated to the charity. They have donated close to $11,000 to Ronald McDonald House in part from CD sales as well as extra-curricular fund-raising activities.

This summer is no exception, except they are road testing seven or eight new songs reknown Nashville producer Michael D. Clute selected for Panczak’s new EP, expected out by next year. This fall they are embarking on a community hall tour, playing small town town halls all over southern Alberta including Cardston, Picture Butte, Twin Butte.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 August 2009 10:11 ) Read more...

Whoop Up a good time this week in Lethbridge

Tuesday, 18 August 2009 09:30 Richard Amery

This week is all about the country — country music and classic rock.

In addition to Trevor Panczak headlining Whoop -Up Days on Saturday night, the fun begins tonight with Canadian Idol Theo Tams and Suite 33 playing at the Exhibition Grounds.

Canadian classic rock icons, the Stampeders, play Aug. 19 with Tanis Lowe and Marissa Van Hell. The Stampeders’ biggest hit was “Sweet City Woman” which has been redone by Alberta country act Jo Hikk who play Average Joes on Aug. 22.

Chilliwack will be a highlight Aug. 20 with Marissa Van Hell and DNR. And to get into the country spirit, hot B.C country act Whiskey Jane plays Aug. 21. They will be sharing the stage with the Keister Family Fiddlers. There is lots of local country music happening elsewhere in the city this week as well. Karen Romanchuk plays the Mocha Cabana, Aug. 21 and 22 and Alyssa McQuaid is at the Cotton Blossom Lounge, Aug. 21-22 as well.

George Arsene and Dave McCann and the Firehearts will lend their alt country sounds to the Slice to help out Woods Homes on Aug. 22. Woods Homes helps youth who have nowhere else to go. Their mandate is to empower, educate and support youth and their parents and/or guardians to better cope with the ongoing and complex needs of the youth. They offer a variety of services including temporary accommodation, counseling and other support services for youth up to age 18 who need them.

Steve Coffey and the Lokels also play the Slice for still more country, Aug. 21.

And if you are countried out by the end of the week, there are a couple fantastic rock shows coming up.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 August 2009 10:14 ) Read more...

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