As always, there are a lot of really cool shows happening in Lethbridge this week.
One of the highlights is sure to be a long awaited return of psychobilly band Big John Bates and the Voo Doo Dollz who will be playing Henotic with the Phantom Creeps, April 14.
The Geomatic Attic, fresh off of two spectacular sold out weekend shows with Joel Plaskett, have another gig this week. Juno Award winning Canadian world/ African musician the Mighty Popo is also performing on April 14. Tickets cost $30 for members, $32.50 for non-members, $35 at the door. That’s going to be a tough night to choose which gigs to go to as Victoria bluegrass/country trio the Gruff’s last tour stops in Lethbridge at the Slice on Wednesday as well.
The Slice brings back Billy Manzik, April 15. The Thunder Bay blues/roots musician has a killer new CD out.
Henotic also has a couple huge shows this week. Garage rockers will be digging Calgary legends, the Forbidden Dimension, the Von Zippers and the Radians, April 16. For something more exotic, Raghu Lokanathan and Matt Robinson will be playing upstairs in the GCBC Lounge.
And numerous local musicians will be joining forces to help raise money for a new roller derby team, the Deathbridge Derby Dames, April 17. On the bill are the Phantom Creeps, Smokestack Jacks, Lustre Creame, the Bastards and Silenced Youth. Smokestack Jacks kick things off at 9 p.m., followed by the Bastards at 10 p.m., Lustre Creame at 11 p.m., Silenced Youth at midnight and the Phantom Creeps at 1 a.m. Tickets are $10 from Henotic and Blueprint Entertainment.
There will also be a silent auction. Blueprint Records, which is a huge supporter of local music, is having a special record store day from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. on Saturday as well. In addition to good deals, several local bands will be playing including Evan Van Reekum, The Moby Dicks, the Record Holder and Withiddenoise throughout the afternoon.
Tickets are moving fast for Mammoth Cave Fest, May 2 at Henotic. The first 100 advance tickets, being sold for $15 at Henotic and Blueprint Music, are almost gone. Then the price goes up to $25. There will be 35 bands coming from all over the country to play Weird Alberta festivals in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge as well as 15 local acts.
Another big show has just been announced for the Yates Centre, May 21. Alberta country Legend Duane Steele along with Sean Hogan and local country singer Alyssa McQuaid will be performing “Country For A Country In Need.” This special fundraiser is designed to help out victims of the hurricane in Haiti some months ago. So all proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross. Tickets are $31.50 for adults, $26.50 for seniors and $26.50 for students. It takes place at the Yates Centre at 8 p.m.
But this week three are a good spate of open mics happening.
Chris Carmichael, a former member of the Perpetrators, is in town tonight to host the open mic at the Slice. There is an open mic at Henotic on Wednesday, plus open mics at the Good Earth Coffee House and Beaches Pub on Thursday. And nowt the Phantom Creeps are back from tour, they will likely be hosting the open mic at the Bar One next to the Sandman Inn on Friday.
