Festival square live entertainment has been going on for most of the week in the newly opened Festival square, June 23.. I only caught the preview of the Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society’s summer production of Hamlet.
I caught a few more acts on Thursday.
Rudy Strangling Wolf, who will be playing Casino Lethbridge with his band this weekend, was playing a solo set of mostly original country music, with the help of backing bass, drums and lead guitar tracks as well as live background vocals . He ended his set with a great cover of “Driving With The Brakes On.”
A couple of excellent local pop bands closed off Thursday’s live entertainment schedule.
I’d never heard the Last Minute Letdowns. They played an upbeat set of contemporary rock and pop including Walk the Moon’s “ Shut up and Dance With Me.”
They alternated between male and female lead vocals. Their keyboardist was spotting a T shirt from local fun band Adequate.
They dug deep for an excellent cover of Aretha Franklin”’s Respect.”
Local bluesman added some extra spicy lead guitar to a cover of Needtobreathe’s “Oh, Carolina.”
Braun would be back to add some more spice to local pop and funk band The new Testaments who finished off Thursday night.
The New Testaments played a fast paced, bass heavy, percussion fueled set of contemporary hits, highlighting Danica Sommer’s lead vocals. She shone on Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love.”
They also covered Liz’s “Juice” and Bruno Mars.They went back a few years for a cover of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky.
The band embarked on multiple jams on hits songs powered by that overpowering , funky bass.
They guitarist got to show off his chops of Santana‘s “Maria Maria.”
Eric Braun returned to a dd a little more blues on some Toto and on “Tennessee Whiskey.”
Festival square fun has been delayed due to the rain, though there will yoga in the rain.
The afternoon productions of Hootenanny will take place in Analog book which will also host fine arts activities.
Heroes and princesses, The band Formerly Known as Karen Lewis and Pam, Westwards Thunders and Sheldon Day Chief and Indigidrip have been cancelled.
The beer garden opens at 5:30 p.m.
Willy Big Bull, Makiisma and John Wort Hannam are scheduled to play this evening at 6 p.m.
—By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
