It was great to be out and about covering shows. I haven’t been out for almost a month, but made a point of checking out the Mark Hall band at Casino Lethbridge, Saturday, Jan. 8.

 There wasn’t very much of an audience and no dancing allowed.

And my timing was off, so I only caught a couple songs from guitarist /vocalist Mark Hall, drummer Raz Bruce and bassist Jack Horne and lead guitarist Eric Braun, filling in for Gabe Thaine.

But the Mark Hall band, with special guest Eric Braun playing lead guitar, played familiar ’90s country hits and classic rock regardless.

 They took a break after playing the Band’s “The Weight.”

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Covid has claimed another live event.

 The Banff Centre Mountain Movie Festival at the Yates Theatre, Jan. 14, however the online event is still happening. Details are available at lethlib.ca

 YQL Winterfest will have nice albeit windy weather.

 There will be live music, storefront windows painted with winter themes, custom hot chocolate and a whole lot of fun  activities planned, Jan. 14-19

Live music is at the centre of the event which begins Friday, Jan. 14 with Karen Romanchuk performing at Rotary Square outside Casa at 5 p.m.

 Adequate will get funky on Rotary Square, Saturday, Jan 15 at 2 p.m.

 Live local music begins tonight , Tuesday, Jan. 11 as Winnipeg folk punk musician Greg Rekus returns to Lethbridge to host the Owl Acoustic lounge’s weekly open mic tonight at 8 p.m.

 Over at the Slice, Gabe Thaine hosts  a blues jam with sign up beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The Slice features mid -week live music, Wednesday, Jan 12 with Scott Davidson, John Matthews and Brandon Vandoorn performing at approximately 8 p.m.

The Owl has cancelled this week’s jazz jam for Wednesday.

 However Audio/Rocketry’s Jo Vickers, The River Jacks’ Spencer Jo and Danica Sommer are still performing on Friday, Jan 14.

 The show begins early at 8 p.m.

Tourism Lethbridge is making the most of a wild winter, Jan. 14-19 with  the YQL WinterFest 2022.

“It’s a family friendly event. And even though the forecast looks like it will be warming up, bundle up,  get ready to enjoy some live music and make the most of winter,” advised Tourism Lethbridge marketing director Stephen Braund.

“People say the third week of January is the most depressing. So we want to get people to come outside instead of staying inside with people being depressed. And with omicron, we wanted to keep all of our events outside,” he continued, noting none of the events are weather dependent.

“We were more worried about extreme cold,” he said.

“We’re really excited about the music especially.”

Karen Romanchuk plays Jan.14 at 5 p.m.

 Adequate plays an afternoon show on the square, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. Steve Keenan is unable to play on Jan. 15 but there will be another act to be announced.

“I was really impressed with the Upside Downtown concert series at Rotary Square during the summer,” he said.

“ I’m really looking forward to Adequate. They will really get you moving,” he said.

Things cautiously start to pick up after the  holiday season.

 

Open mics are at The Owl Acoustic Lounge on Tuesday, and the Slice on Thursday.

 

America’s Got Talent contestant  Cam Clark hosts Honkers pub’s open mic on Jan. 7. He will be playing an hour long set first.

 JD (Jackie French, Jasmine Mitchell and Danny Douglas) host the Saturday afternoon open mic beginning a 5 p.m.

 

 Just down the road, the Mark Hall band return to Casino Lethbridge Friday and Saturday, Jan. 7 and 8.