The south side  has two new venues which have recently opened  along Mayor Magrath.
 The Good Earth Coffee House, located next to Safeway  features acoustic acts intermittently through the week, but especially on Thursday nights from 7-8:30 p.m. when they have  an intimate, laid back, open stage.
 This past Thursday, Renee Werenka and her siblings Stephanie Poscente and Adam Kolankowski along with Jean Greer McCarthy and Karen Romanchuk, played guitars in the round just like they  were sitting around a campfire, but without the fire of course. All you needed was marshmallows.
It isn’t a big room, but it has excellent sound, there wasn’t a mic in sight, nor was one needed.
 Jimmy’s Pub next to the Future Shop at the far end of Mayor Magrath busted their live music cherry, March 20 with local singer -songwriter Jenn Pellerin and  the Boogie Brothers aka Darryl Düus and Papa King.
 Despite  high ceilings, the venue has excellent sound, so you can hear  the lyrics perfectly, though when the musicians speak, there is a lot of echo.
 Pellerin played a strong set of originals and covers including popular numbers including ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane.’
The almost full house enjoyed Papa King with his Dr. John like baritone and Darryl Düus ’ gravelly growl and tight leads plus superb slide.
 They played a variety of blues standards and some originals.
 Jimmy’s Pub is planning on having live folk and blues on the last Saturday of  every month.

— Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

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Goodbye Beatdown combines hip hop with a lot of different influences and they will be bringing them all to the Blarney Stone, March 25 for a free show to wind up the Blarney Stone’s ‘Shred Night’ season.
“I think we are a  fresh form of music. There’s reggae, rock, hip hop. There’s so many different flavours,” said bassist Mark Luongo.
“We have some fast paced ska and some metal. At the same time we have a DJ. So if you want to dance, we offer that, but if you just want  to have an interesting sonic experience, we offer that too,” Luongo continued adding the core of the band turned a year old on St. Patrick’s Day.
We’re very hard working individuals. We’re fragments of  three different bands. A year ago all of us were in very different bands. I was in a band called Daniel Wesley. We were quite popular and they’re still going. (They have just released a new CD),” Luongo said.

A sold out crowd enjoyed a quick show by Dave Alvin along with Guilty Woman Christie McWilson and  Guilty Man Chris Miller at the Geomatic Attic, March 22.
As promised he played songs from his time with the ’80s roots rockers the Blasters, a lot of solo material, some of his favourite songwriters like Tom Russell and of course  several tracks from his new CD ‘Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women.’
Alvin and Miller took the stage right at 8 p.m. and played straight through until  close to 10 p.m.
In between fighting with tuning his guitar, Alvin told stories about hanging out with his brother Phil  around dingy Los Angeles clubs listening to blues legends like Big Joe Turner and Howlin’ Wolf, talking to them and learning how to play from them  while growing up in the early ’70s. These stories were excellent preambles to some of the blues infused highlights including “Boss of the Blues” off the new CD and another song, one of the best of the night ‘Ashgrove’ which was about one of these places. He could have ended there as it gave me and most of the audience goosebumps.

This  will be an eventful week. Edmonton dance rock band  the Shout Out Out Out Out is in the city tonight, March 23. There are a couple big country gigs this week too including Reba McEntire at the Enmax Centre, March 23, plus Julian Austin is at Average Joes, March 26. Average Joes is also bringing back Jo Hikk the next night.
 For those looking to laugh country style, Washboard Hank is back in Lethbridge to play Henotic with Lindsay Coulton and the Country Legs, March 28. Admission is $5. L.A. Beat is giving away two tickets to  the Washboard Hank show to the first person to e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the name of the best known Canadian songwriting icon Washboard Hank has toured with.
If you like AC DC, and who doesn’t, Henotic also brings in an excellent AC DC Tribute called BC DC , March 26  at 9 p.m. Tickets cost  $10 for it. However if you are the first person to e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , you can go courtesy of L.A. Beat
There is another big hip hop show at the Blarney Stone — D12, Eminem’s crew will be performing, March 26 with  the City Prophets and Global Syndicate though Eminem won’t be with them.
There are also a lot of open mics this week. Treeline hosts the opens mic on Tuesday at the Slice. Kate Maki hosts  the open mic at Henotic and there is a special jazz jam on Wednesday at the Slice with the David Renter Quartet. As usual there are open stages at the Good Earth Coffee House and at Beaches Pub on Thursday. Plus this week the Folk Club has their open stage at the Wolf’s Den, Friday night.