It is a unique week in Lethbridge for live music.
  A lot of music happens courtesy of the Lethbridge Kiwanis  Music and Speech Arts Festival which continues until April 12 with a variety of up and coming musicians and actors performing at every day at eight different venues including the Yates Memorial Centre, Écolé Agnes Davidson, the Lethbridge Public Library Gallery, the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Southminster United Church, St. Augustine Church and The St. Augutines Hall plus St. Patrick’s Fine Arts Elementary school (80 River Green Road West).
 There are a lot of school bands, the Lethbridge Community Silver band and much more.
Programs are available for $10 at Long and McQuade and the Music Court, which are also a pass for the entire festivals. Otherwise sessions cost two dollars each to attend.

As always it is a great week for local music, with Hippodrome returning to Casino Lethbridge, April 4 and April 5 where they will be playing energetic R and B, soul and disco music.
 The Slice has a variety of music this week with a big rock show, April 2 featuring Edmonton punk band the Slates who are celebrating the release of their new CD “Taiga,” which they recorded with Steve Albini. They will be performing with Regina pop punk band These Estates and local bands the Ruby Plumes, Advertisement and the Yeah Dads. Tickets are eight dollars in advance or $10 at the door.

They go country/ roots the next day with Toronto musician Jerry Leger and his band the Situation, who play April 3.

 There is another big rock show at the Slice on April 5 — a fundraiser for the upcoming Electric Eye Music festival which will take place at six venues around town on May 10. Bands perfoming include local psychedelic surf rock trio Chief Mountain, the Ruby Plumes, new local alternative ambient rock duo Birch Bark and Calgary based noise pop band Terra.

The Slice ring in April with an early and free First Friday show, April 4 featuring local jazz trio HBO3, which begins at 5 p.m
The Owl Acoustic Lounge also has an excellent start to April with Vancouver alternative rock band Pigeon Park playing the L.A. Beat jam, April 2. The Owl Acoustic Lounge open a new art show, April 4 with live music as Peep Show/ Lenin and Trotsky opens.
 They also have a couple of excellent folk acts with Bowen Island, B.C. based folk/ bluegrass, roots and country musician Sarah Jane Scouten and her band performing, April 5.

The Owl Acoustic Lounge is also bringing in Moose Jaw songwriter Megan Nash and Yukon songwriter Mary Caroline to play their Monday open mic night, April 7 as well. There is no cover for any of these shows.

 There is a big metal / punk show show at the Moose Hall, April 5 for Mandi’s metal birthday, which features Calgary punk/ classic metal band the Press Gang, Saskatchewan stoner metal band Chronobot, Taber metal/ country band the Mangy Mutts, Calgary thrash metal bands Arsenal and Shrapnal, Calgary trio Triton and thrash punk band X-Ray Cat. There is a $10 cover for the show.
 The all ages show begins at  6 p.m.

 And if you are on the road, Canadian folk singer Connie Kaldor returns to Southern Alberta to play the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod, April 3 and April 4. at 7:30 p.m. each night. Kaldor is a three time Juno award winner and an Order of Canada recipient. Her concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., Tickets cost  $32.50.