The new year, 2024 begins with a roar of live entertainment featuring plenty of jazz music and lots more.

 The Owl Acoustic Lounge begins an eclectic week tonight, Tuesday,  Jan. 2 with Winnipeg folk punk musician Greg Rekus and Tim Holehouse hosting the open mic tonight.

 The Slice have an open mic on Jan. 3.

 Jared Wolf Child hosts Pro amateur night at Good Times  on Jan. 3.

 James Oldenburg and Paul Holden open 2024 at the Watertower Grill with some jazz music, Wednesday, Jan. 3.

Speaking of jazz music,  Midnight Channel, who released their debut CD in November, returns to Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens to play some jazz music on Thursday, Jan. 4.

 Calgary jazz rock band l’omelette bring the jazz and a lot more to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Jan. 5.

Keith “Catfish” Woodrow and the High Level Blues band perform at the Slice, Jan. 5.

 Catfish also hosts the first blues jam of the year at the Slice,on Tuesday, Jan. 9 .

 Montreal post punk band  Utils plus local folk band  Chrome Harvest  and Calgary folk rock duo Temps rock the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Saturday, Jan. 6.

Impromptu open  the new year with the first Drunk Queer Prov at Good Times, Jan. 4. Dale Ward beings the funny to Good Times, Friday and Saturday.

 The Lani Folkard Band are all set to play some country music at Casino Lethbridge, Jan. 5 and 6.

And, if you missed them at the Owl Acoustic Lounge over the past couple weeks, get ready to get funky and dance with Adequate and Hippodrome who are performing for Pardip Athwal’s birthday party on Saturday, Jan 6 at the Slice. Tickets are $20.

 Last, but not least, The Banff Mountain Film festival opens at the Lethbridge Public library Jan 3 and runs until Jan. 12.

—  by Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor