It is all about jazz music this week as most of this week’s big events are related to the Lethbridge Jazz Festival, taking place all over the city June 13-15. Some of the big names include Saskatchewan bluesman Jack Semple playing a later show at CASA, June 15 and Carstairs folk/ jazz combo the Polyjesters who are at the Slice earlier that night. Local blues band Paul Kype and Texas Flood are part of the jazz festival as well, playing the Slice, June 14.
Some of the bigger names playing this year’s festival include pianist Tommy Banks and saxophonist PJ Perry who play June 14 at the Yates Theatre.
Dallas based singer Rosana Eckert will be playing with Vern Dorge and local trio HBO3 at the Sterndale Bennett, June 15. And if you want to dance, The Pana Band Salsa Orchestra is coming from Calgary to get your toes tapping salsa style at CASA, June 14.
But for something a little different, the Owl Acoustic Lounge is hosting Edmonton folk/ punk songwriter Ghost Factory who plays, June 14.
The Owl also goes a little country on June 15 with Vancouver based southern fried country/ roots/ rock band the Real Ponchos coming to town.
In a similar vein, alt country troubadour Roger Marin is back in town this week to play the Slice, June 13. He played with Fred Eaglesmith for many years and has since come into his own as a songwriter, releasing three well received solo CDs of original alt country and roots music.
If you like rap, Texas rapper Riff Raff aka Jody Highroller brings the Tropical Panda tour to Studio 54, June 14 with special guests Deezuz, Pzeudo, The Collective and DJ Fuze. Tickets are $25 for the show, which begins at 9 p.m.
There are also a lot of great local acts performing this week including Bridgette Yarwood at Ric’s Grill, June 12 and classic rock band The Undefined at the Smokehouse, June 15. And getting into the spirit of things a little early, The Slice hosts their jazz jam on June 12 with hosts HBO3 (Paul Holden, James Oldenburg and Brad Brouwer).
It is also a good week for comedy with two big shows. Winnipeg based comedian Daryl Makk comes to Scores, June 13 with Daryl Makk and James Moore, Serena Shane and Randy Webb.
Doors for the June 13 show at Scores open at 8 p.m..The show starts at 8:30 p.m., Advance tickets cost $15.
Also on Thursday, Lethbridge improv group the Drama Nutz are bringing in a few special guests from Calgary comedy troupes Half Her Age, the Kinkonauts, the Loose Moose Chop Shop, U of C Improv, the Swamp Donkey, Ella Jean Haggis and Ben Cannon. The show will be at the NAAG Gallery (255 12C St N, Lethbridge, AB.), starting at 8 p.m., , June 13. Doors open at 7:30. The cover is $10 or $7 if you bring a chair.
