The first week of December is a rare slow week for live music, but it is still marked by a couple of early week highlights. Kingston born, Montreal based Celtic punks the Mahones make a long awaited return to the Slice on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in support of their new CDs 
“ the Hunger and the Fight Parts One and Two.
They are sure to play plenty of other favourites drawn for their 25 year career like “Drunken Lazy Bastard,” “the Queen and Tequila” “A Great Night on the Lash,” “Paint the Town Red” and much more. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
The same night, New Zealand born, Golden based singer songwriter Benjamin Caldwell returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
Even the weekend is fairly low key, but there are some excellent Saturday night shows.
Local progressive metal band Accalia have a CD release party, Dec. 5 at Inferno with Quick Draw and Caste of Shadows. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the music beginning at 8:30 p.m. There is a five dollar cover.
Also in the heavier, faster vein, there will be a big fundraiser for Streets Alive, Dec 5 at the Eagles Hall with a bevy of local metal and hard rock bands performing beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Performers at the “Holiday Mash-Up” include Lethbridge pop punk/ hardcore band the Youngbloods, Calgary pop punk/ rock band White Chocolate Thunder, Lethbridge singer Stephanie Savage, Friends Over Fame, pop punk band Open 24-7, Kris Goodfellow, Eli Whit and banjo picking former member of the Sophmore Jakes’ Ryland Moranz. Tickets are $10 in advance from any of the band members or $15 at the door.
Another big annual fundraising event event on Dec 5 is the 24th annual Mayor’s Christmas concert at Southminster United Church. The Lethbridge Gold and Silver bands plus the Mike Mountain Horse Elementary Junior and Senior Choirs. Tickets are $15 regular from any Lethbridge 1st Choice Savings and Credit Union branches, CASA or at the door. Admission is free for those 12 and under. Proceeds will be donated to the Lethbridge and Interfaith Food banks and Angel Tree For Kids. The concert begins at 7 p.m.
There are a couple of excellent lower key shows as well. Mwansa Mwansa and HBO3 return to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Dec. 5. And local country / folk songwriter Karen Romanchuk returns to the Mocha Cabana, Dec. 4 and 5.
Lethbridge blues band Paul Kype and Texas Flood return to Casino Lethbridge, Dec. 4 and 5 as well.
If the dead of winter makes you long for the warmth of the South Country Fair, don’t miss Regina country/ bluegrass folk band the Dead South who make their Lethbridge debut at the Hungarian Hall (410 2 Ave S) for promoter Lorinda Peel’s birthday party with special guests Shaela Miller and Danny Dyck. Doors open at 8 p.m. They were a hit at this summer’s South Country Fair, so relive some of that magic beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Things pick up again with a lot of punk happening on the horizon in mid-December with Authority Zero, Versus the World and River Jacks playing Inferno, Dec. 13 and the Gutter Demons and Raygun Cowboys playing Inferno Dec. 16. But first, Winnipeg progressive rock trio Moon Tan return to the Slice on Monday, Dec. 7 with Regina's Johnny 2 Fingers and local alternative rock trio the Supervoid.
