Lots of live entertainment to love this week

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There is a whole lot to love this week, which is marked by Valentines Day or singles awareness day if you are chronically single. Especially if you love rock and roll.
 Because this week is all about banging your head with several heavy metal/ hard rock bands visiting.

Cupid’s Got a Gun with Jolene Draper are among the bands playing CKXU loves you, Feb. 13. Photo by Richard Amery
But the biggest show is just out of town in Fort Macleod.

Lethbridge folk/ country songwriter John Wort Hannam is hosting a big event  at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod to raise money and awareness for ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease in honour of his friend Ken Rouleau who passed away from the disease in 2012. So Hannam is gathering together some of his closest friends and coincidentally some of Alberta’s best roots and country musicians. Performers include Lethbridge songwriters Dave McCann and Leeroy Stagger plus Calgary musicians Amy Thiessen and Brooke Wylie and High River’s Karla Adolphe. CKUA's Allison Brock will be the MC.


 Tickets for the concert cost $25. It begins at 7:30 p.m.


But there is a lot going on in Lethbridge itself.
 Inferno will have a head-banging great evening, Feb. 12 with Saskatoon instrumental rock band the Basement Paintings who will be joined by local metal bands Sacred Savage and The Avulsion. The music begins at 10 p.m. There will be an eight dollar cover.


 But if you are a blues fan, do not miss the best blues show in Lethbridge in at least a couple of months as Juno Award winning  Toronto based bluesman Paul Reddick will rock the Slice with MonkeyJunk’s Steve Marriner. They will be joined by a hot Edmonton based rhythm section of Chris Brszyki and Peter Hendrickson. There is only a five dollar cover so you can’t afford not to go and have your mind blown by two of Canada’s best blues harp players. The show begins at 9 p.m., Feb. 12.


University of Lethbridge based community radio  station CKXU loves you this week with lots of local talent rocking the Slice, Feb. 13. Performers include familiar faces including the Ruby Plumes and alternative rockers Fox Eyes, rapper Pzeudo, Carisa Jayne Burlesque and some new names but familiar faces including Griffon Sword and  Cupid’s Got a Gun (which include Steve Martin and Jolene Draper).
 There will be a $10 cover for the show.


The Slice rocks again on Valentines Day with Calgary based indie rock band 36? who take the stage at 9 p.m. They have been playing together since 2006.


 If you like classic rock and progressive rock, SAGA come to Average Joes to play their hits including “On the Loose,” “Only Time Will Tell,”  “ Never Alone” and “ Wind Him Up.”

They broke up briefly, but since reuniting in 1995, they have been recording and touring steadily since releasing their  first album in 1978 and have maintained pretty much the original line up. They released their latest CD “Sagacity” in 2014 including original vocalist  Michael Sadler, bassist Jim Crichton, guitarist Ian Crichton, keyboardist Jim Gilmour and drummer Mike Thorne. Local rock band the Raw Dogs will be opening the show. Tickets are $30 at the door, $25 in advance.

 Average Joes also brings back Cal Toth’s Dueling Pianos on Feb. 13.
 Over at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Dead Eye Strobe Lights return, Feb. 13.
 The Owl Acoustic Lounge also has a comedy open mic, Feb. 11. Those are now twice a month.
 The Owl Acoustic Lounge features Toronto indie folk band Young Running on Valentines Day.

 


 For something a little more mellow,  pianist Jesse Plessis performs at CASA, Feb. 13. The show begins at  7 p.m. Tickets cost $15.
 But the rock doesn’t stop on Sunday, as Feb. 16 is a holiday —  Family Day.
 Nobody rocks harder than AC DC,  But if you can’t see them, you can see talented AC DC tribute Who Made Who who will rock Average Joes on Sunday, Feb. 15. That show begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.


 Not to be out rocked, the Slice brings in Saskatoon based indie rock band Close Talker who are touring in support of their second full length CD “Flux.” They were finalists in CBC’s Searchlight competition for best new artist in 2013.


It is also a great week for comedy on stage.
Playgoers of Lethbridge present Ken Ludwig’s comedy “Leading ladies at the Yates Theatre,  Feb. 11-14 at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $22.
 The University of Lethbridge opens their latest main stage production of Newfoundland playwright Robert Chafe’s Afterimage at the University Theatre, Feb. 10-14. Tickets for Afterimage are $18 regular; $13 senior/alumni; $12 student.


 And Womanspace presents the Vagina Monologues at Club Didi, Feb. 15 . The show is completely sold out. All proceeds go to the YWCA Harbour House.
Things rock into the new week with the Tragically Hip hitting the Enmax Centre, Feb. 10 on their “Fully Completely Tour.” That same night local band the Space Wolves are recording a new live album at the Owl Acoustic Lounge. So come on down and celebrate  frontman Donovan Howell’s birthday.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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