Summer kicks off with several big events happening this weekend, though most of the week’s live music happens  at Henderson Lake Park with the Rotary Dragon Boat Races, June 24-26.
 But the week begins with a busy night tonight , June 21.
 Pop rock star Meatloaf performs at the Enmax Centre, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $52-$72.

 For a complete, violent contrast to that, Calgary hardcore punks Citizen Rage return to Inferno  for an early show at 8 p.m. with local bands Chernoff and Ginger Priest.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Bands hit the stage at 8 p.m.
 After that, Hamilton’s B.A. Johnston returns to The Owl Acoustic Lounge with local bands Advertisement and Rainbow Patrol. Admission is by donation.

And Fort Whoop-Up reopened, June 21 at 11:30 a.m. with a variety of activities including live music , a pow wow and local country singer Floyd Sillito performing at 3 p.m.  and lots of fun for the whole family throughout.

The usual cornucopia of local bands will be performing throughout the Rotary Dragon Boat Festival, June 24-26. The music begins at 5 p.m. on June 24 with local country musician Dusty Dee Litchfield with the opening ceremonies following at 6 p.m. blues rockers Paul Kype and Texas Flood follow then the Desert Wind Belly dancers and Fast Times rock the night away at 8:30 p.m.

Dragon Boat fun continues Saturday morning, June 25 at 11 p.m. with local ’90s rock acoustic trio Uncovered. They will be followed by the Rose Ceremony at noon. Local pop country songstress Alyssa McQuaid and her band return to the stage after that followed by the Hibikaya Japanese drummers, pop singers Nicole Donaghy-Hughes and Kelliane Litchfield, Exisdance, doc rock band DNR, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Cloggers, teenaged rock band Diversified, roots/country singer Karen Romanchuk and local rock band Suite 33 who play the last set of the day at 7 p.m.
 The last day of Dragon Boats music, June 26 begins at 11 a.m. with the E Free Band followed by Shane Janzen, jazz pop from Bridgette Yarwood, bluesman Steve Keenan, the Urban Beat Dance Studio and Medicine Hat folk rock duo Mahoney at 3 p.m.

 In between dragon boat races, there is a number of diverse shows happening all over the city.

 Vancouver progressive rock group Bend Sinister return to the Slice to kick off the week, June 22.
Ottawa pop/rock band Hollerado return to Lethbridge to play Studio, June 24 with Toronto garage pop band Little Junior and local band the Utilities. Tickets cost $25. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Also on June 24, local country / roots band Rancho Deluxe play the Owl Acoustic Lounge. Jay Aymar returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, June 25 and Brandon based musician Shotgun Jimmie returns to the owl Acoustic Lounge with Human Music, Monday, June 27 in support with his new CD he recorded with Joel Plaskett called “Field of Trampolines.”

 There is a bittersweet show at Club Didi, June 24 for improv fans as local improv troupe the Drama Nutz are calling it quits after 10 years  with a big farewell show at Club Didi featuring members past and present. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. with local musician Nick Bohle playing a set. There is a $10 cover and tickets are going fast with only 30 left.

 

Also on June 24 l’ AFCA régionalé de Lethbridge host St. Jean Baptisté Day at Pavan Park beginning at 5 p.m. with children”s activities like a bouncy castle, face painting and temporary tattoos, a barbecue and live music with Edmonton based Franco-Albertan world beat folk band Le Fuzz. There is no charge to attend the festivities.

Punk fans will be in their element this weekend as two big days of punk music to help celebrate promoter Alex Currie’s birthday at the Moose Hall, June 25 and 26.
 They will both be all ages gigs with a bar.

 The June 25 show features Calgary favourites the Motherfuckers, plus Saskatoon punk band Good Enough and local bands  Supernautic and Gender Bender.
The Sunday show features a passel of Vancouver - area punk bands including East Vancouver’s the Old Derelicts, Vancouver’s Poison Corn and Obscene Being and Nelson based ska-punk band Newtron Bomb.
 Admission is $15 at the door, $12 in advance or $20 for both nights, which begin around 9 p.m.
 There are a couple of early week punk and metal gigs as well.

The Slice features Vancouver thrash/punk duo Hedks and London, Ontario noise rock band Foam, June 27. There is a $5 cover.

Attainable Records has another  punk and alternative rock show, June 28 featuring Victoria band Fountain, Guelph band Whoop Szo and local bands Participation and the Bummer Club. Tickets for the June 28 all ages gig cost $10. The show is at 8:30 p.m.
There are a variety of events happening throughout the week for the Lethbridge Pride Fest including movies, dances and movies.

Pride In the park takes place in Galt Gardens at 12:30 p.m., June 25 after the pride parade at noon at City Hall. Pride in the park features a beer garden, live music, activities for the kids and vendors.

 A special show happens at McKillop United Church, June 24 in conjunction with Pridefest. Saskatchewan based singer/ songwriter/ pianist Jeffrey Straker performs at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are $15.