Things really heat up on the music scene this week for St. Patrick’s Day week.
Keith “Catfish” Woodrow hosts a new blues jam at the Slice on Tuesday, March 12. The free jams will take place on the second Tuesday of every month.
The Windy City Opry returns to the Slice on Wednesday, March 13 with the Markus Sommer band which features luminaries like Peter and the Wolves’ Peter Cormier, Curtis Glas and Ryan Funk and Tyler Allen who will open the show after a few songs from host Shaela Miller. As usual, the show begins at 8 p.m. sharp. Admission is $10.
Also on Wednesday, Kavi Ade will be performing a poetry reading at the Owl Acoustic Lounge beginning at 7 p.m.
Thursday is busy as usual with the usual open mics at the Slice and the Zoo. Plus James Oldenburg and Paul Holden play a special show at the Firestone Grill, March 14 from 6-9 p.m..
The Owl Acoustic Lounge features the AES (Audio Engineering Society) fundraiser, March 14,which features acoustic performances from Tyson Ray Borsboom, Splash Zone, Dan Sequeira and Holly Kletke. The show begins at 7 p.m. There is a five dollar cover at the door.
This weekend cooks, kicking off CKXU’s 2019 FUNdrive Into the Realm of Radio, which features a lot of fun events beginning March 15 with the Terrific Tavern Taster featuring live music from Calgary electronic/experimental ambient/pop group Carbolizer, fellow Calgarians Corinthian who will be playing techno and dance inspired music inspired by folk tales of Calgary, power punk band Strip Mall featuring members of Hag Face, the Shematomas and We Knew and Lethbridge’s object–option. There is a $10 cover charge for the show, which begins at 9 p.m.
Around the corner at the old Firehall on Friday, March 15 it is all about punk as Victoria legends the Dayglo Abortions return to tear the place apart with Chief Mountain and the Hockey Moms beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is $15. For the complete opposite to that, can con rockers Platinum Blonde will be playing all of their hits like “Crying Over You,” Standing in the Dark” and more at the Yates Theatre, March 15 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45
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Down the street, young Drumheller/ Lethbridge rockers the Suit Jacket society return to Lethbridge to play the Slice with the Decadent Phase.
And anything can happen at Club Didi, so check out the Anything Goes cabaret at 9 p.m.. There might be dance, spin the bottle, movies, whatever you want.
If you are in the mood for country and pop music, Breanne Urban and Urban Flyer return to Casino Lethbridge Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m.
Also this weekend, Andy Mac hosts Honker’s open mic on Friday night, March 15. Frankie G hosts the afternoon open mic at Honker’s Pub, March 16.
Saturday will be a hoot at the Owl with several activities happening beginning at 2 p.m. with the Lethbridge Girls Rock jam followed by a matinee performance by Fawns and Northcold. Admission is by donation.
CKXU FUNDrive is in full swing on Saturday with two huge events happening.
If you missed Love and Records, catch an abbreviated version of the always popular event at the Lethbridge Public Library from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. as Love N’ Cupcakes blends Love and Records with Cupcake Carnival. So there will be lots of record vendors, cupcakes and music from nehiyawak, Jom Comyn, Outlaws of Ravenhurst, Jess Tollestrup, Phouka and Willy Big Bull.
There is no cover charge, but eat your weight in $2 cupcakes and vinyl as this year’s Fundrive proceeds are going towards setting up a new website which will allow you to download and listen to your favourite CKXU shows at your leisure.
Fundrive fun continues with the Melodic Melee in the Pixie Pub (in the old Firehall, a Battle of the bands featuring Youngbloods, Fawns, 21st Avenue and Tyrants of Chaos beginning at 8 p.m. There is a $10 cover charge for that show. Proceeds will be split between CKXU and the U of L Gutsy Club.
Fawns have a busy Saturday, playing the matinee at the Owl then rushing down the alley to the old Firehall to take part in the CKXU / U of L Gutsy Club Battle of the bands.
“We’re playing about 30 -40 minute set at the Owl Acoustic lounge. Then we’re rushing off to the Pixie Pub, which is what they’re calling the old firehall and we’ll be playing about the same length of time,” observed Mercedes Fawns, noting they plan to play music from their CD “ I’m From Here,” including the first single “Bright Red Lipstick.”
The Slice has a big metal show, March 16 with local metal band Eons of Earth, Vancouver metal band Bastian and London, Ontario metal/ Deathcore band Underlier on March 16 later that night.
For something a little different, the Lethbridge Community Silver band celebrates Spring with the Spirit of Spring at the Silver band performing at the College Drive Community Church. Kathy Matkin-Clapton and the Incanto singers will be joining them. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15, children and under get in for free.
St. Patrick’s Day is on a Sunday this year, so get primed beforehand with the Junkman’s Quire at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 16.
There are a couple of Sunday St. Patrick’s Day shows with the Nova Scotiables performing at Average Joes, at 8 p.m.. There is a $10 cover after 7 p.m.
Bruce Allen plays Bullys on St. Patrick’s Day under the grandstand as well as at the Wtertower Grill at 8 p.m., March 15 and 16.
And there is a big DJ and electronica show at Club Lime with LEMF for St. patrick’s Day with A Skillz, Rabbyt an, DJ Phez and Phunky Le Freq. Tickets are $17 in advance, $20 at the door.
And Gabriel Thaine’s High level Variety show returns to the Slice, Tuesday, March 19 with host Lakshjit Gill and performances by Gabriel Thaine and the Rugged River Ramblers beginning at 8:30 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Also on Monday, March 18, the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra goes “Cruising with Mozart, at the Southminster United Church featuring performances by pianist Magdalen von Eccher and the École Agnes Davidson School junior Choir. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $25-$65.
If you are in the mood for a quick road trip to laughter, the Arrogant Worms will be at the Empress Theatre, Saturday, March 23 supporting their latest CD “Space.” Tickets are $34.50. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
