T
here is something for everyone leading into the May long weekend.
But tonight check out two open mics. The Slice features Toques and Beards hosting their open jam today. And a new open mic opens at McGuinty’s tonight as well.
You may have heard the Ladies of the Canyon on the radio singing their hit “Follow Me Down.” Well catch the live experience at the Tongue and Groove, May 20.
Tickets for the show, which will begin at 9 p.m., cost $15.
And Thursday will rock with the Magnetic South Music Festival. It features 19 bands at four venues, (The Slice, The Owl Acoustic Lounge, Tongue n Groove and Blueprint Records) May 19. In a addition to popular local acts like Jesse and the Dandelions, Sleeping With Tuesday, The New Weather Machine, Darryl Düus and Fist City, there are several bands coming from out of town who are participating in the Wyrd Canada traveling festival including Red Mass, Role Mach, Hobo Expanding Cult Band and Gunsmoke. Organizers hope to make this event an annual event. Admission is only $20 for a wristband that gets you into all of the venues.
Also on Thursday, check out the Average Joes open for the bands contest.
The turnouts have been dismal over the past two weeks of the competition for a chance to open for classic glam rock pioneers Sweet, who are best known for ’70s hits like “Ballroom Blitz,” “Fox on the Run,” Little Willie” and “Love Like Oxygen.”
It is both good and bad. It is good because it means nobody has to wait very long to play including competing or jamming, plus it makes for a short night for the judges. Besides anybody who shows up will most likely win.
This Thursday, May 12, nobody was there except for Average Joes stalwarts DeadVoice, who have competed at almost every edition of the Open for the bands competition.
They continue to show improvement, and had a great sound mix which showed off the band’s steadily improving chops. For once the bass wasn’t drowning out everyone else, so that was a pleasure to hear. Because their lead guitarist wasn’t able to play, they had to perform as a trimmed down trio.
This worked really well for their tight set of originals. The sparse audience could hear every note and the band worked well as a trio. They join last week’s winners, Jolene Draper and Murray Nelson and Curt Young in the finals in June.
If you want to hear a variety of styles from rap to reggae, pop and rock, be at the Stone, May 21 for KO plus Daniel Wesley and Toronto rock band The Rebel Emergency who will also be backing both acts as well as playing their own set.
Part of the proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Red Cross to help out victims of the earthquake in Japan.
Also for rap fans, Tech 9 will be playing Bullys, May 19 with Krizz Kaliko and the Scalebreakers.
The show begins at 9 p.m. Admission is $40 in advance or $60 for VIP tickets.
For people who like the blues, Bleu Sensashun and Paul Kype and Texas Flood will be painting the Slice blue, May 20.
For people who like authentic Austin country rock music, don’t miss Hayes Carll, who plays the Geomatic Attic, May 24.
If you are heading out of town this weekend, the non profit group, the Livingstone Landowners and Friends present Juno nominee John Wort Hannam with Sid Marty and Wailback at their benefit concert and silent auction at the Cowley Hall in Cowley, Alberta (Highway 3, 10 kilometres west of Pincher Creek) Saturday May 21.
The show also features a mystery duo who are Cowboy Hall of Fame Award winners.
Doors at 7.30 PM, music at 8 p.m. Admission is $20. For tickets call 1- 403-632-6033 or go to www.livingstonelandowners.net.
