It has been a tough year for the community. Salem Abraha , a prominent face on the Lethbridge music scene passed away from cancer, May 18. And other prominent faces like Murray Nelson suffered a heart attac
k in November, George Arsene undergoing serious surgery and Tom Dooley suffered from a construction accident. So The Harmony Foundation is putting on their second benefit concert June 1, at the Slice this time for George Arsene.
Some of the performers include Paul Kype and Texas Flood, Matthew Robinson, Undefined, Andy MacNamara, Shaela Miller, Bruce Roome Orchestra and Steve Foord and more. Not only is it a chance to support the local scene and a great cause, it is also a chance to see a great cross- section of Lethbridge‘s talented performers — some of whom play a lot and others not very often. And also some new talent. I saw Undefined play at the Smokehouse a couple weeks ago. They are an excellent new blues/ rock/ classic rock band featuring some long standing members of the music community.
There are also a couple excellent rap/ hip hop shows this week.
Vancouver rapper Kyprios from the Sweatshop Union returns to Lethbridge to play Scores June 1 with Whistler based Animal Nation and Lethbridge’s The Grey Area. Advance tickets cost $20 for the show, which begins at 9 p.m.
Some of Lethbridge’s local rap performers will be at the Slice on Wednesday, May 29. The event begins at 9 p.m. Performers include DJ Fuze, DJ Opie, DJ Nickname and DJ Enormus who will be performing songs from the ’80s and ’90s. There is a $10 cover.
In a similar vein, Lethbridge gets a taste of New York clubs, June 1 in the Enmax Centre Lounge. RavynMan Events, with support from B93.3 and BassWorks Entertainment is transforming the Canadian Western Bank Lounge at Enmax Centre into an upscale New York City nightclub for one unique evening that will awaken and excite your senses.
BassWorks Entertainment will be setting the mood of NYC’s trendiest electronic music with live performances by DJ Streeter & DJ Rick Sharma featuring the BassWorks Dancers. The event is aimed at discerning 30-somethings who want to get out of the house and away from the kids for a night.
The dress code for NYCinYQL is Dress to Impress. Regular tickets are $25 each and attendees will enjoy a full bar with NYC inspired martinis and draught beers. Reserved VIP Booths are $95 for two people and $180 for four people. VIPs will enjoy a premium seating location featuring table service, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and a private bar.
It is also a great week for hard rock and metal shows.
Local heavy rock band The Void releases their new CD “RobotSpaceLove,” May 31at the Slice with special guests Mr. Personal and Planet Telex. If you miss that, they will be at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on June 6 as well.
The Moose Hall has two big metal shows this week. On June 1, Grand Prairie thrash metal/ power metal band Edge of Attack performs with Lethbridge deathgrind band the Avulsion, punk/ garage rock band the Ruby Plumes plus Crown Killer and Rattlesnake Shake. There is more metal on Tuesday, June 4 with Withdrawal, Secret Rivals, Duh Chain, Bite Down, Crown Killer and Bad Idea. Both shows are all ages shows which begin at 6:30 p.m.
Cambridge, Ontario based grind/ crust band Greber ( which includes well known Ottawa based grindcore band Fuck the Facts bassist Marc Bourgon and The Great Sabitini drummer Steve Vargas) will be playing Studio 54 in support of their new CD Hometown Heroin, May 29 with The Avulsion, Calgary punk band Reckless Heros and Medicine Hat thrash band Evolux. There is a $10 cover for the show. The bands are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.
And, as always there are several excellent roots/ country shows beginning with Cam Penner, who plays the Owl Acoustic Lounge, May 29. Kitchener , Ontario singer songwriter Lynn Jackson plays the Owl Acoustic Lounge, June 1. She is touring in support of her sixth album “Down in The Dust.”
