It is a relatively slower week for live music in Lethbridge, which will allow you to get prepared and primed for St. Patrick’s Day next week.
There are a couple key shows though. 
As expected, most of the big events are on the weekend. The biggest of the events are fundraisers.
 

Dory and the Weathermen are playing a fundraiser at the Galt Museum, March 11 for  the University of Lethbridge Student’s Union Food bank. It will be their fourth concert they have performed for local food banks.
 Tickets for the event cost $40. The show begins at 7 p.m.


The other big fundraising show of the week is for aspiring recording artists. It is also a rare ticketed event at the Owl Acoustic Lounge. Calgary rock band Dojo Workhorse which includes Dan Vacon and members of The Dudes, plus local band Toques and Beards will be performing the March 12 show.
 The proceeds from the concert go towards the  Cheeky Pig Studio Grant. The show begins at 9 p.m.


 “We’ll be holding fundraising shows with high profile bands and local openers,” said Cheeky Pig organizer Amanda Lee, noting she’d like to raise $10,000 for the grant this year and increase it each year. The money will go to a talented local band  to record their music.  In addition to regular monthly Porketta  Bingo events at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, they will be holding bigger fundraisers.

 The grant will be awarded at a battle of the bands style event at the Owl Acoustic Lounge in October.

 The first of those is March 12 at the Owl Acoustic Lounge featuring Calgary rockers Dojo Workhorse, which features Dan Vacon and members of the Dudes. Local rock band Toques and Beards are also on the bill. Things are looking good for that show.
“We’re almost 90 per cent sold out,” she said adding they hope to raise $2,000 with the one show. Fernie Brewing Company is sponsoring the event.
 She said Dojo Workhorse is the perfect band to kick things off.
“Dan was raised by a single mom. So he knows how tough it can be . And he’s unbelievably talented and he’s in three successful bands including the Dudes and the High Kicks,” she said.

 She said other big shows are planned including possibly Five Alarm Funk, though that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
“And we’ll always have a local opener,” she said.
More information is available online at www.cpastudiogrant.com
 Tickets for the show cost $20.

The Owl Acoustic Lounge has another fundraiser on March 11. They will present the Mamalogues beginning at 9 p.m. The Mamalogues is an evening celebrating “motherhood”  through songs, poems, stand up comedy and spoken word. The proceeds will be donated to Tejus Homes — an organization in India which supports young girts who have been abused, raped and are pregnant and who have been abandoned and shunned by their families. There will be donations taken as well as a silent auction.
 There are several excellent local shows as well.

Local country trio Blacksmith play Casino Lethbridge, March 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. each night.
It is also a good weekend for the blues. Paul Kype plays  a duo show with his wife Jenn at Honker’s Pub on March 11.


Just out of town in Fort Macleod,  Calgary based bluesman Amos Garrett will be bringing his jazz trio to the Empress Theatre, March 12. Tickets are $35 for the show which begins at 7:30 p.m.


 You can kick off the week by getting into a jazzy mood by  checking out the monthly jazz jam at the Slice, Wednesday,  March 9 with HBO3. So come out and play and have some fun — jazz style. There is no cover.


In addition to the usual open mics at the Owl Acoustic Lounge and the Slice, Aaron Landry hosts Honkers’ afternoon jam  from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. 
And the monthly ukulele jam is this week at Casa, on Sunday, March 13.


The hip hop show of the week is at Inferno with Stitches, March 9. The young up and coming  Miami, Florida rapper is best known for his single “Brick in Yo Face and album For Drug Dealers Only. STR8 Kash and the Grand Music Mafia are also performing. Tickets are $25.


The next week begins on a classical note on Monday, march 14  as The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra presents  “ Stars of Tomorrow” featuring violinist Isabella D’Eloize. Selections to be performed include  Rossini’s “Overture to the Barber of Seville,” Gordon Jacobs’ “Old Wine In New Bottles,” Richard Wagner’s  “Siegfried Idyll” and Paganini’s “Violin Concerto No 1 in De Major Op. 6.”
 The concert begins at the Southminster United Church at 8 p.m. Tickets range between $25-$75.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor