There’s always something happening in Lethbridge, Covid be damned.

 Though Covid has cancelled  Two Geomatic Attic shows this week including Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar on Jan. 29, who cancelled their tour, and the Sadies on Feb. 2.

 The Glorious Sons‘s Feb. 3 show  with JJ Wilde at the Enmax centre has been postponed to June 18.

 As usual, the Owl Acoustic Lounge has an open mic on Tuesdays.

Standard time play jazz night at the Watertower, Jan. 26 and the Slice has on open mic on Thursday.

 Due to Covid, the Ukrainian New Year Celebration is  a take out affair.

Pick up your   delicious Ukrainian meal  between 5-6:30 p.m. from the MultiCultural Centre, Friday Jan. 28. Of course, you have to order in advance https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/243190889497

Or call 403-320-1577 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

If you are in the mood for some blues, the Eric Braun Band plays Casino Lethbridge this weekend.

The Lethbridge and District Music and Speech arts  festival is back live this year, March 28- April 9.

“2020 was supposed to be our ninetieth year, but we couldn’t do it because of Covid,” said Lethbridge And District Music and Speech Festival general manager Megan Wittig.

The event was cancelled in 2020 as Covid started taking over and they decided on a completely virtual online event last year.

“A lot of really big decisions had to be made. So we’re all really excited that it will be live again,” Wittig said.

“It might get cancelled because of  government restrictions, but we’re hopeful we’ll be able to push forward,” she continued.

“Performers, and volunteers are really looking forward to it,” she continued.

 Submissions opened Dec. 1 and they have extended the deadline to enter to Feb

. 18. While it is mostly  youth who perform at the festival, entry is open to any non-professional  performer.

 Most events will be taking place at the Yates Theatre, which will be open to the public. A program will cost $15  which allows admission to all events and individual events cost three dollars.

“ That’s where our headquarters is. Bands and choirs will be performing from their own rehearsal spaces, so that frees up some space. Participants 17 and under won’t have to be vaccinated though audiences, volunteers and adjudicators will have to be,” she said.

Shaela Miller is giving back to the community by hosting  a two-day youth songwriting workshop at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Jan. 22 and 23.

 The workshop has a capacity of 20 and was half full as of  Jan. 17.

The camp is for youth aged 12-18.

 Numerous local business sponsored the event so admission is pay what you can.

 Long and McQuade is providing  complimentary instrument rentals for the camp's duration.

“Students need to have an interest in  songwriting and music,” said Miller’s manager Jessica Marsh, noting ideally they should have   familiarity with a musical instrument and  or their voice.

Shaela Miller, Amelie Patterson, Biloxi Parish’s Zach Passey and Lethbridge Girls Rock Camp’s Silvana Campus will be mentoring the students.

 Amelie Patterson has taught songwriting workshops at the Banff Centre.

The other mentors are familiar faces on the Lethbridge music scene including Starpainter’s Joel Stretch, Mercedes Fawns, Makiisma’s Megan Brown, Steven Foord, Taylor Ackerman and Bailey Kate.

 The morning sessions feature the mentors playing their songs and explaining the stories behind them and  the techniques they used to create the melodies and the moods of the songs.