Guelph based musician James Gordon is a man of many talents. He’s a playwright, Stephen Leacock award nominated novelist, and multi-instrumentalist, but above all a folk singer who gained renown with folk band Tamarack, which also featured frequent collaborator and future Cowboy Junkie Jeff Bird.

 Gordon knows how to turn a phrase. He has a quick wit and a way with a story all of which will be on display when he makes a long awaited return to Lethbridge for two shows including a book signing and mini concert at Analog Books at 4 p.m. and at the Lethbridge Folk Club at 8 p.m. with Reid and Writes.

 He took full advantage of not being able to tour during Covid to write and record a new album “ When I Stayed Home” on which he played all of the instruments.

He also wrote two books — his novel and accompanying soundtrack and audiobook “The Ark of the  ‘Oven Mitt,’ a “where are they now” story of a fictional ’80s band  ‘Miles and Myles” and a memoir of his life in music, making 40 albums with Tamarack and solo “The Highway and I.”

“The novel is a pretty new idea because it comes with a QR code that you scan with your phone and the music of the band plays,” he said.

“Another thing I do is I go into schools and teach a class songwriting. So I started  writing a textbook of it for teachers to use so I don’t even have to show up. I had a lot of time during the pandemic when I wasn’t touring to work on a lot of different projects. But now I’m touring again, I don't have as much time anymore to work on them,” he said.

“ I’ve been really pleased with the response (to his debut novel). It was nominated for a Stephen Leacock award for humour but that bugger Rick Mercer beat me out,” he laughed, adding there will be some overlap from the Analog Books mini-concert and the Folk Club show.

“I’m playing solo. But I’ll be featuring songs from the book’s soundtrack and from the latest album, and some old Tamarack songs that people want to hear,” he said, deciding what instruments to pack to the trek out west.

He enjoys working in different mediums like novels and songs.

It’s all about dramatic arts this week. Quaint, Quirky and Queer winds up this week with multiple presentations of Improvised drama comedy  No Way Out.

Playgoers of Lethbridge has a busy weekend planned  as they showcase some of Southern Alberta’s best arts for A Taste of the Arts 100th Anniversary Festival. There will be music and drama happening all  over the Yates Theatre and Sterndale Bennett Theatre, April 21 and 22.  There is a little bit of everything.

If you missed the One Act Play Festival over Easter weekend, all three Taber Players  presentation\s will be returning. “The Break Up” is at  4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, The winner Alternative Accommodation is  Friday at 6:45 and a Dog’s life is at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday. And the Lethbridge Shakespeare performance Society will  be performing excerpts from some of their favourites, Friday at 8:30 p.m.

 Playgoers favourite Priscilla Pringles’ Predicament is  Saturday at 7 p.m. performed by Lethbridge Musical Theatre.

 There will be Metis jigging, jazz music, Rufus the Mime and children’s music and much more.

 The Yates  Theatre will be busy as  they also host comedian Brent Butt on Sunday, April 23. Unfortunately tickets are sold out for the show.  Adam Ruby will be making you laugh at  the Onion on Saturday. Tickets are  $20 at the door, $15 in advance.

 Juan Forno brings the laughter to Good Times Friday and Saturday.

 Things begin with the opening ceremonies and plaque unveiling Friday at 5 p.m.

 The Yates Theatre hosts Chicks Tribute Gaslighter on Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $42.

So You Think you Can comic returns to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Wednesday, April 19.

Drunk Queer Prov returns to Good Times, April 20.

But there is also a lot of music before that .

The Owl Acoustic Lounge’s Open mic is tonight.

An all star local country band featuring Noeline Hofman returned to the Slice, Friday, April 7.

 Hofman, backed by  Trevor Christensen on guitar and vocals, pedal steel player Kevin Peters , drummer Brad Brouwer, bassist Kurt Ciesla and Megan Brown, adding fiddle and background vocals, played an array of classic country music.

 I arrived as they were kicking into Hank Williams Jr.s’  “Whiskey Bent and Hell bound,” before playing Hank Williams Sr.’s  “I’m So Lonesome I Can Cry.”

They added  one of Noeline Hofman’s  originals.

As I was leaving for the next gig, they were playing an excellent cover of Sturgill Simpson’s “ You Can Have the Crown.”

—By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

 The Owl Acoustic lounge didn’t  have a lot of people for Chin Music, Friday, April 7. But the local R and B/ jazz trio were solid as they should be as they feature keyboard whiz TJ Waltho backed by two thirds of funk trio Adequate— drummer/vocalist Keenan Pezderic and bassist Scott Mezei.

 They showed off  their more soulful , R and B side and Waltho’s keyboard prowess.

 he was alternating  between playing the Owl Acoustic Lounge’s piano and his own keyboard.

 They played something that sounded like Govt Mule’s  groovier side and shone on  Bill Withers “ Use Me.”

Their cover of Childish Gambino’s “Redbone- Stay Woke” was a-okay with Pezderic showing off his falsetto, hitting funky high notes.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor