Music sets tempo for a busy month

October brings the season’s first round of drama productions, as we outlined last week. But it also launches a still busier lineup of musical events.

The fall’s first Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra concert (“Russian Inferno”) is set for Oct.15, followed by the musical “Titanic” from Oct. 18 to 21. But there’s so much more!

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Soloists from director Blaine Hendsbee’s exciting Opera Workshop at the University of Lethbridge will be joined Oct. 13 by the University Singers, under the baton of Janet Youngdahl. They’ll be presenting “Autumn Magic,” a benefit concert downtown at St. Augustine’s Church at 7:30 p.m.

Their selection of opera scenes and choral music will be presented in support of Syrian refugee families who’ve settled recently in Lethbridge. There’s nocharge admission, with a free-will offering.

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The Lethbridge Folk Club is also hosting a concert Oct. 13, featuring the group Rotary Park. Bob Blair will be the opening act when music begins around 8 p.m. in The Cave at Lethbridge College.

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Over at the Geomatic Attic, no less than three attractions are booked this month. On Oct. 18 it’s Kat Danser and the Tall Tales, followed Oct. 29 by Kim

Churchill and Oct. 30 by Birds of Chicago. Check geomaticattic.ca for details.

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And the Lethbridge Community Band organization is

set for a new season, with its Gold Band staging a Halloween concert on Oct. 27, 7 p.m. at the College Drive Community Church.

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But of course, there’s also music on smaller stages downtown most nights.. This coming week at The Slice, Shaela Miller hosts Windy City Opry, featuring Belle Plaine, Gordie Tentrees and Jaxon Haldane on Oct. 10. The next day it’s “jam night” featuring In Cahoots, then

Moving Bodies on Oct. 12 and The Perpetrators on Oct. 13.

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Over at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, today’s lineup has a matinee (3 p.m.) performance by Metik Jazztet, then a 9 p.m show by Corduroy Brown and Cody Black. Max

Hopkins and Heather Jordan take to the stage on Oct. 12, then Papa King and the Duus on Oct. 13. Next week’s Sunday matinee (4 p.m.) with the Folk Road Show will be followed at 6 p.m. by Shaela Miller’s “After School Special.”

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And to mark a long-awaited day in Canadian history, two “pot legalization” parties are planned for Oct. 17. At The Slice, a hip hop show will present Blaze OnE, Kay I, KKI Louise, Sammy and the Fiend, Heavy Knowledge and Trey Mark.

The “prohibition party” at The Owl will include screening of “Reefer Madness” at 8 p,m., then a jazz jam session with HBO3 and Josh Davies at 9:30. *** And speaking of jazz, Streatside Eatery presents

James Oldenburg and Paul Hold Friday-evening performances — as they have for many years — generally once a month.

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And now that we’re thinking of food, looking ahead there’s German dinner night, with all invited, on Oct. 22 at the German Canadian Club. On Oct. 25, there will be drinks and nibbles when geography professor Maura

Hanrahan presents “Creating Heroes and Claiming the North” as part of the university’s “Public Professor” series, 7 p.m. at the former Lethbridge Lodge.

This month’s culinary spectacular at the Multicultural Centre will be “A Taste of Africa,” on Oct. 28.

And coming up on Oct. 20, it’s the annual wine and cheese auction at the Gem of the West Museum in Coaldale.

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October also brings special events at the Galt Museum. An all-ages “Harvest Barn Dance” is set for Oct. 13, featuring the Great Canadian Barn Dance musicians. And on Oct. 21, there’s a special celebration for “Galt babies,” seniors who were born there before the Municipal Hospital opened. Check the Galt for more details.

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Our last-minute tips: Yes, it’s Oktoberfest this weekend, with events being held indoors — fortunately — at Exhibition Park. The suds and songs will flow until midnight.

The season’s first TheatreXtra show, “Glorious Clockwork” takes its final bows tonight at the Drama Studio. Level 4 at the University of Lethbridge. The original work, by student Jake

Rose, is set for 7 p.m. Then from Oct. 9 to 13, the drama department will be offering “inVISIBLE (Too),” in collaboration with Handsome Alice Theatre from Calgary. It's being presented as a “theatre in the round” event in the David Spinks Theatre, starting at 7:30 p.m.