Entertainment of all sorts being served up
Rock star of poetry set to perform at Geomatic Attic
Looks like it’s prime time in Lethbridge for entertainment of all kinds. Rap, opera, folk, children’s choirs, New Orleans brass, drama, music from the movies and more . . .
Coming right up, two events — Sunday and Wednesday — are being presented by Mike Spencer, owner of the Geomatic Attic. Over at Chinook High School, 8 p.m. on Sunday, he’ll introduce spoken word artist Shane
Koyczan. His first national appearance came during opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
“If you think a poet can’t be a rock star, watch Shane Koyczan perform live,” Spencer says. “Your life will be changed forever.”
Koyczan “navigates his audience through social and political territory with a furious honesty and a tender humanity,” he explains.
Then Wednesday, 8 p.m. at Southminster United Church, the city’s Youth One organization is partnering with Geomatic to present Barney
Bentall and his “Cariboo Express” show.
It’s a unique presentation, Spencer says, using a sponsorship model that includes organizations and business people as part of the show — something like old-time radio. And it’s raised more than $1 million for good causes over recent years.
Tickets for both shows are available at Blueprint Records or Casa.
• • • Downtown at The Slice, the Saskatchewan folk-rock band Gunner & Smith will take to the stage Friday, Nov. 3. Fans say their new fulllength album, “Byzantium” offers “songs that simmer and seethe with a newfound energy that looks at the darker sides of love, loss and humanity.”
Their full-band show is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
Then on Nov. 8, The Slice will serve up the Dirty Catfish Brass Band,
a Winnipeg group inspired by the New Orleans brass tradition. In addition to offering more than 80 performances a year, the band is now working on material for its third album.
Showtime is 7 p.m.; check The Slice for tickets. • • • Also on tap next weekend, the Opera Workshop students at the University of Lethbridge will present a semi-staged concert of operatic highlights, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Recital Hall.
A week later, Nov. 7-11, the university’s drama students will stage the world premiere of “When There’s Nothing Left to Burn,” winner of the university’s recent Fiction at Fifty Playwriting Competition. Written by Sean Devine, the drama looks at the lives of ordinary North Americans trying to live their lives in the midst of a violent political conflict.
Tickets for either event are available from the U of L box office at ulethbridge.ca/tickets.
• • • Opening Nov. 15, Hatrix Theatre will present “12 Angry Jurors,” a look at the issues faced by citizens called to jury duty. It will run Wednesday through Saturday at the Nord-Bridge seniors’ centre.
Nov. 15 will also be opening night for the comedy “Vigil,” a new Canadian creation by Morris Panych. New West Theatre will stage it for two weeks — Nov. 15-18 and 21-25 — in the Trianon Art Gallery, formerly the city’s famous dance hall. • • • Later in the month, Dory & The
Weathermen will offer “The Art of the Cover Song,” Nov. 24 at Southminster United. The event will be a “Rebuild the Camp” benefit concert, raising funds to replace several cabins and facilities at Canyon Church Camp, lost to the fire that swept through Waterton Lakes National Park recently. A silent auction will also be part of the evening, with doors opening at 6 p.m.
Highlights later in November also include “Adventures on Film,” with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra performing selections from such Hollywood hits as “Jurassic Park,” “The Hunger Games,” “The Magnificent Seven” and “Titanic.” The concert is set for Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. in Southminster United.
Then the Lethbridge Symphony Association will sponsor four “Kids Choir” performances, afternoon and evening on Nov. 29 and 30 at Southminster. Participating schools will be handling the tickets.
• • • Following up on its rollicking concert by Connie Kaldor, the Lethbridge Folk Club will be introducing members and friends to Junkman’s Quire, Nov. 25 at the college Cave. And rounding out a busy month, the
U of L Jazz Ensemble will perform Nov. 24, the U of L Collaborative Ensemble on Nov. 25 and the U of L Wind Orchestra on Nov. 28.
• • • Here’s a salute to Coaldale resident Wendy Nelson, recently presented the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers during a ceremony at McDougall Centre in Calgary
“With a skill set encompassing a wide range of disciplines, Wendy Nelson has made positive contributions to her community for over 20 years,” the official citation says. “She has promoted military history and heritage, organized and managed search and rescue missions, and coached athletes and other volunteer coaches involved in the Special Olympics.” Lieutenant Governor Lois
Mitchell presented medals to 26 Albertans during the ceremony. Well deserved!
• • • And our last-minute tips: A “Halloween Spooktacular” for the younger set will run form 1 to 4:30 p.m. today at the Galt Museum, no charge.
Looking ahead to Remembrance Day observances, the museum will offer “Dad’s Story,” as staff member Wendy Aitken
shares stories linked to trunks full of Second World War memorabilia collected by her father. That’s set for Wednesday, from 2 to 3 p.m.
Then on Sunday, Nov. 5, military historian Stephane Guevremont
will offer a multi-media presentation, “U Boats Against Canada,” also at 2 p.m.
And for Halloween, Hatrix Theatre is staging “Little Shop of Horrors,” next Tuesday to Saturday at the Moose Hall on 5 Avenue North. Tickets are being handled by Java the Hut, outside the hall.