What this week lacks in quantity for live music, it more than makes up for that in quality and diversity. There is everything from opera to country music happening this week.
Rival Sons will be playing Average Joes with special guests, Ottawa/ Toronto rock and roll trio the Balconies. The show is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $20.

Other than that, it is a pretty slow week for touring acts as the other big show of the week— Whitehorse at the Geomatic Attic, Jan. 30 has been sold out for weeks. However it is another good week for local musicians.
Darryl Düus plays blues music at the Slice, Thursday, Jan. 31. Düus plus Papa King and  Leigh Doerksen will also be bringing the blues to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Feb. 2. If you like opera, The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and the University of Lethbridge opera workshop are bringing Johann Strauss’ Fledermaus the Opera Ball to Southminster United Church,  Feb. 1 and Feb. 2. The production will transport viewers into a fancy costume ball in 1920s Vienna. There will be wonderful singing, mistaken identities and beautiful sets and costumes in the fully staged production. It will also be sung in English. It will be the fourth instalment of this season’s Masters Series. The reception begins at 7 p.m. both nights. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the ball will begin at 8 p.m.

There are also a couple of good indie rock shows happening this week. Local indie rock band The Yeah Dads play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Feb. 1. Greyscreen, Open Channels and Shipbreaker will be playing synth pop inspired indie rock at the Slice on the same night.
If you like folk and country music, then local country band Hurtin’ and Calgary based folk / roots band Locomotive Ghost will be just what you are looking for. They play the Slice, Feb. 2.
Also in the country/roots vein, Lethbridge singer/ songwriter Karen Romanchuk will be playing roots/ country and folk music at the Mocha Cabana this weekend. There are even a couple rap and hip hop shows worth checking out this week.

If you haven’t seen Furious D and Gordon Leigh and the Naked Ear blend hip hop with live jazz music, then you should check them out Friday at the Mix Lounge at Ric’s Grill. The Slice also has a massive local hip hop showcase on Wednesday, jan. 30. Snapbacks and Throwbacks features performances  by rappers Pyke, Rise, StrongV, Pzeudo, Aerosubtle, Manua, Amadeus and Mase One. There is a $10 cover.
Tonight  the New Weather Machine host the open mic at the Slice. In addition to the regular open mics, bluesman Steve Keenan plyas Honkers  Pub on Friday, Feb. 1 with an open mic to follow.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor