Meet ishoplethbridge's newest vendor and one of the city's true homegrown gems, Back in Balance Wellness Centre. It combines the best of mainstream medicine with the best of holistic healing in an environment that's neither clinical, nor bohemian, but a very comfortable happy medium. You can get the best in chiropractic care, massage and craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, infrared sauna, reflexology and orthotics, or consult with a nutritionist, personal trainer, or psychologist. Spring is the perfect time of year to get healthier...

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While most of this week’s entertainment surrounds the grand opening of CASA, May 14-18, there is a lot going on all over the city this week. CASA has a variety of activities happening throughout the week of May 14-18. The highlight is  Oscar Lopez, who will be performing May 17 with opening act Awna Teixeira beginning at 8 p.m. There is also a lot of live local music for the Party in the Plaza, May 18 from noon to 7 p.m. which will take place outside, though things will be moved inside if it rains.

Lethbridge country / folk singer Karen Romanchuk opens the day at noon followed by The Juarez Band, Lethbridge rock band the New Weather Machine, the U of L Conservatory of Music, alternative folk band the Brenna Lowrie band, singer songwriter Matthew Robinson and Lethbridge indie rock band Jesse and the Dandelions, who wind up things at 6 p.m. The Drama Nutz, Mary-Anne McTrowe, Fernando Espindola, the Lethbridge Community Taiko Association and Southern Accord will be performing in between acts. There is a lot of roots music again this week with Steve Brockley playing the Slice, May 15. And local country roots act Shaela Miller and Treeline play a local show, May 17 at the Slice.

The Slice also has  a pretty cool roots rock and world show, May 18 with Buckman Coe and Spoon River, who have taken on new members and adopted a more straight forward rock and roll sound. Not to be outdone, the Owl Acoustic Lounge has a couple great shows this week including Southern Ontario rockabilly/ honky tonk quartet Ollie Vee, who play May 18. To get the full Sun Studios country effect, check out Almost Johnny Cash,  a Johnny Cash tribute which returns to Average Joes, May 17. The Owl Acoustic Lounge also have an excellent roots/ rock group Luke Blu Guthrie who will be performing a little rhythm and blues and rock, May 17.

As always there are lots of great local shows performing throughout the week including Dale Ketcheson playing classical music at the Mocha Cabana Friday and Saturday. And in a classical vein, Sheldon Arvay and Scott Kanashiro of Billie Vegas and the Chevelles respectively take a break from their rock roots to play classical music at the Mix Lounge in Ric’s Grill, May 15. They will also be at the Telegraph Taphouse,  from 2:30 p.m., May 18. The Chevelles themselves  are at the Casino this weekend, rocking it classic rock style. If you like dance music however, you will want to be at Essies, May 17 when they feature Mat The Alien, DJ Fuze, A.I.M, Erwin the Intern and Gray. Tickets are $15  for the show which begins at 9 p.m.

Last, but not least there is a great fundraiser at the Slice, May 19 featuring John Wort Hannam, Dave McCann and Leeroy Stagger with well known Edmonton folk and roots musician Bill Werthman. Werthman is organizing Hillary’s Ride, a bicycle trip across Canada in honour of his daughter to raise awareness  about youth mental health and depression. Werthman and friends Terry Fannon and Sue Sohnle will cycle from Victoria to St. John’s Newfoundland in honour of his daughter who passed away 10 years ago, May 8. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $20. The performers are all donating their time and donating all profits to Hillary’s Ride.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

If you're looking for an interesting little spot for lunch or an afternoon snack, then I have to share one of my favorites. The Jasmine Room is the quaintest little tea shop and they serve up daily homemade soups, yummy cookies and squares, and an enormous variety of all kinds of tea. Check out this week's tea recommendations and then wander over to the shop to sample them in person. 

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Lethbridge is getting a skate park! And it's all thanks to people in our community who saw a need and worked like crazy to make it happen. It's a small city success story and the result is a great family attraction to be built this summer! Take a peek at last weekends Skate of the Art fundraiser and how a community pulls together.

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Not all art is larger than life and exorbitantly priced. The Galt Museum Store has a huge selection of canadian made art and artifacts that are easy to procure and easy to live with. Like this simple series of usable objects from artist Benjamin Chee Chee. An ideal gift for the person who likes to live with art every day.

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This week is a good week to be fab and get groovy with the Historic Lethbridge festival. The theme for the festival, which began May 3, is the ’60s so  there are a lot of ’60s related events sprinkled all over the city. A jazz  concert at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, May 7 at 8 p.m., features the music of Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck, Lee Morgan. The performers include saxophonist Ryan Heseltine, guitarist James Oldenburg, bassist Paul Holden and drummer Kyle Harmon. Tickets, which cost $15 regular and $10 students and seniors, are available at www.lethbridgejazz.com, Long & McQuade Music, The Music Court Ltd. in Park Place Mall. 

The festival features a variety of events all over the city including a screening of the film “Gimmie Shelter” in the Lethbridge Public Library Theatre, May 8 at 7 p.m. It is about the infamous Rolling Stones Concert at Altamont, Dec. 9, 1969. The festival also features the launch of Belinda Crowson’s new book, “Southern Alberta’s Sugar Coated History,” May 9. Events throughout the week include On the Spot Signs, Guerilla History, a ’60s art show at the University of Lethbridge Penny Building downtown and a ’60s  literature display at the Crossings Branch Library. There are also a couple of art shows happening throughout the week including a ‘60s art exhibition at the University of Lethbridge Penny Building and a selection of ’60s art  from the University of Lethbridge Art collection which will be on display at the Helen Christou Gallery. It is curated by U of L Museum Studies Intern Bianca Elke who based the theme of the show on George Harrison’s famous quote that the “Beatles saved the world from boredom.”  If you like classic cars, a ’60s show and shine of classic cars is May 11 in the City Hall parking lot. The event ends with “What’s Gotten Into Those Kids,” May 10 at the Southminster United Church.

The rock band Iliad, led by Jake Hills were a hit of U of L’s Rocky Horror Picture Show. It also features the Conservatory’s Youth Choir and the Incanto Singers under the direction of Kathy Matkin-Clapton and special guest, Dale Ketcheson and his Ventures cover band.  The music includes songs from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Ventures and many others, Tickets are $15 regular and $10 seniors and students. It begins at 8 p.m.

For something more melodic, female performance chorus the Southern Accord Chorus celebrates Mother’s Day  by singing the music of ABBA and much more at  the College Drive Community Church, May 11 with special guests Mike Mountain Horse School Choirs and  MC Jeff Carlson. The show begins at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $15 from Long and McQuade.
If you want to laugh, the Drama Nutz are bringing back Bring a Chair Improv back to the NAAG Gallery (255 12C St N,) May 10 featuring host Jonny Kirsch and performers Sam Benty, Shelby Carlson, David Gabert, Hannah Rud and Alisha VanWeiren plus music by Rayne Anne Latchford Admission is $7 if you bring your own chair or $10 without. The show begins at 8 p.m.

And don’t forget about Hatrix Theatre’s hilarious performance of the Larry Shue’s comedy The Foreigner, which takes place May 7-11 at the Moose Hall at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $15. There is also an exotic show, May 11 at Cité Le Prairies, where the Taiko Association will be performing with two groups from Calgary . The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra has something special this week. On May 12 and 13 at the University Theatre, they will be joining forces with the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble for two shows. The May 12 performance is a 2 p.m. matinee. There will also be an evening performance on May 13  at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37 for each show.
 

In addition to a plethora of local shows this week, the Lethbridge folk club winds up their season with Calgary based roots, rockabilly, folk and proto jazz band the Sadlier Brown band featuring Alien Rebels member Mark Sadlier May 11 at the Wolf‘s Den. Lethbridge bluesman Leon Barr opens the show at 8 p.m. sharp. There is also a big metal show on May 10 at the Eagles Hall featuring Chicago based death metal band Veil of Maya, Indianapolis based progressive metal band the Contortionist,  Hampton, Virginia based dark metal band Glass Cloud, Calgary’s Stab. Twist. Pull and local death metal band the Avulsion.  Tickets are $25 for this all ages show which begins at 7 pm. Also  for metal heads,  Nanaimo based progressive metal  band The Body Politic will rock the Slice, May 9. There is also a good local blues show at the Slice this week with the Janni Lee band.

On May 11, The Abramson Singers come to town to play the Owl Acoustic Lounge featuring Leah Abramson, formerly of the band Octoberman. One of the highlights at the Slice  this week is country/ rock band Tod Robinson and the Gleu, who perform, May 10. The same night, in a similar vein, Winnipeg alt country band Ultra Mega play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, May 10 as well. Lwethbride psycghedelic  rock band Cosmic Charlie are also on the bill. The other big show is just out of town at McLennan’s in Coaldale, May 10 when Medicine Hat folk duo will be raising money for  the Relay For Life. Every cent of the $10 cover goes to the Relay For Life  program to fight cancer. Doors open at 7 p.m.. Mahoney will take the stage at 9 p.m.

Later in the week, May 14, solo rocker Jim Kilpatrick aka Shotgun Jimmie plays the Owl Acoustic Lounge. He is a  man in transition. The Toronto born songwriter spent  much of his career in Sackville, New Brunswick, and recently relocated to Brandon , Manitoba. He is supporting his new CD “Everything, Everything,” which he recorded in Manitoba after he returned from his big tour with John K Samson  of North America and Europe.

By Richard Amery, LA Beat Editor 

Don't miss this chance to support a local community project. Join us at the SAAG on Friday to raise funds for Lethbridge's own skate park with wine, cheese, live music, and a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $35. Tickets for children are $10.

One of Lethbridge's hidden gems when it comes to music is Dove Christian Supplies. They have an incredible music section with a huge variety of music styles and genres, seven music stations for previewing CD's, and a database that lets you find christian music that sounds similar to your favorite mainstream bands. Check out staff member Matt's picks for mellow backyard lounging.

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If you're looking for art, there are any number of places you can get it. But here in Lethbridge if you're looking for fun, stylish art for the modern home with a touch of the fashionista...then you look at Nicholai Home Fashions. Loving these black and white prints with a twist of color. 

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If' you're thinking about celebrating cinco de mayo this weekend...and even if you aren't, you should have a look at the week's specially crafted mexican menu at fine downtown restaurant, Plum. All the flavors of a party done south-of-the-border style, but with the elegance and refinement of an urban lounge.

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