Couleefest, the annual welcome back to students and community members was a hit at Lethbridge College on Sept. 16.

 They had an outstanding line-up of live music on deck. 

 But I was there for the local alternative rock band the Waterfront, who I haven’t seen for a while.

 They’ve stepped up their game a lot.

 They roared through a tight and energetic set of modern and ’90s/ 2000s detuned, bass heavy upbeat rock along the lines of Finger 11 with a touch of mid ’90s punk like Treble Charger.

 “ Three Years” later  and “Everything is Okay,” which featured some excellent background vocals were a couple of the highlights they announced.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

 There was a lot happening on Saturday, Sept. 16.

 I only caught a little bit of the  6th Street Block party in Festival Square I missed  Halifax singer songwriter Braden Lam and Mia Kelly who played the Owl Acoustic lounge the night before, so caught a little bit of  Lam’s set. He played a solo set of  acoustic music. 

He provided the soundtrack  to  a bustling town square full of family activities and artisans hawking their wares. So the beer garden stage was pretty empty though Lam’s voice rang through downtown as he song off kilter songs about unrequited love including one he wrote about  knowing a marriage wouldn't work between a pair of newlyweds he knows.

He also played a few more  straight ahead love songs.

— by Richard Amery, L.A. beart Editor

 A punk heavy  month continues on Monday, Sept. 18 with the return of Toronto  punk band Brutal Youth at the Owl Acoustic lounge.  The last time I saw Brutal Youth was Oct. 27, 2016 opening for the Creepshow. They will be joined by local bands the Hockey Moms and Mombod.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

  After that, get a little mellow as The LoveCats aka guitarist/vocalist Sheena Lawson, percussionist Neil Sheets  and double bassist/ guitarist Randy Paskuski return to the Watertower Lounge to play some jazz music from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20.

 The cornerstone of the week is the thirteenth Word on the Street at the Lethbridge  Public Library from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 23.

Word On the Street Sept. 23 features plenty of authors including Ali  Bryan, Hali Heavy Shield,  Sid Marty and many more.

 There is also a full slate of live music beginning at noon with Bailey Kate, the Band formerly Known as Karen, Lewis and Pam, Starpainter, DanAlie, Bryan Bradfield, The Band Formerly Known as Karen,  Lewis and Pam and The Cody Hall Band winding down the music stage at 4 p.m.

Before that there are plenty of open mics.

 Peaches and Cream host the Owl Acoustic Lounge  open mic on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

 The Slice has an open mic on Wednesday , Sept. 19 with the host to be announced. Garrett Jackson hosts Honkers Pub’s open mic on Friday at 8 p.m. Kyle Bischke returns to host Honkers Pub”s afternoon open mic on Saturday.

 The Slice has an eclectic weekend planned. They are closed on Friday, Sept. 22 for a private ticketed event with YQLaborate

 The Slice brings back Calgary Cabaret burlesque show plus live music from Fawns and Alec Arms, Sept. 23.

There are lots of tribute acts this week.

Tickets are going fast for the ABBA Revisited tribute, Thursday Sept. 21 at the Yates Theatre. Tickets are $63. Only single tickets remain.

The David James and Big River tribute to Johnny Cash returns to  HB's Lounge, Friday. Sept. 22. Tickets range From $39 to $45. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

With so much going on on Friday, Sept. 8, Calgary punk rock bands  Upside Down Man and The Moröns didn’t have a big of an audience as they deserved.

 I missed a set of punk covers from the Golden Loadies, which featured members of both bands.

 Upside Down man proudly sported their grey hair with pride and cracked self deprecating jokes about being old as they played a solid set  they took audience including a few fellow  “old” people like me  and a lot of younger people eager to experience a taste of  ’90s and early 2000s pop punk.

 They combined elements of metal and lots of ’90s and 2000s pop punk and mixed with ’90s Canadian alternative rock like Matthew  Good band as they slammed through a slid set of old songs and a few new songs featuring punchy riffs and a few harmonized guitar leads and adenoidal vocals similar sounding to Sum 41.

“ We will Make It”  was one of several upbeat highlights.

 Just to show the young punks in the audience  what’s what, they ended their set with a solid cover of Winnipeg punk icons Propagandhi’s “Speculative Fiction,” making for a tough set to follow.

The Moröns were up to the task, playing a frenetic yet laid back style of easy going Los Angeles style pop punk chock full of snarling guitar, and a few hot solos. The bassist leaped around like he was on fire, grinning and shouting background vocals into three separate mic set all over the stage.

 The band played a variety of originals plus a cool punk version of Whitney Houston’s “ I Want to Dance with Somebody,” which had a the audience singing along.

—By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor