Downtown concert series has grown

By Lethbridge Herald on June 25, 2025.

Sam Leishman
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Allied Arts Council (AAC) is looking forward to its biggest ever Upside Downtown concert series this summer.

Steven Foord, AAC Executive Director, says this event started five years ago as a way to foster a sense of community amidst the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has only grown since then.

The free weekly concerts begin July 3, continuing all the way to August 28. Shows are every Thursday at Casa’s Rotary Square between 5pm and 7pm.

“I think it’s important for the community at large in terms of activating downtown spaces and bringing people out in the community,” Foord told the Herald. “It’s important to keep on stimulating people to get outside, be amongst each other, have a good time and enjoy music together. People have mostly come out of their caves, but we’re still working on that feeling of being out in the community. Activating these spaces makes our downtown just that little bit more vibrant.”

There is a strong lineup of local talent and acts from across the country this year, according to Foord. That includes Lethbridge’s own Shaela Miller and John Wort-Hannam, the blues stylings of Joce Reyome all the way from Prince Edward Island, and the alternative-soul artist Nuela Charles from Edmonton.

Foord says highlighting emerging talent is one major focus for this summer’s event, too. Performances from the Chinook High School Battle of the Bands will be featured during the first two shows, on July 3 and 10. Select performers from Shaela Miller’s youth songwriting camp will help wrap things up at the final show.

A full schedule is available on the AAC website.

“Our music community is not just great for its size, it’s just great – full stop,” Foord says. “We have an incredible wealth of really high-end musicianship and songwriting within our local community. This is a great opportunity to come experience that with no barriers.”

New to the Upside Downtown schedule this year, the Pop Up/Get Down finale will shut down the entire block of 8 St S on August 28 to close out the festivities. Three performers will be featured that evening only, alongside a massive art market. Local artists are encouraged to apply on the AAC website to join the market.