Folk Club to host first fundraiser concert

By Lethbridge Herald on December 5, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

At its heart, folk music is by, about and for the people. Its endurance lies in the way it transforms ordinary experiences into cultural memory, revealing how communities define themselves through the stories they choose to tell.

The Lethbridge Folk Club has been bringing live music to town for over 46 years. This year the Club is pivoting from being a local music presenter doing 8-9 concerts per year, to bringing more music, to more people, in more communities at little or no cost to the public.

On Dec. 12, the Club will hold its first ever holiday fundraiser event “Friends and Folk” at McKillop United Church at 7 pm to help  raise money for these initiatives.

“This summer we plan on bringing Porchfest to Lethbridge. This will bring six musical artists to six different hosts in one selected community for an hour-long concert at each home over a 6-hour period of time,” says Folk Club treasurer Phil Rosenzwig. 

“This one-day music festival has been popular in Medicine Hat and other communities for over six years and we’re pleased to be able to bring this to Lethbridge this summer.”

Porchfest Lethbridge is a free community-driven event featuring local musicians performing live music on porches and front lawns. It is designed to be a family-friendly event where attendees can stroll or bike between performances at a variety of locations, similar to other Porchfest events in different cities. 

The inaugural event in Lethbridge will also include food trucks and is intended to foster a sense of community and support local artists.

“We (also) hope to host or participate in some educational events to Lethbridge for musicians this summer and make it a part of our annual offering to local musicians starting this coming fall,” says Rosenzwig.

The club is working with community organizations like the Interfaith Food Bank, the League of YQL Neighbourhoods and the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge to bring community concerts andhouse concerts to their events and communities.

Popular Canadian singer songwriter Leanne Lightfoot and local band Reid & Writes will be headlining the celebration with a few more surprise musical guests. 

Leanne Lightfoot is not a stranger to the Lethbridge Folk Club, having performed here with her trio of upright bass player, Jamie Newsom, and guitarist, Jim McLennan in a sold-out performance in February 2025. 

“Leanne treated us to some advance renditions from her soon to be released and critically acclaimed album Still Knowing,” says Rosenzweig. “We must have been pretty impressed as a shot from that show now graces our website and our Gnarly Notes Coffee (that we sell as a fundraiser).” 

Top it off with a holiday atmosphere and special carrot cake (donated by Fran at the Corner Cafe) and the Club’s Gnarly Notes Coffee (roasted by Cupper’s) and Rosenzwig says Friends and Folks is an irresistible part of your holiday celebrations.

The event will also be a collection point for food donations to the Interfaith Food Bank of Lethbridge and the Club requests concertgoers bring a non-perishable food item with them.

Established in 1979, the Club was incorporated as a non-profit society with the goal of providing a venue and forum for folk music. Founders included neighbors Jim Mountain, Doug Snelling, and Maureen Chambers.

The club has hosted artists such as Valdy, Spirit of the West, and the Rankin Family. Early festivals were also organized, including one in 1981 at the Fort Whoop-up site. Over the years, the club has operated in various locations throughout Lethbridge, including the German-Canadian Club, the Moose Hall, The Cave at Lethbridge College, and CASA and the Army Navy Air Force Veterans’ Club.

The club hosts regular concerts and open stages with the current venues being the Army Navy Air Force Veterans’ Club. for concerts and McKillop United Church for open stages. We also use other local venues in town depending on the particulars of other concerts.

It continues to champion artists performing folk, roots, blues, country, bluegrass, and Canadiana music and local and Alberta artists.