UPSIDE DOWNTOWN
Concerts + Art on Rotary Square, Casa
Thursdays, July 3 – August 28, 5pm to 7pm
Cash Bar
FREE
This Thursday August 7, 2025: Nuela Charles
Food Truck Guest: La Gloria and SideIce
Known for her soulful vocals, introspective lyrics, and cinematic alternative-soul style, Nuela Charles has solidified her place as a powerhouse in the music industry. Blending James Bond-inspired strings, soul-infused rhythms, and a captivating stage presence, the Kenyan-born, Canada-based artist continues to captivate audiences around the globe.
In 2024, Nuela’s music reached an international stage with a prominent sync placement during the Paris Olympics, cementing her reputation as a sought-after voice for powerful and emotive storytelling. This milestone is the latest in a series of accolades for an artist whose music has been featured on major networks like ESPN, The CW’s Jane The Virgin and in over 15 sync placements to date.
Nuela’s journey began in Kenya, followed by her formative years in Switzerland and Canada. A move to the Bahamas at age 13 ignited her passion for singing and songwriting, and by 17, she was recording her first songs before returning to Canada to launch her career. Her 2012 debut album, Aware, introduced her as a force to be reckoned with, with the breakout single “Unfortunate Love” garnering steady support from CBC Radio and praise from tastemakers like KCRW, Soul Train, and Singersroom.
Her sophomore album, “The Grand Hustle” (2016), earned a 2018 JUNO Award nomination for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year, propelled by the single “Crumbling Down,” which topped the CBC Radio 2 Top 20 charts for seven weeks. Subsequent albums “Distant Danger” and “Melt” continued this streak, receiving JUNO nods in 2019 and 2020, putting Nuela alongside Canadian icons like Michael Bublé and Bryan Adams.
Nuela has graced stages across North America and Europe, including the renowned Reeperbahn Festival in Germany, a London debut, and a US appearance at the coveted “It’s A School Night” showcase, by invitation from KCRW’s Chris Douridas. She has also shared stages with musical legends like Ziggy Marley, Sam Roberts Band, Jann Arden, and Stars.
Her latest self-titled project, Nuela Charles (2022), delivered more of her fiery, genre-defying sound, and she shows no signs of slowing down. 2025 started off with new music with the release of “History,”, building to a highly anticipated album set for Fall 2025. With her ability to connect deeply with listeners and a sound that’s both nostalgic and modern, Nuela Charles is poised for a remarkable year ahead. Join her journey as she reshapes the boundaries of soulful artistry, delivering fearless and authentic music that resonates deeply in today’s ever-evolving landscape.
https://www.nuelacharles.com/
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Upside Downtown Concerts + Art 2025 Schedule
Weekly concerts on Rotary Square at Casa every Thursday night after work from 5pm – 7pm. Meet your friends, have a drink, grab a snack, and listen to local music in the downtown core. While you’re visiting, explore the galleries inside Casa, as it is always FREE.
JULY 3 – Veronica Raine, The Decadent Phase
JULY 10 – Makiisma
JULY 17 – Joce Reyome
JULY 24 – Joshua Beebe & The Forest Orchestra, Willy Big Bull & Wintercount
JULY 31 – John Wort-Hannam
AUGUST 7 – Nuela Charles
AUGUST 14 – Bailey Kate Band
AUGUST 21 – Badlands
AUGUST 28 POP UP, GET DOWN 5pm until 10pm
Shaela Miller + Guests, ADEQUATE!, Hippodrome
A summer dance party with three bands, an art market, and we’re closing 8 Street!
This summer in The Gallery at Casa: Re:Turning the Stories, a community exhibition with over 40 local artists reflecting on their relationship to the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and Nikkei cultural stories in southern Alberta.
Order an Upside Downtown 2025 concert t-shirt designed by Tatianna Cook from Nectar Fine Tattooing and printing by So Normal Print Shop by visiting
http://artslethbridge.org
See all the arts events happening in Lethbridge here:
http://yqlarts.ca
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The Allied Arts Council is thankful to the Upside Downtown sponsors that support arts programming in Lethbridge: FACTOR, Spectrum Ale Works, Westco Construction, Precon, Andrew Hilton, Anova Law Group, CIR Realty, Nectar Fine Tattoo, Safeway, So Normal Print Shop, Tourism Lethbridge, and Warwick Printing. Thank you to our media sponsors: CJOC, The Ranch, and MyLethbridgeNow.com.
If you like this event and other free arts programming supported by the AAC, consider donating here:
https://bit.ly/AACDonate
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