Wow -- go on holidays for a week and come back to a big stack of new releases by Alberta artists!!!

This week on the show, we'll hear Jungle Noise from Calgary's Type Monkey Type; ethereal dance-pop longings from Rae Spoon's new release, Love is a Hunter; and high-spirited songwriting from multi-talented Edmonton theatre artist/rockstar/music producer Chris Wynters, from his new release of covers and originals, titled 2010-1982.

And if all that's not enough, how about a tip of the hat to Galaxie Rising Star winners and Western Canadian Music Award nominees, Dojo Workhorse? We'll hear the live set they played in March at the 2010 Alberta Music Series at the Engineered Air Theatre in Calgary!

This summer, CBC Radio and Television are getting together to bring you four hours of great Alberta music, recorded live at Theatre Junction's Grand in Calgary. Artists range from rock band The Dudes, to the Latin jazz fusion of Bomba! From Edmonton's Aboriginal trio Asani, to singer-songwriters Karla Anderson, Tim Hus, Steve Pineo, Kris Demeanor and Colleen Brown.

You can watch Bands @ the Grand, Saturday nights at 7pm on CBC TV; listen for the radio version Saturdays at 5pm, on CBC Radio 1 across Alberta, on the Key of A!  Each episode includes live sets by two artists. Here's the schedule for the next two weeks!

 Saturday July 31: Colleen Brown Band/ Tim Hus

 Saturday August 7: Kris Demeanor and his Crack Band/The Dudes

This week on the show, we head to the 2010 Transcanada Alberta Music Series for performances by three artists, and it's a shadows and light kind of a mix. In the shadows, Edmonton's The Wheat Pool singing songs of loss, regret, and honest longing.

On the other hand, we'll hear sunny rhythm and blues songs from Sonal, and catchy, buoyant melodies from singer and guitarist Noel Johnson.

Plus -- if you're in Calgary, get out and hear some live music this weekend at the Sled Island Festival. It's a jam-packed schedule at venues indoors and out, all over the city, between now and Sunday -- check the Sled Island website for all the latest shows, additions, last-minute changes and photos!

This week on the Key of A, we'll head to the 2010 Transcanada Alberta Music Series for a live set from Edmonton's Mike McDonald -- veteran of bands like Jr. Gone Wild and the Mike McDonald Band. We'll hear him solo -- Mike, his gritty sense of humour, guitar, harmonica and well-traveled voice, playing on the intimate stage of the Engineered Air Theatre in Calgary.

The long-list for one of Canada's most important music prizes has been released. The Polaris Music Prize is voted on by 178 music journalists, bloggers and broadcasters from across the country. Of the 40 full-length Canadian albums on the long-list -- 2 are by Albertans: Ghostkeeper's self-titled release on Flemish Eye Records; and Tegan and Sara's latest, Sainthood.

Plus, fine fiddle music and the very pure voice of Edmonton's Lizzy Hoyt. Her just-released 2nd album is called Home. Co-produced with Jeremiah McDade (of The McDades), the album brings east coast Celtic influences together with Lizzy Hoyt's Alberta-inspired original folk songs.