By Guillermo Barraza
Summer is in full swing, and along with hot weather comes hot music. The tunes are aplenty at these 10 sizzling music festivals scheduled in and around Calgary the rest of the summer. [Photo credit: Bill Marsh for the Calgary Stampede]
The Coca-Cola Stage at the exhibition grounds will be electric for the 10 days of the Calgary Stampede. Performances are scheduled from Theory of a Deadman, Sabrina Carpenter, Nelly Furtado and many more. Enjoy the concerts free with admission to the grounds.
Get wild while listening to classic rock icons 54-40, Randy Bachman, Big Sugar and many more at the annual Wild Mountain Music Festival. The festival features a wide variety of rock, pop, folk, bluegrass and funk music. Festival-goers can catch a shuttle service from the nearby town of Hinton or camp at the picturesque Entrance Ranch.
Celebrating 37 years of filling beautiful Prince’s Island Park with music, the Calgary Folk Music Festival has played host to musicians such as Steve Earle, Corb Lund and Gord Downie. This year, the three-day music festival is set to host Blue Rodeo, City and Colour and Barenaked Ladies, to name only a few.
Dickens Pub will dive into the dark industrial, electronic and synth pop scene this summer as The Birthday Massacre and 3 Teeth will headline the Terminus Festival on separate nights. Other bands, such as Agent Side Grinder and Kite, will play for the first time live in North America.
If you’re a fan of the blues and dance parties, the Calgary International Blues Festival at Shaw Millennium Park is your ticket this summer. The week-long event is family-friendly and includes an art market, appearances from YYC food trucks and a beer tent for the big kids. Musicians scheduled for the event include Big Bill Morganfield (son of blues legend Muddy Water), Bob Hall and local talent Amos Garrett.
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Discover more things to do in Calgary this summer:
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For 25 years, country music fans have flocked to the Big Valley Jamboree for their fill of country classics. Held in Camrose, this year's festival includes country legend Willie Nelson, Keith Urban and Big & Rich. Rounding out the country experience are karaoke contests, beer tents and prizes.
Going on its third year, this rap and R&B all-ages concert just keeps getting bigger. Concert headliners this year include Lauryn Hill, RZA, Migos and Lecrae. The festival is a one-day event, but organizers have moved it closer to the EDM festival Chasing Summer. Combo passes for both events are available.
Get moving to renowned artists such as Tiesto, Zedd and Jaul for two nights at Calgary's electronic dance music festival, Chasing Summer. Tickets can be purchased at a reduced price with One Love Music Festival or individually.
Afrikadey celebrates African culture by bringing in several world-class bands and musicians influenced and inspired by African traditional music. The kid-friendly festival also includes cultural dancing and drumming, as well as fun activities and crafts.
There's a good mix of blues, folk, country and rock n’ roll at this music festival, with money raised going towards STARS Air Ambulance. A fun time for a noble cause, with headliners including Drew Gregory, Domino and Larry Vannetta.
From folk to rap, country to metal, there's music for everyone this summer in Calgary. Enjoy the summer sun and songs at these 10 festivals – but don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes!
