Calgary’s newest music and arts festival is deeply, proudly Albertan. It’s all right there in the name.
“When I was a kid, I used to go fishing a lot with my dad, and [in] the angler’s rules and regulations books, there would be a map with all the different regional zones in the province,” explains Tory Rosso. “‘Eastern Slopes’ — ES1 — is actually the geographical region that this province is located in.”
It’s here, where the foothills meet the prairies, that the inaugural Eastern Slopes Music & Arts Festival kicks off this weekend and brings some razzle-dazzle to Bridgeland.
“This [is a] really, really neat geographical region,” continues Rosso. “We wanted something that spoke to that and is indicative of where we live. You can’t drive down the 22X and tell me that’s not one of the most beautiful roads ever.”
Rosso, a musician himself, is the festival’s artistic director. This new one-day outdoor festival is the brainchild of Rosso, marketing director Meghan McMaster, director of finance (and fellow musician) Ian St. Arnaud, and executive director Hannah Unterschultz.
“I’ve always been a big idea person,” says Unterschultz. “I am really, really impressed by the talent that I’m surrounded by on a regular basis, and I just wanted to find a way to showcase that in one spot for one day.”
A lineup of 14 musical acts ranging from bouncing hip-hop to fuzzy rock ‘n roll and indie take over two stages for the day, both inside the L-shaped Bridgeland Riverside Community Association and outside facing Murdoch Park. 12 of those groups call Calgary home — the other two (Good Information and K-Riz) are from Edmonton. Don’t hold it against them!
Some acts you’ll want to catch include hometown indie heroes The Ashley Hundred, the strutting Western ballads of The Rifle County Players, and Zenon’s soulful hymnals. St.Arnaud will also be playing, joined onstage by Rosso.
“We figured, you know what? Let’s book one band that we both played together,” laughs Rosso. “And we gave ourselves a little afternoon slot; nothing crazy!”
“There are a lot of incredible festivals that come through the city, but they do seem to bring folks from the outside and showcase that art,” says Unterschultz. “This year, we really want to uplift the community that we’re currently in and really showcase what those folks have to offer.”
This commitment to local extends to the festival’s partners, which include CJSW, Freshwater Creative (who helped build a website for Eastern Slopes), and Last Best. “Having that kind of energy backing [us] up has been really powerful and wonderful to have,” says Unterschultz. A wide swath of local food trucks will also surround the festival, not to mention the Bridgeland businesses just down the street. Tickets are good for re-entry, so go ahead and duck over to Roma’s Pizzeria for a slice between bands.
“I’ve talked to a bunch of local residents there in the community, and [the] feedback that I got was that Bridgeland hasn’t done anything like this before,” says Rosso. “What makes this a unique venture is the space that we’re in!”
For Vancouver-to-Calgary transplant Unterschultz, Eastern Slopes — which the organization hopes to make an annual event — is a chance to showcase what she loves about Cowtown. “When I am in Calgary, I feel so welcome. I feel so comfortable. People smile on the street,” she says. “I feel like [the festival] just absolutely embodies the city, this warmth, this love and this friendliness.”
Don’t miss the Eastern Slopes Music & Arts Festival on August 31 in Bridgeland. Tickets and details at easternslopesfest.com.
