The Calgary Stampede and Exhibition may be the greatest outdoor show on earth, but we would like to make the case that it is also the country’s biggest music festival.
For 11 days, Calgary is ripe with music events that turn Stampede into a massive, city-wide music festival hiding in plain sight.
There’s a parade with marching bands and four venues to take in music on the grounds alone. Nearly every Stampede breakfast and corporate event across the city features a trio or two fiddlin’ with country music. And in recent years, music creep has caused live shows of many genres to break out all over the city — in fact, there are too many performances and artists to count.
Like any great music festival, the city-wide Stealth Stampede Music Festival has a multitude of stages and too much going on to see it all. We’ll give you an overview and bring it all together under one banner: Calgary’s Stealth Fest!
On the Stampede Grounds
For just $49, until July 4, you can buy a Stampede SuperPass at participating grocery stores or through the Calgary Stampede website. We know you’ve been thinking of this as a cheap way to get onto the grounds, but instead, think of it as one of the summer’s most affordable music fest passes.
Coca-Cola Stage
Why go: More than 30 concerts are on this stage across the 10 days. Access to Coke Stage, as it’s informally known, is included with your daily admission.
Highlights: Toronto’s Juno Award winners The Beaches bring their catchy, from-the-hip songs to the open-air stage July 9, while another band with TO beginnings, Metric, plays on July 10. The biggest buzz is for July 12 — Orville Peck, who just released the perfect album for the season, Stampede: Volume 1, where his musical street cred blossoms with appearances by Willie Nelson, Elton John and Noah Cyrus. Conveniently, Cyrus brings her beautiful, direct songs to the same stage just before Peck. (Note to Cyrus family super-fans: you can also catch Noah’s half-sister Brandi at the Burwood Music Festival, more on that below.)
Nashville North
Why go: This indoor venue is one of the hottest spots in town during Stampede, and lineups start early and last most of the day. Regular entrance is included in your Stampede admission. But if you purchase a VIP pass for $125, you can skip the line and enjoy an exclusive viewing platform.
Highlights: Hometown sweetheart Lindsay Ell, who you might have caught recently hosting Canada’s Got Talent, closes the whole thing out on July 14. Catch Grammy-winner Ashley McBride July 8 and Georgia peach Megan Moroney July 9.
The Big Four Roadhouse
Why go: The Roadhouse is a semi-detached haven on the grounds, complete with BBQ choices and lots of room to dance, sit, or stand and watch. It’s also indoors, protected from the elements, and most shows are included with your Stampede admission.
Highlights: The lineup’s packed with great music and stars, including former Spice Girl Melanie C on July 5, Austin’s Shakey Graves on July 7 with Canada’s The Dead South opening (this is a separately ticketed event), indie rock stalwarts Dinosaur Jr. on July 12 and multi-platinum artist Jewel closing the show on July 14.
The Saddledome
Why go: Enjoy this iconic venue where legends like Jeff Beck, Aerosmith, Billy Idol and Bruce Springsteen have appeared over the decades. Catch it now because it won’t be around much longer. You need separate tickets to attend Saddledome concerts during Stampede.
Highlights: Motley Crue on July 11, Miranda Lambert on July 12
The Grand Staircase (aka Saddledome Steps)
Why go: Stampede is your chance to get your fill of marching bands — both our impressive array of local groups and many that visit from around the globe — and this is the spot where they congregate with several performances daily.
Fun fact: Speaking of Stampede Grounds, Calgary Heritage Coffee Co. makes a rich, chocolatey medium roast with that name — perfect for getting you up each morning after taking in all these gigs.
Beyond the Grounds
These festivals and tents run from July 4 to 14.
Wildhorse Saloon
500 6 Avenue S.W.
Why go: The vast Wildhorse Saloon Stampede tent appears just in time for Stampede fun. It’s also the official after-party site of events including The Roundup Festival and Oxford Stomp. It features a midway and food from Double Zero and Clive Burger.
Highlights: Nothing beats seeing Corb Lund play his authentically lived Western songs during Stampede week, and you’ll find him here on July 8. Five other concerts occur before the Wildhorse is put away for another year, including Sam Roberts Band on July 4.
Burwood Music Festival
Currie Barracks
Why go: This new festival presented by Calgary’s Burwood Distillery offers an alternative to stampeding in the core, with a huge new tent a mere six minutes by taxi from downtown. A dollar from every Burwood Distillery Pineapple Lemon Cooler will go to Paul Brandt’s Not In My City, a local non-profit organization helping fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Highlights: Rascal Flats’ Gary LeVox plays on July 5, Beastie Boys’ DJ Hurricane appears July 6, and L.A.’s Buckcherry performs July 7.
Badlands Music Festival
725 9 Avenue S.W.
Why go: Presented by Vancouver-based Blueprint, the same folks who operate Commonwealth, this DJ-oriented fest is an escape for people who get woozy when they think of line dancing and pedal steel.
Highlights: Britain’s Chris Lake (July 5) and Swedish House Mafia (July 7) kick country to the curb and do their own thing.
Cowboys Music Festival
421 12 Avenue S.E.
Why go: Situated on the steps of the grounds, the Cowboys tent is a time-honoured way to soak in all the vibes from the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, including fireworks, while skimming the grounds.
Highlights: On July 5, Calgary’s Tate McCrae kicks things off. McCrae soared to well-deserved fame after posting a song she wrote and recorded in 20 minutes on YouTube, earning 31 million views and ending up on Letterman and beyond. Her signature song Greedy has over a billion listens on Spotify. Alberta’s Brett Kissell, who’s had 10 gold singles since releasing his first tracks a dozen years ago, appears July 4.
Back Alley Summer Events Tent
4630 MacLeod Trail
Why go: An early bird pass is $199 with a payment plan available, and food trucks are on site. Easy access to the C-Train means no paying surge pricing to Uber.
Highlights: At least Loverboy is one band touring with most of their original members. Catch them July 4. I Mother Earth plays July 8.
National Saloon Festival Tent
330 11 Avenue S.W.
Why go: This new tent is located behind National on 10th in the Beltline. As another Concorde venue, you can be sure that things will go smoothly and a good time will be had by all. Tickets are reasonably priced at $20 to $40 for most days.
Highlights: Round out your trip down musical memory lane with 54-40 on July 5 or The Watchmen on July 9. Better yet, step into the present with The Sheepdogs on July 11.
Other Venues and Events
As if the plethora of temporary stages were not enough, there is more music to be had.
As you consider your line-dancing, toe-tapping and whiskey shooting options, don’t overlook solid one-off gigs at the places that offer music year-round.
The Ship & Anchor’s classic Hank and Patsy Night happens July 10 when groups like Red Hot Hayseeds, Carter Felker, Rifle County Players and others cover the classic tunes of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. This is a cover gig without a cover charge, topped off with a free midnight pancake breakfast.
For two decades, Tom Phillips has played the Ironwood Stage and Grill on parade day, strumming nearly every country song he knows, which means his July 5 gig with his band The DTs might go until the 7th.
Over at the King Eddy, The Dungarees present Five Days in July, a tribute to Canada’s longest-standing country rockers, Blue Rodeo, the same evening.
No Stampede is complete without a visit to Ranchman’s, where it doesn’t matter what time or day you arrive, you’ll feel like you’re living in a Western movie for a few hours.
Folks who want to skip the whiskey can support Last Door Recovery Centre’s Sober Stampede, a free event on July 6 at 11 Avenue and Macleod Trail S.E. starting at noon. Fred Penner takes to the kids’ stage, and Trooper headlines the main stage (albeit without a single original band member). There will also be a bouncy castle and horse rides available.
In contrast, The Bootleggin’ Breakfast, on July 9 at the Westin and on July 11 at the Fairmont Palliser, features platinum-selling artist Tim Hicks, Aaron Pritchett and Cory Marks, among others, with proceeds going to support Zero Hungry Kids, who provide meals to Calgary children through schools.
Having moved around to a couple of different venues since leaving its long-time home at Fort Calgary (now The Confluence), the storied Oxford Stomp takes place on Prince’s Island on July 12 this year, featuring George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Tom Cochrane, and Serena Ryder with proceeds supporting the Calgary Food Bank.
And after a hiatus last year, The Roundup MusicFest will also be at Prince’s Island for the first time on July 10. The Goo-Goo Dolls headline, supported by The Gin Blossoms and Crash Test Dummies at this cashless event.
