Great gigs: Summer music festivals in Calgary
Summer is a musical time in Calgary. Festivals such Calgary Folk Music Festival and Afrikadey! focus solely on song and dance, while others such as Opera in the Village feature major musical components, and all feature a deliciously vast variety of styles and genres. So, shake, rattle and roll your way to these top music events in summer 2016. Image credit: iStock.com/knape.
Chestermere Town Of
105 Marina Dr, Chestermere, AB T1X 1V7The bedroom community of Chestermere kicks off Chestermere Water Festival with a wakeboard competition on Chestermere Lake. The family-friendly event held in John Peake Park also features the Kids Fun Zone with a bouncy castle and face painting as well as an artisan market. The music starts at 1 pm with roots and rock acts that include Rock Vega, Eve Hell, The Future Relics, John Hastie and The Alibi, Blaine Stillmanis and Blueswak. Headliner Drew Gregory takes the stage at 9:30 pm. A fireworks display wraps the event. July 16.
Calgary Folk Music Festival
PO Box 2897 Stn M, Calgary, AB T2P 3C3Prince’s Island Park is the green and slightly secluded location of Calgary Folk Music Festival, one of the city’s most-anticipated annual musical events. Featuring a rootsy mix of genres from acoustic folk and world beat to indie pop and rock on several outdoor stages, this year’s lineup includes Bonny Prince Billy, Kathleen Edwards, Carolyn Mark, Corb Lund, Lord Huron, Marty Stuart, Whitehorse, The New Pornographers and Cat Power. Purchase single- and four-day passes for this outdoor event. Grass seating is available at the main stage on a first-come basis. July 21 to 24.
Urban Audio
201-501 18 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0C7Held downtown in the open air at Olympic Plaza, Fiestaval Latin Festival is a free multicultural arts and entertainment event focusing on Latin American culture and promising fun for the whole family. Listen to the music of eight Latin bands, and enjoy salsa, rumba, and Zumba dance-group performances. A local artisan market, Latin food vendors and beer garden are also featured. July 22 to 24.
Calgary Blues Music Association
A6433-188 Bowness Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3B 0E6This full week of blues performances takes place on the main stage at Shaw Millennium Park and indoors at Kerby Centre. Entertainers include Dan Doiron Band, The 24th St Wailers, Albert Cummings, A Little Voodoo, Troy Turner Band, Chet DeFreese, Conor Gains & The Ramblin’ Moon, Shemekia Copeland, Debra Power and more. Single-day and weekend passes are available, and free events and workshops including group guitar lessons are featured. July 25 to 31.
Honens International Piano Competition
1170-105 12 Ave Se, Calgary, AB T2G 1A1A four-day piano music festival that promises to “make your ears smile,” Honens Festival is held annually, while the organization’s international piano competition is held once every three years, the next being in 2018. Performance locations include Contemporary Calgary, Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Jack Singer Concert Hall, Royal Canadian Legion No. 1 and Central Memorial Park. International performers include 2006 competition winner Minsoo Sohn, Vexations and Marc-Andre Hamelin. September 8 to 11.
My Website
