Jim Cuddy and Blue Rodeo play the Calgary Stampede on Monday, July 11. (Julia Pelish file photo/Vacay.ca)
Story by Dan Pigat
Vacay.ca Writer
CALGARY, ALBERTA — The Calgary Stampede is one of the biggest music festivals in Canada, even though it’s not an official music festival. Live bands are everywhere from neighbourhood breakfasts to the Arrivals gate at the airport (Stampede starts once you step off the plane). While we can’t possibly list everything, here are more than 50 acts by time and place to plan your own version of this 10-day party (all times Central Time):
| Thursday, July 7th | ||
| The Dungarees (first of several shows) | 5:30pm | Nashville North |
| The Road Hammers | 6pm | Wildhorse Saloon |
| Christian Hudson | 7pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| JJ Shiplett | 8pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Tim Hicks | 8pm | Nashville North |
| The Dudes | 9:15pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Friday, July 8th | ||
| Walk Off The Earth | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| High Valley | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Saturday, July 9th | ||
| Coleman Hell | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Wes Mack | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Sunday, July 10th | ||
| Blink-182 | 6pm | Cowboys Tent |
| Redfoo & Party Rock Crew | 7pm | Cowboys Dance Hall |
| Classified | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Aaron Pritchett | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Monday, July 11th | ||
| Huey Lewis and the News | 11am | Cowboys Tent |
| Milky Chance | 6pm | Wildhorse Saloon |
| Blue Rodeo | 7pm | Cowboys Tent |
| House of Pain | 7pm | Cowboys Dance Hall |
| X Ambassadors | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Tebey | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Tuesday, July 12th | ||
| John Conlee | 12:30pm, 3pm | Nashville North |
| Reuben and the Dark | 6pm | Wildhorse Saloon |
| Desiigner | 7pm | Cowboys Dance Hall |
| Thomas Rhett with Brett Kissel | 7pm | Cowboys Tent |
| The Sheepdogs | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Deric Ruttan | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Wednesday, July 13th | ||
| Moist | Doors at 3pm | Fort Calgary |
| The Cult | Doors at 3pm | Fort Calgary |
| KISS | Doors at 3pm | Fort Calgary |
| BC/DC | 7pm | Wildhorse Saloon |
| The Strumbellas | 7pm | Cowboys Dance Hall |
| Hunter Hayes | 7pm | Cowboys Tent |
| Jocelyn Alice | 8pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Shawn Hook | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Cold Creek Country | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Thursday, July 14th | ||
| Blackjack Billy | 7pm | Wildhorse Saloon |
| Mother Mother | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Zac Brown Band | 7:30pm | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Kentucky Headhunters | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Friday, July 15th | ||
| Matthew Good | Doors at 3pm | Fort Calgary |
| Serena Ryder | Doors at 3pm | Fort Calgary |
| Don Henley | Doors at 3pm | Fort Calgary |
| Lady Antebellum | 7:30pm | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| Dear Rouge | 8pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Glorious Sons | 9:30pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Washboard Union | 10pm | Nashville North |
| Saturday, July 16th | ||
| Gord Bamford | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Jojo Mason | 9pm | Nashville North |
| Madeline Merlo | 10:30pm | Nashville North |
| Sunday, July 17th | ||
| Ice Cube and Flo Rida | 6pm | Cowboys Tent |
| Simple Plan | 9pm | Coca-Cola Stage |
| Jason Greely & All Star Band | 9pm, 10:30pm | Nashville North |
A few tips for first-timers:
- Nashville North and Coca-Cola Stage are both free with admission to the Stampede grounds. Expect a younger crowd to pack the Coca-Cola Stage both for their pop bands and because Nashville North is a no-minors-allowed affair (warning: a bit of drinking goes on).
- Fort Calgary hosts the two biggest parties for you and 17,000 of your closest friends. It’s a walk to the LRT and buses disperse the crowd to after-party bars free of charge. Note that Fort Calgary was built in 1875 and our pioneers didn’t plan for festival level parking (in other words, don’t bring your car).
- The Grandstand Show is held each night on the grounds and isn’t listed, although it has its fair share of singing, dancing, acrobatics and fireworks. They will likely feature a name you know, and sometimes one of the Young Canadians goes on to make a name for his or herself (the latest: Kiesza).
- You should probably expect this from the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” but most venues are either outdoors or in tents. It gets hot so don’t forget to drink water on top of anything else you use to quench your thirst (no judgment here).
Special mention goes to the Stampede Roundup on Wednesday afternoon. The organizers went all out this year with Moist opening for The Cult opening for KISS. It’s a bit expensive at $120 per ticket until you consider two things: it’s worth it and it’s for charity. More than $200,000 is raised each year by the Rotary Club.
All across the city, whether your taste is more marching bands or Moist, there’s truly something for everyone. And remember, it’s OK for all of us to like country music — at least for these 10 days.
