Calgary Stampede Ready to Rock Again

Every July Calgarians dig out their cowboy hats and boots, which usually spend most of the year at the back of a closet safely away from any actual cows. But 2020 and 2021 were, well, different. This year, people are once again planning to party — with a vengeance — and visitors from around the world are once again expected to join.

While the parade and rodeo get headlines, few realize that the Calgary Stampede also hosts one of the biggest music festivals in Canada. In 2022, not only is live music back, but there is a diverse roster of acts and genres, from EDM to rap to old-school rock (and, of course, there’s lots of country).

You’ll hear bands playing everywhere from the airport to your local pancake breakfast. The best stuff, though, figures to be on stage at the venues in and around the Stampede grounds. All together, they will host more than 65 acts. Here is where to go and a few ideas on who to see over the packed 10-day event.

Nashville North is a massive 18-plus pop-up tent that’s known to be lively all afternoon and night. It’s on the Stampede grounds and is free with admission, but get there early because its great music draws a crowd. Who to See: Tenille Townes (July 8) is a standout from Grande Prairie who is appearing in a number of festivals this year while Jade Eagleson (July 16) is the holder of “the most globally streamed debut album by a Canadian-signed country artist in history.”

The King Eddy is still going strong five minutes from the Stampede gates, despite the weight of Studio Bell, aka the National Music Centre, over and around it. Stop in throughout the week to this original home of the blues in Calgary to see smaller acts in an old-school venue with no cover charged for daytime shows. While there, slip into the National Music Centre to see and hear Canada’s musical history and play some unique instruments.

Cowboys has undergone a long evolution from its downtown roots as a little outpost called Dusty’s back in the day. Every year it sprouts a massive tent for acts too big for the nightclub that is inside the eponymous casino. Conveniently for festival-goers, Cowboys is right outside the Stampede gates. Who to See: It’s a great venue to get up close to the Zac Brown Band (July 12) and close Stampede in style with POLO G + FLO RIDA (July 17).

Shaw Millennium Park turns from skatepark into a bowl full of cowboy hats on both Wednesday and Friday of the Stampede. Roundup Musicfest (July 13) starts in the afternoon with Said the Whale, The Strumbellas, Young the Giant, and the Offspring. Oxford Stomp (July 15) is next with Kyle McKearney, Serena Ryder, Our Lady Peace, and the Black Crowes.

The Big Four Roadhouse used to house a large casino but has found new life as a proper indoor venue. Who to See: Kevin Costner & Modern West (July 8) kick things off after the Hollywood star is done with his duties as parade marshal. The first Sunday (July 10) is the big one with Whitehorse, Matt Mays, The Mavericks, and Steve Earle & The Dukes.

Wildhorse Saloon is yet another big tent production right in downtown Calgary that’s on all of the bus crawl lists. Who to See: Stop in to catch The Watchmen (July 8) or Stars (July 12).

Scotiabank Saddledome is only hosting one event this year, but it’s a big one with Blake Shelton (July 16).

Coca-Cola Stage is a favourite of the younger crowd with free outdoor concerts every day on the grounds. Who to See: It’s hard to recommend just a few with so much range and some pretty impressive names, but we’ll go with Milky Chance (July 10), Alexisonfire (July 11), July Talk (July 12), The Beaches (July 12), and Carly Rae Jepsen (July 14). It’s fitting to close with Kiesza (July 17) who is back on the grounds where she used to perform each night with the Young Canadians in the Grandstand Show.

2022 Calgary Stampede Concert Schedule

When	Where	Who
Thursday, July 7	Big Four Roadhouse	Dwayne Gretzky
	Nashville North	Meghan Patrick
	Coca-Cola Stage	JP Saxe
	Cowboys	Brett Kissel
Friday, July 8	Big Four Roadhouse	Kevin Costner & Modern West
	Nashville North	Tenille Townes
	Coca-Cola Stage	Bahamas
	Coca-Cola Stage	Half Moon Run
	Wildhorse Saloon	The Watchmen
	King Eddy	Robert Adam
	Cowboys	James Barker Band
Saturday, July 9	Big Four Roadhouse	Lennon Stella
	Nashville North	Tebey
	Coca-Cola Stage	Saint JHN
Sunday, July 10	Big Four Roadhouse	Whitehorse
	Big Four Roadhouse	Matt Mays
	Big Four Roadhouse	The Mavericks
	Big Four Roadhouse	Steve Earl & The Dukes
	Nashville North	Jordan Davis
	Nashville North	Nate Haller
	Coca-Cola Stage	Milky Chance
	Coca-Cola Stage	The Rural Alberta Advantage
	Cowboys	Marshmello
Monday, July 11	Big Four Roadhouse	Aqua
	Nashville North	Tim Hicks
	Nashville North	Hunter Brothers
	Cowboys	Brothers Osborne
	Cowboys	Zach Bryan
	Coca-Cola Stage	Alexisonfire
Tuesday, July 12	Big Four Roadhouse	T-Pain
	Nashville North	Chris Lane
	Nashville North	Shawn Austin
	Coca-Cola Stage	July Talk
	Coca-Cola Stage	The Beaches
	Wildhorse Saloon	Stars
	King Eddy	Drew Gregory
	Cowboys	Zac Brown Band
Wednesday, July 13	Big Four Roadhouse	Lupe Fiasco
	Nashville North	The Reklaws
	Nashville North	SACHA
	Coca-Cola Stage	Tash Sultana
	King Eddy	Blake Reid Band
	Shaw Millennium Park	Said The Whale
	Shaw Millennium Park	The Strumbellas
	Shaw Millennium Park	Young The Giant
	Shaw Millennium Park	The Offspring
Thursday, July 14	Big Four Roadhouse	Sublime with Rome
	Nashville North	Lindsay Ell
	Nashville North	Nice Horse
	Coca-Cola Stage	Carly Rae Jepsen
	Cowboys	Jimmie Allen
Friday, July 15	Big Four Roadhouse	The Funk Hunters
	Nashville North	Steven Lee Olsen
	Coca-Cola Stage	Cold War Kids
	Coca-Cola Stage	Tokyo Police Club
	Coca-Cola Stage	The New Pornographers
	Coca-Cola Stage	Wolf Parade
	Shaw Millennium Park	Kyle McKearney
	Shaw Millennium Park	Serena Ryder
	Shaw Millennium Park	Our Lady Peace
	Shaw Millennium Park	The Black Crowes
Saturday, July 16	Big Four Roadhouse	DJ Jazzy Jeff
	Nashville North	Jade Eagleson
	Coca-Cola Stage	Kaskade
	Scotiabank Saddledome	Blake Shelton
Sunday, July 17	Big Four Roadhouse	Grandson
	Nashville North	Tyler Joe Miller
	Coca-Cola Stage	Alessia Cara
	Coca-Cola Stage	Kiesza
	Cowboys	POLO G + FLO RIDA

Visit the Calgary Stampede’s website for further details and ticket info.