29 concerts you can't miss during the Calgary Stampede

Jun 28 2017, 10:05 am

Not only is the Calgary Stampede the greatest outdoor show on Earth, and the largest gathering of cowboy hats north of Texas, it’s also one of the best concert venues in western Canada this summer.

Below is a list of some of the concerts we’re most excited about, starting with the multi-act shows from July 6-16.

iHeartRadio WestFest, July 8

iHeartRadio WestFest is a huge music event to kick off Calgary Stampede. Doors open at 2:00 pm and the show is scheduled to go from 3:00pm to 10:00pm at Shaw Millennium park. The show will feature lots of great artists including Hedley, Fifth Harmony, Iggy Azalea, Scott Helman, Noah Cyrus, and many others. Tickets are available online.

Roundup MusicFest, July 11

Roundup MusicFest will bring Calgary three critically acclaimed bands at the same show. Capital Cities, Duran Duran, and Walk Off The Earth will perform at Shaw Millennium park starting at 3:00pm. Tickets are available online.

Stampede Shaker, July 12

Tom Cochrane with Red Rider, Sloan, Trooper, and Steven Page will be performing at Stampede Shaker in Fort Calgary. General admission comes with a free bus ride to and from downtown, admission to Calgary Stampede on July 13, and entrance to the official After Party. The show goes on rain or shine, and bringing your camera and cowboy hat along is encouraged. Tickets are available online.

Oxford Stomp, July 14

Corey Hart, Our Lady Peace, and Serena Ryder will each be bringing their unique musical talents to Fort Calgary. General admission comes with a free bus ride to and from downtown, the Rotary Club of Calgary’s beef-on-a-bun dinner, and entrance to the official After Party. Tickets are available online.

Coca-Cola Stage

For 10 consecutive days, the Coca-Cola stage will host concerts from local, national, and international artists. If you like the sound of that, you’ll love this; every concert on the Coca-Cola stage are free to attend with admission to Stampede Park.

USS, July 7

This band loves playing with genre, often breaking down acoustic rock, EDM, hip hop, orchestral, and pop music and reworking them into something unique. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Theory of a Deadmadman, July 8

This Vancouver based hard rock band has been active since 2001 and are the winners of the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards, Rock Recording of the Year award for their album Scars & Souvenirs. In January of this year, they announced they were recording their sixth studio album. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Sabrina Carpenter, July 9

A young talent that’s storming the music industry with talent and enthusiasm, Sabrina Carpenter released her first album when she was 15-years-old and has since released two more. Her headline EVOLution Tour has travelled across more than 35 American Cities. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Nelly Furtado, July 10

A Canadian artist with a musical career over 20 years long, Nelly Furtado has made five albums and sold over 16 million records worldwide. She has won many awards including a Grammy Award, a Latin Grammy Award, and 10 Juno Awards. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Marianas Trench, July 11

Debuting in 2006 with their single, Fix Me, this Vancouver band has skyrocketed in popularity. They have had two certified Platinum-selling records, and have won awards including the 2013 Juno Award for Group of the Year. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

The Strumbellas, July 12

In 2016, their first single, Spirits, managed to soar to the top of radio charts in several countries. It was certified Gold in the United States, Germany and France, and Double Platinum in Italy as well as their home country, Canada. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Alessia Cara, July 13

A 20-year-old artist from Ontario, she started her music career when she was 13 by starting a YouTube channel where she posted her acoustic covers of songs. Since then, she has made three top 10 singles and inspired fans with performances that are often described as disarming, endearing and intimate. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, July 14

American singer-songwriter, Ben Harper plays a mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae, and rock music. He’s well known for his musical talent as well as his activism. In 2016, he collaborated with The Innocent Criminals to create the album Call It What It Is, the first they’ve made together since 1999. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Whitehorse, July 15

Another band that experiments with music, the husband and wife duo started by playing folk music but began blending the sound with rock and psychedelic style. The Ontario couple has made four albums and has been active since 2011. The show starts at 9:15 pm.

July Talk, July 16

From Toronto, this strong indie band has been active since 2012 and have released two albums. Their style has been described as powerful, confrontational, and sensual, and has garnered fans around the globe. The show starts at 9:00 pm.

Guitarist on stage for background, soft and blur concept

(PopTika/Shutterstock)

Virgin Mobile Stampede Concert Series

From July 12-15, four of the biggest names in music will be performing in the Saddledome, during the Virgin Mobile Stampede Concert Series, a staple show of the Calgary Stampede.

Johnny Reid, July 12

The Scottish born country artist moved to Ontario when he was 13 and moved to Nashville to pursue his music career. His latest album, What Love Is All About, was made for Universal Music Canada and was released on November 13, 2015.

Brooks & Dunn

An American country music duo, these two have recorded 10 studio albums, one Christmas album, and three compilation albums. 20 of their 50 released singles made it to the top of the Hot Country Songs charts and 19 more made it to the top 10.

Alabama

An American country, Southern rock, and bluegrass band formed in 1969, their blend of country with influences from gospel and pop gave them a wide audience. They have over 30 number one country records on the Billboard charts and have sold over 75 million records.

Usher & The Roots

Eight-time Grammy award winning artist, Usher will be joined by The Roots for the last day of the Virgin Mobile Stampede Concert Series. Usher is seen as one of the best-selling artists in American music history, with over 75 million album sales worldwide. He has also received 178 awards as well as 310 award nominations.

Nashville North

Image: Meghan Patrick / Facebook

Nashville North is an event that will be happening every night from July 6-16. Each night will be a great way to end your day at Stampede with awesome country artists, a cold drink, and the perfect chance to dance your cares away. Entry to Nashville North is free with admission to Stampede.

Thursday, July 6 – Chad Brownlee

Friday, July 7 – Aaron Goodvin

Saturday, July 8 – The Dungarees

Sunday, July 9 – Endless Summer, Neal McCoy, The Cadillac Three

Monday, July 10 – Cam

Tuesday, July 11 – The Dead South, Jess Moskaluke, Doc Walker

Wednesday, July 12 – Cold Creek County

Thursday, July 13 – Jojo Mason

Friday, July 14 – Chris Buck Band

Saturday, July 15 – Meghan Patrick

Sunday, July 16 – Trevor Panczak

There isn’t room on this list for every Stampede concert. There are tons of awesome performances at Ranchman’s, Wildhorse Saloon, and Cowboys, as well as great acts throughout the day on the Coca-Cola Stage. Have fun and enjoy some music this Stampede!

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