Concert season is in full swing in Calgary as superstars Selena Gomez and The Who are set to perform at the Scotiabank Saddledome in May. The city will also host Canadian idols Hedley, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Bif Naked to boot. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest and best shows coming your way this month.
Jason Collett
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You loved him in Broken Social Scene, and now Jason Collett is doing the solo thing with the release of this year’s Song And Dance Man. Collett’s cross-Canada tour will make stops in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Ontario, where the singer-songwriter hails from.
When: Monday, May 2, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Festival Hall – 1215 10 Avenue SE, Calgary
Tickets: Available online from $25 to $30. All ages
Sarah Slean
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Fans of Sarah Slean can expect the unexpected when the musician teams up with The Wild West New Music Ensemble on May 4. The ensemble is made up of some of Canada’s biggest and best musicians, many of whom are involved in Calgary’s Philharmonic Orchestra.
When: Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Jack Singer Concert Hall – 205 8th Avenue SE, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $40. All ages
Oliver Heldens
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Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens made a huge splash in 2013 with “Gecko”, which prompted EDM legend Tiesto to sign the rising star to his label immediately. Since then, Heldens has kept busy on the festival circuit, playing to huge crowds at Tomorrowland, Amnesia Ibiza, and EDC.
When: Friday, May 6, 2016 at 9 p.m.
Where: Marquee Beer Market & Stage – 4630 Macleod Trail S, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $45. 18+
The Who
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Quintessential rockers The Who are celebrating 50 years together (technically it’s 51, as the band was forced to postpone their tour last year due to singer Roger Daltrey’s bout with meningitis). Fans can expect to hear classics hits like “My Generation” in addition to the theme songs from CSI, CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. Other Canadian cities on the make-up tour include Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.
When: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome – 555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary
Tickets: Available online from $54.45 to $164.45. All ages
Bif Naked
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She’s a singer, a songwriter, and a motivational speaker, and now Bif Naked can officially add “author” to her resume: her memoir I, Bificus was published last month to rave reviews. Expect to hear stories from the singer’s book in addition to hits like “Spaceman” and “I Love Myself Today”.
When: Friday, May 13, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Marquee Beer Market & Stage – 4630 Macleod Trail S, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $24.95. 18+
Old Man Canyon
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Vancouver’s Jeff Pace began recording Old Man Canyon’s latest album in his basement last year and ended up with more than 300 songs. The band whittled the collection down to just ten tracks and released it as Delirium in January. Songs from Old Man Canyon have been featured on FX’s Sons of Anarchy and MTV’s Awkward.
When: Friday, May 13, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Gateway – 1301-16 Avenue NW, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $13.50. 18+
Hedley
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Canadian idols Hedley are traveling all the way from Vancouver (where lead singer Jacob Hoggard lives) to the Scotiabank Saddledome on May 13, but it’s opening act Carly Rae Jepsen who we’re most excited to see. Jepsen released her criminally overlooked album Emotion last year, which failed to take off despite being chockfull of cheesy pop masterpieces (Billboard magazine calls the singer “Pop’s Most Underrated Artist”).
When: Friday, May 13, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome – 555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary
Tickets: Available online from $39.50 to $79.50. All ages
SNBRN
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Los Angeles producer/DJ SNBRN is so below the radar, he doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page, but that doesn’t stop fans from flocking to his shows. The low-key superstar, born Kevin Chapman, is a veteran of the Ultra Music Festival and plays Flames Central on May 14 as part of his 20-date North American tour
When: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Flames Central – 219-8th Ave SW, Calgary
Tickets: Available at the Flames Central box office for $20. 18+
Selena Gomez
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Instagram star Selena Gomez brings her Revival Tour to Calgary on May 17. Surprisingly, Gomez has yet to receive a single Grammy nomination despite having scored a handful of hits, but she did take home the prestigious “Best Artist With A Cameraphone” trophy at the O Music Awards in 2012. She’s a movie star too, and won the “Actress Most in Need of a New Agent” prize from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists in 2013.
When: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome – 555 Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary
Tickets: Available online from $50.50 to $116. All ages
Young Empires
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Toronto’s Young Empires are in town promoting their latest album The Gates which features the hit single “Uncover Your Eyes”. The band is destined for international success and a number of their songs have been featured on hit television shows like Jersey Shore and Cougar Town.
When: Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Commonwealth Bar – 731 10 Avenue SW, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $18. 19+
Black Mountain
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Vancouver’s own Black Mountain are set to perform at the Marquee Beer Market & Stage on May 19. Their latest album IV was released this year and contains the band’s strongest material to date – in fact, keyboardist Jeremy Schmidt admits that Black Mountain toyed with the idea of calling the disc Our Strongest Material To Date.
When: Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Where: Marquee Beer Market & Stage – 4630 Macleod Trail S, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $20. 18+
Savages
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U.K. punk rockers Savages are playing a handful shows in North America to promote their second album Adore Life. The band, which features lead vocals by Jehnny Beth, received a Mercury Prize nomination in 2013 following the release of their debut album. Seattle’s Head Wound City will perform opening duties.
When: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where: Commonwealth Bar – 731 10 Avenue SW, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $26.50. 18+
Oh Wonder
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British alt-pop duo Oh Wonder had a unique approach when it came to recording their debut album: the pair wrote, recorded and released one song every month for a year, and compiled the tracks to make DIY. The experiment paid off, as DIY hit number 16 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and Oh Wonder are set to play several music festivals this summer.
When: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Flames Central – 219-8th Ave SW, Calgary
Tickets: Available online for $25. 18+
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