Stampede may be cancelled for 2020, but 2020 can’t cancel country music and community spirit!
Live music has always been a key part of the Calgary Stampede. Normally in early July, Calgary would be bustling with people headed to the Stampede Grounds to enjoy a performance at the Coca-Cola Stage, see a show at the Saddledome, or two-step at a Cowboys’ concert. But this year has been anything but “normal”.
Despite the cancellation of the Calgary Stampede, Calgary has proven to be a place that doesn’t give up easily on a good time. We Calgarians are still wearing our finest plaid shirts to virtual hangouts, swing dancing in our kitchens, and sitting in drive-thru lineups to get our annual dose of mini donuts, proving that you can take the Stampede from the city, but you can’t take away the city’s Stampede spirit.
At Stagehand, we’re continually working to find opportunities for artists who have been affected by event cancellations. We're collaborating with governments at the municipal and provincial levels, as well as partnering with various organizations that share similar goals. Part of our work has been to assess the local artists living in Alberta. What we’ve come to realize more and more is, there is a lot of world-class music that can be described as "local". It makes sense right? Local breweries, local bakeries, locally-sourced restaurants—“local” often means quality! Now more than ever, it's a good time to connect with our communities and love local.
Inspired to do our part to keep the Stampede spirit alive, we’ve created a playlist featuring Alberta artists from the country and alt-country genres. So turn on your griddle for some pancakes or crack open a cold drink, put on a cowboy hat and turn up Stampede Sounds: country music by Alberta artists!
