Calgary's Best Folk Music Venues & Festivals
Where to Hear Live Folk, Blues, Roots, Celtic & World Music Concerts
Feb 16, 2009
Folk music is arguably the most popular, vibrant and eclectic music scene in Calgary. Its informality and elevation of the ordinary into something sublime appeals to the heart of this city. Nor is Calgary identified by a particular idiom, unlike, say, Chicago or St. Louis blues or the Maritimes Celtic-influenced folk. Yes, country-&-western is popular because of the cowboys, but it doesn't dominate the 'scene'. All different permutations of folk--world, blues, roots, bluegrass--are available for the music-loving visitor to enjoy.
Calgary International Folk Music Festival
The Calgary International Folk Music Festival is a huge international event that takes over Prince's Island Park in downtown Calgary, drawing thousands to watch performers like Hawksley Workman, Don MacLean or Great Big Sea. The mainstage at evening is the biggest draw and people stake their real estate by placing a tarp on the grass there early in the day. The Festival offers a songwriting competition and jam sessions at smaller stages with star performers like Jane Siberry or Sarah Harmer.
Epcor Centre for Performing Arts Music Series:
The Epcor Centre offers three different series for music-lovers.
- BD&P World Music Series: From Cape Verde's Cesária Évora, to Eric Bibb, to the Klezmatics, this series brings in the most celebrated performers from around the world.
- Carma Acoustic Blues Series: Not only has Carma Acoustic Blues brought in stellar blues musicians like Johnny Lee Hooker, but it brings together blues musicians, like harmonica players Kenny Neal and Billy Branch, for live sessions.
- Alberta Sessions: This concert series offers a wide range of different Alberta-based performers per concert. For example, a single evening will present Juanita Brandt, JR Shore, Troy Kokol & Joni Delaurier, and Lester Quitzau, from roots to Spanish guitar.
The majority of folk music concerts in Calgary take place in semi-private clubs. Not that the clubs are exclusive per se, but because they rent performance space in community halls with seat limitations, most tickets are sold to subscribers. They don't even advertise; their subscribers renew faithfully every year. When single tickets do go on sale, they are snapped up very quickly, or long rush seating lines form outside the box office prior to the concert. At least one such club offers an exchange or selling service for subscribers who can't make it to a specific concert.
- The Calgary Folk Club is easily the biggest, longest running and most popular organization of the bunch, having brought in such international talents as Joan Baez, Archie Fisher, the Barra MacNeils and Stan and Garnet Rogers in the course of its 30-year history.
- Nickelodeon Music Club at Crescent Heights Community Hall, seats 193 patrons on a "first-come, first serve" basis, with priority given to season ticket holders if they arrive at 7:20 pm.
- Chinook Music Society's Saturday Night Specials are regularly sold out. They run a ticket exchange buy & sell on their website, however. CMS operates out of the Braeside Community Hall.
- Rocky Mountain Folk Club at the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Centre, focuses on Alberta and Saskatchewan-based performers.
- Bow Valley Music Club at Strathcona Community Hall with houseband, Coyote Moon, brings in talent from across Canada.
- Fish Creek Concerts at the Southwood United Church.
- The Irish Cultural Society hosts ceiladhs, choirs and dances.
This popular Inglewood restaurant offers up some tasty live concerts to go along with its American SW inspired menu.
The King Eddy Hotel
Return visitors to Calgary may recall the King Eddy Hotel, that pungent restroom-impaired bar which pumped out the best blues in Alberta for so many years by folks like T Bone Burnett or Ray Charles. In 2004, it was condemned by the city for a number of serious (and probably well-deserved) health code violations, but "Friends of The King Edward Hotel" are seeking to surpass the old landmark, turning it into a permanent home for The Cantos Music Foundation and blues-lovers throughout Alberta once more. Check it out! They just might throw one of their lively street-parties next time you're around.
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