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CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘A little something for everyone': Growing Stampede music scene offers eclectic mix
Music has always been a big part of Calgary Stampede but organizers have worked to boost that over the past few years, attracting a variety of options. Calgary Stampede maintains its title as 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,' with its world-famous rodeo, chuckwagon races and grandstand show, but a new slogan is rising as well. 'The Greatest Music Festival in the West,' said Allison Wright, program director for the Calgary Stampede. Over the 10-day event, Stampede offers more than 100 performances, including Arkells, Tenille Townes, Kaleo, Don Toliver and Simple Plan. Superstars including Shania Twain require tickets to get into the Saddledome, but many acts don't cost anything beyond admission to Stampede Park. Country music is front and centre, of course, but far from the only option. 'Initially, we thought it was just going to be a bunch of country music because it's Stampede, but it's nice there's a lot of pop music,' said Frianca Jirel from High River. 'We're definitely looking forward to seeing Simple Plan on Sunday,' said Samantha Reyes. 'We were excited to see the country, but it's nice to bounce back and forth between the others. There's a little something for everyone.' said Haylee Guigera and Jasper Willans from Australia, who were pleased to see the Aussie band Cat Empire performing at Stampede. 'We feature country, obviously—that makes sense. We also look at other genres to make sure we are appealing to the Calgary demographic broadly. Stampede is that—it is the community engagement in all things Stampede-related, and music is a key piece of that,' said Wright. 'I was surprised at the amount of artists they get and people who are more famous than I thought they would get,' said Willans. Music has always been a big part of Calgary Stampede but organizers have worked to boost that over the past few years, attracting a variety of options. Music has always been a big part of Calgary Stampede but organizers have worked to boost that over the past few years, attracting a variety of options. Stampede says it tries to secure popular artists, and sometimes the performers get even more popular after they've been booked. 'Sometimes we have artists that have a hit once we contract them in that draw a new crowd or audience that was maybe a little different than we anticipated, but really we're excited when these artists find their way to Stampede,' said Wright. There are several options off the grounds, too, including Badlands festivals featuring EDM and South Asian music called Stampede Mela. Oxford Stomp has offered a bustling festival with big-name artists for 35 years, but organizers say there is a lot more competition now. 'Back when we first started, we were kind of the big music festival. The entire 10 days of Stampede is now a music festival—it's really amazing how many incredible bands come to Calgary,' said Rob Dubeau. Dubeau says for its second year at Prince's Island Park, Oxford Stomp expected a crowd of about 8,000 people for their lineup of Hotel Mira, Dear Rouge, The Sheepdogs and Sheryl Crow. Playing any venue during Stampede has become a hallmark for many artists. Dear Rouge played the Coca-Cola stage and now Oxford Stomp. 'Stampede, I think, is always on everyone's list. It's amazing because it's already the biggest festival,' said Drew McTaggart of Dear Rouge.
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede, July 11: New Canadian citizens sworn in 60th anniversary of First Nations Princess
Article content Article content While the Calgary Stampede is not likely to lose its boastful moniker 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,' organizers of the 10-day spectacle have been taking great effort in recent years to add to its branding to emphasize there is more than a rodeo happening at Stampede Park. Article content It is also being sold as 'The Greatest Music Festival in the West,' a testament to the eclectic music programming that takes over four venues on the Stampede grounds. Article content Article content Where else can you watch fireworks 10 days in a row? Calgary has the special privilege of a spectacular nighttime show starting at around 11 p.m. from July 4 to 13 while the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth takes over the city. Article content Article content Want to know where you can best see the fireworks? Here are the four best spots to take in the Stampede fireworks from around the city. Article content Stampede Park Article content While not free, this option gets you the best possible view. The fireworks shoot off right after the Grandstand show ends and you can get the best close-up view while on the Midway or right outside the rodeo grounds. Article content Scotsman's Hill Article content This spot has the best free vantage point. It is right across the river from the Stampede grounds in the community of Ramsey. Article content Scotsman's Hill a very popular spot for fireworks viewing so show up early to find a spot to park and sit. Getting dropped off by a generous family member or a ride-share or taxi is a great option. Article content A little farther north from Scotsman's Hill is Tom Campbell's Hill Natural Park. Near the Calgary Zoo, this spot still is close enough to give a great view of the fireworks. Article content There is a parking lot on the north side of the park and is an 11-minute walk from the Calgary Zoo CTrain parking lot.
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede, July 9: Stampede-goers beat the heat Hundreds expected for weekend powwow
Article content 'Even though it's gone through a number of changes, there are three underlying principles that have guided the chuckwagon races since Day 1,' said Melville, who loves talking about the sport his grandfather, Orville Strandquist, excelled in at as both a driver and an outrider for seven decades up until the 1990s. Article content 'A chuckwagon race does three things. Number one is that it tests the skill of the driver; number two is that it tests the skill of the outriders; and number three, it demonstrates the speed of the team. It's really no more complicated than that.' Article content Article content While the Calgary Stampede is not likely to lose its boastful moniker 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,' organizers of the 10-day spectacle have been taking great effort in recent years to add to its branding to emphasize there is more than a rodeo happening at Stampede Park. Article content Article content It is also being sold as 'The Greatest Music Festival in the West,' a testament to the eclectic music programming that takes over four venues on the Stampede grounds. Article content Where else can you watch fireworks 10 days in a row? Calgary has the special privilege of a spectacular nighttime show starting at around 11 p.m. from July 4 to 13 while the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth takes over the city. Article content Want to know where you can best see the fireworks? Here are the four best spots to take in the Stampede fireworks from around the city. Article content Stampede Park Article content While not free, this option gets you the best possible view. The fireworks shoot off right after the Grandstand show ends and you can get the best close-up view while on the Midway or right outside the rodeo grounds. Article content Article content Scotsman's Hill Article content This spot has the best free vantage point. It is right across the river from the Stampede grounds in the community of Ramsey. Article content Scotsman's Hill a very popular spot for fireworks viewing so show up early to find a spot to park and sit. Getting dropped off by a generous family member or a ride-share or taxi is a great option. Article content A little farther north from Scotsman's Hill is Tom Campbell's Hill Natural Park. Near the Calgary Zoo, this spot still is close enough to give a great view of the fireworks. Article content There is a parking lot on the north side of the park and is an 11-minute walk from the Calgary Zoo CTrain parking lot.
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede, July 7: Robot Rodeo set to begin Military display seeing heavy foot traffic
Article content 'Even though it's gone through a number of changes, there are three underlying principles that have guided the chuckwagon races since Day 1,' said Melville, who loves talking about the sport his grandfather, Orville Strandquist, excelled in at as both a driver and an outrider for seven decades up until the 1990s. Article content Article content While the Calgary Stampede is not likely to lose its boastful moniker 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,' organizers of the 10-day spectacle have been taking great effort in recent years to add to its branding to emphasize there is more than a rodeo happening at Stampede Park. Article content Article content It is also being sold as 'The Greatest Music Festival in the West,' a testament to the eclectic music programming that takes over four venues on the Stampede grounds. Article content Where else can you watch fireworks 10 days in a row? Calgary has the special privilege of a spectacular nighttime show starting at around 11 p.m. from July 4 to 13 while the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth takes over the city. Article content Want to know where you can best see the fireworks? Here are the four best spots to take in the Stampede fireworks from around the city. Article content Stampede Park Article content While not free, this option gets you the best possible view. The fireworks shoot off right after the Grandstand show ends and you can get the best close-up view while on the Midway or right outside the rodeo grounds. Article content Article content Scotsman's Hill Article content This spot has the best free vantage point. It is right across the river from the Stampede grounds in the community of Ramsey. Article content Scotsman's Hill a very popular spot for fireworks viewing so show up early to find a spot to park and sit. Getting dropped off by a generous family member or a ride-share or taxi is a great option.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Calgary Stampede: What the 'Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth' says about the economy
The first Calgary Stampede was held in 1912, but the event known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth has exploded in growth, attracting nearly 1.5 million people last year. Economists say the Stampede acts as a bellwether for the overall provincial economy and sets the stage for how people are feeling. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC - image credit) The purple toasted cob of corn shines under the afternoon sun as 25-year-old Allison Zhou lifts it up to show her friends on the opening day of the Calgary Stampede. It's ube-flavoured and covered in white and black sesame seeds. The cost? $15. "Overpriced, but it's my first Stampede," said Zhou, who moved to the city a few months ago from Toronto. "It's very unique, so I'm down to try it." Advertisement At the midpoint of 2025, it's been a tough rodeo for Canada's economy so far, ever since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, sparking a tumultuous trade war with wide-ranging impacts on consumer spending, jobs and travel plans. For all the talk of a recession, there are few signs of economic hardship as the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth." as the Stampede bills itself, kicks off in Calgary — a 10-day long celebration with midway rides, bucking broncos and dozens of concerts. Allison Zhou tries out ube-flavoured corn as she enjoys her first Calgary Stampede. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC) Splurging and hunting for deals Colton Denis, 17, bought a SuperPass and plans to attend every single day of the Calgary Stampede. Advertisement Does he have a budget? "Heck no. Spend all of it," he joked, while walking to the midway looking for pizza. "10 out of 10. This is going to be awesome." It's not just teenagers in the mood to splurge. Doug Coleman, 64, is visiting from the Maritimes to take in the festivities, and he hopes to see singer Shania Twain, this year's parade marshal, who will also be performing. This week, Coleman is firmly putting aside any thought of fiscal restraint. "I'll be OK. It's just a tap," said Coleman, motioning how he'll be paying with his credit card. "I'll buy what I want. I deserve it." Parade marshal Shania Twain rides a horse Friday as she leads the Calgary Stampede parade through the city's downtown. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) There's less talk about being frugal in favour of shelling out cash for a good time. Advertisement Some of the menu items on the midway include a $26 bucket of crocodile-themed lemonade, a $13 jumbo corndog, and a $16 basket of garlic parmesan fries. General admission tickets are now $25 for an adult, compared to $18 in 2015. For all the extravagant spending and often hefty price tags at an event like the Stampede, some people feel like they can still find a bargain. Fred Parafina, 55, sports a big grin as he holds up two pairs of Lane snake-skin boots he bought for his wife at a western wear shop near the midway. They're her favourite brand, and he called the $200 he spent an "amazing" deal. Advertisement WATCH | Why the Stampede can be a bellwether for the economy: Record-setting chuckwagon auction set the tone The Stampede is home to the most famous chuckwagon race in the world, known as the "Half-Mile of Hell." A few months before the race, companies bid on the chance to sponsor each team and have their logos displayed on the canvas covering each wagon. The 2025 tarp auction set a record for the highest average bid. The total tally of $3.84 million fell just short of the all-time high of $4.015 million set in 2012 — the Stampede's centennial year — which included 36 drivers, compared to 27 this year. Reigning chuckwagon champion Jason Glass takes centre stage at the 2025 tarp auction in April as companies bid on the chance to sponser teams competing in the Stampede's famous chuckwagon race. (CBC) At the April auction, reigning chuckwagon champion Jason Glass hauled in the top individual bid of $230,000 from Birchcliff Energy, surpassing last year's biggest bid by $20,000. Advertisement At the time, Glass called the result of the bidding "a great relief," considering the economic volatility and trade uncertainty was prominently on everyone's mind on the eve of the auction. But the economic worries of a few months ago seem largely in the rearview mirror, at least in Alberta. Oil prices this year have repeatedly soared and plummeted, like riding the Outlaw roller-coaster. Resource-based provinces including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador are generally fairing better than trade and manufacturing-focused provinces such as Quebec and Ontario. Staycations and American visitors a boon Stampede attendance soared to an all-time high in 2024, with 1,477,953 visitors, surpassing the previous record set in 2012. Advertisement Organizers are expecting similar numbers this year, possibly even bigger ones. Various passes are selling well, while premium seats for the rodeo and chuckwagons sold out before Stampede began. "There are a lot of people staying closer to home this year," said Stampede spokesperson Julie Forget. "This is one of the biggest events in Canada, and I think it's on a lot of people's bucket list to come and check out." Fewer Americans are travelling north of the border to Canada this year, although Calgary is proving to be an outlier. In April, 8.9 per cent fewer U.S. residents made the trip to Canada compared to the same month in 2024, according to Statistics Canada. Advertisement The number of Americans travelling specifically by air to major Canadian airports showed a drop of six per cent in April . However, at the Calgary International Airport, the figures were completely different , with U.S. arrivals up by 29 per cent. "We think people are going to be staying closer to home and perhaps going to the Stampede," said ATB Financial chief economist Mark Parsons, who is also expecting another record-setting year for attendance. "We also see Americans continue to come to Alberta and that bodes well for visitor spending." Despite the fact that Canada is in the middle of a trade war and consumer sentiment has been rattled by inflation in recent years, there's optimism in Alberta, Parsons says, with the first-ever liquified natural gas exports this week, renewed enthusiasm to build major energy projects in the country, and relatively low interest rates. Advertisement Calgary's population is booming, too, with nearly 100,000 new residents in 2024. Parsons says the Stampede is a bellwether of the overall Alberta economy because "it really sets the stage for how people are feeling." Stampede attendance reached an all-time high in 2024 with 1,477,953 visitors, surpassing the previous record set in 2012. Organizers are expecting similar numbers this year, if not higher ones. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC) And people like Calgarian Todd Scott are feeling excited. He's arrived at the Stampede grounds with four kids in tow. His budget is "unlimited," and with food, rides and carnival games, he expects money will quickly go out the window. "The whole thing is a splurge."
