by Sarah Scott – Contributing Music Writer
If you’re reading this, congratulations, you’ve survived Sled Island, Cher, Queen, Heart, Royal Wood, Rick Ross and Canada Dayyc… phew! We’ve had a pretty good line-up come to Calgary so far, but that’s not all.
As the month of July is upon us (and hopefully some July-like weather), in addition to patios, food trucks, and stampede parties, there’s no better way to embrace the summer warmth than with a cold beer in hand while checking out the hottest bands.
Get ready to dance and stomp, or rock, your way into July, hopefully with no rain, just shine, at the Coca Cola Stage from July 3rd to 12th. The uber-catchy Said the Whale kicks it all off. Other show’s you should check out are pop-rock foursome Tokyo Police Club, who’ll give you more of a sugar rush than the four sticks of cotton candy you’ve already consumed. Former front man of Default, now country crooner, Dallas Smith, is promising and I’ll always ‘say something’ good about A Great Big World.
If you’re looking for a bumping beat, not a hoe down, you’ll never miss an electronic, supersonic, hypnotic, beat with Datsik, The Chainsmokers, (who may make you feel the urge to take a #SELFE, but please don’t), and Noisecontrollers at Badlands Summer Music Festival. Canada Olympic Park July 4th to 6th.
Party like it’s your birthday, sip Bacardi like it’s your birthday, because it’s 50 Cent’s birthday at Cowboy’s Casino July 6th. You can also find Futures in da club the same night, at Flames Central and he’ll give your ears the present of his signature melodic flow, even though it’s not your birthday.
Those looking for an alternative to the Stampede shenanigan’s, you’ll want to ‘come with me now’ that I’ve told you the KONGOS will be rocking Republick July 7th. But if you’re saddling up to hoe down, Blue Rodeo will be making a rodeo out of Cowboy’s the same night. Emerson Drive will be in their shoes July 8th and The Sheepdogs are following their steps on the 9th and you can be sure they’ll have you howling for more. What a week!
Thanks to Shania Twain, no woman will ever be impressed with most of the men we have in Calgary on July 10th. The man whom I thought would be my ‘forever and always,’ from ages 6 to 7, with a voice of a muscular angel and the heart of a regular angel, Paul Brandt, is playing July 11th. Keith Urban’s songs about love will have girls swooning, but he still has some big shoes to fill in my books, July 12th. All three shows are at the Saddledome.
Speaking of swooning, The Calgary Folk Music Festival will be featuring the sweet sounds of Feist, the vocal and lyrical magic of Hey Rosetta and the mysterious ramblings of Rufus Wainwright.
To wrap up July and help us ‘swing’ into August, The International Blues Festival will be taking Calgary by trumpet, harmonica and guitar with acts like the legendary Bob Margolin, guitar goddess Ana Popvic and award winning, Joe Louis Walker. That’s happening July 31st to August 3rd at Shaw Millennium Park.
The beginning of summer sounds just right. To find out more details about these shows and more, check out your local newspaper, favourite website or just walk down 17th and view all the street posters. Party on Calgary and see you next month!
