CUFF CONTINUES TO BRING WEIRD, PERSONAL, CURATED CINEMA TO CALGARY
THINGS TO DO MUSIC AND GIGS VISUAL ARTS
CALGARY NOSTALGIA CAM HAYDEN COMIC
24 CALGARY NOSTALGIA
Roller skating is baked into Calgary's DNA and continues to offer an inclusive space for all ages.
We acknowledge the traditional territories and the value of the traditional and current oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
9 ART SCENE
The Calgary Underground Film Festival brings a personal, weird touch for its 23rd year and counting.
4 ACT 1, SCENE 1
What to do, see, and hear this month across the city.
8 INTERVIEW
Mixed-media artist Noah Milo explores the complexities of Calgary through thoughtprovoking, abstract art.
Tiny Wonders: A Wunderbriefs Retrospective livens up the +15 with puppets and expression.
18 2026 SCENESTERS
Meet some of the coolest tastemakers around town, and get their top picks for what to do, see, and eat around the city.
26 MUSIC SCENE
John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson of The Bangles bring music history to the prairies.
Cover art: Gus Rendell
Publisher Käthe Lemon, klemon@redpointmedia.ca
Editor Nathan Iles, niles@redpointmedia.ca
Editorial Staff
Evelina Pak, sceneeditorialintern@redpointmedia.ca
Print/Digital Production Manager Mike Matovich CONTRIBUTORS
Lissa Robinson, Krista Sylvester, James Martens, Gabriella Lindland, Cam Hayden, Sarah Comber, Jarrett Edmund, Mary-Lynn Wardle, Alan Johnson, Sofia Velasquez
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada
The Scene is a member of the Alberta Magazine Publishers’ Association and abides by its professional standards. redpointmedia.ca 1721 29 Avenue SW, Suite 375, Calgary, AB, T2T 6T7
28 VENUE
The Kensington Rock Shop is slinging band shirts and putting on extremely loud punk shows.
29 CREATIVE SCENE
This horse-inspired workshop at Open Door Farm emphasizes slowing down in an increasingly digital world.
30 Cam Hayden
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MACH MEDIA
SkyCastle Roller Rink
What to do in April
ARTIFACT FILM FESTIVAL
April 2 to 4 | multiple venues | artifactfilmfestival.com
April isn’t just for the Underground Film Festival. Calgary also hosts the Artifact Film Festival, formerly known as the $100 Film Festival, the city's oldest of its kind. The original challenge was to shoot a short film on just four rolls of Super 8 film for around $100. Today, the festival continues to celebrate its analog roots, showcasing small-format works shot on Super 8, 16mm, and 35mm. Some films are poetic, some experimental, others feel like personal diaries, a reminder of the tactile charm of film in an increasingly digital world.
MAPPING HISTORY: THE CALGARY ATLAS PROJECT
April 2 to May 16 | Lougheed House | lougheedhouse.com
In 2019, the Calgary Atlas Project launched to recover important stories about Calgary through maps exploring the city’s history and culture. This month, Lougheed House hosts a series of events with the artists behind the maps, where visitors can explore the art of mapmaking, join a walking tour, or take part in a workshop. Throughout the month, a lineup of talks will cover topics like Calgary architecture in 40
buildings, the literary scene of the 1920s, and the history of transportation in the city. All lectures are free and led by historians. Whether you’re new to the city or a longtime local looking to see it through fresh eyes, dive into Calgary’s past.
A DOLL'S HOUSE
April 7 to May 3 | Max Bell Theatre | theatrecalgary.com
As Leo Tolstoy famously wrote, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” That observation still rings true today, as the complexities of marriage remain an enduring theme in literature, cinema, and on stage. Written by Henrik Ibsen and newly adapted by Amy Herzog, A Doll’s House makes its Canadian premiere, exploring the unravelling of a seemingly perfect marriage and the secret that threatens it.
THE CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS
April 9 to 12 | multiple venues | folkawards.ca
If you’re craving folk music and can’t wait for the summer festival season, the Canadian Folk Music Awards return to celebrate the city’s vibrant folk community. The program features four bilingual concerts exploring storytelling, contemporary folk, traditional roots music,
BY EVELINA PAK
and family-friendly performances. Alongside the music, award presentations recognize creativity, diversity, and cultural impact within Canada’s folk scene.
SPARK AFTER DARK CALGARY: SCIENCE OF SPORTS NIGHT
April 10 | Telus Spark Science Centre | sparkscience.ca | 18+
Who says sports and parties don’t mix? Science of Sport Night puts that theory to the test with an evening that blends athletic performance and nightlife energy. Try axe throwing, explore the science of adrenaline and focus, get practical fueling tips from
Taylor Nutrition, and much more. The best part? A retro dress code! Neon tracksuits, leg warmers, and flashy ski goggles are all encouraged. Maybe you’ll pull out some treasures from your family’s attic.
WESTERN CANADIAN REPTILE EXPO
April 18 to 19 | Acadia Recreation Centre | wcre.ca
Chances are you know someone fascinated by reptiles: a colleague obsessed with biology, a friend who never quite got over the Ninja Turtles phase, or maybe it’s your niece who begs for a pet gecko. A reptile expo offers the chance to see a wide range of species up close, interact with them and take fun pictures. Vendors will also be on site with supplies and expert advice. Beyond snakes and lizards, the event features some other animals, including sloths, wallabies and kangaroos.
FEAST ON FOURTH
April 22 to 26 | 4th Street | 4streetcalgary.com
Food festivals have become a regular fixture in Calgary, with nearly every month offering something new. It’s no surprise, given the city’s culinary range: from French macarons
PHOTO: COURTESY WESTERN CANADIAN REPTILE EXPO
PHOTO: KELSEY HEINTZ
Ron James
Western Canadian Reptile Expo
Spark Science of Sports
PHOTO: RICHARD BELAND
and Spanish tapas to Korean street food and British pub fare. Already hungry? You know the drill: $10 per dish, as you taste your way around the world.
RON JAMES: THE NOISE BETWEEN OUR EARS
April 23 | Jack Singer Concert Hall | werklundcentre.ca
Sometimes humour is the only way to make sense of the world today. One of Canada’s top comedians, Ron James, stops by Calgary to tackle the topics that worry many: U.S. politics, aging Baby Boomers, ADHD, and many other everyday struggles we face. While the show isn’t strictly 18+, it does have an adult feel.
MATTERS OF RHYTHM & HARMONY
April 23 to May 10 | DJD Dance Centre | decidedlyjazz.com
Sabrina Naz Comănesc presents a new double feature dance performance, directed by Kimberley Cooper and Vicki Adams Willis, with live music by the Carsten Rubeling Quintet. The first act draws inspiration from life’s transitions, natural crossroads, and the cultural bridges between the northern and southern Caribbean. Act two is an intimate set, featuring shorter pieces, improvisation, and artistic conversations. The run of shows includes a post-show talkback with the artists and a relaxed performance designed to create a more inclusive audience experience.
PETFEST
April 24 | Spruce Meadows | sprucemeadows.com
Get ready for endless “aww” moments as adorable pets take the stage in a variety of shows, including fan-favourite corgi races and dachshund dashes, horse show jumping, sheepherding demonstrations, and more. Explore a mini-animal petting zoo and browse 60+ vendors offering pet-inspired products, food, and treats (for humans too).
CANADIAN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY
April 25 | multiple venues | cibabooks.ca
Celebrate independent bookstores, the heart of Canada’s reading community. Over 300 shops nationwide are joining in with giveaways, discounts, exclusive products, author events, and more. Local favourites include Owl’s Nest Books, Shelf Life Books, and The Next Page. Pick up a few reads and show them your love.
THE STARLING EFFECT
April 30 to May 9 | Vertigo Studio Theatre | verbtheatre.com | 16+
Known for unconventional stories, Verb Theatre, together with Reckless Daughter Creative, presents a mind-bending sci-fi thriller. The Starling Effect, written by Lara Schmitz, unravels a double murder, a daring rescue, and a journey through a maze of haunting memories. In stories like this, you never know what comes next — and that’s what makes it exciting.
Onstage in April
BY CATRINA BOWLES
FROM INDIE FOLK TO ORCHESTRA AND PUNK, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
THE ROCK ORCHESTRA BY CANDLELIGHT
Hear your favourite rock and metal songs from bands including Metallica, System of a Down, and My Chemical Romance in this 90-minute concert backed by a classically-trained orchestra. If that’s not cool enough, the whole thing is lit with candles for peak moody vibes. April 3, 8 p.m. at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, jubileeauditorium.com
COBRAH
An opener for Charli XCX and collaborator with Ashnikko, Swedish-born COBRAH knows her way around an electropop club banger. Dance your heart out to tracks from her new album, Torn. April 5, 7 p.m. at The Palace Theatre, thepalacetheatre.ca.
MALDITA
It’s a punk rock party with the Latina-fronted
Maldita coming all the way from Toronto, along with local punk rockers Citizen Rage and Shorts, all coming together to tear the place up. April 12, 2 p.m. at Pinbar, pinbaryyc.com
SAID THE WHALE
Vancouver indie rockers Said the Whale are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a Canadian tour. Pop rock and folk fans will feel right at home with Said the Whale’s West Coast sound. April 16, 6:30 p.m. at the Commonwealth Bar and Stage, commonwealthbar.ca.
KIM CHURCHILL
For a show full of heart and warm vocals, be sure to check out Kim Churchill on the Calgary stop of his "Lovely" tour, presented by Calgary Folk Fest. Churchill’s indie folk tracks, full of storytelling and a sense of adventure, may just draw out a happy tear or two. April 17, 7 p.m. at Festival Hall, calgaryfolkfest.com.
DUELLING PIANO KINGS
There are no DJs getting mad at you for requesting songs at this show; the Duelling Piano Kings want them! You may have spotted duelists Pat McGannon and Craig Learmont over the summer at the Calgary Stampede Cellar Champion Wine Experience, and they’re back again for another show “where your requests rule.” April 17, 8:30 p.m. at the King Eddy, kingeddy.ca.
VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS
While in Calgary, we may only have two seasons (summer and cold), you can experience up to four of them this month when internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi takes on Vivaldi’s iconic violin concerto. April 17, 7:30 p.m. at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, calgaryphil.com
CASTLE
Thrash it out with San Francisco heavy metal doom band Castle at their Calgary leg of their “Double Vision” tour. Supported by Hazzerd and Denimachine, you’ll be left buzzing (and with ringing ears) on your way out the door. April 17, 8 p.m. at the Palomino, thepalomino.ca
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
A lovesick fool, a girl running circles around her grumpy old keeper, and a baritone so famous even your non-opera friends know his name.
What could go wrong? Catch this hilarious show and find out. April 18, 19, and 24 at the Jubilee Auditorium, calgaryopera.com
SHAUN KIRK
All the way from sunny Melbourne, Australia, Shaun Kirk is bringing his blues-and-soul stylings to Calgary. Come see the acts that shared billing with the likes of John Mayer and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin in a cozy venue. April 21, 7 p.m. at Congress Coffee Company, congresscoffeeshop.com.
NOBRO
Nobro’s 2023 album Set Your Pussy Free snagged a Juno nomination for rock album of the year in 2025, and they’re ready to rage right here in Calgary. This is a show you’ll leave wanting to throw your middle finger at your boss the next day. April 22, 8 p.m. at Commonwealth Bar and Stage, commonwealthbar.ca
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH TENILLE TOWNES
Hear the hits of 17-time Canadian Country Music Awards winner Tenille Townes, alongside the stylings of the Calgary Phil. The orchestra, alongside Townes' soul-searching lyrics are sure to tug at any country-lover's heartstrings. Tissues are optional, but encouraged.
April 23, 7:30 p.m. at the Bella Concert Hall, calgaryphil.com.
The Sheepdogs
PHOTO: MAT DUNLAP
PHOTO: ERIC HAINES
Castle
SEA OF LETTUCE/PØLTERGEIST
It’s two floors of music bliss at the Palomino, with something for everyone’s taste. Post-punk hunx Pøltergeist headline a gothy night upstairs, while dreamy indie troubadors Sea of Lettuce celebrate the release of their latest EP, Open Doors, downstairs. April 24, 8 p.m. at the Palomino, thepalomino.ca
THE SHEEPDOGS
After a Rolling Stone cover contest rocketed The Sheepdogs to stardom, the rock band has raked in multi-platinum album sales and four Juno awards. And now, they’re bringing their Saskie rock bangers to Calgary. April 24, 6:30 p.m. at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, greyeagleresortandcasino.ca
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAYS FESTIVAL
End the month on a jazzy note. The annual JazzYYC Festival brings international and local musicians to some of Calgary’s finest venues. Alongside major concerts, the festival pairs its main lineup with smaller shows throughout the week, like Celebrating Louis Armstrong at Bella Concert Hall and the Shane Statz Duo in a vintage '20s-style speakeasy. April 29 to May 5, multiple venues, jazzyyc.com.
BLACK FLAG
It’s not your dad’s Black Flag coming to Calgary, because the band has a yet another new lineup. On the mic is Max Zannelly, the first-ever femme vocalist in the punk band’s nearly 50 years on stage. Don’t miss the Greg Ginn summer camp experience; they’re playing not one, but two sets back-to-back. May 3, 7 p.m. at Dickens, dickensyyc.com.
KARAK AUJLA
Karak Aujla made music chart history when his latest album, P-Pop Culture, was the highest debuting Punjabi-language album on Billboard. Catch him live before everyone claims they were a fan first. May 6, 6 p.m. at the Saddledome, scotiabanksaddledome.com.
The Sheepdogs
PHOTO: RYAN CLARK
Pøltergeist
INTERVIEW
THE SPACES WE SHARE
TRAVELLING BETWEEN COUNTRIES AND STUDIOS, NOAH MILO EXPLORES THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE CITY THROUGH ABSTRACT ART
BY EVELINA PAK
Raised between Saskatoon and Cairo, Noah Milo draws on personal experiences of migration in his artistic practice spanning painting, fashion and film. Working with oil paint and mixed media, he creates expressive abstract works that invite viewers to reflect on identity, community, and the spaces we share. Some of his works are currently on display on the TELUS Sky building screens as part of the Art While You Wait digital exhibition program.
A 300-SQUARE-FOOT STUDIO
“I grew up in a very religious and conservative household. When I was 17, I was already into fashion and filmmaking, and art became my way to escape, a way to distract myself from feeling like I couldn’t be who I was.
“At the time, I was applying for grants, and I was lucky to receive one from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. It helped me get on my feet. I was renting this 300-square-foot studio right across from my high school. Sometimes I could live there for free if I did extra work for the owner.
“That eventually turned into travelling between different studios and working under artists around the city. At one point, I was staying in City Centre Mall in Edmonton, right in the heart of downtown. I passed by a gallery there and met a Palestinian artist, Hanny Al-Khoury. I took his mentorship, unpaid, but in return, he gave me space to work. The studio eventually became my living space as well.
“That experience shaped my The City Is a Problem series. Meeting people from different cultural, social and economic backgrounds gave me a lot of perspective on what I wanted to accomplish with my artistic practice. Art gave me the ability to focus on people’s experiences and to retell those stories.”
WHAT IS UTOPIA?
“I’m working on a series called Solutions for the City, a follow-up to The City Is a Problem That project came out of the years when I was
“ RENATURALIZING CITIES [AND] INTRODUCING MORE NATURE
transitionally homeless and hearing the stories of other people who were living rough. There, I began tracing common lines among marginalized communities in the city — whether by race, gender, class, or sexuality.
“I also curated an art show called Eyes on the Street, which brought together 16 local artists responding to the idea of the urban settlement city. The show helped me see how different people inhabit and experience urban space from very different perspectives. It also opened a dialogue about what it means to be Canadian living in an urban environment.
“What is utopia? What does an ideal city look like for the communities that live there?
“I think we often place the blame on individual behaviour, as if the person is the problem. But the places around us have a direct impact on our psychology. A hostile city creates hostile
individuals. Renaturalizing cities [and] introducing more nature and more art can create spaces where people can heal.”
OUTSIDERS
“I’m very inspired by graffiti culture and by that whole idea of making your mark in a space and claiming it as your own.
“From a formal art history perspective, I’m also influenced by abstract expressionism and German expressionism, especially the woodblock and printmaking practices from that period.
“There was a movement in Eastern Europe called CoBrA — artists who were influenced by the rawness of children’s drawings and the art of psychiatric patients. They definitely had an impact on me because I’m always trying to get back to the kind of creativity I had as a child. When you’re an amateur and learning
FASHION BRAND BY NOAH MILO & YRON GERONA
“[Yron and I] have been co-designers on the project since high school. It’s called "Jonas," after my little brother. At its core, it’s a streetwear brand, but it’s inspired by avant-garde runway fashion designers like Rei Kawakubo and the work coming out of Comme des Garçons.
“The brand is structured around 19 collections. One day, I was crossing the street, and the pedestrian countdown started at 19. I thought: ‘What if I created a self-destructing fashion brand to limit the amount of work and waste produced by the line?’
“For Jonas, we centre the brand around upcycling materials. I still work at a fabric store, so a lot of the resources come from scrap bins or thrift stores.”
something new, that’s when the most truthful ideas come out.
“Children are very sensitive to the world around them. As artists, we try to hold on to that sensitivity. For me, art becomes a universal language: if a kid can look at my work and connect with it, then I know it can resonate across generations.”
This Q&A was created in collaboration with Werklund Centre.
Noah MIlo: anewmilo.com | @anewmilo | @j.onas
JONAS:
PHOTO: YULIIA MATUS
PHOTO: YULIIA MATUS
Small Wonders in a Big Ecosystem
TINY WONDERS: A WUNDERBRIEFS RETROSPECTIVE BRINGS PUPPETS TO THE PLUS 15
BY LISSA ROBINSON
The enduring popularity of The Muppets is proof that audiences haven’t lost their appetite for felt, foam, and subversive fun. Puppetry continues to evolve across screens and stages, but some of its most inventive expressions unfold on a much smaller, more mobile scale.
Tucked into Calgary’s downtown +15 network, Tiny Wonders: A Wunderbriefs Retrospective is a captivating exhibition in the +15 Galleries at the Werklund Centre, presented in partnership with the Festival of Animated Objects Society. The show offers a rare closeup look at animated object theatre and the interdisciplinary practice behind contemporary puppet performances. Everything is White is an autobiographical performance by Mexican artist Almendra Vergara that combines storytelling and puppetry through her delicate paper constructions, collages, and cut-outs. Artist Sara McNeil, meanwhile, uses discarded trash, layered with felt or paint, to build familiar yet fantastical creatures like a frog in a suit or a crocodile disguised as a leopard.
These window installations give viewers a rare behind-the-scenes view into how animated object theatre or film sits uniquely at the intersection of visual art, storytelling, performance, and design.
THE MAGIC OF THE POP-UP PUPPET SHOW
Many of the works featured in Tiny Wonders originate from the Wunderbriefs program, a staple of the Festival of Animated Objects. Wunderbriefs are mini puppet interactions designed to be flexible enough to pop up almost anywhere: corners, hallways, sidewalks, lobbies, or basements. Their stages can be built from suitcases, old radios, wagons — you name it.
The performances themselves are equally adaptable. Some are designed as intimate oneon-one encounters, while others invite small groups to gather around a tiny theatrical world.
That portability allows artists to meet audiences wherever they happen to be and collapses the usual distance between performer and viewer.
A GALLERY NETWORK HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
In the context of the Werklund Centre’s multilevel winding corridors, the format for Tiny Wonders is natural. The building is first and foremost a performing arts hub, where hallways guide audiences between theatres and through the +15 network. Along the way, those same spaces double as exhibition platforms, transforming everyday passageways into accessible galleries where visual art unfolds during the flow of daily movement.
The exhibitions on display in these otherwise liminal stretches are the centre’s contribution to making gallery spaces more multimedia, engaging, and accessible. Visitors encounter a series of rotating exhibition spaces embedded directly into the architecture. The Window Galleries line the corridor near the Max Bell Theatre, while Ledge Gallery provides room
for larger installations. Lightbox Studio, located near the Martha Cohen Theatre, hosts studio-based projects, and +15 Soundscape introduces sound art into the mix. Together, they create an informal indoor art crawl, one that unfolds naturally within the flow of daily downtown life.
A FITTING MOMENT
The exhibition’s final month also lands near April 15, when the global arts community marks World Art Day. This year’s theme, A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community Through Art, feels apt for a space like the Werklund Centre, where multiple creative platforms coexist under one roof.
Visiting Tiny Wonders before it closes offers more than a look at miniature puppet worlds; it’s also a chance to see the building in transition, with several surrounding gallery spaces preparing to refresh with new exhibitions in April. As one miniature world folds back into its suitcase, new artistic encounters are already taking root throughout the centre.
IN THE GALLERIES THIS MONTH
TRÉPANIER BAER GALLERY
Paul Kuhn: Revelations
Opening March 14, 2026
In his inaugural exhibition, Paul Kuhn presents abstract paintings shaped by decades of engagement with contemporary art as a gallerist and arts advocate. Emphasizing colour, line, texture, and surface, the works balance structure and atmosphere. Influenced by European modernism and American minimalism, the practice explores disciplined abstraction, discovery, and quiet visual intensity.
ALBERTA CRAFT GALLERY
Rebus Plates For Our Times
Until May 9, 2026
Calgary artist Mireille Perron presents large, hand-painted ceramic plates using the visual language of rebuses, which are pictorial puzzles that encode words and phrases. Drawing on historical rebus traditions, the works reference floods and wildfires to reflect shifting climate vocabulary and eco-anxiety, inviting viewers to decode urgent messages about environmental crisis and collective responsibility.
CONTEMPORARY CALGARY
Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens: Stacking Crates to Reach a Banana
Until August 16, 2026
Artist duo Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens explore how human and non-human bodies are measured, observed, and valued within scientific and social systems. Video and handmade sculptures reference diagrams, experiments, and productivity studies while exposing the limits of quantifying behaviour and raising ethical questions about reducing bodies to data points.
Tiny Wonders Installation by evvie lightpirate
NO FORMULA, JUST FILM
N"WE WANT OUR AUDIENCE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING ... AND FEELING LIKE THEY’RE PART OF A COMMUNITY, WHATEVER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.”
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CUFF DIRECTOR BRENDA LIEBERMAN
AFTER 23 YEARS, THE CALGARY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL’S PERSONAL TOUCH FEELS FRESH AND WELCOMING
BY CATRINA BOWLES
o matter how much of a film buff you consider yourself to be, you’ll struggle to compete with the team at the Calgary Underground Film Festival.
“We watch a lot of movies. I, at one point, was counting that I was at about 1,000 movies a year,” said Brennan Tilley, operations manager and lead programmer at CUFF.
The Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) started in 2003. While CUFF has won awards like MovieMaker magazine's "50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee," at its core, CUFF has one primary goal for the films it programs: they must “defy conventions.”
“We’re really looking for something that … pushes some sort of boundary,” said Tilley. “While also being mindful that we’re putting together a package for an audience that hasn’t seen quite everything we’ve had, but enjoys seeing the type of stuff that excites us.”
Or, to put it more simply, the CUFF team is looking for “films that are fun to talk about around the proverbial water cooler,” according to Tilley.
The programming philosophy of “defying
convention” has led some to believe that CUFF only shows “a bunch of transgressive, genre stuff.” In reality, the film choices reflect the programmers’ preferences and what they think the Calgary community will enjoy.
“All of our personal tastes shine through,” said CUFF co-founder and festival director Brenda Lieberman. “We’ve got cat lovers. We have film geeks. We’ve got people who target subcultures and niche communities and underrepresented groups, and we try to look for some films that find the nerd culture … [of] the city.”
COMMUNITY FEEL
Letting the programmers’ interests shine through leads to a diverse festival, but it’s keeping the audience in mind that keeps people coming back year after year.
“I do think that they’re looking for the curated, unique taste and [to see] films that they wouldn’t necessarily find otherwise,” said Lieberman. “Ultimately, I do believe that people love the community feel and the vibrancy of the festival.”
Film festivals have a reputation for catering solely to film buffs and being inaccessible to everyday filmgoers. But in Lieberman’s experi-
If there’s a movie on the CUFF roster that you’re interested in seeing, but you can’t convince anyone to go along with you, there’s no reason you can’t go alone. In fact, CUFF encourages solo film viewing; the community will meet you there.
“We don’t really like to do two-for-one tickets where you feel like somebody needs to always have a buddy,” said Lieberman. “We want our audience to feel comfortable coming by themselves and feeling like they’re part of a community, whatever their circumstances.”
PERSONAL TOUCH
Staying on the cutting edge year after year is time-intensive. With programmers watching more movies in a year than many people could get through in a decade, lightening the load with technology may be tempting. But it comes with sacrifices.
“From a programming standpoint, somebody could check in a bunch of parameters and get an AI to figure out what we should show. But
we’re all about trying to connect to our local community,” said Lieberman. “It’s important for our team to be at screenings, watching in the audience. And those are things that AI can’t be involved with.”
With the prevalence of streaming platforms, a human-curated experience not only offers a more personal one but also a more unique one.
“There’s some stuff that’s going to be different from what you’ve seen,” said Tilley. “In this age of the algorithm, Netflix can show you the same true crime documentary you watched last week, right? The computer knows you love it. Here it is again.”
Not every film shown at CUFF is going to be to everyone’s tastes, and that is by design. Major movie studios churn out formulaic films that are just good enough to sell tickets. And as long as the box office numbers stay high, they’ll keep doing it.
Whether you love or hate a movie at CUFF, you’ll know you saw it because a person — not an algorithm or marketing executive — cared enough to put it on the screen.
Catch the 23rd Calgary Underground Film Festival from April 16 to 26. Grab tickets at calgaryundergroundfilm.org.
PHOTO: ELYSE BOUVIER
Lights, Camera, Alberta
THE PRAIRIES ARE REPRESENTED HEAVILY AT THIS YEAR'S CALGARY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
BY KIARA NEISZ
RINO MIOC
Edmonton-based director Rino Mioc debuts his film Earth to Colby, a mockumentary about a paranormal-obsessed girl's disappearance. A horror fan since early childhood, Mioc has long been drawn to this genre.
“I started watching horror films in elementary, and I was so moved by them that I just gradually decided that that's the kind of stuff that I'd want to make too,” said Mioc.
The film explores the choice to follow your own path and push back against societal norms. For Colby, that means an unwavering pursuit of the paranormal.
“It's okay if people want to approach life a different way than you do, and that's kind of Colby's whole thing. All she ever wants to do is investigate the paranormal,” said Mioc. “I hope to kind of inspire people to find a way to pursue their own art and dreams.”
JODY WILSON
Jody Wilson’s Vancouver-shot film
The Bearded Girl takes a unique approach to the classic coming-of-age tale of finding where you belong.
Originally from Jasper, Wilson has had a lifelong love of film, attending the theatre no matter what was playing.
“I think my inspiration is a film for a story for people who really don’t feel like they fit in. Maybe some of it was my own growing up,” said Wilson.
The movie was filmed in Vancouver but made to look and feel like rural Alberta, where Wilson grew up.
“My favourite was wanting to keep it an approachable, easy to digest, fun story, and then take the lesson so it's hopefully relatable by all types of people and different ages,” said Wilson.
SIMON GLASSMAN
Stand-up comedian, cartoonist, and caricaturist Simon Glassman brings a unique twist to his film Buffet Infinity, which is heavily inspired by late-night TV commercials.
“Going through all the commercials and feeling like there has to be some kind of connection between all of them or fantasizing if maybe there was,” said Glassman.
This Edmonton-made film stitches together separate ideas in unexpected ways, creating a story that the viewers can slowly piece together. Glassman recruited his friends and family to help with and act in the film, even casting his own baby.
“I just have a giant bank of buddies and friends and acquaintances that were just willing to work for dirt cheap and help me out,” said Glassman.
BUDDY DAY
Calgary local Buddy Day turned the camera on punk legends NOFX in his documentary 40 Years of Fuckin' Up, which follows the punk band's chaotic history and legacy. Day didn’t take the direct path into film despite growing up with parents in the industry; he started out in healthcare before deciding film was for him.
“I grew up with NOFX, getting to spend two years with those four guys who I idolize was surreal and intense, and I've never laughed so hard in my life,” said Day.
This project was on Day’s list of dream projects he wanted to make, and the opportunity took him to film in Japan, Australia, the United States, and right here in Alberta.
“We had incredible access to NOFX and the punk rock community at large, and why the film works is because they were willing to be completely honest, and just allow themselves, allow the film to be real,” said Day.
BRENDAN LYLE
Cape Breton filmmaker Brendan Lyle brings his music video expertise to his movie Tracy & Martina: Goin’ Out West, a mockumentary that follows two internet personalities touring across Alberta. Originally tagging along to film social media content, Lyle realized there was potential for something more there.
“There was this one scene where they got into an argument. It felt so real that, even when I was watching, knowing these are just my friends, it felt different from all the other Tracy Martina content out there. So I ended up cutting together like this entire movie essentially,” said Lyle. The film centres around friendship, and the idea that no matter what happens, that bond will never be broken.
“For me, it is about friendship. I see a friendship between Tracy and Martina that is so real and authentic and deep,” said Lyle.
PHOTO: ADRIEN VECZAN
PHOTO: ALEX RIPA
PHOTO: COURTESY BRENDAN LYLE
PHOTO: COURTESY JODY WILSON PHOTO: KYLE WILSON
A VETERAN’S GUIDE TO CUFF
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FILMGOING EXPERIENCE WITH THESE HACKS AND TIPS
BY ALAN JOHNSON
The Calgary Underground Film Festival has been a staple in my life every spring. I’ve attended 14 of the festivals (yes, even when CUFF went virtual in 2020) and gotten to know the staff and programmers. One could even draw a straight line from this festival to my film studies degree from the University of Calgary. Here are some of my hacks for making the most of your CUFF experience!
PLAN AHEAD
Like any event that can draw a big crowd, CUFF can be very frustrating if you don’t plan ahead. Take the CTrain to the Globe Cinema when possible. Alternatively, if you live centrally, take a scooter, or even an Uber or a taxi if you don’t mind spending a little extra. If you do need to drive there, parking tends to fill up around the Globe, especially once street parking becomes free after 6 p.m. I recommend the Centennial Parkade located just southeast of the Globe itself. Parking typically ranges from three to five bucks, and there’s always plenty of spaces. The doors re-lock after
9 p.m., but they're monitored 24/7 by security, so you can use the intercom to get in.
Unsure which films to check out? Check in with friends you know are going and ask which ones they’re going with. Leave the research to them and tag along. Some of the best experiences at CUFF are with friends in a packed theatre. And if you’re looking for some curated recommendations, check the next page.
SKIP THE CONCESSION LINE
During the festival, the snack lines at the Globe are quite long. Arrive early for your screening, grab your popcorn and soda, and avoid the snaking lines. But if you really want to experience CUFF, you have to try some of the hot dogs. They offer beef, chicken, and veggie options, along with a robust toppings bar. This is only available at the upper concession, so plan accordingly.
Want a hot tip? Wait until your film is just about to start, and right when the lights go down, hit the concession for a dog and a beer. This ensures a much shorter line as everyone is seated for the film, and you still have several minutes before the actual feature starts. Coordinate with your friends to save your seat (ideally, an aisle seat to avoid the dreaded
shuffle past strangers) and be sure to grab them a dog, too.
Just want a beer or two? Official CUFF sponsor 88 Brewing makes it even easier to get yourself a drink without going to the concession. Keep an eye out for several valiant beer merchants with tubs strapped to their chests located throughout the theatre. These usually have short lineups, as cracking a cold one takes significantly less time than filling popcorn or pouring a soda. I find two tall cans are perfect for a screening.
BE SPONTANEOUS
While planning your schedule can save you a lot of headaches, it’s also fun to just wing it. If you went to an early screening and want to keep the fun going, grab a ticket for one of the late shows, sight unseen. Sometimes the most fun you can have at the festival is catching a screening of something you’d never have seen otherwise.
It’s also well worth sticking around after select screenings to attend the often informative and entertaining Q+As with the cast and crew. These sessions can potentially spark some inspiration for budding filmmakers or creative juice for that script you’re still trying to crack.
EMBRACE THE UNEXPECTED
CUFF is all about getting out of your comfort zone. For example, the Saturday Morning Cereal Cartoon Party is a highlight every year, with all-you-can-eat sugary cereal and classic cartoons.
A key tip for this event is to bring your own bowl. They provide complimentary compostable bowls at the event, but they’re quite small. Go full cereal freak and bring a dish with several compartments to try a variety of cereals in one trip! Wear comfy pyjamas and bring your own blankets and pillows for to really kick it.
Another event worth attending is the 48 Hour Movie-Making Challenge. Local independent filmmakers are given a prop, a line of dialogue, and a genre, then must create a short film in just two days. The completed films are screened together for anyone to attend, and the vast array of different short films is always a highlight. You never know what young and upcoming filmmakers may be cutting their teeth with this event.
Make your CUFF experience the best it can be. And I’ll see you at the movies!
CJSW April Charts
Direct from your radio pals at 90.9 FM, here is a snapshot of the current artists & albums topping the charts at CJSW. Tune in, turn it up and enjoy.
1. The Golden Age of Wrestling* - Sweet Chin Music (Surviving the Game)
Dry Cleaning - Secret Love (4AD)
3. Rev. LV* - A GUIDE TO INNER LIGHT (Graphical Recordings)
19. Touched Fables* - The Sum Of All Wounds (Disown Me Recordings)
Raleigh** - Fate Is Criminal (Self-Released)
Cass McCombs - Interior Live Oak (Domino)
HOME FRONT* - Watch It Die (LA VIDA ES UN MUS DISCOS)
Skinny Dyck* - More Easy (Victory Pool Records)
Yumi Zouma - No Love Lost to Kindness (Nettwerk)
Peach Panic** - Emotional Support EP (Self-Released)
Septembryo** - Missing Time (Self-Released)
Lloyd Litke* - Down to the Gristle (Self-Released)
Los Pulpitos - Octopean Union (Crammed Discs)
Cold Camp** - Winter Dreamz (Hand’Solo Records)
30. Caroline Parke* - All The Moving Parts (Self-Released)
* Canadian
** Local (Calgary area)
Visit Esker Foundation
COVER CUFF PICKS
Not sure what to see? We’ve got you covered, with our own recommendations and suggestions straight from CUFF staff members themselves
THE BEARDED GIRL
“The Bearded Girl is a super fun twist on the coming-of-age genre. In this case, a mother-daughter relationship — and seemingly relatable, familiar story for anyone with teenagers — is told from inside the world of a carnival sideshow family. I loved the creativity. It’s the director Jody Wilson’s first feature, who will be in attendance, and a bit of a hometown screening, as she’s from Alberta.”
—Brenda Lieberman, festival director and lead programmer, CUFF.
MY BLOODY VALENTINE
“Celebrate the 45th anniversary of not only one of the greatest Canadian films of all time, but one of the greatest slasher films of all time. Filmmaker George Mihalka will be in attendance, imparting his filmmaking wisdom, so get some Moosehead on ice and get ready to party in the mines with us.”
—Cam Macgowan, lead programmer, CUFF.
IMPOSTERS
“I can hardly wait for our audience to experience the twists and turns of this film together. As tensions rise, the puzzle of who to trust becomes more intricate. I'm begging you, someone, just please save the baby.”
—Brennan Tilley, lead programmer and operations manager, CUFF.
LUGER
“I narrowly managed to snag a ticket to the sold-out world premiere at Fantastic Fest. The film follows stepbrothers Toni and Rafa, two short-time thugs who handle sensitive business for wealthy clients. One day, what starts as an ordinary job quickly spirals out of control into something much darker and more dangerous, and Toni and Rafa come into possession of a Nazi artifact. LUGER is a bare-knuckle thriller
about the fascism and white supremacy invading all our lives.” —Adam Hicks, programmer, CUFF.
BAGWORM
“Wonderfully unhinged. An all-time great sick guy performance from Peter Falls; so gross I felt like I was going to contract something just from watching. Love when a character is on the verge of mental collapse right from the start, and things only get worse for them. Throw in a slimy bagworm for good measure. Get infected!” —Derek Wilson, previewer, CUFF.
FRIDAY THE 69TH
“A must for all cheesy horror fans. Porn filmmakers losing their audience to home video turn to horror in this tribute to early '80s campy slashers. Feels like a lost find from 1981, with all the laughs and creative deaths that make slashers so entertaining.”
—Phillip Liesemer, previewer, CUFF.
SACCHARINE
“Australian films are featured prominently at this year's festival, a golden era for Aussie underground films. If you're a fan of The Substance, don't miss this one about a (literal) terrifying weight-loss trend featuring a very hungry ghost.” —Laura Carlson, marketing and publicity, CUFF.
LUCID
“A surreal 16mm personal odyssey in relentless pursuit of pure artistic feeling. Lucid is trueto-heart Canadian underground filmmaking: weird, off-kilter, and unabashedly outsider. With stylistic shades of early Greg Araki and John Waters, it arrives at a world untue its own. Trippy, DIY-feeling visuals and a stellar indie/ alt soundtrack only further imbue it with punkrock energy that’s not to be missed.” —Taylor Nodrick, guest relations coordinator, CUFF.
CAMP
“Equal parts enchanting and ominous, Camp is both a beautifully shot coming-of-age film and a truly unique entry into the summer-camp-horror subgenre. Camp has already been making waves on the festival circuit, notably picking up best picture as a “Next Wave” selection at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. The film also marks writer and director Avalon Fast’s return to the Calgary Underground Film Festival after CUFF premiered her breakout indie hit Honeycomb in 2022. Make sure to add Camp to your watchlist and catch this soon-to-be classic (and Alberta-shot!) horror while it’s in town.” Kenn Enns, previewer, CUFF.
TRACY AND MARTINA: GOIN’ OUT WEST
“The Atlantic charm of comedy duo Tracy and Martina meets the ‘Berta experience in this road tripping mockumentary. Laughs and heart are plentiful as they make their way through the land of backward hats, white Oakleys, and givn’er. This one also features some cameos from a number of CUFF faves.” —Jody Page, previewer, CUFF.
BLACK ZOMBIE
“It’s no coincidence that the first certified bad-ass zombie killer on the silver screen was a black man. Ben’s appearance in George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead is symbolic of the genre’s oft-ignored roots in resistance and liberation. Black Zombie, a "part cultural reckoning, part horror remix, explores this corner of cinematic history and delves deep into how Haitian Vodou inspired the Hollywood zombie. Plus, you’ll get to watch a bunch of gory zombie scenes. Win-win!” —Nathan Iles, editor, The Scene magazine.
The Bearded Girl
Imposters
Friday the 69th
Luger
Sacchaine
for
th the he
jEROMY Hosted by mayor jER a y o r
fARKAS Arts
Monday, May 4, 2026
Werklund Centre's Jack Singer Concert Hall
Enjoy a showcase of performances by a variety of local performers, sample yummy food and dance the night away at the after party. The evening also features the presentation of the 2026 Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts Awards celebrating outstanding achievement in the arts.
A woman confronts a disturbing condition resetting her memory. Each reset disorients her, leaving haunting recollections of an unfamiliar life.
FIFTEEN
Two best friends preparing for their quinceañera face desire, cruelty, and social pressure – until one girl’s body begins to transform into something monstrous.
HANGASHORE
Haunted by nightmares and visions, an artist chases the ghost of her father to the remote coast of Newfoundland.
Spend a day on the boardwalk with KINGS OF VENICE, a madcap look at the paddle tennis community of Venice Beach.
THANKS FOR NOTHING
Okay, what would you do if your best friend tries to kill herself, another one is being deported, the third is in a manic episode, the fourth has stopped speaking, and your corrupt social worker is unsuccessfully trying to cover it all up from child services?
BLACK ZOMBIE
From the flickering screens of Hollywood horror to the haunted cane fields of colonial Haiti, the documentary unearths the buried origins of the zombie, reclaiming it as a symbol of survival and spiritual resistance.
FLOATING CAROUSEL
A web of dystopian dating scenarios collide in modern-day New York City as five 20-somethings attempt to find love in a time that has been called the loneliest century.
HARD CORE LOGO - 30TH ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL CANADIAN FILM DAY FREE SCREENING
Bruce McDonald’s beloved cult classic is now celebrating its 30th anniversary! This pseudo-rockumentary follows punk band Hard Core Logo on a harrowing and hilarious last-gasp reunion tour.
Members of ‘90s comedy troupe The State reunite for a live tour, blending classic sketches with behind-the-scenes stories from their influential journey in comedy.
THE WEED EATERS
An idyllic New Year’s getaway in isolated New Zealand takes an unexpected turn when a bad batch of cursed weed unleashes horrific after-effects.
DECORADO
An unemployed middle-aged mouse suspects his entire world is merely a set, tracing the conspiracy to a corporation influencing every corner of his life.
THE FOX
A man takes advice from a talking fox who promises to fix his relationship problems.
A novelist is haunted at a remote inn during a trip to scatter his parents’ ashes.
CUFF 2026 opens with the supernatural horror HOKUM! This Opening Night event includes both the film and afterparty.
the
EVERY HEAVY THING
Director Mickey Reece takes us on a journey centered around an ad-seller for one of the last alt-weeklies in the country, who, after witnessing a murder, is intimidated into being the killer’s reluctant accomplice.
GOODY GOODY
A home birth turns terribly wrong when complications arise during a raging blizzard.
I LOVE BOOSTERS – CLOSING NIGHT FILM!
A crew of professional shoplifters take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It’s like community service.
In this all-new program, you’ll see both faves and obscurities,unctuated with vintage commercials, PSAs and station IDs! Jammies Encouraged! ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT CEREAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOKUM– OPENING NIGHT FILM!
KINGS OF VENICE
LONG LIVE THE STATE
NOFX - 40 YEARS OF FUCKIN’ UP
Chronicles
chaotic four-decade career of the punk rock band NOFX.
Scenesters 2026 Calgary
Turns out, unleashing a city's arts and culture scene requires more than just wishful thinking and repurposed spaces.
Meet the movers and shakers who refuse to let Calgary be boring, the ones dragging this city kicking and screaming into 'vibrant destination' territory.
We cornered them long enough to spill their must-dos, hidden gems, favourite spots to eat their feelings, and the venues they consider home.
JEREMY KLASZUS
You may have seen Jeremy Klaszus around the city at community events, travelling with a portable printing press. Together with Sam Hester, he produces and shares zines; fun and educational comics that tell stories about local places and events, encouraging Calgarians to stay curious.
He is also the founder and editor of The Sprawl, an independent news outlet that serves as an alternative to mainstream media and focuses on long, in-depth reporting. Many stories explore Calgary’s history and civic life, covering topics such as the city’s Olympic bid, public transit and mayoral elections. It’s all available online or as audio on Sprawlcast
1
“The Deerhead Cafe on Edmonton Trail is an experience, a true place of the people! Good, honest breakfast. Wood panelling.
BY KIARA NIESZ, CATRINA BOWLES, EVELINA PAK, KRISTA SYLVESTER, GABRIELLA LINDLAND, AND JAMES MARTENS
Faded business cards tacked up by the door. You must go. Just remember to bring cash — they don’t take cards!. If you want a sneak peek, don’t Google it. Instead, look up the 1995 music video for ‘Gump Worsley’s Lament’ by [the band] Huevos Rancheros.”
2
“Calgary has some fine bookstores, but Sigla Books, on the west end of downtown by Loophole Coffee is something of a hidden gem, with its focus on the odd and obscure. I’ve made some amazing finds here. And David, the shopkeeper, is a most enjoyable conversationalist.”
3
“UPPERCASE magazine, renowned internationally and published out of Calgary, continually blows me away with its originality and playful design. It’s a magazine ‘for the creative and curious' and has been a huge inspiration for The Sprawl over
the years. It’s a publication that knows exactly what it is.”
4
“Nose Hill Park is often where I go when I need to find my bearings again. I love the sweeping vistas of the city you get up there. Standing in one spot, you can see downtown, the Olympic ski jumps and, in the distance, the mountains. Nothing clears the head like a long walk on Nose Hill.”
5
“If I want to splurge on the weekend, I’ll go to Daily Globe News on 17th Avenue for a Sunday New York Times. News shops like this used to be common, but not anymore. That makes Daily Globe News a rarity, one I’m happy to support. And from there, it’s a short walk across the street to Caffe Beano. Coffee and a newspaper; that’s pretty much a perfect Sunday, in my books.” —EP
PHOTO: KIRSTEIN AYALA
NICOLE GRUSZECKI
Helping fill a long-overlooked gap in Calgary's zine scene is Nicole Gruszecki, a true creative focused on zine-making and DIY methods.
A former student and now instructor at the Alberta University of the Arts, Gruszecki brings both lived experience and love of the art to her practice. Through her Little Good Zine Clubhouse, she’s created an inviting space dedicated to zines where artists of all skill levels can experiment with paper, ink and storytelling while building community, one folded page at a time.
Her favourite hobby is her job, but here are her favourite places to check out when she's not creating.
1 “I love going to the Central Library. I go there with my kids a lot ... it's just really comfortable there.”
2 “Native Tongues on Elbow. I go there a lot. My favourite is the salsa sampler. Their chips are so good, first of all, and there are eight different salsas to try, and I get it every time. I'll go there, just for that. And their margaritas are really good too.”
3 “Art Spot Calgary and Canopy Studios are both my favourites. Art Spot doesn't have a single location; they do pop-ups all over the place. They do have an event every year called The Under 100 art show, and it takes place in different empty warehouse spaces they find, so it's always somewhere different.” —KN
Meet the creative duo behind some of Calgary's most vibrant Bollywood-inspired performances. As the founders of Sparq Productions, Tania Lemos and Vishal Malpuria showcase performers of all backgrounds and skill levels, giving local dancers a platform and the space to perform.
After years of dance experience, the Malpurias originally planned to open a Bollywood dance school in Calgary, but quickly realized there were limited spaces for them to perform, which inspired their production company.
Together they continue to shape Calgary's cultural landscape with their vibrant performances, connecting people through dance, music and community.
1 “We like going for shows, you know, whether it's live performances, dance shows, musicals, or concerts. We love going to the Werklund Centre, to the
Jack Singer, and Studio Bell.”
2
“[We] love the Grey Eagle for the sound and light package that they have. Every [venue] is a little different, right? They have a fantastic built-in light and sound package. [We] love the Jubilee and the Jack Singer for its acoustics.”
3
“[We] love Thai food, so [we] love Jurees. They have this lemon-pepper fish; it's whitefish. It's delicious.”
4
“DJD Dance Centre is one of the best studios we have in the city. Their space is awesome. It has been our home for the last, I don't know, 18 years maybe. They truly have a beautiful space and the vibe, you know, it's so positive the minute you enter the building and the studios, there are dancers all around. You go into your space, and it's just amazing.” —KN
TANIA LEMOS AND VISHAL MALPURIA
PHOTO: COURTESY NICOLE GRUSZECKI
PHOTO: COURTESY TANIA LEMOS AND VISHAL MALPURIA
Scenesters 2026 Calgary
She may not be an artist in the conventional sense, but you might catch a glimpse of Janice Manchul’s work if you’re out and about in the arts and theatre community. Manchul has dedicated three decades to working as a professional sign language interpreter, and she can’t imagine doing anything else. As the co-founder of Freelance Interpreters Consolidated (FLIC) Inc., she is a familiar presence in the city’s performing arts community, serving as an interpreter. Sign language is her first language, and working alongside deaf advisors informs her practice while honouring the deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing communities that have supported her work over the years.
1 CB Rescue Foundation. “When our household was ready for another 'fur child,' this volunteer-run organization helped match us with the right companion. Their care and dedication never go unnoticed."
2 Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. “A short and refreshing escape from the city. It’s the perfect place to sit, pause and enjoy nature.”
3 +15 Skywalk. “My go-to route when working downtown. It’s a great way to navigate the city while staying out of the winter cold, especially helpful during white-out conditions earlier this year.”
4 Esker Foundation. “A hidden gem away from the city’s bustle. I especially enjoy the interactive exhibits that invite visitors to engage with the artwork.”
5 Calgary Bike Pathways. “Calgary’s pathway system offers a wonderful way to travel through the city. The route between Calgary and Chestermere is a favourite, with a flat trail along the irrigation canal and frequent wildlife sightings.” —KS
If you have spent any real time in Alberta’s theatre or drag scene in the last decade, you have probably crossed paths with Lilith Fair. Edmonton-born and now Calgary-based, she has carved out a career that refuses to separate glamour from grit. Award-winning, internationally travelled, and proudly queer, she has built her name on the kind of stage presence that feels equal parts theatre school precision and punk-rock nerve. She learned early that artistry can be both elegant and confrontational. That foundation now fuels a drag career that spans more than 13 years.
1
“I grew up listening to a bunch of women artists that I think are sickening.
Sarah McLachlan, Fiona Apple, and Tori Amos are just incredible artists. They made a space for themselves. They saw a void that was unfairly being imposed on them, and they filled it. And I feel like that's an energy I try to carry into my work. As far as queerness goes. Right now, I am listening to “Cannibalism” by Slayyyter. I think the new album is called Worst Girl in America. Yeah, I think that's going to be the best album of the year. She's just this outrageous rock and roll trans girl, totally in your face. Punk rock nasty. The beats are so filthy. She is fighting back with her art.”
2
“Oh, I absolutely adore Dickens. They are a punk rock music venue that is so dedicated to allyship and the queer community. I host a monthly bingo there (Drag Bingo, final Monday of every month, doors at 6 p.m., games at 7 p.m.), and they really treat us like drag artists like artists! I think some venues sort of treat us as a gimmick, an easy way to get people in the door. The managers and owners of Dickens place great value on our artistry. But on that same note, I also love The Attic vegan pasta bar. Love me some pumpkin gnocchi. They also provide a stage for queer voice and artistry. At a time when we're seeing some venues maybe back off just a little bit.”
3
I'm a big cinephile, and so my favourite performance of all time was at The Orange Hub in Edmonton with The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where I got to play Doctor Frank-N-Furter, which has been my dream role since I was a kid. I slipped downstairs at a particular early age and saw it on TV, and I thought to myself, ‘I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that is what I am that.’ That was just a dream come true.”
4
“My favourite thing is getting stoned with my boyfriend [and] ordering Hankki Korean street food … I always go for the combo box, and watch RuPaul's Drag Race all night. My favourite drink? I went to musical theatre school, so I drink gasoline out of a bag, but I also like Tequila Sunrises.” —GL
PHOTO: MOTIF PHOTOGRAPHY
LILITH FAIR
JANICE MANCHUL
PHOTO: VUK VUKOVIĆ
JANICE MANCHUL [RIGHT] INTERPRETING FOR PATTI PON
CARLIN BLACK RABBIT
A Siksika Nation musician, organizer, and community leader based in Alberta, Carlin Black Rabbit moves between the stage and public service. Known for being behind the drums for long-running Siksika punk band No More Moments and other bands like Iron Tusk and 1876, Black Rabbit has built a career rooted in heavy music and community connection.
Offstage, he has served on the Siksika Band Council and as chair of the Siksika Board of Education, advocating for youth and strengthening educational initiatives. He also served as the Siksika chief and council for three consecutive terms, as one of the youngest councillors in the community. Black Rabbit works as a community broker, creating partnerships, including collaborations with Sled Island, to open doors for Indigenous artists. Whether through music, policy, or grassroots organizing, his focus remains the same: building tangible opportunities for the next generation.
1 “When I organized Moments Fest, I wanted to bring programming to my community because there was a big gap, you know, teenagers not having accessibility or affordability to attend concerts in the city was a big factor. So I'm kind of looking out for the youth that like punk rock brings something to the community that's in their backyard, as opposed to hitchhiking to Calgary or trying to save up money when there's other real social costs out there that we have to worry about, like food or rent or whatever. Our number one rule is that if you want to come to the festival, and can't afford it, still come, and we'll make sure you get in. We don't want to
turn anyone away. We celebrate our 10th year this upcoming summer.”
2
““I've always been drawn to the beat of the drum. And, it's kind of a full circle for me because I'm actually playing an instrument that my people had for centuries. So I feel like it all ties together in some way, like percussion and the beat … it goes back to the heartbeat, and I feel like it has this really cool connection to being an original person of the land. Now that I speak it out loud, I see all the connections. I've been playing since I was like 13, I'm 33 now, so 20 years. I love a lot of death metal and hardcore, but I also love shoegaze and dream pop. I've really been drawn towards old folk and country as of late. So it really just depends on how I'm feeling. I could never imagine my life without music. If I wasn’t doing it, I don't know, maybe I would be a wrestler or something. Yeah, I love wrestling, but I suck at sports.”
3
“I'm hooked on The Palomino. I've been going there for the past 15 years. The pulled pork or the brisket is my go-to. I love playing shows at the Palomino too, because I've realized intimate shows are the best. When you're not so distant from the crowd, I think you're more locked in as a musician. I love just being in a crowded room, seeing all your friends, or meeting new friends. I love Dickens too; my first job was actually at Dickens. When I was 18, I used to be a door guy there. And The BLOX, I have been loving it there. Also, Loophole Cafe is such a great space. Loophole kind of reminds me of the early shows I used to do on the reserve.
We used to just have a room where we host shows, with a vibe similar to Loophole, and I love the coffee there. I usually go for their Americano.”
4
“I think that being punk is about taking care of one another. It's about really being aware of yourself and doing what's right when no one's looking.” —GL
When Katie Wackett started working at the National accessArts Centre, she noticed a gap in their programming and decided to create a film department for people with disabilities.
“I love collaborating with the artists and the problem solving of how do you write a screenplay when you can't see or if you can't use a computer,” Wackett said. “It's such a cool thing, and it's very fulfilling to see people's films come to life and their voices come through.”
She also volunteers with the Calgary Underground Film Festival and runs a series at the Globe Cinema called A League of Their Own, which screens films directed by women, non-binary and trans people.
1
“The Globe Cinema. I basically live there. They curate the best films, and the staff is amazing. Best popcorn in town. I’m always hanging out at the Globe.
2
”The next one would be the Lazy Loaf & Kettle. It's a coffee shop. Amazing coffee and pastries, and I love just getting a coffee and going for a walk by the river. [My favourite thing to get is] peanut butter cheesecake and a mocha.”
3
“My 3rd one would be … Style Encore. It's like a consignment store, but they have the best clothes. I love to find a good thrift deal.”
4
“My next one would be Rain Dog Bar. I love that their menu is like a little zine, and they always have a crossword to do. I love to get a glass of wine and have some good food and just chill out with friends.”
5
“Then my last one … would be Hemlock Tattoo. [It is] my favourite tattoo parlour in town, run by four amazing artists, and I just love getting tattooed there. Their work is amazing.” —JM
KATIE WACKETT
PHOTO: SHANE REMPEL
PHOTO: REBECCA FRANK
Scenesters 2026 Calgary
WILMER ABURTO
A multidisciplinary artist and curator originally from Nicaragua, Wilmer has spent over two decades turning art into action, amplifying voices and creating space for communities that are underrepresented. As the Creative Communities Lead at Calgary Queer Arts Society and a member of various advisory boards, he's reshaping what representation looks like in this city.
His curatorial vision brought the Alphabet Mafia to Calgary Pride, and he's back to curate it again in April 2026. Through his work with Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival, one of Canada's largest 2SLGBTQIA+ festivals, and public art projects like the Pride Walk murals at Central Memorial Park, Aburto proves that art is transformational. His photography has been featured on the cover of Freq magazine, selected for Italian publication Imago Mundi, and published in Mascular Magazine. His art has travelled from Chicago to Venice, but his heart stays rooted in Calgary.
1 “Bow River is at the top of my list. Any season works. I walk along the river, listen to the water, and spot wildlife. Its grounding reminds me how powerful and beautiful this place is, this part of Mohkinstsis. I always leave feeling grateful. It's the whole experience.”
For Congress Coffee Company proprietor Johanna Schwartz, community means everything. A place for people to connect over shared interests and a good cup of coffee is at the heart of what she does.
Schwartz had a 20-year career in nonprofit communications in the arts, working with Calgary Folk Fest, One Yellow Rabbit, Springboard Performance, and more. She took on the role of an arts facilitator, not making the art herself, but helping other creatives find a home.
Schwartz continues this mission with Congress Coffee, where in the past year she has helped put over $25,000 into the pockets of the musicians and performers who perform on the Congress Coffee stage.
1
“Noodle King on 32 Ave. N.E. is my go-to for peanut satay soup. Their peanut satay is my happy space. You go there twice, and they know your order. They're so friendly and familiar. Calgary has a great Vietnamese community, something you realize when you go to other places. You're like, ‘Oh, there isn't Vietnamese on every corner?’”
2
“Kawa Espresso Bar. One of Downtown's creative hubs.
Great beverages, tasty food. Open late, friendly staff, occasional live music. You'll run into artists and creatives here, a place where people hang out and collaborate. Good vibes, whether you're solo or meeting someone. This is where it happens.”
3 “La Fritanga Nicaragüense Latin Food. Family-run Nicaraguan street food that hits. Hearty, authentic cooking made with care. The carne asada is on point, the ingredients are fresh, and plantains, rice, and beans do their thing. Grab the tres leches cake too. To me, this tastes like home. You'll be back.”
4 “SpanicArts. Grassroots arts hub that actually gets it. Visual arts, fashion, music, performance, and cultural heritage. Real space for artists and their communities to connect and create. They're building something genuine here. Support it.”
5 “Community. Getting together with Rang De Pride, catching events at Black Pride YYC, a Kiki Ball by Vogue YYC, celebrating with Colores Del Alma, or catching a film at Fairy Tales These spaces matter because I see myself reflected in them, where art becomes action. This is the community we’re building.”
—KS
2
“One of the things I think is great about the city is The Sprawl, the slow journalism project. Jeremy [Klaszus] does such a good job inviting people in to understand how the news is made, and how our stories matter.”
3
“I think an underrated neighbourhood is Greenview Industrial. I'm here operating this quirky little cafe because I couldn't afford to do so in Kensington or Inglewood. Five years from now, it's going to be a very different space. I'm really happy that we're here on the ground floor. The artists move in first, and then the others follow.”
4
“The city has incredible puppet work. I think it's something people don't necessarily know. Between the Festival of Animated Objects and Old Trouts and the Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry, it's bonkers how much good stuff is going on.”
5 “Dickens shows what really good, robust programming can look like. That is a space that is for so many different kinds of people. They all feel at home there. I think that's a testament for them to be able to make a drag show or a thrash metal show, or whatever else they're doing there, feel good.” —CB
JOHANNA SCHWARTZ
PHOTO: CATRINA BOWLES
PHOTO: VICTOR SICILIA
ALBERT MYLES MEJIA
A creative entrepreneur, designer and community builder, Albert Myles Mejia is known for blending street culture with purposeful storytelling. He is the creative director of By Myles Design & Print Studios and the founder of Legal Hustle Clothing, now a retired Calgary streetwear brand that helped redefine the word “hustle” into a positive connotation.
A 2017 SAIT Outstanding Young Alumni award recipient, Mejia also created YYC SOLEdiers, Calgary’s recognized sneaker community. With a background spanning apparel design, marketing and grassroots events, his work continues to champion youth inspiration, culture and creativity while helping brands and communities bring bold ideas to life.
1
“Whenever I need a break from my home office or a good coffee meeting spot, my go-to is Fenyk Coffee by Canada Olympic Park. It’s great coffee, a solid workspace and always good vibes.”
2
“From my college days until now, one of my favourite meals has always been the Trio Platter from Shawarma Palace. I grew up near it, and it’s still one of the best areas in the city for diverse eats. ”
3
“When my wife and I want to get out with the kids, our go-to spot is Bowness Park in any season. From the winter skating trail and bonfires to summer days at the wading pool, train rides and paddle boating on the lagoon.”
4
“If you’re a wrestling fan like me and want to catch some good ol’ wrasslin’, my favourite events featuring amazing local and international talent are hosted by Dungeon Wrestling at the Victoria Pavilion.”
5
“I can’t talk about streetwear and sneakers without shouting out some of my favourite Calgary-grown spots. When I’m fiending for new kicks or a dope fit, Less 17 is a must. But my all-time favourite is a Calgary brand I have to shout out, Milk Run.” —KS
Folk Music Takes Over Calgary This April
Calgary’s spring music calendar gets a major highlight this April as the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMAs) arrive in the city for a four-day celebration of artists, stories, and traditions from across the country.
Running April 9 to 12, the 21st edition of the awards transforms venues across Calgary into stages for some of Canada’s most compelling folk voices. Spanning Bella Concert Hall, the National Music Centre, and the Westin Calgary, the event is a city-wide showcase blending live performance with national music awards.
Unlike traditional award shows, the CFMA’s events are built around the music itself. Each concert is designed as a seamless performance experience, with awards presented between sets to keep audiences immersed in
live music all evening long.
The weekend opens on Thursday with Songs and Stories, a songwriter-focused evening featuring artists who turn lived experience into songs that speak to the moment, including Amanda Rheaume, Terra Spencer, Claire Morrison, Guillaume Arsenault, Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen, and Wyatt C. Louis.
On Friday, Folk Forward highlights contemporary voices pushing the genre in new directions, including AHI, Aysanabee, Boreal, Duane Andrews, Calgaréal, and Yves Marchand. Saturday’s Traditional and Global Roots concert shifts the spotlight to the sounds and traditions that shape folk music across cultures, featuring acts like Cassie and Maggie, Garçons à Marier, Kazdoura, Joaquin Núñez and Habana Safari, Sacred Wolf Singers with Simon Wall,
and Scott Duncan and Luka Hall.
The weekend wraps with Folk for Families, an all-ages Sunday morning concert at the National Music Centre with performances by Ginalina, James Culleton, Max Francis, and Oh Clementine.
Together, these artists represent the many traditions and emerging voices that define folk music in Canada today.
Audiences can purchase individual concert tickets or opt for an all-access wristband covering the full weekend of gala concerts and select programming. Visitors looking to make a full weekend of it can stay at the Westin Downtown Calgary, the event’s official host hotel, offering special rates for attendees just steps from the action.
For tickets, schedules, and full event details, visit folkawards.ca.
Calgary-based fiddler Scott Duncan performs as part of the Traditional and Global Roots awards concert on Saturday, April 11, at the Bella Concert Hall.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
PHOTO: COURTESY ALBERT MYLES MEJIA
CALGARY NOSTALGIA
Skating the Groove
BY SARAH COMBER
When I was a kid, as soon as the holidays rolled around, I knew that meant one thing: Attending my dad’s work Christmas party at Lloyd’s Rollersports Centre. Run by Lloyd and Florence Cooper for more than 50 years, the Calgary institution closed in 2018, two years after Florence passed away at 95-years-old. Lloyd had passed away 14 years earlier, and Florence continued to run the business the pair had built together.
The Coopers built a legacy that irrevocably shaped Calgary’s rollerskating community. With rates that hardly increased with inflation (one could skate on Saturdays for only $15, including rentals and a hot dog with a drink),
Lloyds was a safe, fun, slightly smelly but nonetheless singularly special place for folks of all ages to gather.
Each year brought the same rollercoaster of emotions — excitement as my mom navigated finding me the right fit, and anxiety as I strapped wheels to my feet and made my way ever so carefully onto the smooth wooden floor. One push, then two. Legs and nobbly knees, Bambi-like in their hesitancy. Arms splayed like a baby penguin trying to flap uselessly. Then, the lights and the music would take over. Another push and I was flying. Was there any way I’d be able to stop gracefully when it was time to go? Absolutely not. But for the moments
ROLLER DERBY REVIVAL
Skating on four wheels doesn’t always take the form of dance or recreational loops. Roller derby has likewise seen a resurgence in popularity, with groups like Calgary Roller Derby expanding their memberships and offering programming for young people.
“Calgary has one of the top-ranked teams in our region,” said Caitlin Snow, also known as Dynamite Roll, and the director at large with the league.
Snow adds that roller derby offers an inclusive, counter-culture sport for folks who don’t want to fit into the traditional narratives of sports like hockey. Indeed, the league is one of the few sports that doesn’t discriminate between cis and transgender players.
where all I had to focus on was gliding endless loops and being so completely in the moment that my anxiety fled like migrating monarchs, it was pure bliss. No, it was magic.
That magical feeling endeared Lloyd’s to so many Calgarians; it felt as if the entire city were grieving when the roller rink closed its doors. For the following six years, Calgary’s rollerskating community was rootless, and one of the champions keeping the groove alive during those transitional years was Angie Thomas.
A Lloyd’s veteran, Thomas, 51, started rollerblading in her twenties. However, she didn’t strap on a pair of skates until her forties. At that time, Thomas was a single parent teaching herself to skate at Lloyds. What started as a hobby turned into a lifestyle as Thomas reclaimed her spirit, her joy, and even her physical freedom.
“Rollerskating is an escape. It’s an escape in a memory where you are lost. And you can be whoever you want to be in your skates,” said Thomas. She started skating in 2015 while battling chronic pain, later diagnosed as Lyme disease.
“Chronic pain changes you. It puts you in a very dark place,” said Thomas. “But when I put my skates on, the pain would melt away. The old Angie would come back, and I would forget all about my troubles.”
Thomas noticed a gap at Lloyd’s. While the rink offered space to skate, there weren't many people dancing. After getting certified as an instructor in 2016, Thomas started her own roller dancing school, the Fresh Rollers. When Lloyd’s closed, she went on to host skate nights and discos wherever she could find space.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, rollerskating took to outlets like TikTok and Instagram, with trending audio and disco remixes making headway on the apps. Nostalgic disco music harkened back to a time well before social isolation was considered a “new normal,” and helped spur on the roller skating resurgence, which would become very good news for skate veterans like Thomas.
The World Health Organization declared the pandemic phase of COVID-19 over in 2023. Now, three years later, roller rinks are making a comeback in Calgary, like SkyCastle Roller Rink, where Thomas now works as a manager, instructor and promoter.
“The SkyCastle rink has a feeling. It feels warm and fuzzy, and like you don't want to leave,” said Thomas, who adds that while she was decorating the rink, she imbued it with good vibes. Perhaps, like Lloyd’s, SkyCastle will become a decades-old, safe, fun and slightly less smelly place for folks of all ages to gather.
PHOTO: MACH MEDIA
SkyCastle
FIRST WAVE LINEUP
THE BESNARD LAKES
ART D’ECCO • SPENCER KRUG
STUCK • CG TEARS • CONCRETE VEHICLES
(UN)DECIDED • 36? • ADEOLUWA • AUTONOMOUS APES
BENNETT MITCHELL • BROCK GEIGER • ELBOW KISS • HAIR CONTROL
JAIDEN RILEY AND THE CRYBABIES • KING OF FOXES • LAURA HICKLI • MACLAYNE
MORE ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED CHECK ETGD.CA @ETGDFESTIVAL FOR UPDATES
MUSIC SCENE
ETERNAL FLAMES
BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE
As a founding member of and lead guitarist for The Bangles, Vicki Peterson toured the world, picked up multiple platinum albums, and captured Billboard’s 1987 Song of the Year for “Walk Like an Egyptian.” Still, when she got a chance to sing with Susan Cowsill, the sister of John Cowsill, she was in awe. John and Susan, along with their siblings, formed The Cowsills during their heady days as the musical family that inspired the popular 1970s TV show The Partridge Family.
John and Vicki eventually got married and started jamming music together. The pair will bring their music to the Ironwood and the Bow Valley Music Club's stages this month. The change of gears from touring separately with their own bands to playing with each other has gone smoothly, Cowsill said, despite months on the road. “You know, I don't know how it happened, but we have the best relationship. There's a lot of mutual respect, and there's a lot of laughter, and there's no grudges, there's no jail issues. We’re just really fortunate and accept each other for who we are.”
The Cowsills appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show, promoting hits like “The Rain, the Park, & Other Things,” “Hair,” and “Indian Lake.” That last song hit the top 10 on Susan’s ninth birthday in 1969, making her the youngest person ever with a top ten hit. Peterson recalls going to see them play at a California club where she first met the band in the late ‘70s, before The Bangles were founded and after the peak of The Cowsill’s fame. “I was a huge Cowsill fan growing up for whatever reason; the music, the family aspect of it really attracted me,” she said from a stop on the tour with John Cowsill during an interview punctuated by laughter between the two. “It seemed very magical to me. I just felt like these are people I need to know.” Prophetic words, as
she married Cowsill in 2003 after singing with his sister Susan in The Psycho Sisters starting in the early ‘90s.
John Cowsill’s musical journey extends well beyond his hit-making years with his family band. He contributed percussion and backing vocals to Tommy Tutone’s 1981 smash “8675309/Jenny,” toured with The Beach Boys as both keyboardist and then drummer from 2000 until 2023. He is currently a guest vocalist for garage darlings The Smithereens.
After decades of making music with other people, Cowsill and Peterson released their first album, Long After the Fire, in 2025. Like ashes from that heady bonfire of past hits, the ghosts of their musical pathways blow through the album, from Cowsill’s eerily doppelgänger vocals on late brother Billy Cowsill’s composition “Is Anybody Here?” (co-written with Jeffrey Hatcher for their Vancouver band, The Blue Shadows) to brother Barry Cowsill’s “When Hearts Collide,” which he says he can’t sing without crying, to Billy’s signature song, the timeless “Vagabond,” written in New York on John Lennon’s guitar.
The couple’s appearances in Calgary carry a sacred aura, owing to the city’s welcoming embrace of Billy Cowsill in the final decade of his life. He died here in 2006 after arriving in the late ‘90s, turning up on stages around town and mentoring younger musicians. He formed The Co-Dependents and their 2001 live recordings from the fabled Mecca Café, released by Calgary’s Indelible Records as a pair of albums, capture his trademark vocals and his impact on the younger members of the band. Those musicians — Tim Leacock, Steve Pineo, and Ross Watson — continue to mentor other musicians after Billy’s passing, thus impacting folks who never met him. As well, Billy’s son Del Cowsill, a musician in his own right, is coming from Ontario to open for the couple and play a few tunes with them.
“ WE'LL SING SOME OF THOSE SONGS BECAUSE THEY'RE MY FAVOURITE SONGS. AND [BILLY AND BARRY] ARE NOT HERE ANYMORE TO SING THEM. ”
John, the youngest, reflects on his oldest sibling, Bill’s role in his music. “Bill taught us all how to sing, basically. We would think that he really was our Brian Wilson in the band, I call it.” Later, referring to the impact of his father’s time in the navy while his mother tried to handle seven children, he said, “You know, Bill basically, along with my older brother, raised us.”
Despite being a Bangle with worldwide hits behind her when she started making music with Susan Cowsill, Peterson was wowed by Long After The Fire. “All the Cowsill boys share a quality in their voices. But I think that John sounds the most like Bill,” Peterson said. “It was still very fun and otherworldly. You had to sort of remove yourself every now and then and say, ‘Wow, what would 9-year-old Vicky be thinking right now?’ But on the other hand, it just felt completely natural and like this is exactly how it's all supposed to be.”
While Billy said he had little fondness for some of The Cowsill’s hits, John still honours Billy’s songs. “I just wanted to record these songs, and I have picky taste. So, we'll sing some of those songs because they're my favourite songs. And [Billy and Barry] are not here anymore to sing them.”
While the album leans towards songs written by members of The Cowsills, the couple have been known to throw in some Bangles songs live. As Peterson says, “I'm very proud of the music that The Bangles made. Even ‘Walk Like an Egyptian,’ which is such a novelty song.”
John sees these shows as a bit of a homecoming. “We're just really excited to come to Calgary and play (these songs) forever,” he said. “Because we know this is Billyland, you know?”
John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson rock the Ironwood Stage on April 17 and 19 and at Bow Valley Folk Club on April 18.
JOHN COWSILL AND THE BANGLES’ VICKI PETERSON CHASE TIMELESS MUSICAL ASHES
JOHN COWSILL
PHOTO: PAMELA SPRINGSTEEN
Move the racks, start the set
THE ROCK SHOP’S UNCONVENTIONAL LIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCE
BY GABRIELLA LINDLAND
For decades, the space that now houses The Rock Shop Experience was known as Charisma. The store spent 37 years as a destination for band shirts and alternative culture, built by owners Mary and Simon Kassam, who stocked the racks by listening closely to what the community actually wanted.
When Mary retired, Charisma became The Rock Shop. What did not change was the connection to music. What did change was the volume.
Under manager Emilio Lopez, the shop has (not so) quietly turned into one of Calgary’s most unconventional live music spaces. On show nights, the racks stay put, but the floor becomes a venue. Bands set up in front of rows of black tees and patches while a crowd packs the room.
“I just wanted to make the scene a bit bigger,” Lopez said. “Make kids get out and see live shows and experience what it’s really like. Support local artists and all that.”
The idea started small. When the shop was first being cleaned out and set up under its new name, Lopez envisioned a band performing inside the store for the grand opening. The timing did not work, but the idea stuck. Eventually, he decided to test it properly.
With help from local promoters and sound engineers, Lopez ran sound checks in the space
to see if it could handle a show. The results were promising. “We even tested sound before the show,” he said. “And it sounded really good.” Now, shows run regularly in both Calgary and at the brand’s Vancouver location.
Lopez often brings in sound technicians from the local scene who help keep the perform-
buying stickers,” Lopez said. “It’s a nice balance. Bands get something, and then we get something.”
Calgary has no shortage of venues, but accessible heavy shows for younger audiences are harder to find. Lopez says that is exactly the gap The Rock Shop aims to fill, offering a music
“If it were just a regular t-shirt shop, then it would just be anything else ... but we are trying to build community here.”
EMILIO LOPEZ, MANAGER OF THE ROCK SHOP
ances tight. Door fees are intentionally low, usually between $10 and $15, and Lopez is clear about where that money goes. “It goes straight to the bands,” he said. “Bands and whoever’s working sound. None of it goes to us.”
The shop earns its share through merchandise sales. Fans browsing shirts, buying stickers, and hanging out between sets help keep the lights on.
“We still make a good amount of money on our end when people are just sliding around
space for all ages.
The crowds can be chaotic, but Lopez sees that energy as part of the point. “It's pretty rowdy, but fun,” he said. “I’ve never had any issues so far.”
The shows often lean toward heavier genres. Hardcore, punk, and metal acts have all played inside the store. Some touring bands have even started adding The Rock Shop to their routes, like Intregra Pink from California and Alberta death metal band Dying Remains, along with
various other local acts.
The small room and DIY atmosphere have quickly become part of the appeal. And as such, the venue is also becoming a starting point for local artists.
“They always kind of come back here,” Lopez said. “And they always say they loved the first show they ever had.”
Moments like that reinforce what Lopez is trying to build. “I’m starting to see new bands pop up,” he said. “I just really want to see it grow more and more.”
Even as the shop evolves, Lopez has tried to stay connected to its history. He still checks in with Mary, the former owner of Charisma, to keep her updated on what the space has become.
Mary originally built the store by responding to the community’s tastes. Lopez believes the live shows follow that same philosophy.
“If it were just a regular t-shirt shop, then it would just be anything else,” he said. “Like Hot Topic or Sunrise Records. Sure, they are great, but we are trying to build community here.”
What started as a simple idea has quickly become part of Calgary’s live music landscape. And inside The Rock Shop, the next show is already being planned.
Find more information on upcoming shows at The Rock Shop’s Instagram: @rockshopyyc.
QUICK FACTS
:
Address: 328 10 St. N.W.
Retail Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
Vibe: Spend a bit too much money on band shirts, then slam dance with some friends.
This month: April 25, JISEI (YVR deathgrind), Godfall (YYC metalcore), PlagueDoctor (YVR deathcore), The Judge The Juror (YEG techpsych death metal), Bogwalker (YEG atmospheric deathcore)
PHOTOS: GABRIELLA LINDLAND
HORSE-DRAWN CARE
THIS NEW WORKSHOP EXPLORES NATURE AND MINDFULNESS THROUGH ART
BY JARRETT EDMUND
Have you ever gazed longingly into the forlorn eyes of a horse? For us city slickers who grew up far from farm life, there is an inexplicable mystery about our equine friends. A mystery only horse girls, reckoning with the void, were brave enough to attempt to uncover. Horses are both free and caged, feral and domestic, calm yet dangerous. To contemplate horses is to attempt to understand ourselves and where we exist along the boundaries both inside and outside of nature.
Local illustrator, horse girl revivalist, and self-proclaimed “stable boy” Geneva Haley has made horse-gazing an art practice, and it was in the act of slow-looking that she began to envision her workshop, Noticing: Building Observational Awareness Through Drawing Horses It’s part of a wider cultural shift towards the “slow movement,” intentionally engaging in activities that bring our focus to a crawl in order to foster deeper, meditative understanding.
Driving north of the city on a bright winter’s morning, the act of “noticing” begins on the scenic journey to Open Door Farm. Rocky Mountains carve out the horizon as acres of rolling snow-capped hills and idyllic farmlands pass by. Up the highway and down a winding range road, farm owner Jeanny Paquin wrangles three young horses into the barn ahead of the workshop. “The universe was telling me to do horses. But I did the office thing, and I went to school for something else,” said Paquin “I had this vision of a horse community in my mind. It was in me, and I was ignoring it.”
Slowly, she began inviting others into her vision, building a facility that houses over 50 horses amongst a colourful cast of barn cats, chickens, cows, and dogs. It was that same longing for nature that led Haley to Open Door Farm. “I took paid lessons for a year. I shoved my toe in the door,” said Haley, who, after landing a job working the stables, would spend her spare time curled under a tree for hours sketching the scenery. “I do love it when people
CREATIVE SCENE
want to learn how to care for horses.”
With Haley’s inboxes practically overflowing with friends desperate to come out to the farm and Paquin’s insatiable desire to educate an eager public, the idea for the workshop was born.
And word has certainly gotten around the pasture. On a serene Sunday in March, a small herd of humans gathered to experience threeplus hours of pastoral bliss, huddled together and engaging in quiet and oft-obtuse methods of observation. Haley is careful to break down the initial butterflies; Horses and humans alike aren’t quite sure what to do with themselves, but under her gentle tutelage and Paquin’s calming presence, they begin to settle into each other. Comforted by two dogs named Baguette and Brioche, the impromptu illustrators sketch with abandon.
It’s not all art-making and galloping around
the pasture with new friends. Both Haley and Paquin have ulterior motives. “I’m leading with drawing, with a basic practice of noticing, but the intended after-effect is mindfulness and being able to show up for the land a lot better,” said Haley. “Getting adults to play is the key to getting them to be creative. It’s so good for your brain, your cognition, and your emotions.” Paquin agrees. “I think horses are a great way to get people into mindfulness … you’re absolutely going to be a better human at the end [of the workshop],” she said.
“I’ve been really trying to slow down and not let my brain turn to goo because of my phone,” said workshop participant Cleo. “I feel more relaxed today than I have in a really long time. Spending time with animals and studying how they move, it’s important to realize that we aren’t the centre of the universe.” The opportunity to create without an expected outcome is
“I HAD THIS VISION OF A HORSE COMMUNITY IN MY MIND. IT WAS IN ME, AND I WAS IGNORING IT.” GENEVA HALEY
also central to Cleo's experience. “It feels really good to practice. This is what’s so special about this class. It’s really accessible for people who don’t necessarily have experience with art and drawing.”
In our increasingly techno-tormented lives, nature is a salve for burnout and sustains our sanctity. Simply put: we yearn to return to the forest. To graze in the field. To frolic with merriment in the meadow. Horses intuitively understand this. They are teachers, with lessons in patience, consent, boundaries, curiosity, and the value of earned relationships. In this year of the horse, returning to a state of childlike wonderment can be therapeutic, and also softly radical.
As Paquin puts it, “Horse girls like us are making a comeback. Mindful horse girls are making a comeback.”
Learn more at pastureland.ca.
PHOTO: JARRETT EDMUND
SPECTACULAR STORIES BROUGHT TO LIFE
SUN/MON April 19 & 20, 2026
Jack Singer Concert Hall, Werklund Centre
HEATHER LYNCH: PENGUINS OF ANTARCTICA
Dive into the icy waters as multi-award-winning Heather Lynch shares her experience and insights on the frozen continent and the fascinating creatures who live there.
SUN/MON May 31 & June 1, 2026
Jack Singer Concert Hall, Werklund Centre
LEE BERGER: CAVE OF BONES
Take a step into the ancient past with awardwinning paleoanthropologist Lee Berger who is known for some of the most important archaeological discoveries in history.
