SCENE-Jan 2026

CALGARY’S GUIDE TO GOING OUT

FREE • JANUARY 2026 • ISSUE #63

BOB-SLED CHINOOK BLAST UNCOMMON DRIP CALGARY RESOLUTIONS BRENDON MANY BEARS Q&A

SADDLE UP FOR ART CREATIVITY SOARS AT THE 40TH HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO

THINGS TO DO MUSIC AND GIGS FESTIVALS

GUIDE INSID E

DRINKS VISUAL ARTS

ONE YELLOW RABBIT PRESENTS THE 40TH ANNUAL

HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO January 13 to 31, 2026

Various venues across Calgary

GOBLIN:GALA

TEN MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL

SWAN?

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SMOKING CIGARETTES

YOUR SHOW HERE

POSTER SHOW

BLOODLUST SUMMERTIME

THE END OF THE WORLD CABARET

DOT

BODY CONCERT

NEW BLOOD

PERFORMS TOM WAITS

BEAUTIFULYOUNG ARTISTS CABARET

RIBSTONE

BEYOND FALLUJAH

I WOULD PRFER NOT TO

MY NAME IS KAREN

PROARTS @ NOON

BISON NOIR: SONGS OF DISTANT SHORES

IT TAKES TWO: A SYMPHONIC COLLABORATION

VIVEK SHRAYA: ONE NIGHT ONLY

HUCKSTERLAND

TD AMPLIFY

RARE BEAUTIES

HOW WE CREATE LIVE WITH KENNA BURIMA

WORDS IN PROGRESS CURATED BY LOUISE CASEMORE

CEDRIC LIGHTNING & KRIS DEMEANOR

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS

NG

RATI

B CELE

40

w ello uction Y e d n A O bit Pro b Ra

YEARS

Ignite your spirit this January at the High Performance Rodeo!

DREAM MACHINE Jan 14-24

Celebrate 40 years of fearless creativity and immerse yourself in electrifying performances that challenge the norm and inspire connection.

Join a community that values bold expression and transformative experiences.

Let’s create unforgettable memories together!

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT OYR.ORG

JULIET: A REVENGE COMEDY Jan 21-24

MISS RITA’S

LUCHA VAVOOM Jan 24

Save by buying your tickets online.

CONTENTS

Cover Coutesy: Miss Rita’s Lucha VaVOOM Publisher Käthe Lemon, klemon@redpointmedia.ca Editor Nathan Iles, niles@redpointmedia.ca Editorial Intern Evelina Pak, sceneeditorialintern@redpointmedia.ca

jaNuAry 7

acoustIc jam & open mIc 7pm free all ages

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conscious trAnsformatIon 7pm pywc all welcome

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fArmer jerry 8pm $10 all ages

Founding Editor Mike Bell Designer Kris Twyman Print/Digital Production Manager Mike Matovich

CONTRIBUTORS Viancy Salubre, Catrina Bowles, Jess Arcand, Reid Blakely, Kenna Burima, Cam Hayden, Isabelle Hon, Celina Vides, Adam Keresztes, Lissa Robinson

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the new dead poets: krAig aNd sAint heston 8pm $10 all ages

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acoustIc jam & open mIc 7pm free all ages

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congRess after dArk: rope night fIguRe dRawIng 7PM $10 18+

Design Director Steve Collins

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hymmmelodies 8pm $10 all ages

We gratefully acknowledge the financial

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night committee + twenty centuRies of stony slEep 8PM $10 all ages

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dice dynaSty sEaSon 3 5pm $10 16+

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acoustIc jam & open mIc 7pm free all ages

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khaos klubhousE dRag show 8pm $10 18+

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The smokin’ toad revival 8pm $10 all ages

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acoustIc jam & open mIc 7pm free all ages

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David lavOie quArtet 8pm free all ages

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dRag is for all ages 2pm $10 all welcome

Client Support Coordinator Alice Meilleur Senior Account Executive Jocelyn Erhardt Account Executives Nadine Benoit, Vicki Braaten Administrative Manager Shahana Beegum HR Manager Evette Stobo

CEO and co-owner Roger Jewett President and co-owner Käthe Lemon

18 FESTIVAL SCENE

support of the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada

Chinook Blast brings the party to the new Eau Claire Plaza this January.

PHOTO: NEIL ZELLER

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.

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 Published 12 times a year by Redpoint Media Group. © 2025 by Redpoint Media Group.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

14 COVER

12 ART SCENE

25 BAR SCENE

Fresh talent and homegrown art lights up One Yellow Rabbit’s 40th High Performance Rodeo.

Explore Calgary’s Centre City Banner Program and check out what’s in the galleries this month.

Take a pub crawl through some of Forest Lawn’s finest dive bars.

6 ACT 1, SCENE 1

20 MUSIC SCENE

What to do, see, and hear this month across the city.

Sled Island brings back Bob Sled for a second year, and a wintery start to music festival season in Calgary.

10 Q&A For Blackfoot artist Brendon Many Bears, connection to the land remains central to his artistic journey.

22 NEW YEAR, NEW SCENE Get inspired with some Calgary-specific resolutions for the year.

26 VENUE This Uncommon Coffee Spot is bringing club vibes to the cafe scene.

28 CREATIVE SCENE The body — and how we move it — provides a roadmap for the creative process.

30 Cam Hayden

congResscoffeeshop.com/events thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

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ACT 1 SCENE 1

What to do in January

BY VIANCY SALUBRE

EMBRACE THE NEW YEAR WITH AN INCREDIBLE LINE-UP OF CONCERTS, DRAG SHOWS, WRESTLING AND MORE TWILIGHT - IN CONCERT

January 4 | Jubilee Auditorium | jubileeauditorium.com It’s the age-old question: are you team Jacob or team Edward? Save your answer for a melodramatic afternoon of nostalgia and dramafilled 2000s cinema with Twilight - In Concert.

Watch everyone’s favourite vampire soap opera unfold on the big screen as the FILMharmonique Orchestra performs the complete original soundtrack. Between the live symphony and the 1000 candles illuminating the Jubilee Auditorium, it’s bound to be the most legendary, spider monkey-filled rewatch of Twilight ever.

CANDLELIGHT JAZZ: THE BEST OF FRANK SINATRA & NAT KING COLE

January 4 | Studio Bell | studiobell.ca Spend the night with the music of jazz legends Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole at a magical evening courtesy of Candlelight Concerts. In this one-hour performance, The Malcom Jazz Quartet delivers the sweet sounds of songs like “Unforgettable,” “Come Fly with Me,” “L-O-V-E,” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”

DUNGEON WRESTLING X DOOMSDAY 2

Rare Beauties PHOTO: TRUDIE LEE

PIRATES OF THE RIVER SASKATCHEWAN

Pirates of the River Saskatchewan PHOTO: BRAD HUNTER

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Until January 10 | Jubilations Dinner Theatre | jubilations.ca You might’ve heard of the Pirates of the Caribbean, but have you heard of Pirates of the River Saskatchewan? Well, it’s a ship of looters and misfits that has sailed to the shores of the Jubiliations Dinner Theatre. Grab your eyepatch — the show invites all to an adventure with Cap’n Jack as he sets out for treasure while recruiting live audience members along the way. The three-hour experience is paired with a multicourse meal including appetizers, an entree and a dessert.

January 9 | Victoria Pavilion | dungeonwrestling.ca Suplex into the new year with Dungeon Wrestling presents Doomsday 2. It’s going down at the Victoria Pavilion with multiple rounds of heated one-on-one matches. World heavyweight champions like Mike Santana and former WWE tag team champs like Fred Rosser will all be in attendance. Get ready for epic brawls and an action-packed night with returning wrestlers looking for redemption, fighting to claim a championship title. Catch the first match at 7 p.m., with general admission tickets starting at just $30.

RARE BEAUTIES

January 15 to 25 | DJD Dance Centre | decidedlyjazz.com Immerse yourself in the beauty of theatrical dance that explores extreme emotional states

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

and transformation. Directed by Kimberley Cooper and performed by the DJD company, Rare Beauties features a rich mix of jazz music spanning multiple eras. Hannah Fisher and Steve Isom use costume and lighting to shape the space throughout the work. Groove-driven, moody, and delightfully strange, Rare Beauties promises a night to remember.

CALGARY MAC AND CHEESE FESTIVAL

January 15 to 31 | various venues | calgarymacandcheesefest.com The days of cheap boxed KD eaten late at night are over, as The Mac and Cheese Festival comes back in full swing for its second year! Brought to life by YYC Sociables, dozens of participating restaurants in the city will be offering a specialty dish for a chance to win the ultimate title of Best Mac and Cheese in Calgary. Starting in mid-January, indulge in a variety of creative and comforting mac and cheese dishes and vote for your favourite across multiple tasty categories, like Best Value Mac and Cheese or Wildest Mac and Cheese. How wild can it get?

MODO-LIVE & COMMONWEALTH PRESENT: SHREK RAVE

January 17 | Commonwealth Bar & Stage | commonwealthbar.ca Modo-Live brings the swamp to Commonwealth for an all-out Shrek Rave. This event is one of many that bring Shrek-themed dance parties to clubs across Canada. Promoted as “the silliest rave on earth,” the party will be full of themed costumes, dancing and shenanigans. So put some green face paint on, convince that one friend of yours to dress as a donkey, and jam out to Shrek-tacular EDM remixes of songs like “All Star,” “I’m A Believer,” and “Livin’ la Vida Loca.”

DRY JANUARY

January 17 Market Wines | savourcalgary.ca Who says January has to be boring? Explore a world of flavour without the buzz at this Dry January tasting. For just $15, join the tasting at Market Wines and sip your way through a curated lineup of non-alcoholic beverages and try an array of other alcohol-free wines and mocktails at the one-hour tasting. Whether you’re sober-curious or simply in the mood for something different, discover some truly flavourful alternatives — all without the hangover.

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

“SLAY IT AIN’T SO;” THE WAKE OF RICHARD SHYNE

January 24 | 1819 Kensington Rd N.W. | eventbrite.ca Presented by Electric Stage Series, the show brings together an ensemble of drag kings and queens to uncover the secrets and mysteries following the shocking murder of drag performer Richard Shyne at the Shyne & Shade Showdown.

This who-dun-it style drag show is a fabulous mix of theatre and musical performances as each entertainer spills the tea about Shyne’s sudden death. All are encouraged to wear their most legendary mourning attire; think bedazzled black suits, lace veils and floor-length trench coats.

BACK TO THE FUTURE AT THE GRAND

Back to the Future at the Grand

January 24 | The GRAND | thegrandyyc.ca The Grand is rewinding time for a screening of the 1985 classic Back to the Future. Join Marty McFly and Doc Brown for a wild ride in a time-travelling DeLorean as they race to fix the past and save the future. The unforgettable sci-fi film is packed with humour, heart and all the ‘80s nostalgia. Plus, all time travellers are invited to the theatre to grab a delicious bite of Portland Street Pizza slices before the movie kicks off at 7 p.m.

THE CALGARY MOTORCYCLE AND POWERSPORT SHOW

January 30 to February 1 | BMO Centre | motocanada.com Throttle up as Canada’s biggest biker convention rolls into town. Over three days at the BMO Centre, The Calgary Motorcycle and Powersport Show unleashes rows of shiny motorcycles, quads, ATVs and the latest electric rides from top manufacturers. Seasoned riders and moto-junkies can expect a full suite of gear, accessories and demos with hundreds of exhibitors to shop and watch.

Motorcycle and Powersport Show PHOTO: COURTESY MOTOCANADA

Twilight - in Concert PHOTO: COURTESY JUBILEE AUDITORIUM

ROCKING WITH MITO

January 31 | Prairie Dog Brewing | mitocanada.org Rocking with Mito returns for its third year, bringing live music, good food, and a packed room together for a cause. The annual event raises awareness for mitochondrial diseases.

Toronto’s The Stoned Robins headline the evening with covers ranging from The Killers and U2 to The Beatles. Live auction highlights include Ed Sheeran tickets in Toronto, a premium Blue Jays experience, and a one-week cycling trip at Italy’s Belvedere Hotel. Doing good can still be fun.

Leopold’s Tavern Birria Beef Mac n’ Cheese

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ACT 1 SCENE 1

Onstage in January

BY NATHAN ILES

NEW YEAR, NEW SOUNDS WITH EDM, PUNK, COUNTRY AND MORE

CG5 This YouTube and TikTok sensation brings the Too Many Songs tour to Calgary. Chances are you’ve already heard his eclectic sound; he’s amassed over 1.2 billion streams on Spotify alone. January 9, 7 p.m. at MacEwan Ballroom, machallconcerts.com.

SAMWOY

Sean Nicholas Savage

This Montreal native has been making waves with his varied indie-rock sound. Catch him in an intimate setting with support from Thee Canadian Dispatch, Pinball 1973, and Innerouter.

Co-presented by Black Ice and REVERIE. January 9, 8 p.m. at Loophole Coffee Bar, loophole-coffee-bar.com.

THE NEW DEAD POETS: KRAIG AND SAINT HESTON Kraig explores the anxieties of modern life through sounds that blend indie-folk and altrock. Local hip-hop creator SAINT HESTON is on deck to open. January 10, 8 p.m. at Congress Coffee, congresscoffeeshop.com.

SOFIA KOURTESIS Fresh off the release of her fifth EP Volver, Kourtesis’ bright house jams are pure sonic earworms that will ignite the (newly renovated) Commonwealth downstairs. January 15, 9 p.m. at Common/UNDRGRD, commonwealthbar.ca.

Calgary Phil resident conductor Juliane Gallant

SAMWOY PHOTO: DENNIS ENVOLDSEN

itself, and this is your chance to celebrate it with live renditions — and a roast beef dinner! January 18, 7 p.m. at Ranchman’s, ranchmans.ca.

CURBI

HANSEL AND GRETEL Brought to life by both Old Trout Puppet Workshop and the Cantaré Children’s Choir, this operatic take on a Brothers Grimm classic is fun for the whole family. January 31, February 1, and February 6 at the Jubilee Auditorium, calgaryopera.com.

DEAN LEWIS

From honky-tonk classics to heartfelt cowboy ballads, Ian Tyson’s body of work speaks for

atmospheric arrangements, courtesy of Savage, Aladean Kheroufi, and Bad Bodies. January 31, 8 p.m. at the Palomino, thepalomino.ca.

At just 16 years old, Curbi stormed onto the international EDM scene with a signature jacking big room house sound. It’s been all-gas-no-brakes ever since, and Calgary is ready to dance. January 24, 9 p.m. at The Palace, thepalacetheatre.ca.

His latest tour might be called “The Epilogue,” but the Australian pop-singer is still going strong as he makes his way to Tsuut’ina Nation land.

January 22, 7:30 p.m. at Grey Eagle Event Centre, greyeagleresortandcasino.ca.

THE GIFT: A TRIBUTE TO IAN TYSON

Summit. It’s his 20th anniversary in hip hop, so let’s celebrate! January 23, 7 p.m. at Commonwealth, commonwealthbar.ca.

PHOTO: LUISA ART

MEN WITHOUT HATS

MIESHA AND THE SPANKS

WILD COULEE

CURBI PHOTO: SHANNON JOHNSTON

Do “The Safety Dance” with some CanCon synthpop legends, hot off the heels of their ninth(!) studio album, On the Moon. January 20, 8 p.m. at the Bella Concert Hall, tickets.mru.ca.

Calgary’s favourite two-piece garage rock party is headlining a sweet afternoon of alt rock, including all-ager ragers Medusas and new local group Soft Pet. January 17, 2 p.m. at PinBar, pinbaryyc.com.

This alt-folk collective describes itself as “​​Fleetwood Mac with less Rumours and more guitar.”

Show up to this all-ages show early and catch Cold Little Crow and Buddy Elliot. January 17, 8 p.m. at BLOX Arts Centre, bloxartscentre.ca.

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PHOTO: AABID YOUSSEFF

WHAT SO NOT The experimental EDM project of Emoh Instead is tearing up one of Calgary’s newest venues, and if you get a ticket off the site and get there before 10:30 p.m., the show is free! January 23, 9 p.m. at the Arrowhead, thearrowheadcalgary.com.

SHAD The Old Prince kicks it back in Calgary, right after appearing as a keynote speaker at the SoundOff

FEAR This legendary LA punk act is bringing some dangerous ‘77 punk history to Calgary, with local bands The Motherfuckers and Julius Sumner Miller opening this rowdy show. January 25, 8 p.m. at Dickens, dickensyyc.com.

DANI MOON QUARTET Bringing together jazzy soul with authentic storytelling, Dani Moon and her quartet are hitting Parkdale’s Wednesday Night Jazz sessions for an evening to remember.January 28, 7 p.m. at Parkdale United Church, parkdaleunitedcalgary.net.

SEAN NICHOLAS SAVAGE End the month strong with some soulful pop and

THE OFFSPRING It’s a Gen-X pop punk takeover at the ‘Dome, with The Offspring keepin’ it separated and Bad (Dad) Religion kicking the show off. Make sure to take some Tylenol the next day. February 1, 7 p.m. at the Saddledome, scotiabanksaddledome.com.

REVOLUTION: THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES This authorized symphonic tribute features top vocalists and musicians performing Grammy-winner Jeff Tyzik’s arrangements, transcribed from original Abbey Road recordings.

February 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, calgaryphil.com.

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

©Classic Albums Live PRESENTING SPONSOR

Transport yourself through the spectrum of Pink Floyd’s experimental soundscape with the enduring refrain from “Wish You Were Here,” to the cry of “Have a Cigar.”

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

PRESENTING SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

PUBLIC SECTOR SUPPORT

MEDIA SPONSOR

HOSPITALITY SPONSOR

werklundcentre.ca/pinkfloyd Artist, program and date subject to change.

Q&A

Meet Brendon Many Bears

THIS BLACKFOOT ARTIST SHARES HOW CULTURAL STORIES, SYMBOLS, AND LAND CONTINUE TO GUIDE HIS WORK

teach people what it actually is.

“A new generation of Indigenous artists is really exciting. There are so many people doing different things; drawing, beadwork, dancing, music. Every Indigenous culture is unique. Youth need to establish their own styles, as it allows them to share the true meaning behind their cultures.”

BY EVELINA PAK

A

Blackfoot artist and educator from Siksika, Brendon Many Bears specializes in graphic design and digital art as a freelance artist. He has created and taught digital art programs for IndigeSTEAM and Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, and now works as an Indigenous Education Specialist. Alongside his educational work, he collaborates with organizations on commercial art projects, murals, and public installations.

HAVE FUN AND BE PROUD

“I design logos here and there, and I’ve worked with a few bands lately. When I’m designing, I always think, ‘Would I want this as a sticker?

Would it look cool?’ That’s usually my mindset.

“Having fun is the most important part, as well as creating something that’s true to yourself. It gets difficult when people start catering to what they think others want, instead of what they want to see.

“I’ve worked on projects where there were a lot of revisions, and by the end, the final design felt far from what I originally created. It took the soul and happiness out of it.

“At the end of the day, it comes back to the artist being proud of what they make.”

DIFFERENT LANDS

“I recently created murals for the University of Calgary’s veterinary campus at Spy Hill; two large canvases that are now installed in their cafeteria area.

“Right now, I’m working on a mural project with Matthew Francis. Matthew and I come from different cultures. His background is Jamaican, and mine is Blackfoot. The idea behind the mural is to combine both and show the connection between different cultures. The mural will be displayed at the Sunalta Community Centre.

“I do a lot of digital art, but murals are a completely different technique and strategy. It’s physical — a lot of manual labour and planning.

When you finish a mural, you really understand how much effort goes into it.”

SCIENCE AND CULTURE

“I’ve been working with Telus Spark on and off for the last four or five years. Eventually, they hired me because of my background in archaeology and science, with the intention of bringing that knowledge in from an Indigenous perspective.

“I run a program called Paws, Claws & Stars.

Part of it involves working with an inflatable dome and a film called Blackfoot Skies Makoiyohsokoyi. It teaches an old Blackfoot story about the Wolf Trail, what we call the Milky Way. “When people think of Western astronomy, they think of Greek mythology and constellations.

But Indigenous cultures have star stories too, and I connect the stars back to our culture.”

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SKATEBOARDS AND BIG DREAMS I ALWAYS HAD IMAGES IN MY HEAD, AND I WANTED TO SHOW THOSE STORIES FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHILE ALSO MODERNIZING THEM. BRENDON MANY BEARS PHOTO: EVELINA PAK

SYMBOLISM AND STORIES “About 10 years ago, I wanted to get into tattooing, which is why a lot of my early artwork looks like tattoo art. There were a lot of tattoo artists using images like headdresses or arrows without knowing what they meant. I felt it was important to create genuine pieces coming from someone who understood those symbols.

“I didn’t end up becoming a tattoo artist, but practicing and experimenting with those techniques really helped my art evolve from traditional tattoo style into something more realistic.

“A lot of our stories are taught orally. While listening to them, I always had images in my head, and I wanted to show those stories from my perspective, while also modernizing them.

It’s important not just to preserve culture, but to

“I’ve been skateboarding since I was nine years old. Skateboarding is actually what got me into drawing. You know those tiny finger skateboards? When you flip them over, there’s artwork on the bottom. I used to buy those all the time as a kid. From there, I’d sketch character designs or things I thought would look cool on a skateboard.

“About two or three years ago, an Indigenous skateboard organization called Cousins Skateboard reached out to me. That was one of my biggest dreams ever. I went on to design their skateboard, then their vehicle and trailer wrap.

“Working as an independent artist comes with a lot of challenges, but I’ve learned to treat those as learning opportunities. I’ve worked with organizations and museums, and on projects I never imagined I’d be doing when I was younger.”

This Q&A series is created in collaboration with Werklund Centre. To see Brendon Many Bears’ work, visit @brutal.bear on Instagram.

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

NOMINATE A

SCENESTER

W

hat makes a cultural scene? Is it the work? The community?

The stages, the spaces, the programming?

It’s all of these things — but more than that, a scene is made up of people. And that’s what we want to celebrate.

Every spring, The Scene profiles a group of Scenesters, movers and shakers that make things happen in Calgary through taste-making, community building, and elbow grease. From artistic directors to bookstore owners and non-profit leaders, these are the people putting in the work to make Calgary a vibrant place to live and create.

We want to celebrate these folks and get their top recommendations for things to do, places to see, and ones to watch in the city!

Some Scenesters from our Class of ‘25 include Calgary Surge announcer Jamaine Cummings, Kathryn Smith of Verb Theatre, and drag performer Kayla Bigras (aka Bitch Sassidy).

Do you know someone who goes the extra mile in your community?

A trendsetting leader, or an undersung hero doing the hard work to make your scene happen?

Scan the QR code and nominate them today!

PREVIOUS SCENESTERS: JAMAINE CUMMINGS; KATHRYN SMITH, PHOTO: MIKE TAN; KAYLA BIGRAS, PHOTO: VOLUMATIC

PROJECT SPACE

Kristine Zingeler In the Balance Until 15 March 2026

ART SHOW WHERE ARTISTS GET SEEN SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION

APPLY TO SHOW AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE.

50 We’re giving you

Free A-Dollars

to spend on Calgary’s most exclusive experiences.

Use code 5050 to unlock your 50 A-Dollars at thealist.vip/referral

ART SCENE

Colour Comes to the Core TAKE A WINTER STROLL THROUGH CALGARY’S CENTRE CITY BANNER PROGRAM

O

BY LISSA ROBINSON

n a cold January morning, the Reconciliation Bridge cuts a clean line against a pale winter sky. The Bow River below is glazed with ice, its dark water threading through snow-packed edges. Hung high along the bridge, Michelle Ku’s banners immediately draw the eye, offering a splash of colour and a glimpse of humour for anyone crossing into the downtown core. These banners are part of the Centre City Banner Program, a public art initiative that transforms five main gateway bridges — Reconciliation, Centre Street, Louise (10 Street), MacDonald, and Mewata (14 Street) — into temporary urban galleries. What began as a modest beautification effort has grown into a recognized feature of Calgary’s cultural landscape. Even in the starkness of winter, the banners provide a bright, engaging contrast to the steel, ice, and snow of the cityscape, inviting residents to notice the creativity integrated into their everyday routes.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Calgary Arts Development (CADA), in partnership with the City of Calgary, manages the program, overseeing production, printing, and installation.

Each cycle begins with an open call to artists.

Selected creators develop a series of six original artworks, which are then reproduced and installed along the five bridges and key downtown light-pole corridors. Display periods typically last about one year, after which new artwork is installed, keeping the program dynamic and continuously refreshed.

At its heart, the Centre City Banner Program engages local artists to create original works that reflect Calgary’s diverse communities, histories, and landscapes. Beyond providing artists with high-visibility platforms, the program enhances the streetscape, marks bridges as welcoming gateways to downtown, and emphasizes equity and inclusion by encouraging submissions from historically underrepresented creators.

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

ENGAGING THE PUBLIC

The strength of the Centre City Banner Program is its ability to turn our everyday routes into open-air galleries.

“It gives local artists a highly visible platform right in the heart of the city, encouraging Calgarians to pause and notice creativity integrated into the places they move through every day,” said Kirsten Schrader, the director of communications.

Every crossing becomes an unexpected encounter. Drivers catch flashes of colour as they pass across bridges, cyclists see the banners ripple in the wind, and pedestrians can pause to study patterns and playful details up close. Each perspective offers a different way for Calgarians to engage with the art and appreciate how it enhances the urban environment.

COLOUR THROUGH THE SEASONS

While winter highlights the contrast between steel, snow, and ice, the banners’ impact extends well beyond the cold months. Each cycle introduces new artwork, adding to Calgary’s evolving cultural identity and making the bridges more than transit routes. The program shows how public art enriches daily life, offering a visual welcome into downtown while giving local artists a platform to share their creativity.

The current banners will remain until spring, when a new artist will take their turn. In 2026,

Michelle Ku PHOTO: COURTESY CADA

the program will feature Mackenzie Brown, a First Nations Cree woman from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Brown is known for her vibrant acrylic paintings, beadwork, leatherwork, and large-scale murals. Her work reflects her Cree heritage, with a strong focus on the relationship between land, animals, and Indigenous identity

in a contemporary context.

The program has already selected new artists through 2028. Chrysalis, Alberta Society for Citizens with Disabilities, will be featured in 2027, followed by Lyndon Navalta in 2028, giving residents and visitors something to anticipate and a reason to keep their eyes open as they cross the city.

IN THE GALLERIES THIS MONTH CONTEMPORARY CALGARY

ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL

ESKER FOUNDATION

Entwined Until March 15 Across diverse media, 19 Canadian artists from the prairies explore humanity’s intertwined relationship with land and other species. Their work addresses ecological crises, Indigenous knowledge, myth, and technology to inspire care, reciprocity, and renewed awareness of interdependence amid rapid environmental change.

Craft Perspectives January 17 to March 14 Celebrating 45 years, this intriguing exhibition features new works by 16 contemporary craft artists who’ve drawn inspiration from historical objects, archival collections, and cultural artifacts scattered across the province. Forgotten stories and hidden treasures from the past are reimagined through contemporary craft.

Anthony Cudahy: metronome yawned January 23 to April 26 Anthony Cudahy’s luminous figurative paintings and precise drawings weave personal archives with art-historical motifs, turning collected images into intimate, mythic scenes. Reimagining overlooked queer histories, he shows how revisiting the past can shape identity, nurture vulnerability, and open space for renewal.

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COVER

BY CATRINA BOWLES

W

hile today’s theatre nerds browse Instagram for a new cutting-edge show, 40 years ago, avid audience members dialled mysterious phone numbers for an address to reach something called the “Secret Elevator Experimental Performance Festival.” Friends and strangers gathered at the secret location, rode an elevator to an office-turned-performance space, and witnessed what would be considered the first High Performance Rodeo.

“The first festival was super guerrilla and kind of punk,” said Oliver Armstrong, festival producer. “That’s one of the things that’s important to us … We want it to be exciting.”

Over the last four decades, One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo has put Calgary on the map as a hub of avant-garde, innovative theatre. For three weeks in January, audiences are treated to a wide array of live art, including theatre, music, dance, comedy, and more.

And while audiences aren’t getting shoved in sketchy elevators anymore, audiences are still promised a wild ride.

TAKING RISKS

Being in the scene for 40 years, with a cozy little home in the Werklund Centre, affords One Yellow Rabbit and the High Performance Rodeo some security in what they can produce. But that kind of security comes with trade-offs, a notion that wasn’t lost on the One Yellow Rabbit team — or “Rabbits,” as they call themselves. “[It’s] something that our founders really started noticing pretty quickly when they started to achieve levels of success,” said Armstrong.

“Sometimes fitting into what the funders require or what the public institutions expect can appear to offer some limits.”

Balancing the art that funders are willing to support with the risks that are staples of the Rodeo is at the core of the festival’s programming.

While major organizations like Calgary Arts Development and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts may have helped make the Rodeo as big as it is today, audience ticket purchases allow the

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Dream Machine PHOTO: BLAKE BROOKER

Old Fest,

HOW FRESH VOICES KEEP THE HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO EDGY AFTER 40 YEARS

New Blood

fest to stay avant-garde.

“Sometimes we have to make choices that are independent,” said Armstrong. “We still have to push boundaries, because that is part of our DNA.” While the festival’s reputation is strong, staying relatively small helps it maintain a high-quality lineup year after year.

“The festival obviously has grown a lot, [but] it doesn’t get bigger every single year,” said Armstrong. “Constant growth isn’t something we strive for. We want it to be sustainable.”

Keeping the festival at a sustainable size allows programming to include some truly offthe-wall performances. The festival can include events that may not resonate with all audiences, an inclusion that’s just as important to the Rabbits as fan-favourites are.

“Not every single show that every single patron sees at the rodeo is going to be something that they fall in love with,” said Armstrong. “But everything that they see is going to be somehow undeniable.”

NEW TALENT Many of One Yellow Rabbit’s founding members are still involved in HPR 40 years later, and they’ve seen it all. So how do they keep the events “undeniable?” “The weirdos find us,” said Armstrong.

The “weirdos” in question who are challenging norms are a fresh batch of theatre artists taking to the stage with new works. “I think they’re bringing their game and elevating it, and I think they’re bringing their training and letting it

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

“WE STILL HAVE TO PUSH BOUNDARIES, BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF OUR DNA.” OLIVER ARMSTRONG, FESTIVAL PRODUCER

loose,” said Blake Brooker, One Yellow Rabbit’s artistic director and founding member.

Brooker and his colleagues have been in the game long enough to know that theatre and the arts are not an easy industry to work in. Young artists are sacrificing job security, insurance, and consistent pay … and yet, they do it anyway.

“All these people here are hustlers,” said Brooker. “They’re doing something they love.

They’re doing something that is dangerous. It’s risky to be out there.”

To support young artists willing to take risks, One Yellow Rabbit offers two youth programs: Beautiful Young Artists and Beautiful Young Students.

As part of One Yellow Rabbit’s Beautiful Young Students program, which focuses on outreach to secondary school students, Armstrong visited the Strathmore High School drama class. Students from this class are debuting a production called New Blood at the High Performance Rodeo, directed by their drama teacher Deanne Birch.

The students collaborated with Siksika knowledge keepers and elders to create a moving collection of pieces about Siksika First Nation Chief Vincent Yellow Old Woman’s journey from the trauma of residential schools to becoming a chief.

Even when bringing a show to the High Performance Rodeo, the students Armstrong spoke with were unsure whether pursuing a career in theatre was really possible.

“Whether or not any of those students will continue to additional training or will become working artists and then [come] back to our festival, we can never say,” said Armstrong. “But if we’ve done our best to share and be open and try to plant some seeds, then we’ve done something valuable.”

In addition to the student outreach program, One Yellow Rabbit also has its “Beautiful Young Artists” program. The program is a three-year

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commitment that provides artists with training and performance opportunities. One of the artists in the Beautiful Young Artist ensemble is Calgary-born Lauren Brady, whose show Swan? takes to the HPR stage after successful international runs at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe festivals.

“This is almost like a homecoming,” said Armstrong. “Everything that she’s learned from her contemporaries, literally around the world, she’s bringing back to a Calgary stage. That’s super impressive and important to us.”

It’s young artists like Brady and the Strathmore High School students who are bringing a current perspective to the High Performance Rodeo.

CREATING JOY

The cost of living is a top concern for many people right now. Everyone is paying extra close attention to where they’re spending their dollar, a fact that the Rabbits are well aware of.

“Everything’s more expensive. Everything is difficult,” said Brooker. “When you get someone to part with their hard-earned money and come to an event … You want to make sure they’re getting their money’s worth.”

In programming the festival, One Yellow Rabbit emphasized “joy” in the audience experience. When there’s so much going on in the world, theatre and art exist as a place for people to escape and feel seen.

“There are all these different challenges,” said Brooker. “So it feels like there’s an extra responsibility to be entertaining and fun.”

Armstrong noted that getting audiences into seats became harder in the post-pandemic years.

“Reducing barriers to [audience] access is more important than ever,” said Armstrong.

“Whether that’s in the form of ticket prices, or even just something as simple as telling them what their experience is going to be in advance.”

There’s always a selection of free shows at the High Performance Rodeo for anyone looking for a sampling of the festival (Karen is one such offering this year), along with artist and student-priced tickets.

But for those who are willing to pay but aren’t sure what to choose, this year’s Rodeo resurrects some old festival favourites, including Dream Machine.

Dream Machine was last performed by the One Yellow Rabbit ensemble in 2006, written

by One Yellow Rabbit founding member Blake Brooker. Not just a remounting of an old show, Dream Machine serves as a metaphor for those founding members passing the torch.

“There are young artists now playing the roles of some of the characters that were played by original members of our ensemble who are no longer with us,” said Armstrong.

“It’s this really interesting mix of young new performing talent alongside the actual veterans of performance in Alberta.”

While the Rodeo may be bringing back some fan favourites, catering to the audience’s desire for joy does not compromise the festival’s commitment to producing subversive art.

“Are our choices changing because of who the audience is and what they want to see?

Yeah, a little bit,” said Armstrong. “But we also have so much variety and so much flexibility that we’re really not worried about what we’re missing out on.”

In total, 25 productions will take to the stage over three weeks. If you don’t want to see something tried-and-tested, there are plenty more shows to choose from.

“Every year we try in some way to take a risk,” said Armstrong. “These are raw young theatre artists or performance artists, and I feel like they have something to give, even if it’s just an experiment.”

The High Performance Rodeo rides from January 13 to 31. Explore the full lineup at oyr.org.

MICHAEL GREEN AND THE SECRET ELEVATOR PROJECT

OYR CIRCA 1990S

SERPENT KILLS

WHAT THE THUNDER SAID

THE ORIGINAL DREAM MACHINE CAST

PHOTO: MICHAEL VINCENT TAN

PHOTO: TRUDI LEE

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COVER

WELCOME TO HUCKSTERLAND THIS LOCALLY CREATED SHOW FIGHTS BACK AGAINST LANDLORDS WITH A PUNK ROCK UPPERCUT

BY JESS ARCAND

A

rriving at High Performance Rodeo with a landlord worth hating, Hucksterland is a musical worth shouting along to. Written by award-winning Metis playwright Caleigh Crow with music by Gus Rendell and Sacha Crow, the new production frames the housing crisis through satire, spite, and the downfall of a landlord.

“I try to always write about the realities of most people. And the reality is, most people work in retail, and most people rent,” Crow said. “The reason for that has to do with power and the accumulation of it in our society.” Hucksterland drags these power imbalances into the light and laughs in their face.

Crow has spent years shaping this production, long enough to watch the housing debate intensify around her. Years of unstable housing and landlord trouble shaped her understanding of the crisis, as she describes her past relationships with landlords as “the most antagonistic relationship and most toxic I’ve had in my whole life. Landownership is inherently wrong.” A particular frustration woven into those memories lingers even after a lease ends.

Rather than focusing on the renter’s experience, Crow built the story around a single landlord, Jordan Jameson. Jameson is a person whose ego, entitlement, and puffed-up sense of benevolence offer the perfect playground for satire.

Humour was always part of the plan. Crow felt that satire offered the most straightforward path into conversations about affordability, inequality, and the commodification of housing without sliding into despair. These feelings guided her early drafts, though she is quick to clarify that she never wanted to write a show that lectures renters about the circumstances they already live in. For her, the show is about exposing the ego and entitlement of those who benefit from it. “I knew I wanted Hucksterland to be funny and centred around this villainous landlord rather than the plight of a renter because people who live that life already know that,” said Crow. “I wanted to create a character

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Caleigh Crow (L), Gus Rendell, and Sacha Crow PHOTO: NEIL FLEMING

“ I WA N T E D TO C R E AT E A C H A R AC T E R T H AT W E C O U L D A L L G E T O N B OA R D W I T H H AT I N G .”

PLAYWRIGHT CALEIGH CROW

Mike Tan stars in Hucksterland

that we could all get on board with hating.

Some landlords take themselves very seriously and have a sense of heroism. What I really wanted to do was make fun of these people and call them horrible.”

What makes the project especially compelling is the musical backbone. Crow explained that she “does not enjoy the traditional repertoire that surrounds musical theatre,” and wanted the musical to have sounds with more bite.

“Luckily, I married a musician and songwriter,” Crow said, referencing her partner, Sacha Crow, who also worked on There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and There is Death, or the Born-Again Crow, which won an award at the 2024 Governor General’s Award.

The team expanded further when a Vertigo Theatre residency brought them together with local band Brain Bent. That collaboration introduced musician Gus Rendell into the mix, who also worked with Sacha Crow on a play titled O’KOSI that explored the indigenous history of Treaty 7, and made the final version of Hucksterland possible.

The trio spent five years developing material and refining the show’s tone until everything was fully aligned. A standout moment comes from a character named Aspen, whom Crow rewrote. “I really tried not to give them too much of an arc, but I had to allow one character to redeem themselves,” she said. In a story built around the rot at the core of authority, Aspen offers a sliver of redemption that Crow herself didn’t expect.

When the show debuts at High Performance Rodeo, audiences will take in noisy guitars, a cast of unhinged characters who will surprise you, set pieces that go further than you’d anticipate, and a story that spirals into mayhem. Crow speaks highly of the festival and the way its audiences show up ready to take risks. Hucksterland seems designed for precisely that kind of room.

For now, the only way to experience the musical experience is to be in the theatre. “As things stand right now, you have to come see it in person,” said Crow. “That’s the beauty of it.”

Hucksterland runs from January 29 to February 7 at the Alexandra Centre Concert Hall.

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SCENE RODEO PICKS

COVER

IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME ATTENDING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO? HERE’S YOUR STARTER PACK ON WHAT TO CHECK OUT

BY NATHAN ILES

TEN MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT: Are you someone who binge-watches shows on Netflix? Or maybe stays up till 2 a.m. with your favourite book? If so, the Ten Minute Play Festival is the best way to kick off your HPR experience. In the span of two hours, your senses are bombarded with play after play by new artist after new artist. It’s an all-killer, no-filler Calgary tradition that perfectly captures One Yellow Rabbit’s ethos — and feels like inhaling a season of television in a single sitting.

January 13 at Martha Cohen Theatre

PERFORMS TOM WAITS

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT: If you’re reading The Scene, we know you’re a music fan, and chances are good you like Tom Waits. But you’ve never heard his tunes quite like this. L’orchestre d’hommes-orchestres brings new life to his music with a madcap collection of found objects and self-made instruments, transforming the Bella Concert Hall into a disaster zone. It’s a junkyard circus tribute to one of the great American songwriters. Tom Waits would either love it or call the police. Possibly both.

January 15 to 17 at Bella Concert Hall

JULIET: A REVENGE COMEDY

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT: Everyone knows what happens in Romeo and Juliet, but this show puts a spin on the formula based on one simple question: What if Juliet doesn’t kill herself?” Like a great Elseworlds comic or alt-history novel, the narrative twist creates a butterfly effect that instead spirals out into a feminist action comedy starring Betty Mitchell winner Lili Beaudoin. Worth checking out if you’re a longtime Billy Shakes fan, or someone with bad memories of high school English class.

January 21, 23, and 24 at Martha Cohen Theatre

NEW BLOOD

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT: This collaboration with Strathmore High School brings Peter Gabriel’s music to life through dance, sweat, passion, and pure energy. Students blend hip-hop, contemporary, and cultural movement to tell the powerful story of Siksika Chief Vincent Yellow Old Woman and his journey from residential school survivor to leader of his people. It’s dance that breaks barriers, and your chance to see what the next generation of artists and storytellers has in store for us.

January 30 at The GRAND Flanagan Theatre

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MISS RITA’S LUCHA VAVOOM

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT: OYR describes this one as a “Telenovela meets WrestleMania meets a horny fever dream.” That’s not just a description: that’s a warning.

Miss Rita throws lucha libre wrestling, burlesque, theatre and drag into a blender, hits “chaos,” and serves it with zero apologies for one night only. Tassels, body slams, and glamour; oh my! Miss it and spend the rest of January hearing everyone else’s stories … and wishing you had been the one getting suplexed instead. Va-va-voom indeed.

January 24 at WinSport Event Centre

SWAN?

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE IT: Raunchy twists on classic stories are a HPR tradition at this point, and Swan Lake is next in the crosshairs. Lauren Brady reimagines the Russian ballet as a one-woman, zonked-out party starring a chain-smoking disaster who desperately needs to break a curse of ennui. The show promises to be a highly interactive piece in which the audience is part of the story, which is just the kind of irreverent experience the Rodeo specializes in. Plus, on top of creating and performing the piece, Brady did the sound design; how cool is that?!

January 15 to 18 at The Studio at Vertigo Theatre

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FESTIVAL SCENE

PHOTO: COLIN WAY

SHINE BRIGHT AT CHINOOK BLAST ART, PERFORMANCES, AND HIJINKS ON CALGARY’S WINTER STREETS

BY EVELINA PAK

I

n the middle of winter, everyone craves warmer days. In Calgary, that relief arrives as Chinook, a brief break of warmer air amid the frigid weather.

These sun-drenched days are the inspiration for Chinook Blast. The festival dates back to 2021, when the city was still under COVID-19 restrictions. Despite those limits

CHINOOK BLAST TIPS SKATE AT THE LAGOON Glide across Chinook Blast’s outdoor rink at the Lagoon and catch Drag on Ice performances under the lights. TIP: Bring your own skates to save time in the rental line.

EAST END COLD SPELL Chinook Blast is just the beginning. Head to The Confluence at the start of next month and

— and temperatures dipping to -20 — Chinook Blast drew more than 300,000 people downtown.

“We were looking to find a way to give Calgarians an opportunity to gather and to celebrate what it means to be a winter city,” said Patti Pon, chair of Chinook Blast’s executive committee and president and CEO of Calgary Arts Development.

At the time, the festival focused on outdoor installations and activities. Since then, it has grown into a multi-week winter celebration. This year, Chi-

nook Blast marks its sixth edition at the renovated Eau Claire Plaza. From January 30 to February 16, the plaza transforms into a winter playground featuring art installations, performances, live music, sports, and family-friendly activities.

Many local festivals, including High Performance Rodeo, Block Heater and Ethnik Festivals, take place around the same time and partner with Chinook Blast. The goal is to amplify what’s already happening downtown. “We wanted to be

get your first taste of East End Cold Spell, a new winter festival making its debut this year.

There’s a vintage night market on February 4, along with many more events throughout the month. Check out theconfluence.ca (and next month’s issue of The Scene) for more details!

SHOP THE MARKET Markets return with a new home at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, featuring Authentically Indigenous and Seconds Collective, Calgary’s popular vintage and secondhand pop-up.

SIP AND WARM UP A new beer garden by Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. will serve craft beer, mulled wine, Baileys, and other seasonal warmers. To stay comfortable, balance outdoor exploring with indoor stops at spots like The Dome.

a platform that could spotlight other partners and celebrate the programming and activities that they’re doing, and give Calgarians lots of variety,” said Pon. Programming is intentionally designed to be all-ages, accessible, and family-friendly. This year, Chinook Blast leans on guest curators to bring distinct creative visions: Paul Magnuson of Big Art, Victoria Bucholtz (aka Karla Marx), and Kayla Bigras (aka Smokey Waters/Bitch Sassidy) from Cabaret Company.

At its heart, Chinook Blast remains a local festival, but its reach continues to grow, drawing international artists and organizations. Among this year’s winter installations are Electric Dandelions, a series of 28-foot-tall firework-inspired sculptures from California, and The Cloud Swing, an illuminated swing by New Orleans-based Curious Form. Calgary will also host the Good Game Winter Edition at the BMO Centre for the first time, bringing even more activity and energy to the season.

The only thing that doesn’t change is the challenging weather. Over the years, both artists and organizers have learned to adapt. As Chinook Blast continues to expand in scale and variety, its future looks secure. “Our intention is to continue the festival annually, as long as Calgarians and visitors feel it’s something they want to take part in,” said Pon. Chinook Blast goes down from January 30 to February 16. Check the full lineup at chinookblast.ca.

STAY CURIOUS Even without a set plan, you’ll still catch the festival in action. Stilt walkers, LED costumes, puppets, and dancers appear throughout the grounds, alongside workshops and all-ages activities. Stop by if you’re passing through, and take in some of the winter weirdo sights.

PHOTO: NEIL ZELLER

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A PLAY OF COLOUR AND SOUND

L’OMELETTE

E

au Claire Plaza will feature 14 installations, including projection mapping, LED displays, interactive arches, and more. On top of that, music and live performance have also become central to the festival.

We spoke with several artists to learn how these works come to life and how they transform winter into something playful, social, and surprising.

L’omelette PHOTO: SEBASTIAN BUZZALINO

January 30 | 7 p.m.

Presented by Block Heater If you’re craving a taste of summer in the depths of winter, this is the show to catch. L’omelette weaves contemporary, colourful, genre-fluid soundscapes. Think prog and new-wave rock rhythms blended with synth and sax-driven dance-pop.

Their music reflects on human nature while celebrating presence, inviting audiences to dance and think at the same time. “We hope to warm everyone up by getting folks up on their feet and moving to our tunes,” said Meaghan Thompson (Meg Benedict), the band’s vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.

With their summer energy and optimism, the band is ready to brave the cold. “I have complete faith that we’ll get well taken care of,” said Thompson. “We just all have to wear our coolest warm outfits!”

Joey Jay PHOTO: COURTESY BIG ART

THE DOME — BIG ART

This isn’t that ‘Dome; this one anchors the plaza with a 13-metre geodesic structure featuring 360-degree projection and immersive light.

“We’ve experienced the power of immersive storytelling inside geodesic domes around the world, and we wanted to bring that feeling home,” said Paul Magnuson, founder and chief imagineer at Big Art. The idea is simple: create a space where people don’t just watch content — they step inside it.

True to its name, Big Art’s team is massive: it brings together engineers, fabricators, programmers, artists, and long-time creative collaborators. Building the Dome is physically

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PHOTO: JOEY GUZZINO

DRAG ON ICE 4 demanding, especially in winter conditions, while programming requires designing for a fully immersive, 360-degree environment. But it is absolutely worth it, according to Magnuson.

The Dome fits seamlessly into Chinook Blast’s sense of wonder and offers a shelter from the cold. “It becomes a shared refuge where people can slow down, connect, and experience something together,” said Magnuson. Big Art hopes the experience leaves visitors feeling lighter, inspired, and more connected. “Once you step inside, the noise of the day fades, and you’re completely surrounded by light, sound, and movement.”

January 31 | 5 p.m.

Get ready for a full-on frozen disco extravaganza. To keep the festival fresh, Drag On Ice introduces new performers, numbers, props, and costumes each year. This edition also features special guest headliner Joey Jay from RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The show debuted in 2023 amid protests, but also drew hundreds of enthusiastic attendees. Now in its fourth year, it continues to grow. “People in Calgary love coming to see drag shows, and we’ve been proven right every year since,” said Victoria Bucholtz (Karla Marx), co-founder

and host of Drag on Ice. For her, the best part about the show is the novelty of performing on skates and the freedom of a larger space after a regular stage. Shifting to skates was never the challenge; adapting to winter conditions was.

The team adjusted costumes and performances to suit the cold. And for audiences, the show offers both a celebration of Calgary’s queer community and a uniquely wintery experience on ice.

See the full lineup at chinookblast.ca.

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MUSIC SCENE

My Flaming Red Bob-Sled

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT MAKES A SLED EVENT

HOW SLED ISLAND KEEPS THE FIRE FLICKERING ALL YEAR LONG

MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER INDIE SHOW IS THE

BY REID BLAKLEY

AROUND IT, AND THE INTENTION AND CARE WE PUT INTO IT.”

he Sled Island Music & Arts Festival, Calgary’s premier gathering of independent musicians and fans since 2007, often generates levels of anticipation and merriment usually reserved for a childhood Christmas. Many get up early every year just to be among the first to see announcements of guest curators and lineups, and put more thought into band wishlists for passholder surveys than any North Pole letter.

In recent years, Sled Island-branded events have expanded beyond the main midsummer extravaganza. In the past few months, the Sled team has promoted individual shows, co-presented a Halloween cover band showcase with CJSW at the #1 Legion, and held a festival fundraiser at Dickens Pub, headlined by Afro-pop artist MAUVEY. This January, the Sled team will be putting on its largest off-season event: the second annual Bob-Sled, a one-venue mini-festival taking place over four nights at the Palomino. Costing less than $100 for a weekend pass, it’s a chance for Sledders to get their fix several months before the main event, at a time of year usually bereft of festivals.

“There is obviously a marketing benefit to having our name out there throughout the year,” said Sled Island executive director Maud Salvi in an email. “But year-round events are also a great way to cultivate our relationship with our audience … Someone might feel intimidated by the June festival because they don’t know the bands or there’s just too much going on, but they might want to go out for Halloween and dance to songs they already know. In the process, though, they

SLED ISLAND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAUD SALVI

T 20

COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO CULTIVATE

Motherhood at Sled Island 2025 PHOTO: LYLE BELL

might fall in love with the Legion and find out about local bands they like, and be more inclined to look into what else we’re doing.”

Presented with ‘88 Brewing Co., Bob-Sled can be seen as an appetizer platter before the main course in June. This year’s edition features New York City garage rockers Dirty Fences and Portland psych veterans The Shivas, both Sled-calibre touring acts that wouldn’t be out of place at the main festival (and the latter did play Sled Island back in 2014). For the FOMO-afflicted Sledder, there’s a second chance to see acts from previous years: on the docket are wacky New Brunswick post-punks Motherhood and Polaris nominees Ribbon Skirt, both of whom played the 2025 festival in venues that reach capacity notoriously quickly.

“On a smaller scale, Bob-Sled keeps the Sled energy through immersive, back-to-back programming while fostering community and connection,” said outgoing festival manager Hemen Tor-Agbidye.

Year-round shows are also opportunities to raise funds for the main event. Although it has sponsors and charges for tickets like any other festival, the organization running Sled Island is also a registered charity, making its finances less reliant on corporate sponsorship and more in the hands of local music lovers. “Community-driven fundraising demonstrates the genuine enthusiasm people have for the festival and highlights the value they see in the experiences it creates,”

said Tor-Agbidye.

“As the costs of producing music festivals keep rising,” said Salvi, “fundraising is becoming more and more important to the sustainability of non-profit organizations. Sponsorship is an important piece of our revenue, but as businesses’ budgets get slimmer and the competition greater, it’s not enough anymore, so we don’t have a choice but to fundraise.”

This means Sled Island can now choose sponsors that align more closely with its values. “The landscape for sponsors has shifted in a big way from when I joined the board … to where we are now, with far more modest, local and meaningful sponsors on that really see our work together as a partnership,” said Sled Island board member Arif Ansari.

Given the smaller scale of year-round Sled events and the lack of need to venue-hop, there’s little perceived risk of making the festival less memorable by spreading its unique characteristics over the whole year. “All of our year-round events serve different purposes,” said Salvi. “As such, they’re going to look and feel different in some ways from the June festival … At the end of the day, what makes a Sled event more than just another indie show is the community that we have and continue to cultivate around it, and the intention and care we put into it.”

Besides, who wants to venue hop in the January cold, anyway? May as well park at the barbecue palace.

BOB-SLED 2026 Bob-Sled goes down from January 21 to 24 at the Palomino Smokehouse.

January 21 PACKS, Sour Widows, Mossy Dole and Victrix Vibes: Hazy pop and lo-fi earworms, a perfect soundtrack for texting your crush.

January 22 Dirty Fences, The Shivas, Amy Nelson, and more Vibes: Riffy rock ‘n roll and blue-sy meltdowns, as refreshing as cold garage beers.

January 23 FAZE, Hedonist, Milkmaid, and LUST Vibes: Hardcore punk and metal that gets the fists bumping … and a trombone? Bring earplugs.

January 24 Ribbon Skirt, Motherhood, Cassia Hardy, and Stucco.

Vibes: Angular post-punk confessionals, and probably the bestdressed crowd of the weekend.

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A collision of sound, movement, and story — then stick around for the afterparty.

ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE • $10 COVER • TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW werklundcentre.ca/amplify

NAMING SPONSOR

PUBLIC SECTOR SUPPORT

NEW YEAR NEW SCENE

CALGARY RESOLUTIONS HERE’S YOUR LOCAL ROADMAP FOR EVERY RESOLUTION THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE ITS WAY INTO YOUR LIST

BY CELINA VIDES

T

he tradition of setting personal growth goals and firm commitments at the start of the year has been around since the early 19th century. A lot has changed since then, but what hasn’t changed is that the promises you make to yourself in the comfort of your notes app are often tough to keep.

Let Calgary be the guiding force behind this betterment, and stay on track as you take in what the city has to offer.

GET FIT

While rushing to get a gym membership might be the most common way people start their fitness journey, Calgarians have many other creative ways to stay active.

Getting fit is better with others, and that is why joining a recreational league through Calgary Sport and Social Club could be what you need to accomplish your resolutions. Social clubs are a great way to make connections while staying fit. From pickleball and curling to cornhole and lawn bowling, these leagues offer an easy way to stay active while meeting new people.

If team experiences are striking your fancy, consider joining a Dragon Boat team and becoming a regular at the Glenmore Reservoir. The hard work and strength required for this on-the-water team sport reward you with beautiful views and a unique bonding experience. Browse the info and the available teams at calgarydragonboatsociety.com.

If you prefer a slower pace, take a daily walk to a nearby park or street. Calgary offers a variety of green spaces.

According to the City of Calgary Parks website, there are around 5,600 parks in Calgary. Inner-city residents should

Calgary Dragon Boat Society

use the Calgary Public Art Guide, an online tool that lets users explore public artworks across the city. Featuring city-owned pieces, privately commissioned works and community initiatives, the map includes all the info you need to get acquainted with public art and make your walks a cultural experience.

If you already enjoy walking and want to elevate your experience, Geocaching is a fun way to get moving.

Download the app and start hunting for hidden caches.

You’ll log plenty of steps, but the sense of discovery and the serotonin boost make it especially rewarding. Visit calgary.ca and search “geocaching” to find a guide to getting started and what to keep in mind.

DRINK LESS BETTER

Plenty resolve to drink less or to do “Dry January.” If that sounds like you, stroll through the Crossroads Market and pick up a few non-alcoholic drinks; the offerings are extensive as the market catches up to the lifestyle.

If you want to try your hand at dry mixology, browse your local Calgary Public Library branch for mocktail recipe books, and place a hold on titles like Party Drinks or Monday Night Mocktails. You can also hit up your local independent bookstore and search for titles like Both Sides of the Glass, a cocktail book that features elevated mocktails for nondrinkers and their cocktail counterparts for those who enjoy them.

And going dry doesn’t mean you can’t tear up the dancefloor. Dickens offers an extensive zero-proof menu and ultra-inclusive vibes.

Santé Non-Alcoholic Cocktails PHOTO: SANTÉ DRY BOTTLE SHOP

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BE A FAN

Last season, baseball fans in Canada enjoyed welcoming new fans across the country and sharing the electric feeling of watching a game at a packed bar or a friend’s house, and celebrating a lastminute upset. If you are looking for your next exciting and hopeful fandom in 2026, a recommended start is to visit Gold Diggers Sports Lounge — a women’s sports-centred bar brought to you by the team behind The Blues Can — and find your next favourite team.

Looking for different teams to cheer on? Across Canada, professional women’s hockey is gaining momentum. Look into teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, including the Toronto Sceptres, Ottawa Charge, Montreal Victoire and the league’s newest addition, the Vancouver Goldeneyes. Women’s soccer is also making waves, with the Calgary Wild Football Club recently wrapping up its inaugural season in the Northern Super League. It will return for its second season in 2026.

If hockey and soccer aren’t your sports of choice, women’s basketball in Canada is also entering an exciting new era. The Toronto Tempo has been officially announced, with its inaugural season set for 2026. As Marinya Marcichiw, events manager for the University of Calgary Dinos, notes, the talent in women’s basketball is already unparalleled.

“Here in Alberta, we get to watch two top-10 U SPORTS programs in which the Dinos and [University of Alberta] Pandas go head to head every year,” said Marcichiw. “Our senior national team is also ranked among the best in the world. The women’s game is fast, smart and competitive. Once you see the level these athletes play at, you can’t help but become a fan.”

READ MORE

The Book of Alchemy

by Suleika Jaouad This book explores the art of journaling and how to tap into your creativity, featuring essays and writing prompts from 100 writers, artists, and thinkers.

Reading more and being creative go hand in hand. According to Jen Fedorowich, social media coordinator for Owls Nest Books, the right novels can help spark ideas, encourage mindfulness and make creative habits feel more approachable.

The Little Frog’s Guide to Self-Care

by Maybell Eequay Uplifting affirmations and empowering life lessons from the internet’s favourite little frog.

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

GO GREEN

A great New Year’s resolution is to live more sustainably. Calgary offers many accessible ways to reduce your environmental footprint, with no drastic lifestyle changes required. Start small by visiting a local refill store, such as Canary Goods Greenbriar or The Apothecary in Inglewood, where you can refill everyday essentials and reduce single-use packaging.

Another simple, social option is hosting a clothing swap with friends. Bring your clothes when the season is about to change, and give your closet a refresh, since someone’s donation pile is, after all, someone else’s new favourite find.

For those looking to go deeper, you can also access lots of different resources at the Tourism Calgary Sustainability and Accessibility site, where you will find helpful links to other initiatives and strategies, as well as a directory for GreenKey-certified businesses in Calgary.

If you want more inspiration and a guide to living a sustainable life, Fix Your Fashion: How to Create an Ethical Wardrobe by Laura Strut is an excellent read. It offers practical tips for making small choices and staying informed.

Canary Shop

Here are some book recommendations from her to help tap into your creative potential and bust you out of a reading rut. And if you’re interested in any of these, place an order at your favourite Calgary bookstore!

Atomic Habits

by James Clear

Untamed

by Glennon Doyle

Ideal for anyone looking to make meaningful, lasting change by mastering the small behaviours that lead to remarkable results.

A powerful memoir if you resolve to pursue self-discovery, set boundaries, and live authentically.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman

Remarkably Bright Creatures

by Shelby Van Pelt

This is the heartfelt story of a socially awkward woman whose carefully structured life begins to change as she confronts long-avoided truths.

A charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

SNAP

by Susan Nielsen Funny, timely, and sharp, SNAP follows messy attempts to heal, cope, or get even, delivering big laughs alongside human heartache.

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BAR SCENE

EXPLORING OUR CITY:

INTERNATIONAL AVENUE JOIN US FOR A PUB CRAWL THROUGH GREATER FOREST LAWN

BY ADAM KERESZTES

D

o you ever drive around Calgary, see interesting bars/restaurants/stores, and wonder what’s behind those doors? The local spots you somehow have never set foot into, despite them being around for decades?

Look no further, as The Scene deep dives into areas of the city that don’t get as much shine. Our crack team puts feet on the pavement in less-trafficked areas to find hidden gems just beneath the surface of Calgary’s urban sprawl.

BODDUM’S UP PUB Nestled just off 17th Avenue S.E. in a cove of the Mountview mobile home park is the first stop: Boddum’s Up Pub. Don’t let the silly cartoon characters on the sign or the iron bars on the window fool you. This is a no-nonsense bar with friendly staff and a wide range of events. Sit at the bar, have a cool pint of Kokanee Gold and listen to live music while the VLT machines seem to ding in tune.

TAVERN 52 BAR & GRILL A quick 10-minute walk along the wide, tree-lined paths of International Avenue and a fast turn south onto 52nd Street brings you to Tavern 52 Bar & Grill. Offering both great pub grub and decently priced drinks, this is a dark yet fresh and clean establishment with a rowdy crowd of regulars. Take advantage of their 32-ounce Schooners of beer for only $8 and the all-youcan-eat brunch.

on a corner in Jersey City or a joint straight out of The Wire in Baltimore. Chicago’s Pub is the landmark right in the middle of this mall. Opt for a bar seat and order a couple of Bud Lights.

No frills here, but there’s cheap beer and a couple of screens to watch a sports game.

Don’t miss the M.A.A.D. Poster featuring Alfred E. Neuman.

BORDER CROSSING PUB On the corner of the major intersection of 17th Avenue and 32nd Street S.E. sits the standalone building of Border Crossing Pub. From the outside, it looks like a gang hideaway somewhere in the Florida panhandle, sitting on stilts to ensure a hurricane or rising tide doesn’t sweep it away. The inside is almost precisely that, and in the best way possible. A huge horseshoe bar serves the entire bar, so grab a couple of MGD’s and play a few games of pinball on the “Girls of Playboy” machine.

THE SPOT PUB & GRILL

KOKONUT KOVE PUB

Continuing west on 17th Avenue is the giant landmark of the Dragon Gate Chinese Restaurant.

The Spot Pub & Grill is tucked on the west side, with a small door and minimal branding. Inside is a charming spot, if your preferred charm is full-on dive. Some friendly waitresses might try to coax us to stay all night, but after a couple of bottles of Bud Light, a duo of $4.75 Burt Reynolds shots, and a quick glance at the “F*CK CARNEY” sticker on the beer fridge, it’s time to continue the journey.

Hidden behind the large Rexall Pharmacy is Kokonut Kove Pub, an easygoing bar with a handful of regulars and a heavy focus on pool. The beer is cold, and the bar isn’t busy, but the tunes playing are bumping. Best of all, they offer free pool all day. It’s worth hanging out here long enough for a couple of Coors Light and a few games of pool. In our opinion, this spot is an undersung gem in Greater Forest Lawn.

CHICAGO’S PUB This small strip mall on the north side of 17th Avenue stands out. The brick walls, stooped steps, and handrails make it look like something

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

BIG AL’S BAR & GRILL A perfect end to the crawl is at Big Al’s Bar & Grill. Even at primetime, a few tables are almost always available near the VLTs, and you will be quickly welcomed into a lively party atmos-

Big Al’s PHOTO: LORI ALVAREZ

Border Crossing

phere. If you’re lucky, you might see someone celebrating their 80th birthday while wearing a Big Al’s shirt sporting their popular slogan, “Don’t Make Me Take You To The Train Station.”

Depending on the day, a cover band plays all the hits while attendees eat pizza, drink mini-jug highballs, dance, and celebrate being alive in Calgary. Order a couple of cold ones and settle in to reflect on your day (and drink choices) on the International Avenue strip.

The Spot Pub & Grill

Kokonut Kove Pub PHOTO: ADAM KERESZTES

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VENUE

Calgary Coffee Rave UNCOMMON DRIP TURNS YOUR WEEKEND LATTE INTO A PARTY

BY ISABELLE HON

few breakfast options in partnership with Bagel Daze, and these sandwiches may just be my offee raves bubbled up in Europe favourite,” Goddard said. The team prepares before drifting to the U.S. and Asia, everything fresh every day; they make all the eventually turning caffeine culture sauces in-house, cook the meat, chop the vegeinto something closer to a daytime tables, and bake the sandwiches in a specialized micro-party.

Forno oven for the perfect crunch. “Our bread The new generation is over latecomes daily from Good Bread in Calgary, and night clubbing. They’d much rather it seems to work perfectly in the Forno oven, dance under actual sunlight, while keeping the inside soft and the outside nice a local DJ spins beats smoother than anything and crispy.” The most popular item here is the a bartender can pour at 1 a.m. And with the Shorty, a shaved striploin beef dip layered with rise of the “sober curious” crowd and everyone caramelized onion aioli, mozzarella, and crispy chasing healthier onion flakes. The drinks weekend habits, this are also uncommon, bright, caffeinated way with banana cream and of spending time is coconut cream lattes fast becoming a global the favourites, and trend. the Spanish latte and Here in Calgary, matcha close behind.

Uncommon Drip taps Beyond the food, the right into that energy. shop’s personality really The newly opened spot comes through in the is a hip-hop-inspired music, with selections coffee and sandwich that reflect Goddard’s shop that shows you taste. “Hip hop, old its personality the school mostly, mixing in second you walk in. some new stuff too. Lots TYLER GODDARD, FOUNDER Its founder, Tyler of Mac Miller, Notorious Goddard, grew up on BIG, Action Bronson, hip hop and always A Tribe Called Quest, wanted a coffee shop GangStarr.” that felt true to him. “I love coffee, but wasn’t a Every Saturday morning, a live DJ sets the fan of the common coffee shops these days,” he mood. “The DJs are all Calgary locals,” said said. “So I decided to put together a coffee shop Goddard. “They are great with mixing in other with a vibe, louder upbeat music and good food.” genres hooks into the hip hop songs.”

Goddard spent more than 20 years as a chef.

It’s hard not to enjoy the atmosphere and Looking back, he feels the lifestyle he has now have a good time with freshly spun tracks and suits him way better than the traditional kitchen warm java. “Most people are shocked that we grind. “It’s a different flow than having lunch and do it every Saturday, but I am trying to keep it dinner rushes of 300 people,” said Goddard. “The constant to build our brand,” said Goddard. He’s café is much more low-key than working on a also planning to bring the DJs to the patio once kitchen line. The café is definitely more my speed spring arrives, hosting open-air coffee raves to these days.” After decades in high-pressure energize the community further. kitchens, he craved a project that reflected who As coffee culture keeps evolving, Uncommon he was outside the chef’s jacket.

Drip is the spot shaping what the next wave And when it comes to food, you can’t skip the might look like; one latte, one beat, and one wood-fired sandwiches here. “We’re serving a Saturday morning at a time.

C

“I decided to put together a coffee shop with a vibe, louder upbeat music and good food.”

DJ Early Bird PHOTO: COURTESY UNCOMMON DRIP

QUICK FACTS:

Address: 802 Edmonton Tr. N.E. Website: uncommondrip.com; @uncommondripyyc on Instagram Opening hours: Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DJ sessions: Every Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Vibe: Cool, laid-back, artsy, and relaxing. Have you seen those “early morning house music” videos on YouTube? This is Calgary’s version of that.

Menu Recommendation: The Happy Daze is an excellent breakfast sandwich, with sprouts and caramelized onion heightening the standard egg and bacon.

Owner’s Song Pick: “Rush Hour” by Mac Miller

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

UPCOMING EVENTS

STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON

FEBRUARY 6

Duane Forrest Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World An intimate acoustic journey through the roots of reggae and Bob Marley’s worldwide influence on what would have been his 82nd birthday. Get tickets at studiobell.ca/whats-on.

FEBRUARY 16

FAMILY DAY AT STUDIO BELL WITH FREE ADMISSION Explore five floors of exhibitions, watch live performances, and participate in hands-on musical activities for all ages.

EXHIBITIONS ON NOW

STUDIOBELL.CA/FEATURE-EXHIBITIONS

Honouring the late jazz great on his 100th birthday.

Celebrating the international pop-punk icons.

A tribute to 2025 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees: Dan Hill, Glass Tiger, Ginette Reno, and Loreena McKennitt.

Explore stories and artifacts from Canada’s country legends.

STUDIO BELL, HOME OF THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE OPERATING PARTNERS:

@NMC_CANADA

STUDIOBELL.CA

CREATIVE SCENE

How We Create: The Body

THE ARTIST NEEDS TO BE FULLY EMBODIED TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN CREATIONS

BY KENNA BURIMA

T

his past fall, I had the opportunity to sit at my kitchen table with more than 20 Calgary performing artists from the 2025/26 Werklund Centre’s TD Incubator program. In its fifth year, the TD Incubator program works with multidisciplinary artists by offering a myriad of opportunities for collaboration, networking, and professional development, culminating in the AMPLIFY performance series at the Engineered Air Theatre on Jan 16, Feb 20, March 27, and April 24, 2026.

This performance series is the beating heart of the program’s large structure, and as Incubator Fellow, I am the hand gently holding the fragile and precious practices of the artists involved. This involves a body of communication with arteries of administration and limbs of facilitation that all work together, fueled by the AMPLIFY series director, Steven Conde; the Werklund Centre team, Josh Dalledonne, Sanja Lukac, and Yeisen Chang; stage manager, Emily Parkhouse; and a whole host of technical and administrative staff.

The first show of the series, AMPLIFY EPISODE ONE, features members of the alt-pop spectacle SHY FRiEND Julie Olive and drummer Milo Clarke, along with the genre-defying contemporary drama of Murmur Theatre led by Rita Rebetskaya and Polina Kaulio with actors Veronique Tomlinson, Nikhat Saheb, Warren Sulatycky, Maxim Vinogradov and Grace Fedorchuk and the dancer and choreographer Sierra Ozust.

Oszust knows the body well. She has developed a mesmerizing approach to movement over more than a decade through collaborations onstage, both local and international. “I am deeply aware of my body when I am creating,” said Oszust. “Not in a self-conscious way, but in an embodied one. My body becomes both the site and the source of information. Sensation often leads before thought. I notice weight, temperature, breath, and internal rhythms guiding decisions long before language arrives.”

Watching these artists is a unique experience. All involved start as strangers and then

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fully engage in the collaborative process. It is powerful to witness creativity unfolding as a living, breathing collaboration with the bodies as the instruments.

“When I collaborate with my body, it is a give and take,” said Julie Olive, bandleader of SHY FRiEND. “The emotion my body brings to my work is undeniable, but it can often lead to pain if expressed freely. I love the opportunities my body gives me to connect with other souls around me, through physical connection and through the way I present myself, with bright and bold visuals.”

Her bandmate Milo Clarke agrees. “My body when creating is akin to city sanitation,” said Clarke. “It’s easy not to notice when it is effective, but immediately noticeable when it isn’t. When I get into a flow state, however, my body manages all the details without me having to actively consider them and carries the music while affording me space to think ahead and listen to the signals given by other artists.”

Polina Kaulio is Murmur Theatre’s co-artistic director and “scenographer.” Together with the director and co-artistic Director Rita Rebetskaya, they create visually expressive, body-oriented performances with the feminine form at the forefront.

“When I’m creating, I often take unusual poses or work from the floor while drawing or modelling,” said Kaulio. “Being close to the ground makes me feel grounded, connected, and somehow closer to my work. I experience a deep focus — a kind of full-body listening where time collapses, and I sometimes forget to eat. There’s a physical sense of flow and warmth, as if my body, my fingers know where to go before my mind does.” Kaulio mirrors my belief that creativity is housed in the space between things, and the only way we can bring it into being is through our bodies in collaboration.

Showcasing conversations with Alberta artists helps foster a culture that values their work on and off the stage. It is with that in mind that I am bringing these conversations off the page in a new event called How We Create LIVE: The AMPLIFY Series, which can be seen January 17 at Motel Theatre in Werklund Centre as a part of the High Performance Rodeo, and features

“I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITIES MY BODY GIVES ME TO CONNECT WITH OTHER SOULS AROUND ME, THROUGH PHYSICAL CONNECTION AND

THROUGH THE WAY I PRESENT MYSELF” JULIE OLIVE, BANDLEADER OF SHY FRiEND

PHOTO: JOEL JOHNSON

behind-the-scenes personal stories of how artists created, collaborated, and rehearsed each of their AMPLIFY creations.

As artists collaborate, nothing becomes

something. Collaboration is the most powerful of relationships; the organic, nebulous thing that holds space for everyone involved, respecting and acknowledging how we create in unique ways.

thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

We can’t help with shoveling, but we can help with the soundtrack!

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CAM HAYDEN

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thescenecalgary.com | 01 | 2026

© VANESSA HEINS

VIVEK SHRAYA+ THE CALGARY PHIL Vivek Shraya makes her Calgary Phil debut in a brand-new production featuring music and readings from her acclaimed recordings and books, plus covers of songs by female pop stars — including Shania, Christina, and TLC — that shaped her sense of girlhood.

CO-PRESENTED WITH

30 January 2026 / 7:30PM Jack Singer Concert Hall tickets at calgaryphil.com