FROM BEATS TO BELLY LAUGHS AT THE BELLA
25 BREWERY SCENE
There’s plenty to do at Calgary’s breweries beyond crushing cold ones.
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.
13 COVER
Explore 25 of the best Calgary albums released this century.
6 ACT 1, SCENE 1
What to do, see, and hear this month across the city.
10 ARTS SCENE
Check back in with Werlund Centre, one year after breaking ground at Olympic Plaza.
20 HOLIDAY SCENE
Celebrate the jolliest time of year with your fellow misfits and play Scene holiday bingo.
22 MUSIC SCENE
The Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players bring the past to life.
23 CALGARY NOSTALGIA
Delve into the city’s past with BETABOYS and Canyon Meadows Theatre.
Cover Illustration by Gus Rendell
Publisher Käthe Lemon, klemon@redpointmedia.ca
Editor Nathan Iles, niles@redpointmedia.ca
Editorial Intern Evelina Pak, sceneeditorialintern@redpointmedia.ca
Founding Editor Mike Bell
Designer Kris Twyman
Print/Digital Production Manager Mike Matovich CONTRIBUTORS
Krista Sylvester, Catrina Bowles, Joseph Mastel, Sofía Velásquez, Reid Blakley, Cam Hayden, Hilary Kolback, Sarah Comber, Arif Ansari, Cindy MacLeod, Dan Northfield, James Odin Wade, Liam Prost, Nicola Cavanagh-Whitfield, Dillon Cavanagh-Whitfield, Chris Dadge, Colleen Krueger, John Charles Reid, Dwight Good Eagle Farahat, Stephanie Hutchinson, Logan Middleton, Gus Rendell, Ben Goodman, Jess Arcand, Geoff Bourrie, Lisa Wilton, Mack Meyer
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
Design Director Steve Collins
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
27 FILM SCENE
Check out three locally produced podcasts about moviegoing in Calgary.
28 VENUE
The Establishment brings trivia, jazz, and more to its taproom.
30 Cam Hayden
PHOTO: JEMMY LU
TapTalks at Wild Rose Brewery
What to do in December
CATCH A FRENCH FILM, LEARN ABOUT PIRATES, AND DISSECT A FROG
PERIL IN THE ALPS
Until December 14 | Vertigo Theatre | vertigotheatre.com
Don’t miss your chance to catch this mystery with legendary moustachioed detective Hercule Poirot in an original play by Steven Dietz, based in part on Agatha Christie’s Poirot Investigates. Set in a cabin in the Alps, Poirot tries to solve the case of the missing Bella Duveen. For mystery fans who like to laugh through the intrigue, it’s a must-see.
NOSTALGIC PAIRING DINNER
December 3 | Eighty-Eight Brewing Co. | eightyeightbrewing.ca
Beer and pizza are a match made in heaven, which Eighty-Eight Brewing capitalized on in
‘22 when they opened up Portland Street Pizza.
They’re ready to propose some new perfect matches with the reenvisioned holiday pairing dinner, now the nostalgic pairing dinner. In the spirit of dino nuggies and pizza rolls prepped by Chef Mic after school, this five-course dinner will have you feeling all kinds of warm fuzzies (and not just from the beer).
WINT-HER MARKET
December 4 | YW Calgary Hub, 1715 – 17 Ave
S.E. | ywcalgary.ca
Is there anything that screams “holidays” quite like a winter market? Get into the festive spirit and support women entrepreneurs with this cozy market. Sip a warm drink, browse handmade
BY CATRINA BOWLES
goods and tasty treats, or soak in the holiday vibes as you decorate a Christmas ornament while enjoying live entertainment.
UNDER $100 ART SHOW
December 4 to 7, December 11 to 14 | 1111 9 Ave S.W. | under100artshow.com
If those posters you bought in college are starting to look a little shabby, you’ll get to spruce up your space on the cheap this month. For $15 (or $12 if you pre-book a ticket), you’ll get into a wicked, fast-paced art sale featuring local artists’ creations spanning paintings, ceramics, and jewelry, all for less than $100! And if you want something more permanent, there’ll even be tattoo artists on-site offering tats for this price, too. If you can, bring cash; while there’s no tax on the art, there is a service fee for card purchases.
TREES COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AT 220 HERTZ
Starting December 5 | Contemporary Calgary | contemporarycalgary.com
With the trees turning brown outside, step inside Contemporary Calgary and catch Montreal-based artist Nelly-Eve Rajotte’s multi-media installation, all about trees. The installation is inspired
by the boreal forest and highlights our relationship to nature. Rajotte demonstrates this relationship through images and sound: a synthesizer connected to a live tree lets you literally hear the sound of nature. And when the weather makes it harder to connect with the outdoors, the installation becomes a reminder of the beauty that still surrounds us.
THE BOAR’S HEAD
December 5 and 6 | Eau Claire Distillery | shakespearecompany.com
The Shakespeare Company has a great reason for you to take a drive out of town this month, and it’s to watch Shakespeare scenes while getting sloshed. Eau Claire Distillery serves up its signature spirits while you enjoy Calgary’s best Shakespeare actors playing out moments that, fittingly, take place in a tavern. Everybody knows that the drunks in Shakespeare plays are the funniest characters, so expect lots of laughing and good booze.
COUP DE PROJECTEUR
December 5 to 7 | Globe Cinema | festivalcoupdeprojecteur.com
This December is the second year of Coup de
Peril in the Alps
PHOTO: THE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
The Boar’s Head
Projecteur, Calgary’s Francophone Film Festival. Catch seven films from across the French-speaking world, including Quebec, Senegal, and Guadeloupe – all with English subtitles. Plus, you’ll get the chance to sit in on Q&As with filmmakers and actors, and check out a live Radio-Canada broadcast. Each film costs $10, but you can get a seven-film pass for $45. If money’s tight but you still want to check out the fest, then reserve a free ticket for Hola Frida, an animated biography of artist Frida Kahlo’s youth.
SPARK AFTER DARK: GREATEST HITS
December 12 | Telus Spark Science Centre | sparkscience.ca
Telus Spark should have called this event, Now That’s What I Call Spark After Dark, because this evening packs in all the best moments of the past year’s adults-only events. From April’s “Foodology” night exploring the science of flavour, to June’s “Beyond the Rainbow” Pride night, there’s a huge range of fun to be had. And if all the holiday cheer is starting to turn you into a Grinch, pay a little extra for a more macabre experience with the scorpion pinning and mounting workshop or the frog dissection workshop. In the latter, you’ll get to take home a preserved organ in a Christmas tree ornament (ew).
GIRL POP VS AIR GUITAR SILENT DISCO
December 12 | Commonwealth Bar & Stage | eventbrite.ca
Sometimes you just want to go out and dance, but the DJ is not playing your vibe. But with two DJs playing at the same time, your odds go way up. Check out the silent disco, don the provided light-up wireless headphones, and choose whether you want to revel in your emo kid nostalgia and thrash to My Chemical Romance, or sing your heart out to a Taylor Swift anthem. You can flick between the two channels throughout the night, so you don’t have to feel tied down.
At some point, you’ll definitely want to take your headphones off to enjoy the cacophony of chaos all around you.
WALK THE PLANK: MYTHS AND TRUTHS ABOUT PIRATES
December 17 | Limber Hollow | taptalks.ca
Ahoy! Have you ever wanted to drink a beer in a college lecture? Good news: TapTalks is bringing professors and other experts into bars and breweries to chat about their specialty while you sip on a fine brew. Listen to University of Calgary professor Dr. Beau Cleland chat about pirates and how reality might differ from what you’ve seen in the movies.
A NEW YEAR WITH THE CALGARY HITMEN
January 10, 11, 14 | Saddledome | chl.ca/whl-hitmen
Hitting a hockey game doesn’t have to break the bank. The Calgary Hitmen always put on a rowdy show, and hey, they happen to be doing *a lot* better this season than a certain fiery NHL team in town. Kick off 2026 and catch them taking on the Seattle Thunderbirds, the Tri-City Americans, and bonafide prairie rivals the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
PHOTO: TELUS SPARK SCIENCE CENTRE
Spark After Dark
Coup de Projecteur
ACT 1
1
Onstage in December
ARIAS, BASS DROPS, JAZZ RIFFING, AND MORE
SALT HORSE
Want to get to know some of Calgary’s newest and brightest bands? Hit the punk rock coffee shop and check out the jagged pop distortion of Salt Horse, They Say Stories, and Soft Pet. December 6, 8 p.m. at Loophole Coffee Bar, loophole-coffee-bar.com.
FONTINE X ZOON
Anishinaabe musician Daniel Monkman creates shoegaze magic as Zoon, while FONTINE channels her Nêhiyaw heritage into mushy pop-rock anthems. Sounds like a great night to us! December 8, 7 p.m. at Modern Love, modern-love.ca.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
The Claire Butler Trio are bringing the jazzy tunes of Vince Guaraldi to life in Calgary. Butler leads on piano, with Kodi Hutchinson on the standup and Jim Johnston on the skins! December 10 and 11 at Engineered Air Theatre, werklundcentre.ca.
JUNGLE CAKES
TAKEOVER 2025
One of Calgary’s wildest drum and bass parties is turning the heat up this year, with Deekline, Benny Page, and Ed Solo leading a huge lineup of EDM hitmakers. December 12, 9 p.m. at Dickens, dickensyyc.com
HYMMMELODIES
Celebrate Yalda with live music and a calligraphy exhibition by Sahar Sajjadi, acclaimed artist and Master of the Iranian Calligraphers Association. December 12, 8 p.m. at Congress Coffee, congresscoffeeshop.com
CALGARY OPERA HOLIDAY CABARET
Featuring opera performers “let off their leash,” singers from the McPhee Artist Development Program are poised to serenade you with drinks in hand all night long. December 12 and 13 at the Mamdani Opera Centre, calgaryopera.com.
SAX IN THE CITY
CK Sax blends live saxophone with electronic beats, combining retro and contemporary sounds
in a smooth, sax-driven harmony. Fridays at the Fleetwood Lounge, fleetwoodlounge.com.
SUN KIL MOON
Started as a continuation of the band Red House Painters, and inspired by classical guitar compositions, Sun Kil Moon crafts a unique and vulnerable style of folk rock. December 13, 7 p.m. at Commonwealth, commonwealthbar.ca
MAC DEMARCO
Edmonton’s favourite slacker rocker is playing in Calgary, and the show is nearly sold out, so don’t wait to get tickets! Mac DeMarco at Mac Hall, how perfect is that? December 17, 8 p.m. at MacEwan Hall, machallconcerts.com
MIKE RUD CD RELEASE PARTY
Juno-winning guitarist Mike Rud is dropping a new album of smoking hot jazz tracks, with two sets taking us late into the night. December 18, 7:30 p.m. at The Attic, theatticyyc.ca.
BY NATHAN ILES
MARKUS SCHULZ
This trance maestro returns to Calgary, lighting up one of the city’s newest venues. And if you download a ticket online and get there before 10:30 p.m., it’s free! December 20, 10 p.m. at the Arrowhead, thearrowheadcalgary.com.
PERFECTLY FRANK CHRISTMAS
This festive shindig celebrates the season with Sinatra’s classic holiday tunes, offering a nostalgic evening to ring in the holidays. Let’s just hope they play “White Christmas.” December 21, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Bella Concert Hall, tickets.mru.ca
PALOMINO SOCK HOP
Every year, tons of local bands assemble on both floors of the BBQ palace to raise some money for the Alpha House. So grab your earplugs and throw down one last time while the turkey leftovers are still good in the fridge. December 27, 8 p.m. at the Palomino, thepalomino.ca.
APRIL WINE
Ring in the new year with Canadian dad rock royalty, and give them an R all night long. Feel free to hit the casino afterwards; it’s open late.
December 31, 8 p.m. at the Grey Eagle Event Centre, greyeagleresortandcasino.ca
SALUTE TO VIENNA NEW
YEAR’S CONCERT
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Jr.’s birthday, this concert features a selection of overtures and duets from Vienna’s Golden Age, accompanied by live dancers. January 1, 2:30 p.m. at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, calgaryphil.com.
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGIN CONCERT
The FILMharmonique Orchestra and Choir bring Howard Shore’s iconic music to life, and you get to watch Peter Jackson’s classic movie at the same time. Lucky you! January 2 and 3 at the Jubilee, jubileeauditorium.com.
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
Broadway Across Canada is kicking off 2026 with the classic love story of Christian and Satine, as told through the jukebox cabaret that recounts their flirty tale. January 6 to 11 at the Jubilee, calgary.broadway.com.
PHOTO: MATTHEW MURPHY AND EVAN ZIMMERMAN
Moulin Rouge
ZOON
Mac DeMarco
A YEAR SINCE THE GROUND BROKE
HOW WERKLUND CENTRE IS TRANSFORMING DOWNTOWN CALGARY
BY EVELINA PAK
Calgary’s downtown arts district is evolving. Last December, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), Arts Commons, and the City of Calgary broke ground on the Arts Commons Transformation. And following a $75 million gift from Calgary philanthropist Dave Werklund and his family, Arts Commons has been renamed Werklund Centre. Construction began January 2025, marking the first stage of a three-phase plan that also includes the redevelopment of Olympic Plaza and the modernization of the existing Arts Commons building.
As you’ve probably noticed when hopping the train nearby, crews have been excavating and preparing the foundation. According to Kelly Coles, vice president of Building & Infrastructure at CMLC, waterproofing is complete, and work is underway on storm-management systems and cisterns. For now, the site is still a large pit, but the structure should begin to rise in early 2026.
I. THE EXPANSION
The next visible step in the project will be the construction of the concrete form for the larger of the two new theatres: the 1,000-seat Osten-Victor Playhouse. A second, smaller venue will offer a flexible 200-seat layout.
A key driver of the expansion is Calgary’s shortage of mid-sized performance spaces. As Werklund Centre CEO Alex Sarian explains, the city’s professional venues jump from roughly 750 seats at Max Bell Theatre to nearly 2,000 in the Jack Singer Concert Hall, with limited options in between. The new playhouse is meant to bridge that space. The studio theatre responds to companies and artists who want smaller, more intimate, and more flexible spaces.
While Werklund Centre oversees the design and upkeep of the new venues, local organizations and communities will drive programming. Sarian describes the centre’s role as “stewards of the space,” facilitating access for arts organizations through shared services and financial frameworks. To him, the model is both
“Our biggest advocacy push right now should be to ensure that the arts community is a part of that growth.”
ALEX SARIAN, CEO OF WERKLUND CENTRE
nerve-wracking and exciting. The true test will come once Calgarian artists and audiences start using the new venues and shaping how they evolve.
II. OLYMPIC PLAZA, TRANSFORMED
Construction on Olympic Plaza, including a new small pavilion, will also begin early next year. The project has its own budget and design team, but it still falls under the larger Werklund Centre campus. To keep everything aligned, both projects share the same construction manager and operate on the same construction site.
“One of the biggest changes that we’ll see in the transformed Olympic Plaza is related to the
RENDERING: COURTESY WERKLUND CENTRE
grade of the site,” said Coles. The original Plaza had many physical barriers that made it difficult to move around. “We brought the entire grade up, so the grade of 8 Avenue between northbound Macleod Trail and southbound 1 Street will now flow into the Olympic Plaza park.” This shift opens up sightlines, improves safety, and makes the space more accessible.
But building in the heart of downtown is complicated. There’s the traffic disruption, along with the challenge of keeping nearby partners like the Telus Convention Centre and the Glenbow operating smoothly. And then there are the heritage buildings right next door: Teatro, the Calgary Public Building, and the Burns Building. “We have to be very mindful in our construction practices about not impacting those buildings,” Coles said.
But even with the complexities, she’s excited by what’s ahead. “I’m thinking about revitalizing all of downtown and making such a big impact on arts and culture.”
III. MODERNIZATION
The next phase focuses on modernizing and reimagining the existing building. “We’re primarily looking at the interstitial spaces — the publicly accessible areas between the performance venues,” said Coles. Some theatres will receive minor updates, but the main priority is improving how people move through the building. The Plus 15 route will now run directly through the facility and connect to street level, bringing more activity to the ground floor.
As part of the modernization phase, the team is also evaluating how the building can better support its educational work. Werklund Centre already partners with both Calgary school boards and hosts students throughout the year. “We currently work with tens of thousands of young people a year, and we’re at capacity,” said Sarian. The updated facility will include a dedicated Werklund Education Wing. The idea is to expand the spaces they already operate and give the program room to grow.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
In the comment section of a CBC article about expansion, many asked who the expansion project is specifically for. Sarian himself thinks about it a lot. “What keeps me up at night is, ‘What if we open this campus and there’s no artist community left because the city becomes too expensive, or people leave for opportunities somewhere else?’” Calgary is growing rapidly, with the population expected to reach 2 million within four years. A rising population raises bigger questions. Will the city stay affordable? Can artists build sustainable careers here? Will Calgary become a bigger destination for artists?
For Sarian, the answer depends on whether the city chooses to prioritize the arts as it grows. “Our biggest advocacy push right now should be to ensure that the arts community is a part of that growth.” He describes the new campus as the “hardware,” while emphasizing the need to invest in the “software” — the artists, organizations, and the broader ecosystem that allow culture to thrive. “We’re a big player and a key contributor to hopefully the future of the arts community in Calgary,” Sarian said. “But it really takes a village. Werklund Centre can’t do it alone. It needs to be much bigger than us.”
WE’VE GOT THE BEER FOR THAT
Visit werklundcentre.ca for
Whether you’re air-drumming to your fave Boston vinyl, contemplating quantum physics in a hammock, or debating the merits of modern art with your closest friends, these are the beers for that. Check out our award-winning, ultra fresh selection in the taproom this holiday season, and all year long.
AFTERNOON DELIGHT
MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL
JAM ROCK
SKY ROCKET
2025-26 SPEAKER SERIES
Lee Berger: Cave of Bones
Jaime Rojo: Chasing Monarchs Doug Flaig & Helen Timmons
Jess Cramp: The Untold Story of Sharks Heather Lynch: Penguins of Antarctica Joel Lipkind & Sally Sprague-Lipkind Ken Havard
Davey, Jane, Jordan & Nyssa
ALBUMS 25 YEARS FOR
THE BEST CALGARY ALBUMS RELEASED IN THE 21ST CENTURY (SO FAR…)
Calgary music is vibrant. Calgary music is exciting. And that is worth celebrating.
For months, The Scene’s editorial team has combed through 21st-century Calgary music history to find the best albums made by Calgarians, in Calgary, and by the Calgarian-at-heart. We asked more than 20 musicians, industry professionals, promoters, historians, and artists to select their 10 favourite albums released since 2001. In total, they submitted more than 100 records for consideration. Working off these submissions and their rankings, we narrowed it down to 25 albums that come close to capturing the full breadth of music in the Blue Sky City. Some brought Calgary to the international stage through record sales and awards, while others lit up our local scene in more intimate (but no less powerful) ways.
Some local legends, like Forbidden Dimension and Jann Arden, are missing. Certain genres are over-represented, while others are skimmed. Not every year is represented.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to fully capture a scene as vital as ours in such a condensed list. But it’s worth trying.
Read on, and you begin to see the Calgary music story emerge. The creative explosion of now icons. Musicians are producing one project and performing on the next. The indie daze of the aughts, the punk explosion of the ‘10s, and the folk-country heartbeat that feels indisputably Calgarian. 25 albums for 25(ish) years. Here they are in chronological order!
SELECTION COMMITTEE:
Arif Ansari, Jess Arcand, Colleen Athparia, Mike Bell, Carlin Black Rabbit, Geoff Bourrie, Chris Dadge, Dwight Good Eagle Farahat, Ben Goodman, Rob Gruszecki, Stephanie Hutchinson, Nathan Iles, Colleen Krueger, Cindy McLeod, Mack Meyer, Logan Middleton, Dan Northfield, Liam Prost, John Charles Reid, Gus Rendell, Chad Saunders, Eric Svilpis, Lisa Wilton
Scan here to see (and listen to) every album suggested by the committee
CORB LUND
FIVE DOLLAR BILL COUNTRY,
2002
In classic Scene fashion, we start this list by breaking the rules just a bit. No, Corb Lund does not live in Calgary; as of 2025, he lives in Lethbridge and spends plenty of time cow-pokin’ at his family ranch near the Montana border. But his southern Alberta upbringing and outlaw country sound are Cowtown to the bone, and he’s a fixture on all our stages, from the Wildhorse Saloon to the Palomino basement.
This record, his first with The Hurtin’ Albertans as his backing band (hell yeah), won “Outstanding Album (Independent)” at the 2003 Western Canadian Music Awards and was named “Best Album of 2002” by the then recently relaunched Gauntlet, U of C’s student publication. Tracks like “Roughest Neck Around” embody an earnest, no-bullshit outlook, and if that ain’t Calgary as hell, I don’t know what is.
—Nathan Iles, musician/The Scene
THE VON ZIPPERS
THE CRIME IS NOW
ROCK, 2003
Garage rock goes woke?! Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but this, the final full-length album from The Von Zippers, brought the politicism of ‘80s punk into the new millennium, smashed through with frontman Al Charlton’s razor-sharp guitar and grounded by bassist Doug Boland and drummer James Hayden. It’s almost like the trio let all the vitriol simmer since they started playing with some of Calgary’s first punk bands in the early ‘80s, and it finally boiled over.
The album tackles everything from genetically modified foods to global warming to corporate greed, and it’s just as topical 20 years later as it was then. It’s pretty easy to forgive them for getting topical when the songs are as catchy as they are on this LP.
—Arif Ansari, Calgary Cassette Preservation Society
REVERIE SOUND REVUE REVERIE SOUND REVUE INDIE, 2003
This EP from indie rocker Reverie Sound Revue perfectly captures the early ‘00s indie boom in Canada and shifts it through a Calgarian lens. It’s a gem of understated, breezy tunes – the lead track, “Walking Around Waiting Downtown,” is one of the best pop songs, equal parts summer breeze and Chinook wind. The distinctive coo of vocalist Lisa Lobsinger, who later became part of Toronto’s Broken Social Scene, matched with the pulsing rhythm section of John Marcel de Waal and Bryce Gracey, and the catchy guitar interplay of Marc De Pape and Patrick Walls made for a sound that turned heads across Canada.
Reverie Sound Revue was formed in 2002 and released this highly sought-after EP, only to break up in 2004; they later reformed virtually to record and release a second EP in 2009.
—Arif Ansari, Calgary Cassette Preservation Society
AMOS GARRETT ACOUSTIC ALBUM BLUES, 2004
The word “legend” gets tossed around these days, but in the case of Amos Garrett, it’s the truth. Over the seven decades he’s been performing, the iconic guitarist, composer and arranger has recorded with more than 150 artists and released a half dozen albums under his own name.
Born in Detroit and raised in Canada, Amos built an impressive cross-border career before the avid fly fisherman was enticed by the Bow River to relocate to the Calgary area.
Garrett’s Acoustic Album is a stunning snapshot of his guitar virtuosity and rich baritone voice. From traditional to contemporary, the album features Garrett’s originals and reimagined covers by Hoagy Carmichael and Leadbelly, all performed by a diverse group of top-drawer Canadian musicians. Amos’s Acoustic Album should be on everyone’s playlist, and we Calgarians can all take pride in calling Amos Garrett our very own legend.
—Cindy MacLeod, Calgary Bluesfest
THE DUDES BRAIN HEART GUITAR
In 2006, rock music was still found on “best of” lists like Pitchfork. Folks used MP3 players and iPods to consume music. Most still purchased music via CD, download, or vinyl records. In this era, Calgary’s Dudes could fill any live music venue, any day of the week in the city, and their album Brain Heart Guitar felt like Calgary’s soundtrack.
The Dudes were getting ready to hit their peak; they were heavy enough for guys to rock out, sensitive enough to enjoy with your girlfriend. They were no longer just some party band: these Dudes had become serious. These weren’t just great rock songs; they were also nervous confessions from lovable, fun, perceptive, emotional lads who wanted to have a good time but were also speaking to us. Danny Vacon’s syrupy voice and heartfelt lyrics, Bob Quashnick’s sweet guitar tone and riffs, Pat Downing’s perfectly timed heartbeat of a bass, timed with Scott Ross’s impeccable drumming and superb harmonies with superstar addition Chris Vail, made Brain Heart Guitar an honest indie pop rock album of purity and excellence for so many. The Dudes, for a time, became Calgary’s Band.
—Dan Northfield, Palomino
FEIST THE REMINDER
In 1991, 15-year-old singer Leslie Feist founded a Calgary punk band called Placebo. Her work with the band eventually damaged her voice and forced a reinvention into who we now know as Feist, a singer-songwriter whose musicianship is rivalled only by the emotional vulnerability she achieves in her songs.
The Reminder feels like the culmination of Feist’s early work. It is a delicate portrait of how the weight of the past weaves through the present, rendered with such confidence and playfulness you can’t help but surrender to the whole experience of The Reminder Come for the joy of “1234” and the sexiness of “My Moon My Man,” and stay for the atmospheric confession of “The Park” and the beautiful bombast of “I Feel It All.”
—James Odin Wade, playwright
The draw of Hot Little Rocket has always been this: there are no cheap tricks. A HLR album shows you upfront what they’re about. Produced by Steve Albini, the songs on How to Lose Everything provide glorious contrast. They’re noisy and they’re carefully constructed, they’re packed with energy and they give you a chance to get some air, they’re clever and they’re comfortable. HLR made their place in Calgary as the band that was unapologetically themselves at all times, which meant
TEGAN AND SARA
THE CON
INDIE, 2007
Music’s greatest twins, Tegan and Sara, are such a towering musical property with such a storied history, it’s easy to forget that The Con came about almost 10 years into their career, sandwiched between their pop reinvention on 2013’s Heartthrob and their halcyon high school days now enshrined in Amazon’s authentic-
when they leaned into something more Modest Mouse (a re-recorded “Let’s Play in Traffic”), or took a minute to dial up The Clash or The Strokes, it was still without question Hot Little Rocket. The honesty of their music, and in this case, of Albini’s production, invites you to jump right into their world and connect with whatever parts work for you. To “get it”, you don’t need to get it all. Go take another listen if you haven’t for a while. And if it’s your first listen, we’re glad you found it.
— Nicola and Dillon Cavanagh-Whitfield, musicians
ally Calgary-shot High School and of course, their timeless and raw debut Under Feet Like Ours. Although it wasn’t even their major label debut, The Con feels like the perfect “I knew them before they were famous” record. It’s a wonky collection of short songs, emotive vocal performances, and evocative arrangements, the result of their collaboration with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla in the producer’s seat.
There is something truly specific and unique about a doubled vocal that’s not just one singer overtop themselves, but two singers with nearly identical voices playing off each other perfectly imperfectly. Further, there’s something beautifully unmanicured about the vocal performances throughout that is no longer a feature of their now-poppier approach.
From the raw indie rock of the title track, to the earnest and sly pop bop “Back in Your Head” to the strained folk take on the closer “Call It Off,” this album is truly a journey, and absolutely essential for fans of T&S.
—Liam Prost, BreakOut West
WOMEN
CHAD VANGAALEN
SOFT AIRPLANE
INDIE, 2008
This multi-faceted polymath artist and songwriter came out of the gates strong with his 2004 debut Infiniheart, but it wasn’t until 2008’s Soft Airplane that VanGaalen truly hit his stride. Infiniheart bore the classic first-album benefit of culling the best of everything he had done up to that point, featuring amazing songs like “Clinically Dead” and “Blood Machine,” and became an instant classic despite its bewildering array of sonic offerings.
His sophomore, Skelliconnection, found him exploring new vistas and writing more great songs, but its combination of home recordings and pro-studio tracks made the ride bumpy (albeit very fun).
Soft Airplane, however, hangs together as one beautiful, cohesive statement, and the killer songs, from indie-folk staple “Willow Tree” to rocker “Barefeet On Wet Griptape,” are dressed up with banjos, vibraphones, and synthesizers. The album rightly catapulted VanGaalen out onto the international stage as one of Calgary’s finest musical exports.
—Chris Dadge, Child Stone Studios
WOMEN
ROCK, 2008
When I first heard Women’s self-titled album, I didn’t even realize the band was from Calgary. Finding out it was recorded with Chad VanGaalen made me realize how deep that creative echo runs, a whole network of artists influencing one another. Each member has gone on to make incredible work in their own right, but this record is where it all sparked. It marked a generation of musicians and listeners who saw what was possible when you made something honest and strange. Later, when I moved to Calgary and eventually worked at Flemish Eye Records, the label that released it in 2008, I began to understand how remarkable it was that something so visionary came from here. Women didn’t just make an impact locally; it’s lo-fi indie rock sound resonated worldwide, shaping a wave of artists. Even now, it feels alive, urgent, and ahead of its time, a record that keeps unfolding with every listen.
—Colleen Krueger, Music Calgary
ALLAN GORDON BELL
GRAVITY AND GRACE
CLASSICAL, 2013
This piano trio recording features two superstars of the Calgary Music scene: Allan Gordon Bell (professor of composition at the University of Calgary, honorary doctorate from the University of Alberta, member of the Order of Canada) and John Lowry (associate concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra). It also includes another superstar: James Campbell (professor of clarinet at Indiana University, the largest music school in the world, and also a member of the Order of Canada), plus pianist Susanne Ruberg-Gordon and cellist Beth Sandvoss.
The album contains a selection of Bell’s chamber music, including “Field Notes”, which received the 2014 JUNO Award for Classical Composition of the Year. Bell is the only Calgary-area composer to have ever received this award. His music is at once modern and approachable, a magic combination that makes for a beautiful album. —John Charles Reid, University of Calgary
DREZUS
REDWINTER RAP, 2013
For me, the Drezus Redwinter album stands out as the most significant record for Calgarians, especially Indigenous folks, in the last 25 years. He’s an award-winning Plains Cree artist who was a member of Team Rezofficial, a group that included former members of War Party.
In 2013, Native people were filling up malls doing flash-mob-style protests against pipelines. Idle No More was the movement, and Redwinter really captured that energy and moment with tracks like “Day of Action,” “Don’t Give Up On Me,” “Big Dreams,” and the powerful title track.
—Dwight Good Eagle Farahat, Tribe Artist Society
NAPALMPOM
THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF NAPALMPOM
ROCK, 2014
There ain’t no party like a Napalmpom party because a Napalmpom party don’t stop … being hooky, catchy, clever, and courteous!
Such nice, clean, clever and respectful youngish men, they are. It’s been too long since they or anyone has graced us with something so wonderful as this Sweet, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon-rifiic slab of awesome — or even its follow-up, The Core Competencies Of Napalmpom — but hopefully something new and excellent is brewing from these elder statesmen with the knowledge and chops to kick some proper dick.
—Mike Bell, The Scene founding editor
AL MUIRHEAD
IT’S ABOUT TIME JAZZ, 2014
At its release, It’s About Time celebrated a nearly six decade professional career by trumpeter Al Muirhead, a milestone in Canadian jazz.
Muirhead moved to Calgary in the ‘50s to expand his Arcade Music store and has since been a cornerstone of the city’s jazz community. After performing thousands of concerts and recording with countless musicians, it was “time” for Al to create a recording to showcase his melodic trumpet solos, masterful touch, and expert composing and arranging skills to the wider world.
It’s About Time earned Muirhead his first JUNO Award nomination in 2016, kicking off a series of five more recordings, international airplay and charting, cross-Canada touring, another JUNO nomination, three YYC Music Awards, and a Western Canadian Music Award. Muirhead is truly a generational talent, and his discography is a testament to an impactful life in music.
— Stephanie Hutchinson, Chronograph Records
PREOCCUPATIONS
VIET CONG
POST-PUNK, 2015
There was already an air of excitement leading up to the release of Viet Cong in early 2015. I’d loved Cassette, and like most Calgary music fans, had been in awe of Women and Public Strain
When Viet Cong arrived, it felt like lightning in a bottle, a record that challenged as much as it captivated me. From the opening cavernous drum of “Newspaper Spoons” to the total collapse of “Death,” it was stimulating, cerebral, and unrelenting. Knowing this music came from my own city made it even more inspiring. By that summer, I saw the band share the stage with Television and Drive Like Jehu. Songs like “Bunker Buster” felt every bit as classic as “Marquee Moon” or “Do You Compute.”
For me, Viet Cong is simply put, one of the most magical moments in music that I’ve experienced.
—Logan Middleton, X92.9
PHOTO: COLE HOFSTRA
GHOST FACTORY
TALES OF A NOTHING KID
FOLK-PUNK,
2016
Folk-punk is a genre plagued by pastiche-level extremes, but on 2016’s Tales of a Nothing Kid, Rob Gruszecki’s songwriting steers wide of this penchant for parody and delivers on a brilliant concept(?!) album.
The 12 tracks confront family, society, existentialism, and booze-ridden turmoil with earnest, sabre-sharp verbal acrobatics delivered by a raspy, restless orator. While lyrically heavy, the music balances the grit by conjuring flashes of indelible hopefulness and dogged perseverance, anchored by a championship rhythm section and
LEATHER JACUZZI
MONSTERS, NARCS, AND IDIOTS
PUNK, 2016
If you grew up a punk in Calgary in the mid2010s, your rite of passage was moshing and screaming along to “Don’t Touch Me (I’m a Punk)” at Broken City.
Leather Jacuzzi, which features members of Feel Alright, The Mandates, and Gawker, felt like
LAB COAST
Gruszecki’s distinctive fingerpicking, carving intricate melodic passages between unforgettable hooks and knuckle-shearing chord chugs.
The real impact of Ghost Factory’s fervent energy is felt in the live performance. As the sweltering thump of “Toast of a Nothing Kid” pulses through a crowded, sweaty barroom like the Ship & Anchor, watch as every stranger around you roars along with the song — and virtually every other cut on the album — like the words are emblazoned across their chests.
—Gus Rendell, musician
HAZZERD
Delirium is another step up for Hazzerd in the thrash metal genre, a band that has taken hold of the Canadian metal scene and continues to dominate it. And this album is a true testament to the fact that fast old-school thrash metal still exists.
the ultimate Calgary punk outfit: chaotic and entirely unserious about everything except being loud.
Written in June 2016, just in time for their debut show one month later, Monsters, Narcs, and Idiots has since become a cornerstone of local punk history. What could have veered into macho hardcore instead revels in absurdity; vocalist Sarah Ford channels what she calls “the mouthpiece for a sentient hot tub,” flipping punk’s bravado on its head and inspiring a new generation of punks to grab the mic and make a mess of their own.
—Jess Arcand, Take Aim Media
REMEMBER THE MOON INDIE,
2016
One of the key defining scenes of the 21st century in Calgary was the lo-fi dream pop of the ‘10s, and no one was better at it than the late, lamented Lab Coast, led by Chris Dadge and David Laing.
Their fourth album, 2016’s Remember The Moon, is an evocative beauty, from songs like “Helen Bach” and “The Pointe Of It All” to the anthem “Bored Again,” the best song Robert Pollard never wrote.
Dadge is involved in many of my favourite Calgary-based albums (including Pre-Nup’s Oh Well from 2018 to most recently, Hermitess’ Death & The Fool released this year), but there’s still nothing quite like the poignant charm of Lab Coast’s Remember The Moon, which continues to be as resonant as ever with each listen.
—Ben Goodman, CJSW
MARIEL BUCKLEY
DRIVING IN THE DARK
FOLK, 2018
Though still not the household name she deserves to be, the release of Mariel Buckley’s second album, Driving in the Dark, felt like a real moment for Calgary music. It was a culmination and an opportunity to see songs that Mariel had been playing live for years at that point, on basically every stage in the city, minted into beautifully produced Americana recordings by fellow Albertan Leeroy Stagger. From the Elvis-tinted nostalgia bop “Rose Coloured Frames” to the Springsteen-sauced “Heart
A glowing review from Sonic Perspectives described the album as containing “a wide variety of speed and tone [that makes] each song a new breath, a new adventure into the minds of incredibly focused songwriters.” It feels fitting for how exhilarating this sound is. This record is a must-listen (and must head-bang) start to finish.
—Geoff Bourrie, Loud As Hell festival
is on Fire,” the album contains all the right influences, a ton of variety, and not a single loser. But the real eye of the storm is the title track, a self-destructive anthem about where you’ve been and no longer want to be. In a city known for rustles and yee-haws, Buckley’s more city-roots-inflected takes and delicate vocal inflections felt like a siren song for the Sled Islanders and Stampeders alike.
She’s put out two albums since, including the still-fresh Strange Trip Ahead, and both are of honestly comparable quality, but neither of them feels as definitive a moment in the city as Driving in the Dark
—Liam Prost, BreakOut West
CARTEL MADRAS
THE SERPENT AND THE TIGER
HIP HOP, 2021
Few records in Canadian hip hop have shifted the landscape in Alberta like The Serpent and the Tiger. The third and final chapter in Cartel Madras’s Project Goonda series cemented Eboshi and Contra’s self-made genre “Goonda rap,” a fusion of South Asian influences, underground trap, and house that pays homage to its queer roots. Even alongside heavyweights like Backxwash and Jide, their razor-sharp flows dominate every beat. It marked their first release under Sub Pop Records, bridging underground grit with international polish and proving Calgary could go bar-for-bar with any global rap scene.
From leading BUMP Festival to co-founding the FOREIGNERZ media collective, Contra and Eboshi’s creative worldbuilding around The Serpent and the Tiger marked an era and redefined what Canadian rap can sound, look, and feel like.
—Jess Arcand, Take Aim Media
SARGEANT X COMRADE
MAGIC RADIO
SOUL, 2020
GHOSTKEEPER
MULTIDIMENSIONAL CULTURE
ART ROCK, 2022
What I love about Ghostkeeper is their inventiveness. Shane Ghostkeeper and Sarah Houle-Lowry have a way not only of writing a good song but of creating exciting sonic collages.
Multidimensional Culture is almost an immersive experience. It’s challenging at times but always rewarding. When I first heard Multidimensional Culture, I was struck by the imagery of the lyrics and how the songs are rooted in identity and cultural memory.
The album is now an important part of Calgary musical history because it left an indelible Indigenous footprint on the scene and proved that local indie rock can be artful, boundary-pushing, yet also accessible. It’s a testament to Ghostkeeper’s dedication to musical experimentation and depth.
—Lisa Wilton, CKUA
Yolanda Sargeant and Evgeniy “Comrade” Bykovets have been carving out their own path in the Calgary music scene for more than a decade, energizing the R&B and hiphop community with their fresh yet familiar mix of soul, funk, hip-hop, dancehall, and jazz. Yolanda’s voice is like a modern-day Billie Holiday, and it pairs seamlessly with Comrade’s lush production.
On Magic Radio, they use vintage soul grooves, smooth R&B, and insightful lyricism to create songs that feel timeless and radiate warmth and authenticity.
KUE VARO & THE ONLY HOPES
COWBOY WITCHCRAFT
ALT-COUNTRY, 2023
Have you ever heard a song and it’s so visual, so rich in storytelling, you can actually imagine it in your mind? That’s what Kue Varo does best, and it shows in the 2023 album Cowboy Witchcraft
Described by Varo as rock music with a touch of “desert flair,” images of tumbleweed, hot desert days and dusty desert nights come to mind as you listen to Varo’s impressive vocals soar over compelling, poetic lyrics. From the breezy, guitar-driven single “Yip Yip” to the hauntingly cinematic
WYATT C. LOUIS CHANDLER
INDIE, 2024
Prairie summers and road trips. Chinook winds and the feeling of home. Those are the elements that Nêhiyaw Cree singer-songwriter, Wyatt C. Louis, encapsulates in their debut album, Chandler
A master of weaving deep, vivid stories with simple, comfortable-feeling melodies, Louis’s gentle, smooth vocals take you on a journey of nostalgia, family, and love. Like flipping through the pages of a family photo album, each track takes you on a trip down Louis’s memory lane.
From “In Emerald,” a breezy tribute to a Seattle road trip, to “Oh Vibrant Sky,” which reflects on a summer music festival, Chandler effortlessly grounds you in landscape and connects you to a time and place. That sense of community is the
“Gates of Hell,” Varo’s incredible range is on full display and strikes a balance between danceable and melancholic.
Born out of personal loss, Cowboy Witchcraft is an endearing and heartfelt collection of songs that reflect on the journey of grief, change and love in a way that feels like Calgary: resilient, full of energy and with a little bit of country twang.
—Mack Meyer, CBC Calgary
quiet driving force behind this record, not just inspired by the land and community here, but also recorded in Calgary with the help of local music fixtures like Colin Carbonera and Phenix Warren.
Soft spoken and tender, familiar and vulnerable, this album is a beautiful journey you’ll be more than happy to take with Wyatt C. Louis as your guide.
—Mack Meyer, CBC Calgary
—Lisa Wilton, CKUA
HOLIDAY SCENE
MISFIT HOLIDAYS
WEIRD, AWESOME, PUNK ROCK WAYS TO MAKE MERRY THIS DECEMBER
BY REID BLAKLEY
Humanity has been celebrating the winter solstice and the time leading up to it for quite some time. But we feel that the usual ways to do so are kinda played out.
Whichever belief system (or lack thereof) you subscribe to, The Scene presents to you some ways to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year that are off the snowy, boot-imprinted path (and sometimes, covered in studs).
A TOUCH OF NEON IN THE NIGHT
Originally Vancouver-based and now making Calgary its home for the last year, punk rock record label and store Neon Taste takes over the Palomino on December 5 and 6 for two consecutive nights of garage rock, power pop, and hardcore. Bands include Vancouver’s Tranzmitors, Winnipeg’s Lackey and Toronto’s Imploders (fresh off the release of a gnarly new record), as well as local rockers Closetalkers, Garland Briggs and Low Blow. Let old man Moshington come out of retirement for two deadly nights! Find out more at thepalomino.ca/live-events.
A VERY MERRY CRAFTMAS
If you’d rather load up on decorations somewhere other than Michael’s or Dollarama, the long-running periodical craft fair Market Collective takes over the BMO Centre for two holiday-themed weekends, December 5-7 and 12-14. Highlights will include a puppet-making workshop courtesy of the WP Puppet Theatre on the first weekend and a pop-up CRATE Art Therapy Clinic on the second. Scrooge himself could easily get into the spirit of the season here, no haunting required. Learn more at marketcollective.ca.
IMPROVISED HOLIDAZE
Theatre Calgary’s staging of A Christmas Carol is a Cowtown tradition, but those of you who are Scrooge’d out have many other holiday-themed shows to choose from this year. Across December, Calgary’s improv institution, Loose Moose Theatre, presents nine performances of A Chrismoose Carol, their newest parodic take on Charles Dickens’ much-interpreted story … the details of which are a closely guarded secret. For those who prefer rom-coms to classic morality plays as source material, the Kinkonauts are staging three performances of Actually, I Love
You: An Improvised Holiday Romance at the BLOX Arts Centre on December 5, 12 and 19 Visit kinkonauts.com and loosemoose.com for more info.
BLACK ICE (THE FUN KIND)
For those of you punx seeking more loud-ass music in an even more sweaty setting, Loophole Coffee Bar hosts the all-ages Black Ice Music Festival from December 7 to 13, now in its third year. Each night is dedicated to a different genre of alternative music, in the following order: noise, drumless metal, free jazz, indie rock, hardcore, emo, and punk. Talk about eclectic! Local acts on the docket include deathgrinders Narcissistic Necrosis, improvisational shoegazers Friesen/ Hume/Waters, and emo-hardcore gems Still There. Visit showpass.com/black-ice-2025 for tickets and lineup info
TO ALL A GOOD FRIGHT
If the spooky season didn’t deliver enough scares for you, the Merry Month just might. On December 12, VVS Films and Bloody Disgusting theatrically release a reboot of the Christmas-themed slasher franchise Silent Night, Deadly Night starring the Calgary-born, Cochrane-raised Rohan Campbell, whom we previously saw as
a murderous-but-festive young man in 2022’s Halloween Ends. But you don’t have to wait that long: our friends at the Calgary Underground Film Festival will be hosting a special advance screening at the Globe Cinema on December 8. Make a date night of it, grab some famous Globe popcorn, and leave the kids at home if you don’t want to induce a case of Clause-trophobia. Visit calgaryundergroundfilm.org for more info.
BE COOL TO YOUR YULE
The original reason we celebrate anything this time of year is to acknowledge the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. There are several ways, both ancient and new, to mark the occasion while soothing your seasonal affective disorder. Wiccans and other followers of pagan traditions celebrate Yule around this time, with specific traditions including the burning of a Yule log (a real one, not the log-shaped cake) and a “releasing ceremony,” a purging of negative thoughts and emotions that no longer serve a purpose. Alternatively, members of the Church of the SubGenius – a parody religion that is critical of other belief systems –cut choose to ruminate on their past regrets by observing the Feelings of Gnawing Guilt Minute on December 21 at 4:00 P.M.
PHOTO: BRANDYNN LEIGH
PHOTO: GENEVIÈVE DALE
Actually, I Love You
Still There, Black Ice Music Fest
Silent Night, Deadly Night
SCENE HOLIDAY BINGO
BY NATHAN ILES AND EVELINA PAK
CUT THIS ONE OUT AND PLAY ALONG ALL DECEMBER LONG
There are two kinds of people: those who decorate their Christmas trees in November and greet the season with “every year is a new beginning,” and those who are tired and skeptical. We’re aiming for the optimistic route this time. Like it or not, the holidays sweep all of us in any way, so why not take the lead and see if it turns out fun? To help with that, The Scene put together a Holiday Bingo — things to try this December. Cut this one out, share it with friends, and see who scores the most. Just a heads-up: a few squares may involve alcohol or a bit of public embarrassment. Findlinkstoalloftheseeventsandplacesatthescenecalgary.com.
“I love the idea that I’m singing the same music people sang 500 years ago.”
ELIZABETH GRAVES, SENIOR CHORISTER
OLD SOULS
For more than 50 years, The Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players have brought centuries-old music to life.
BY EVELINA PAK
“As the deer longs for the water springs, so my soul longs for you, O God.” These lines from Palestrina’s Sicut Cervus remain one of the most beloved works of Renaissance polyphony — and one of the favourites of The Calgary Renaissance Singers & Players (CRSP), a group that has devoted itself to performing early music.
“We are performing those works that were created in that time, true to their original meanings,” said Elizabeth Graves, senior chorister with CRSP. The choir mostly performs a cappella without microphones or amps — it’s all acoustic.
“What we do is part of a movement called historically informed performance,” said Kristian Lo, a university choral scholar who sings with CRSP. “Some people abbreviate that as HIP, which is funny to me.”
To recreate the sound and style of the era, the group also uses period instruments: baroque bows, the cornetto and the sackbut (the early trumpet and trombone), along with historically informed costumes.
CRSP is one of Calgary’s oldest early-music ensembles. About a decade ago, it became a nonprofit, which opened the door to bigger projects and collaborations. The choir itself is volunteer-driven but works closely with professional musicians and choral scholars.
“Some of our members have been here since the very beginning in 1970. It’s a long, proud history of making music together,” said Graves. The
roster spans generations — from singers in their 20s to singers in their 80s — all sharing the same space and the same joy of performing.
To make it more inviting, the program includes not only sacred works but also lively secular pieces.
“There are madrigals, the sort of folk songs of the time, with lots of wink-wink, nudge-nudge moments that are really fun,” said Graves. During concerts, audiences get a full English translation of the music.
Early and classical music often carries a reputation for being exclusive, tied to the idea that they belong to the highly trained. Lo believes that mindset keeps new listeners at a distance.
“I hope younger people feel empowered to come to our concerts without thinking they need to be particularly well educated to attend, because that’s not what it’s about,” he said.
The group engages with public schools by visiting in costume, performing, and answering questions. “We do as much as we can because we want to share this with the kids,” said Graves. “We want this choir to go on for another 50 years.”
This month, CRSP presents Celestial Harmonies: The Magnificent Songs of Praetorius,
the final program developed by artistic director Paul Grindley. The concert features works by German composer Michael Praetorius and evokes a Christmas Eve in 1615 in the town of Wolfenbüttel.
“It takes me back to my childhood of going to church on Christmas Eve,” said Graves. “It’s not about religion for me. It’s about the nostalgia of that magical Christmas time.”
The concert steps into the world of Vespers, the evening prayer service, to show what Christmas would have felt like in that era. “I love the idea that I’m singing the same music people sang 500 years ago,” said Graves.
Renaissance music draws people in for all kinds of reasons: its unusual sonority, its deep human connection, and the way it continues to inspire modern composers. It stretches a thread across centuries, letting us hear what moved and fascinated people long before us. And even if it doesn’t bring us closer to God, it inspires awe, a fleeting lift above the grind of everyday life. Isn’t that what we all long for, now and then?
Celestial Harmonies takes place December 14 at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. For more details, visit renaissance-singers.com.
CURIOUS QUESTIONS
with Elizabeth Graves, senior chorister with CRSP
How do you ensure authenticity?
“We’re fortunate to have two longtime scholars — Nick Žekulin and Marcia Epstein, both retired University of Calgary professors. They sit in on rehearsals and advise on pronunciation and interpretation.”
Where do the instruments come from?
“We keep a small collection and bring in specialists from Ontario, Montreal, and Toronto. Locally, the String Theory Music Collective focuses on early string instruments.”
How are the costumes made?
“They were commissioned specifically for us. A researcher studied the period cuts, colours, and accessories — including the hats.”
What’s the biggest challenge right now? “Attracting new singers.”
PHOTO: DAVID KOTSIBIE
Celluloid and Synthesizers
EXPLORE CALGARY'S PAST WITH THIS 80S-INSPIRED LOCAL BAND AT THIS RETRO THEATRE
BY SARAH COMBER
For nearly 25 years, Canyon Meadows Cinemas has been a cornerstone of Calgary’s movie theatre culture. In that time, the theatre has made sparing changes. Aside from moving the box office and a million-dollar conversion to digital instead of film projectors, Canyon Meadows Cinemas is very much like it was when it opened in the early ‘00s. Brightly coloured, patterned carpets, the smell of freshly popped popcorn and a teenager with a broken voice handing you a cola. An homage to a triedand-true movie-going experience that evokes a familiar, comforting sense of nostalgia — unlocking a core memory for pre-internet babies, similar to renting a VHS from Blockbuster or spending Friday night at Lloyds Roller Rink.
While the ‘20s have ushered in a new era of movie-viewing experiences, such as reclining chairs and 3D glasses, visiting Canyon Meadows Cinemas feels a little more tangible, a little more true, and a lot more budget-friendly. It’s a familyowned-and-operated theatre that still offers $5 ticket pricing.
When it came to finding a venue to film their music video for their single “Alone in Paradise,” local new wave band BETABOYS couldn’t have asked for a better space.
“I’ve been going to movies at Canyon Meadows Cinemas for decades, and I love it,” said BETABOYS founder and bassist Scott Perrin, adding that the decision to film at Canyon Meadows Cinemas was both “directly and indirectly nostalgic.”
Filmed entirely on VHS tape by Calgary photographer and creative director Heather Saitz, the video evokes a similar feeling to watching John Hughes cult-classics like Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles. The band, dressed appropriately with a collective nod to the ‘80s, primps in the movie theatre washroom, scoops popcorn, and sits in the movie theatre seats like how Blane McDonagh and his buddies might have — with the cavalier nonchalance, and boyish charm. A new-wave, ‘80s synth-pop sound, along with creative choices that evoke nostalgia, is present both in the film and in the band’s music.
“We all grew up in the ‘90s, but we have a memory of that spirit that also pertains to the
“THERE IS STILL A YEARNING AND A WANT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT’S COOL AND THAT HAS A LINEAGE, LIKE GOING TO THE MOVIE THEATRE.”
AND
‘80s that we’re trying to capture,” said Perrin, noting that the band will be releasing their new album Great Pretenders — made in collaboration with producer and composer Russel Broom — on December 6 at Commonwealth.
While Perrin is inspired by places that feel trapped in time, such as North Hill Mall or Nick’s Steakhouse & Pizza, a common thread the band returns to is the optimism found in ‘80s comingof-age stories.
“And it’s coming of age throughout life, through different stages,” said Perrin. “It’s not just like your teenagers in the John Hughes movies. We can see those themes playing out in different parts of your life as you get older, too.”
Similar to the music video, Canyon Meadows Cinemas sets the scene for coming-of-age stories in contemporary times. Nathalie Hunter, Canyon Meadows Cinemas General Manager, says all of her children, and numerous nieces and nephews have all worked at the theatre, along with roughly 1,000 teenagers.
“At any given time, we employ around 60 kids,” said Hunter. “They’ve got sports and school, so most of them can’t work a ton unless they financially need to. And we do see that a lot, and that is very sad, where the kids are supporting their families.”
Indeed, teenagers rely on Canyon Meadows Cinemas both behind the concession counter and in front of it. In a post-COVID world, reclaiming in-person, human connection is a necessity for all generations, but is felt keenly at the theatre by the number of teenagers who come out to see movies — especially after opening The Dirty Soda Shoppe. Spearheaded by Hunter’s late sister-in-law, the Soda Shoppe offers a range of mixed sodas, similar to that season of life when pre-teens are given free rein at a 7-Eleven and build their own beverages between the Slurpees and sodas.
Perrin, who is also a teacher, emphasizes the importance of spaces where young people can connect. It shows that kids heading to see Freakier Friday today aren’t so different from those flocking to watch Pretty in Pink back in the day.
“There is still a yearning and a want to be a part of something that’s cool and that has a lineage, like going to the movie theatre,” said Perrin.
BETABOYS FOUNDER
BASSIST SCOTT PERRIN
PHOTO: HEATHER SAITZ
Winter Weekends
Every weekend in December, starting on Dec. 13. Featuring a rotating vendor market, community choirs, ensembles, and pop-up live music. SEE FULL LINEUP AT STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON. Play it Forward for Jam Club
This holiday season, give a gift that lasts long after the decorations com e down. Support Jam Club, NMC’s free after-school program, where youth can explore music, m ake friends, and build confidence through creativity. Help brighten a young person’s year. Donate now!
A tribute to 2025 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees: Dan Hill, Glass Tiger, Ginette Reno, and Loreena McKennitt.
SUDSY TIMES
BY HILARY KOLBACK
TEASE YOUR BRAIN
TapTalks at Wild Rose Brewery brings together two elements that don’t necessarily naturally align — brain-stimulating presentations and beer. Wild Rose Brewery, located in an old airplane hangar at the former Currie Barracks, makes a wide array of craft beers from Ales to IPAs. TapTalks presentations are held in the event space at the back of the brewery with plenty of seating for your whole party.
Each presentation features a niche topic and a speaker who guides you through their talk. With topics from true crime to psychedelics, there is
something that can pique anyone’s interest. The most recent of the TapTalks was on true crime and the paranormal, with a former detective guiding you through his extensive career of murder investigations with a side of ghost encounters.
Sawyer, a bartender at WildRose Brewery, recommends pairing the presentation with the Pink Velvet, a beer with a fruity twist. “Pink Velvet is very popular. WildRose is really known for mixing our beers, it’s a name we have made for ourselves.”
4580 Quesnay Wood Dr. S.W., wildrosebrewery.com
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Grab a group and get ready to put yourself to the
test by competing in a trivia round at Two Pillars Brewing. Two Pillars Brewing offers a wide array of lagers, ales and even tasting flights, giving you the opportunity to try each of their craft beers.
Trivia nights hosted by Talespin Trivia give customers the opportunity to test their smarts in a game of general knowledge trivia. The not-tootough questions bring out everyone’s knowledge, creating a fun game of friendly competition. Alan Johnson, owner of Talespin Trivia, hosts trivia events at Two Pillars twice a month on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“It’s kind of a small space, so the [trivia nights] book up fast, but it’s been very popular,” said Johnson. “Loyal patrons come back and compete with each other often.”
Boaz Leung, owner of Two Pillars Brewing, raved about the amount of traction trivia nights bring into the brewery. “We do have a following for our trivia, so [customers] will book again and again. Whenever it’s released, they will sign up,” said Leung.
Trivia at Two Pillars has been happening for two years now, after frequenters of the brewery suggested it. For a drink recommendation to pair with trivia, Leung suggests the ‘Small Batch
Flight.’ “We line it up for your tasting experience, from light, sweeter beers all the way to something that is usually a little darker, more intense,” said Leung.
910 Centre St. N.E., twopillars.ca
DAB FOR PRIZES
Get your Bingo dabbers ready. If you think you have a shot at correctly identifying songs while playing Bingo, then High Line Brewing is the place to be. Every Wednesday, the Inglewood brewery hosts Name That Tune Bingo.
“It’s gotta be a year since we started [Name That Tune Bingo.] We did it on our birthday, which is December 22,” said Ricardo Garcia, event coordinator at High Line Brewing.
The variety of prizes caters to almost every participant. “I usually get different types of prizes, I just got cassettes this time, but I usually get vinyls or things like that, candy as well, silly things like that,” said Garcia.
Ricardo suggests the Mate Plus, a hard tea with Yerba Maté, vodka, cherry and lemon to go along with your Bingo experience. The Yerba Maté infusion, which contains caffeine, is like a boozy energy drink. “We also have non alcoholic versions of the tea, which are really good too. So if anybody doesn’t want to partake [in alcohol], it’s fantastic.”
1318 9 Ave. S.E. #113, highlinebrewing.com
KICK OUT THE JAMS
Live music, good beer and good food set the scene at Prairie Dog Brewing, where weekends are filled with live entertainment, catering to any music lover’s preferred genre.
With a suitable stage for bands both big and small and a great sound system, you can immerse yourself in Calgary’s music scene with a beer in hand.
“We’ve been doing live music for years. About two years ago, they built the stage,” said Duncan Marsden, supervisor at Prairie Dog Brewing. “It used to be a sectioned-off area for private events, and now it’s just public for everyone.”
Marsden recommends the You’re Beautiful, a sour infused with lemon, blueberry and vanilla. “We have a lot of great beers on our core list,” he said.
105D 58 Ave. S.E., prairiedog.bbq.beer
PHOTO: ZANE SWEENEY
High Line Brewing
CJSW November 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. Sargeant x Comrade - Power Vol. 1 (Mo Gravy Records)
Jessica Moss - Unfolding (Constellation)
3. Lorrie Matheson - Mission to Inglewood (Western Famine)
4. TOPS - Bury the Key (Ghostly International)
5. Rich Brown - NYAEBA (Whirlwind Recordings)
6. Ada Lea - when i paint my masterpiece (Saddle Creek)
Julianna Riolino - Echo In The Dust (Moonwhistle Records)
8. SPRINTS - All That Is Over (Sub Pop)
9. Salt Horse - Lucky Teeth (Self-Released)
10. Great Lake Swimmers - Caught Light (Self-Released)
11. Snooper - Worldwide (Third Man)
Arid Landscapes - Arid Landscapes (Signal Chain Music)
13. Super Pyramid - Comment If This Is Paradise! (Self-Released)
14. The Dwarfs of East Agouza - Sasquatch Landslide (Constellation Records)
15. Halfcut & Cole The God - The Relentless Two (Latchkey Records)
16. Still Depths - Like Hell! (Self-Released)
The Dust Collectors - Cold Feet (Self-Released)
18. Mariel Buckley - Strange Trip Ahead (Birthday Cake)
19. Rec Centre - Squash (Self-Released)
Whitney K - Bubble (Fire Records)
Patrick Watson - Uh Oh (Secret City Records)
The Sour Patch Men - The Second Best Band In Bowness (Self-Released)
RBB Music - lofi oasis (Self-Released)
Adrian Quesada - Boleros Psicodélicos II (ATO)
Loud in the Pines - Every Colour Left (Self-Released)
Benjamin Tod - Shooting Star (Thirty Tigers)
Noam Lemish - There’s Beauty Enough In Being There (TPR Records)
Buildings and Food - Provincial Park VIP Mixes (Self-Released)
Al Muirhead - Still Cookin’ At 90: The Canada Sessions Volume 2 (Chronograph Records)
30. Rafiq Bhatia - Environments (ANTI-)
12/17
TRIVIA EVENTS
Twn Pillars Trivia (General Knnwledge) 6:30pm @ Twn Pillars Brewery Citizen Trivia (General Knnwledge) 6:30pm @ Citizen Brewing Cnmpany Thank you to for hosting the Scene’s 25 for 25 launch party!
Six Degrees ff Mfvie Trivia (HOLIDAY EDITION) 7:00pm @ Dickens
REEL TALK
PASSING TIME WITH CRAIG
Passing Time With Craig is hosted by Craig McFarlane. He talks about movies, but it is not just a film podcast; it covers a range of topics. His film episodes feature discussions about the Oscars, rewatches of classic films like Poltergeist, and guests from the entertainment industry joining in for a chat.
The majority of the people McFarlane interviews are from the Calgary area, like Andrew G. Cooper, who discussed his short film Strangers and his work as a puppeteer on Fraggle Rock: Back To The Rock. “I love when I can highlight all the work anybody in Calgary or Alberta is doing,” McFarlene said. McFarlane also loves helping promote amazing local entertainment, whether it’s magicians, stand-up comedy, theatre, drag shows, concerts, or movies at the Globe Cinema or Plaza Theatre. “It’s so nice when I can help get the word out … and to have people go to [these] shows. It helps get people out.”
THREE LOCAL FILM PODCASTS THAT YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT
BY JOSEPH MASTEL
McFarlane has partnerships with Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) and Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF), and has also volunteered for the Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival. “I love teaming up with the local festivals, which are bringing in films you wouldn’t necessarily see or know about,” he said.
McFarlane hopes Passing Time With Craig continues to grow. “I want to continue to have these conversations, get more people on, and cover subject matters that we haven’t talked about yet, but I still want it to have moments of joyfulness and lightness.”
Passingtimewithcraig.com
FILM RAGE
Film Rage consists of primary hosts Jim Evans and Bryce Hollingsworth, with technical advisor and producer Murray Boyer occasionally joining. Evans describes Film Rage as a “podcast version of Siskel and Ebert,” in which they try to review every movie released in cinemas.
Along with reviews, they have other segments, like “Rage or Dare,” where a crew member must choose a film from another crew member’s “rage bag” or a dare from a podcast listener. “We just try to make each other watch the worst possible film to torture the other person,” said Evans. Occasionally, they get filmmakers on the podcast, such as director and writer Pavan Moondi, who chatted with Film Rage about his new film, Middle Life, just a couple of months ago. “It’s a badge of honour we carry that we actually do care about the film the director did,” Evans said.
CADE & KIT
Cade (Kyle Carpenter) and Kit (Crystal Bridges) describe themselves as ‘real people doing reel reviews’. “We didn’t see the ‘Everyman’ going to film festivals,” Bridges said. “We want to be your bestie at the theatre, telling you if it’s worth $50 to go or not.”
Cade and Kit pay special attention to films that celebrate diverse voices and stories particularly those that represent women, 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities in hopes of fostering greater inclusivity. “You don’t have to be a female to watch a female story, so we just wanted people to know there are these really great movies out there to watch,” Bridges said.
In season three of the podcast, their topic has been “Stories That Stick,” exploring themes such as love triangles, good versus evil, and rags-toriches. Each week, one of them selects a film that shaped them, and the other watches it for the first time. “The point of season three was to really get to know us as movie reviewers,” Carpenter said.
Film Rage covers film festivals such as the CUFF and CIFF. Although they do not have a formal partnership with CUFF, Evans and Boyer volunteer for it, and they all share a passion for the festival – Evans even has a CUFF tattoo. They have a more formal partnership with CIFF and get media accreditation every year. “Every year, we just promote it as much as we can, “ said Evans.
Filmrageyyc.com
Cade and Kit cover many film festivals, from CIFF, CUFF, and Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), to American ones like Fantastic Fest. In 2026, they hope to cover many festivals overseas, like the Berlin International Film Festival. They are also part of the sponsorship committee for Fantastic Pavilion at the Marche du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.
Cade and Kit are in the process of becoming Rotten Tomatoes-certified, a goal they hope to achieve by the end of 2026.
Blog.cadeandkit.com
PHOTO: ELUVIER ACOSTA
PHOTO: DILLON D’ANGELO
PHOTO: VIA @FILMRAGEYYC ON INSTAGRAM
VENUE
THE ESTABLISHMENT
A SPACE WHERE MUSIC IS SHARED, ART IS CELEBRATED, AND STRANGERS BECOME REGULARS
BY KRISTA SYLVESTER
Officially opening its doors in 2019, The Establishment Brewing Company’s story began long before then. Dave Ronneberg, Brandon Hart, and Mike Foniok had been bonding over their favourite records, swapping memories and experimenting with homebrews.
Those early beginnings were enjoyed in an Erlton basement affectionately nicknamed “The Establishment” until the 2013 floods devastated the community.
Six years later, the trio brought that homebrewery vibe to the masses and has since earned accolades as one of Calgary’s most decorated breweries. “The goal was to translate that vibe into a taproom,” says manager Rich Friesen. But the business prides itself on being more than that. The brewery is alluring to music lovers, artists and anyone looking for a place that feels like home.
“The theme has always been about music; we name our beers after song names or song albums. There’s always different types of music playing in the taproom.”
Music isn’t just background noise at Establishment: it’s part of the brand’s core identity, as evidenced by Wax Poetic on Wednesday nights, when patrons are encouraged to bring their favourite vinyl to share.
“We started doing that a few months ago, and it’s slowly started gaining momentum. Our guests get to hand over their own records and the staff plays at least one full side, no matter how obscure,” Friesen says. The goal was to create a communal activity based on passion for music.
That endeavour has blossomed into a growing circle of regulars who bring everything from reissued Springsteen to post-rock rarities like Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Sure, they’re not always universally loved, but that’s part of the fun that often sparks conversations. “There are always a few of us that are super stoked and then a few people that are confused,” Friesen says.
QUICK FACTS
Address: 4407 1 St. S.E. in the Barley Belt.
Hours: Closed on Mondays; 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 12 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays; 12 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 12 to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Drink recommendation: My Best Friend’s Girl.
On the first Thursday of each month, the Wallpaper Trio, a rotating lineup of Calgary jazz musicians, transforms the space with live instrumental sets, leading the charge.
That group has been a part of the Establish-
Seriously crushable, and pairs nicely with the mini corndogs.
Monthly Events: Wax Poetic on Wednesdays, Sundaze on Sundays, Live Jazz on the first Thursday, Radio Retro with Talespin Trivia on the last Thursday, Kölsch Haus on the last Friday.
ment’s DNA for nearly four years, becoming a weekly staple among regulars.
Friesen says guests can expect to hear drums, bass, guitars, saxophones, trumpets, and even pianos. “It’s a great vibe. It’s a lot of fun,” he says.
As for weekly drink specials, Sundays bring Sundaze, which offers $6 pints of Afternoon Delight and Sky Rocket (some of their haziest brews) to stave off those Sunday scaries. And on the last Friday of the month, they transform into Kölsch Haus, with $3 stanges (cute little glasses) of beer served along with freshly prepared German bites.
Beyond the living room vibe, Friesen says Establishment is also renowned for its inclusivity, where beer knowledge is optional, and community comes first. When patrons first arrive, they will notice a Pride flag hanging in the window, a welcome message at the door. Inside, the aging barrels shape the walls, softening the noise and creating an intimate ambiance.
While the brewery prioritizes public accessibility by avoiding overbooking private events, it does offer space for larger groups. Friesen says full buyouts work best for 50 to 80 guests, while an attached side room can comfortably host 20 to 25 group events. The Establishment team rearranges tables, curates the beer list and keeps the atmosphere easygoing and open for these bookings.
The venue also serves as an art hub for established and emerging local artists, with rotating exhibitions that refresh every two to four months. Additionally, every bottle from their barrel-aged series features artwork by local illustrators. Artists are encouraged to submit portfolios year-round.
As for the taproom itself? Think “warm and low-key.” The lighting is warm, the seating is assorted, and the bar that dominates the room is always staffed with smiling beer slingers. The exposed distillery equipment at the back makes you feel like you’re part of the brewing process yourself.
If you visit near a holiday, you might even see some decorations hanging off of those barrels, like spiderwebs during Halloween time … or perhaps something more festive.
Check out the calendar of events at establishmentbrewing.ca.
PHOTO: STEPHEN CHOW
HIGH PER ORMANCE RODEO
DREAM MACHINE