CALGARY’S GUIDE TO GOING OUT
FREE • NOVEMBER 2026 • ISSUE #73
HOW TO GET ONSTAGE CUFF.DOCS SOUNDOFF SUMMIT THE STAMPEDER SPECIAL TOYIN OLADELE Q&A
DON'T JUST SIT THERE! HOW TO TAKE
PART IN THE ARTS THINGS TO DO MUSIC AND GIGS ART SCENE CALGARY NOSTALGIA CAM HAYDEN COMIC
CHRISTOPHER HUNT AS SCROOGE AND THE CAST OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL. PHOTO BY EMILY COOPER.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY GEOFFREY SIMON BROWN DIRECTED BY STAFFORD ARIMA, ASSOCIATE DIRECTED BY JANE MACFARLANE FEATURING CHRISTOPHER HUNT AS SCROOGE
NOV 26 — DEC 27, 2026 TICKETS: THEATRECALGARY.COM MAX BELL THEATRE AT WERKLUND CENTRE
CONTENTS
Cover: Illustration by Calli Giroux Publisher: Käthe Lemon, klemon@redpointmedia.ca
nOvember
Editor: Alicia L'Archevêque, alarcheveque@redpointmedia.ca Event and Listings Editor: Viancy Salubre
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bluegRaSs night wIth the smokin’ toad revival 7pm $20 all ages
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conscious trAnsformatIon coLlEctIve 7pm pwyc
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the porchlIght two 7pm $10 all ages
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bdsm: dynamIcs for beginners 7pm $10 18+
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vaNden dool + wIsh whip 8pm $15 all ages
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odditeaSe buRlEsque bReaSt in show 3 7:30pm $15 adv 18+
vsalubre@redpointmedia.ca Contributing Editor: Karin Olafson Designer: Kris Twyman Print/Digital Production Manager: Mike Matovich
CONTRIBUTORS Jess Arcand, Catrina Bowles, Caleigh Crow, Nathan Iles, Meghan Lett, Kiara Neisz, Evelina Pak, Gus Rendell, Lissa Robinson, Viancy Salubre Client Support Coordinator Alice Meilleur Senior Account Executive Jocelyn Erhardt Account Executives Nadine Benoit, Vicki Braaten
SeaSon premIer 15 dice dynaSty7pm $10 all ages CEO and co-owner Roger Jewett President and co-owner Käthe Lemon Vice President Operations Meredith Bailey
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coal dust GaNg (BC) + souR patch kids 8pm $15 all ages
Creative Director Steve Collins
9 ART SCENE Explore an exhibition full of miniature jewelbox dioramas at Contemporary Calgary.
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peters & Kinger & baSkin & SzaBo 7pm free all ages
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a jazz congRess wIth bowlIne quintet 7pm $15 all ages
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dRag is for all ages 2pm $10 all ages
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada
Soca in the Suburbs Grande Fete, 2021. Collection of Claire and Brian Gogel. PHOTO: CURTIS TALWST SANTIAGO
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.
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8 Q&A
Find out how you can take part in playwriting, live music and stand-up comedy in Calgary.
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Through the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation, Toyin Oladele is creating opportunities for immigrant and newcomer artists in Calgary.
What to do, see and hear this month across the city.
16 FILM A preview of CUFF.Docs and how the Calgary Justice Film Festival turns art into action.
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. © 2026 by Redpoint Media Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.
20 CALGARY NOSTALGIA How a Calgarian passenger train in 1948 dubbed the “Stampeder Special” shaped today’s Grey Cup celebrations.
the indestructIblE bRiaN vOlke + wIll quAn 7pm $10 all ages
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queer video gAme night 5-7pm free all welcome
bRead dRop! HousE au pain souRdough bRead every sAtuRdAy & sundAy
open mIc! 22 CAM HAYDEN COMIC
open mIc & acoustIc jam every wednesdAy 7pm free all ages
congResscoffeeshop.com/events thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
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What to do in November
BY CATRINA BOWLES
WATCH INNOVATIVE INDIE ANIMATION, EXPERIENCE THE CITY’S REIMAGINED SCIENCE FESTIVAL, LEARN NEW MOVES AT A HIP HOP FESTIVAL AND MORE
GREY CUP FESTIVAL
workshops with internationally renowned instructors and witness dance battles spanning multiple genres. Come for it all or just come for a little – tickets to the Hip Hop and Streetdance Festival are available by event, so you can pick and choose what you would like to attend. Early bird tickets for the festival’s workshops are available until November 13 for $35, so snag yours before they’re gone.
November 11 to 15 | Multiple locations | greycupfestival.ca The Grey Cup returns to Calgary for the sixth time this year — and there are more ways to celebrate than just watching the game. There are plenty of festivities to enjoy during the four days prior to the game on November 15, including the Suncor Street Festival, pancake breakfasts, an evening drone show and more. It’s bound to be a blast, because ever since 1948, Calgary football fans have set an example for how to really celebrate the big game. Read more about the origins of the Grey Cup Festival on page 20.
ART MARKET CRAFT SALE
WAX POETIC (BRING YOUR OWN VINYL NIGHT)
November 11 | Establishment Brewing | establishmentbrewing.ca Are you the friend that always gets AUX privileges on road trips? Do you think music simply sounds better when it's coming from a record player? If you answered “yes,” then you’ll want to head over to Establishment Brewing for Wax Poetic, where guests are invited to bring in their favourite vinyl record. Establishment Brewing’s DJs will throw on your record and play one side. If the rest of the room approves, then they’ll flip it and hear the whole thing. If you really think you’ve got killer music taste, this is the place to prove it.
THE GIANT INCANDESCENT RESONATING ANIMATION FESTIVAL
November 11 to 15 (in person) and November 16 to 21 (online) | Globe Cinema | giraffest.ca The Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival (GIRAF) is an independent animation festival, celebrating the most inventive and unexpected animated films from Canada and around the world. This year marks the 22nd annual festival, which is hosted by Quickdraw Animation Society. This year’s spotlight artist is Kaho Yoshida, an award-winning animator and director based in Vancouver, whose stop motion and mixed media animation skills have
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PHOTO: COURTESY TELUS SPARK SCIENCE CENTRE
PETRI DISH BY BEAKERHEAD
November 6 to 8 | Multiple locations | petridish.sparkscience.ca After a brief hiatus in 2025, Beakerhead has returned, though it looks a little different this year. Peer through the microscope at Petri Dish, the new format for Calgary’s science festival, which is smaller-scale and focuses on community engagement, while still keeping the Beakerhead spirit at heart. The festival kicks off with the 18+ Beakernight, featuring medieval armoured combat, a rave and a live planetarium show. The main portion of the festival over the following two days takes place at the TELUS Spark, with more music and magnificent science displays, though there is plenty more fun to be had at other partner venues during the fest.
been used by clients including Adult Swim, TED and Lego.
SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE HUNT FOR MORIARTY
November 14 to December 19 | Vertigo Theatre | vertigotheatre.com Vertigo Theatre is known for putting on thrilling Sherlock Holmes adaptations, and a new adaptation gets its North American premiere in Calgary this November. Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty is written by Nick Lane, who wrote the adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
that took Vertigo’s stage by storm in 2023. The Hunt for Moriarty brings the famous sleuth’s most notorious villain to the stage in a thrilling battle of wits.
CALGARY HIP HOP AND STREETDANCE FESTIVAL
November 19 to 22 | Multiple locations | calgaryhhsdf.com Calling all B-boys and B-girls! The Calgary Hip Hop and Streetdance Festival returns for its fifth annual festival this November. Watch incredible streetdance performances, take
November 19 to 22 | Telus Convention Centre | artmarketcraftsale.com As we transition into the winter season, craft markets start popping up in the city and beyond so you can get started on your holiday shopping. The annual Art Market Craft Sale turns 40 years old this year and features over 200 artisans selling off their wares. Whether you’re doing some early Christmas shopping, looking for a new decor piece for your home or just like browsing great crafts, there’s plenty to be found at this market. Along with the shopping, this special 40th birthday market also features live music, demonstrations, giveaways and other surprises.
LIONS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
November 21 to January 8 | Confederation Park | lionsfestivaloflights.ca If you’re looking for a free way to get into the holiday spirit, check out the Lions Festival of Lights at Confederation Park. Running throughout the holiday season, this light display features hundreds of multicoloured lights arranged in stunning Christmas-themed displays. Every night until January 8, the lights come up at 5:30 p.m. and keep glowing until midnight, offering you plenty of time to wander and admire.
DIWALI AT THE GRAND
November 22 | The GRAND | kensingtonsinfonia.com Celebrate the festival of lights this year at The GRAND, where Madhuban Performing Arts and Kensington Sinfonia have arranged a party complete with live music and dance.
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The Kensington Sinfonia will premiere a new piece entitled “Ellora” by Colleen Athparia, supported by internationally renowned tabla player Abbas Janmohamed from Toronto, and Madhuban Performing Arts will showcase a dance performance. Regular tickets start at $35, but spending $100 for a VIP ticket gets you reserved seating, a special treat box and an exclusive dance class and photo opportunity with Madhuban Performing Arts.
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
November 10 to 15 | Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium | calgary.broadway.com Experience the magic of a beloved fairytale with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast from Broadway Across Canada. Featuring all the songs you love from the 1991 animated film, along with an additional six new songs, this stage adaptation perfectly captures the magic of the film. While the musical has toured stages for over two decades, this version of the production features entirely new sets and costumes, reinvigorating a classic.
AVENUE’S COOKIE MARKET
December 3 | Eau Claire Tower | avenuecalgary.com Is there anything better than a delicious, freshly baked cookie? How about an entire market of the finest cookies Calgary has to offer? After the roaring success of Avenue’s 2025 market, the Cookie Market returns again this year, with even more vendors stocking even more cookies. The market runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so be sure to come early, because these cookies sell fast.
Kyra Belle Johnson and Fergie L. Philippe in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. PHOTO: MATTHEW MURPHY
Contemporary Art in Calgary
Free Admission & Free Parking
Photo: Elyse Bouvier.
Visit Esker Foundation
@eskerfoundation eskerfoundation.art 4th Floor, 1011 9th Ave SE Inglewood, Calgary, Alberta
thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
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Onstage in November
BY NATHAN ILES
COUNTRY SINGALONGS, EMO HEARTBREAK, GLORIOUS DAD ROCK, AND SEVERAL CHANCES TO HAVE YOUR FACE MELTED back pocket. November 13 and 14 at the Jack Singer, calgaryphil.com.
TEMPO: A SYMPHONY OF EDM This writer has always felt that Beethoven could use more bass. Electronic Symphonia takes on iconic EDM anthems as classical musicians and festival energy collide in one very loud experiment. November 14 at The Palace, thepalacetheatre.ca.
TINC X ASIANMADE Lady Starlight PHOTO: SHUTTERUP PHOTOGRAPHY
SYNC SOUND AND IMAGE CONFERENCE Part conference and part electronic music playground, SYNC brings together producers, visual artists and industry insiders for a day of workshops, networking and live electronic performances. November 14 at Studio Bell, National Music Centre, studiobell.ca.
DEAN BRODY & THE REKLAWS Two of Canadian country's biggest names join forces for the Hometown Heroes Tour, bringing chart-toppers, small-town storytelling and truck-ready singalong choruses. Rising star Nate Haller opens the night. November 7 at WinSport Event Centre, winsport.ca.
EXHUMED Death metal veterans Exhumed roll into Dickens with support from Jarhead Fertilizer, Savage Master and Molder for a gig unlikely to contain a single acoustic guitar. November 11 at Dickens, dickensyyc.com.
THE BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK Tony DeSare and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra put a symphonic spin on Billy Joel. A great show for that one friend who's got a terrible Piano Man karaoke rendition in their
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Your "just one drink" plans are in serious jeopardy. TINC makes her first Calgary appearance with enough house, EDM and club energy to keep the dance floor occupied well past reasonable decision-making hours. November 14 at Rumur, rumur.ca.
TRUCK VIOLENCE The name isn't subtle, and neither is the music. Montreal's Truck Violence bring their DIY brand of noise rock and post-hardcore to The Palomino with support from Jed Arbour and Tetrapodwhy. Don’t forget earplugs (and if you forget them, shove some wads of toilet paper in your ears). November 17 at The Palomino, thepalomino.ca.
MOZART + MAHLER Like your emotional devastation delivered by people in formalwear? The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra pairs Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 with Mahler's Symphony No. 5 for a cinematic evening of classical. November 20 and 21 at the Jack Singer, calgaryphil.com.
TURNOVER Come relive every heartbreak you've ever had while pretending you're over it. Turnover brings emo anthems from Down On Earth alongside the catalogue that made Peripheral Vision an indie essential. November 20 at The Palace, thepalacetheatre.ca.
ELVIS COSTELLO Nearly 50 years after “Radio Radio” and “Pump It Up” first rattled speakers and pissed
PHOTO: DAVE JACKSON
off SNL, Elvis Costello is still cooler than most of the bands he influenced. Catch the songwriting icon for an intimate performance in support of the Owen Hart Foundation. November 21 at the Jubilee Auditorium, jubileeauditorium.com.
MATT DUSK: A VERY SINATRA CHRISTMAS Some things never go out of style, like far-tooearly Christmas celebrations. Matt Dusk does things the old-fashioned way with sharp suits, sharp vocals and a dose of Rat Pack energy. November 24 at Bella Concert Hall, events.mtroyal.ca.
BABY JANE Cali DJ and producer Baby Jane blends house, pop and goth-y sounds into sets designed to keep floors and hearts moving. The Winter Forever Tour lands in Calgary for one night of late-night MIDI escapism. November 27 at Commonwealth, commonwealthbar.ca.
PROTEST THE HERO Some bands write riffs, but Protest the Hero constructs large-scale prog-metal obstacle courses. The Canadian headbanger veterans arrive with Royal Tusk and Kaonashi for a night
GWAR Not so much a concert as a full-scale alien invasion with guitars, GWAR brings decades of heavy metal chaos and gloriously excessive theatrics to Mac Hall. We dare you to wear a white shirt and get right up front. November 28 at MacEwan Hall, machallconcerts.com.
of controlled, heavy chaos. November 30 at The Arrowhead, thearrowheadcalgary.com.
GENE SIMMONS BAND The tongue, the legend, the man who turned rock and roll into a business model. Gene Simmons brings his solo band to Calgary for a night of KISS classics, hard rock staples and enough rock-star mythology to fill your dad's beer cooler twice over. December 1 at Grey Eagle Event Centre, greyeagleresortandcasino.ca.
NEW YORK JAZZ & CABARET: KIZUNA TRIO Trade the mosh pit for a martini. Tim Tamashiro's KIZUNA TRIO does a New York-style jazz take on classics from Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Cole and Bennett. December 2 at Betty Lou's Library, jazzyyc.com.
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Q&A
BUILDING A WAY IN TOYIN OLADELE IS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANT AND NEWCOMER ARTISTS IN CALGARY
BY EVELINA PAK
W
hen Toyin Oladele moved to Calgary from Nigeria in 2017, she brought years of experience as a performing artist, curator, arts manager and educator. Yet, finding her footing in Calgary’s arts scene proved difficult: she struggled to find the connections and resources she needed to re-establish herself professionally. Her firsthand experience led to her founding the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI) two years later. Since 2019, ICAI’s membership has grown to 500+ immigrant and newcomer art professionals. The organization has delivered more than 340 programs, workshops and professional development opportunities and has helped connect artists with over $212,000 in paid opportunities. Today, Oladele is a community arts leader whose work extends beyond ICAI. She is involved in curatorial projects, including the City’s Northeast Public Art Initiative, and serves on the board of Contemporary Calgary. In this conversation, she reflects on her journey and shares insights into how artists and organizations can find their place in Calgary’s arts scene. Q: How did you build ICAI from an idea into an institution? A: “I started with research, a lot of engagement sessions and having conversations with cultural and arts organizations. I went to settlement agencies and said, ‘Hey, if you know others who need the arts sector, I'm glad to support them.’ Before I knew it, I was speaking to over 70 people. We realized this should actually be happening. “Then, I started creating mentorship and partnership programs. Today, it's been seven years and we have over 500 members.” Q: What was the hardest part of building the organization? A: “I think the hardest part was finding the sector and getting support from stakeholders. I was a newcomer. I didn’t know who to connect
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“I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE S P OT L I G H T. I CARE ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING T H E S E RV I C E .” TOYIN OLADELE
PHOTO: JARED SYCH
with or who the right stakeholder was to have conversations with. “Sometimes I questioned whether this was even what I wanted to do because I was
discouraged many times. But for some reason, I'm still here.” Q: What helped you succeed? A: “It's a combination of many things: not giving
How to Participate in the Arts Sector COMMUNICATION: “Start small in your community: school, friends, religious groups or cultural groups. Put up a show in your living room. Don't wait until you get access to the big galleries.” RESOURCES: “Look for ways to access resources for yourself and apply for grants.” INTENTIONALITY: “Think about the kind of work you do and the people you invite into your spaces. Don't just try to invite
as many people as possible. Instead, invite a specific audience.”
PARTNERSHIPS: “Look for people who are already achieving what you want to achieve, and partner with them. Find someone you want to be like and reach out. If you try that with 50 people, at least one person will reply.” PERSISTENCE: “Don't give up and talk about what you do.”
up, meeting the right people and co-creating with the community. “There is nothing you're going to see me do that I'll do alone. Never. Some people feel like, ‘Oh, it takes the spotlight away from me.’ I don't care about the spotlight. I care about people getting the service. “If I find someone inspiring, I reach out to them. Sometimes people find you interesting and want to meet you, too. It works both ways. Once you do one thing right, the right people will also gravitate towards you.” Q: How has Calgary's art scene changed since you started? A: “There are more opportunities now than back then, absolutely. [The art scene] today has more visibility; there's more funding. “There are so many projects going on that you don't have the choice but to see art and engage with it. People are coming up with different innovative ideas.” Q: What kind of support do artists need most when they're trying to establish themselves? A: “People still need mentorship, especially young professionals or newcomers. In other careers, you can learn through the roles, but for the arts, it's hardly like that. “There are many other things that constitute barriers: your experience, your training, your colour, your culture [and] even language. “One of the things I think can really help is to have centralized systems for handling these things. I don’t mean one solution for it all, but [solutions] that [are] in one place so that anybody can find what works for them — resources like toolkits or a dedicated team member to provide this type of information.” Q: What’s next for you? Another big project? A: “I'm also doing some research on artistic projects and social impact projects. I want to design programs and services in other sectors for citizens: access to education, access to innovation in general.” This Q&A was created in collaboration with the Werklund Centre. To learn more about ICAI and its programs, visit icaionline.org.
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worlds, worlds, worlds EXPLORE A STRANGE NEW WORLD OF MINIATURE DIORAMAS AT CONTEMPORARY CALGARY BY LISSA ROBINSON
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n 1969, curator Harald Szeemann transformed the Kunsthalle Bern (a Swiss contemporary art museum) with his landmark exhibition, Live in Your Head: When Attitudes Become Form. He famously gave artists free rein to take over the gallery, disrupting preconceived notions about what curating art could be. This revolutionary show highlighted the importance of process, experimentation and the artist's role in shaping an exhibition. Worlds, worlds, worlds evokes a similar vibe, where artist Curtis Talwst Santiago displays his miniature dioramas within a sprawling cardboard infrastructure that challenges conventional viewing. Housed in vintage jewel boxes, Santiago’s Infinity Series (2008 to present) are intricate dioramas that retell stories from personal memories, underrepresented histories and catastrophic events, ranging from police brutality to Yoruba myths. Born in 1979 to Trinidadian parents who immigrated to Edmonton, Santiago grew up immersed in Caribbean-Canadian culture. His early influences include music, dance and art, shaped by his family and community. Working across multiple media, he weaves historical, familial and speculative narratives into his works to question colonial frameworks and celebrate the diasporic imagination. For viewers familiar with Santiago’s miniature dioramas, entering the low-lit gallery space will be unexpected and confronting. A sprawling cardboard network is stylized to evoke an analog data mainframe or a low-fi telecommunications network. Thick black cables snake across the gallery floor, plugging into stacked corrugated
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ART SCENE
towers that resemble server blocks, while cardboard consoles on stands or mounted to the walls feature faux-circuitry, dials and a matrix of glowing red indicator lights. We enter the gallery conditioned to view Santiago’s intimate worlds unhindered but find our bodies and sightlines disrupted and displaced by a network of cardboard constructions that require awkward and careful navigation. Cardboard, typically used to transport and protect objects, becomes the plinths, cases and shelves that frame the artwork. The sprawling cardboard functions as a conceptual and physical scaffold that transports viewers to a strange and unfamiliar land. This engineered disorientation redefines how viewers must interact with his delicate and intimate worlds. By placing his jewellery boxes on and inside these unconventional structures, Santiago recontextualizes his dioramas. Safely archived inside keepsake boxes, these precious stories undergo a radical transformation. They now function as data nodes and microchips, plugged into a vast machine broadcasting narratives from the diaspora. This shift comes into focus in the adjacent room, where two massive, cone-shaped megaphones, sculpted from layers of cardboard, face each other with large, gaping mouths that emit mechanical sounds. At each narrow end, the spiralling rings funnel the viewer’s eye down into cavernous telescopes containing brightly lit dioramas. Here, the architecture becomes a portal to another world, effortlessly harmonizing the sculpture’s massive scale with the intimacy of the miniature dioramas. At one end, we discover the black silhouette of Anansi, the trickster spider spirit representing ancestral survival through displacement. At the opposite end, a matching conduit reveals a lone modern figure lying vulnerable amidst coarse gravel and rubble. Tethered together, they map a line of continuity across centuries, connecting an ancient story about resiliency and survival with the harsh realities of modern migration and human struggle. While the megaphone sculptures rely on physical architecture to broadcast this diasporic
Christmas in Durban, 2017
Installation view, Curtis Talwst Santiago loop, another piece expands on this narrative using stop-motion animation. In a room tucked in the back corner, Santiago transforms a cowboy hat-shaped jewellery box into a cinematic vessel that explores faraway lands and distant planets. The curved brim floats like a capsule across a swirling turquoise sea, lands on a desert island flanked by miniature palm trees, and then soars like a lone rocket ship up through stars to other galaxies. While the megaphone sculptures and animation offer clear points of transmission, the sprawling cardboard scaffolding reads
PHOTO: CURTIS TALWST SANTIAGO
PHOTO: BLAINE CAMPBELL
as the peripheral noise of memory itself. It honours the diasporic imagination as inherently fragmentary, ever-evolving and resistant to tidy curation. Santiago channels the true spirit of When Attitudes Become Form by resisting conventional modes of display and redefining how an artist can reimagine their own work while transitioning their practice into a strange new world. Curtis Talwst Santiago’s worlds, worlds, worlds is on at the Flanagan Family Gallery at Contemporary Calgary until January 3, 2027. 701 11 Street S.W., contemporarycalgary.com
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COVER
A Beginner’s Guide to Getting On Stage GET READY TO MAKE YOUR FIRST MOVE INTO CALGARY’S LOCAL MUSIC SCENE
shows and invite people directly. Buy or make your own merch to sell at the show (CDs, cassettes, shirts, stickers). Promoting your show is another opportunity to be creative and make it look as exciting as it will be.
BY GUS RENDELL
Y
ou love music, play an instrument, maybe even have a few songs written and now you want to perform live. Where do you start? As someone who's been in bands for more than 15 years, I know how hard it is when you might not even know what questions to ask and who to direct them to. This guide breaks down the process, from finding your first bandmates all the way to your stage debut.
ARRIVE AT THE GIG
The promoter will send an advance with details for the show, including when you’ll perform and when to arrive for soundcheck (a pre-show procedure for setting the levels for you/your band). Arrive when you are asked, or clearly communicate if you need to come at a different time. Be punctual, flexible, polite and respect the time of everyone else working the show.
START A BAND?
Start with your friends, classmates, or coworkers. Talk to folks about music, see if they play any instruments. Going to local open jam/ band nights (Alcove and Rockin' 4 Dollar$ at BLOX feature weekly events) is a good way to meet musicians and you can also check out independent local shows to meet folks in the music community. Between sets is a perfect time to find people who may have band experience or would love to be in one. Once you have your bandmates, start meeting and putting your songs together.
GET READY FOR STAGE
FIND A REHEARSAL SPACE
“The show must go on” is a truth when playing live. Rehearse all you might, accidents still happen. Unless the mistake was absolutely, devastatingly fatal, do not stop the song. Learning how to embrace, overcome or simply hide mistakes during a live performance is a skill you’ll inevitably need.
If someone has access to a home studio/ rehearsal space, you’re set! If you have space in your basement or garage, a knowledge of noise bylaws and a good relationship with your neighbours, it could be you. Renting a space is also an option, with places like Slaughterhouse Studios and Skunkworks Studio offering affordable studio rentals in various sizes.
REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE
Whether you have a band or perform on your own, you have to rehearse. Rehearse your songs so you don’t have to think about what to play on stage and keep practising your instrument to stay honed. You’re ready to play your music the way you want it to sound.
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Complete any pre-show rituals, have your equipment prepped and nearby (not in the way of the outgoing performers) and allow the stage to clear before you start setting up. Be prepared to set up quickly as changeovers between artists can be short. Once you’re all set, the sound tech turns down the house music and hands over the stage to you.
PLAY THE SHOW Rockin' 4 Dollar$ PHOTO: MICHAEL GRONDIN; ILLUSTRATION: CALLI GIROUX
MAKE A DEMO RECORDING It doesn’t need to be fancy, and there’s a decent quality microphone in every phone nowadays. Find a central-ish spot in your rehearsal space, press record in your voice memo, get a good take of each of your songs, and upload them into a neatly organized folder (Dropbox, Drive). Pick two to three of the best songs to send out; most people won’t have time for the whole thing.
GET THE GIG
Look up local venues online. Check the recent shows; what bands play there? Find a venue with events that your music would fit with. Go
to their website or visit the venue directly to get a promoter’s contact information. When you’re asking for a show, be professional and polite. Keep it short and sweet: include specific dates you have in mind, your demo, a brief description of your band and anything the promoter should know about your show. You may have to send a few of these emails. Don’t be afraid to be persistent (but always polite).
PROMOTE YOUR SHOW
Now it’s time to promote the gig. Give at least four to six weeks' notice before a show, and tell people about it in as many ways as you can: use social media, make posters, go to other local
AFTER THE SET
Clear your equipment off the stage quickly. Safely store your gear and then go enjoy the attention of your adoring fans. Stay until the end of the show and connect with the music community genuinely; they may become your future collaborators and supporters (or even help pay your rent someday). Collect payment for your show and head to whatever post-show meal or after-party calls. Or, straight to bed.
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14 Documentary Film Festival Nov. 18-22
SCAN FOR MORE INFO
Globe Cinema MORE MILES THAN MONEY: THE STORY OF JR. GONE WILD
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
$12 TICKETS - $10 CUFF MEMBERS / STUDENTS / SENIORS | $50 FIVE FILM MULTI-PACK | $75 FESTIVAL PASS
CALGARYUNDERGROUNDFILM.ORG
COVER
So You Wanna Be a Playwright? HOW TO WRITE YOUR FIRST PLAY AND GET IT ON CALGARY’S STAGES
BY CALEIGH CROW
GETTING YOUR WORK STAGED
o you finally saw the show that convinced you — I gotta try out this theatre thing. Maybe it was a murder mystery, a historical family drama or an experimental clown turn that finally did it. Whatever your gateway drug may be, I’m here to help you dive right into the world of playwriting.
There are a few ways to find a stage for the world premiere of your script. Self-producing affords an artist a lot of control over when, where, and how the play gets produced. You will need to secure funds to rent a venue, hire the cast and creative team, and pay for materials and equipment rental. If you’d rather a professional company take on that work, you will need to get your work in front of the Artistic Director. For a successful pitch, you’ll need to know a little about the companies you’re approaching. Over at Downstage Theatre, they’re on the hunt for plays that shake things up a little. “We’re always looking for plays that can spark something visceral in our audiences,” says Downstage’s Artistic Director, Clare Preuss. Kathryn Smith, Artistic Director of Verb Theatre says, “Lately when I'm looking at what scripts to program for Verb, I'm considering three things: Why this script now? What does the writer want to share with the audience? How would this story impact the audience?” You can also split the difference with a FRINGE Festival production. FRINGE Festivals occur annually around the world, and the performances are chosen by lottery. You’ll see standup, puppetry, or gonzo punk clowns right alongside traditional family dramas. The deal is you bring the play, the actors, and a stage manager, and they bring the venue, which you’ll share with at least one other show. Michelle Gallant, Executive Director of Calgary Fringe Theatre Festival, says it’s all about creating space for artists to take risks. “The Calgary Fringe, as with other Fringes across the globe, are considered open-access, meaning anyone can participate regardless of level of experience,” she says. Like any other art form, it takes time to get good, and even more time to find your community within the discipline. Calgary has a wide range of theatre companies and artists for you to explore. I hope you give it a try!
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WRITING YOUR PLAY
Playtexts are composed of two main aspects: dialogue (what the performers say) and stage directions (what the performers do). Reading plays can give you more insight into the relationship between dialogue and stage directions — luckily for us Albertans, Theatre Alberta has one of the largest playtext libraries in North America with 24,000 titles from around the world. This includes a vast online catalogue, but if you need a hard copy, they mail out plays to their members across the province, free of charge. The best part is memberships are paywhat-you-will. Once you’ve got the form down, you’ll want to start working on the content of your play. This includes plot, themes, characters, setting — all the English class basics. In a play, everything is expressed outwardly and in three dimensions. Dialogue must move the plot forward, reveal emotional interiority, generate stakes, and drive tension. You also need to take into consideration that an actual actor will speak the lines (tip: say your lines out loud as you write). The content of your play relies on your ability to write precise, interesting dialogue. You’ll need to work and re-work your play, and that process will be different for each play you write.
LOCAL RESOURCES FOR PLAYWRIGHTS
Theatre Alberta, Alberta Playwrights Network (APN), and the Writers Guild of Alberta offer workshops and other services to their
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Lunchbox Theatre PHOTO: HUGH SHORT; ILLUSTRATION: CALLI GIROUX
members, with membership costs generally sitting between $65 and $95 per year. Alberta Playwrights Network offers one-on-one online feedback with their Act One program, which costs $100, and the Writers Guild of Alberta often organizes writer meet-ups, guest speakers, and discussion panels for all kinds of writers. These are provincial organizations, so double check the event you want to attend is happening in Calgary. For more extensive training opportunities, keep an eye out for playwright units. Generally, these are months-long programs
where playwrights work on their own projects in tandem, often under the guidance of a dramaturg (similar to an editor) to get consistent feedback throughout their writing process. In Calgary, Chromatic Theatre has an annual late-summer intake for BIPOC writers, Lunchbox Theatre accepts submissions for their Stage One program every fall and Verb Theatre accepts applications for their Queer & Trans Playwrights Club in October. All of these programs include dramaturgy and culminate in public readings with actors and an audience.
thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW WEEKENDS DECEMBER 5 – 20, 2026 Visit heritagepark.ca for details
Baby’s First Tight Five
COVER
HOW TO WRITE AND PERFORM YOUR FIRST STAND-UP COMEDY SET IN CALGARY
BY ALICIA L’ARCHEVÊQUE
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OPEN MIC SHOWS IN CALGARY
he casual jokes you’ve made amongst friends have been met with booming laughter, and you now yearn for a stage skimpily clad with a single mic and stool. Here’s the good news: it’s all yours. “[Stand-up comedy] is one of the few performance arts where, as long as you can talk for five minutes, you can just get up there,” says Maxwell Xavier, a local comedian and co-producer of the open mic show Ratboy Comedy. “You either find out it’s the thing you want to do, or you have a cool story.” For folks who want to try their hand at standup comedy, Calgary’s got a beginner-friendly show nearly every weeknight. The barrier to entry is as low as it can be — all you need is exactly one morsel of courage to give it a go.
WRITING YOUR SET
When it comes to preparing your jokes, local comedian Anton Matyushin says that starting out can actually be a leg up when brainstorming material. “When you’re five to 10 years in, comics have written a lot about their life and experiences. Your first [five-minute set] is a blessing and a curse — it’s scary, but it’s also nice because there’s so many things you can talk about.” Inspiration for jokes can come from anywhere at all, so it’s all about taking notes. “Over the course of the day, I’ll try to keep tabs on stuff that I think was funny or interesting,” says Matyushin. “But if I don’t get any of that in a day, I’ll sit down, set a 10 to 15 minute timer, and just write nonstop. From there, you comb through to find the good stuff.”
WATCH AND LEARN
It’s generally a good idea to attend open mic shows before performing in order to get familiar with the structure, the audience and to see how comics interact with the stage. Doing so can eliminate some uncertainty during an already nerve-wracking walk up to the spotlight. Every Wednesday at the Laugh Shop’s pro-
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The Workshop Open Mic Night The Comedy Cave Mondays at 7:30 p.m. To perform, speak to the host in-person after a show.
It’s Just an Open Mic Tubby Dog Mondays at 8:30 p.m. To perform, message @justanopenmic on Instagram.
Crosswalk Comedy Civic Tavern Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. To perform, message @crosswalk.comedy on Instagram.
Ratboy Comedy at Vern's ILLUSTRATION: CALLI GIROUX
am (professional-amateur) show, the headliner hosts a comedy workshop before the show, which touches on topics like writing practices and how to navigate the comedy business. To refine your craft on your own, Alberta-raised and Juno-nominated comedian Faris Hytiaa recommends attentively watching your favourite comedians and local performers to study the way they structure their jokes. “See people live and go see headliners you’ve never heard of,” says Hytiaa. “There’s so much to learn from stage presence, voice control, mic technique, and different writing and delivery practices.”
GETTING ONSTAGE
Ultimately, the magic has to happen in-person. For Xavier, giving newer comics stage time in front of an audience is top of mind when he pieces together Ratboy’s lineup. “You can’t do comedy off-stage. You can prepare for it, but it’s not the real thing until the crowd is involved.” Most open mics will allow each comic to perform a five minute set, also known as a
“tight five” when the set is composed of the comedian’s strongest or most reliable material. A few moments before your time is up, the organizer will flash a light at you from the back of the room to indicate it’s time to land your last punchline and give way to the next comic. “People don't realize how fast five minutes on stage goes by,” says Matyushin. “If they knew, I have a feeling maybe more people would try it.” Both Xavier and Matyushin's first stand-up sets were at Ratboy, a $5 open mic comedy show that takes place at Vern’s every Wednesday night. The show regularly sees professional comics who are testing out new material, folks trying their hand at comedy for the first time and everyone in between. “And it’s a cheap show, so [it’s great] if you’re young and broke,” Hytiaa says. “Or old and broke. It’s 2026, the economy spares no one.” And in the grand scheme of it all, the stakes are lower than they might feel. “People are going to forget pretty fast unless you do something monumentally insane,” says Matyushin.
Amateur Night The Laugh Shop Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. To perform, sign up on laughshopcalgary.com/amateur-night.
Ratboy Comedy Vern’s Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. To perform, message @ratboycomedy on Instagram.
Reckless Comedy The Dirty Duck Pub in Inglewood Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. To perform, message @reckless_comedy_yyc
“Worst case, you don’t get any laughs and you get off stage. No one’s going to die.” “Anyone can go up on any given night and just do five minutes,” adds Matyushin. “If you have any love for making people laugh or smile, you should go for it.”
thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
FILM SCENE
SUGGESTED PAIRING "WAR ON THE ROCKIES" “ T H E A RT S H AV E A LWAY S B E E N A CO N D U I T FO R CHANGE. IT
Set in the Albertan Rockies, War on the Rockies is a short film that details the rapid decline of its Eastern Slopes from coal mining and aggressive industrialization. While local residents and community leaders narrate the lived effects of the fragile ecosystem, its on-site and sweeping drone footage offer an intimate look into the habitat that is at stake.
M OV E S P E O P L E . IT AFFECTS OUR E M OT I O N S . I T A F F E C T S H OW W E S E E T H E WO R L D .” ROWAN FISHER, CJFF’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2025 CJFF Peace Market
ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION For over 60 years, the Alberta Wilderness Association has been dedicated to the preservation of all of the province’s natural ecosystems and wildlife. The non-profit has initiated several advocacy and protection projects for various areas in Alberta, including the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. The organization will be holding a table at the Peace Market in addition to sponsoring the showing of “War on the Rockies” on November 6 at 8 p.m.
PHOTO: COURTESY CALGARY JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL
Reel Change THE CALGARY JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL’S PEACE MARKET TURNS STORIES ON SCREEN INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ACTION BY VIANCY SALUBRE
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eyond their entertainment value, documentaries are windows into worlds that many of us would not otherwise be privy to. Filmmakers amplify issues like Indigenous rights, deforestation and gender violence on the big screen, allowing us to see and hear from those experiencing that inequality firsthand. But once the credits roll, an important question hangs in air as moviegoers file out: What now? At the Calgary Justice Film Festival (CJFF) this question is built into the event itself. For three days, the festival screens documentaries
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exploring a variety of social, economic and environmental justice issues from around the world. Each of the 20+ film screenings are free of charge and followed by a discussion panel with filmmakers and local experts. Surprisingly enough, the festival extends far beyond the films themselves, culminating in a pop-up market and volunteer fair. For over a decade, the Peace Market has been a marquee event to the festival. Taking place at the Confluence Historic Site and Parkland this year, it features over 30 local artists, non-profits and volunteer organizations. Right outside the theatre doors, audience members can find answers to the “What now?” question.
Beyond the film presentations, the opportunity for community involvement is where the market really embodies the organization's philosophy. “Our aim is to activate our community to take care of each other,” says Rowan Fisher, CJFF’s Executive Director. While the screenings at the festival introduce audiences to a particular issue, the Peace Market offers a chance for them to turn what they have watched into something tangible. Viewers can move from watching a documentary, to hearing an expert in a Q&A panel, to speaking with local charities and learning how to get involved in their community. “There has to be a hook, something that draws them in,” says Fisher. “The arts have always been a conduit for change. It moves people. It affects our emotions. It affects how we see the world.” The bridge between storytelling and public involvement is what distinguishes the Peace Market from a standalone volunteer fair. Even international films can prompt local action. For example, as audience members learn about global issues like human trafficking and housing insecurity, they can see how these issues
take shape on our own streets and what Calgarian organizations are doing to help. Attending the festival costs nothing, creating a barrier-free opportunity for audience members to see world-class documentaries and learn from professionals making a difference in their industry. “[The festival] is unique because it's free. It’s really important because when you're focused on justice issues, you don't want any situation where some people can't afford to go because [they] can't pay,” says Tako Koning, CJFF board member and longtime volunteer. With its diverse range of films, community organizations and attendees, the festival doesn’t fully know what will strike a chord with each of its audience members. However, the non-profit is confident that it can create a space for audiences to find a cause that will. While the credits may mark the end of the film, CJFF and the Peace Market offer opportunities for what could happen afterwards. The Peace Market takes place at the Confluence Historic Site and Parkland on November 7, 2026 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
THE SCENE’S EVENT CALENDAR THE SCENE’S EVENT CALENDAR
YOUR WEEKEND’S NEW BEST FRIEND Find the what, when, and where at thescenecalgary.com
EVENTS
STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON NMC PRESENTS
FEBRUARY 24 + 25 The award-winning singer-songwriter takes the stage for two nights, showcasing his signature blend of folk, country, and pop. TICKETS AT STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON
MARCH 17
Alex Cuba The Grammy-winning artist brings his irresistible fusion of funk, soul, and pan-Latin sounds to Calgary. TICKETS AT STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON
YOUR GUIDE TO GOING OUT
EXHIBITIONS
STUDIOBELL.CA/FEATURE-EXHIBITIONS
U P D AT E D E X H I B I T I O N
2 0 2 6 C A N A D I A N M U S I C H A L L O F FA M E
OPENS NOVEMBER 18 Explore stories and artifacts from Canadian country music legends, including 2026 inductees The Wilkinsons and Ron Kitchener.
Celebrating the global pop icon’s sound, style, and fearless reinvention.
Honouring the late jazz great’s impact. A tribute to the international pop-punk icons.
STUDIO BELL, HOME OF THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE OPERATING PARTNERS:
@NMC_CANADA
STUDIOBELL.CA
FILM SCENE
Docs Are For the Big Screen CUFF.DOCS’ 2026 PROGRAMMING BOASTS A SURREALIST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY, A HEARTFELT FEATURE ON THE LIVES OF INDIGENOUS RAPPERS AND MUCH MORE
BY JESS ARCAND
A
t a time when Netflix seems to have a new true-crime docuseries waiting every time you open the app, the Calgary Underground Film Festival is making an argument for getting off the couch. Returning to Globe Cinema from November 18 to 22 for its 14th edition, CUFF.Docs began as an offshoot of the Calgary Underground Film Festival when programmers found themselves turning away strong documentaries simply because there wasn’t enough room for them in the main festival. Since then, CUFF.Docs has developed its own programming identity and loyal audience. For lead programmer Cameron Macgowan, that growth comes down to attendees learning what it feels like to experience CUFF.Docs as a community, and the sense of discovery that comes with thoughtful curation. “We have remained consistent in our programming voice and Calgary audiences have developed an idea of what our documentary programming sensibilities are and hopefully trust our taste,” he says. Macgowan explains that the one criteria that has become particularly important is that the films need to feel larger than life. “There are countless documentaries that you can watch at home, so we ensure that the ones we select at CUFF.Docs truly feel exciting, special and most importantly, cinematic,” he says. Few films make that case quite like Winnipeg-born filmmaker Matthew Rankin’s Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney. Rankin zeroes in on Mulroney’s transformation from the “Boy from Baie-Comeau” into the political phenomenon who would win the largest parliamentary majority in Canadian history in 1984, filtering 80,000 pieces of archival material through animation, collage and other visual interventions. “It approaches conservatism as a form of psychosis,” Rankin says. “Of course, the film does have a satirical gaze upon its subject — it
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Ladies and Gentleman, Brian Mulroney
“THERE ARE MANY LIKE-MINDED CINEPHILES IN CALGARY THAT WANT TO WATCH THE SAME COOL MOVIES THAT YOU DO.” CAMERON MACGOWAN, CUFF LEAD PROGRAMMER
is not a work of journalism or cinéma vérité — and I use surrealism as a tool for depicting factual events.” While rooted in the 1980s, the film questions charisma and the media's place in today's political spectacle. Rankin points to a media landscape that has fundamentally changed since Mulroney’s rise. “In Mulroney's time, he was still beholden to broadcast television and journalists to get his message across,” he says. “Media was a buffer.
That was annoying to Mulroney but, I think, good for democracy.” Despite the film’s deep immersion in Canadian political history, Rankin doesn’t see specificity as an obstacle to reaching audiences who may not be well-versed in the topic. “I think by going intensely specific you get somewhere universal,” he says. As Rankin pushes documentary toward fever dream, Alberta-born Cree filmmaker Alexandra Lazarowich explores artistic vulnerability with
her first feature, Turtle Island Rap. Following Indigenous rappers A$h Da Hunter, Wiidaaseh and Travis Thompson at different stages of their careers, the film moves beyond their performances to capture the less glamorous realities of pursuing an artistic life: jobs, money, family, rejection, community and the work behind the wins audiences eventually see. “There was a specific moment we were filming with Travis in Fort Defiance that I still get teary eyed when I see on the big screen,” she says, recalling watching community members of all ages singing his lyrics back to him. “In that moment, I realized the film is about Native joy.” Its CUFF.Docs screening also marks a homecoming of sorts. Lazarowich last attended the festival seven years ago with her short Fast Horse, and now returns to Alberta with her first feature following its world premiere at TIFF. “I hope people take away from the film that even though sometimes life throws obstacles in our way, we have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going,” she says. CUFF.Docs gives these movies, and many more, somewhere to be experienced and celebrated collectively. With many of the filmmakers behind this year’s selections in attendance, Macgowan sees the festival as both an antidote to streaming isolation and a reminder of the film community Calgary already has. “There are many like-minded cinephiles in Calgary that want to watch the same cool movies that you do,” he says. “We have a strong and supportive film scene in Calgary.” As for what audiences should see? Macgowan deliberately avoids prescribing an exhaustive list. Instead, he recommends reading the program, finding something that sounds interesting and going in without researching it to death. “In my opinion, movies are best enjoyed knowing as little about them as possible beforehand,” he says. Another CUFF.Docs rule? “Everyone must try one CUFF [hot] Dog in their life.” Preferably, one imagines, without researching that too extensively either.
thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
CJSW November Charts
BEST
“ONE MORE SONG” EVER.
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.
Samantha Savage Smith** - Little Place (Self-Released) Jon Mckiel* - Gold Horatio (You’ve Changed Records) 3. CG Tears** - CG Tears (Victory Pool) 4. Light Conductor* - Sequence Three (Constellation) 5. Wine Lips* - TV Dinner (Self-Released) 6. Steve Bates* - An Infinite Antenna (Constellation) Rue** - Nation (756243 Records DK) 8. Various Artists** - Always Revolting: Live Sessions From CJSW 2026 (Self-Released) 9. Hailstones** - The Weariness of Hope (Self-Released) 10. Starcleaner Reunion - Umbrella (Take Care Records) 11. Miesha and The Spanks** - Visions EP (SUPERCONNECTED) Moindre Mal* - Moindre Mal (Self-Released) 13. The Sour Patch Men** - 4/4 Waltzes (Self-Released) 14. Retail SImps* - Real Simple (Total Punk) 15. Plains Apparition** - Meteorology (6285110 Records DK) 16. Secondhand Dreamcar* - Get Ready (Self-Released) Ed Motta - Toc-Toc (MPS / earMUSIC) 18. Clever Hopes* - Even Gooder Than Tomorrow (Self-Released) 19. Mama’s Broke* - Reunion (Forward Music Group) Jake Xerxes Fussell - The Old Beloved Path (Fat Possum) Zenon** - Redecorating My MInd (Self-Released) Laura Hickli** - stranger to myself (Ba Da Bing Records) Darryl Kissick* - Character Actor (Earth Libraries) Starpainter* - Cayenne Flowerbed (Ram On Records) Emma Worley* - Forever Beginner (Acronym Records) Mark Guiliana - BEAT MUSIC 2.0 (Edition Records) Thom Coombes* - C’mon Now We Goes (Self-Released) bit depth - maybe in august (trickyStoop) Sanctums** - DOGS (Self-Released) 30. Jonathan Personne* - Répertoire (Bonsound) * Canadian ** Local (Calgary area)
Happen at the best bars. Find a Best Bar None venue. BestBarNone.ca
CALGARY NOSTALGIA
PARTY LIKE ITS 1948 HOW A CALGARIAN PASSENGER TRAIN DUBBED THE “STAMPEDER SPECIAL” SHAPED TODAY’S GREY CUP CELEBRATIONS BY MEGHAN LETT
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n 1948, a 14-car passenger train filled with 250 Stampeders fans, 12 horses, two chuckwagons, a dance hall, live bands and 6,000 bottles of beer left from Calgary and headed to Toronto. These Calgarians were travelling to watch their team compete in the Grey Cup for the very first time. When they landed in Toronto, they transformed the Grey Cup from a one-day sporting event into the week-long, Canada-wide party it is today. This year, Calgarians get to honour the tradition they started by hosting the 113th Grey Cup and Grey Cup Festival. But before 1948, the city had no reason to celebrate. Back then, various Calgary teams had played in the Western Final, the game that decides who plays the Grey Cup, 18 times. They'd lost every game. “People got fed up with coming so close and not making it,” says Stampeders historian Daryl Slade. So when the Stampeders finally won the
Square dance at City Hall, Toronto
western final in 1948, the city was thrilled. In those days, it was unusual for anyone to travel in order to watch the game. But for these long-starved fans, the next play was obvious: their team was going to Toronto, and so were they. In his book 1948 Grey Cup … The Stampeder Special, Slade quotes a Calgary Herald clipping from the day the train left: "If enthusiasm among the rooters could win football championships, the Calgary Stampeders would already be possessors of the Grey Cup." That enthusiasm stayed alive throughout their journey. Slade writes that at each stop the train made, supporters would show up to the station to wave and cheer on the Stampeder Special, where Calgarians would stage impromptu Western shows for their onlookers. After three days of travel, they arrived in Toronto around 8:30 a.m., “setting off a party like Toronto had never seen before,” wrote Slade. For the next 27 hours until the game, excited
Grey Cup party at Royal York Hotel, Toronto PHOTOS: COURTESY CITY OF CALGARY ARCHIVES
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“We’re ready to host a
damn good party.” KAREN DOMMETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 2026 GREY CUP
Stampeders fans set up shop outside City Hall and the Royal York Hotel, cooking pancake breakfasts, swing-dancing in their Western attire, singing and playing music in the streets, and partying throughout the night and into the next day. The morning of the game, they saddled up their horses and chuckwagons, creating the first Grey Cup parade. A few hours later came an even better first: the Stampeders won the Grey Cup. Exuberant fans rushed the field, celebrating and tearing down the goalposts on both ends. The posts were dragged back to the Royal York Hotel, where celebrations continued in full swing until it was time for the Stampeder Special to take everyone — including the goal posts — back home. “Before that, it was treated as a single sporting event. There weren't parades, there weren't multi-day celebrations or pre-game street parties,” says the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell, Alberta’s 18th Lieutenant Governor a Calgary businesswoman, volunteer and longtime supporter of sports in the city. “That 1948 legacy is a great example of how Calgarians love to share.” And this year, the shared festivities happen right at home. From November 11 to 15, Calgarians and out-of-town Grey Cup Festival attendees can expect a celebration with both modern and 1948-inspired flair. The BMO Center and The Big Four Roadhouse will be transformed into a free,
massive multi-day indoor and outdoor street party, with many local artists and interactive exhibits throughout. Inside the BMO Centre, each CFL team will host a party room, and there’s a free “family fun zone” as well. The classic pancake breakfast will be making an appearance, with free pancake and bacon service held on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings of the festival. For those who enjoy a good show, there will be live concerts at The Big Four Roadhouse every night, and on Saturday, two full rodeos will take place at the Nutrien Event Centre. The festival was designed with inclusivity in mind. “The fundamental rule of prairie hospitality is nobody gets left out,” says Mitchell. To better accommodate all attendees, there will be sensory zones incorporated into the whole site, as well as stroller parking zones for young families in the fun zone, and trailers set aside for nursing. "Football, family and fun. The three F's. That's what this is all about," says Mitchell. Karen Dommett, Executive Director of the 2026 Grey Cup, says the enthusiasm that created the first Grey Cup Festival is still alive. "We filled our volunteer program nearly instantly, and I think that shows the Calgary spirit. We're ready to welcome the country, have a good time and make sure everyone feels welcome,” says Dommett. “We're ready to host a damn good party."
thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
The Art of the Hang
THIS YEAR’S SOUNDOFF SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS THE VALUE OF GENUINE CONNECTION AND COLLABORATION WITHIN MUSIC COMMUNITIES
BY KIARA NEISZ
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oundOff Summit is a three-day music conference hosted by Music Calgary that brings together artists, music industry professionals and members of Calgary’s broader music community. This event is designed to talk about the people, ideas and infrastructure shaping the city’s music scene. Music Calgary was born after Calgary hosted the 2008 JUNO Awards, with the organization taking on important issues affecting the local music scene, including infrastructure, advocacy, education and funding. Since then, the non-profit has worked to create opportunities for artists and industry professionals, while helping build a stronger and more connected music community in the city. Taking place at the Calgary Central Library this year, SoundOff is a ticketed event that includes performances, keynote speeches, conversations and mingling. Unlike invite-only industry conferences, it’s open to anyone interested in what Calgary’s music scene has to offer. “We want artists to be able to fly, to build careers nationally and internationally, while knowing there is a community back home that understands what they’re doing, champions their work and gives them a place to return to,” said Colleen Krueger, Music Calgary’s managing director. This year’s SoundOff Summit is centered around the theme “The Art of the Hang.” Something that can seem simple is often an important part of building a career in music: knowing how to walk into a room and genuinely connect with other people. For the artists and industry professionals at SoundOff, that kind of connection is part of what keeps the scene moving. People within this scene don’t exist alone — they meet, collaborate, share audiences and create spaces for the music to happen. “Sometimes, the most important thing you can do for your career is stop networking and just hang out,” says Krueger.
thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
SoundOff Summit PHOTO: RON SPARROW
“S O M E T I M E S, T H E M OST I M P O RTA N T T H I N G YO U C A N D O F O R YO U R C A R E E R I S S TO P N E T WO R K I N G A N D J U S T H A N G O U T.” COLLEEN KRUEGER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MUSIC CALGARY
For Calgary's music community, building connections can have a much bigger impact than many realize. “I think that relates particularly well to Calgary, because we’re still building the connective tissue of our music ecosystem. We have incredibly talented people here, but a strong music city isn’t created by artists work-
ing in isolation,” says Krueger. “It happens when artists, venues, promoters, festivals, labels, media and audiences actually know one another, trust one another and want to build things together.” For a conference centred around connection, the impact of these conversations in Calgary extends beyond just the three days. It gives local
MUSIC SCENE
artists and industry professionals a chance to have conversations with people that may turn into an opportunity down the line. SoundOff also creates an opportunity to bring people from outside the city into the conversation, offering a glimpse into what’s happening in Calgary. “There’s real value in creating an event that brings the wider music industry into Calgary while putting local and regional artists at the centre of the experience. It puts the city, and more importantly, the people making music here, on the industry’s radar,” says Krueger. “The music industry is incredibly relationship-driven. At the end of the day, people want to work with people they actually want to spend time with.” For a city with a music scene that spans many genres, venues and sub-cultures, getting the full picture can still be difficult from an outside view. “There can still be a fairly narrow perception of what Calgary sounds like or what kind of music community exists here. The best way to challenge that is to invite people in and let them experience it firsthand,” says Krueger. While bringing new people into the city can help change those perceptions, the conversations happening at SoundOff can also impact the people already building Calgary’s music community. “Conversations at SoundOff might start with touring, showcasing, royalties, artistic development, or how to build a sustainable career or practice, but the ripple effect is much bigger,” says Krueger. “When artists have stronger support systems around them, they have more freedom to experiment, take risks and figure out what they actually want to create. That changes the shows we see, the spaces we gather in and the audiences those artists begin to attract.” For Calgary, those ripple effects can help shape the music community into something that feels more connected and visible. SoundOff might only last three days, but the conversations that happen will stay awhile. Get ready to join the conversation November 12 to 14 at the Calgary Central Library.
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CAM HAYDEN
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thescenecalgary.com | 11 | 2026
PRESENTS
FRIDAY 13TH
DINNER SHOW 5PM - 9PM
RANCHMAN'S JAIDEN RILEY
HORSEBREAKER Bennett Michell RICHARD iNMAN HELIOPOLIS LATE SHOW 10:30PM TEA TIME Hosted by Tea Fannie
y Jackie Art Jaba Hill Tinywiings Junia-T
Zaire ink
JABA HILL
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aniel Caceres Marz Tha Advocate Bijaan DDaniel THURSDAY THURS SDAY
SATURDAY 14TH
DOORS 7PM BLOX ART CENTRE ALL AGES
Sea of Lettuce Bad Bodies G.U.S.H. Zoo!
SHY FRiEND Midnight Channel Ella Jean
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CALGARY'S MUSIC INDUSTRY & CONFERENCE FESTIVAL
NOVEMBER 12-14 TICKETS AND MORE
MUSICCALGARY.CA
$80 ALL ACCESS PASS $50 CONFERENCE ONLY ALL SHOWS $12 IN ADVANCE $15 AT DOOR
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27 November 2026 / 7:30PM 28 November 2026 / 2:30PM + 7:30PM Jubilee Auditorium tickets at calgaryphil.com