WHERE ARE THE GAY BARS? BEATLES AT NMC BUMP MURAL FESTIVAL
VENUE: THE SHIP & ANCHOR PLUS: SCENE BBQ GUIDE
10 ART SCENE
The walls come alive as BUMP brings even more murals to the city.
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 the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
12 COVER
Calgary Pride has evolved since its inception, becoming both more of a celebration than its early activist roots, while at the same time feeling newly vital in an increasingly polarized political environment. Check out our guide to the events, a look at the history and opinions from Scenesters on what makes Pride important.
6 THE SCENE’S GUIDE TO BBQ
Whether you’re looking for classic southern-style slow-smoked meat slathered in sauce, or a brisket paired with a local beer, or any of the international barbecue offerings available in Calgary, we’ve got you covered with our guide to the best of barbecue.
4 ACT 1, SCENE 1
What to see and do this month.
9 ONSTAGE
The summer tunes keep on grooving on these stages.
16 BAR SCENE
Last month, the Backlot closed, leaving Calgary with only two remaining gay bars. But as times, tastes and attitudes change, is that a problem?
18 MUSIC SCENE
The Beatles are at NMC and the folkies head out to the mountains for the Canmore Folk Fest, the province’s longest-running folk music festival.
Kenna Burima, Cam Hayden, Benjamin Heisler, Krista Sylvester, Mary-Lynn Wardle, Alana Willerton
Client Support Coordinator Alice Meilleur
Senior Account Executive Jocelyn Erhardt
Account Executives Nadine Benoit, Vicki Braaten
Administrative and HR Manager Tara Brand
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 Canada
The Scene is a member of the Alberta Magazine Publishers’ Association and abides by its professional standards.
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1721 29 Avenue SW, Suite 375, Calgary, AB, T2T 6T7
20 VENUE: THE SHIP & ANCHOR
The Calgary music scene has been moored at the Ship & Anchor since it opened 35 years ago.
21 CREATIVE SCENE
Singer, songwriter Kenna Burima explores what we need to be creative.
22 Cam Hayden
2 8 4 10 3 2 9 1 7 1 9 3
What to do in August
BY ALANA WILLERTON
HISTORIC CALGARY WEEK
Historic Calgary Week offers a blast of the past as it explores our city’s history through 88 events that include walking tours, talks and more. Now in its 34th year, this year’s festival looks at the theme of Community Builders. Visit chinookhistory.ca for more information about this year’s events, which run from July 26 to August 5
TASTE OF CALGARY
One of Calgary’s biggest food festivals returns this month and if you’re going, you’ll want to arrive with an empty stomach. At Taste of Calgary, expect dozens of restaurants, food trucks, breweries and distilleries offering a wide range of tasty bites ranging from pork belly sisig from Amihan Grill + Bakeshop to lobster rolls from Blowers & Grafton. Admission is free during the festival’s run from August 1 to 5, and you can purchase food using $1 taste tickets (dishes are typically two to seven tickets each). Visit tasteofcalgary.com for more information.
CALGARY FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL
With the tag line “anything goes theatre” you never know what you’ll find at this annual festival that includes online and in-person theatre, comedy and art. In-person events take place in various venues in Inglewood from August 2 to 10. Visit calgaryfringe.ca for more information and tickets.
CALGARY DRAGON BOAT RACE & FESTIVAL
Head to North Glenmore Park from August 9 to 11 to cheer on the competitors as they take part in the Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival. Now in its 32nd year, the free event includes a market with vendors and food trucks, a kid’s zone, beer gardens and more. Visit calgarydragonboatsociety.com for more information.
ALBERTA ON THE PLATE
Farmers, producers, restaurants — they all play an important part in Alberta’s food industry. This month, celebrate and support them during Alberta on the Plate, a food festival running from August 9 to 18 that highlights the products and stories of local farms and producers with prixfixe dinners available at local restaurants. More than 20 Calgary restaurants are taking part this year, including Deane House, Oxbow, The Coup, Primary Colours and more. Visit albertaontheplate.com for a full list of participants and more information.
MARDA GRAS
On August 11, bring the whole family to Marda Loop for Marda Gras, a huge street festival that offers something for everyone. There will be live music, dancing, a pet photo booth and pageant, local vendors and more. The festival runs along 33rd Avenue S.W. from 19th to 22nd Street, and will be on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit visitmardaloop.com/mardagras/ for more information.
CARIFEST
One of Calgary’s favourite cultural festivals, Carifest celebrates Caribbean culture, food and costumes with this three-day event from August 16 to 18 at Cowboys Park (formerly Shaw Millennium Park). Don’t miss the fabulous costumes in the parade along Stephen Avenue from Olympic Plaza to Cowboys Park from noon to 2 p.m. on August 17. For more information, visit carifestcalgary.com.
GLOBALFEST
This popular multicultural festival returns to Elliston Park for five nights this month, showcasing international food, cultural pavilions, performances and more. But the biggest highlight is the fireworks put on by teams from different countries each night. Catch Spain on August 15, Brazil on August 17, Mexico on August 20, USA on August 22 and the Canadian-produced finale on August 24 Visit globalfest.ca for more information.
Calgary Dragon Boat Race & Festival, August 9 to 11
PHOTO: LILY LAI
THE GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL
If you need a laugh this month, snap up some tickets for The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival taking place in Prince’s Island Park from August 23 to 25. Catch headliners like Russell Peters, Tom Segura, Iliza Shlesinger, Bobby Lee, Hannah Berner, Zarna Garg and more. Visit greatoutdoorscomedyfestival.com for more information.
PLAZA FOR ALL
The only thing better than a great concert is a great concert that’s free to attend. So, on August 28, don’t miss this free concert presented by Arts Commons with Emerson Drive and Kyle McKearney in Olympic Plaza. There will also be food trucks and bar service at the event. Visit artscommons.ca for more information.
CALGARY PRIDE 2024
Celebrate and support Calgary’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community during Calgary Pride. There will be multiple events to check out from August 26 to September 1, including the Calgary Pride Festival in Prince’s Island Park on August 31 and September 1. And of course, don’t miss the Pride Parade on September 1. Visit calgarypride.ca/pride-2024/ for more information and check out our coverage starting on page 12.
A new exhibition and nostalgic tribute to The Beatles’ transformative years upon arriving in Canada for the first time. Revisit the frenzied excitement that swept the nation. GET TICKETS AT STUDIOBELL.CA.
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS UNTIL AUGUST 25
The live tribute show with all your favourite chart-topping hits across 60 years of Canadian music history. Rock out to the soundtrack of a nation! INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION.
CHECK WEEKEND MATINEE SHOWTIMES AT STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON.
Calgary Pride 2024, August 26 to September 1
Produced by:
PHOTO: MIK NILMANEE
BY NATHAN ILES
Beat the heat with some meat
There’s nothing like barbecue during the summertime, and Calgary is chock-full of restaurants offering a sumptuous take on the art of grilled and smoked meats. From smoked Southern style to fire-roasted Brazilian and Korean, there’s a barbecue place for all tastes and every occasion.
CALGARY CLASSICS
BIG T’S BBQ
With five locations across Calgary and dishes memorable enough to be featured on Food Networks’ You Gotta Eat Here, Big T’s is a Calgary staple. On top of the brisket, Big T’s also serves up in-house-made smoked chicken wings, fried dill pickles, and some of the best sauces in the city. What to eat? “Our brisket, our pulled pork, our ribs and our burgers — you cannot go wrong with those,” says operations manager Andrew Spears. “I’m proud of how dialled in we try to get the salting process.”
This 17th Avenue hotspot offers classic southern barbecue with a unique Tennessee twist that differentiates it from sister locations Hayden Block and South Block. Enjoy favourites like pulled pork and ribs with a view of the ‘Dome down the street.
What to eat? Nashville-style hot chicken is what sets Comery Block apart. It’s available in spice levels ranging from mild for the sensible types all the way up to XXX for the heat heads. 638 17 Ave. S.W., 403-453-7636, comeryblock.com, @comeryblock
COWTOWN BEEF SHACK
Whether at its Calgary or Red Deer location, Cowtown Beef Shack is a must-visit for those craving a fusion of local and Southern-style flavours. Instead of brisket, which takes much longer to cook, Cowtown smokes other tender cuts of
AAA Alberta beef for a variety of sandwiches. What to eat? Cowtown’s staple dishes are beef dip and cheesesteak sandwiches, all tailored to your taste with toppings like cranberry aioli and jalapeños.
Meat and whiskey go together hand-in-hand. The good folks over at Hayden Block understand this well, so they’ve paired genuine southern-style smoked meats with more than 100 different aged whiskeys for your dining pleasure.
What to eat? Your best move is to build a meat platter and sides like baked beans or macaroni. We recommend including a hot link, a smoked sausage with a zesty flavour. 1136 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-283-3021, haydenblockyyc.com, @haydenblockyyc
PALOMINO SMOKEHOUSE
This classic Downtown watering hole not only offers in-house smoked barbecue but also boasts a reputation as one of the top music venues in the city. With two stages and a lively patio, it’s the perfect spot to grab lunch during work or wind down the evening.
What to eat? The sausage (sourced from Spolumbos) at the Palomino is to die for, as are funky items like pulled pork spring rolls and garlic fries. Just bring a mint to clear your breath up afterward.
Once upon a time you had to go all the way to Okotoks to experience Big Sky BBQ’s authentic Texas barbecue… but no longer. The Big Rock Brewery location now serves up heaping platters of brisket, pork, or chicken that are perfect for large groups — or the hungry individual. What to eat? The St. Louis ribs are infused with smokey flavours, and the Jalapeño biscuits are flakey, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. 5555 76 Ave. S.E. (inside Big Rock Brewing), 403-720-3239, bigskybbq.ca, @big_sky_bbq
JANE BOND BBQ
Avenue readers chose Jane Bond as the best BBQ joint in Calgary this year and with good reason. Smoked brisket and coconut cornbread are just the beginnings of Jane’s offerings, and with their own Jane’s Island Sweet Tea to wash it all down, you’ll be in barbecue heaven. What to eat? “Crawfish is one of the most
exciting things on our menu,” says Jane Bond founder Jenny Burthwright. “Being able to crush a crawfish in our secret crawfish butter is an experience.”
Beer and barbecue — does it get any better? It turns out that it does when you add a local touch like Prairie Dog does with smoked Alberta meats and its locally created craft beer. Grab a sandwich, admire the brewing equipment, and relax at Prairie Dog.
What to eat? Start with some pork belly fries, get a Brewers Brisket Sandwich, and pair it with something refreshing like the Gopher Lite beer. Thank The Scene later.
Pronounced “Ah/MEE/han,” this northeast eatery offers a fresh Filipino-Canadian hybrid of barbecue flavours rooted in the Philippines’ street food traditions. They also bake pastries and Filipino bread, which is a bit sweeter than Euro-centric styles.
What to eat? BBQ Liempo is a must-try. It’s a savoury marinated grilled pork belly served with barbecue sauce and rice, which goes amazingly with the Pan De Coco buns. 208, 3132 26 St. N.E, 403-455-6050; and 100, 1011 1 St. S.W., 825-540-1211, amihan.ca, @amihan.grill.bakeshop
BOLERO
This churrascaria offers an all-you-can-eat Brazilian barbecue experience, featuring meats grilled on large skewers (that totally look like swords) and carved at your table. The intimate brown-leather interior and open kitchen make this a great spot for a date night. What to eat? The “full rodizio” all-you-can-eat offers the chance to try picanha steak and Brazilian sausage. The charred pineapple, however, is the real star of the show. 6920 Macleod Trail S.E., 403-259-3119, bolerocalgary.com, @boleroyyc
Continued next page >>
SOUTH BLOCK BARBECUE & BREW CO.
Similar to its sister restaurants, Comery Block and Hayden Block, this Mission spot offers authentic Southern-style barbecue. However, South Block focuses mainly on the pork-heavy, vinegary flavours of North Carolina barbecue and features a brewery right inside.
What to eat? The apricot pork belly washed down with the Big Lick lager is a sumptuous meal fit for royalty, or just a really hungry Calgarian. 2437 4 St. S.W., 403-764-4227, southblockbbq.com, @southblockbbq
TOOL SHED BREWING
Not content to rest on its laurels, Tool Shed Brewing now serves Memphis-style barbecue alongside its beer offerings. Founder Graham Sherman has spent years leading the award-winning Notorious P.I.G. BBQ team, and the experience shows on the mouthwatering menu.
What to eat? Sherman suggests starting with the pork belly bites, which are freshly prepared over a charcoal fire. As he puts it, “Nothing pairs better with beer than badass barbecue.” 9, 801 30 St. N.E., 403 775 1749, toolshedbrewing. com, @toolshedbeer
TROLLEY 5
Traditional pub grub like burgers and pizza are on the menu at Trolley 5, but you can also enjoy a selection of barbecue favourites that are smoked in-house for up to 14 hours. It’s hard to beat smoked meat and good beer in one of 17th Avenue’s staple brewpubs.
What to eat? The Alberta Bound sandwich features slow-smoked beef brisket, Memphis slaw, and BBQ sauce on a brioche bun. Editor tip: pair this with Turntable Lager for best results.
Eye of Newt** - Stay in Your Lane EP (Self-Released)
Laughing* - Because It’s True (Celluloid Lunch)
Yaya Bey - Ten Fold (Big Dada)
Kris Ellestad** - Looking for the Magic (Self-Released)
Cindy Lee* - Diamond Jubilee (Self-Released)
Schedule 1* - Crucible (Council Records)
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Glasgow Eyes (Fuzz Club)
Kris Ellestad** - Tiny Spark (Self-Released)
Jon McKiel* - Hex (You’ve Changed Records)
Annie-Claude Deschênes* - LES MANIÈRES DE TABLE (Bonsound / Italians Do It Better)
The Wesleys* - The Wesleys (Little Village Records)
Spectres* - Presence (Artoffact Records)
Touching* - I Can Be Two People At Once (Head In The Sand Records)
Yoo Doo Right* - The Sacred Fuck EP (Mothland)
Erin Ross** - The Wind Will Lead Me Home (Random Orbit Records)
The Drin - Elude The Torch (Feel It Records)
** Local
* Canadian
Jane Bond
PHOTO: COURTESY JANE BOND
INTERNATIONAL BBQ BBQ GUIDE
GUY-KAKU
Situated just off the train line downtown, Gyu Kaku delivers an upscale experience based around well-seasoned meats served alongside Japanese staples like dumplings. The on-table grills await you and your friends to char some meats, crush some sake, and savour the summer. What to eat? We recommend fasting for the day to properly enjoy one of Gyu Kaku’s BBQ courses, which include marinated beef, spicy chicken, and pork belly.
Korean barbecue is a fun dining experience — patrons grill meats on gas grills embedded in their dining table. Seoul delivers this unique (and delicious) dining experience with a family restaurant’s comforting touch and a group barbecue’s
lively energy.
What to eat? Make sure to arrive hungry in order to properly enjoy Seoul’s all-you-can-eat dinner, which includes marinated beef bulgogi, spicy chicken, and pork belly.
Hong Kong-style barbecue infuses fire-roasted dishes with traditional Chinese spices and sauces, resulting in a unique east-meets-west flavour profile. Sun’s is a great spot to experience this culinary tradition, but consider wearing stretchy pants to indulge fully.
What to eat? The Chinese-style pork and crispy tofu are must-haves, and the grilled duck might be new to you. Sun’s also offers hot pot options! 1423 Centre St. N.W., 403-230-8890, tasteofasiagroup.ca
Amihan Grill + Bake Shop
PHOTO: ALEJANDRO STA. INES
BY NATHAN ILES
Onstage in August
COUNTRY, BLUES, AND EDM ARE ON THE MENU AS THE MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASON MARCHES ON IN CALGARY
CALGARY BLUESFEST
It’s the 20th anniversary of Calgary Bluesfest, and this year’s lineup is a celebration. Juno-winners Monkeyjunk are here from Ottawa, while Sonny Gullage & The Blues Groovers bring a taste of New Orleans jazz to the newly christened Cowboys Park. August 1 to 4 at Cowboys Park (formerly Shaw Millenium Park), 1220 9 Ave. S.W., calgarybluesfest.com
THE DARKBULB SHOWS
This is your chance to catch a series of electrifying performances at Loophole from independent artists spanning various genres, including EDM, lo-fi, noise rock, and punk. August 3, 7 p.m. at Loophole Coffee Bar, 1040 8 Ave. S.W., loophole-coffee-bar.com
CHASING SUMMER
EDM heads have been eating good this summer. Keep the dance-y vibes going with Chasing Summer, a wild two-day outdoor party that features a headlining performance from Deadmau5. August 3 and 4 at Max Bell Centre Festival Grounds, 1001 Barlow Trail S.E., chasingsummerfestival.com
MUSIC IN THE PLAZA
Heritage Plaza offers the perfect ambience to enjoy eclectic free music programming every Wednesday, like Esteban Herrera’s Latin piano melodies and Klezmerovitz’s Eastern European celebration. August 7, 14, 21, and 28, 6 p.m. at Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W., heritagepark.ca
BIFF NAKED W/ BETABOYS
You’ll shout “I love myself today” when CanCon legend Biff Naked brings her punky attitude and alt-rock bangers to the Dickens stage, supported by local new-wave sweetehearts BETABOYS. August 9, 7 p.m. at Dickens, 1000 9 Ave. S.W., dickensyyc.com
CIRCLE JERKS W/ THE ADOLESCENTS AND NO BRAINER
Past and present collide when local punk rockers No Brainer open for the legendary ‘80s hardcore
punk band Circle Jerks. Bring earplugs and get ready to slam dance. August 9, 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 219 8 Ave. S.W., thepalacetheatre.ca
MAJOR FUNK
Hailing from Whitehorse, Major Funk layers soaring vocals over bass-heavy grooves supported by a tight horn section. The North might be cold, but this band is red hot. August 10, 8 p.m. at The Attic, 1413 9 Ave. S.E., theatticyyc.ca
MARDA GRAS STREET FESTIVAL
One of Calgary’s longest-running street festivals includes three stages of live music and entertainment, with The Syndicate of Soul and Seth Anderson among the performers this year. August 11, 10 a.m. on 33 Ave. S.W. between 19 and 22 Street, visitmardaloop.com
STEVE EARLE W/ OLIVIA WOLF
One of Nashville’s finest is bringing his “Alone
Again” tour to Calgary, and you can’t miss the chance to hear his folky Americana anthems echoing off the walls of Arts Commons. August 15, 7:30 p.m. at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, 205 8 Ave. S.E., artscommons.ca
JUBEFEST CONCERTS
This summer, the Jubefest Concerts invite you backstage. Audiences sit right on the gorgeous Jubilee stage and enjoy performances from Wakefield Brewster, Caity Gyorgy, and more while facing the auditorium seats. Only 200 seats are available onstage per night, so don’t wait to get tickets. August 16, 17, 23 and 24 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave. N.W., jubileeauditorium.com
EXPO LATINO
This three-day Latin celebration is a staple of Calgary summers, and a stable of performers such as DJ Marqui and Neri Villanueva will keep
you dancing all weekend long. August 16 to 18 at Prince’s Island Park, 1 Ave. and 4 Street S.W., expolatino.com
COUNTRY THUNDER
Dallas Smith, Elle King, Dusty Golden, and Mariya Stokes are some of the country acts rocking The Confluence (formerly Fort Calgary) this summer. August 16 to 18 at The Confluence, 750 9 Ave. S.E., countrythunder.com
HOZIER W/ ALLISON RUSSELL
Touring in support of his third studio album, Unreal Unearth, Hozier’s haunting folk melodies and Irish vocals will fill the walls of the Saddledome this summer. August 23, 8 p.m. at the Scotiabank Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise S.E., scotiabanksaddledome.com
CHEER W/ BIG EVIL RAT AND SOLID BROWN
Local psych-rock wunderkinds Cheer celebrate the release of their latest album Pure Mass Detection with a noisy, rollicking night of riffs at Calgary’s barbecue palace. August 17, 8 p.m. at The Palomino, 109 7 Ave. S.W., thepalomino.ca
TYSON RAY BORSBOOM
This Lethbridge singer-songwriter infuses his indie songwriting with vividly descriptive lyrics and a charming onstage persona. August 30, 8 p.m. at Ranchmans, 9615 Macleod Trail S.E., ranchmans.ca
LAVERN
Laurens Elshof — aka LAVERN — is a producer from the Netherlands whose dance-y EDM tracks have gained considerable traction on Instagram and TikTok. This is his first time performing in Calgary! August 31, 10 p.m. at Sub Rosa, 200 8 Ave. S.W., subrosayyc.com
KALEO W/ CHANCE PEÑA
Grammy-nominated blues rockers KALEO bring their “Payback” tour to Calgary, with “The Voice” alum Chance Peña set to open. September 2, 6:30 p.m. at the Grey Eagle Event Centre, 3775 Grey Eagle Dr., greyeagleresortandcasino.ca
Steve Earle, August 15
PHOTO: DANNY CLINCH
BUMP it Up
BY BENJAMIN HEISLER
The BUMP Mural Festival, which began as the Beltline Urban Mural Project, has outgrown its original name and is now city wide. The TD-sponsored celebration of murals returns for its eighth year. New artworks will appear on streets between August 3 and 18.
“This year’s themes of the electric and intentional, channels whimsy, joy, and energy to reflect the dynamic transformation of our city through art and innovation,” notes a BUMP press release.
To date, the BUMP Festival has added over 270 public art installations across Calgary. The festival’s annual call for artists is juried by “a diverse cross section of local artists, members of various Alberta arts entities and community-leaders [who] review the applications to develop an artist shortlist.”
This year, 12 mural artists were selected to produce artworks for the festival including Andrea Wan, Ben Johnston, Brian Beyung, Earbugz Collective, Katie Green, Harvey Nichol, JUMU Monster, Meyso, Kat Simmers, Nick Sweetman, Stuart Teekasingh, and Waposhpyii.
Of these 12 artists, two are returning BUMP alums — the local artists Katie Green and Kat Simmers. Both artists have presented exceptional contributions to the vibrance of the communities where their artworks live.
Green’s work from 2018, at 10th Avenue and 12th Street S.W., displays a place between dream and myth that reflects human emotion and experience. Almost at eye level with clouds, a green-haired antlered mother-spirit-like figure is rosy-cheeked and red-nosed. The figure exhales a large salmon as birds watch from a perch amidst mushroom growth and what appear to be rib-like forms — the aura of life is powerful and timeless.
Simmers’ contribution from 2019, at 1302 4 Street S.W., showcases a signature illustration style with an acute sense of space that encourages the viewer to imagine and reflect. The past work features an image of an open book; a floral bouquet spills from the pages. Smoke trails from a low-burned candle. There is an empty glass
THE
“I am thrilled by the opportunity to create a monument that celebrates the profound resilience and diversity of my friends and kin who call Mohkinstsis (Calgary) home.”
KAT SIMMERS, MURALIST
and the morning sun — with a twist of lemon.
Watching the viewer, a sparrow perches on the handle of a pocket knife with its blade sunk partway into an apple. All together it’s composition and colour magic.
One of the headlining installations this summer is a 90-foot mural by Simmers which is a collaboration with Blakes and the Calgary Queer Arts Society. The BUMP press release notes, “The 2024 Pride Mural is a landmark project celebrating inclusivity, queer joy, and pride in our vibrant city.”
“I am deeply honoured to be selected to paint a pride-themed mural for this year’s BUMP
festival,” says Simmers. “As a trans woman and muralist, my journey intertwines with the vibrant tapestry of our city’s 2SLGBTQIA+ and artistic communities. I am thrilled by the opportunity to create a monument that celebrates the profound resilience and diversity of my friends and kin who call Mohkinstsis (Calgary) home.”
According to BUMP, “Simmers brings a unique perspective and deep commitment to the themes of inclusivity and queer representation. Simmers’ work is known for its vivid imagery and powerful storytelling, making them the perfect artist to spearhead this historic project.”
BUMP EVENTS
The festival kicks off with the inaugural BUMP Urban Art Conference held August 8 and 9 and includes workshops, panel discussions and networking events. Topics include civic identity, the future of graffiti, and social change through public art.
August 3 to 18 Muralists painting new works (various locations)
August 8 Panel 1 Public Art, Participation, and the Shifting Urban Landscape
August 8 Panel 2 Revolution, Liberation and Change through Public Art 3 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. Platform Calgary, 407 9 Ave. S.E.
August 10 High Park rooftop public space features live graffiti, music, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. 340 10 Ave. S.W.
August 14 High Park rooftop public space features outdoor screening of Hong Kong 90s art-house film “Chungking Express.” 340 10 Ave. S.W.
August 17 The Trinity Kiki Ball & Rave
5 p.m. to Midnight. Free event. 727 11 Ave. S.W.
Throughout the festival Free 90-minute guided tours of the murals will take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Visit yycbump.ca for more information and tickets.
WALLS COME ALIVE WITH MURALS THIS MONTH
Calgary Pride
CALGARY PRIDE HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY IN SIZE, SCOPE, AND SPIRIT SINCE
ITS
DEFIANT ORIGINS AS A POLITICAL RALLY IN THE ‘90S.
BY NATHAN ILES
Music. Dancing. A parade. Rainbows around every turn.
Calgary Pride is a vividly overwhelming experience that takes over the downtown core and Prince’s Island Park right as summer winds down.
But Pride wasn’t always this kind of spectacle. On June 18, 1990, it was several hundred masked gay activists, labour movement allies, churches, and feminists gathered in Central Memorial Park.
“It was pretty small, but it was very important in drawing attention to the fact that we didn’t have full human rights in this province,” says gay activist Nancy Miller.
As a member of the Calgary Lesbian and Gay Political Action Guild, Miller helped coordinate this rally. “The acronym was CLAGPAG, which we took a lot of ribbing over,” she says. “At that time, people could lose their jobs for being homosexual. You could lose custody of your kids or get kicked out of your home. We needed to hide our identity for our safety, so we wore Lone Ranger masks. It was important to make it accessible for people.”
The next year, following a controversial proclamation from then-mayor Al Duerr declaring June 16 to 23 as the first “Gay Rights Week,” the first Calgary Pride Parade occurred on June 16, 1991. Roughly 400 people marched down
Stephen Avenue to City Hall.
“I remember, very, very vividly, hundreds of counter-protesters,” Miller says. “One guy brought his pit bulls to circle us in the Plaza and intimidate people. On the march, somebody lunged at a drag queen… and I believe the drag queen swung back!”
Remembering this hostility serves as a reminder of Pride’s purpose. “It was important for us to make clear the message that it was a political event,” says Miller. “Our existence was political, and our wanting rights was political.” The march was capped off with a speech by B.C. New Democrat MP Svend Robinson, one of the first openly gay members of parliament. “It was a cloudy, crummy day. And as he’s up there, right in front of a microphone speaking, the clouds parted and a sunbeam came right down,” Miller remembers.
Calgary’s famously fickle weather is why our Pride events now occur at the end of August. “We always had it in June, right up until 2009,” says Calgary Gay History Project researcher Kevin Allen. “Then, Pride had an administrative collapse. New people came in to take it over, and they wanted better weather.” According to Pride’s website, 2009 was the year that Calgary Pride transitioned from a grassroots collective to an incorporated non-profit society.
Since then, Calgary Pride has experienced exponential growth. “In its early days, Pride was a protest and assertion of our demands for equal rights,” says Allen. “Now it’s a celebration, though there are still political undertones.”
2023 Calgary Pride parade
PHOTO: JAXI BARTON
CLAGPAG Poster for the first Pride Rally, 1990
The 2023 Pride Parade featured more than 200 groups marching and over 100,000 spectators. “It’s crazy how long [the parade] is and how many Calgary corporations, nonprofits and public sector employees are marching… So it’s a wonderful thing but a really different thing.”
Allen paints a picture of queer courage in his work for the Queer Map, a Calgary Atlas Project brochure available at local bookstores that maps Cowtown’s gay landmarks, from the Pansy Club to the Cecil Hotel. “I think there’s something about Calgary’s entrepreneurial spirit that is reflected in the gay community; they had a can-do attitude to create gay spaces in the ‘70s and ‘80s.”
This year, Pride is creating even more gay spaces. Alphabet Mafia is Calgary Pride’s firstever art show at The Grand and SpanicArts.
“In its early days, Pride was a protest and assertion of our demands for equal rights. Now it’s a celebration, though there are still political undertones.”
CALGARY GAY HISTORY PROJECT RESEARCHER KEVIN ALLEN
“Alphabet Mafia is dedicated to bringing in art, performance, drag, and fashion,” says Pride’s manager of production and programming, Sumit Munjal. “One feature exhibit that we’re bringing to the table is Rainbow Elders, to highlight their contribution towards the 2SLGBTQ+ movement within Calgary.” They also plan to bring a pop-up exhibit from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights called “The Purge” to The Grand Theatre
BEYOND THE PARADE
The Calgary Pride Parade on September 1 is a can’t-miss party. But there are plenty of other opportunities to celebrate Calgary Pride across the city.
JOIN THE ALPHABET MAFIA
Billed as a “Queer Art Fête,” Alphabet Mafia is a queer art show that celebrates empowerment and diverse expression, presented by Calgary Pride and Calgary Arts Development. It’s four days of visual arts, fashion shows, dance and more to kick off your Calgary Pride experience. August 15 to 18 at The Grand Theatre and SpanicArts. Visit calgarypride.ca for more information.
SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE AND COMPETE IN PRIDE TRIVIA AT CABIN
Test your queer knowledge at Pride Trivia at Cabin Brewing. Tickets are only 10 bucks — and that includes a drink! Grab a can of Super Love on the way out: Cabin donates $1 from every can to organizations that support the 2SLGBTQ+ community, which includes Alberta’s Trans Affirming Legal Fund this year. August 29 at Cabin Brewing. Explore the events calendar at cabinbrewing.ca to learn more.
FILL UP AT A PRIDE BRUNCH
Empower Calgary’s queer youth community at the Centre for Sexuality’s annual Pride Brunch. This breakfast event raises funds for Camp fYrefly, a summer camp for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Southern Alberta. The event features a buffet and drag entertainment. August 31 at Hyatt Regency Calgary. Check the events calendar at centreforsexuality.ca for ticket information.
TEAR UP THE ELECTRIC PRIDE PARTY & DRAG SHOW
The Electric Stage Series drag collective is taking over the historic Back Alley Nightclub to end Pride weekend on a high note. This free event features drag performances, DJs spinning all the hits, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and more. September 1 at The Back Alley Night Club. Reserve your free tickets at the Electric Stage Series page on eventbrite.ca.
SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH THE CABARET COMPANY AT DICKENS
If the rainbow mural at the entrance didn’t clue you in, know that Dickens is one of Calgary’s hottest spots for queer celebration. The bar hosts inclusive events every month and lights
and Calgary Central Library next year, focusing on the Government of Canada’s systematic persecution of queer people from the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and public service.
Queer rights remain in the crosshairs of our provincial government today, which is why it’s more important than ever for Calgary Pride to be inclusive and visible. “It’s not one person’s
prerogative or right to determine how Pride should move forward,” says Munjal. “Our priority is bringing an intersectional lens to every single layer of what we do as an organization and working with an advisory council in the future so that individuals from marginalized communities bring their voices to the table.”
Whether cheering at the parade or dancing at Prince’s Island Park, Calgary Pride’s festivities reflect what makes this city unique. “The Calgary story can still be out loud and proud: we can still be cowboys, cowgirls, and cow-monarchs,” says Munjal. “It’s about embracing Calgary’s past and making space [for Pride] in the clearest way possible.”
Calgary Pride hosts events from August 26 to September 1. Find more details at calgarypride.ca.
up for all of Pride Week with gay burlesque, drag shows, and more put together by The Cabaret Company. Plan your week with the events calendar at dickensyyc.com and thecabaretcompany.com.
ENJOY A DRINK (OR SEVERAL) AT THE ATTIC
Situated right in the heart of Calgary’s music mile, The Attic is a hub of queer music, comedy, and entertainment events. Join the bar this year for its second annual INGLEPRIDE party, which promises bouncy beats, delectable treats, tasty cocktails, and diverse live entertainment.
September 1 at The Attic Bar & Stage. Stay tuned to theatticyyc.ca for more details and ticket information.
SCORE A HOMERUN AT PRIDE SLAM
The Calgary Apollo Softball Association is an independent community-driven softball league for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Over Pride weekend, it hosts a one-day tournament full of baseball and fun events aimed to bring together Calgary’s queer athletic community. August 31 at Deerfoot Athletic Park. If you want to play, check casaleague.ca for registration information.
What does Calgary Pride mean?
WE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PROMINENT QUEER
CALGARIANS TO REFLECT ON CALGARY PRIDE
AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE QUEER IN ALBERTA TODAY.
These quotes are edited for length and clarity.
PAM KRAUSE
“Seeing lots of people celebrating Pride…. There’s nothing like it. It’s awesome. But are we thinking about the people in the countries who get killed for who they are? Human rights matter, but as we’re seeing in Alberta, it’s not holding up in people being supported through government legislation. So, I feel it’s good that Pride has grown, but something does get lost. I think the sort of ‘corporate’ look has made some of us feel like it’s two things at the same time.”
Krause is the president and CEO of the Calgary Centre for Sexuality. She has been involved in queer activism in Calgary since 1992 and has worked with the centre since 2001.
DAYNA HART
“In Calgary, across the entire queer community and during Pride, we are very diverse in our arts. When it comes to our drag, we have dancing divas like myself, alternative drag, grungy drag, scary drag; we’re just very diverse in that sense of level of drag. Being in a controversial city with our current government system, we are fighting for our lives to ensure that our drag stays alive. It’s really hard.”
Hart has been a drag performer in Calgary since 2018. Their drag mother is Stephanie Prince, and they were a finalist for Alberta’s Next Drag Superstar in 2018 and 2022.
MASON JENKINS
“We are in danger, and that’s what makes Pride so much more significant in Calgary. I don’t want to say that Calgary Pride is not safe, but you still experience some of that fringe extremism from hate groups. To paraphrase Margaret Killjoy, ‘Whatever killed your transgender friends, we owe it to them to destroy whatever caused their suffering.’ It’s Pride because we still need to have pride.”
Jenkins is a transgender artist and performer based in Calgary. He is a tattoo artist at Blackbird Electric, plays music with The Corey Hotline, and performs burlesque as Tomboy Selleck.
SYDNEY MORRISSETTE
“We need to be visible. I would go to the Calgary Pride parade before I was out, and it felt good to go there. To a lot of people, [the parade] could be their first experience of seeing queer joy. There’s so much queer trauma, so it’s important to celebrate that stuff. In Alberta, we will always have to fight, so I publicly put myself out there because people putting themselves out there made me accept myself.”
Morrissette is a gender-fluid musician and student in Calgary. They are currently working at Mount Royal University archiving Canadian queer history artifacts donated by Dr. David Aveline.
TODD HIRSCH
“I think Calgary’s queer community and the Pride Parade surprises itself sometimes. Even progressive-minded people like myself still tend to view Calgary as a conservative city. So when there’s 80,000 people out on a crappy day in September to celebrate Pride, we’re caught off-guard. We’re not as conservative as we think.”
Hirsch is an economist, public speaker, and author. He was the chief economist for ATB Financial for 25 years and was awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
DOMINGO LUMANOG
“Pride is about representation and can be where people find belongingness. I’ve been here for 19 years as a refugee, and when you find terminologies like ‘Calgary Pride,’ ‘City of Calgary,’ or ‘the LGBTQIA2S+ community,’ you have a sense of refuge. It’s really important that Calgary Pride maintains the integrity of being part of the community as an organization and continues efforts of representation.”
Lumanog is a member of Calgary Police Service’s Gender & Sexual Diversity advisory board and has worked as a stylist for years. He currently works with Berlitz Language School.
BEA LISSIMA
“Our art is often informed by the oppression that we feel within this province and our day-to-day experience as queer people in Alberta. We tend to have fewer safe spaces where we can be ourselves and be safe in our practice. I do see Calgary Pride trying to make changes because we need more opportunities for racialized queer folks, and that makes me really happy.”
For 17 years, Lissima has been infusing burlesque performance with intersex queerness and her Filipino heritage. She co-produces the show G-String and mentors BIPOC burlesque artists.
CALGARY
A U G . 3 1 S T & S E P T 1 S T
EVOLUTION NOT EXTINCTION
CALGARY’S CHANGING GAY BAR SCENE
BY KRISTA SYLVESTER
Two. Just two. That’s the number of gay bars that Calgary, a city nearing 1.6 million people, has now.
Earlier this summer, the Backlot closed to make way for a new development leaving the city with just Twisted Element, the city’s only gay nightclub, and Texas Lounge as the only remaining LGTBQ venues in the city.
But it wasn’t always this way, says Calgary Gay History Project founder Kevin Allen, who has extensively researched what he calls the “golden age of gay bars” in Calgary. As recently as the early 2000s, Calgary had up to a dozen gay bars and clubs. And the city’s first official LGTBQ bar opened in 1970.
“I call it the dawn of the organized gay community in Calgary,” Allen says of Club Carousel, which was nestled in the lower-level of 1207 1st St. SW.
The club was forced to become member-only to deal with threats of closure from Calgary police on its first day of operation. But the club proved popular and had about 650 members by 1972.
Club Carousel has a colourful and complex history, forced to navigate the perils of existing at a time when homosexuality was freshly decriminalized, but not yet widely accepted in society.
“Just because a law changed doesn’t mean the culture changed,” Allen says. “This was a time when gay people got attacked. They got blackmailed. Sometimes men would pick out a young man to beat him up and take his money.”
People could still legally be fired or evicted
because of their sexual identity until 1998, and gay marriage wasn’t legalized until 2003.
“People had to live simple lives and be gay on the weekend. So gay bars were really important in the 70s and 80s,” Allen notes.
Allen says the ‘80s were the pinnacle of the city’s LGTBQ bar scene, but the late ‘90s and early 2000s proved a popular time for gay bars, too.
The city had three gay nightclubs at one point, in addition to bars, and there were even a couple of spaces catering specifically to lesbians, a rarity in the LGTBQ community.
Many of those “golden age” clubs have longsince closed now. Club Sapien, FAB and the Calgary Eagle all shut their doors in 2012 and in the years before that, other popular gay bars, including Boyztown, Rek Room, Rooks and The Verge had also closed.
The corner block of 17th Ave. and 3rd St. S.W., at one point boasted the combination of popular gay bars Detour/Arena/Loading Dock/ Victoria’s. But they closed in the mid-2000s and the space is now home to Pigeonhole and Model Milk, as well as Texas Lounge, one of the two gay bars that has persevered.
Allen says there is less of a critical need for strictly gay spaces now that there are more inclusive options available with mainstream bars and cultural norms have shifted. He also notes that bar trends are shifting generally.
Allen believes there are several contributing factors behind the transition, including the “demise of gay bars everywhere.”
“We don’t have to have this sort of separate society that we disappear in to come back to the straight world,” Allen says, adding that much
“People had to... be gay on the weekend. So gay bars were really important in the 70s and 80s.”
CALGARY GAY HISTORY PROJECT FOUNDER KEVIN ALLEN
of the oppression that led to the need for such spaces has also waned and as such, queer spaces are evolving.
“The community has stopped going to gay bars exclusively. [And] the bar business is hard for anyone. We’ve seen this phenomenon across North America.”
That’s where bars such as the Ship & Anchor
and Dickens have been filling some of the void left behind.
Longtime city DJ Chris Hewitt, who owns Dickens with his wife Ambor, prides himself on being able to provide a safe and inclusive space for the queer community, even if it spawned naturally about a decade ago when he partnered with local drag king troupe Fake Mustache.
“It sounded really cool,” Hewitt says, admitting he had never seen a drag king show before James Demers pitched the idea to him.
A decade later, the troupe still hosts monthly shows at Dickens.
“There was definitely a sense that this was somewhere new for everybody to go that hadn’t existed prior,” Hewitt says of the impact. “We were certainly seeing a growing queer community coming to our events because it became a spot where people feel comfortable.”
Hewitt believes that changing demographics, and a change in the kinds of night out that young people are looking for, is partially behind the shift — and that issue is not exclusive to gay bars.
“Seeing [gay bars] slowly disappear is also somewhat symptomatic of what’s going on with life in general and what young people are looking for these days,” he says. “We are seeing nightclubs disappearing everywhere. Young people aren’t looking for the same kind of entertainment that they used to. I don’t think some of these places are not necessarily not surviving as a gay club, it could be because clubs just can’t really survive. It’s a really hard business now.”
But that doesn’t mean those LGTBQ spaces aren’t missed.
“The younger generation talks about feeling
The Cabaret Company at Dickens
PHOTO: SCHATZY PANTS
Club Carousel, early ‘70s
PHOTO: KEVIN ALLEN AND THE GAY HISTORY
“I think it would be sad to lose all of our queer spaces, especially in Calgary, because they mean so much to our community and our history as queer people in Alberta.”
LOCAL DRAG PERFORMER NADA NUFF
disconnected from community, and the older people lament that they miss those spaces,” Allen says. “A lot of the older community miss the sense of closeness and community that these places provided. It was like Cheers, where everyone knows your name.”
Longtime Texas Lounge owner Andrew Brassard says his bar provides that sense of community, but says there are other challenges of owning a business in Calgary over the past decade; multiple economic downturns, property tax increases, the 2013 flood and, most recently, the pandemic.
“It is challenging, it is stressful. There’s been a lot of one step forward, two steps back. When you start to get ahead, something happens,” he says. “It’s been really tumultuous for the whole industry.’
Brassard says despite those challenges, Texas Lounge is still around because it’s a beloved part of the gay community, which speaks to the importance of these spaces.
“It’s kind of one of the last bars where people will actually talk to people, people will say hello even if they don’t know your name. There’s a real sense of community where everybody looks out for each other,” Brassard says.
Brassard believes the current climate leaves an opportunity for something or someone to step up and inject some life into the scene.
“For somebody to do it, it’s quite a large investment. It’s a lot of time and work. It can be very risky. But it will happen.”
Twisted Element is on the verge of celebrating its 20th anniversary and despite its reputation for long lineups to get in, the bar has shifted from being open five days a week to Fridays and Saturdays only in an effort to boost its weekend numbers back up to pre-pandemic levels.
Allen Carswell joined the Twisted management in June and he aims to inject the club with a jolt to the system after almost two decades as a
staple in the city’s gay scene.
“One of the benefits is that it’s been there for 19 years. But one of the challenges is that it’s been there for 19 years. Some of the people that have been going there have been going there for a long time, so we’re giving it a bit of a facelift,” Carswell says, adding that will come in many forms and is expected to be phased into place for Pride.
Local drag performer Nada Nuff has been performing in Calgary for a decade and says while they can’t speak for others, they find the transformation over the years to be bittersweet.
“I think it would be sad to lose all of our queer spaces, especially in Calgary, because they mean so much to our community and our history as queer people in Alberta,” Nuff says. “I don’t want them to disappear into the night because I think that’s reverting back to hiding our community away again.”
Nuff is grateful for the bars that have stepped in to fill the gaps, especially those that are giving local drag performers paid spots to perform and others a place to connect.
“I think it also says a lot about how the queer community and drag are now being more widely accepted in our communities,” Nuff adds.
The city’s gay scene may lie in the hands of the last few standing bars and their allies, but they’re not alone. Queer pop-up spaces have also recently started to surge, including the Pansy Club.
Founder Cal Gibbens isn’t quite old enough to have enjoyed the fruits of the golden gay bar era, but he was inspired by those stories and his experiences at underground pop-up style parties.
“It just felt like there was a community of queer and trans people that often weren’t comfortable going to spaces that were hardcore mainstream,” he says.
Gibbens’ experience working at Kaffeeklatsch coffee shop helped fuel the confidence to launch Pansy Club and turn it from a “little party” with
20 people into having a partnership with Dickens, as one example.
“Our slogan is unapologetically queer,” Gibbens says. “It’s not just one part of the community — everybody’s welcome. And I feel like that’s been a huge part of why Pansy Club has taken off. We really need these spaces where people feel safe to truly be themselves and they don’t feel judged.”
Pansy Club is even trying to secure its own
permanent space and hopes to launch a fundraiser by the end of the summer.
“I think that people are really valuing again the importance of queer spaces,” Gibbens says, adding they see an opportunity to become a genuine day-and-night hub.
“Because there’s just nothing like that for people here. There’s no way that people can go during the day to just hang out that’s a truly queer space.”
10th Annual White Party at Twisted Element
PHOTO: TWISTED ELEMENT
Texas Lounge
PHOTO: TIFFANY THOMPSON
Journalist Piers Hemmingsen was a natural choice to help curate the National Music Centre at Studio Bell’s new exhibit, From Me to You: The Beatles in Canada 1964 – 1966, which runs until January 5, 2025. After all, having lived in Beatles ground-zero, Liverpool, between 1961 and 1963, he was listening to them before most Canadians even heard of them. And having written two books published about the Beatles and their impact on Canada, he had definitely demonstrated his research chops.
“I’ve been working over the years with colleagues in the States, attending Beatles fests and working with other Beatles book authors,” Hemmingsen said from his Toronto home. “I was recommended to NMC by the Grammy Museum.”
Hemmingsen had never been to the NMC until he arrived for the exhibit’s July 10 opening. In 2016, he published The Beatles in Canada: Origins of Beatlemania!; The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964-1970 will follow this year.
Hemmingsen’s father fought in WWII and Korea before eventually landing in Liverpool in July 1961 with his family in tow, including young Piers and his two brothers. By the time they arrived at Camp Petawawa near Pembroke, ON, in August 1963, they’d witnessed the blossoming of Britain’s infatuation with The Beatles, including hearing them on British radio, buying the album Please Please Me as well as the singles, and viewing the band on black and white TV on Thank Your Lucky Stars. All of this was well before most of North America “discovered” The Beatles when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.
In the US, it was that appearance that ignited instant Beatlemania, while in Canada, growing fandom had already been a slow, building burn.
Hemmingsen’s brother even took his Beatles records to CHOV in Pembroke and got DJ Robert Stanion to play them. “There was a real groundswell as there was in the rest of Canada because there were a lot of kids going back and forth between Canada and England,” says Hemmingsen.
That groundswell, and the waves the followed
BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE
THE BEATLES AT NMC
A NEW EXHIBIT EXPLORES THE BEATLES’ INFLUENCE IN AND CONNECTIONS TO CANADA
“It changed our youth culture, our attitudes towards fashion, the establishment, music, the media. And here we are in 2024 talking about something that happened 60 years ago.”
PIERS HEMMINGSEN
it over the next few years, is captured in the NMC exhibit, which features a brief history of pre-Beatles rock and roll radio, an overview of the first Beatles fan clubs in Canada, including the Ontario branch sponsored by CHUM, which
pre-dated those in the States, a look at Beatles tours and performances in Canada, and a sweet display of the paraphernalia of Canadian Beatlemania, including Beatles wigs, trays, dresses, boots and figurines.
There’s also a section on journalist David Gell, who wrote for The Calgary Herald in the 1950s before becoming a foreign correspondent for Radio Luxembourg. He was the first person to play an Elvis Presley record on the European airwaves and was later invited by Beatles producer George Martin to a reception for their first album.
“John Lennon came up and thanked him, literally bowed down to him because David had played an Elvis Presley record and it was the first time Lennon had heard Elvis. [Lennon] told David he had changed his life. So, a little Calgary connection there. He also wrote early reviews of Beatle records for several music magazines.
“Canada had these ties to the [United] Kingdom that the United States didn’t have. Capitol Records in Canada had a fellow named Paul White and he released Beatles Records from the get-go on the Capitol label. His counterparts in Los Angeles rejected the first four singles, including She Loves You.” By December 1963, that song was Number One in Canada while the United States still hadn’t heard of the band.
There are more fun snippets of history at the museum, such as postcards from a young George Harrison to his sister Louise, who had moved to Canada after getting married. At the time, Harrison was touring Scotland as a Beatle, then the backing band for Scottish singer Johnny Gentle.
While these things happened long ago, The Beatles’ influence in Canada continues to be unstoppable. Hemmingsen recalls having just seen a young teenager in Toronto wearing a Beatles shirt, indicating the new crop of youth discovering the band for themselves.
“Here we are talking about it 60 years later. It changed our youth culture, our attitudes towards fashion, the establishment, music, the media. And here we are in 2024 talking about something that happened 60 years ago. When I was 16 in the late 60s would I be talking about something that happened in 1910? No.”
From Me to You: The Beatles in Canada 19641966 runs until January 5 at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. For information visit studiobell.ca
MUSIC SCENE
Canmore Folk Festival
FIVE REASONS TO HEAD OUT OF TOWN FOR EVEN MORE FOLK!
BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE
The Canmore Folk Festival, which takes place over the Heritage Day long weekend August 3 to 5, started in 1978, making it the longest-running folk music festival in Alberta. Here are five more reasons to attend.
1 IT’S INTIMATE.
Taking place in Canmore’s Centennial Park, the festival welcomes 5,000 people daily. This makes it about a tenth the size of the festival’s larger cousin on Prince’s Island. Music lovers are encouraged to take transit or walk to avoid traffic congestion. There is also a bike corral at the site and a new Folk Fest Express from Calgary partnering with On-It Bus service.
2 FRIDAY IS FOR CHEAPSKATES.
There is a pre-festival free concert on Friday evening (August 2) downtown in Cen-
tennial Park from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The show features folk darling St. Arnaud, the Ducks as part of a youth mentorship program, and Our Hearts in the Mountain, a presentation of Indigenous storytelling and dancing.
3 THE WHOLE PARK IS THE BEER GARDEN.
For the first time, Canmore will offer sitewide licensing, which means you can tote your cool drink, provided by Canmore’s Grizzly Paw Brewing, to the next stage with you.
4 YOU’LL BE SPOILED FOR CHOICE.
During the daytime, choose from concerts and workshops on three stages. Saturday, the Cosmic Country workshop on Stage 3 (Banff Lodging Co.) at 3:30 p.m. looks promising with the music of Robert Adam, Boy Golden and the Church of Better Daze, and The Bobby Tenderloin Universe colliding. Sunday morning comes early, but seeing Calgary’s
Amy Nelson and fiancé Carter Felker play with Austin’s Buffalo Nichols is worth that 10:10 a.m. start time. Keep the energy rolling on the holiday Monday with the Minor Swing workshop where Calgary’s Red Hot Hayseeds meet up with Duane Andrews + The Hot Club of Conception at 2:40 p.m. on Stage 1 (Stan Rogers).
5 THERE ARE TWO EVENING STAGES.
Evening performances occur on Stage 1 (Stan Rogers) onsite and Minor’s Union Hall (Pub Stage) a block away. James Keelaghan is sure to be a highlight Saturday night as is Boy Golden, who stole hearts at the 2023 Calgary festival. Sunday Leith Ross brings their open-minded, open-sounding songs to the forefront. Monday evening starts with Buffalo Nichols and ends with Blue Rodeo, who never wear out.
For information about the Canmore Folk Festival, visit canmorefolkfestival.com.
BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE
Calgary’s iconic Ship & Anchor Pub, located on 17th Avenue near 5th Street S.W., hasn’t changed much over its three decades in business. After all, there’s no need to change when you get it right the first time.
With its easygoing vibe, consistently great pub-style food, musical offerings on select days and nights, and one of the city’s best patios for people-watching during Calgary’s four-plus seasons, there’s been no need to change a thing.
With room for 247 people inside and another 130 on the patio before factoring in summer boardwalks and extensions, The Ship consistently feels like a party where there’s room for a few more to join.
Marketing & Promotions Manager Nicola Trolez, who’s been at The Ship in various roles for over 34 years, recalls the venue’s early days. “The Ship rose out of the empty tables of an oldschool Italian restaurant that was stuck together with string and duct tape, then decorated by the Iranian owners with the entire contents of a nautical junk shop in Hawaii,” Trolez says. “In the early days the pub was populated with a wonderful collection of new and old Calgarians, many of whom were Brits looking for something a little different from the Electric Avenue days in Calgary. Those original customers were the first ingredients of a unique recipe of cultural collision which blended soccer, ska, punk, ABBA and much more with all things Calgary.”
Part of what made The Ship unique from the very beginning was the wide assortment of people who showed up, unlike the more uniformly minded and arrayed patrons of those Electric Avenue type places.
“We welcomed and were respectful of any individual who came to the pub as long as they welcomed and were respectful of all of the other individuals who came to the pub. This policy alone created a diverse crowd with an eclectic nature who typically appreciate the people around them, which in turn contributes to a
THE SHIP & ANCHOR
MOORING THE LOCAL SCENE: THE SHIP APPROACHES 35 YEAR WITH VERVE
“IN THE EARLY DAYS THE PUB WAS POPULATED WITH A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF NEW AND OLD CALGARIANS... LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS MANAGER NICOLA TROLEZ
relaxed and positive ambiance. Thirty years ago this was not everyone’s scene, which perhaps led to our early non-mainstream feel.”
To foster a diverse community, The Ship has always supported local music by providing a stage for Alberta indie bands, and also
sponsored One Yellow Rabbit, CIFF, Artwalk, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and some fondly remembered festivals of yore like Infest and Stony. “We maintain many of these sponsorships today, and continue to be the only music venue in Calgary that operates without charging a cover, ever,” says Trolez.
While Trolez has fond memories of appearances by Fishbone, The Pack a.d., SNFU and The Weakerthans, The Ship is also known for recurring theme nights like the Hank & Patsy night in July, The Summer Sing A Long Monday evenings in August, and Punk Rock Bingo Tuesday evenings. “We inherited Punk Rock Bingo from The Castle – although it has greatly morphed into a Ship version of what that was,” notes Trolez.
The menu offers mouth-watering pub staple nibbles including nachos, wings, and deepfried pickles as well as meals and an all-day breakfast.
The Ship burger has stood the test of time since opening, with consistently delicious beef and fixings — it never misses! The Ship fries are legendary; they deserve their own social media accounts. And newer menu additions don’t disappoint — the tempura cauliflower is delightfully crispy and flavourful. And of course, there are many drink options with a focus on Alberta-made beverages, as well as some zero percent staples.
Trolez has a special place in her heart for one offering. “Our seasonal homemade eggnog is a stand out for sure! It is a long-honoured recipe of one of our early managers, Mike Phelps. It has grown from being mixed in house to being batched and bottled in a much larger scale at Confluence Distillery, and has raised over $400,000 for charity over the years.” She also recommends the evolving summer sangria program available on weekends.
“We will be celebrating 35 years in 2025 and are one of the few left standing independently owned spaces. Something we could not have done without all of the wonderful and colourful characters that have supported and continue to call us home over the years.”
For more information, visit shipandanchor.com.
Lovebullies on the Ship stage
PHOTO: TREVOR HATTER
How We Create
THE VALUE OF MAKING SPACE
BY KENNA BURIMA
Creating is one of our strongest impulses. Our need to create manifests in myriad ways — survival of our species, building and nurturing families, communities, societies and of course artistic expression.
Sex, food, words, houses, gardens, art; we’re a busy bunch. We exist, we create. Sometimes mindlessly, sometimes with such force our creations change the nature of reality and the course of history. We seem to often not really know what we’re doing when we’re doing it. The process happens… until it doesn’t.
A few years ago, I was the “blocked artist” — a songwriter failing to muster even the tiniest of melodies. It set me on a harrowing personal exploration and drove me to turn to the artists around me.
As I spoke to musicians, writers, dancers, poets, and painters about how they create with the goal of reigniting my creative work, a story emerged that breathed new life into my own way of doing things. Through these conversations, I found my way back to my creativity, and saw that sharing about my struggles inspired others to get real about how they did (or didn’t) support their own creativity.
A few months ago, I was three days into a stalled self-imposed writing residency. I was brooding in the bath having returned from an icy, early morning walk. As the steam rose, my despair rose with it, and then it hit me.
Pairing a walk and a bath was a part of my artistic practice. Creating a relaxed and comforting space prepared me to create. I found an answer to my question; how do I create? By making space.
Performance artist, comedian, and activist, Adora Nwofor agrees. They support their creative process by designing a particular kind of space around them every time they step on stage, enveloping themselves in visually arresting and meticulously planned stage attire that creates a striking and beautiful haven with which their body can joyfully and comfortably perform.
“Ease and comfort are helpful,” Nwofor says. “But honestly, I write the funniest jokes in the
shower.” It’s nice to not be alone in my creativity’s need for comfort and hot water. Nwofor makes space around them and their creativity emerges.
Calgary’s busiest hip hop funk queen, Sinzere is a prolific and thoughtful musician. The number of shows Sinzere does in a year might have you thinking there’s no time for making space, but in truth, it’s essential to her creative process.
“For me, it’s disconnecting from the world as a whole, and entering a space of complete stillness, quietness, and solitude,” Sinzere says. “This often takes place outdoors, preferably by water. I find I create the purest work from spaces like this.”
Sinzere highlights something called “soft fascination,” a neural process science writer Annie Murphy Paul unpacks in her book, The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain When we disengage from focused thinking and gaze at natural scenes, we activate our “default mode network.” This network is where the good stuff happens; free association, divergent thinking, insight and innovative connections imperative to the creative process.
Closely related to soft fascination is meditation. Composer and bassist jacqs walker has a detailed engagement with their practice. As the artistic director of Calgary Without Patriarchy Collective, walker’s creative output is at the intersection of music and activism, focusing on trans rights and protecting trans youth. It requires a balance of advocacy and rigorous self-care. “Before I start writing, I try to meditate one to two hours per day,” walker says. “During a composing phase, I do my best not to multitask, and if I can, I just uni-task or ‘zero task.’”
Making space can take any form. For these artists, it means meditation, a hot bath, and sitting in nature and these actions have become part of their artistic practice. For you, maybe it means something else, but I believe if we consistently engage in a practice that supports our creativity, we are more likely to create with consistency, freedom and authenticity.
Kenna Burima is a musician, songwriter, educator and writer in Calgary.
FOR ME, IT’S DISCONNECTING FROM THE WORLD AS A WHOLE... THIS OFTEN TAKES PLACE OUTDOORS, PREFERABLY BY WATER. I FIND I CREATE THE PUREST WORK FROM SPACES LIKE THIS.”
SINZERE
PHOTO: ESTHER CHO
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