SCENE Dec 2023

Local acts and artists to watch and hear in 2024 PAGE 16

Get out and about this holiday season, and celebrate with everything from pop-up bars and the Under $100 Art Show to the Calgary Hitmen’s annual Teddy Bear Toss

of some of the notable restaurant openings of the past year, including Primary Colours,

For those who want to celebrate but do so on a limited budget, we offer the Cheapskate’s Guide to Holiday

We asked local music industry folks who are the acts and artists to watch in 2024

BITS

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Season

From Ship nog to Glow and A Christmas Carol, the Calgary traditions continue

By Alana Willerton, Mike Bell

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Theatre Calgary’s iconic production of A Christmas Carol returns this month, and with a new face (actor Doug McKeag) taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge from actor Stephen Hair. From the three ghosts to Tiny Tim, this show is full of beloved characters exploring themes of family, love and redemption. Snap up some tickets for one of the performances taking place between Nov. 30 and Dec. 31.

For more information and tickets, visit theatrecalgary.com

SHIP & ANCHOR EGG NOG

Charity and tasty, tasty booze — nothing says the holiday season like giving and getting goodness and a good glow on. It’s time again for the Ship & Anchor’s annual homemade egg nog to benefit local charities. The pub has partnered with Confluence Distilling — the first time it’s been outsourced and not produced onsite — to help benefit those organizations that “focus on charities working to decrease homelessness and/or those committed to improving and maintaining affordable housing opportunities within our community.” So, to that end, $5 from every glass and $10 from

every bottle sold will be donated to four local, charitable organizations, including Momentum Calgary, Safe Haven Canada, SafeLink Alberta and Wood’s Homes. Cheers.

WITH BELLS ON

A mild-mannered accountant and a drag queen get stuck in an elevator together — need we say more? Lunchbox Theatre’s holiday comedy, written by Darrin Hagen, promises plenty of laughs and heart as it returns to the stage where it was originally developed. Catch one of the performances (you can go during your lunch break!) in Studio at Vertigo Theatre from Nov. 28 to Dec. 17.

For more information and tickets, visit lunchboxtheatre.com

CALGARY HITMEN TEDDY BEAR TOSS

Imagine a hockey arena where the ice is covered in thousands and thousands of teddy bears. Well, that’s exactly what you’ll see during the Calgary Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss, an annual event where guests are encouraged to bring a teddy bear and throw it on the ice after the Hitmen’s first goal. In the end, the bears are collected and go to dozens of local organizations to give to children. This year’s Teddy Bear Toss game takes place on Decem-

ber 3 at 4 p.m. when the Hitmen take on the Prince Albert Raiders.

For more information and tickets, visit chl. ca/whl-hitmen/

UNDER $100 ART SHOW

Anyone who says great art is always expensive hasn’t been to this event. At the all-ages Under $100 Art Show, every piece of art is, you guessed it, less than $100, and there are plenty of gems to be found by more than 100 artists. Peruse their work over two weekends, from Dec. 7-10 and again from Dec. 1417, and you might just find the perfect piece for your home.

For more information and tickets, visit under100artshow.com

HOLIDAY POP-UP BARS

Every winter, several Calgary restaurants and breweries get in the holiday spirit with festive pop-up bars inside their spaces. Swing by Ricardo’s Hideaway for tropical drinks like the Merry Spritzmas during the Sippin’ Santa popup until Dec. 31, or opt for a drink at the Miracle on First Street pop-up at Proof until Dec. 24. Christmas movie fans will also appreciate the return of Eighty-Eight Brewing Company’s Home Alone-themed taproom experience until Dec. 31.

WILD CANADA

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is getting some new residents this month. Starting Dec. 1, the zoo will be the new home of Baffin and Siku, two polar bears from Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo. The pair will reside in the brand new polar bear habitat, which is part of the zoo’s redeveloped Canadian Wilds experience now known as Wild Canada. The redeveloped experience also features renovated habitats for several animals ranging from whooping cranes to bighorn sheep. And the timing of this relaunched experience couldn’t be better, as it coincides with ZooLights, the holiday light exhibition that brightens up the zoo after hours. If you want to time your visit to experience both, consider snagging a Sunlight to ZooLights combo pass (available from Dec. 1-Jan. 7).

For more information and tickets, visit calgaryzoo.com

FILMS AT THE FORT

Fort Calgary is keeping the festive spirit alive this month with its latest Film at the Fort series focused on holiday favourites. Catch flicks like Home Alone (December 2), It’s a Wonderful Life (December 3), Die Hard (December 9), White Christmas (December 10) and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (December 16)

Calgary Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss Ship & Anchor Egg Nog

in Fort Calgary’s Burnswest Theatre during the first three weekends in December. Your $12 ticket comes with popcorn (other snacks can be purchased) and interpretive centre access.

For more information on screenings and tickets, visit fortcalgary.com

SLEUTH

It’s not all Christmas lights and gingerbread cookies this month. Until December 17, Vertigo Theatre is bringing a bit of mystery to the season with its production of Sleuth, which follows a famous mystery novelist who ends up in “the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse” with his wife’s lover.

For more information and tickets, visit vertigotheatre.com

GLOW CALGARY

One of the most popular aspects of the winter season is the chance to take in the many holiday light displays and attractions around the city. If that sounds appealing to you, don’t miss the return of Glow Calgary from Dec. 7-31. Taking place inside the Nutrien Western Event Centre, this year’s event promises

plenty of fun with a night market, music performances, a new tasting lounge with drinks from local breweries and distilleries and, of course, countless twinkling lights spread

across 90,000 square feet. It’s a festive event that has something for the whole family. For more information and tickets, visit glowyyc.ca

NAUGHTY … BUT NICE: XMAS!

Looking for a holiday show that’s geared toward a more mature audience? The holiday musical Naughty… but Nice: Xmas!, intended for viewers ages 15 and up, may be just the thing for you. Forte Musical Theatre’s self-proclaimed “sweet but risqué holiday celebration” returns with a new production that promises to be cheeky, fun and anything but boring. Catch it at cSpace Marda Loop’s Studio Theatre from December 6 to 23.

For more information and tickets, visit fortemusical.ca

Ricardo’s Hideaway

Glow Calgary

ART & CRAFT

Crafty Crew

The Alberta Craft Council’s exhibit at cSPACE offers exposure for emerging artists and craftspeople

By Benjamin Heisler

Let us share in conversation about fine craft, community; and ways they are intertwined. The venue to facilitate our discussion, is the Alberta Craft Council Gallery & Shop at cSPACE at the former King Edward Public School.

Who is the Alberta Craft Council? The craft council informs us that, “The Alberta Craft Council is the Provincial Arts Service Organization that develops, promotes, and advocates for Craft in Alberta.”

They maintain locations in both Calgary and Edmonton.

The Calgary craft council gallery at cSPACE typically features rotating exhibits that offer exposure to emerging artists and craftspeople.

In addition to exhibit artists, there are opposing walls in an alcove of the gallery labelled “Spotlight” that feature separate artists, often showcasing experimental methods of production.

This December, the retail space will be expanded into the gallery to house craft works produced by approximately 80 Alberta makers; 17 of these makers are new to the space this year.

Why prompt this dialogue?

This is a story about generational objects and knowledge. Items deemed generational have long been passed from owner to owner treasured for qualities, be they rarity or resilience. Furniture, glassware, ceramics, textiles, beadwork and jewellery are some traditional examples. Heirlooms passed on hold resonance from the past, augmented with each interaction, and beginning with the makers’ hand.

WHAT IS CRAFT?

Definitions are tricky. One might better start by answering, “What is the craft movement?” The craft movement fosters communities of craftspeople dedicated to forwarding and honing skill in their craft. Often, their processes take root or inspiration from historical or ancestral production processes, but creativity, imagination and problem-solving are also present.

The Alberta Craft Council posits that craft is “the creative mind-hand making of unique objects, primarily in a range traditional craft materials such as clay, glass, wood, metal, fabric and fibre, and natural materials (also, more recently involving new materials and processes such as creative recycling of plastics), primarily in small quantities, primarily by one accomplished person or a small cluster of skilled individuals, working primarily in a studio setting, with a focus on both intellectual and technical innovation and mastery; often with a strong emphasis on personal expression and/or cultural content; in a wide range of object forms that can be functional, ceremonial or religious, expressive, visual, sculptural, or some combination, primarily for appreciation by, and for sale to, quite sophisticated customers, collectors and institutions, primarily motivated by cultural values.” A lot to take in, I know. The craft council also acknowledges that the definition is constantly evolving.

THE CRAFTSPEOPLE

You will find work by junior and senior makers who have achieved high levels of ability in their areas of interest. We are encouraged to visit and recognize their accomplishments.

The Alberta Craft Council educates us about a small sample of the artists we might encounter: Franklin Acevedo has conceived and rendered colourful housewares, from 3D visualized to 3D printed. His work aims to “celebrate the imperfect and encourage curiosity.”

One of the new material artists mentioned above, his process of using Cad file design with 3D printed elements are incorporated by the craft council for the first time.

Brook Bampton is a Métis person who says he is “reconnecting with traditional and ancestral creative processes from both lines of ancestry and integrating those traditions into my own work.” “Brooke is inspired by the liminal space between past and present: the translation into experiential, visual and physical forms.”

Hellen Beamish produces fused glass works that are informed by her experience with

Empurror: Monika Šalkauskas

ART & CRAFT

textiles. The work allows her to “explore her unabashed love of colour, form and capturing the delight of dancing light. She is currently exploring multiple complex techniques before the final slumping.”

“Karen Cantine is an internationally recognized metal artist,” and member of the Royal Academy of the Arts.

The Edmonton-based artist’s work features finely crafted and superbly designed silver jewellery, boxes, chalices, and tea sets.

“Leah Kudel is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer with a studio practice based in glass.”

She is owner operator of Suspended Studio Edmonton. On display is glassware patterned with abstract, almost floral shaped colour swatches.

Erik Lee’s work “is informed by the visual language and design sensibilities of the Plains Cree.” His work pays tribute to historical form of traditional beadwork while he “strives to innovate and bring new directions to Indigenous design.”

Lee states, “Plains art and adornment are very individual forms of expression. Every piece is a statement piece, the statement being, “Here I am!” ”

Jordan Munro “finds inspiration in her rural upbringing in Alberta’s Yellowhead County.”

“Her art bridges the gap between rural life and creativity, inviting viewers to appreciate the connection between nature and art in a simple yet profound ways.

“She blends function and aesthetics seamlessly, crafting items from pickle crocks

ART ON THE TOWN

to coffee mugs.”

“Monika Šalkauskas is a fabric dollmaker in Calgary. She emigrated from Germany almost 30 years ago, and her fanciful characters reflect this origin with their old-world vibe of history and culture.”

Her work, “honours vintage materials, giving everything a historical background, and recycling are important themes in Monika’s upcycled doll artwork.”

Deanne Underwood produces window-like needlepoint prairie scenes; her “needle and wet felted wool pieces are full of vibrant colour and texture, depicting a wide range of Canadian landscapes with a special focus on Alberta and Saskatchewan.”

These are only a selection of the unique makers whose work is on display. They are part of a wide-reaching circle and I encourage you to get acquainted with the community.

Jill Nuckles and Corinne Cowell operate the Alberta Craft Council Gallery at cSPACE; both are experts in the field, and accomplished craftspeople themselves.

INTERTWINED COMMUNITIES

CSPACE houses a rich ecology of the creative arts.

The west end of the second floor is home to the Alberta Craft Council Gallery & Shop; 60 per cent of any sale passes directly to the artist. Resident cultural contributors that share the floor include Studio C Collaborative Art Centre; a public art gallery created by Prospect Human Services, and textiles artists Natalie Gerber and Anneke Forbes.

You, too, are part of this story; and individually we can help foster growth of crafting communities.

Consider the value of honouring heirloom creations that can be both useful, and beautiful.

The Alberta Craft Council Gallery & Shop is located at 1721 29 Ave. S.W. 280. Open Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wayne Immonen: Sound And Visions

Local musician Wayne Immonen’s side hustle is art. For material, he usually repurposes surfaces such as unfinished or unloved canvases by other artists. As for subject matter, he tends to favour twists on pop culture. The results are a show such as Sound And Visions, a colourful, high energy riot of works inspired by his favourite music. And what better place to see it than at that temple of noise, Heritage Posters and Music, 1316 11 Ave. S.W.

Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins: Three Dimensions

This Contemporary Calgary exhibition showcases the multidisciplinary art practice of Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins and features three installations: Balancing Act, THX2020, and ABCD. The work of the pair utilizes painting, sculpture, kinetics, interactivity, virtual reality and video. The show runs until March 17, 2024.

Printed Textiles from Kinngait Studios

A colourful and important exhibition that “traces the evolution and impact of this textile initiative on Inuit graphic arts and explores its legacy through the work of Inuit fashion designers working today: Tarralik Duffy of Ugly Fish; Martha Kyak of InukChic; and Nooks Lindell of Hinaani Design.” Organized by the Textile Museum of Canada, this sprawling collection features the work of artists and printmakers from the past century, including Anna Kingwatsiak, Anirnik Oshuitoq, and Eegyvudluk Pootoogook. Admission to this Glenbow at The Edison (2nd Floor, 150 9. Ave. S.W.) event runs until March 3, 2024.

Alberta Craft Council Gallery

Earrings: Selene Bampton

Ascension: Deanne Underwood

Glasses: Leah Kudel

Rain Dog Bar

Inglewood’s Eclectic Gem

By Kirk Bodnar

To say that Inglewood is an eclectic neighbourhood may be somewhat of an understatement. Being Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood, drawing from over 100 years of influence and history, Inglewood truly reflects the vast diversity of the many generations of people who have enjoyed what the neighbourhood has to offer. One only needs to take a stroll down 9th Avenue SE to see evidence of this, as the diversity is clearly evidenced in the art and the quaint “bo-ho” boutiques where one could spend hours poking around and never come across the same thing twice. It’s no secret that Inglewood is one of the top destinations for anyone looking for the best in terms of food, drink, and an overall good time. But there is one bar that stands out as being perhaps the perfect reflection of the eclectic character of Inglewood. It might be that no place encompasses the essence of the neighbourhood quite like Rain Dog Bar.

Having recently been named as the Community Partner: Pub/Bar/Restaurant of the Year at the 2023 Alberta Beer Awards, as well as being added to the very prestigious list of Canada’s 50 Best Bars, it would be accurate to describe Rain Dog Bar (1214B 9th Avenue SE) as one of the top neighbourhood gathering places in Inglewood. Indeed, you would be hard pressed to find a warmer and more welcoming place to spend an evening with a group of friends. But among Rain Dog’s unique qualities (of which there are many) is how the restaurant may even cater to those of us who may feel somewhat lost at times. Perhaps the key to understanding this lies in the name itself.

“A rain dog is a lost dog — a dog that ran away and couldn’t find its way back because the scent leading home was washed away in the rain,” explains owner Bill Bonar. “So, a rain dog refers to a person who might be a bit of a lost soul — and Rain Dog Bar can be seen as a place for ‘lost dogs’ to gather and take a break from their journey for a time and find comfort among the company of others.”

The name pairs perfectly with a neighbourhood that would have seen countless people come and go over the years, navigating their

way through life. It also speaks to the eclectic nature of these people, representing all walks of life, each leaving their mark and adding to the bohemian character of Inglewood. And it is this character that is perfectly reflected at Rain Dog. You only need to take a quick glance around the intimate and dimly lit dining room to notice the quirky character of the place. “Everything in here,” explains Bonar, “from the lamps to the art on the walls — represents items that could have been left behind by one of those lost dogs as they were passing through — and the amazing thing is that since we opened in 2020, this has become so much more than just a design concept. Many of these items are truly things that guests have given to us — life imitating art so to speakthey all have stories and a history to them.”

After inspecting the décor, it would be time to peruse the menu — which is itself a masterclass in eclecticism — one page reading like an old pulp magazine, with another consisting of a horoscope and yet another a very extensive

“I truly feel that we wouldn’t have made the Canada’s 50 Best Bars list without Chef Rashad”

BILL BONAR

house made crossword puzzle. Though, it is also within this quirky booklet where you find evidence of the true artistry that Rain Dog is known for. This of course would be the perfectly curated beer and food menu. In a city like Calgary, where it is common to see up to 100 beers on tap, Rain Dog only has 5, not because they don’t have space for more, but because Bonar is far more interested in offering beer that is intentional, and selected to specifically fit with the mood, the season, and of course, the food, which is expertly conceived by Chef Rashad Ali. “I truly feel that we wouldn’t have made the Canada’s 50 Best Bars list without Chef Rashad,” says Bonar.

“His dishes perfectly represent food that pairs exceptionally well with beer, and that could span any style or regional cuisine.” I can indeed attest that the Oxtail Croquettes and the Borscht Devilled Eggs completely hit the spot.

The bottled and canned beer list is far more extensive than the draft selection, though also reflected here is a precision that is not commonly found in beer menus. Along with standard information such as ABV and serving size, you find the year of production and even the cellar temperature. The menu is divided into two distinct sections — Hometown Heroes and Worldwide Rockstars — featuring beer from local breweries as well as classic and well-respected old-world beers representing various styles. “Alberta beer is world class,” proclaims Bonar, “and I love to prove it by showcasing it right alongside the best the world has to offer.”

Rain Dog Bar is an absolute must for any beer lover, not to mention anyone interested in exploring delicious beer-friendly food, eclectic décor, or anybody who appreciates hearing a good old classic Tom Waits tune playing in the background. Not only does Rain Dog represent a perfect reflection of Inglewood, but you may even find a place to come in out of the rain when you’re feeling a bit lost, which can even happen to the best of us from time to time.

Rain Dog’s beer and food menu are constantly changing. They update the website regularly, but it’s best to call or just pop in to see what is currently on offer. Notable beers that should be available through December:

NINE IN A LINE BROWN ALE

A delicate, yet full-flavoured brown ale that perhaps drinks more like a mild (and went exceptionally well with the Croquettes). Exclusive to Rain Dog, otherwise only available at their tap room in Vulcan, AB.

WILD WINDS ZEPHYR TABLE SAISON

This local beer picked up some recent awards (Alberta Beer Awards – Bronze, Alberta Beverage Awards, Best in Class). An easy drinking 3.5% Belgian-style ale with a yeast-forward, mild lemon pepper character.

AECHT SCHLENKERLA RAUCHBIER

The classic Smoked lager beer from Bamberg Germany. The smoky character along with the toasty malt flavour pairs perfectly with big meaty flavours.

12 Notable New Restaurants That Opened in Calgary in 2023

From hamburgers to progressive Indian cuisine, these are some of the noteworthy new additions to Calgary’s dining scene.

By Alana Willerton

BAR CHOUETTE

Award-winning chef Duncan Ly (formerly of Foreign Concept) brought a new French-influenced dining destination to the Beltline this year. The wine and cocktail bar offers a modern spot for creative cocktails and sophisticated dishes like the Le 1608 cheese soufflé and squid ink spaghetti (a holdover from Foreign Concept).

227 11 Ave. S.W., barchouette.ca

CLASS CLOWN HAMBURGERS

Located in Burger Inn’s former space, this hamburger joint beckons with its ’80s-style decor and tasty eats featuring ground-inhouse Alberta beef and brisket. The sizeable burger creations range from the Donald McRonald (with two patties, American cheese, mustard, ketchup, onion and pickles) to the Chicken Royale (with fillings like fried chicken and shaved honey ham). Be sure to add a bowl of Coney fries to your order.

106, 1711 4 St. S.W., classclown.ca

MILPA

One of the first new restaurants to open in 2023, Milpa is led by chef Elia Herrera, who has competed on Top Chef Canada and Top Chef Mexico. The Mexican restaurant serves a mix of cold and hot small plates like coconut ceviche and el pastor with corn tortillas underneath the room’s eye-catching turquoise arches.

3, 1531 5 St. S.W., milpa.ca

MUMBAI BITES

Prior to this year, you may have already tried Mumbai Bites through its food truck or takeout kitchen. But now, you can also dine in at its restaurant space in Inglewood, which has been drawing favourable reviews since it opened in January. Mumbai Bites specializes in progressive Indian cuisine and offers a mix of small plates like vada pav and dahi puri, as well as tandoori kebabs, curries and more. 1214C 9 Ave. S.E., 587-319-6600, mumbaibites.ca

MY LITTLE ITALIA

This new Italian spot in Mission is a small yet

mighty addition to the local food scene. Specializing in handmade pasta, the restaurant offers a casual and welcoming space to tuck into dishes of brown sage butter gnocchi, seafood tomato pescatore, baked cannelloni bolognese and more. Finish it all off with some tiramisu.

2015 4 St. S.W., 587-356-1408, mylittleitalia.com

PADMANADI

A popular Edmonton-based restaurant specializing in vegan Indonesian cuisine, Padmanadi officially made its way to Calgary this year (and thank goodness for that). The Haysboro restaurant offers a wide-ranging menu of tasty eats like tom yum soup, bean curd drumsticks, spicy coconut eggplant, bakmi goreng and more. Calgarians will also need to try Padmanadi’s most famous dish, a vegan take on ginger beef made with soy beef strips, bell peppers, carrots and ginger sauce.

110, 8835 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-300-2270, padmanadi.com

PRIMARY COLOURS

The Monogram Coffee team and chef Matthias Fong (formerly of River Café and Deane House) are behind this beautiful all-day café that opened in Britannia this year. From the scallop rolled omelette at brunch to the slowcooked bison shank at dinner, Primary Colours has you covered no matter what you’re craving. You can also pop in for a quick coffee and pastry.

802 49 Ave. S.W., 403-764-2607, primarycolours.cafe

SALT & BRICK

One of the latest additions to Calgary, Kelowna-based restaurant Salt & Brick brings a creative concept to the dining scene with a weekly changing menu from acclaimed chef Dave Bohati. The restaurant also has a hidden speakeasy known as Charlie’s Watch Repair with a password that, you guessed it, changes weekly.

211 10 Ave. S.W., saltandbrick.ca

SATSUKI

At this Japanese dining destination in Kensington, guests can opt for expertly made appetizers like wagyu gyoza, choose from the wide selection of sushi and small/large rolls, or try the chef’s signature dish, sakekasu miso sablefish risotto. You can also put yourself in the chef’s knowledgeable hands by ordering the chef’s menu (omakase), which is available with limited seating at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. 100, 1130 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-3002405, satsuki.ca

SEOUL FRIED CHICKEN

Another tasty new arrival from Edmonton, Seoul Fried Chicken is now serving its crunchy fried chicken in Mission. Choose from seven chicken flavours ranging from a Korean spicy barbecue sauce to cheesy ranch with grated grana padano cheese and parsley. The chicken

comes in eight- or 16-piece boxes, or you can opt for a chicken set that comes with either two or four pieces of chicken, a salad and/or side and a drink.

7, 2100 4 St. S.W., 403-453-0822, seoulfried.com

TUBBY’S

After beloved Calgary institution Tubby Dog closed during the pandemic, owner Jon Truch returned to the scene earlier this year with Tubby’s, whose motto is “it’s just a bar … that serves hot dogs.” Pair a beer or a classic cocktail with hot dog creations like the A-Bomb, which features mustard, ketchup, mayo, chips, bacon and Space Cheese.

100A, 1210 8 St. S.W., tubbybar.com

BARBARELLA BAR

End of 2022, beginning of 2023 — why quibble? Yet another jewel in local bar and restaurant juggernaut the Concorde Group’s (NTNL, Bridgette Bar, Model Milk and others) crown, this hotspot is Stephen Ave. adjacent and on the bottom floor of the same building that houses bougier Concorde offering Major Tom. This Italian eatery is amazing for business lunches or after-work drinks and dinner, with dishes and cocktails to warm you up on the coldest days, and an incredible patio for those sweltering summer months.

240 8 Ave. S.W., barbarellabar.ca

Padmanadi PHOTO: CHRIS LANDRY

Tubby’s Barbarella

The Cheapskate’s Guide to December Events and Activities

By Käthe Lemon

WSkate for free at Olympic Plaza

hether rising inflation is hitting your wallet hard, you’re saving your pennies for holiday gift giving or you’re naturally frugal with your entertainment dollar, fear not — there is plenty to do this month at little to no cost.

CHEAP THINGS TO DO

TRY ICE BIKING

Picture a bike with a front wheel replaced by a set of skates and a rear wheel surrounded by a platform with even more skates on it — that’s an ice bike. Ice bikes are available for rent for $12 for 30 minutes or $20 an hour at Bowness Lagoon from the UCalgary Outdoor Centre. Helmets are free to rent.

TOONIE SKATE AT THE OVAL

Skate the “Fastest Ice in the World” (yes, they’ve trademarked that!) for just $2 on Monday nights. Regular admission is $7 for adults, $4.75 for kids, and kids 5 and under are free.

And on Dec. 10 the popular Skate with Santa event returns to the Olympic Oval. More information at https://oval.ucalgary. ca/recreational-skating-running/skating

SKI FOR CHEAP(ER)

Downhill skiing will never be accused of being cheap, but for the most affordable skiing nearby, head to WinSport for the last two hours each evening for a steep discount. Regular full day is $79 for an adult but you can ski for the last couple hours each night for just $49 ($29 for kids). winsport.ca

If you’re looking for deals on mountain ski passes, check out Sunshine’s Super Card. For $94 the card includes your 1st, 4th and 7th day of skiing, which can be redeemed at Sunshine, Marmot Basin or Revelstoke any time in the season. You also get $50 off skiing midweek (Monday to Thursday) and through May, $30 off weekend skiing, and a bonus free day at Winsport, as well as some other discounts and offers. skibanff.com

FREE THINGS TO DO

TRADE YOUR TIME FOR TICKETS

See a show for free at Lunchbox Theatre if you volunteer to usher or work front of house. Since 1975 this local theatre company has put on short plays over the lunch hour to the delight of downtown workers and really anyone with a short attention span or time frame.

The current show, the holiday comedy With Bells On, is on until Dec. 17. Next up, Kisapmata, part of the High Performance Rodeo, will be on from Jan. 30-Feb. 18 lunchboxtheatre.com

OUTDOOR SKATING

If you’ve got a pair of ice skates, outdoor skating can’t be beat for its combination of price and seasonal delight. The City maintains 10 outdoor rinks and there are another 35 rinks run by volunteers, so you’re rarely far from a skating surface in Calgary in the winter.

Because the Olympic Plaza rink surface is refrigerated, it is usually the most consistent in terms of ice quality and is also open for the longest season. This year for example, because of the mild weather, Olympic Plaza was the only City-run rink open at the time of writing.

The rinks at Carburn Park and Bowness are both lit charmingly and offer heated bathrooms. Bowness also offers skate rentals ($12 for an hour or $20 for three hours, helmets are free). The Thomson Family Park rink is steps from 17th Ave, making it a good choice if you’re looking to do something else before or after your spin around the rink.

North Glenmore Park offers a separate shinny hockey rink, but most of the City-run rinks don’t allow hockey sticks.

Tired of skating in circles? North Glenmore and Bowness also feature ice trails. At North Glenmore, the 730-metre trail is attached to the main skating rink. At Bowness, a separate ice trail runs for 1.6 kilometres next to the Bow River.

If you’re in the market for literal cheap

skates, check out the selection at 2nd Chance Sports on Edmonton Trail.

CROKICURL

Although it’s not yet the pickleball of winter, crokicurl is a new sport on the ascent. Combining the ultimate Canadian pastimes of curling and crokinole, crokicurl was invented in 2016 in Winnipeg. This year, rinks at North Glenmore Park and Bowness Park offer you the opportunity to try your hand at this new winter sport. All equipment is provided on site, you just need to come prepared with warm clothes and a sense of humour.

BOOK A CITY FIREPIT

While there are a large number of firstcome, first-serve drop-in City firepits, for those anxious few who want to ensure they get what they want when they want it, there are more than 40 City firepits you can book in advance for no fee through Calgary.ca.

City firepits are available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 2, 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on weekends. At many sites, alcohol is allowed — but make sure you confirm before you book.

You need to provide your own equipment including firewood, matches and of course marshmallows. Don’t use wood you find in the park for your fire or you could face a damage fine of up to $10,000.

For the real cheapskates out there, Star Building Supply in Inglewood has a free wood bin.

SLEDDING

Much like skating, if you’ve got a sled, throwing yourself down a snow-covered hill is a time-honoured and free winter activity.

The City of Calgary maintains 22 approved tobogganing hills — find out where they are at Calgary.ca

In addition, CMLC maintains the enormous “Rise” on St. Patrick’s Island. With a firepit at the top of the hill and public washrooms nearby in the park, this is a great spot for a group tobogganing party.

CHEAP EVENTS

HOLIDAY SING-ALONG

Hosted by Kenna Burima and Chris Neville (Dec.17)

If you don’t like to sing, this event is not for you. But if you like a good old-fashioned singalong, with a bit of modern sass and banter, then head over to Congress Coffee at 2 p.m. on Dec. 17 to singalong with the musical stylings of Kenna Burima and Chris Neville for the holiday edition of their monthly singalong. Admission is a pay what you can.

congresscoffeeyyc.com

FREE EVENTS

CONCERTS AT THE HYGGE HUT

Dec. 1, 8 and 15 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.)

Enjoy free live music each Friday at the East Village Hygge Hut. With a fire pit and a warming area, the Hygge Hut, located east of the Simmons Building, brings a touch of Scandinavian winter style to East Village.

PROARTS SOCIETY’S FREE CONCERTS

Wednesdays at noon Dec. 6, 13 and 20

Since 2002, ProArts Society has presented free lunch-hour concerts on Wednesdsays.

On Dec. 6 Alberta Vocal Arts presents Die Fledermaus, the Champagne Operetta highlights — this is a preview show of their inaugural fully staged production in January.

On the 13th, the Canadian German Male Choir will perform traditional Christmas music, and on Dec. 20, Harp Angel will perform a Christmas Concert.

Shows are at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer at 604 1 St. S.E.

U/D NIGHT MARKET HOLIDAY EDITION

Dec. 7

Peruse more than 30 vendors and listen to the live music at this free outdoor holiday night market. Bring your skates for a spin around the rink.

myuniversitydistrict.ca/nightmarket/

FREE FIRST THURSDAY

At Contemporary Calgary

Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m.

On the first Thursday of each month, admission at Contemporary Calgary is waived from 5 to 8 p.m. Wander the galleries to the sounds of DJ Joash Charles — it’s the perfect night to check out the interactive exhibit

Three Dimensions by artists Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins.

This month’s event ends at 8 p.m., when the gallery will be taken over for the artist group Breadmaker’s annual “Good Tidings” event, a ticketed evening in support of The Alex.

LIGHTEN UP

Take advantage of the long nights and check out these free light displays and events around the city.

LIGHT UP THE SQUARE

(Dec. 2 from 3 to 6 p.m.)

This family-friendly event in East Village is free to attend and includes live carolers and firepits, free hot chocolate and baked treats, horse-drawn wagon rides and a special visit from Santa. The tree lighting will take place at 5:30.

evexperience.com/event-calendar

LIONS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

(nightly at 5:30 p.m. until Jan. 8)

Walk or cross-country ski through the 37th Annual Lions Festival of Lights at Confederation Park The lights turn on at 5:30 p.m. every evening.

lionsfestivaloflights.ca/

SPRUCE MEADOWS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Walk or drive through the Spruce Meadows

If you buy a Contemporary Calgary membership ($20) at a First Thursday event, you’ll receive a complimentary tote bag and then be able to go to the gallery any time for free.

FREE PHOTOS WITH SANTA OR THE GRINCH

At The CORE, Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 between noon and 4 p.m. at the Simons Truck. Or Dec. 8 or 15 between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. for a photo with the Grinch

Getting a photo of your kid with Santa can be not only emotionally taxing for all involved (long wait times plus strangers mixed with the anxiety of trying to capture a perfect holiday memory) it can be an expensive endeavour.

Stop by the CORE and Santa’s helper will assist you in taking a free photo on your phone with the jolly old elf or the Grinch, depending on your timing.

Christmas lights display. Although the pond is not open for skating this year, the firepits will be lit and there will be concession tents open for hot chocolate, coffee and food. sprucemeadows.com/christmaslights/

CPKC HOLIDAY TRAIN

For 25 years, the CP (now CPKC) Holiday Train has crossed Canada and the US bringing holiday cheer and gathering food bank donations and raising awareness of food insecurity. This year, the train covered in holiday light displays will roll into Anderson C-Train Station, at 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 9. Various musicians perform across the holiday train tour, and in Calgary the Anyway Gang will perform. The Canadian supergroup, made up of Dave Monks from Tokyo Police Club, Sam Roberts, Menno Versteeg from Hollerado, and Chris Murphy from Sloan, released a full-length album, Still Anyway, earlier this year. Attendance is free with a food bank donation.

cpkcr.com/en/community/HolidayTrain

Kenna Burima

Hygge Hut Lion’s Festival of Lights

Ballet for a Christmas Day

Beloved Nutcracker takes to the boards once again

By Erika Ravnsborg

It’s getting cold outside but in our beautiful city, it is also a time when a charming fairytale comes to the stage. In this case it is the Nutcracker Ballet. Tchaikovsky’s holiday masterpiece is coming to the Southern Jubilee Auditorium once again being brought to life by Alberta Ballet and bringing with them the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO). A magical tale of a young girl’s stand against the Rat Tsar, and meeting the captivating characters in the Land of Sweets reminds us of how magical the holidays are.

This year, the man who is helping bring this fantastical fete to the stage is Alberta Ballet’s creative director Christopher Anderson.

We had the pleasure of interviewing him and getting to know what his vision is for this year’s production. Here is what he told us.

What can we expect with this year’s performance? How will it be different from past performances?

This year there are all kinds of new activities in the lobby before the big show. We wanted to make this a more immersive experience that the whole family can partake in. People come from all over the province to see this show and we want to make sure that this event is extra special. For anyone who wants to see the magic of the holidays unfold before their eyes it is an experience like no other.

How did you set up everything for this production?

This is the largest production that we do here. We have over 100 performers that make this happen. Both dancers and musicians alike create the magic on stage. As we have the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra perform at the Southern Jubilee Auditorium for our dancers, we want to make this a local offering for those who come from all over to visit. Suffice to say, we have the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra play for our Edmonton performance. With this presentation we want to give our patrons the benefit of having two shows in one. One is the dancers and the other is the live music. It makes this ballet that much more special. What is your biggest influence on this production?

The magic of the Nutcracker is due to the new young dancers who come together with

our more seasoned veterans. The truth is that it takes all of them to make Clara’s fantastical journey from her parent’s Christmas party to the Land of Sweets real for the audience. Anytime that you can take something from a person’s wonderous imagination and make it come to life, you have to have both the energy of the young and the practicality of the experienced working together to make it happen.

What was the biggest challenge?

I would have to say the sets and costumes as they are a big part of how the audience views us. These things are a part of what brings everything together and makies it work. The trick is to get the music (and musicians), the dancers (both new and expert), and the backdrop to harmonize into one big piece. For example, when we have Clara wander into the snowy forest, we have snow sprinkle lightly down on her but we have it in a way that does not hinder the dancers and flows with the music at the same time. It’s always tough to get that to work in a way that makes a dream into a reality.

How would you say you made your mark on this production?

What we try to do is empower our dancers. We want them to incorporate their own personalities and ideas into creating the story and bringing the characters to life. We want to see them shine by their own uniqueness and not restrict themselves.

More Holiday Shows

What is next for you?

For the company we have more amazing shows coming to the stage that have a more modern feel but still dazzles the audiences. You can expect contemporary dancers, original storylines, and special surprises that will enchant a person’s imagination in an extraordinary way. You can see how true that is when you visit our website. Thank you for talking to us. It was my pleasure.

The Nutcracker has been a Christmas tradition since that first magical December of 1892 at the Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg,

HOLIDAY CIRQUE

Featuring the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra – Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra/Troupe Vertigo (Dec. 9):

What do you get when you mix the mesmerising music of the CPO with the awe-striking acts of Troupe Vertigo? The answer is a thrilling circus that screams, “Happy Holidays!” At the Southern Jubilee Auditorium, you will be blown away by these gravity-defying performers this December.

JANN ARDEN CHRISTMAS

Arts Commons (Dec. 9-10):

Calgary-born songstress is bringing her beautiful music to the Jack Singer Concert

Russia. It has lit all of our souls and brought on a lot of holiday cheer for every year since then. Now with another production on the way we can experience this magical world thanks to Christopher Anderson, the ballet dancers, the CPO, and the many production workers that makes what we can only imagine into a reality. We all need to have a little magic especially around Christmas time. The Nutcracker will give that to us on Dec. 15-24. Don’t miss it!

Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs Dec. 15-24 at the Jubilee Auditorium. For tickets and more information please go to albertaballet.com.

Hall this season. She will be singing the Christmas classics with her own unique twists and her hit songs for the die-hard fans. Prepare for a festive-filled evening with a Canadian legend.

CANDY CANE KIDS HOLIDAY SHOW

Occasional Notes Productions (Dec. 8-10): You can’t have a holiday celebration without something for the kids. Three quirky Christmas-loving characters are jumping at the BMO Theatre at the Shane Homes Rocky Ridge YMCA and ready to bring holiday joy to those who have lost their Christmas spirit. Can they fix those poor souls who are doomed to be Grinches?

— Ravnsborg

Alberta-created Bear Grease puts a unique spin on a classic

Beloved ’70s musical gets an Indigenous treatment in entertaining cultural collision

By Krista Sylvester

Everybody knows the iconic musical Grease but a production from an Edmonton couple reinvented the classic with an Indigenous twist sprinkled with some Christmas spirit to reflect the time of year.

Alberta’s Enoch Cree Nation members and Treaty 6 hip-hop duo Crystle Lightning and Cloud Andrade came up with the idea for Bear Grease in 2021.

The initial staging went on to have success at the renowned Edmonton Fringe Festival.

“It’s not something you see every day,”

Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society executive director Neil Fleming says of the pair. “Grease was on and it was one of their favourites and they thought, ‘Why can’t we have this?’

“So, they made their own.”

Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society teamed up with The GRAND to bring the acclaimed production back to Mohkinstsis/Calgary this month for two days only.

This one-of-a-kind performance has sold out theatres during its American tour and is expected to do the same here again.

Lightning and Andrade bring an artistic fusion of Indigenous culture to the backdrop of live bands, iconic costumes and songs and dance. The pair are known as the rap duo, LightningCloud and boast impressive résumés in music, theatre, television and film.

Not surprisingly, Bear Grease benefits from those diverse backgrounds, as well as being groundbreaking musical theatre due to the production’s inherent Indigenous representation.

“It’s pretty wild to see over a dozen Indigenous folks up there doing the singing, the dancing and the hip-hop. It’s wonderful for representation,” Fleming says, adding the show is also littered with cultural references and Indigenous humour.

“There’s so much silliness and happiness to the show. I just love seeing that whole theatre full of Indigenous folks walking out with big

grins on their faces afterwards giggling.”

The GRAND marketing and business development coordinator Ryan Wesley Gray says it’s exciting to see more diverse productions being created.

“Bear Grease is very much taking a classical story that was created back in 1978 when there was little to practically no people of colour being represented — especially no Indigenous representation,” Wesley Gray says.

“Audiences get to see Indigenous people represented on stage, taking a story that is initially not crafted for them, and making it about that community.”

The show creators have previously said that they wanted to make the show representative of their culture while also keeping the core of the story alive to appeal to broader audiences.

When the film version of the Broadway play was released in the late ’70s, Grease was an immediate hit, led by the central characters of American greaser Danny (John Travolta)

and Australian good girl Sandy (Olivia Newton-John), whose summer loving later led to them becoming tempestuous high school sweethearts.

And while pop, rock and swing music were the backbone of the original film and theatrical production — producing such hits as Greased Lightnin’, Summer Nights and Hopelessly Devoted to You — hip-hop is the backbone of Bear Grease.

And for this occasion, the show has undergone some changes and will be sprinkled with a Christmas seasoning treatment.

“It’s a really phenomenal show that’s a lot of fun and very engaging. It’s a great way to get excited, get ready for the holidays and it can just really bring people together,” Wesley Gray says.

Bear Grease plays Dec. 21-22, with daily performances at 8 p.m. and a matinee at 2 p.m. on Dec. 22. Tickets are on sale at thegrandyyc.ca/bear-grease-xmas-2023.

2023 in tune

Some of the best sounds from a fruitful musical year

By David Veitch

The sustained, superhuman brilliance of Sparks! Galen & Paul’s charming European update on the Nancy-andLee template! Paul Simon’s artful, introspective treatise on the nature of faith! Blur returns, all grow’d up!

These are just some musical highlights from 2023, none of which will be mentioned again in this article. Because it was that kind of year; a year bursting at the seams with superb recordings from artists both young and vintage, plus a few first-time solo turns from unexpected sources.

A list of top albums can’t capture all the exceptional music released this year, and that’s a fine problem to have. As it turns out, I’ve yet to see my favourite record of the year turn up on any other best-of-2023 list; bless theSCENE and its independent, music-loving heart to allow this writer to call ‘em as I hear ‘em!

So, without further ado …

5. SEA OF MIRRORS: THE CORAL

Recording a soundtrack for an imaginary film may be a hackneyed concept by this point, but you can’t argue the results found on the Merseyside band’s 11th studio album. Inspired by Ennio Morricone, these 11 wistful, wide-screen tracks create a world of their own populated by down-on-their-luck characters drifting, or grappling with loss, the scent of salt-sea air pervading every scene. Playlist this: Cycles of the Seasons

4. STRAYS: MARGO PRICE

Story goes, Price and her husband/guitarist spent six days tripping on ‘shrooms and writing many of the songs on this, Price’s fourth, album. This experience didn’t lead to a psychedelic opus, although there’s a hallucinogenic feel to opening track Been to the Mountain, but Strays suggests Price’s mind and sonic palette have been expanded. Country music is still embedded in her DNA, but the album’s’ unguarded songs of resiliency and personal freedom mostly traverse the Americana-to-‘70s classic rock highway (with reverent nods to Neil Young and Tom Petty,

whose guitarist Mike Campbell appears here). Late-in-the-year followup Strays II is almost as good. Playlist this: Been to the Mountain

3. MULTITUDES: FEIST

On Feist’s sixth and surely finest record, delicate chamber-folk arrangements wrap themselves around impressionistic ruminations on motherhood, womanhood, anxiety for the future, the impermanence of life, and the need to strike a spiritual connection with nature. Her words evoke mood and emotion rather than offer linear storytelling; a blend of impressionism and intimacy in the spirit of Kate Bush’s 50 Words for Snow or Jane Siberry’s The Walking. Playlist this: Martyr Moves

2. THE SOFT STRUGGLES: DAVID BREWLIS

Brewis steps away from Field Music, the angular art-rock combo he co-leads with brother Peter, to pull together his first solo album, a melancholic, delicately arranged chamber-pop beauty that strongly recalls Colin Blunstone’s One Year and, at times, Nick Drake’s jazzy, Robert Kirby-arranged sides. Playlist this: The King of Growing Up.

1. WE ARE STILL WILD HORSES: MF TOMLINSON

The second album from the Brisbane-born, London-based singer-songwriter didn’t get a lot of attention this year but is surely worthy of future “buried classic” status. Don’t wait. He’ll appeal to those who appreciate the articulate, observational, finger-on-the-human-condition lyricism of Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave, and the musical adventures of sonic experimentalist Jim O’Rourke. Verses upon verses tumble out of Tomlinson, his epic songs rife with ideas and imagery and black humour, as his music veers from folk into orch-pop, free jazz, psych-rock and post-rock, particularly on the second half of the record’s jaw-dropping 21-minute title track. Playlist this:

We Are Still Wild Horses

For the full list of David Veitch’s Top 20 albums of 2023, please go to theyyscene.com

Margo Price

MF Tomlinson

PHOTO: ANDREA SVADOVA

Feist

Sounds Like 2024

Insiders pick local artists and musicians set to take the next step in the year ahead

Kerry Clarke

Artistic director of the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Block Heater; host of Catch & Release Mondays 6-8 p.m. on CKUA

FLORIDA BC — I think the album that (they’re) doing with Nina Nastasia (under the name Jolie Laide) — I think that that’s gonna be friggin’ awesome. I’ve heard some of it. I think it’s really cool. I think it’s just really cool, that it’s a collaboration between Calgary musicians and her … I’m biased because I kind of love them, but I think it’s gonna be a really super cool album to be honest.

GINGER BEEF — Ginger Beef are really fun … I went to their CD launch, and it was in a clothing store in Chinatown. And they’re

Lisa Wilton

CKUA announcer/associate producer of Traffic Jams, Mon-Fri. 3-6 p.m

KUE VARO & THE ONLY HOPES Not gonna lie, melodic guitar-driven indie rock is kind of my thing, and Kue Varo & The Only Hopes do it very well. Great riffs and melodies and excellent musicianship without being too slick. Plus, singer Kue Varo is an incredibly dynamic performer. Take a listen to their latest album, Cowboy Witchcraft, and tell me they shouldn’t be huge.

SHANE GHOSTKEEPER — Shane has proven himself as a talented songwriter and musician with his longtime experimental indie rock band, Ghostkeeper. His solo album, Songs For My People, is one of my favourite local releases of 2023. It’s a brilliant collection of country tunes inspired by his family and upbringing in northern Alberta. He does a magnificent job blending old-school country with psychedelic undertones. He’s also an engaging performer. If you’ve seen him live, you’ll know it’s a real treat to hear him talk about the inspirations behind his songs.

really fun and cool. Their audience was diverse and it’s kind of instrumental and they’re great players. And so they’re pretty awesome.

JOLENE MARIE — Full disclosure, she’s gonna play Block Heater. I heard her play at the East Town Get Down (festival). And it’s sort of an indie sound. I love her melodies. I love the fact that she’s not one of those “me, me” kind of artists … There’s some kind of sweet sharp barbs in her lyrics, and there’s, there’s something about her melodies and her vibe that I just thought when I heard her playing, I thought this is one of the most appealing artists I’ve heard for a long time.

Dan Northfield

Operations manager at the Palomino Smokehouse).

CATPISS — Female-fronted, nu wave synth punks. Bizarre lyrics shouted over raw, primitive beats that will make you want to dance and scream. Catch them live in 2024.

WITCH VICTIM — This band has found their identity. With female vocals added to the mix their psychedelic shoegaze has never sounded so good. Lush layers of atmospheric, dreamy fuzz. Expect a full album in 2024

SARGEANT X COMRADE — Calgary’s R&B and hip hop scene is thriving these days and part of its success is due to the path carved out by Yolanda Sargeant and Evgeniy ‘Comrade’ Bykovets. What I love about Sargeant x Comrade is that they can play soul, funk, hip-hop, dancehall and jazz and make it the coolest, freshest sound you’ve ever heard. Yolanda’s voice is so smooth and hypnotic – like a modern-day Billie Holiday.

ZENON+ — Another fine vocalist in the city’s burgeoning R&B scene. Zenon’s songwriting is mature, emotional and thoughtful. Their velvety voice is a delight to hear live and their debut, Genre Z, is an entrancing mix of jazz and soul.

L’OMELETTE — Led by firecracker frontwoman Megs Benedict, L’omelette’s sound is difficult to pigeonhole. It’s a little jazzy, it’s a little art rock with prog and indie thrown in for good measure. When you think you know where they’re going in a song, they’ll take it in a different direction without it falling into disarray. A very cool and unique band.

RIOT CITY — Riot City’s is a hard-working band. A modern twist on classic heavy metal: the heavy speed and anthemic guitars of Judas Priest; overthe-edge Iron Maiden vocals; New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) inspiration with a punk attitude. They may only be selling out the Palomino in Calgary but in the past year they have toured Europe twice, US twice, south America, played some major festivals, Sharing stages with some heavy hitters of metal and getting ready to hit Australia in 2024.

MEATS — Anticipation is big for this new collection of individuals with an appreciation for ’80s college rock, ’90s alternative music and bad lager. High expectations, low brow … expect a show in 2024

BONUS ACTS: Stucco and Poltergeist

Kue Varo PHOTO: HEATHER SAITZ

Tarik Robinson

CBC’s the Key of A, every Saturday from 5-6 p.m.; member of local hip-hop duo Dragon Fli Empire ZENON+ (R&B)

DEVON COLE (Pop)

PAT CLIFTON AND THE NOLIAS (Rock)

SINZERE (Hip-hop)

JJ SHIPLETT (Country)

JAIRUS SHARIF (Jazz)

NGANDU (Electronic)

Greg Curtis

Talent buyer and owner of Tooth Blackner Presents

K THE CHOSEN — Everything I’ve heard from this (hip-hop artist) I really like. And he really knows how to work the community and how to work the business. He’s not just waiting in his basement for someone to discover him. He’s out there making himself known.

TEMIA — In the same vein, I really like Temia … She’s this sassy, sassy woman and in your face and pretty nasty, but in a clever way.

AMY NELSON — Her star keeps rising. She’s great. In that genre (country and roots), she’s seems to be winning around town.

TERRITORIES — A bunch of older guys, a bit of a dad band but I was at their album release (recently,) and I thought, “These are adult punk songs. These are punk songs made by dads.” It’s excellent.

SCHÄDLICH — It’s that mid ’80s metal, sort of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden style. Really amazing playing — you’re just astounded by how fast and how and how tight they are as players. It’s metal, it’s not going to change the world, but they’re damn good at it.

BONUS ACTS: Hello Moth, Kue Varo & the Only Hopes and St. Arnaud.

DECEMBER 14 & 15, 2023

Performances by Andy Kim, Ron Sexsmith, Maestro Fresh Wes, Beverley Mahood, Tanika Charles, Bebe Buckskin, Andrina Turenne, Jens Lindemann, Earl Pereira, Eldon Weasel Child, Kehewin Native Dance Theatre , and more.

Hosted by Master T.

CANADA’S HOME FOR MUSIC WELCOMES YOU.

Pay-what-you-can admission courtesy of ATB until the end of December. Check holiday hours at studiobell.ca.

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THE GIFT OF MUSIC

AND SUPPORT THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE

Music is the soundtrack to our memories. It brings us together and makes life’s greatest moments even greater.

Donate to NMC at nmc.ca/ThankYouMusic .

Tag #ThankYouMusic on social media to share how music has made a difference in your life.

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The Andy Kim Christmas

Featuring God’s Angels helping with a Whole Lotta Top 40 Hits

By Mary-Lynn Wardle

Singer/songwriter Andy

Kim’s parents came from Lebanon to Canada, hoping their children would have a better life than they’d had, but they never imagined that Kim’s better life would encompass creating music enjoyed by millions, touring the globe, and creating The Andy Kim Christmas, which has supported charities since its beginnings in 2005 in Toronto and will return to Calgary in support of the National Music Centre at Studio Bell in December.

Born at the end of 1946, Kim was 16 when he wrote his first of nine Billboard Top 40 hits, How Did We Ever Get This Way, and by the time he was 17 he was living in New York, writing songs at the fabled Brill Building.

With mentor Jeff Barry (co-writer of Da Do Ron Ron, Then He Kissed Me, Do-Wah-Diddy Diddy and more), Kim co-wrote Sugar Sugar and recorded it as part of The Archies for the Saturday morning cartoon show; the song went No. 1 on the Billboard charts for four weeks in 1969 (knocking The Rolling Stones’ Brown Sugar out of that slot) and won Recording Industry Association of America’s Record of the Year.

I never thought about it, I just knew that this was going to work, that this was going to happen.

ANDY KIM

RedPoint Media connects communities and engages audiences through trusted storytelling. Your passion inspires ours.

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Kim had an international hit of his own the same year when he recorded Barry’s Baby, I Love You (co-written with Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector), helping him earn the very first Male Vocalist of the Year Juno Award in 1970. In the same era, another hit single, (Shoot ’Em Up, Baby 1968) enjoyed copious airplay on Calgary’s own beloved radio station CKXL, and was another Billboard Top 40 hit.

So, you would think his parents, who raised four sons in tenement housing in Montreal, would be thrilled with their third son’s career choice, which included glamorous tours encompassing world travel. Well, not so much. Speaking from his Toronto home (he also has one in Los Angeles

but spends most of his time in the Big Smoke), Kim recalls, “It wasn’t good. You know I used to fly home once a week on Eastern Airlines for dinner from New York. And I used to leave after dinner and it crushed my parents, especially my mom. So, then it became every two weeks, because I couldn’t put them and myself in that position.

“I would call and we would talk, and it was always, ‘OK, so when are you coming home?’ All I needed to do was carve this dream that pushed something inside of me. I remember my dad saying to me, ‘You know, I’ve never heard you sing. What are you talking about?’

“And all of this was kind of a hidden thing. I got a guitar that was kind of broken and I tuned it the best I could. I created something within me that helped me get to The Brill Building, helped me to be around phenomenal people and be inspired by them.” As to how and why that happened, Kim does not hesitate.

“I think I participated in an angel that God sent me to take care of me, and to help me through, you know, a dream that I had.

“I don’t have a musical background; I don’t have anything other than I’m basically a dreamer. But I obviously needed something getting from the dream to reality, and when I look back

on it, I believe God’s angels have always been in my life and I feel very privileged and lucky.”

Those angels weren’t done with Kim at the end of the 1960s, either – they’d only just begun. He had several more Canadian hits, including another CKXL favourite, 1972’s Love the Poor Boy, before penning what was to be a monster hit, Rocky Me Gently, although for this to happen, Kim first made his parents’ wishes into reality – for a short time, anyway.

“I remember when I wrote Rock Me Gently, and nobody in the US wanted it. And a year later, I called home and I told (my mother), ‘Mom, I’m coming home’ and she started crying and she didn’t hear the rest.

“I said, ‘Mom, I’m starting my own record company called ICE – International Canadian Entertainment. And I’m going to put out my record because I really believe it’s a hit and I will start with it in Canada because normally the US would start it and Canada would follow suit.’”

He told his parents he would only be home for a month or so then would tour because by then the song would be a hit in the US. That’s exactly how it rolled out, with Rock Me Gently becoming an iconic Billboard No. 1 Hit and later covered by other artists and featured in commercials for Jeep and Lever’s Jif cleaner.

“I saw my life unfold with this song. It was great being (back) home — my mom was the best cook — but I was working towards something that I saw and my journey had always been that. It was so clear to me that I can’t abandon this.”

Again, it comes back to Kim’s sense of destiny with music, despite how grinding touring, recording, media and beyond can be.

“You know, I think it’s a Buddhist saying that says, ‘Born round, do not die square.’ For me, it’s look, I was born happy, I was born … I don’t know how to explain it and I don’t know what the word ‘happy’ means exactly. I was born to be me. I think if you live your life in a place of blessings and a place of, ‘Oh my God I can’t believe I wrote this song, I can’t believe it.’

“And it’s more than faith. I think sometimes if you have faith then you have to think about it. I never thought about it, I just knew that this was going to work, that this was going to happen. I had great times and I had times when it wasn’t successful or my two minutes and thirty seconds were up. It didn’t matter. I was just living this great life and somehow or other it worked. Especially now as I look back and think of all the wonderful moments.”

“I was in the Brill Building around some great songwriters but you went your own way at the end of the day, and that way was a solitary way for me because I wasn’t as successful as everybody else. But I was there. And I just felt that, ‘It’s OK – this is part of my education. This is part of my life.’ ”

Of those great songwriters around, Kim’s memories from nearly 60 years ago are sharp.

“Carole King and Gerry Goffin (Take Good Care of My Baby, The Loco-motion) and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (You’ve Lost that

MUSIC

Lovin’ Feelin’ – with Phil Spector, Kicks).

“They were across the road from 69th and 7th. The Brill Building, itself, was 1619 Broadway and that’s where Leiber and Stoller (Hound Dog, Love Potion #9) — I was in their office — Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector. You’re surrounded by songwriters – you get in the elevator and you’re surrounded by songwriters, you’re surrounded by publishers, you’re surrounded by musical people, Broadway people. It was just an incredible environment.”

As for the legacy of his dream, and the impact of time spent in the company of legendary songwriters, Kim says, “You know, I’m always writing; I don’t know how not to. Not everything is going to be something I record or that I play for someone or go in the studio, but instinctively, you know, you start your day with a guitar and keyboard, and there’s a lot of solace in that. It speaks to the inner part of me.”

That dream, that solace, led Kim to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2019 and into the Order of Canada this year. He cried on the phone when the call came in, thinking of his parents who were not around to see this happen. “They weren’t there to realize I celebrate this moment being a Canadian (that) really surpasses the feeling of getting gold records. To be honoured in your own country, that’s a big deal.”

Asked why he was drawn to create The Andy Kim Christmas as part of his journey, the songwriter is frank.

“Well, I don’t tell this much, but I’ve always felt melancholy at Christmas; I don’t know why. And I don’t need to dig up the memory of Christmas past, but I thought one day, what a great way to spend the Christmas season with musicians, artists, and get lost in the moment. And it kind of helps me,” he says of the tradition that will see him performing with several special guests including Ron Sexsmith, Maestro Fresh Wes, Tanika Charles, Beverley Mahood and Bebe Buckskin.

“Maybe it’s a selfish thought, but it really helps me get through the holidays. I thought it was going to be there for one year but it turned out to be more.”

Well, Andy, playing for free while sharing the gift or your music with others who love it and promoting other musicians while raising money for worthy causes – that’s not selfishness, that is a gift to the world.

The Andy Kim Christmas in support of the National Music Centre takes place at Studio Bell Dec. 14-15. For tickets and more information please go to studiobell.ca.

VENUE

The Blues Can

Inglewood venue still dishing out the jams and great food

THE BUES CAN

1429 9 Ave SE

Monday to Thursday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday to Sunday 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. thebluescan.com, 403-262-2666

By Mary-Lynn Wardle

In October of 2022, after the distinctive Quonset-type building that houses Calgary’s extremely active music venue, The Blues Can, was put up for sale, a notice on the website made it clear that rumours of the venue’s imminent demise had been greatly exaggerated. The message stated that the original landlords had always planned to eventually tear down the building to build condos (a 2020s plague to rival the previous scourge of endless, ugly, repetitive big, boxchain malls), so, if whomever bought it had the same plans, nothing much really would have changed.

Another thing that didn’t change was the flow of sweet music and enticing food. With an astounding 11 shows weekly listed on the current website, music cascades from The Blues Can’s stage at a rate few other Calgary venues can rival; in 2021, talent booker and manager Teena Wilson stated that at times, the venue offered 12 to 15 live shows weekly.

And this is not about quantity. With regulars like Tom Phillips & the D.T.’s playing Tuesday nights and the occasional Friday nooner, and more of all great things Zadravec on Monday nights (the Zadravec sisters are members of the D.T.’s, and Shaye performs some Monday nights with fellow D.T. Tim Leacock, while Sydney’s band, Virago, plays alternating Mondays, giving the Zisters a well-deserved lock on nine shows monthly), it’s firmly about quality, too.

Fridays start with noontime offerings to help you get your weekend on, followed by a musical happy hour and then an evening show. Sundays offer a choice of an afternoon jam with Anthony Davis and Peter LaMarr or an evening jam hosted by Ray Lemelin & The Matinee Kings (hmmm, Matinee Kings in the evening … thinking on that one). There is live music every night of the week, often a mix of

local and imported musicians which creates opportunities to support your favourite Calgary area artists every week or month while also getting to see artists from Chicago, New York or Louisiana.

Saturday afternoons, the grandaddy of ’em all for Alberta, Tim Williams hosts a jam, followed by an evening show provided by various musicians. Where else can you listen to Williams, who was schooled in old blues traditions while living in Rancho Palos Verdes and opening for folks like Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton (he was introduced to her by George “Harmonica” Smith from Muddy Waters’ band – how’s that for street cred, folks?) while finding breaded frog legs on the menu?

And that menu is a match for the music flowing through the small, intimate venue where many tables and close quarters make for excellent sound and a chance of finding friends you haven’t met yet. Offerings like the frog legs – yep, really! – Cajun crawfish, a po’ boy sandwich, blackened catfish and gumbo

Music fans and regulars find tunes that hit the high mark and enjoy making a memory that stands out from a blur of cookie-cutter places.

pay homage to that Southern bluesy feeling, while expertly done pub fare like burgers, nachos, steak, and salads are also on offer.

All these things mean owner Greg Smith, who used to book artists for the old King Eddy (he actually even used to bus tables at the Saturday jams because the place was such a zoo only brave folks dared. His dad was a musician so he was used to being around rowdy crowds), achieved the vision he had for The Blues Can when opening it in 2010. He wanted to create that organic, messy King Eddy vibe that vanished when the old blues bar closed in 2004. The Blues Can’s space, which contrasts dark, textured inner areas with the light of the patio and the areas close to the huge overhead door at the front of the venue, is a superb antidote to the numbing, sterile feel of chain restaurants/

venues that have spread through the country.

Smith took over the space after Ironwood Stage & Grill owner Pat MacIntyre took his show literally down the road a few blocks, thus, the bar, stage and infrastructure from the original Ironwood, much of which was created by members of Calgary’s music community in the winter of 2003, was ready to continue to serve artists and fans. Sitting at 1429 9 Ave. S.E. in Inglewood, The Blues Can is the eastern anchor of Calgary’s Music Mile, which features Festival Hall, the Ironwood, The King Eddy, (updated and re-opened by the National Music Centre), Studio Bell, and

many smaller venues along its stretch. This speaks to the reasons The Blues Can is usually packed, no matter what time of day you arrive to hear music, and that’s not about the small size of the room. Music fans and regulars find tunes that hit the high mark, while travelers and folks who don’t often attend live music events enjoy the character of the intimate venue, delicious and hearty portions, and making a memory that stands out from a blur of cookie-cutter places.

November Chartlist

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.

Your Phil this Winter

December

Handel’s Messiah

1 + 2 December

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Traditional Christmas

5, 6 + 7 December

Grace Presbyterian Church

Holiday Cirque

9 December

Jubilee Auditorium

January

Salute to Vienna

New Year’s Concert

1 January

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Starman: David Bowie

13 January

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Drag Story Time:

Peter and the Wolf

14 January

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Spectacular Spanish Guitar

19 + 20 January

Jack Singer Concert Hall

IndigiDivas: Opera Hits +

Indigenous Stories

27 January

Jack Singer Concert Hall

February

Montgomery + Mesa

2 February

Jack Singer Concert Hall

On Stage with Alex Cuba

10 February

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Birthday Bash!

Bruckner + Louie

16 + 17 February

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireTM in Concert

22, 23 + 24 February

Jubilee Auditorium

March

Beethoven’s Seventh

1 + 2 March

Jack Singer Concert Hall

Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony

3 March

Jack Singer Concert Hall

For details and tickets, visit calgaryphil.com

Tommy Mesa Montgomery + Mesa

Virginia Martínez Spectacular Spanish Guitar

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

THE BLOX IS THE PERFECT SPOT FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING. VISIT THEBLOX.CA OR FOLLOW @THEBLOXYCC FOR MORE AMAZING AND UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS FROM GREAT LOCAL BUSINESSES.

FOXGLOVE STUDIO

From festive wreaths, to flower arrangements, subscriptions, to do-it-yourself classes, Foxglove Studios has a variety of stunning gifts options this holiday season. A passionate small business with a high capacity for high-quality, creative floral design.

www.foxglovestudio.ca

Studio 505W, 323 10 Avenue SW

FIELD KIT STUDIO

For the candle lover in your life, Field Kit offers a variety of unique candles and scents, focused on

minimal design and sustainable production. With the belief that beauty and utility can be found in everyday objects and that this combination is found when goods are crafted simply and with purpose.

www.fieldkit.studio

Suite 408, 323 10 Avenue SW

THE COOKBOOK CO.

For all things culinary The Cookbook Co. has you covered, from classes and cookbooks, to kitchen supplies and ingredients there’s an abundance of exceptional gifts to be found here for the foodie on your list.

www.cookbookcooks.com

722 11 Avenue SW

STUFF

What can’t you find at Stuff? Men’s apparel, footwear, grooming tools, gift items, personal accessories, home goods - including a large selection of bar and cocktail essentials - along with a few pieces of home décor. Stuff stocks quality products from suppliers near and far, including locally based YYC makers, new up and coming brands, as well as international labels.

www.stuff4him.ca

709 11 Avenue SW

KIT INTERIORS

Kit is your destination in Calgary for authentic modern furniture and home accessories. Give a gift to enhance their home throughout the year with stunning furniture pieces and uniquely modern home décor.

www.kitinteriorobjects.com

725 11 Avenue SW

CUPS

Give the gift that gives back! Support CUPS this holiday season by purchasing a wreath or donating directly. For 34 years and counting, CUPS has supported Calgarians impacted by poverty, trauma, and systemic marginalization with a unique integrated approach to care.

www.cupsgivingwreaths.com

@cupscalgaryab