SCENE June 2024

13 COVER

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.

10 ARTS SCENE

Meet Bethel Afework and Dennis Lee, the creative masterminds behind The Alcove Centre for the Arts.

11 ART SCENE

Wendy Toogood’s whimsical textile self-portraits are on exhibit at Wallace Galleries. Plus check out what else is on at Calgary galleries.

FESTIVAL SCENE: 16 SLED ISLAND

Sled Island is back. We talked to festival guest curators Show Me the Body and a group of Scenesters to find out what their excited about at this year’s fest.

Cover Photo Trudie Lee

Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare on the Bow. This outdoor event will be on hiatus this year.

Festival season is upon us, but change is in the air as outdoor fests face challenging times with funding, audiences and the weather. 6 Act 1, Scene 1

19 JAZZYYC SUMMER FESTIVAL

From “curry western” to bebop worship, Jazz YYC’s TD Summer Festival brings together international and local talent to to explore the full range of the genre.

Publisher and Acting Editor Käthe Lemon, klemon@redpointmedia.ca

Founding Editor Mike Bell

Designer Kris Twyman

Print/Digital Production Manager Mike Matovich

Intern Nathan Iles

CONTRIBUTORS

Cam Hayden, Benjamin Heisler, Nathan Iles, MaryLynn 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.

redpointmedia.ca

1721 29 Avenue SW, Suite 375, Calgary, AB, T2T 6T7

20 MUSIC SCENE

Singer-songwriter JJ Shiplet has a new album and a fresh appreciation for time.

Venue: Commonwealth 22 Cam Hayden

Lilac Fest, June 2

What to do in June

BY ALANA WILLERTON

MS. HOLMES & MS. WATSON - #2B

The latest Vertigo Theatre production offers a fresh spin on the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, with a modern revamp set in 2021. This marks the Canadian premiere of Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - #2B, a mystery following Ms. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Joan Watson as they set out to catch a murderer in London. Catch a performance at The Playhouse until June 9. Visit vertigotheatre.com for more information and tickets.

BEACHES THE MUSICAL

The bestselling book, Beaches, by Iris Rainer Dart was made into a movie starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey in the ‘80s. And now Dart is back with a brand new musical based on the same novel. The world premiere is on at Theatre Calgary until June 16. It’s a bit of a coup for the city and if you’re a musical fan — or a fan of the original chick-lit novel — you won’t want to miss it. Visit theatrecalgary.com for more information.

VIOLINS OF HOPE

A new featured exhibition at the National Music Centre at Studio Bell, Violins of Hope features restored string instruments from Holocaust victims and survivors, as well as stories and historical imagery. In addition to visiting the exhibition itself, which runs until June 16, guests can attend a live performance where some of the instruments will be used. There will be a performance with composer and singer Lenka Lichtenberg, Drew Jurecka and Rebekah Wolkstein on June 2. Visit studiobell.ca for more information and tickets.

DOG JOG

Dog Jog, a fundraising walk/run event that aims to help stop animal cruelty, is a great way to get some exercise, give back and have some fun with your pooch. On June 1, complete a five-kilometre walk or run in North Glenmore Park, then check out activities like a dog-friendly beer garden, an agility course, food trucks and more at the

outdoor festival. Visit calgaryhumane.ca/dog-jog/ for more information and to sign up.

CALGARY UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL

Ukrainian food, arts and culture will be on full display during the Calgary Ukrainian Festival at the Acadia Recreation Complex. On June 1 and 2 expect to see dance performances, arts and crafts, activities for children and more. Visit calgaryukrainianfestival.com for more information.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS HOME OPENER

Cheer on the Canadian Football League hometeam as the Stamps face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium in the home opener on June 7 Visit stampeders.com for more information.

SPRUCE MEADOWS TOURNAMENTS

The 2024 tournament season kicks off at Spruce Meadows this month, and this is your chance to see some of the top equestrian show jumpers in the world. In June, there are three tournaments: The Continental from June 6 to 9, the National

from June 12 to 16 (which will also feature live concerts with George Canyon, Jess Moskaluke and Steven Lee Olsen on two days) and the Pan American from June 26 to 30 Visit sprucemeadows.com for more information and tickets.

INGLEWOOD NIGHT MARKET

The Inglewood Night Market is back in action, taking over the popular inner-city neighbourhood’s 10th Ave. and 10th Street — near Lina’s Italian Market, The Nash and Cold Garden. With more than 100 local artisans, makers and vintage and collectible vendors, plus live music and a beer garden, this summer tradition is a great way to spend an evening. This summer’s dates include June 7, July 12, August 9, September 6 and September 13 Visit inglewoodnightmarket.ca for more information.

MARKET COLLECTIVE

One of Calgary’s most popular markets is hitting a big milestone this month as it celebrates its 16th anniversary. Now taking place at Contemporary Calgary, the market invites you to swing by over two weekends (June 7 to 9 and June 14 to 16) to shop from more than 90 local makers offering

everything from cider, to skincare, to coffee mugs. You can also expect an outdoor lounge, an audio-visual installation experience, food trucks and more. Entry is $7 or free for children 12 and under. Visit marketcollective.ca for more information.

WILD AFTER HOURS: ZOO BREW

Stroll through a kids-free zoo with a beer in hand while you enjoy gourmet tastings from chef-attended food stations. Tickets include after-hours entry to the zoo; drink samples from more than 30 brewers and distillers such as Wild Rose, Annex Ale, Village and Wild Life Distillery; a keepsake tasting mug and entry to the after-party. For more information, visit calgaryzoo.com and click on the “special experiences” tab.

JIMBO’S DRAG CIRCUS WORLD TOUR

Since competing on the first season of Canada’s Drag Race in 2020, Jimbo has become a veritable drag icon. Described as “the weirdest show on earth” this comedy event includes outrageous characters and adult humour that hits Calgary’s Arts Commons on June 8 as part of a 57-city

Dog Jog, June 1

PHOTO: DERRICK WOO

world tour. Visit artscommons.ca for more information and tickets.

SLED ISLAND

Sled Island, one of Calgary’s most popular festivals, returns with an impressive lineup this month from June 19 to 23. Along with tons of musical artists and bands, the festival also includes a poster show, comedy performances, an all-day Sled Alley party, a drag brunch, a wrap-up pig roast and more. For some Scenester picks on what to see, plus an interview with festival guest curators Show Me the Body, turn to page 16. Visit sledisland.com to get your tickets

free. Visit prfmyyc.com for more information.

ONE — WORLD GOES BOLLYWOOD

The 13th Annual One — World Goes Bollywood put on by Sparq Productions showcases circus, tribal belly dance, hip hop, salsa and, of course, Bollywood performances. The show, at the Jack Singer on June 22 melds dance forms across cultures and genres for an unforgettable evening. The event also raises money for the Canadian Transplant Association in support of organ and tissue donation awareness. Visit sparqproductions.com for more information.

Onstage in June & July

SPRING FESTIVALS, FOLK ROCK AND METAL RULE COWTOWN’S STAGES

BY NATHAN ILES

SPENCER JO W/ ZENON, AMY NELSON, GHOSTLY HOUNDS AND WINTER COUNT

Local folk troubadour Spencer Jo is dropping a new album, “The Water,” and everyone is invited to celebrate a night of powerful words and folk-punk magic. June 1, 8 p.m. at The Palomino, 109 7 Ave. S.W., thepalomino.ca.

LILAC FESTIVAL

Catch Calgary acts like BETABOYS and L’omellete across the six entertainment stages at the 4th Street Lilac Fest. June 2, 10 a.m. between 12 Ave. and Elbow Dr. S.W., lilacfestival.net.

GUTTER KING W/ ILL DEFINED, WATERFRONT AND A MILE WEST

Strap on your best two-stepping shoes and prepare for the pit when Gutter King’s frenzied flurry of metal-influence hardcore punk hits Calgary this spring. June 8, 5 p.m. at Modern Love, 613 11 Ave S.W., modern-love.ca

THE NATURE OF US

This semi-improvised theatre and choral performance featuring soundscapes, monologues, sound choreography, and choral music and a blindfolded audience in an outdoor setting. The Nature of Us is a three-way presentation by New Works Calgary, Artio Choir and TRAction, in partnership with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC). June 8, 7:25 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Island, meet at the base of the George C. King Bridge, newworkscalgary.com

ASHLEY GHOSTKEEPER

Hailing from Red Deer, Metis-Cree songwriter Ashley Ghostkeeper brings a storytelling edge to her blend of soulful country ballads, all within the beautiful walls of the downtown library. June 9, 1 p.m. at Calgary Public Library, 800 3 St. S.E., calgarylibrary.ca.

AN EVENING WITH NICK LOWE AND RON SEXSMITH

Catch these two singer-songwriters on stage together for a concert at the Bella, a true jewel-box of a concert hall. June 12, 8 p.m. at Bella Concert Hall at Mount Royal University, taylorcentre.ca

I’M A SOUL MAN BLUES BROTHERS TRIBUTE

Join Jake and Elwood Blues — as performed by Ontario’s Chris and Geoff Dahl — for a night of rhythm and soul at the Grey Eagle, featuring hits by James Brown, Ray Charles and more.

June 13, 6 p.m. at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, 3777 Grey Eagle Dr., greyeagleresortandcasino.ca.

JOEL CORRY W/ JOANNA MAGIK AND AYLA

With his addictive brand of techno house, Joel Corry’s set in the heart of Stephen Avenue is not to be missed. DJs Joanna Magik and Ayla will start the night off hot, and the hits won’t stop until the wee hours of the morning.

June 14, 9 p.m. at The Palace Theatre, 219 8 Ave. S.W., thepalacetheatre.ca.

IAN VAN DER WEE X LONG CALL

From Halifax, Ian Van der Wee and Long Call are bringing a swirling take on queer chamber pop and indie rock to the Music Mile, laden with powerful lyrics and disarming melodies.

June 20, 8 p.m. at The Attic, 1413 9 Ave. S.E., theatticyyc.ca.

SNOOP DOGG W/ WARREN G, DJ QUIK AND GREEN LANTERN

Snoop doggy Dogg brings the “Cali to Canada” tour to the ‘Dome for a night of hard-hitting West Coast hip-hop and subwoofer-blasting beats. June 21, 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise S.E., scotiabanksaddledome.com

EVERY LITTLE SCENE ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT

Local jazz singer-songwriter Ellen Doty debuts her latest album with her band and the Kensington Sinfonia string quartet. June 22, 7:30 p.m. at The Lantern Community Church, 1401 10 Ave. S.E., showpass.com/ ellendotyyyc

ZIGGY ALBERTS W/ SPECIAL GUESTS

The NEW LOVE WORLD TOUR lands in Calgary this June, showcasing Ziggy Alberts’s vulnerable folk songwriting and disarming lyrics.

June 25, 8 p.m. at MacEwan Hall, 402 Collegiate Boulevard N.W., machallconcerts.com

Lilac Festival, June 2

Spencer Jo, June 1

Ashley Ghostkeeper,

Gutter King, June 8

PHOTO: PARK PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO: BRANDYNN LEIGH

PHOTO: HOLD FAST PHOTOGRAPHY

OSYRON W/ HAZZERD AND PRISONER

Join Dickens Pub for a wild night of symphonic heavy metal, complex melodies and soaring vocals courtesy of Osyron, Hazzerd and Prisoner. June 29, 8 p.m. at Dickens Pub, 1000 9 Ave. S.W., dickensyyc.com.

FIVE ALARM FUNK

Kick off the Stampede with style. This funkified audio assault of horns and strings is celebrating its 20th year of operation with a showstopping appearance in Calgary. July 4, 9 p.m. at The Big Four Roadhouse, 1410 Olympic Way S.E., calgarystampede.com

STAMPEDE COCA-COLA STAGE

From CanCon legends like Metric and Billy Talent to rising stars like Orville Peck and The Beaches, this year’s Coke Stage lineup lights up the greatest outdoor show on earth. July 5 - 14, various times at the Stampede Coca-Cola Stage, 1410 Stampede Trail S.E., calgarystampede.com

BARENAKED LADIES

Catch BNL’s signature blend of witty humour and soaring pop-melody outside The Back Alley under the blue Calgary sky. July 6, 7 p.m. at The Back Alley Summer Events Tent, 4630 Macleod Trail S.W., backalleycalgary.com

The wildly popular live musical tribute show is back with a fresh setlist. All your favourite Canadian hits that achieved international success, and more songs that made an unforgettable impact at home. Rock out to the soundtrack of a nation!

CHECK MATINEE SHOWTIMES AT STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON

A new temporary exhibition honouring the “Godfather of Canadian hip-hop.”

GET TICKETS AT STUDIOBELL.CA

Celebrate trailblazing Indigenous voices in music. 2024 artists include Leela

CANADA DAY

•Live music and five floors of family fun.

•50% off NMC Memberships on July 1 only.

•Full line up and details at studiobell.ca. 2024 INDUCTEE MAESTRO FRESH WES

AT STUDIO BELL POWERED BY ATB

Produced by:

Ghostkeeper, June 9 Ian Van der Wee, June 20

PHOTO: NOELLA STEINHAUER PHOTO: RACHEL LUDWIN

Create & Connect

THE ALCOVE CENTRE FOR THE ARTS PROVIDES AN ACCESSIBLE SPACE TO CREATE AND CONNECT

BY NATHAN ILES

It’s hard not to get swept up by the bustling oomph of downtown Calgary. 7th Avenue thrums with the energy of TD Square, the surrounding professional buildings, the C-Train line, and Stephen Avenue Place.

But there’s a cozy secret nestled in Calgary’s beating heart. Step through the doors under the green “BOW PARKADE” sign on the corner of 2 Street, and you might feel like you’ve stepped into your favourite aunt’s cozy basement — the spot where you and all your friends would hang out after school.

Warm lighting falls over colourful carpets and plush seating, vibrant artwork hangs from the walls, paintbrushes sticking out of jars, and instruments wait in the corner. A friendly face greets you from the front desk, and the various art supplies urge you to sit down and create something.

This is The Alcove Centre for the Arts, a vibrant social space built around the arts and creativity. It isn’t an art gallery: in the words of co-founder Bethel Afework, it’s a “third place” that isn’t work or home for Calgarians to spend time without the pressure to spend money.

“When I turned 18, it felt like there was nothing

Among the first events Alcove hosted was Raw Voices, a showcase of spoken word, comedy, and live music. “It was meant to be a one-time show, and we wanted to make it super eclectic,” says Afework. Raw Voices lives on at The Alcove’s new home on the last Friday of every month. All are welcome to sign up for a fiveminute mic spot.

for us to do,” says Afework. “There’s only so many times you can go out to eat or to the bar. There wasn’t a casual place to hang out and make art, like a recreation centre. There wasn’t a place to drop in and try a paintbrush without feeling like I have to pay for it or feel that I’m not good enough.”

Providing a creative, inclusive alternative to a bar or a club is the dream that united Afework with fellow Alcove co-founder Dennis Lee. The two met while attending the University of Calgary — Afework studying communications, Lee studying urban planning. They kicked things into gear amidst the chaos of 2020, drawing inspiration from a drop-in music event Lee hosted in the past called The Alcove.

“For about two years, we did pop-up events partnered with organizations like Calgary Downtown Association and the Esker Foundation and lived out of their spaces,” says Lee. “It was very much a grassroots, volun-

teer-type thing.”

The Alcove’s Hip-Hop Showcase was one such event, one of many creative pop-ups that flourished on Stephen Avenue throughout the summer of 2022. At these events, any passerby could engage in art workshops, perform music, add some spray paint to the community mural, and bond with each other. That same year, The Alcove hosted a series of “Creative Mingler” events, one of which was attended by then-poet laureate Wakefield Brewster.

In addition to free drop-in hours and regular event programming, The Alcove offers a variety of pay-what-you-can workshops led by professionals, whether you want to learn about edible painting or hone your samba reggae drumming skills.

After over a dozen pop-ups, it was clear there was demand for a communal drop-in art space. In 2023, The Alcove partnered with The City of Calgary Downtown Strategy Team and cSPACE to open a physical location.

Located at 244 7 Ave. S.W., The Alcove Centre for the Arts was born within walking distance from a train station. “Being downtown has always been a part of our

beliefs,” says Lee. “To be in the centre, as close to as many people as possible, where it’s most accessible through public transit.”

That sort of inclusivity is vital to The Alcove. “Where should someone go when they’re just starting out?” says Afework. “Some people just want to be in a creative space and meet like-minded people. Many people in our space wouldn’t call themselves musicians; they’re just hobbyists who like messing around and spending time here. We should have the ability to do that.”

In addition to the drop-in arts space, The Alcove also offers registered workshops — May saw workshops including crochet, paper flower making and embroidery — jam sessions and more. With the first year of operating a physical third space in the books, The Alcove aims to build the community outwards.

The Alcove will host Sled Island’s Arts Exhibition this month, and the team will be present at Sled Alley, facilitating art workshops.

“Now that we’ve got this community hub, we want to be outward facing again,” says Lee. “It’s about getting people to subscribe to the idea that arts are important, and we need to incorporate it into our lives more.”

Visit The Alcove Centre for the Arts at 244 7 Ave. S.W., alcoveartscentre.ca.

One of The Alcove’s most lively events is the Thursday open Jam Session. Musicians of all ages and skill levels are welcome to show up, grab an instrument or the microphone, and create. A group of six musicians who met at this event have formed a band called Hip Hip Thursday and will be performing at this year’s edition of Sled Island.

Bethel Afework [l] & Dennis Lee, co-founders of The Alcove Centre

PHOTOS: LAHKAI RINDER

ARTS SCENE

TAILORED MOMENTS

WENDY TOOGOOD’S TEXTILE WORK IS ON EXHIBIT AT WALLACE GALLERIES

BY BENJAMIN HEISLER

Wendy Toogood’s left-handed textile self-portraits are whimsical and child-like.

Toogood began this stitched series after she moved to Nakusp in 2006. Each document vivid memories from her everyday life. She has completed over a hundred; 18 of which will be on display at the Wallace Gallery until June 19. “I complete each fabric collage before I start a new one,” says Toogood.

Illuminated in stitch, weave, and appliqué; the Nakusp narratives memorialize recollections that relate to life, friendship, and humanity. “I work intuitively documenting everyday events as I want to remember these experiences and make them special,” she says. “The central image in each of the units is a stylized figure which represents me. Some of the themes I employed are: gardening; … thrift shop purchases; volunteer work; activities with friends and family; cooking dinners or special dinners I attend; common household activities.”

Toogood starts her portraits by drawing the piece with her left hand. “I am right-handed but using my left hand forces me to simplify

the drawing and I really enjoy the exaggerated shapes which result from this approach. These drawings are rough but they have an energy I enjoy.”

She then creates the textile works based on those drawings. “The initial drawings are done very quickly but after that the process is somewhat obsessive and time consuming,” she says.

“These drawings are rough but they have an energy I enjoy.”

WENDY TOOGOOD

Toogood works on her fabric constructions daily. Thrift Store Find is celebratory — a jubilant figure holds up the dye pattern summer dress with long arms; her face glows pink. Glitter is air borne and her eyes are full twinkle. The dress has black beads, or it’s possible the orbiting spheres showcase the garment’s cosmic alignment. Her feet lift off the ground as tension

IN THE GALLERIES

Christine Klassen Gallery, christineklassengallery.com

• Joanne Macdonald: Art of Alchemy, until June 29

• Debra Van Tuinen: Light Revealed, until June 29

Esker Foundation, eskerfoundation.com

• Deanna Bowen: Black Drones in the Hive, until August 25

Glenbow at the Edison, glenbow.org

• Meryl McMaster: nikihci-âniskotâpân bloodline, June 8 to September 1

Herringer Kiss Gallery, herringerkissgallery.com

• Angela Grossmann: “All That Glitters”, until June 22

hangs between the new dress and her old orange jumpsuit.

‘Ray Gave me an Amaryllis... I hope I don’t kill it’. Text sewn onto the piece indicates that it was the variety Red Pearl. She holds the colour-spotted, many-tendrilled shape with both hands and surrounds it with a golden globe, as she walks on sparkles and sequins.

In No Power, Toogood’s self is small and appears to shiver, surrounded by an embroidered web of darkness. Her figure clearly concerned; face furrowed and frowning, holds a candle that burns low.

Mushroom Season shows our hero content in a land where she and the mushrooms are larger than life. Wearing green eyeshadow and a black jumpsuit with white and gold polka dots, she smiles, carrying distinctly different fungus under each arm.

Toogood graduated from the Alberta College of Art, taught in the fabric department for decades; and received an Alumni Award of Excellence. She also received the Alberta Achievement Award. No surprise, Toogood artworks are found in several provincial art collections, and the National Gallery of Canada has also toured her work.

Wendy Toogood: Narratives, at Wallace Galleries, 500 5 Ave. S.W., June 1 to 19, wallacegalleries.com

Kevin Kanashiro Gallery (Below Paul Kuhn),

• David Foxcroft: Live/Work

Newzones, newzones.com

• Jonathan Forrest: Momentum, until June 22

• Jack Bishop: you didn’t have to do that but thankyou, until June 22

Nickle Galleries, nickle.ucalgary.ca

• Time and Place, until August 9

• H.G. Wells: A Scientific Romance, until July 19

• Richard Clements: Cloister, until July 19

Norberg Hall, norberghall.com

• Kablusiak + Audie Murray: here and there, June 20 to August 30

Paul Kuhn Gallery, paulkuhngallery.com

• John Goetz: Rites of Spring, until June 14

• Tanja Rector: New Horizons, until June 14

Viviane Art, vivianeart.com

• Tyler Bright Hilton: A model world, until June 16

Festival Check-In 2024

CALGARY’S ARTS FESTIVALS ADAPT TO CHANGE

BY NATHAN ILES

On March 9, Theatre Calgary announced that Shakespeare by the Bow would be going on hiatus in 2024. It wasn’t an easy decision. “It was heart-wrenching,” says Theatre Calgary’s executive director Maya Choldin. “We are really proud of 13 seasons of producing Shakespeare in the summer, but it’s tough times right now. We’re just ensuring that we survive and are healthy, strong, and as organized as possible to serve as many people as possible. “

The financial realities of organizing outdoor arts events, particularly in the aftermath of COVID-19, are stark. “Since we were back in-person post-pandemic, cancelling the production has been a conversation. Even before the pandemic, there were years of projected losses,” says Choldin.

She estimates that producing Shakespeare by the Bow costs nearly $400,000 a year. Much of that budget was allocated to logistics, such as fencing around performance areas and security trailers. Even the scaled-down touring version of the production, Shakespeare on the Go, which ran last summer cost roughly $200,000. And despite corporate and audience donations, the event ran at a loss for Theatre Calgary in most years. With inflation that was expected to get worse.

This yearly tradition has seen many changes in its 20+ year history. Originally known as “Shakespeare in the Park,” this program was started by Mount Royal University in 1987 to bring accessible, public Shakespeare performances to Prince’s Island. Theatre Calgary and MRU collaborated to revive the program in 2011, rebranding it as “Shakespeare by the Bow.” In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the production hit the road in 2021 as “Shakespeare on the Go.” It toured to various locations in Calgary during 2022 and 2023.

The show will need to see another adaptation to survive. “I can see it coming back with a partnership, no problem,” says Choldin. ‘Theatre Calgary would participate and support that in

every possible way.”

Despite the hiatus from Shakespeare by the Bow, for the most part, Calgary’s outdoor festivals seem to be doing well, especially compared to the situation in other Canadian cities. Last year, for example, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival announced it would need to dissolve its organization and cancel its event — emergency provincial funding saved the event.

It is increasingly crucial for outdoor festivals to change with the times to survive. This was abundantly clear to the Calgary Reggae Festival Society. The last outdoor ReggaeFest that the group produced was in 2017, with a break in 2018 and an attempt at indoor programming in 2019. “We wanted to return in 2020, but it was a struggle, financially,” says the festival’s producer, Leo Cripps. “COVID came around and forced us to take a break.”

From 2004 to 2017, the Society hosted Reg-

gaeFest for several days yearly at the massive Shaw Millenium Park. “What a lot of folks don’t even realize is that before you sell a ticket to an event, you’re already in the $100,000 range with equipment rentals and then another $20,000 for infrastructure and performance fees,” says Cripps. “By 2019, we were at the stage of burnout. There’s a lot of stress, and honestly, we didn’t feel it was appreciated enough for the energy we put into it.”

ReggaeFest reinvented itself this year with SUNNY Soul Jam, a single-day outdoor live music event in ContainR Art Park to be held on June 15.

“Throughout 2023 and 2024, we produced some indoor shows, which was pretty straightforward,” says Cripps. “We thought, let’s take that model for an indoor show and take it outside.” The financial pressure is much lighter on ReggaeFest, with the park already containing

performance infrastructure and a targeted ticket count of 500 attendees.

“It’s all running smoothly. That’s the scary part of it,” says Cripps. “We’re used to many stresses and struggles behind the scenes. This year, it’s just smooth sailing. We love the idea of it and the name as well. It reflects where the show is in Sunnyside and how it could be a sunny day. If it goes well, we will definitely continue doing it.”

Change and evolution are also familiar territory for the Sled Island Music & Arts Festival, which takes place this year from June 19 to 23. Since the historic flood of 2013, the event has consistently changed when needed, and this year is no different. “We, like everyone else, are being affected by the prices of things going up,” says Hemen Tor-Agbidye, festival manager for Sled Island. “The big question we had last summer was, how do we adjust to that while keeping

Shakespeare by the Bow, on hiatus this year

PHOTO: TRUDIE LEE

everything accessible to attendees?” Artist fees, for example, have been consistently rising to match the increased cost of plane tickets.

Grant funding from organizations like FACTOR Canada and significant sponsors like ConnectFirst Credit Union has helped soften these blows. “Then you’ve got local heroes like Dandy and 88 Brewing, who are always on board trying to support,” says Tor-Agbidye. The festival cancelled the Sled Island Block Party event in Ramsay this year because of lack of funding, but in its place, both breweries will offer outdoor shows on the Saturday of the festival.

Meanwhile, The BUMP Festival is trying to streamline its events this year. “We’re trying to restrict it to two weeks of August,” says BUMP’s festival and events manager Ryan Tram. “It makes it easier for us to have a more cohesive package as a festival with a clear through line. So we’re trying to hone in, be strategic, and increase the impact without killing us from a labour perspective.”

From August 3 to 18, BUMP will host a conference on the practice of art murals, made possible through city funding of panels, workshops, networking events, and speeches.

“We’re starting to see the post-COVID funding disappear, and it begs the question: what is the next step? How do we prepare for that? How do we pivot so that we’re not reliant on temporary pots of funding?” asks Tram. For BUMP, the answer has been developing outreach and sponsorship, focusing on the festival length, and offering various programming options, including an alley party featuring DJs and diverse local talent. “We observed that Calgary’s young queer community of vogue-ers and ballroom dancers came out to support our events last year, and that’s something that we’re really trying to integrate into our programming in a meaningful way.”

Calgary Pride has been taking a similar approach. “We entered 2024 intending to do less, but do it well,” says Pride’s manager of production and programming, Sumit Munjal. Calgary Pride will host events from August 26 to September 1, with a parade and festival on the final two days presented in partnership with TD Canada Trust.

This comes after years of flux that shifted the events from online programming to hybrid and in-person events since 2020. “Our intention has always been to highlight diverse voices and for us to engage a variety of communities,”

“The big question we had last summer was, how do we adjust to [rising prices] while keeping everything accessible to attendees?”

HEMEN TOR-AGBIDYE, FESTIVAL MANAGER, SLED ISLAND

says Munjal. “This year, Calgary Pride is in a perfect place to deliver a safe festival, especially considering what’s happening around 2SLGBTQ+ rights.”

The weather is a new wrinkle — or at least an evolving concern — in delivering a safe outdoor festival in 2024. “As part of our emergency response plan, we have to be aware of how climate change can impact things like our programming or the health of individuals attending,” says Munjal. It’s a concern echoed by Jennifer Rempel, who produces several outdoor events, including the Lilac Festival and Inglewood Sunfest through Vibrant City Events. “We all have it in the back

of our minds,” she says. “Specifically with water restrictions and heat. We can’t predict it, but it will affect outdoor events.”

Despite this, events like the Lilac Festival have seen an encouraging return to pre-COVID levels of engagement, especially from vendors.

“I think that’s the shift in the economy where there’s a lot of people that have converted from their corporate jobs to becoming makers or producers and doing the market circuit,” says Rempel. She even thinks the shifting weather presents an opportunity for festivals to occur during the “shoulder seasons” between high and low tourism periods in the city. “Or even, dare I

use the W word, in the winter.”

The Calgary Folk Music Festival is also mindful of these challenges.

“It’s an outdoor festival, so we’re always hyper-aware that we could have rain, storms, fires, smoke,” says CFM’s artistic and marketing director Kerry Clarke. “There are all those things you can’t do much about, all those acts of God, so we’re hyper-aware.”

Despite that, the festival returns from July 25 to 28 with long-time presenting partner ATB Financial, and anchored by a headlining performance from The Roots.

“Come with an open mind, open ears, some bug spray, and some suntan lotion,” Clarke says. “Prepare for anything.” Clarke attributes the ongoing growth of Folk Fest to a strong reputation, diversity in genre programming, and 45 years of operation.

Meanwhile, organizations like Calgary Fringe attribute their ongoing success to community involvement. “The premise of Fringe has always been open access and how we can make ourselves accessible for everyone to participate,” says Michele Gallant, executive director and producer for Fringe. The organization has tried to keep tickets affordable and offer volunteer opportunities to create a continuum of artist and patron support.

Fringe has also learned other lessons from the pandemic. “It’s going to take a while to build back that connection and that trust of being in each other’s spheres again,” says Gallant. “That’s why an open-access arts festival needs to be as open and accessible to as many different people as possible.” In that spirit, Fringe will offer sensory-friendly performances with softer lighting. There’s no question that arts festivals are changing in Calgary in 2024. But change can add to Calgary’s mosaic. Case in point: Sound Atlas, a multi-genre experimental music festival presented at Contemporary Calgary, returns for its second year from June 27 to 29. “Our idea is to create a community with local groups like Network Calgary, Calgary Pro Musica, and Bug Incision with Contemporary Calgary as our hub,” says festival co-director Jani Parsons. “We could put Calgary on the map as a place that embraces a more experimental view.”

As festivals change, adapt, thrive, or get cancelled, embracing that experimental attitude is becoming increasingly vital for the arts in Calgary.

Sled Island, June 19-23

PHOTO: MICHAELA NEUMAN

CJSW June 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. Ghost Cartridge** - Ghost Cartridge (30/30)

2. Sunglaciers** - Regular Nature (Mothland)

3. Empanadas Ilegales* - Creepy Mambo: Rooftop Sessions (We Are Time)

4. Cindy Lee* - Diamond Jubilee (Self-Released)

5. The Wesleys* - The Wesleys (Little Village Records )

6. Eye of Newt** - Stay in Your Lane EP (Self-Released)

7. Big Fancy & The Shiddy Cowboys* - The Legendary Loser Wins Again (Big Fancy & The Shiddy Cowboy’s Company)

8. Bluffing** - People Pleaser (Self-Released)

9. Tommy Guerrero - Amber of Memory (Too Good)

10. Dial Up** - Dial Up (Self-Released)

11. The Burning Hell and Shotgun Jimmie* - Hardly Working EP (Independent)

12. Touching* - I Can Be Two People At Once (Head In The Sand Records)

13. Various Artists** - TRANS RIGHTS = HUMAN RIGHTS (Lavender Dream)

14. Jane Penny* - Surfacing (Luminelle )

15. Yard Act - Where’s My Utopia? (NMS)

16. Spectres* - Presence (Artoffact Records)

17. Emily Triggs* - The Great Escape (Self-Released)

18. Khruangbin - A LA SALA (Dead Oceans)

19. Alix Fernz* - Bizou (Mothland)

20. Glass Beams - Mahal EP (Ninja Tune)

21. No Brainer** - Dead Weight (Outhouse Records)

22. METZ* - Up On Gravity Hill (Sub Pop)

23. The Black Keys - Ohio Players (Nonesuch / Warner)

24. Pointed Sticks* - Beautiful Future (Porterhouse Records)

25. Witch Prophet* - Gateway Experience (Club Mix) EP (Heart Lake Records Inc)

26. Halo Maud - Celebrate (Heavenly)

27. Various Artists* - Bring ‘Em In Vol. 1 (Outhouse Records)

28. Sam Wilson* - Wintertides (Self-Released)

29. Yummi Wisler Guitar Combo - The Albanian Connection (Raw Tapes Records)

30. Rob Mitchelson** - Knightlaser 2048: The Another One EP (Self-Released)

** Local

* Canadian

COVER

BEST OF THE FESTS

4TH STREET LILAC FEST

Kick off the springtime season with a free all-day party in the sun, full of local vendors, artisan entertainment, and local performers. June 2, 12 Ave. and Elbow Dr. S.W., lilacfestival.net

SUNNY SOUL JAM

Calgary ReggaeFest returns, reimagined as a single-day outdoor music festival in Sunnyside, packed with reggae and hip-hop music and local vendors. June 15, Containr Art Park, 1020 2 Ave. N.W., reggaefest.ca

SLED ISLAND

MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

An annual five-day party between spring and summer, Sled Island ignites downtown Calgary with a vast array of live music, art, and comedy programming. June 19 to 23, various venues, sledisland.com

JAZZ YYC TD SUMMER FESTIVAL

With an array of local and international headliners, this year’s Jazz YYC Summer Festival spans genres and venues to light up summertime. June 25 to 30, various venues, jazzyyc.com

SOUND ATLAS FESTIVAL

This experimental music festival returns for its second year, featuring classical compositions, experimental soundscapes and improvisation. June 27 to 29, Contemporary Calgary. 900 to 105, 12 Ave. S.E., soundatlasfest.com

BADLANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Get your hips moving at Badlands, a week-long EDM, hip-hop, and pop music party in downtown Calgary. July 4 to 14, 725 9 Ave. S.W., badlandsmusicfest.com

COWBOYS MUSIC FESTIVAL

The legendary Cowboys Music Festival offers 11 days of pop music from some of the world’s top artists under the blue skies of Cowtown. July 4 to 14, Cowboys Dance Hall Party Tent, 421 12 Ave. S.E., cowboysnightclub.com

CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

The 45th annual Folk Fest is your chance to catch 72 artists spanning many genres across four days on Prince’s Island. July 25 to 28, Prince’s Island Park, 200 Barclay Parade SW, calgaryfolkfest.com

INGLEWOOD SUNFEST

Circus acts, comedy street shows, bouncy castles, and artisan vendors fill the historic streets of Inglewood during Sunfest. July 27, 9 Ave. S.E., inglewoodsunfest.ca

TERMINUS FESTIVAL

One of Calgary’s best-kept secrets is Terminus, a vibrant weekend of gothic fashion and dark synth music held yearly at Dickens Pub. July 25 to 28, Dickens Pub, 1000 9 Ave. S.W., dickensyyc.com

Calgary Folk Music Festival, July 25-28

CALGARY INTERNATIONAL BLUES FESTIVAL

The Calgary International Blues Festival is a weeklong celebration of blues music featuring a fusion of local talent, world-renowned musicians, and interactive workshops. July 29 to August 4, Shaw Millenium Park, 1220 9 Ave. S.W., calgarybluesfest.com

CALGARY FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL

Calgary’s version of the Fringe is a nine-day celebration of theatre, performance, and spectacle across various venues. August 2 to 10, various venues, calgaryfringe.ca

BUMP FESTIVAL

The Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP) is Calgary’s street art festival where murals are created in real-time. You can also attend panel discussions and street parties. August 3 to 13, various venues, yycbump.ca

CHASING SUMMER

Chasing Summer transforms Calgary into a beating heart of electronic dance music from sunrise to sundown for two days in August. August 3 to 4, Max Bell Center, 1001 Barlow Trail S.E., chasingsummerfestival.com

MARDA GRAS STREET FESTIVAL

Enjoy one of Calgary’s longest-running street festivals in the heart of Marda Loop, filled with live

performances, artisan vendors, and family-friendly fun. August 11, 33 Ave. S.W. between 19 and 22 St. S.W., visitmardaloop.com

GLOBALFEST

This exuberant multicultural festival spans five nights and is filled with vibrant dancing, diverse musical performances, delicious food, and spectacular fireworks displays. August 15 to 24, Elliston Park, 1827 68 St. S.E., globalfest.ca

EXPO LATINO FESTIVAL

The grandest Latino festival in Western Canada returns for a lively weekend filled with delectable cuisine, artisanal crafts, energetic dancing, and ear-worm music. August 16 to 18, Prince’s Island Park, 200 Barclay Parade SW, expolatino.com

GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL

Great laughs and good times await you at this festival of gut-busting comedy and performance art. August 23 to 25, Prince’s Island Park, 200 Barclay Parade SW, greatoutdoorscomedyfestival.com

CALGARY PRIDE PARADE & FESTIVAL

Celebrate the city’s 2SLGBTQ+ community with a vibrant parade through downtown Calgary and an outdoor celebration and electrifying live entertainment. August 31 to September 1, Prince’s Island Park, 200 Barclay Parade SW, calgarypride.ca

BUMP Mural Tour, August 3-13

Sound Atlas, June 27-29

MUSIC SCENE

SPECIAL GUESTS

SLED ISLAND GUEST CURATORS SHOW ME THE BODY SHOWS US THE MUSIC

BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE

From bonding in high school 15 years ago to being guest curators for this year’s Sled Island Festival, Queensbased New York City punk and everything including the kitchen sink musicians Show Me The Body have been in constant motion.

For them, it’s not enough to play music that glowers truth to privilege and clouts clout on the snout. While calling out injustice in their music, they step up to help fight it in other ways, such as in their recurring coat drives and Corpus Family, an extension of their artists’ collective, which provides 36 free studio hours a year to young, marginalized musicians. Now, find their song Metallic Taste online and press play.

The bands’ three members, founder vocalist and banjoist Julian Pratt, founder bassist Harlan Steed, and Jackie McDermott, drummer for the past four years, joined me on Zoom from a tour stop in Portland, Oregon, to talk about their work as guest curators and their activities.

Q. How long have you known you would be the guest curators of Sled Island?

Steed: We were contacted last summer… We’ve been looking forward to it. It was really fun to put together or curate a list of friends of ours to join us this year.

Q. How many artists did you get to pick?

Steed: I think each member of the band made a list of five to 10 and a lot of them got picked. Some of them are from New York, some are from different parts of the country as well. A lot of them we’ve performed with, some of them we just really love their music.

Q. Who comes to mind?

McDermott: LUCY [Cooper B. Handy] is a favourite of all of ours. We’ve collaborated with him lately.

Pratt: [He has] the voice of an angel.

McDermott: Yeah, we did a European tour with him. We all feel like he’s one of the most unique artists and most prolific creators we know, so that’s a highlight.

Pratt: He’s like The Beatles in one little boy. Also, Wifigawd is a wonderful rapper from the DMV [D.C., Maryland and Virginia] we tour around the country with. Soul Glo is a great punk band that we’ve done touring with in Philadelphia, and then LustSickPuppy is a great artist that’s going to be there. They are doing a tour supporting their new record, [Carousel From Hell], right now. Some of it is our friends from New York, and some of it is people we respect that we’ve created a bond to the music and friendship.

Q. When they say you are guest curating, are there guidelines?

Pratt: No, they asked us to give them a huge-ass list, and we gave them a huge-assed list of people that we like. They hit up people and ask their availability and the people who are available [come] and the people who weren’t [don’t].

I think hopefully were not idiots so they trust our opinion and taste and we bring something to the table that not only represents what we like, but also is good work and good things to put into the world, you know what I mean? Artists who are worth listening to.

Q. That’s one of the things you’ve been steadfast about is putting good things into the world — coat drives, free studio time. How will that look in the future?

Pratt: I like to think not even about helping, but about doing things on a needs-based level where that’s what we need or the people around us need or our close community and crew needs. So, yeah, I can’t answer the question for the future but we always try to be ourselves, do what we can and do hard work.

Steed: When we started, we didn’t have a lot of resources, like most bands. It was hard to

find studios we could afford to be in to make quality recordings. So, to create an atmosphere where our peers could prosper and thrive, you know, Julian was really adamant when we started the band about booking and curating our own shows. Later on, I was really into recording, so I felt it was important to build our own studio and extend that out to other people and invite them in. Especially in New York, it’s a very expensive process to make a record. Hopefully we’ll just continue to do that, find ways to do that.

Q. Have you played around Calgary before?

Pratt: Honestly, you’re ten hours from like, anything, Dude. So not around there, I can’t say that. I mean, we’ve been to Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal a bunch of times, that’s just Canada. But we’ve never been to Edmonton or anything like that.

Q. You started out playing under bridges and in alleys. What kind of memories do you have of that?

Pratt: Kids are still doing it. There’s still punk shows in the park. I went to a punk show in the park just two days before we came on this tour. Anytime it’s difficult for nightlife culture to make money off of kids, it’s not gonna fucking happen, so if you have a punk band or a hardcore band and you want to play shows and you’re a kid and you don’t want to deal with some bullshit, you’re going to have to set up in the park.

Q. What did I miss?

Pratt: All I can think of is all the people I talk to it seems like Sled Island has a really positive impact on the local community and all people who are local who speak to me about it speak very highly of it. We’re excited that we’re gonna be there and humbled that you are gracing us with the lineup stuff.

Sled Island runs at various venues June 19 to 24. Show Me The Body plays June 22 at #1 Legion (main floor). For information, visit sledisland.com.

Julian Pratt [top], Jackie McDermott [on drums], and Harlan Steed [hair, right] bring their hardcore post-punk aesthetic to Sled Island.

PHOTO: ROB COONS

SCENESTER PICKS

SLED ISLAND’S SHINING CRAZY DIAMONDS

BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE

Sled Island Festival, which has featured music, arts, comedy and more since starting in 2007, runs June 19 to 23 this year at various venues including Palomino Smokehouse, Central United Church, Commonwealth, and Pin-Bar. Many shows are all-ages and some are even free.

If looking at the list boggles your mind with possibilities, fear not. The Scene asked some local players for their recommendations.

Sled Island runs at various venues June 19 to 24. For information, visit sledisland.com.

PICKS BY

KALEY BEISIEGEL, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, BIRD CREATIVES

KUE VARO & THE ONLY HOPES

“Kue Varo is the perfect combination of alt-country and psych-rock that features traditional songwriting without over complicating the delivery. In a time dominated by commercial formulaic country mixes, Kue Varo & The Only Hopes offers a welcome authentic approach.” June 20 at Ship & Anchor, June 21 at The Palomino Smokehouse

TEA FANNIE & THE COLLECTIVE

“[I’m] not someone who typically gravitates to hip-hop and RnB, [but they] are extremely accessible with catchy hooks and smooth mixes. As someone who began their career as a singer-songwriter, I can’t forgo lyrics for the above mentioned, and Tea delivers on both fronts, offering both fun/light themes against songs that feature emotional/personal depth. In both cases, clever lyricism and cadence makes this artist a must see for me!” June 19 at Commonwealth Bar & Stage, June 23 at The Palomino Smokehouse

GINGER BEEF

“I love local, and Ginger Beef is an at-home favourite for me! Truly unique in how they combine traditional music traditions in a modern-pop soundscape.” June 19 at #1 Legion, June 21 at The Palomino Smokehouse

PICKS BY

LORRIE MATHESON, SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER, OWNER OF ARCH AUDIO

ALADEAN KHEROUFI

“Killer throwback-esque R&B pop from Edmonton. The dude rules, full stop.” June 19 at #1 Legion

JUANA MOLINA

“Insanely beautiful weirdo experimental pop. The way she uses her voice is like no other, and one could say the same about her guitar playing. Immensely talented songwriter/arranger. Among the top five sickest musicians who will visit the city this year.” June 21 at #1 Legion

SARAH DAVACHI

“I have no idea what she’d be like live, or even what it means to go ‘see’ Sarah Davachi. She is a new music composer, her records are beautiful and droney, slow glacial rivers of sound. Like a warm bubble bath that makes you feel how caramel tastes.” June 21 at Central United Church

PICKS BY JAMIE GOULD, SINGER/MUSICIAN, TWENTY CENTURIES OF STONY SLEEP

PONY GIRL

“Cool guitar vibes, sweet harmonies and chill vocals that remind me of Mark Foster’s voice from Foster the People give an effortless listen when paired with relatable lyrics like Laff it Off’s, ‘I don’t wanna be working every day’ and Highways’,’”I know it’s not my place to say what’s wrong or right.’ Layer all this with trippy soundscape synth riffs that create golden nugget earworms.” June 20 at Modern Love

CHERRY GLAZERR

“Guitarist and lead vocalist Clementine Creevy sings with sweetness and knives, balanced and unbalanced against driving guitars that break up with my heart and then put it back together again. If ‘Touched You With My Chaos’ doesn’t trigger some kind of emotional vulnerability, we’re probably not friends. I was

PICKS BY SARA LEISHMAN,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

LAUREL HALO

“[She] is fun. Take a long walk to her songs and daydream.” June 21 at Central United Church

KUE VARO & THE ONLY HOPES

“I was first introduced to them at Block Heater and have been a fan ever since.” June 20 at Ship & Anchor, June 21 at The Palomino Smokehouse

BENNETT MITCHELL

“[It’s] probably predictable, but that folk x country sound is my jam.” June 20 at Sloth Records, June 22 at Pin-Bar

looking for a new band to be obsessed with, and I’ve found it. You should find them, too.” June 20 at #1 Legion

REBEL GRRRLZ

“Five teenage girls who write as raw as they feel — because when you’re 13, 14, and 15 years old, do you even know how to do it any other way? Their music serves as a reminder of our youth, feminist messages of inequalities we’re still fighting for, and some good ol’ teenage angst. They may be young (and two of these teens are my daughters), but they are ridiculously talented, passionate, and undeniable. They’re recording their first single now, but you can catch them live on June 21st for the Mint Records showcase at Calgary’s Ship & Anchor Pub. Trust me, you’ll want to be part of their journey.” June 21 at Ship & Anchor

Rebel Grrrlz, June 21 at the Ship & Anchor

Kue Varo & the Only Hopes, June 20 at the Ship & Anchor, June 21 at the Paomino

Jazz YYC gears up for Summer Festival

FROM “CURRY WESTERN” TO BEBOP WORSHIP, JAZZ

BY NATHAN ILES

You’ve probably heard of spaghetti Western music, with its reverb-drenched guitar twangs and moody atmosphere. But how about curry Western music?

This is how the band Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East describes itself. And it’s precisely why Jazz YYC’s artistic director, Kodi Hutchinson, wanted them as a headliner at this year’s TD Summer Festival.

“I went and saw the band in New York, which confirmed that we had to book them,” he says. “If you’ve never experienced jazz, you might not even know this is jazz. It’s like surf rock meets jazz meets South Asian, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun. It’s going to be a big party.”

This appealing genre mishmash is by design. “We want to offer up a wide palette of shows,” says Hutchinson. “It’s about getting people who’ve never been to jazz thinking, ‘Hey, that looks cool. Why not give that a shot?’”

Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East is just one of the eclectic musical acts headlining Jazz YYC’s TD Summer Jazz Festival. Attendees will also have the chance to catch the virtuosic singing of Veronica Swift, the fiery sax arrangements of Lakecia Benjamin, and the soulful singing of Cory Henry (formerly of Snarky Puppy) at venues as varied as Commonwealth Bar, the Bella Concert Hall, and the Central Library. “We’ve stepped up to bringing in some very high-level international artists,” says Hutchinson. “It’s a lot of very different sounds.”

According to Hutchinson, programming like this aims to create accessible entry points for everyone to connect with jazz. “What was the first thing you ever heard?” he asks. “Wes Montgomery or Miles Davis? Usually not. My daughter became a jazz musician by listening to Dua Lipa. We find certain qualities in jazz that get pulled into whatever else they usually listen to. It’s just music.”

In addition to the international headliners, Summer Fest features a ton of dynamic Canadian programming like The Brenan Brothers. “We’ve got Mary Ancheta from Vancouver, and she’s

funky as all get-up,” says Hutchinson.

Avataar out of Ontario rounds out the Canadian series of the lineup, along with Francophone singer-songwriter Laura Anglade and the Venezuelan-influenced jazz stylings of Eliana Cuevas & Jeremy Ledbetter.

There’s also a Swing series of shows at Festival Hall in Inglewood, though it may be different from what you expect. “People often think of the 1940s or something, but it’s just a rhythm that’s utilized in a lot of stuff,” says Hutchinson. “We’re covering four decades of music, from what’s happening now all the way back to a tribute to Oscar Peterson from Grammy-nominated Hilario Durán.” The Swing series will also feature Ulysses Owens Jr. with his band Generation Y, the Anthony Fung Quartet with Dana Stephens, and a shredding set of Dizzy Gillespie-inspired jazz

from the Pasquale Grasso Trio.

Are you far down south and strapped for cash? No problem: Summer Fest will also host a “Jazz in the Burbs” series at the Cornerstone Music Café. It’s an inexpensive and intimate way to experience artists like Bellbird and Norbert Kael’s Jazzical Trio.

With various genres, series, and a stable of local and international talent, Jazz YYC’s TD Summer Festival is a vibrant way to kick off a Calgary summer. “We have a sampler pass, where you get four tickets and can pick and choose different shows,” says Hutchinson. “It’s a great option to bounce around to different shows, and our latenight jams are a great way to experience jazz culture firsthand.”

Jazz YYC’s TD Summer Festival runs from June 25 to 30. Get your tickets at jazzyyc.com.

LOCAL BAND: BRENAN BROTHERS

The Brenan Brothers explore their own early influences on their latest album, Valley of Silence. This band of local jazz veterans will close out Summer Fest with a show at the Ironwood on June 30 to celebrate the album’s release.

“We’re delving into our past on this record and examining the music that got us interested in jazz in the first place,” says saxophonist Jim Brenan. “Everybody remembers that seminal album, that first concert experience that defines who you became musically after the fact.”

For Brenan and his brother and bandmate Craig, that experience was witnessing the bebop stylings of trumpet player Woody Shaw, who the brothers saw perform in Edmonton in the ‘70s.

“As we were thinking about this next project, we both realized that we’re getting to this age where our earliest influences are starting to have a more defining element in our music,” says Jim, who has spent decades performing and teaching music worldwide. “When you’re younger, you try lots of things and might imitate what’s current. But you always come back to the first thing you loved.”

Named after a glacial basin at the foot of Mount Everest, Valley of Silence aims to capture the serenity of resting at base camp rather than climbing the mountain. The band comprises musicians local to Calgary and Edmonton, including David Lavoie of the Calgary band Temps.

The Brenan Brothers play the Ironwood Stage & Grill, June 30, 1229 9 Ave. S.E., ironwoodstage.ca

Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East

Lakecia Benjamin Jim Brenan

PHOTO: COURTESY LAKECIA BENJAMIN

PHOTO: SACHYN MITAL

PHOTO: COURTESY JIM BRENAN

MUSIC SCENE

JJ SHIPLETT

BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE

JJ Shiplet’s current life might seem mundane compared to his past stint in Nashville, courtesy of music-industry players who hailed him as an up and comer. Now he lives in Calgary’s Knob Hill, wakes up around 6 a.m. to walk his dog, Buffalo, then helps his wife get breakfast together for their two-year-old son. But the Calgary singer-songwriter is right where he needs to be. So is his music. And his new album, A Way Through Time, proves it.

Shiplett’s songs are well-shaped without being smothered by overbearing craftsmanship, striding forward without second guessing themselves. Shiplett credits that to the recording process, the spirit of which he would love to carry forward through his career.

He recorded the album in Fort Langley, B.C., at his drummer friend Jay Stewart’s studio with another friend, Jeremy Friesen, who was battling Stage 4 cancer. Friesen died June 30 last year.

“We knew our time with Jer was limited,” Shiplett says. “He really wanted to create music and his wife Amy was so supportive. It was a wild experience, together, live off the floor, not [overthinking] it … just trusting our instincts in that moment. With what Jer was staring at, you lose a lot of ego.”

In an appreciative review of A Way Through Time, an American publication says Shiplett has only been at the music game a short time. Wrongo! This year marks the start of the musician’s third decade pursuing his destiny, from playing bars to earning notice at the now defunct Calgary Folk Music Festival/Ship & Anchor songwriting contest to touring Europe to, yes, that time in Nashville back in 2017 when a subsidiary of Warner Music tried to mould him into something that would fit into the endless stream of similar sounding artists barfed out by country radio. Instead, Shiplett cordially declined, came home to Canada, and continued making the music he heard in his head.

So does he ever look back and think, “oh, shit?”

“ EVERY DAY I SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS I CAN WITH MY GUITAR IN HAND AND SINGING.”

JJ SHIPLETT

THE CALGARY SINGER-SONGWRITER ENTERS THE THIRD DECADE OF HIS CAREER

WITH A NEW ALBUM

“I’ll tell you what, my bank account does. I’m grateful for the ride that I’ve been on. I’ve had a lot of fun and some great opportunities. Do I wish my career had some differences to it? Maybe I took a couple of left turns when I should have taken a right. I don’t know, I have regrets just like everybody else, but I also know that I’ve been afforded to just play music and to work on it and I’ve got a super supportive family that keeps pushing me forward and a supportive fan base that is heavily invested in me pushing forward,” Shiplet says.

For Shiplett, forward is a routine including that dog walk and breakfast followed by music. “I usually get down to the studio and get playing guitar and singing as soon as I can. There’s lots of other things like making social media content, but every day I spend as much time as I can with my guitar in hand and singing.”

It’s proven to be an effective routine.

His songs expose his love for the Canadian music he was raised on — Blue Rodeo, Kathleen

“At this point I’m just keeping my head up and doing my best, you know what I mean. It’s changed so much over the time I’ve been doing it. I’m learning to just kind of ride along and just make sure I’m spending enough time in the water creating the thing that I actually like.”

Listening to Shiplett’s great, honest songs is hearing the sound of raw wind moving over the heartland, going where it pleases without every bit of grit and soul squeezed out, the antithesis of ubiquitous musical processed cheese.

“That’s kind of why I’ve allowed myself the space to do it. I’ve also recognized how lucky I am that I have the ability to do it. My career’s been able to afford me the ability to work every day on my songwriting, so I try to keep that in mind, every day I’ve got to sit here writing.”

JJ Shiplett plays The Palace Theatre June 29 in support of the fifth annual Ride to Remember in support of the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. For information visit thepalacetheatre.ca.

Edwards, The Tragically Hip, Matt Mays.

Commonwealth Bar & Stage

BY MARY-LYNN WARDLE

Brad Drobot, general manager of Commonwealth Bar & Stage at 731 10th Avenue S.W., is a busy guy, but he makes time to chat about the venue he loves to lead. For him, Commonwealth is a portal for community, a place where all can come and feel welcome and safe.

“We offer the room to the community to utilize for all sorts of different events,” he says. “So, for instance our programming this last week, a prime example of the diversity here, is we had a rave on Thursday, our club nights Friday and Saturday, [and] we had a Taylor Swift [album listening] event on Saturday afternoon. Sunday, we had a punk rock show, and we had an Eastern European vocalist come in here on Monday. We had a cannabis activation on Tuesday.

“We do it all. We’ve done stand-up comedy, we’ve done opera, we’ve done everything you could imagine here.”

Commonwealth is in its 13th year of operation, having managed to make it through the fallout of the pandemic while, sadly, other places didn’t. Perhaps there’s been left-over good luck from the building’s storied history. Starting in the mid1980s, it housed The Warehouse, which was an after-hours club, a dance destination, and a live music venue running music upstairs and down.

About five years ago, Vancouver-based entertainment company Blueprint purchased Commonwealth, which boasts a capacity for 500 patrons.

Mirroring the venue’s wide-ranging offerings, Drobot’s background and staff are also a little different.

“I have quite a different history than most of the industry staff. I played professional hockey for eight years in the U.S. I played in the Pittsburg [Penguin’s] organization, the Wheeling Nailers.” This background has given Drobot a deep grounding in teamwork, being around people of all different kinds, and navigating moving parts, which shows up in the smoothness with which the place runs.

He says people coming to Commonwealth to

“We do it all. We’ve done stand-up comedy, we’ve done opera, we’ve done everything you could imagine here.”

BRAD DROBOT, GM

enjoy a rap, jazz, or punk show, a DJ night or comedy will feel instantly welcome, partly because his head of security is Grace Campbell, who is also a leader on her rugby team, and his assistant manager is Tamara Yammine.

“[Having women in those roles is] very unusual. I definitely am on the progressive side when it comes to my staffing. I focused on putting women in leadership, bringing different

qualities,” says Drobot. He also likes to hire athletes working their way through school.

Folks will also feel welcomed by bartenders who listen, and then match up a beverage with the client’s tastes. Drobot notices a shift away from vodka to tequila, which makes Commonwealth’s partnership with Olé a natural.

“We often put that on sale so people can have a quality product in their hands.” A food window

with rotating food trucks is also a draw for people who rent Commonwealth for their events. Drobot is excited about Sled Island events coming back to Commonwealth in June, including hip hop artists Kari Faux and Myst Milano, and KTheChosen and the Knomads June 20, Planet Giza and Banggz June 19, and others like Betaboys, Boy Wonder, Brain Bent, and Wait// Less in the mix. Also in June, British DJ/musician/producer Catching Flies plays on the 15th, the YYC Jazz Club presents Eli and Fur June 27, and DJ Blaze wraps up June on the 30th.

“I think it’s super impactful for our patrons to see the progressiveness that we have, the diversity that we have and our multicultural [opportunities] that we provide for everyone here as well. This is a huge value to Commonwealth. It’s the community focus we are really trying to strive for.”

For more information on Commonwealth, visit commonwealthbar.ca.

PHOTOS: 403ABC

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