Latest news with #TenilleTownes
CTV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘A little something for everyone': Growing Stampede music scene offers eclectic mix
Music has always been a big part of Calgary Stampede but organizers have worked to boost that over the past few years, attracting a variety of options. Calgary Stampede maintains its title as 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,' with its world-famous rodeo, chuckwagon races and grandstand show, but a new slogan is rising as well. 'The Greatest Music Festival in the West,' said Allison Wright, program director for the Calgary Stampede. Over the 10-day event, Stampede offers more than 100 performances, including Arkells, Tenille Townes, Kaleo, Don Toliver and Simple Plan. Superstars including Shania Twain require tickets to get into the Saddledome, but many acts don't cost anything beyond admission to Stampede Park. Country music is front and centre, of course, but far from the only option. 'Initially, we thought it was just going to be a bunch of country music because it's Stampede, but it's nice there's a lot of pop music,' said Frianca Jirel from High River. 'We're definitely looking forward to seeing Simple Plan on Sunday,' said Samantha Reyes. 'We were excited to see the country, but it's nice to bounce back and forth between the others. There's a little something for everyone.' said Haylee Guigera and Jasper Willans from Australia, who were pleased to see the Aussie band Cat Empire performing at Stampede. 'We feature country, obviously—that makes sense. We also look at other genres to make sure we are appealing to the Calgary demographic broadly. Stampede is that—it is the community engagement in all things Stampede-related, and music is a key piece of that,' said Wright. 'I was surprised at the amount of artists they get and people who are more famous than I thought they would get,' said Willans. Music has always been a big part of Calgary Stampede but organizers have worked to boost that over the past few years, attracting a variety of options. Music has always been a big part of Calgary Stampede but organizers have worked to boost that over the past few years, attracting a variety of options. Stampede says it tries to secure popular artists, and sometimes the performers get even more popular after they've been booked. 'Sometimes we have artists that have a hit once we contract them in that draw a new crowd or audience that was maybe a little different than we anticipated, but really we're excited when these artists find their way to Stampede,' said Wright. There are several options off the grounds, too, including Badlands festivals featuring EDM and South Asian music called Stampede Mela. Oxford Stomp has offered a bustling festival with big-name artists for 35 years, but organizers say there is a lot more competition now. 'Back when we first started, we were kind of the big music festival. The entire 10 days of Stampede is now a music festival—it's really amazing how many incredible bands come to Calgary,' said Rob Dubeau. Dubeau says for its second year at Prince's Island Park, Oxford Stomp expected a crowd of about 8,000 people for their lineup of Hotel Mira, Dear Rouge, The Sheepdogs and Sheryl Crow. Playing any venue during Stampede has become a hallmark for many artists. Dear Rouge played the Coca-Cola stage and now Oxford Stomp. 'Stampede, I think, is always on everyone's list. It's amazing because it's already the biggest festival,' said Drew McTaggart of Dear Rouge.
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede Music picks for July 3
Article content The pride of Grand Prairie, Tenille Townes has been a going concern since moving to Nashville 12 years ago, where she played sets at the iconic Bluebird Cafe and began participating in writing sessions with Music City songsmiths. She was only 17 when she received her first Canadian Country Musioc Award for Female Arts of the Year and has been accumulating awards, nominations and acclaim ever since. Her most recent single is Backfire, the catchy mid-tempo duet with fellow Canuck Nate Haller. Article content Article content The Ironwood doesn't need to alter its programming all that much during the Calgary Stampede since it's already a hotspot for roots music. But if your tastes lay a little more left-of-the-dial when it comes to country music, second-generation singer-songwriter Devin Cuddy is a safe bet. The son of Blue Rodeo co-leader Jim Cuddy, Devin has inherited his dad's expressive vocals and songwriting chops and adds his own dash of soul and R&B to the proceedings. Article content
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Stampede, July 3: Sneak-a-Peek Shania Twain's career reinvention
Slip on your boots and dust off your cowboy hats: The gates to the Calgary Stampede will open today for those who just can't wait. Article content Sneak-a-Peek officially begins at 5 p.m. — and for the most eager of Stampede-goers, early access begins at 3 p.m. with a limited experience at a discounted price. Article content Article content Visitors with early-access tickets can get the full Stampede experience once the full show gets underway, according to the Calgary Stampede. Article content Article content The pride of Grande Prairie, Tenille Townes has been a going concern since moving to Nashville 12 years ago, where she played sets at the iconic Bluebird Cafe and began participating in writing sessions with Music City songsmiths. She was only 17 when she received her first Canadian Country Music Award for Female Arts of the Year and has been accumulating awards, nominations and acclaim ever since. Her most recent single is Backfire, the catchy mid-tempo duet with fellow Canuck Nate Haller. Article content Article content What to see: Devin Cuddy at the Ironwood Stage and Grill. Article content The Ironwood doesn't need to alter its programming all that much during the Calgary Stampede since it's already a hotspot for roots music. But if your tastes lay a little more left-of-the-dial when it comes to country music, second-generation singer-songwriter Devin Cuddy is a safe bet. The son of Blue Rodeo co-leader Jim Cuddy, Devin has inherited his dad's expressive vocals and songwriting chops and adds his own dash of soul and R&B to the proceedings. Article content
Calgary Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Chinese pianist Lang Lang, country music star, and pop hitmaker to join Calgary Phil in varied 70th season
Article content Chinese pianist Lang Lang, DJs and electronica music, Canadian country superstar Tenille Townes, former Barenaked Ladies vocalist Steven Page and singer and author Vivek Shraya will be among the highlights of the Calgary Philharmonic's eclectic 70th season, which will include 64 concerts under 29 conductors across seven venues. Article content Lang Lang, one of classical music's biggest stars, will play with the Calgary Philharmonic on Sept. 27 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Lang has played with some of the world's biggest orchestras and has been a global draw in the classical world since he was a teenager in the 1990s. Article content Article content The 2025/2026 season will also feature the Canadian premiere of SYNTHONY: EDM Meets Orchestra on Sept. 5, which will find Calgary Phil teaming up wth DJs and vocalists for a mix of electronica and classical music at the Big Four Roadhouse. Grande Prairie country superstar Tenille Townes, who has also been in the spotlight since she was a teen, will make her CPO debut with shows at the Bella and Jack Singer concert halls on April 23 and 25. Article content Article content Other artists who will make guest appearances in the 2025/2026 season include violinist Gil Shaham, former Barenaked Ladies vocalist Steven Page and singer, actress and former University of Calgary professor Vivek Shraya. The orchestra will perform The Music of Hans Zimmer, which will feature selections from the soundtracks of The Dark Knight, Interstellar and Dune, while composer Eimear Noone will lead the orchestra for Video Games in Concert, which will include selections from the World of Warcraft soundtrack. Calgary Phil will also be playing live-to-film during screenings of The Princess Bride, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. Article content Article content Conductor and violinist Timothy Chooi will lead Calgary Phil for Vivaldi's Four Seasons, while Verdi's Requiem will be conducted by Karen Kamensek. Music director laureate Hans Graf returns for A Midsummer Night's Dream. The annual A Traditional Christmas runs over three nights in December at Grace Presbyterian Church, and there will be a return of Handel's Messiah. Article content Article content The CPO will offer several of genre-bending treats along with dabbling in EDM, including an evening dedicated to The Music of Prince, Dance Dance Disco, La Vida Loca: Latin Pop Hits, The Music of Sting + The Police, and Revolution: The Music of The Beatles – A Symphonic Experience. Article content Guest conductors will include Anthony Parnther, Yue Bao, Ramon Tebar, Jessica Cottis, Steve Hackman and Calgary's Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. Soloists such as violinist Amaryn Olmeda (violin), pianist Stewart Goodyear and cellist Steven Isserlis will also perform with the orchestra this season.
