May 12

5 LIVE MUSIC HOT SPOTS

Festival season is rapidly approaching in downtown Calgary. Both Sled Island and the Calgary Folk Music Festival have announced their line-ups and Calgarians are getting primed for plenty of live music. If you can’t possibly wait a minute longer to get your music fix, you might want to take in an evening of live music at one of the many venues around town. We are so lucky in Calgary to have so many places to enjoy music at - everything from the CPO at the Jack Singer Concert Hall to the divey rock bar, Vern’s on 8th Avenue SW. No matter your music preferences, there is truly something for everyone.

Wine-Ohs: Look no further than this casual wine bar for great local, live music! Located in the Grain Exchange building on 1st Street SW, Wine-Ohs hosts tons of live music all week long in their two rooms - the Bistro and the Cellar. Not only do they have great music but they also have great food!

The Palomino: This long time staple of Calgary’s music scene is a destination for rock’n’rollers and foodies alike. The main floor features some of the best BBQ in the city as well as an authentic rustic cowboy bar feel that just can’t be replicated. Head downstairs for live music and a good party. The Palomino hosts everything from punk to country so be sure to check out their listings for the latest show information. This is a great spot to check out new local bands that you might not discover anywhere else!

Knox United Church: Ideal for bands with acoustic instruments, Knox United Church is transformed into a magical concert venue. I have personally seen bands like Grizzly Bear, Dan Magnan and Whitehorse in there and let me tell you, it was incredible! The acoustics are mindblowing and it is pretty special to hear the audience sing along with the band.

The Royal Canadian Legion: Another great rock venue, The Legion is a Sled Island favourite with multi-level stages, tons of of room for hanging out - not to mention it is a fantastic downtown location. During Sled Island you can expect to see tons of bikes down there and people taking transit since it is conveniently located on the C-train line. It is also conveniently located kiddy corner from the Palomino - you can run back and forth between shows!

The Oak Room at the Fairmont Palliser: If you are looking for something a little less rock’n’roll, I highly recommend checking out The Oak Room at the Fairmont Palliser hotel. Great cocktails, live jazz and a fabulous old-school atmosphere, The Oak Room is a perfect date night location, full of charm and character.