I reached Calgary in the middle of the night a foul mood. It largely due to a party that the hormones decided to throw inside my body, while I myself wanted to crawl into a cozy corner hoping that the world will forget about me for a second. The hostel that I stayed in that first night was filthy and loud so the next day I moved to the Hi-Hostel. Hi-Hostels are mostly reliable and I never had any issues when staying there. I tried to stay focused on the musical side of Calgary but a looming bottom in my wallet kept throwing me of the rails. I was desperately searching for a host on CS and uncertainty of weather I’ll find a job in Okanagan or not, did not help to lift my spirits. Sometimes even I have these days when the mind overpowers my heart and brings me sadly down to earth. It forces me to find immediate solutions to those o’ so mundane (rather not like using the word ‘problems’) aspects, so that I be back on tracks as soon as possible.
The brief setback, both in mood and circumstances, was once again saved by one of the angels on my path. He gave me a shelter for a couple of days and provided some of the most beautiful memories I brought from Canada. It gave me a chance to discover the charm of the cowboy town, and gave hope that will come back here someday. Calgary is actually really charming town.
Writing this post, I wonder why is Vancouver promoted so much more than Calgary. Flights from PL are priced the same, and in my opinion, Vancouver has less to offer. Calgary is the third largest city in Canada. The population is almost twice that of Vancouver, and still I feel less of a rush here. Situated by the azure Bow River, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, one hour drive from Banff, Lake Louise, Lake Moraine and other wonders of nature. The city with prospects and a wide range of possibilities. Sadly, not appreciated by tourists the way I feel it should be. Ah well, I shouldn’t forget to mention of Stampede!!! Stampede is a cowboy’s fiesta or rather a mega party that city is plunged into for two weeks from dawn to dusk. Shame I had to leave just before it started. At that point, hostel prices were already doubled, and everything was booked.
But what about all the music?
2016 in Calgary has been named the year of music! Just in time – I thought after flicking through the pages of an accidentally found tourist guide. There are a few reasons why 2016 became such a remarkable year for music in Calgary: 45th annual JUNO Awards, 60th anniversary of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, 10th anniversary of Sled Island Festival, 50th anniversary of Alberta Ballet or 30th anniversary of High Performance Rodeo. The culmination of these events however was the grand opening of the National Music Centre – a pure blast and a bomb. National Music Centre is a home to 22 stages (exhibition spaces) and a tribute to Canadian music history in all genres with a collection of artifacts, memorabilia, and awards including the new home of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. There are also installations with instruments to rock out with and a variety of workshops. National Music Centre and what is a complete blast for me, owes at the moment the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Studio. God, why I couldn’t visit it… Unluckily it opened on the 1st July – Canada Day and a public holiday. Thousands of people queued in front of the Centre and the chances to get in by the end of the day were slim. Moreover, I wouldn’t want to be squeezed and trampled by the crowds trying to see all the exposition. All the noise, rush and people did overwhelm me this time. That same weekend I had to travel to Banff and so I lost my chance to see the place, for now at least. I will be back surely, National Music Centre being just another reason.
Next door to the National Music Centre you will find a revived King Edward Hotel. Opened in 1905 it also functioned as a bar and back in the 80s became the top spot for live blues. In a city that is a home to country and folk, you need to go out of your way to find those blues corners. If you do you will head to the Blues Can located in the heart of the fancy Inglewood district. Maybe the Blues Can is not a legendary spot but it will surely quench your thirst for blues out there.
Inglewood along with 17th Avenue and Kensington are the coolest districts in Calgary. First, I went to Inglewood to listen to local artists at Ironwood Stage & Grill. Ironwood built in 1936 went through several changes in its history and over time served as a community theater, cinema, furniture store and finally as a live music venue. It’s a large, nicely decorated venue with good acoustics and excellent beer. I met one of my later angels there to once again be reminded how music connects people for real. Strolling around the Inglewood quarter, it’s need to pop into a cool music shop – Recordland, while you are at it, visit Harley Davidson store just around the corner.
Ironwood Stage&Grill
The Blues Can
The first folk bar that opened in Calgary is the famous Calgary Folk Club. In 1972 Calgary was a real cowtown, not the big business city it has become today. While it could boast about its population of grizzly bears it couldn’t do so about the number of music venue. Those were few and far apart so where to play? Calgary Folk Club was started by the immigrants from England to provide a room where bands could play regularly. Founders were sure it’s sort of one-off venue, but many years later business runs well and doesn’t seem to stop any time soon.
Around the same time, The Ranchman’s country venue has been opened and 40 years later, as an iconic location, it still hosts the finest country artists from all over the world.
I’d love to tell you more stories concerning Calgary’s legendary music venues. I heard that The Refinery Nightclub, Surfer A-Go-Go, Airliner, The Blind Onion, Friars Den, Apollo Nightclub are legendary but I couldn’t find any about these locations. No Facebook presence for sure must mean that all those places exist no more or have faded into obscurity. Hopefully next time I’m in Calgary I will be in more cheerful and optimistic mood and be able to see more of this great city. For sure I will spend a day in National Music Centre. Honestly I can’t wait, as Canada slowly becomes a subject of my obsession as a traveler.
And so I arrived in Banff. Next I moved to Okanagan where I spent a whole summer working. Next I enjoyed a well-deserved rest in Whistler and Tofino. After, I was cut off the world on the Sunshine Coast Islander eight weeks and soon I headed to discover what Vancouver had in store for me…
To be continued.
