This playlist spotlights some artists from Calgary and surrounding areas. Like the city, you will find diversity of genres, styles and people.

Calgary has been a wonderful springboard for our software. We are keen to watch it grow and continue to spread to new regions of North America.

Looking forward to a prosperous 2023, and hopefully by the end of this year, we’ll be putting playlists together of artists from multiple regions. Happy listening!

Find it on Spotify and Apple Music

Artists featured:

• Alexanne
• Ava Wild
• Caitlin Goulet
• Carly Reirson
• Carolyn Harley
• Chase Morgan
• Dan Duguay
• Devin Cooper
• Duke Domino
• Elle McAndrews
• Emet
• Emily Slaney
• Emily Triggs
• Gisela Romero & Esteban Herrera
• Gukie
• Heather Blush
• Jay Bowcott
• Joal Kamps
• John Rutherford
• Jon Chavez
• Jon MacAulay
• Jordan Clermont
• Justine Giles
• Justine Vandergrift
• Kayla Williams
• Kenna Burima
• Marcus Trummer
• Matt Blais
• MEEKS
• Melody Stang
• Nancy Laberge
• Natalia Chai
• Natalie Inga
• Nicolette Erika
• Nolan Compton
• Ollee Owens
• Pluvelle
• Ruth Purves Smith
• Sidney May Weich
• Sonia Deleo
• Steve Jevne
• The Rondel Roberts Band
• Two Late to the Party
• Tyson Ray Borsboom
• Zenon

The post 2022 Calgary Artist Playlist appeared first on Stagehand.

With contributions from Wyatt C Lewis, Amy Bishop and Matt Beatty, the playlist is jam-packed with seasonal gems from Stagehand artists from Calgary and further afield.

While Matt Blais’ “Christmas Without You” encapsulates the isolation experienced by many during the holidays (data from YouGov found that one in nine Americans spent their December holidays alone last year), Ellen Doty’s fifth annual giveback campaign saw the jazz artist collaborate with folk-soul singer TAYLR on “Glad You’re Here”.

Launched in partnership with Monogram Coffee – who created a custom coffee roast to compliment the song – each bag of coffee comes alongside a digital download and a $10 donation to The Mustard Seed, allocated by Monogram, Doty and charity partner ATB Financial.

Mariya Stokes’ “Christmas, Arizona” details a 16-hour road trip to crash an ill-fated festive wedding, whereas Terrell Edwards channels A Charlie Brown Christmas with a cover of “Christmas Time Is Here”, by Vince Guaraldi.

Other contributions include OLLEE OWENS, A.Y.E., Zacarias, Scarlett Butler, Carolyn Harley, Mike Plume, Beppie, Jay Gilday, Howells, Sara-Mae Dafoe, The Bobby Tenderloin Universe, Marlaena Moore, Brian Doerksen, Carly Reirson, Dara Shindelka, Jerry Proppe, Paul Jensen and Heather Blush.

Check out Stagehand’s full “Winter Holiday Playlist” on Spotify or Apple Music.

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You can listen on Apple or Spotify.

Stagehand helps bring opportunities to artists everywhere, and today we give thanks to the region where Stagehand was born and the amazing artists that call it home. 

The post Thankful for Alberta Music appeared first on Stagehand.

Apple Playlist – Spotify Playlist

Stagehand was a part of the inaugural Chinook Blast, a mid winter roundup designed to energize the downtown core and celebrate the local arts community. As with all things during a pandemic, it was not without its challenges! We began organizing our part in the festival last fall. We were asked to have artists performing on Stephen Ave, beside fire pits, from mid January until the end of February. Initially we called it “Bold & Cold Street Performances”.

Once it was decided that the festival was going to be delayed in starting and that drawing a crowd by singing outdoors wasn’t going to work, we briefly entertained having artists playing in store front windows along Stephen Ave but that too was kiboshed due to restrictions. We finally agreed upon was an online streaming initiative which was nearly pandemic proof!

We jumped on the online streaming idea early in the pandemic when we ran the “Clean Hands. Clear Heads, Open Hearts: Online Concert Series” in March, April and early May of 2020. Clean Hands, was a simple operation which involved dropping off an iPhone, external mic and tripod off at the homes of numerous Calgary artists who then performed for 45 minutes. It was at that time that we really got the tipping functionality of our platform working. Artists were paid an honorarium plus they made tips from the viewing public. It turned out to be a great success.

For the next version of  the online concert series, which we aptly named “Fatigue Fest”, we decided we wanted to include various live music venues who, like musicians, are struggling at this time. Live music was and is still not allowed in public spaces (except churches, but that’s another story). We asked selected venues if we could live stream from their stages during times when they were closed. All venues were enthusiastic and we enlisted The Ironwood Stage & Grill, The Blues Can, Mikey’s on 12th, Broken City and Asylum for Art.

For the artists we put out a call through Stagehand and received over 100 talented applicants. The festival ran from February 11th to February 27th and consisted of two or three 30 minute shows per day. We hosted 30 artists with a wide variety of genre’s including Country, R&B, Blues, Roots, Rock, Classical, Jazz, Electronica and more. Featured artists included: Justine Vandergrift, Brettyn Rose, Scarlett Butler, Sonia Deleo, Angela Wrigley, Hello Moth, Justine Giles, Jay Coda Walker, Devin Cooper, Eileen Kosasih, Mitch Belot, Taylr, Zenon, Two Late to the Party, Wyatt C. Louis, Erin Ross, Aaron Young, Howlin’ Pete, Rob Skeet, Mariya Stokes, Mike Watson, Michela Sheedy, Marcus Trummer, Jory Kinjo, Clinton St. John, Hayden McHugh, John Wort Hannam, Tim Williams, Gisela Romero and Tom Phillips.  The 30 minute format was perfect as it gives you a sense for the artist but it’s not fatiguing (haha).

Here is a playlist on Apple and Spotify with a sample of the artists that were part of the fun!

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Listen here for Spotify and here for Apple

We have compiled a playlist of love songs that criss-crosses genres, everything from Hip-Hop to Hillbilly Ballads, Jazz Standards to Guitar-Heavy Jams this playlist has it all! 

Sit back and enjoy just under 2 hours of songs that lend themselves to dance and romance… if you need to be hit right in the feels, press play, open a bottle of something delicious, and cozy up by the stereo.

The post Stay warm with a HOT Alberta Valentines Playlist appeared first on Stagehand.

At Stagehand, we are always thinking about artists and businesses and creative ways to connect the two. An initiative that caught our attention was the “East Track Mind”. (easttrackmind.com). It was created to help keep Canada’s East Coast music alive. They created Spotify playlists with hundreds of songs, and are encouraging retail shops to play them. Their website states:

The goal of ETM is to increase support for our local musicians and give them a strong home base as a launching point for future success. By having East Coast music play from Spotify in our local shops and businesses we are increasing the amount of people that hear it and become familiar with it. We want everyone to connect with our musicians through the project, thus creating more loyalty, pride and ownership of our music scene by our public. Look up our playlists on Spotify under “East Track Mind”

Do we really need to hear Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” when we go into a store? Is it going to make us spend more? I don’t think so. Imagine you are in a store and you hear an unfamiliar song and you think “this is really good, I wonder what artist this is?” Now with a voice command to your phone, you can find out in seconds what the song is and who the artist is. Maybe you discover a local artist you didn’t know about. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll get a chance to go down to your local cafe or club, and see the artist perform.

In the spirit of that idea, we have created a playlist of Alberta artists for you to enjoy. Maybe you’ll discover an artist in your neighbourhood that inspires you.

The post Welcome to Alberta Playlist appeared first on Stagehand.

With a history of openly welcoming musicians of all genres from near and far to perform on its iconic Casat Deck stage, the Ironwood Stage & Grill has earned a reputation as the heart of Calgary’s live music scene. Typically, the Ironwood presents live music seven nights a week and more than 400 shows a year—but this year is looking a little different.

Alongside other live music venues in Alberta, the Ironwood shuttered its windows and was closed to the public for 95 days in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Ironwood re-opened in June as part of Phase 2 in the Provincial Government Relaunch Strategy and took an innovative approach by creating a plexiglass room (dubbed “the aquarium” by venue owner Pat MacIntyre) to accommodate vocalists and wind instruments. However, capacity restrictions placed a strain on the venue and the Ironwood’s financial situation became increasingly dire.

In response to rising concerns about the Ironwood’s future, Jory Kinjo, a musician and pillar in the local music scene, organized a fundraiser to help save the music venue. Jory rallied a stellar lineup of artists to perform at three shows August 21 – 22. After the event was publicly announced, tickets swiftly sold out and the community responded with an outpour of support.

“I can’t say enough about how much it’s opened my eyes as to how supportive the community is of live music and what it means to them.” said MacIntyre. “I really can’t thank Jory Kinjo enough for spearheading this project and all of the bands playing. I’m completely humbled by the whole experience.”

At Stagehand, we were proud to have contributed by live-streaming the performances, making the shows accessible to those who could not attend in person. More than 5,000 people tuned in online and voiced their love for the Ironwood from across Canada and around the world.

The Ironwood expressed its gratitude stating in a press release that “the event will go down in history as a weekend filled with incredible love and unprecedented generosity and kindness”.

While the BANDing Together fundraiser was a success in assisting the Ironwood, the event organizers recognize that other independently-owned live music venues in Calgary are still struggling. As a result, the sequel fundraiser running September 18 – 20 at the Ironwood Stage & Grill is in support of other music venues in Calgary including The Blues Can, Broken City, Dicken’s Pub, Mikey’s on 12th Ave, and Vern’s as well as the Music Mile. Once again, our team at Stagehand will be livestreaming all three shows and a link to online donations will be provided.

The pandemic still poses intense challenges to the live music industry, but community events like BANDing Together validate the need for local live music. In celebration of Calgary’s music community, we’ve created a playlist to recognize the musicians who donated their time and talent to make these events happen. Listen to the playlist on Spotify or Apple Music to get excited for the upcoming shows or to reminisce about the past ones.

The post Banding Together for Calgary’s Live Music Venues appeared first on Stagehand.

Listen on Apple Music

Summer vacations look a little bit different this year.

Instead of jet-setting to faraway locales and packing our passports, we’re settling in for staycations, road tripping to nearby towns, and touring our own cities. There’s no need to worry about currency exchanges and drastic time changes. Although, setting our “out of office” email notifications involves some clever new wording (having not seen the inside of an office for a while). 

While it may not be the vacations we had planned, it gives us a chance to appreciate what’s around us and engage in what we’ve missed while rushing to see the rest of the world. For us at Stagehand, that especially includes appreciating the talented musicians in our home province, Alberta. 

No adventure is complete without a playlist, which is why we’ve put together “Road Trip Tunes”, a collection of songs featuring Alberta artists to serenade you through your car speakers while you cruise to your destination. This playlist will accompany you on your way to a hike in the mountains, to a weekend lounging by the lake, or maybe even on your Sunday afternoon trip to the grocery store—wherever your next great adventure takes you!

Discover a new, nearby adventure and discover some new tunes by Alberta talent!

The post Road Trip Tunes Playlist appeared first on Stagehand.

Listen on Apple Music

Stampede may be cancelled for 2020, but 2020 can’t cancel country music and community spirit!

Live music has always been a key part of the Calgary Stampede. Normally in early July, Calgary would be bustling with people headed to the Stampede Grounds to enjoy a performance at the Coca-Cola Stage, see a show at the Saddledome, or two-step at a Cowboys’ concert. But this year has been anything but “normal”. 

Despite the cancellation of the Calgary Stampede, Calgary has proven to be a place that doesn’t give up easily on a good time. We Calgarians are still wearing our finest plaid shirts to virtual hangouts, swing dancing in our kitchens, and sitting in drive-thru lineups to get our annual dose of mini donuts, proving that you can take the Stampede from the city, but you can’t take away the city’s Stampede spirit. 

At Stagehand, we’re continually working to find opportunities for artists who have been affected by event cancellations. We’re collaborating with governments at the municipal and provincial levels, as well as partnering with various organizations that share similar goals. Part of our work has been to assess the local artists living in Alberta. What we’ve come to realize more and more is, there is a lot of world-class music that can be described as “local”. It makes sense right? Local breweries, local bakeries, locally-sourced restaurants—“local” often means quality! Now more than ever, it’s a good time to connect with our communities and love local.

Inspired to do our part to keep the Stampede spirit alive, we’ve created a playlist featuring Alberta artists from the country and alt-country genres. So turn on your griddle for some pancakes or crack open a cold drink, put on a cowboy hat and turn up Stampede Sounds: country music by Alberta artists! 

The post Stampede Sounds Playlist appeared first on Stagehand.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Music

Watch on Facebook

Plans → Pandemic → Pivot

If there’s one thing that we’ve learned from the recent events, it’s that the unexpected presents new opportunities. 

Pre-pandemic, Stagehand was in the midst of collaborating on a project with the Calgary Arts Development Authority (CADA) to bring live music into Calgary’s downtown core. We named the series “Live and Unexpected”—a fitting name given that the unexpected did happen, just not in a way we anticipated.

After downtown offices closed and live music performances were no longer allowed in public, we shifted our strategy but kept our focus on bringing live music to the community. From March 20 — May 11, our “Stream Team” visited the front doors of 38 different Calgary artists. We dropped off a sanitized tripod, a smartphone, and an external microphone. Thanks to CADA, we were able to pay artists to perform a 45-minute livestreamed set. We also added an online tipping feature which allowed artists to collect tips from the audience, who watched from the safety of their homes. The livestream series resulted in more than 30,000 views from around the world, over $5,000 in tips for the artists, and a collection of quality video entertainment that can still be viewed on our Facebook page.

In curating the “Clean Hands, Clear Heads, Open Hearts Online Concert Series”, we reinforced something we already knew: there are talented artists flying under the radar in Calgary and in every major city. At Stagehand, it’s one of our ongoing objectives to raise these artists’ profiles.

We’ve created a playlist of musicians that took part in our concert series. As you will hear, Calgary is a diverse musical community; much more than 10 days of country tunes and Stampede toe-tapping. Our goal is to continue to provide opportunities for artists to connect with organizations. We hope to help heighten customer experience and to break down stereotypes of what it means to be a local musician—even when forced to adapt to the unexpected.

The post Clean Hands, Clear Heads, Open Hearts: The Playlist appeared first on Stagehand.