The Calgary Stampede has become a Canadian staple of cowboy culture for over the last century. Since its inception in 1912, the Stampede has evolved into much more than an event; it has become a cherished tradition for many Canadians. On the morning of July 4th, the streets began to fill with western attire, anticipating the 10 busiest days of the year in Calgary.
The Stampede has attracted many across North America with its impressive record of over 1.4 million visitors last year. However, in recent years, it has become renowned not only for hosting one of the greatest Rodeos and being a symbol of cowboy culture, but also for its music scene, which has become one of the most dominant among Canadian festivals.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Stampede is the sheer variety of entertainment it offers. Whether you’re heading to the Rodeo or the next food truck, there’s always something happening. From the freestyle motocross that takes place each day to the Stampede showband, which played for a cumulative 4000 minutes throughout the festival, the Stampede is a non-stop celebration of culture and entertainment.
On Friday, the Coca-Cola stage was bustling with smaller acts that were still moving the crowd. The first artist we checked out was The Cat Empire, an Australian band that defies jazz conventions by fusing Ska and Reggae. The soul in their performance, despite the gloomy forecast, kept the audience moving throughout the afternoon. This was just the beginning of the diverse musical journey that the Stampede had in store for us.
Later on that night, Kaleo played at that same stage. Kaleo, hailing from Iceland, brought a different side of music than The Cat Empire, delivering pure modern alternative rock. Of course, they played tracks that the entire crowd chanted back, like ‘Way Down We Go,’ as well as higher energy tracks, including ‘Hot Blood.’
Saturday and Sunday were mainly spent at Nashville North. Amongst the 100 acts planned throughout the entire festival, some of the best could be found here. Hailey Benedict, Ian Munsick, Kelsi Mayne, Garrett Gregory Foxx Worthee – all bringing forward original tracks to country classics.
Saturday night was headlined by Drake Milligan, who shared the stage with Shania Twain at the Scotiabank Saddledome on the same day, of course, playing the chart-topping single “Something I’d Do.” He cites George Strait and Elvis as his greatest inspirations. This was not only reflected in his stage presence, but also in the film “Nobody,” where he portrayed a young Elvis.
Before Midland, we had the opportunity to check out the evening show, which commences after the Rodeo. Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races, the fan-favourite Relay Races, and the 2025 Grandstand Show, packed with stunts, music, and no better start to the evening of even more country music.
Quickly heading back to Nashville North, Midland transported the crowd to the early days of country music. Culturally, we’ve seen a resurgence of nostalgia for 70s and 80s fashion, which is likely why Midland has experienced such incredible success (beyond their undeniable talent). Ultimately, Midland is in touch with both the new youth of the country scene and those who grew up on Canadian farms over the last few decades. They performed their chart-topping tracks, “Drinkin’ Problem,” “Burn Out,” and “Cheatin’ Songs.” As the sun set, they played “Sunrise Tells the Story.” They closed off their set as fireworks went off, creating a picturesque end to the Sunday.
Many other events run in parallel with the Stampede in Calgary, including the Badlands Music Festival and the Cowboys Music Festival. To start the day, we arrived at the Rodeo right on time at 1 PM. With over $2.17M in prize money over the 10 days of action, the Rodeo is truly the star of the Stampede. Events included: Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc, Bareback, and Breakaway Roping—an exhilarating way to start the afternoon, to say the least. 19-year-old bull rider Grady Young from Leader, Saskatchewan, took the lead of the bull-riding competition with 91 points – earning him $7,200.
The Rodeo led to going off the grounds to the infamous Cowboys Music Festival. They would host A-list artists during the week, such as Thomas Rhett, Kygo, All-American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Akon, and T-Pain. On Monday, All-American Rejects opened for Kygo. The crowd showed up for the early 2000s classics that everyone knows and loves. More recently, they’ve experienced a massive resurgence by playing at house parties across the US, arguably becoming one of the most viral acts in the process. Lead Vocalist Tyson Ritter and his band performed in old-western-esque clothing, quite fitting for the weekend. They pumped up the crowd with various notions about Western culture throughout their set.
The night ended with Kygo, who delivered one of the most electric sets over the weekend, paying homage to classics of the late Avicii, such as “Levels” and his track “Higher Love,” which samples Whitney Houston. As many festival goers were on their fourth day at this point, Kygo was the perfect artist to blend the sunset into the night. Kygo brings forward tropical house with pop sensibilities, creating feel-good tracks that have redefined the emotional core of electronic music. Throughout his performance, he featured various live singers, including Justin Jesso, which added to the cinematic feel; you couldn’t predict what Kygo would do next.
The diverse cultural arts that the Calgary Stampede brings to the table prove it to be a true Canadian staple. It is no wonder that their tagline is “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. From the artwork to the Rodeo, this festival has something to offer to people of all ages and interests. 2025 marked the festival’s official 113th year, and I’m confident that it will continue to run flawlessly for years to come. The Calgary Stampede is a testament to the diverse arts that Canada has to offer, and it’s undoubtedly a tradition not to miss.
