Arden to host 2017 Grandstand Show
Hometown recording star Jann Arden will host this year’s Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday.
The grandstand show — called “Together” — will be produced by Dave Pierce, who won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.
The production is billed as an exhilarating and visually engaging celebration of Canada’s milestone birthday.
“It’s not based on any one act being the ‘wow’ factor, even though they’re all exciting in of themselves, but it’s the way we are creatively packaging everything so it represents our theme.”
With Arden holding the hosting duties, the show will also feature performances from the Alberta Ballet, which will be performing a special tribute that includes Leonard Cohen.
The Young Canadians will be performing, along with Calgary’s adult choir Revv52, and Inuit throat singers Cailyn DeGrandpe and Samantha Kigutaq.
Dancers and drummers from Treaty 7 will also be taking part in the show.
Pierce says Arden will be given a lot of freedom to host the show.
“I consider Jann a national treasure. Who better to host a show celebrating Canada than Jann, who has toured every nook and cranny of Canada over her career.”
Theatrical special effects and an original music score will also help bring the show to life. Attendees can expect to see flying set pieces, water fountains and fire effects, and the famous fireworks finale as well.
Pierce says this show has been very fulfilling for him.
“I never before had the opportunity to travel Canada to get to know and understand the many different cultural backgrounds that Canadians brought to Canada, especially First Nations and Inuit to have been on this land for thousands of years.”
The Calgary Stampede runs July 7 – 16.