Breakout West fest returns to Calgary with concerts, conference and awards
Breakout West is heading back to Calgary, with several milestones to celebrate.
The annual music fest celebrating Western Canadian music is marking its 20th anniversary this week, its first year back to live and in-person programming since 2019 and is the first time back in our city since shows in 2004 and 2013.
Calgary is playing host to the event's three-night music festival, four-day industry conference and Western Canadian Music Awards from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2.
Venues downtown, as well as in Inglewood and East Village (dubbed the Music Mile) will showcase musicians from across Western Canada and internationally, with the Marriott Downtown as the host hotel.
“I couldn't be more excited to have the event coming to Calgary,” said Christine Rogerson, interim executive director of Alberta Music.
“Following the tough years our industry has seen recently, we are keen to enliven the music community in Calgary, bringing original, live music safely to venues and fans.”
Some of the events are geared to musicians and require registration but there are also several public events such as a keynote performance at Festival Hall Thursday, a late-night lounge at Palomino Smokehouse Thursday through Saturday nights, and music showcases at various venues on all three days.
The festival wraps on Sunday afternoon with a Hand-off Party at the King Eddy.
Some of the musicians slated to play include locals I Am The Mountain, Shuffalo, Nuela Charles, Amelie Patterson and St Arnaud.
Musicians coming from elsewhere include Slow Leaves (Manitoba), Joey O'neil (Yukon), Neon Dreams (from Nova Scotia), Megan Nash and Tova (both from Saskatchewan), Kid Vicious (Sweden), and Sechile Sedare, NWT siblings Jay and Leelay Gilday.
Chronograph Records is also hosting a label showcase on Oct. 1 with Keith O'rourke, Audrey Ochoa, a 2021 WCMA winner, and Erin Propp, Larry Roy and Notas de 4, who are all 2022 WCMA nominees.
To see the schedule of events and buy festival wristbands, go to the Breakout West website at breakoutwest.ca.