Mark Elliot was a brave man - an early advocate for same sex marriage and courageously talked about his struggles with addiction to help others. Rest In Peace
By External Source
Mark Elliot was a brave man - an early advocate for same sex marriage and courageously talked about his struggles with addiction to help others. Rest In Peace
- Mayor John Tory, Jan. 12, on Twitter
Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga & AR Paisley
Also this week: Ottawa Bluesfest, Coldplay, Wu-Tang Clan and more.
Festival season is in full swing, and so is summer concert season. They both converge for some huge shows across Canada this week. Here's what's on our radar.
Stampede Mela, The Confluence, Fort Calgary — July 11
For those who don’t want to kick up their cowboy boots at this year’s Calgary Stampede, Stampede Mela is worth checking out. The one-day festival bills itself as the largest South Asian music festival in North America. Located in Fort Calgary, it’s not far from the midway Ferris wheel of the Stampede itself — yet, they’re not affiliated with one another.
Launched in 2023 by friends Amar Duhra and Jas Toor, the festival aims to celebrate the rich cultural presence of the Indo-Canadian community in Alberta. While the Calgary Stampede is known around the world, its programming doesn’t always reflect the diversity of the city that hosts it. Stampede Mela was designed to fill the gap — a space for global South Asian talent and homegrown Canadian artists alike.
This year’s lineup is boasting mostly Canadian talent, including headliners Sultaan and Chani Nattan. They’re supported by a deep roster of talent throughout the day, including rapper AR Paisley (who performed at this year’s NXNE SiriusXM Canada Dhamaka event), singers Inderpal Moga and OG Ghuman, Canadian-Indian producer Jay Trak and singer-songwriter Cheema Y.
Happening at the same time as Stampede, it’s a way to bring cultures together. "We're very proud of where we come from. We know that there's a big population there, and we want it to be represented." Duhra told the Canadian Press. Last year’s indoor festival boasted a few bands and 2,000 attendees. This year, it’s outdoors with 22 artists, and around 3,000 sold tickets.
Tickets are available here.
Ottawa Bluesfest, LeBreton Flats, Ottawa — July 10-20
Ottawa’s biggest music festival is back for another year, and this year’s Bluesfest lineup is bringing a star-studded roster with an eclectic mix of genres to the LeBreton Flats. From July 10-20, the mainstage will be graced by Lainey Wilson, Def Leppard, Sean Paul, Green Day, Kaytranada and more. From jazz to country to rock to dance, there’s a taste of every genre bringing Ottawa to life across these ten days. This weekend features concerts by Turnstile, Hozier and the queen Shania Twain.
Tickets are available here.
Coldplay, Rogers Stadium, Toronto — July 11, 12
After more than 200 shows played, Coldplay finally brought their blockbuster Music of the Spheres tour to the all-new Rogers Stadium in Toronto, playing their first two shows in the city on July 8-9. Along with stunning visuals and lighting, the spectacle truly vies to connect audience members with the unforgettable experience of a Coldplay show, and experiencing it all together. The band will play two more shows on July 11-12.
Tickets are available here.
Wu-Tang Clan, Bell Centre, Montreal — July 13; Scotiabank Arena, Toronto — July 14
The legendary Wu-Tang Clan are hitting the road one last time for their Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber Tour, a blockbuster reunion of all its surviving members with a 40-song set spanning their 30-year career. RZA describes the trek as a legacy-building effort: “This is a special moment for me and all my Wu brothers to run around the globe together one more time and spread the Wu swag, music and culture. On this tour we're playing songs we've never played before to our audience and me and our production team have designed a Wu-Tang show unlike anything you've ever seen.” Joined by hip-hop superduo Run the Jewels, Wu-Tang Clan will be making their farewell stop in Montreal at the Bell Centre on July 13, followed by Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on July 14.
Tickets are available here.
