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Concerts

Tate McRae Performs First Hometown Concert at Calgary Stampede: 'I Put Off Doing This Show For So Many Years'

The breakout Canadian star took the stage to an excited audience for renditions of hits like "Greedy" and "You Broke Me First," as well as performing her song "Calgary" in its namesake city.

Tate McRae
Tate McRae
Courtesy Photo

One of Canada's buzziest stars was just welcomed home with open arms — and screaming fans.

Tate McRae performed her first hometown show on Friday (July 5) during the Calgary Stampede. The L.A.-based musician, who had a major breakthrough year in 2023 with her Canadian Hot 100 No. 1 "Greedy," sang chart hits like "Exes" and "You Broke Me First" for a crowd that knew every word.


Surrounded by backup dancers and outfitted in a glam miniskirt, fringe-heavy arm bands and, of course, boots, McRae brought pop star confidence to the Cowboys Music Festival stage.

@freshdailycalgary

Tate McRae has entered the chat 🥹 Welcome home queen! #calgary #yyc #tatemcrae #cowboys #stampede #calgarystampede

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@cndysan

Girl can sing 💗 @tate mcrae #calgarystampede #tatemcrae #tatemcraetour

She also took some time to speak frankly with the audience.

"I put off doing this show for so many years because I felt like I was gonna shit my pants," McRae said. "We're finally here, we're doing it," she continued, "It's really crazy — I feel so proud to be from Calgary."

But coming back to Calgary can also be disorienting for McRae. "There's so many memories, and you know things in my brain that I associate with this place, so many songs I've written about this place," she said. "Every time I come back home I feel like the annoying little sister, a f--king pain in the ass to my parents, and I go back to all my old high school traits," she continued, guessing that some in the audience could relate.

McRae channeled those feelings into writing "Calgary," off of her 2023 album Think Later, and after the vulnerable introduction, she performed that song in its namesake city for the first time — to an audience that was glad to have her back.

@channysvinyl

Tate Mcrae's speech before singing calgary IN Calgary at the Cowboys Music Festival 💙 #tatemcrae #thinklatertour #calgarystampede #concert #cowboysmusicfestival @tate mcrae

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Gordon Lightfoot performing in 2019.
Daniel Knighton/Getty Images

Gordon Lightfoot performing in 2019.

FYI

Music News Digest: Canadian Folk Music Awards 2026 Winners, National Music Centre Builds Gordon Lightfoot Collection

Also this week: rising artist Bradley Hale partners with Jayward Artist Group, Red Bull BC One World breakdancing competition tours Canada.

The 21st Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) concluded its four-night run in Calgary this past weekend, naming 22 recipients across 21 categories.

Topping the winners list with two awards each were AHI, Matthew Byrne and PIQSIQ. A rare tie in the Indigenous songwriter of the year category recognized Aysanabee for Edge Of The Earth, PIQSIQ’s Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Ayalik for Legends. AHI claimed both contemporary album of the year for The Light Behind The Sun and single of the year for “Human Kind," while Matthew Byrne won for traditional album and Stan Rogers traditional singer of the ear for Stealing Time and PIQSIK tied in the Indigenous songwriter of the year category and won as best vocal group, for Legends.

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