Calgary,
15
June
2020
|
13:26
America/Denver

Celebrate Canada Day at home and online this year

Oh Canada. Let’s get ready to celebrate at home and online. On July 1st we invite Calgarians to watch the premiere of our virtual Canada Day concert featuring Canadian country music star and humanitarian Paul Brandt with local musicians neo-soul singer Lynn Olagundoye, Alberta roots singer-songwriter T Buckley, indie folk-rocker Chad Van Gaalen, and Metis/Cree blues-rock artist Bebe Buckskin.

“This line-up of Calgary musical talent is outstanding, and I couldn’t be more excited to listen and watch them on Canada Day,” says Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Although this year’s celebrations will be different, we are still going to listen to great music, we can decorate our homes or yards with red and white, maybe have your own pancake breakfast with your family. Even though we will be at home, we can still celebrate together as a city and country.”

The virtual concert, which was filmed at Studio Bell, Home of the National Music Centre (NMC), and produced by local talent, will air on The City of Calgary’s YouTube and Facebook pages starting at 5 p.m. on Canada Day.

The National Music Centre looks forward to Canada Day every year—not only to honour Canada’s birthday, but also to mark the anniversary of Studio Bell’s opening in 2016,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of NMC. “Music has played such an important role in connecting people during the pandemic. We’re thrilled to team up with The City of Calgary to bring music to people in Calgary, Canada, and beyond through this virtual presentation.”

In addition to our virtual Calgary concert, our city was selected to be included in a one-hour national show, Canada Day Across the Country, at 1 p.m. on CBC and Canadian Heritage’s social media platforms. Calgary’s five-minute segment will feature Paul Brandt, showcasing our city and sharing our national pride.

In addition to watching amazing performances, citizens are invited to celebrate at home by:

  • Dressing in red and white, including wearing your favorite Calgary team jersey and painting your face
  • Putting up your Christmas or outdoor lights and be sure they are on at 10 p.m. (sunset) to join the Calgary Tower in lighting up our city
  • Decorating your house, yard or balcony in red and white, displaying your Canada flag, and showing off your Canada-inspired family crafts
  • Having a pancake breakfast with your family and wearing your cowboy hats!
  • Sharing with us by posting your at-home celebrations using #OCanadaYYC on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok and connecting across the country using #CanadaDay
  • Checking out the Celebration Kit from The Government of Canada’s website Canada.ca/CanadaDay for creative and educational activities for the whole family

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year Canada Day does not include any outdoor events or activities, such as live fireworks, but we can still show our Canadian spirit as we celebrate online or at home, in our yards or balconies. We may be apart physically, but we can still celebrate together.

Calgary’s Canada Day celebrations are a result of support from the Government of Canada, CBC Calgary and Tim Hortons.

Visit Calgary.ca/CanadaDay and Canada.ca/CanadaDay for ideas and resources to celebrate at home on and online on July 1st.

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Artist Information

Paul Brandt - Paul Brandt is the most awarded male Canadian country artist in history. He’s a Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer, musician, songwriter and performer. But he’s also an entrepreneur, humanitarian and philanthropist. Throughout his remarkable musical career, Paul has always focused on using his celebrity to listen, learn and help shine a light on the lives of those less fortunate while encouraging others to do the same. He has traveled extensively to raise awareness for various humanitarian aid organizations, and is the founder of #NotInMyCity, an organization that is disrupting human trafficking in Canada and abroad.

Lynn Olagundoye - Starting a musical career in her college years, Olagundoye has gone on to write and produce her own music, rich in the vein of new soul. She has graced many stages across the country including that of the Calgary Folk Music Festival. She has opened for world renowned artists including the Blind Boys of Alabama, Marcia Griffiths and King Sunny Ade. Olagundoye has a rich sound and a seductively smooth voice redolent of ‘70s R&B that incorporates the best of funk, jazz, Afrobeat, roots-reggae and vintage pop. She cites Erykah Badu and Jill Scott as influences; Badu and Scott would likely recognize a talented soul sister in Olagundoye.

Chad VanGaalen is an incredibly prolific musician, a respected visual artist and a notorious homebody. Over the course of six studio albums, he has built up a devoted fanbase, self-producing and playing almost every instrument. He has composed music for shows such as Dream Corp LLC on Adult Swim, where he also contributes character design. His hand-animated music videos, films and illustrations have been featured in film festivals and galleries worldwide, and he rarely leaves his house in Calgary.

Bebe Buckskin - The honeyed snarl of Metis/Cree artist Bebe Buckskin is a reckoning force. Somewhere between acid-laced vintage rock and the contemporary protest of her fearless roots, we find this powerful songstress cutting an impressive swath. Substantially experienced as a songwriter and performer, she now finds herself on a momentous upswing, and ready for the climb.

T Buckley - Miles We Put Behind, is his fourth album and most recent project, was recorded in Montreal by Grammy-nominated producer, Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Basia Bulat, Leonard Cohen, Weather Station). This album garnered international media attention and radio charting and has led to several great opportunities and milestones.