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National Music Centre Announces New Concert Series Sponsored by Bell

NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE ANNOUNCES NEW CONCERT SERIES SPONSORED BY BELL

SERIES TO FEATURE SARGEANT X COMRADE, T. BUCKLEY, SHAWNEE KISH, THE WHEAT POOL, AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

(Calgary, AB — August 30, 2021) The National Music Centre (NMC) is pleased to announce a new multi-genre concert series and the return of its live performance programs at the King Eddy, which have been on pause since late 2020 due to heightened public health measures.

“We’ll be safely picking up where we left off in 2020 with performances by the Alberta artists that were slated to play but didn’t get a chance to perform, and more new acts have been added to the lineup,” said Adam Fox, NMC’s Director of Programs. “Much like 2020, the National Music Centre will be bringing many of its live music programs over to the King Eddy and building out our live efforts over 2021.”

NMC Presents: Bell Live at the King Eddy will feature acts from across Western Canada and run most Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm on days without private event rentals, starting on September 10. There is no cover for all shows. Seating will be first come, first served in the main floor dining room.  

NMC Presents: Bell Live at the King Eddy schedule:

  • September 10—Roots outfit Ayla Brook & The Sound Men
  • September 11—Lo-fi soul act Sargeant X Comrade
  • September 17—Roots singer-songwriter and guitarist T. Buckley
  • September 24—Soul-roots songstress Jess Knights
  • September 25—Pop singer-songwriter Shawnee Kish
  • October 16—R&B-soul act Justine Tyrell
  • October 22—Soul-folk songstress Celeigh Cardinal
  • October 23—Dark country-rock band The Wheat Pool
  • November 5—Alt-country rockers Parkland Music Project

Whether they’re packing dance floors in honky tonks or in rock clubs soaked in wine and whiskey, Edmonton‘s Ayla Brook & The Sound Men deliver a tapestry of hurtin’ and feelin’ tunes about life on and off Canada’s barstools. The band will perform songs from its new album,Desolation Sounds, during a “re-release party” from the Eddy stage.

Take a sonic journey with Calgary‘s Sargeant X Comrade. Rich, smoky vocals anchor ‘40s swing, hip hop beats, flamenco guitar, reggae, trip hop and so much more.

T. Buckley’s songs blew across the prairies like a Nor’easter, hanging on to their creator as he stormed into the Calgary scene. His family’s Atlantic roots anchors his country sound.

With a renegade spirit and luminous voice, Calgary‘s Jess Knights can traverse sultry ballads and raise-the-roof-off-the-church soul with ease.

Two-spirit Mohawk pop singer-songwriter Shawnee Kish uses music as medicine. The Edmonton-based CBC Searchlight winner focuses on inspiration and empowerment.

Calgary-born songstress Justine Tyrell packs smooth vocals, catchy hooks, and melodic stylings into a refreshing blend of contemporary R&B with an early 2000s throwback influence.

With a confident voice and boundless energy, Edmonton-based JUNO winner Celeigh Cardinal connects deeply with her audience through humour, passion and love.

The Wheat Pool is an Edmonton alternative country-rock four-piece; a songwriter's band that stirs the irreverent spirit of Neil Young in its sturdy indie-rock stride.

Vancouver’s Parkland Music Project views alt-country roots through a kaleidoscope of textural improvisation, psych-rock energy, and thrillingly open-ended, uncommonly dynamic song structures.

Look for more artists to be added in the coming weeks at studiobell.ca/whats-on.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music and is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in Calgary’s East Village. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

About the King Eddy
Founded in 1905, the King Edward Hotel was one of the first built in Calgary along 9 Avenue (known as “Whiskey Row”), and throughout its history was a home and destination for travelers, settlers, musicians, music fans, and citizens from all walks of life. From the early 1980s until it closed in 2003, the “Eddy” had a respected local, national and international reputation for great live music and was affectionately known as “Calgary’s Home of the Blues.” After a careful restoration of the historic building, the revitalized Eddy reopened for good as a bar, restaurant and live music venue in 2018. While the King Eddy stage was previously known for attracting blues greats like Buddy Guy and Pinetop Perkins, the new Eddy stage presents all music for all people. In addition to a stellar roster of local and out-of-town touring acts, the Eddy’s kitchen serves up new Canadian-inspired dishes and comfort-food classics for lunch, brunch and dinner. For more information, please visit kingeddy.ca.

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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
T 403.543.5123 | C 403.710.4758
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada