Take an exclusive trip behind the scenes at Studio Bell and see music come to life!
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $33 |
| Seniors/Students | $29 |
| Youth (ages 3 - 12) | $26 |
| Members | $12 |
Ticket prices include your Backstage Pass tour and same-day general admission to Studio Bell.
Tour Times & General Info
Backstage Pass tours are offered on Sundays at 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm.
Tours are one-hour in length and recommended for those ages 12 and up. Strollers are not permitted on Backstage Pass tours.
Spots are limited, so be sure to purchase your tickets in advance.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour.
About the Backstage Pass Tour
Our Backstage Pass tour takes you inside the west block of Studio Bell where artists and innovators come from across Canada and around the world to make music.
Lean more about our historic recording consoles and go behind the scenes of world-class recording studios, including the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Studio (RSM) once used to record albums by Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and the Stones themselves. Hear the stories behind some of NMC’s most notable instruments and artifacts spanning 450 years of music history. Then, watch as a trained musician performs live demonstrations on some of the most remarkable musical instruments in NMC’s living collection.
Backstage Pass Highlights
The Olympic Studios Console: This console was used by an assortment of acts who visited the famed London studio in the 1970s. Olympic Studios recording artists include Motörhead, Eric Clapton, and Elvis Costello.
The Trident A-Range Console: Internationally recognized as one of the rarest and most prized recording desks, this console captured the sounds of artists including the Dandy Warhols, Spoon, Randy Bachman, Air, and Explosions in the Sky.
The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio (RSM): This mobile recording studio was originally built in 1968 for the Stones to help reduce what the band considered to be exorbitant studio fees. Over the years, the RSM travelled the world and was used to record albums by a long list of rock heavyweights including Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and of course, The Rolling Stones.
The Original New Timbral Orchestra (TONTO) Synthesizer: One of the largest analog synthesizers in the world, TONTO was famously used in the 1970s to record albums by Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton, and The Isley Brothers.
The Trasuntino Harpsichord: Dating back to the 16th century, this harpsichord is one of the oldest items in the NMC Collection.
The Hammond Novachord: One of NMC’s rarest instruments, this specific Hammond Novachord is one of only six functioning models in the world! Most recently, Canadian folk singer-songwriter Basia Bulat recorded her 2016 album Good Advice using the instrument, adding yet another layer of history to the artifact.
The King Eddy: Known as Calgary’s ‘Home of the Blues’ throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, the King Edward Hotel hosted greats like John Hammond, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, and Otis Rush. The building was condemned in 2004 but has since been restored to its original glory by NMC and reopened as a restaurant and live music venue in 2018.