(Calgary, AB — June 15, 2026) In honour of the King Eddy’s 120th anniversary, National Music Centre (NMC) will present Eddy Fest, a three-day music festival from August 14-16, celebrating every chapter of the venue’s history.
The King Eddy has lived many lives over of its 120-year existence. Built between 1905 and 1907 as the King Edward Hotel on 9 Avenue SE (then known as “Whiskey Row”), it provided a home away from home for settlers, railway workers, travellers, and people from all walks of life. Decades later, it became an important part of the city’s music scene during its heyday as “Calgary’s Home of the Blues” from the early 1980s until it closed in 2004. That rich civic and musical history is the primary reason that the National Music Centre worked to save the King Eddy and build its new home around the venue. When the reimagined King Eddy reopened in 2018, it did so with a mandate to continue supporting Calgary artists and offering a welcoming space for legendary live music or “all music for all people.” Now, the Eddy celebrates its 120th anniversary alongside the 10th birthday of NMC’s home, Studio Bell.
Since its resurrection, the Eddy has welcomed nearly 240,000 music fans from Calgary and all over the world, and has offered a stage for thousands of artists to regularly perform and build new audiences. With a growing list of national music industry awards and nominations to its name, the venue has established itself as one of Calgary’s premier live music destinations.
“Saving the King Eddy was about more than preserving a historic building, it was about supporting and nurturing artists in Calgary,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre. “The Eddy has been a home for showcasing talent and bringing people together for generations. Eddy Fest is a celebration of that remarkable legacy, from its roots as a historic hotel and blues landmark to its current role as one of Canada’s most celebrated live music venues.”
“The King Eddy has long been a place where great music and great company come together,” said Nick Gallagher, General Manager of the King Eddy. “As we celebrate 120 years of this legendary venue, we’re excited to welcome Calgarians to experience everything that makes the Eddy special. From the incredible lineup of live music to our food and beverage offerings, Eddy Fest is our way of saying thank you to the community that has helped keep the Eddy spirit alive.”
Eddy Fest will showcase an eclectic mix of performances that represent the venue’s past and present. Purveyors of “maple whiskey rock ‘n’ roll” Brother Bicker Band, blues-rocker act Ollee Owens, and Filipino-Canadian singer-songwriter Duke Domino, who melds jazz, blues, pop, and rock, and will kick-start the festival on Friday, August 14, paying homage to the Eddy’s blues origins and the wide-ranging mix of genres heard on the legendary stage today.
A selection of country acts will perform brunch and afternoon sets on Saturday, August 15, paying tribute to the Eddy as a home for Alberta’s country music scene – and a multiple CCMA Award winner for Country Club of the Year. Among the brunch performers are country singer-songwriter Jessie Bird and country-folk act Ross Fizzard. The afternoon lineup will feature Métis-Cree country artist Ashley Ghostkeeper and country-rock brother trio Take the Sonset, along with country-blues artist Leo Martinez and blues guitarist and historian John Rutherford, giving another tip of the hat to the Eddy’s deep blues roots. Later that night, audiences can hit the dance floor as blues-rock outfit Sonia Deleo & The New Dads, funk and soul group Deicha & The VuDudes, and rock ‘n’ roll power trio Jade Elephant deliver a spirited finale to the second night of festivities.
On Sunday, August 16, country-folk artist Lewis Cardinal and folk singer-songwriter Toni Vere will perform for brunch-goers. Then the festival wraps with afternoon sets from blues-roots act Black Crow Funk and rising blues-rock star Marcus Trummer, who was mentored through the National Music Centre’s after-school Jam Club for teens. As an alum of Jam Club and a regular on the King Eddy stage, Trummer represents the bright future of the blues and the next generation of artists being nurtured through NMC’s programs for youth and emerging talent.
Music fans are encouraged to come hungry — and thirsty — over the weekend. The King Eddy kitchen will be serving up delights from its menu, as well as a selection of local brews, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options to keep the good times flowing. For more information on the Eddy’s brunch, lunch, and dinner menus, visit kingeddy.ca/menu.
Eddy Fest will run on the King Eddy’s main floor on August 14 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm, August 15 from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, and August 16 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Individual tickets for brunch, afternoon, and evening sets, and wristbands for the full weekend are on sale now, with Early Bird passes available for $99 until June 30. Get tickets at kingeddy.ca/whats-on.
About the King Eddy
Founded over 120 years ago, the King Eddy is an important piece of Calgary’s music story and remains one of the oldest music venues in Canada that is still in operation today. As a cornerstone of the National Music Centre (NMC), the rich civic and musical history of the King Eddy is the primary reason that NMC chose to construct its new building at this location. The King Edward Hotel was one of the first hotels built in Calgary along 9 Avenue between 1905-1907. Over the years, it’s been a home and destination for travellers, 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 legendary live music and was affectionately known as “Calgary’s Home of the Blues.” Restored brick by brick to its original glory by the National Music Centre, the reimagined King Eddy reopened in 2018, marking a new chapter in its storied legacy. It has received numerous national music industry awards and nominations in that time, and has been repeatedly recognized as one of Calgary’s best live music venues. For more information, please visit kingeddy.ca.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
National Music Centre (NMC) is a registered charity dedicated to amplifying the love, sharing, and understanding of music in Canada. More than a museum, NMC focuses on five key areas: Exhibitions and Collections, Artist and Professional Development, Performance and Recording, Education and Learning, and Music and Wellness. From its headquarters at Studio Bell in the heart of Calgary’s East Village neighbourhood and satellite location in Montreal, NMC celebrates Canada’s rich musical legacy, honouring legendary artists, nurturing new voices, and bringing people together through music. NMC also houses a vast collection of rare instruments, artifacts and memorabilia, world-class recording studios, and four of Canada’s music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s Adisq Hall of Fame. National Music Centre marks its 10th anniversary as Canada’s home for music in 2026, with a year-long lineup of exhibits, events, and programs planned. Visit studiobell.ca/10 to explore the full list of anniversary activities happening now through summer 2027. To check out the NMC experience online, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
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Media contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Manager PR and Marketing
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada
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