King Eddy opens for Stampede with country musicians from across Canada

Theiconic Calgary blues bar, the King Eddy, may open as a full-time music venue in the next few years, but for now, its Stampede lineup is jumping with Canadian acts.

"We actually have more bands than you can shake a stick at," National Music Centre programs manager Jason Valleautold the Calgary EyeopenerFriday morning.

The former bar and hotel opened in 1905 and transformed in the1980sinto Calgary's Home of the Blues. In 2004, just a year short of the century mark, the building was condemned.

In recent years, it was rebuilt and taken over by theNational Music Centre, a non-profit that opens it as a pop-up country saloonduring the Calgary Stampede.

"It's a historical building, it's a historical musical venue,"Valleausays. "It has the vibe and ghosts of many performers still in there."

Centre staffare busy running the museum, called Studio Bell, while caring for musical artifacts, but they have plans to open the bar as a live music venue,he says.

"It is in the works,"Valleausaid.

"We're hoping that within the next year or two, it will be a fully-functioning bar with jalepeno poppers and things like that."

For Stampede this year, the venue will host two free shows during each dayof Stampede. Evening headliners include Canadian country artists and groups, such as Fred Eaglesmith, Nice Horse, LindiOrtega, Blake Reid and Calgary-born musicianMarielBuckley.

"It's a different listening crowd than attends live music normally," Buckley told Calgary Eyeopener host David Gray.

"It's almost better because you kind of get a wider spectrum of people that are coming out to hear music, so in a lot of ways, it's good for musicians. It's great for listeners, as well."

The Calgary Stampede runs until July 16 and hosts many musical acts.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener

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