Alberta has a diverse music scene of pop, rock, country, jazz, folk, caribbean, classical, and blues music. Music festivals in the Summers are representing these genres. Choral music, ethnic music of many nationalities, all are found in Alberta. The independent music scene was covered by independent magazines:

Fast Forward Weekly ''Fast Forward Weekly'' (''FFWD'') was a news and entertainment weekly which provided news, alternative viewpoints, entertainment information, review articles and specialized advertising. It was distributed throughout Calgary, Banff and Canmore ...

in Calgary, and

Vue Weekly ''Vue Weekly'' was an alternative weekly newspaper published in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with issues released every Thursday. It covered topics on artists and events that are often ignored, marginalized, or misrepresented by the mainstream med ...

in Edmonton, neither magazine is currently active. BeatRoute Magazine is still in publication, but covers a wider scope (western Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba).

History

Aboriginal music Indigenous music is a term for the traditional music of the indigenous peoples of the world, that is, the music of an "original" ethnic group that inhabits any geographic region alongside more recent immigrants who may be greater in number. The te ...

has been present in Alberta since the end of the last ice age, nearly 10,000 years ago in Southern Alberta, around 8,000 year ago in the North. Aboriginal instruments in this part of North American were limited to the

voice The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound producti ...

and the easily made and portable drum. During the fur trade, European fur traders (mostly Orcadian Scots and French-Canadians) added a variety of their own instruments, such as the guitar and the accordion, but most importantly the fiddle. The fiddle became the basis of a distinctive style used in the Western fur trade and associated with the Métis people in particular. In his memoir Buffalo Days and Nights, respected Métis guide and interpreter Peter Erasmus writes that French Métis fiddlers from Lac Ste. Anne played for the Christmas celebrations at

Fort Edmonton Fort Edmonton (also named Edmonton House) was the name of a series of trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) from 1795 to 1914, all of which were located on the north banks of the North Saskatchewan River in what is now central Alberta, ...

in 1856. This tradition persisted even after Ontarian and European immigration began to increase after 1870. A list of dances published in the ''

Edmonton Bulletin The ''Edmonton Bulletin'' was a newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta, published from 1880 until January 20, 1951. It was founded by Edmonton pioneer Frank Oliver, a future Liberal politician and cabinet minister in the Canadian Government. Oliver co-f ...

'' on 3 February 1896 includes several of Métis and Scottish origin.

Alberta music organizations

*ACMA The Association of Country Music in Alberta * AMIA Alberta Music Industry Association * CMC Canada Music Centre (Calgary) *

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Edmonton, Alberta. As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city it presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to cou ...

* Edmonton Opera Association * Calgary Civic Symphony * Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra * Calgary Opera * Cosmopolitan Music Society * NMC National Music Centre (Calgary) * Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra

Music festivals

* Brooks Music Festival *

Canmore Folk Music Festival The Canmore Folk Music Festival is an annual three-day outdoor music event held the first weekend of August in Canmore, Alberta, Canada, established in 1978. Though the town of Canmore has a population of less than 14,000, the festival averages a ...

* Edmonton Folk Music Festival *

Calgary Folk Music Festival The Calgary Folk Music Festival (also known as "Calgary Folk Fest") is held in late July each year at Prince's Island Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. July 2022 is the Festival's 43rd edition. The four-day Calgary Folk Music Festival annually featu ...

* Calgary International Blues Festival * Calgary Midwinter Bluesfest *

North Country Fair The North Country Fair is an annual summer Solstice celebration held in the Driftpile River, Driftpile Valley near Driftpile, Alberta, Driftpile in northern Alberta, Canada. References External links * lslncca.ca
Fairs in Alberta Music f ...

* South Country Fair * PeaceFest *

Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival The Edmonton Blues Festival (formerly Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival) is an annual blues music festival in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which was first held in 1999. The festival runs for three days (a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) in mid-August a ...

* Edmonton International Jazz Festival * Blueberry Bluegrass Festival *

Big Valley Jamboree The Big Valley Jamboree, commonly referred to as "BVJ", is an annual country music festival held in Camrose, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1992, the Jamboree is held during the Civic Holiday in August and features country singers from North A ...

* Purple City Music Festival in Edmonton * Calgary International Reggae Festival * Sonic Boom
Soundtrack Music Festival
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Prominent figures

The following are some musical figures associated with the Canadian province of

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. *

Axis of Advance Axis of Advance was a Canadian death metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, active from 1998 to 2008. Their music was described as "freaked-out, hyper and evil metal...not for the weak and not really for most rational human beings, but it will sound ...

Violet Archer Violet Louise Archer (24 April 191321 February 2000) was a Canadian composer, teacher, pianist, organist, and percussionist. Born Violet Balestreri in Montreal, Quebec, in 1913, her family changed their name to Archer in 1940. She died in Ottawa o ...

Jann Arden Jann Arden (born Jann Arden Anne Richards; March 27, 1962) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. She is famous for her signature ballads, "Could I Be Your Girl" and " Insensitive", which is her biggest hit to date. Early life and educat ...

* Ruth B. *

Tommy Banks Thomas Benjamin Banks (December 17, 1936 – January 25, 2018) was a Canadian pianist, conductor, arranger, composer, television personality and senator. Television and musical career Banks was the host of nationally - and internationally ...

Moe Berg Morris Berg (March 2, 1902 – May 29, 1972) was an American catcher and coach in Major League Baseball, who later served as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Although he played 15 seasons in the major leagues, ...

* Big Sugar *

Bill Bourne William Sigurd Bourne (28 March 1954 – 16 April 2022) was a Canadian musician. He won three Canadian Juno Awards, and was an eight-time nominee. Bourne's music incorporates musical elements from around the world, including aboriginal, African ...

* Paul Brandt *

Cadence Weapon Roland "Rollie" Pemberton, better known by his stage name Cadence Weapon, is a Canadian-American rapper based in Toronto, Ontario. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Pemberton released his first album, '' Breaking Kayfabe'', in 2005 with posit ...

Captain Tractor Captain Tractor is a Canadian folk rock band, based in Edmonton, Alberta. They play a punk-influenced variant of Celtic folk music, similar to such bands as Great Big Sea, The Pogues or Spirit of the West. Their songs are often rich in local, ...

* Carson Cole *

Emerson Drive Emerson Drive is a Canadian country music band consisting of Brad Mates (lead vocals), Danick Dupelle (guitars, backing vocals), Mike Melancon (drums), and Dale Wallace (keyboards, backing vocals). The band was founded in 1995 as 12 Gauge, which ...

Faunts Faunts is an electronic rock band, formed in 2000 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, by Paul Arnusch and brothers Steven and Tim Batke. Faunts creates ambient music by arranging electronic beats with rock music, synthesizers, and drums. In 2009 the ba ...

* Feist * George Fox * Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra *

Jr. Gone Wild Jr. Gone Wild is a Canadian country/ punk rock band based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The band toured for a number of years and recorded several albums in the 1980s and 1990s. After disbanding in 1995, the group began performing and recording ...

* Carolyn Dawn Johnson *

Katie B Katie Rox is a Canadian singer-songwriter from a farm on the outskirts of Airdrie, Alberta, who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. She performed in the past under the name Katie B. Career Katie Rox has previously provided backup vocals for Ma ...

k.d. lang Kathryn Dawn Lang (born November 2, 1961), known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress. Lang has won Juno Awards and Grammy Awards for her musical performances. Hits include the s ...

Billy Klippert Billy Klippert is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter who rose to fame via the first season of Canadian Idol, in which he finished third. Career His self-titled debut album on the Orange Record Label reached 36th spot on Canada's top 100 albums c ...

* Loverboy *

Corb Lund Corb Lund is a Canadian country and western singer-songwriter from Taber, Alberta, Canada. He has released eleven albums, three of which are certified gold. Lund tours regularly in Canada, the United States and Australia, and has received several ...

* Cripple Creek Fairies *

Tate McRae Tate Rosner McRae (; born July 1, 2003) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. At the age of thirteen, she gained prominence as the first Canadian finalist on the American reality TV show '' So You Think You Can Dance''. McRae ca ...

* Joni Mitchell *

Nickelback Nickelback is a Canadian rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta. It is composed of guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair. It wen ...

from Hanna. Had a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit with the post-grunge/hard rock "

How You Remind Me "How You Remind Me" is a song by Canadian rock band Nickelback. Written by lead singer Chad Kroeger and composed by the band, the track was released on July 17, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, ''Silver Side Up'' (2001). ...

" in 2001–2002. This was the Billboard Year-End #1 single of 2002. They had a #1 album on the Billboard 200 with ''

All the Right Reasons ''All the Right Reasons'' is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback, released on October 4, 2005, on Roadrunner Records. It is the band's first album with former 3 Doors Down drummer Daniel Adair, who replaced Ryan Vikedal in Ja ...

'' in 2005. *

Melissa O'Neil Melissa Crystal O'Neil (born July 12, 1988) is a Canadian actress and singer. In 2005, O'Neil won the third season of '' Canadian Idol'', the first Canadian female to have won. As an actress, she is known for her roles as Two / Rebecca / Portia ...

Maren Ord Maren Whitney Ord (born February 28, 1981) is a Canadian singer-songwriter of rock and pop music. Early life Ord was born and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, the eighth of ten children. She grew up in a musical family; her father was a professor ...

Out of Your Mouth Out of Your Mouth was a Canadian hard rock band from Calgary, Alberta. It was fronted by guitarist, vocalist, producer, and writer Jason Darr. History Darr, a singer-songwriter, brought together a group of local Calgary musicians under the name F ...

Kalan Porter Richard Kalan Porter (born November 11, 1985) is a Canadian former singer-songwriter from Medicine Hat, Alberta, and the winner of the reality television series '' Canadian Idol'' in 2004. He started to sing at an early age and is classically t ...

Jan Randall Jan Randall is a Canadian composer, singer songwriter and professional musician. He has had an extensive career composing sound tracks, performing original songs, and improvising music for comedy theatre. He currently plays regularly with his ba ...

Ruth B Ruth Berhe (born July 2, 1995), better known by her stage name Ruth B., is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Edmonton, Alberta. She started by singing songs on Vine in early 2013. In November 2015, she released her debut extended play '' The ...

Shout Out Out Out Out Shout Out Out Out Out was a Canadian dance-punk/ electro group from Edmonton, Alberta. The band's lineup is unusual in that it includes multiple drummers and bassists, as well as vintage synthesizer equipment. History Shout Out Out Out Out was ...

SNFU SNFU was a Canadian hardcore punk band formed in Edmonton in 1981, relocated to Vancouver in 1992, and disbanded in 2018. They released eight albums, two live records, and one compilation amid many lineup changes and several temporary breakups. ...

Social Code Social Code (formerly known as Fifth Season) was a Canadian alternative rock group formed in 1999 in St. Albert, Alberta. History Formation and early years (1999–2003) The band was formed in 1999 by high school friends Travis Nesbitt (le ...

* Stereos *

Tariq Tariq ( ar, طارق) is an Arabic word and given name. Etymology The word is derived from the Arabic verb , ('), meaning "to strike", and into the agentive conjugated doer form , ('), meaning "striker". It became popular as a name after Tariq ...

Tegan and Sara Tegan and Sara () are a Canadian indie pop duo formed in 1998 in Calgary, Alberta. The band is led by identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin (born September 19, 1980). Both musicians are songwriters and multi-instrumenta ...

* Mark Templeton *

Ten Second Epic Ten Second Epic was a Canadian five-piece alternative rock band from Edmonton. The band formed in 2002 consisting of Andrew Usenik (vocals), Daniel Carriere (guitar), Craig Spelliscy (guitar), Sandy MacKinnon (bass) and Patrick Birtles (drums). ...

* The Dudes * The Grassroot Deviation *

The Provincial Archive The Provincial Archive are a Canadian indie band. Their releases have spanned genres from indie folk

The Smalls The Smalls are a Canadian hard rock/metal band formed in 1989 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They were influenced by jazz, hardcore punk, speed metal and country music. They were one of the most prominent Alberta bands in the second wave of per ...

The Stampeders The Stampeders (sometimes shortened to Stampeders) are a Canadian rock trio consisting of lead guitarist and vocalist Rich Dodson, bassist Ronnie King and drummer Kim Berly. History Formed in Calgary, Alberta, in 1964 as the Rebounds. they ...

* Theo Tams *

Tupelo Honey ''Tupelo Honey'' is the fifth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in October 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. Morrison had written all of the songs on the album in Woodstock, New York, before his move ...

Ian Tyson Ian Dawson Tyson (September 25, 1933 – December 29, 2022) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote several folk songs, including " Four Strong Winds" and " Someday Soon", and performed with partner Sylvia Tyson as the duo Ian & Sylvia. Ea ...

Chad VanGaalen Chad VanGaalen (born 1977) is a Canadian musician and artist from Calgary, Alberta. Career ''Infiniheart'' Following a few scattered independent releases, done mostly on homemade CDs with hand-drawn art, VanGaalen released '' Infiniheart'' (200 ...

The Wet Secrets The Wet Secrets are a Canadian indie rock band from Edmonton, Alberta, known for their signature red and white marching band uniforms, and harmonious layers of horns, synthesizers, booming bass lines, percussion, drums and voice. The band was for ...

* Zuckerbaby *

Kobra and the Lotus Kobra and the Lotus (also initialized as KATL) is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in 2009 by lead vocalist and songwriter Kobra Paige. History Formation, ''Out of the Pit'' (2009–2010) Kobra and the Lotus was formed by classical sing ...

Morgan Lander Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario in 1996. All of their material has been released through independent record labels, which to date includes six studio albums, one video album, four extended plays, thirteen singles ...

, lead vocalist and guitarist of Kittie * Viathyn *

Purity Ring Purity rings (also known as promise rings, abstinence rings, or chastity rings) are rings worn as a sign of chastity. Since the 1990s, in the United States, Christian organizations, especially Catholic and evangelical Christian groups, promoting ...

Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton The Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton (UMCE) was founded in 1984 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and has performed at many events and festival both in Canada and internationally. Performances include Expo '86, the International Choral Festival, alo ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Music Of Alberta *