The King Eddy lives on – permanently!
The historic home of live music in Calgary will once again be wired for sound as a pop-up country music venue and then permanent venue later this summer.
It will all kick off as an East Village honky-tonk as it partners with the Calgary Stampede to bring the Bell Live Series from July 6 to 15.
“We’ve provided a taste of the resurrected King Eddy over the past two years by piloting successful live music programs like the Bell Live Series, and we’re excited to bring it back with another great lineup,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO of the National Music Centre, in a prepared statement.
“Opening the King Eddy as a permanent live music venue, bar and restaurant will allow us to greatly expand our programming mandate, attract new audiences, and continue to build on the Eddy’s storied musical legacy.”
The King Edward hotel was built between 1905 and 1910 (phases) and it was one of Calgary’s oldest bars when it shut down in 2004. It had a checkered past but was revered for its history as a live blues venue through the 1970s and 80s.
After it was closed down, the National Music Centre and the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation partnered up to rebuild the storied location as part of the overall East Village rejuvenation, and incorporated it into the National Music Centre location.
The Bell Live Series will go daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. from July 6 to 15.
Bell Live at the King Eddy headliners include:
- Kingston “newgrass” act The Abrams
- Edmonton-based country artist Karac Hendriks
- Calgary country-folk troubadour Tim Hus
- Powerhouse vocalist and Country 105 Rising Star Lauren Mayell
- Lethbridge country crooner Trevor Panczak
- Edmonton singer-songwriter Ken Stead
The King Eddy will then be opened as a permanent live music venue on July 20. For more information visit kingeddy.ca
