BIG

A Heartfelt Goodbye from Big Winter Classic

After an incredible 10 years, we’ve made the difficult decision to say goodbye. From the very beginning, Big Winter Classic has been more than just a festival—it’s been a celebration of art, music, and community. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the countless musicians, artists, venues, and volunteers who poured their passion and heart into every moment. You helped create something truly magical, and for that, we are forever grateful.

To everyone who attended, supported, and believed in Big, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without you, this dream could never have existed, let alone succeeded. 

Though this chapter closes, the memories and connections made will stay with us forever. Thank you for 10 unforgettable years. ❤️

Much love friends,

Big Winter Classic Team

Good day hive, just a friendly reminder that we had to, very unfortunately, cancel The Beatnuts show tomorrow at Commonwealth Bar & Stage. All tickets will be fully refunded. Bummer news for sure. Thank you to all of you that support and to our amazing locals for being understanding. Much love

AMAZING!!!!!

Slow Down Molasses “Street Haunting”- An Exclusive Video Premiere By Will YannacouliasPhotos by Oliver ClarkeAfter a night of sleepless anticipation, the day has finally come! Saskatoon’s veteran noisy post-punks Slow Down Molasses have teamed up with Calgary filmmakers Oliver Clarke and Deyson Thiara to shoot and produce a video for “Street Haunting”, the l...

who is creating killer gig posters out there Calgary? Looking for a one off poster design for a Hip Hop show….

Well folks one more thank you as we close the books on 2024. To all the artists, performers, staff, volunteers, venues and attendees. We are truly blessed to be able to create with all of you. All that said we want to continue and learn and grow from your experiences to make each version of BIG the best it can be. Festival survey is live - link in bio - we would be grateful if you could find the time to share your feedback on this past years festival. Also drop a comment or three below on who we should be looking 👀 to bring to BIG 2025. We will toss in all the names from the survey and the comments below in to a hat and give away 2 BIG prize packs. Much love friends and thank you again from all of us at BIG.

We are so excited to be part of Chinook Blast alongside the RISE UP Calgary crew to present the amazing Amy Nelson this Friday at Olympic Plaza - weather looks amazing and the event is free and open to everyone. Let’s go Calgary

Dear BIG community,

We extend our heartfelt appreciation for your integral role in making BIG Winter Classic 2024 an exceptional event that will linger in our memories. Your unwavering support and enthusiasm have been instrumental in the resounding success of the festival.

A sincere thank you goes out to our dedicated team of volunteers whose commitment has transformed Downtown Calgary and The Beltline into a dynamic, inclusive festival space. Your hard work and passion have truly made a significant difference, and we are grateful for your invaluable contributions.

The introduction of ALL FEST at BIG 2024 marked a significant highlight, offering an all-encompassing, all-accessible, and all-inclusive experience that was not only well-received but also added a new dimension to the festival. We are thrilled by the positive response and the excitement it brought to the entire event. More to come in 2025

To our supporters, partners and volunteers, your collaboration and dedication have been the cornerstone of BIG Winter Classic. We express our deepest gratitude for the pivotal roles each of you played in ensuring the success of the festival. Our appreciation also extends to the hospitality venues, both longstanding partners and new additions, for embracing the unique vision of BIG and contributing to the festival’s distinctive character.

As we bid farewell to BIG Winter Classic 2024, we find ourselves filled with gratitude and anticipation for the journey that lies ahead in 2025. The support and contributions from each member of the BIG family have been truly remarkable, and we eagerly look forward to the new and exciting changes on the horizon.

With sincere thanks and anticipation,

BIG

BIG wouldn’t be the party it is without our beverage partners!🍻

Thank you to Alley Kat Brewery, Blindman Brewing and Drink Brevy for keeping the good times rolling all festival long.

We appreciate you! 🙏

Shout out to our community partners for helping make this year’s festival the success it was!

We are so lucky to have the support from such creative leaders in the community — you make help make BIG what it is today, and we couldn’t be more grateful!

❤️ City of Calgary – Your Local Government + Chinook Blast for helping us bring to life our first ALL FEST
❤️ The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) for your support in making this year’s festival possible
❤️ Rockin' 4 Dollar$ Calgary for your curated BIG showcase
❤️ Sajak & Farki for being at our beck and call for all things creative and absolutely killing it
❤️ Shutter Release Productions for capturing all the moments — we can’t wait to see your videos!
❤️ Travel Alberta for your support in making BIG a must-see event
❤️ X92.9 Calgary's Alternative for being our media partner and supporting with all things promo

It takes a village and we could not be more grateful for you.

A BIG thank you to our venue partners this year — BIG would not be possible without you! 🫶🏼

❤️ The BLOX + BLOX Arts Centre for providing us with and open, inclusive space for Calgarians to connect without barriers
❤️ Commonwealth Bar & Stage for being the go-to pre-game party space to get your groove on
❤️ Dickens for being the perfect laid-back venue for our final late-night show — one we’ll remember for years to come!
❤️ Modern Love YYC for providing big city views on your rooftop patio and an excellent concert/comedy space (and for doing all you could to fix your frozen pipes to open in time! 😅)
❤️ Last Best Brewing & Distilling for the intimate spaces downstairs and on the patio to enjoy tunes with tasty brews🍻
❤️ Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District for opening your central space to curious folks for our panel + documentary screening presentations

Much love from us at BIG and until next year!

The final day of BIG was one for the books!

Our first year of ALL FEST with the support of our friends at Chinook Blast and City of Calgary – Your Local Government made for an awesome day of free, inclusive, all age programming. And what better place to host than BLOX Arts Centre! ❤️

We saw school rock bands School of Rock Douglasdale and Lightning Ant Music School shred, lots of moshing and hair flipping to PKEW PKEW PKEW, babies in headphones and a whole lot of fun.

Thanks to those who spent our final festival day and first ALL FEST with us. See some of the highlights below ⬇️

📸: Shannon Johnston, Ksenia Artemis’s

The weekend isn’t over until PKEW PKEW PKEW plays!🤘Join us for one final banger BLOX Arts Centre tonight at 8 p.m. | #150 – 625 11th Ave SW

*Free, all ages show!

If you were in the crowds for day four, you are one of the lucky ones!

Calgary witnessed something special last night, transporting us to peak euphoria and leaving us craving more.

Day four brought us a bit of everything from the beginning of ALL FEST at BLOX Arts Centre, a rowdy comedy show at Modern Love YYC, country, jazz and psych showcases on the Last Best Brewing & Distilling + Modern Love YYC patios, a rock ‘n’ roll dance party at Commonwealth Bar & Stage and a bangin’ journey through time at Dickens.

Swipe to see some of the highlights (and stay tuned for more!)

📸: Shannon Johnston, Oliver Clarke, Michael Grondin, Erin Prout, Tom Ross

Let’s take a moment for day three of BIG! 🙌

A stacked evening with a mix of disco, pop, Latin American rhythms, punk, folk, electronic and rock!

Patio weather continued to bless us for our shows on the Modern Love YYC patio and it got even steamier as the night went on with our triple headliner show featuring Barry Paquin Roberge, Helena Deland and DEBBY FRIDAY at BLOX Arts Centre. Don’t even get us started on our first show at Commonwealth Bar & Stage where we saw Sunglaciers, Hot Garbage and Geese absolutely kill it. 🥵

Swipe to see some of the highlights ➡️✨

Night four, are you ready for us?! Check out our story highlights to plan your evening.

📸: Shannon Johnston, Allison Seto, Dianna Chan, Hari Singh, Ryder Ellis

We’re so excited to have school rock bands School of Rock Douglasdale and Lightning Ant Music for the first time as part of our free, all age programming tomorrow for ALL FEST at BLOX Arts Centre.

School of Rock Douglasdale is a leader in performance-based music education. They teach guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals to students and perform at venues across the city.

Lightning Ant Music was born out of Phil Canji’s passion for rock music and wanting to share that passion with his kids, his wife and eventually the community. The school is made up of sudents ranging from 6-14 years old, to even some parents taking lessons!

⏰ Set times:
1:00 p.m. - School of Rock Douglasdale
2:30 p.m. - Lightning Ant Music School
4:00 p.m. - Wack
5:00 p.m. - Toxic FEM
6:00 p.m. - Iron Tusk - Band
7:00 p.m. - The Definitive
8:00 p.m. - PKEW PKEW PKEW

So bring the fam and come see these schools shine at their first BIG festival performance!

Thank you to our partners Chinook Blast + City of Calgary – Your Local Government for making this event possible.❤️

When wild and weird meet soul and groove.

Day two of five was the perfect mix of what makes BIG BIG — and we had so much fun with you!

Swipe to see some highlights of the evening. ➡️🌟

Now it’s time to get ready for night three. Let’s go Friday!

Shoutout to our amazing photographers for helping us capture these special moments! ⬇️

📸: Michael Grondin, Allison Seto, Diana Chan, Ryder Ellis

Pony Girl Sunny War Hi-tops Pat Clifton Music Lost Decade Modern Love YYC BLOX Arts Centre The BLOX Last Best Brewing & Distilling

Patio weather is calling you to the patio Saturday for rock/roots headliner .

Kicking off the show is , , and .rifle.county.players. Join us at the following set times:

⏰ Set times:
5 p.m. - Amy Nelson
6 p.m. - Carter Felker
7 p.m. - Kid Cali
8 p.m. - The Rifle County Players
9 p.m. - Lucky Sonne

🚨 Reminder! Individual show tickets will be available at the door day of — ticket prices vary and are subject to capacity.

HIVE - we lost our opening band to the uncontrollable forces of nature - Any bands out there that can bring their sounds for a 5:30 set Modern Love YYC…. $, passes and HERO status guaranteed!!!

TOMORROW!

Kick off your weekend with this killer of a show presented by on Friday, January 26 at .

A triple headliner show featuring winner , Montreal-based musician , with more than 2 million streams on her single “Bright Green Vibrant Gray” and Montreal’s disco glam squad .

Joining them to keep the good times rolling are Edmonton’s .music and , Winnipeg’s and Calgary’s .

Set times:
6 p.m. - Cardiograms
6:45 p.m. - King of Foxes
7:30 p.m. - Paige Drobot
8:15 p.m. - VERTTIGO
9:00 p.m. - Barry Paquin Roberge
10 p.m. - Helena Deland
11:30 p.m - Debby Friday

Tickets to this 🔥 show are only $40! Visit our link in bio to get yours today.

The party continues tomorrow at venues across Calgary’s Beltline including Modern Love YYC’s patio featuring Calgary’s Witch Victim, Heavydive, Sea of Lettuce and Toronto’s By Divine Right.

⏰ Set times:
5:30 p.m. - Witch Victim
6:30 p.m. - Heavydive
7:30 p.m. - Sea of Lettuce
9:00 p.m. - By Divine Right

While you’re there be sure to check out the main floor stage too with Neon Detour, Hi-tops, NIKU, Free the Cynics and B.A. Johnston.

🚨 Reminder! Individual show tickets will be available at the door day of — ticket prices vary and are subject to capacity.

🚨 Reminder! 🚨

Individual show tickets will be available at the door day of — ticket prices vary and are subject to capacity.

Learn more ⬇️

Episode 833 - Nyssa discusses her brilliant new album 'Shake Me Where I’m Foolish' (out February 1 via Six Shooter Records), witchcraft, paganism, and tarot, desire and capitalism, magical thinking and spiritualism, DIY empowerment and expertise, band chemistry and companionship, playing record release shows, playing at BIG and Winterruption YEG in January, other future plans, and much more.

Available via the Entertainment One Podcast network.

Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, Pizza Trokadero, Planet Bean Coffee, The Bookshelf, Grandad's Donuts and our Patreon supporters. And you! Please consider supporting YESS and Black Women United YEG.

Also, please consider telling your friends about this show and subscribe to/follow wherever you get your podcasts, such as:

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other players: https://linktr.ee/vishkhanna

Get ready for this free screening and presentation on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District.

Alberta artist Tanner James presents his documentary Wild Bill — an unapologetically Albertan short film, blurring the lines between mocumentary and memoir in this detailed love letter to the Calgary music scene. This 20-minute short film follows the comeback of fictionally acclaimed musician Bill Lawson as he revisits the notion of one final performance and the legacy around his fabled career.

Following the screening, director of Music Programming for Harvard Media and lead Music Director of X92.9 Calgary's Alternative in Calgary Matt Berry will be presenting ‘UNHEARD’ that goes through the processes of getting on the radio and how to get your music in front of more eyes and ears.

🎟️ Limited seats are available for this event, so make sure to RSVP for free: www.showpass.com/all-fest-arts-panel-and-presentation/

Ready, set, BIG! 🎈

But first, pick up your weekend + band passes.

🗓️ When: Saturday, Jan. 20
⏰ Time: 12-5 p.m.
📍 Where: BLOX Arts Centre, #150-625 11th Ave SW

Note for bands: If for some reason you can’t make it, don't fret. Your passes will be waiting for you at the door of your performance venue.