Canadian legends headline five days of great live music in the heart of the Whoop-Up Days midway
Lethbridge, Alta. – The sounds of summer will carry across the open southern Alberta skies as Whoop-Up Days brings a one-of-a-kind musical experience to Lethbridge from Aug. 20 to 24. The Original 16 Stage presented by Great Western Brewing and Feature Productions brings more than 20 live performers to Whoop-Up Days, all included free with Whoop-Up Days admission.
A trio of heralded Canadian acts headline the festivities, as Westco Construction presents Emerson Drive on Saturday, Aug. 24, Big Sugar on Friday, Aug. 23, and Kyle McKearney on Thursday, Aug. 22.
“Our guests told us how much they wanted top-level headliner entertainment and we’re thrilled that we can respond by bringing Emerson Drive, Big Sugar and Kyle McKearney to Whoop-Up Days,” says Paul Kingsmith, Director, Community Engagement, Lethbridge & District Exhibition. “Music and Whoop-Up Days have always gone hand-in-hand, and in addition to the known headliners, I urge guests to discover the great local acts who are also taking the stage throughout the week.”
Original 16 Stage headliners presented by Westco Construction
Saturday, Aug. 24th’s rodeo wrap-up party will be headlined by Emerson Drive, one of Canada’s most successful country bands of the past 20 years, who will make their final southern Alberta appearance as part of their “One for the Road” farewell tour.
On Friday, Aug. 23, Canadian rock legends Big Sugar will take the stage, playing hits from a career that has made them one of Canada’s most successful bands of the past 30 years. Songs like ‘Diggin’ A Hole’, ‘If I Had My Way’, ‘Turn the Lights On’ and ‘Roads Ahead’ have become Canadian roots/rock/reggae staples, while featuring Gordie Johnson’s signature guitar playing.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, up-and-coming Alberta country star Kyle McKearney will headline the evening’s entertainment. McKearney won the 2023 Canadian Country Music Award for Alternative Country Album of the Year, and earned Album of the Year honours at the 2024 Country Music Alberta Awards.
Alberta music showcase
More than a dozen of southern Alberta’s top up-and-coming talent will get the opportunity to showcase their talents on the Original 16 Stage as live entertainment takes place daily from 3:30 p.m. to midnight.
Among those gracing the stage are The Cody Hall Band, a Whoop-Up Days favourite, whose song “Grow Up Western” has been adopted as the official song of Whoop-Up Days 2024; Brother Bicker Band, who play a genre self-described as “maple whiskey rock n roll"; local Lethbridge favourites Taylor Ackerman's Global Acid Reset and Makiisma, and more. The full schedule for the Original 16 Stage is available at whoopupdays.ca.
Live music presented by the Blackfoot Confederacy and PCL Construction Services
For the second straight year, a unique partnership will showcase some of the top Indigenous performers from around the province. From 3:30 – 6 p.m. each day, Piikani artist Willy Big Bull has curated an all-star lineup of performers that crosses genres and styles, including Sargent X Comrade, Double Rider, Richard Inman, Alchemy the Linguist, Desert Orchid and more.
A partnership with the Blackfoot Confederacy and PCL Construction Services has helped to create the showcase, which puts these performers on the big stage at Whoop-Up Days.
Music performances included with gate admission
All musical performances on the Original 16 are included with gate admission. Advance tickets to Whoop-Up Days are available now at Lethbridge and Picture Butte Gas King locations. Enjoy Free ‘Til 3 admission Fuelled by Gas King from Tuesday, Aug. 20 to Thursday, Aug. 22. Learn more at whoopupdays.ca.
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