The Calgary Stampede's Coca-Cola Stage Reviews
- Danika
- Jul 19, 2025
- 11 min read
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
For just two weeks of the year, Calgary transforms from its regular, big (yet boring) city self to a western fever dream, complete with rhinestones, chuckwagon racing, and, let's not forget, cowboy boots and hats. The Calgary Stampede is the pinnacle of our city, attracting guests from all over the world to experience the midway rides and games, strange foods, outrageous prices, and the crown jewel that is the rodeo. No matter who you are, I guarantee that there is something for you at the Stampede.
While the "Crazy Mouse" ride still holds up as one of the best rides of all time and I was both tantalized and disgusted by some of the menu items advertised this year, what I was most excited about and had been anticipating all year was the Coca-Cola Stage lineup. I cannot tell you how many times I refreshed the Stampede's website waiting for the 2025 lineup to be announced. Being a city that has no great concert venue as the Grey Eagle holds a max of 3,000 people and the Saddledome has poor acoustics, the Coca-Cola Stage is the best opportunity for Calgarians to see their favourite artists in their city, myself included. When I was told the news that not only were Bleachers coming, but Role Model as well, I was practically bawling while texting everyone I knew. Unfortunately, Role Model had to drop out last minute due to filming conflicts for the new rom-com he's starring in, Good Sex; however, he was quickly replaced by Del Water Gap, a more than worthy substitute. They also weren't the only big names in the lineup. With Don Toliver, Tinashe, Malcolm Todd, Charlotte Cardin, Lake Street Dive, Simple Plan, and tons of other amazing artists, I was surprised that the Stampede didn't break the all-time attendance record. And, with so many amazing artists, I saw it as a completely wasted opportunity if I didn't go to as many concerts as humanly possible. So that's exactly what I did. I also saw it as a completely wasted opportunity if I didn't review and rank each one for all of you to enjoy. So that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Coca-Cola Stage Concert Reviews:
Don Toliver:
To preface this review, I would like to acknowledge my bias and mention that I do not particularly like Don Toliver's music. Rap just isn't my thing. I do like some of his songs, most notably "Lose My Mind," which he wrote with Doja Cat for the F1 movie, but the vast majority of what he sings isn't for me. But I like him enough that I figured I would go to his concert and see what it was all about, especially considering I don't see myself going to another Don Toliver concert in the future, and he was the biggest name in the lineup this year. I know numerous people who absolutely loved his performance, but for me, it felt more like a club than an actual concert. The heavy autotune in his mic was distracting, and I do understand that he uses it to enhance the specific robotic quality of his voice, but seeing as he can sing normally with a similar effect, I wish he had let his true vocals shine through more. Overall though, my issues with the concert weren't really his performing skills. I had a bigger problem with the security and crowd control.
Between the mosh pits and fights that constantly broke out, I felt quite unsafe during the concert. People were trampling others, bottles were being thrown in the air and hitting members of the audience, and there was always someone passing out. Don tried a few times to get the crowd to spread out, but at the end of the day, it isn't his responsibility to make sure the crowd is safe; it's the Stampede's. While there wasn't much that security could do in the moment given the large number of people watching the concert, I think more thought needs to be given to who is invited to perform at the Coca-Cola Stage. Yes, the stage is meant to create more incentive for people to come to the Stampede. But it's also meant to expose up-and-coming artists and provide opportunities for them to perform. The size of the stage is also why it's designed for smaller artists, not huge headliners; there wasn't enough room to accommodate the number of people who wanted to watch Don. Considering he has over 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the organizers should have anticipated the demand. With how little space there is, the Stampede cannot treat the Coke Stage like Coachella, which is what it seems they're starting to lean towards. Don Toliver's concert was fine in my eyes, not my taste, but not objectively bad. However, I couldn't get over how dangerous certain aspects of it were, and the truth is that Don Toliver is much too big of an artist to be performing at the Coke Stage. I do believe that had he performed at the Saddledome, my review would be very different. My hope is that they learn from this experience and pick their lineup more carefully, taking safety into consideration.
Malcolm Todd:
I discovered Malcolm Todd's music a day before the concert when Momona Tamada added a song of his to one of her Instagram posts, and became absolutely hooked. I gave myself a crash course in his discography and managed to learn some of the lyrics before his performance; however, I still enjoyed some of the songs I didn't know. He was extremely funny, making jokes (some more vulgar than others) and chugging a beer on stage, and I was entertained the whole time, despite him not being a performer who moved around the stage very much. The only complaint I had was that, unfortunately, his vocals did not hold up live as well as in the studio and it was difficult to hear him over the band. The parts where his band was quieter and his voice carried were fantastic. It just would have been nice to have been able to hear him the entire time. Based on music alone, I would have ranked him much higher on this list, but with how drowned out his voice was at times, his performance didn't shine as much as some of the others I watched. However, I will hand it to Malcolm, man, can he play the guitar. It was awesome hearing the riffs he would play during interludes, and refreshing considering it's becoming more and more common for artists to have less technical music skills than in the past. While vocally he wasn't the strongest performer of the lineup, he made up for it with his guitar skills, the vibe he presented, and his vibrant personality. So, needless to say, I am very much a Malcolm Todd fan now.
(P.S - Did anyone else not know Malcolm Todd's sister is Audrey Hobert? Might be the most iconic sibling duo since the Olsen twins)
USS:
The ranking of this band came as quite a surprise to me. Being a rock-alternative group, USS is not in my rotation of music that I would regularly listen to, and I wouldn't have gone to their concert had Bleachers not been playing later that evening. However, despite not loving the headbanger techno vibe of their songs, in person, it was a completely different experience. Still, of course, headbanger and techo-ish, but feeling the bass line through my body and watching as they bounded up and down the stage had my arms waving with the crowd and my heart pounding. I couldn't believe how much fun I was having. Their set was short, only around 30 minutes long, but not a moment of it was wasted and by the end I think I might have even been sweating. Now, I still wouldn't consider myself a fan by any means. Still not really the type of music I enjoy. But, if USS ever find themselves playing in Calgary again, I might just have to snag a few tickets.
Lauren Spencer Smith:
Lauren was the first Coca-Cola Stage concert I went to this year as the headliner for sneak-a-peek, the day before the park "officially opens." Now, if you had told me back in 2021 when "Back To Friends" had just been released that I would be going to a Lauren Spencer Smith concert, I probably would have broken down into tears. Lockdown was hard for us all, and I found solace in her music, as it felt like the perfect soundtrack for navigating the ups and downs of my first teenage crush amidst a global pandemic. It was more than nostalgic to finally hear some of my old favourite songs live, and Lauren did not disappoint. The performance was carried by her powerhouse vocals, and it was especially impressive that despite the girls shouting her lyrics in the audience (myself included), you could still hear her above the noise. I also thought it was a nice touch that she interacted with the crowd and read each of the signs made by her fans. She also took time after the concert to walk up and down the barricade, talking with her fans, signing shirts, and snapping photos, making her even more wonderful in my eyes. While her music is definitely quite sad and not for everyone, for the people in the audience, it felt like a much-needed, cathartic cry.
Del Water Gap:
If Role Model, Matty Healy, and Sombr all had a baby, it would be Del Water Gap. I am a lover of all indie pop-rock, so the yearning and guitar crash outs had me in a choke hold. I was hesitant for sure when he was announced as the replacement for Role Model because I was fairly certain no act could come near as good as Tucker Pillsbury's (yes, that's his real name) would be. But an hour later I realized how wrong I was. His voice was just barely raspy and it added to the rawness of his lyrics, which were so relatable I could understand all the people who were crying in the audience. He played around with the highs and lows of his music by leaning into the devastation of certain songs and the upbeat comfort of others, while still maintaining a cohesive and on-brand sound. Honestly, the concert felt like a car ride home late at night as it just starts to rain. That might actually be the only way I can describe it. I went into the show not knowing any of his music, and yet it felt familiar and comforting, but also new and bold and angry and the perfect representation of everything I've ever felt. Somehow a man in his 30's was able to capture the teenage girl experience in the span of an hour. Funny how things work that way. And I hope that, if after reading this you feel inclined to listen to even a few of his songs, you feel as seen by his music as I do.
Tinashe:
I don't think I have ever seen a Coca-Cola Stage concert quite like Tinashe's. Not only was her outfit the best one I've ever seen on the stage, she had back-up dancers and nearly the entire set was choreographed down to a tee. It just felt absolutely next level in comparison to some of the more casual sets I've seen. Her presence on stage commanded attention, and it was only emphasized by her killer vocals. Plus, I've never seen anyone more gorgeous in my life. I do think that, similar to a lot of the concerts in the lineup this year, she put on a great show even if you aren't a fan. Her mic could've been turned off and it would still be amazing to watch her dancing. She actually reminds me a lot of Tate McRae in that way (whom I also love).
Truth be told, I knew almost none of the lyrics to any of her songs going into the concert. But the energy she brought to the stage was so magnetic and her lyrics were catchy enough that by the end of each song I was screaming my heart out. After being introduced to Malcolm Todd and now her, I may have to admit that I am a closeted R&B fan. Yeah no, I am definitely an R&B person now.
Bleachers:
Being a huge fan of Bleachers, placing them as the best Coca-Cola Stage concert may be slightly influenced by my love of their music. But even if I had never listened to them before, their concert still checked every single box. I've always known that their music would sound good live. From the saxophone solos, scream-worthy lyrics, and masterful production, Bleachers easily became my most anticipated concert of the week. I got to the stage four hours before the set to be as close to the barricade as possible, fighting through the rain and cold, and I was not disappointed. Right from the get-go go the band came on with high energy, performing "I Am Right On Time," quickly following with "Modern Girl," a fan favourite. Everyone in the crowd was dancing and screaming and it was so much fun watching as Jack Antonoff (the Jack Antonoff) ran and jumped around the stage, seeming to be enjoying himself even more than the rest of us. Being one of the longer Coke Stage concerts I've been to (not complaining by any means), there was time for Jack and the band to talk and explain some of the music, as well as interact with the audience. It gave the concert a very personal feel while still maintaining a polished performance.
The best moment of the entire night (and very possibly my entire life) was when a fan in the audience asked the band to play "Margaret," a song written for his wife, Margaret Qualley, that he had written with Lana Del Rey. After a few minutes of playing around with chords and remembering lyrics, they came out and performed the song, completely improvising their way through. It was what truly set the concert apart from so many others I've been to. In the professional world of music, everything is so rehearsed that at certain times, artists often lack the authenticity of really enjoying the songs they're performing. Watching Jack and the band play the song, you could just feel the pure love for their music surrounding the crowd. With the big-scale productions that many singers put on now for their concerts, it was nice to be reminded of the intimacy a stripped-back performance creates. Margaret Qualley is also one of my favourite people in the world. So, I will never turn down the opportunity to listen to a love song written about her. Especially if that song is written by potentially the only person more in love with her than me (can Jack fight?).
The minute the band walked on stage, it was a no-brainer for me that they were the number one concert of the week. I mean, really, they're the number one concert I've seen all year. More than just being a talented writer and singer, Jack Antonoff is a spectacle as a musician. What I wouldn't give to live inside his mind for even a few minutes. Every single person in his band are all masters at their respective crafts and after neglecting my own instruments for most of the summer, the concert inspired me to finally pick my guitar up again. I would say that even if you aren't a Bleachers fan, if you have a chance go to one of their concerts, do it. You won't regret it. And it seems to be that a new album is in the works, so a tour announcement could be coming sooner than we think. I'm just hoping that Calgary becomes a regular stop for the band.
Honourable Mentions:
Seeing as in the end I truly am just a girl, I couldn't finish this article off without mentioning my two new crushes of the week. Both insanely talented (and insanely good-looking), on the left is the guitarist for Del Water Gap's set, and on the right is the guitarist for Lauren Spencer Smith's. As far as I'm concerned, neither of them performs regularly for either of the singers, so if anyone knows who they are and wants to let me know, that would be superb. For research purposes. Because I play guitar. Obviously.
Closing Thoughts:
The Stampede is arguably the two busiest weeks of my life. But no matter how exhausted, broke, and voiceless I am by the end, it's always well worth it. As I've gotten older, and rides and skittles hot dogs have gotten less exciting (and stomachable) than they used to be, I've found myself turning to concerts even more than in the past. There's just something about live music that makes it less about listening and more about experiencing. Which makes it sound like I'm talking about a drug trip, but whatever. Discovering the Coca-Cola Stage has reinvented the Stampede for me in a way, giving me a legitimate reason to waste all my money year after year, rather than just going for the sake of it. Getting to attend a concert for $25 (or less) is a steal already, and getting to go to some of my favourite artists for that same price is the greatest bargain ever. So, if you're ever planning a trip to Calgary and don't mind crowds and over-excessive western wear, the Stampede is the best time to visit. And who knows? With the names the Stampede's been bringing in the past few years, maybe your favourite artist might come too.
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