Canadian Music Festival Profiles
Interstellar Rodeo
"Life is too short to listen to shitty music," reads the jovial honesty of Six Shooter Records' mission statement. The Toronto record label founded by Shauna de Cartier has released over 80 records from artists like Whitehorse, the Strumbellas and Tanya Tagaq, whose 2014 record Animism won the Polaris Music Prize.
In 2012, Six Shooter entered the festival scene. The first Interstellar Rodeo was launched in the heart of Edmonton, enclosed by the North Saskatchewan River Valley at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park, where the permanent stage always guarantees superlative acoustics. Taking place over three days annually in late July, Interstellar Rodeo offers the best in Canadian roots, folk and rock music.
It has featured performances from heavy-hitters like Cat Power, Alabama Shakes, Feist and Courtney Barnett, and older favourites like Blue Rodeo and Wilco, alongside a dynamic roster of Six Shooter artists like Shakey Graves and Leonard Sumner. Aside from its delicious lineup, Interstellar also satisfies the foodie's soul with gourmet food trucks and wine pairings, making it a summer staple in the Prairies. The festival quickly proved itself a hit: In its second year, the event was completely sold out, boasting 3500 attendees for each of the fest's three days straight.
Following the success of the Edmonton festival, the Six Shooter team got to work on opening a second festival, and in 2015 inaugurated the first Interstellar Rodeo at The Forks in downtown Winnipeg, where the Assiniboine meets the mighty Red Rivers. The Winnipeg edition ran for three summers, with a star-studded finale in 2017 headlined by Beck, Broken Social Scene and Father John Misty.
Exclaim! @ Interstellar Rodeo
Whitehorse Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 28
Whitehorse's folky desert rock may end up as a soundtrack to our hot future at some point, but for the time being, the only thing they are s...
Marlaena Moore Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 28
Alternative singer-songwriter is an incredibly tough genre to stand out in. Lucky for Marlaena Moore that her earnest, "aw shucks" attitude...
Lucius Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 28
The programming for the final day of Interstellar Rodeo was far more Rodeo than Interstellar, with the schedule dominated by country, folk a...
Sheila E. Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 27
A foul northern storm throughout the day was not the only relentless force of nature to grace the Interstellar Rodeo stage. Legendary percus...
Perfume Genius Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 27
There's a patient power to Perfume Genius's performances. Nothing is ever rushed in the music that Mike Hadreas makes, but nothing ever quit...
Nyssa Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 27
Interstellar Rodeo hosts interstitial acts, typically up-and-coming solo artists, that perform while the stage is being changed over between...
Sharon Van Etten Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 26
Sharon Van Etten is having a stellar year. Her album, Remind Me Tomorrow, is spectacular and has lead her to appear on daytime and late nigh...
Kinnie Starr Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 26
There's no possible way that Kinnie Starr's performance could fit into a standard issue live review. In front of a stage being changed over...
Aloe Blacc Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 26
When Aloe Blacc steps on a stage, he doesn't fail to impress. A polished professional with no jagged edges, Blacc looked and sounded flawles...
Interstellar Rodeo Reveals 2019 Edmonton Lineup
Interstellar Rodeo is set to return to Edmonton this summer, and organizers have just announced the 2019 festival lineup. Playing the fes...
Courtney Barnett Interstellar Rodeo, Edmonton AB, July 22
Beware the person who lacks all self doubt. Courtney Barnett met the colossal expectations for the followup to her career-launching Sometime...