or decades, Calgarians faced a summertime concert drought as an array of mostly-Euro festivals horded touring talent, leaving everyone else battling for scraps. However, thanks to mini-fests and a glut of wandering musical excellence, things have changed. This summer, Calgary’s show calendar brims with worthy gigs. Here are some of the best big-ticket attractions; don’t worry: sunscreen on your ears won’t inhibit aural pleasure.


Technically, M.I.A.’s May 28th MacEwan Hall gig is pre-summer, but her sunny sounds are a perfect kick-off to the sweltering season. The Sri Lanka-via-London superstar melange provocateur returns with her unique mixture of world-rap, socio-political leanings, funk-ish grooves, cash-register melodies, kitchen-sink song-smithing, and ebullient coolness. –S.T.


I have a friend named Azy. It's not even her real name. It's short for Azarin. Every time that I mention her, people think it's so cool that she was named after Ozzy Osbourne. I say, "no, it's a short form and it's not even spelled the same," but people just can't fathom another form of Ozzy. Azy won’t be at McMahon Stadium on July 26th, but Ozzy definitely will; perhaps bats should skip town. –A.C.


Virgin Festival returns; calm down potential martyrs, it’s not what you think. From reformed grunge heroes to Can-rock gods, indie darlings to post-hardcore troubadours, Calgary’s V-Fest line-up is beyond eclectic. Stone Temple Pilots and the Tragically Hip headline the two-day music and phone-sales extravaganza. Miscellany ensues with performances from the built-for-festivals Flaming Lips; pop-rock consortium, the New Pornographers; and firmament-gazing Montrealers, Stars. Also on deck: Face to Face, City and Colour, the Constantines, and many more. V-Fest runs July 21st and 22nd at Fort Calgary. –S.T.


Anglophiles rejoice: on August 30th at the Pengrowth Saddledome, Oasis finally returns. Do you remember when (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? broke and everyone was walking slowly down halls and blowing Sallys off? That was great. Noel, Liam, and those two other guys – neither of whom are named Bonehead – bring their powerful Brit-pop to Calgary. Say what you will about massive career declines, but you’ll get shivers as soon as “Wonderwall’s” acoustic strums begin. One of the most prolific jean-jacket strummers in the history of alt- country, Ryan Adams, along with his stellar back-up band, the Cardinals, opens this so- disparate- it- might- work gig. Go. –S.T.