Canada Guide
Alberta and the Rockies
Music venues
1 Cowboy's 826-5th St SW Holds over 1000 people on two levels with nightly live entertainment; usually heaving thanks to promotions that involve 25¢ beers and the club's policy to pay for breast implants of female employees!
2 Crazy Horse 1311-1st St SW Popular dance venue with live music on Thursday nights. Small dance floor.
3 Desperados 1088 Olympic Way This huge sports and "cowboy" bar is a Calgary institution, supposedly with room for 3500 people.
4 Kaos Jazz and Blues Bistro 718-17th Ave Best location in the city for nightly jazz, with blues, acoustic and soul also on offer. Opening time: Occasional afternoon performances, otherwise daily 6pm–2am
5 The King Edward Hotel 438-9th Ave SE Much-loved, down-at-heel location, with consistently good C&W and R&B bands. The Sat jam session – the blues event of the city – is invariably packed.
6 Piq Niq Café 811-1st St SW This place isn't bad as a café, but it really comes into its own Thurs– Sat with good live jazz acts in the basement. Price: Cover $10 average
7 Ranchman's Steak House 9615 Macleod Trail South 
www.ranchmans.com A classic honky-tonk and restaurant, 8km south of downtown, known throughout Canada for the live, happening C&W. Free dance lessons at 7pm Mon– Fri. Free admission before 8pm on Thurs. Packed with cowboys during the Stampede. Opening time: Closed Sun
8 Underground 731-10th Ave SW Hardcore, punk and metal bar with live bands every Fri and Sat and the cheapest beer in the city: jugs for $5.25.
9 Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts 205-8th Ave SE
403/294-7455 www.epcorcentre.org Dazzling modern downtown complex with five performance spaces, where six of the city's professional theatre companies perform along with the acclaimed Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and often the excellent Alberta Ballet Company.
10 Jubilee Auditorium 1415-14th Ave NW
www.jubileeauditorium.com The home base of the Calgary Opera; the season runs from October to April.