GRAND EVENTS

CADENCE - with Georgy Tchaidze and Wakefield Brewster

Presented by Honens and The GRAND
Wednesday October 9th, 2024
7:00pm

Join us for CADENCE—an extraordinary evening where the boundaries between music and spoken word dissolve in a powerful, collaborative performance featuring 2009 Honens Prize Laureate Georgy Tchaidze and Calgary’s 6th Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster. This program explores the deep emotional and rhythmic connections between two seemingly distinct art forms.

Georgy Tchaidze describes the performance as “an attempt to combine the incompatible,” creating an abstract soundscape where music and poetry merge, each reflecting and enhancing the other. Wakefield Brewster’s fierce, rhythmic poetry, already resonating with musicality, will intertwine with the ethereal, otherworldly sounds of the piano.

This innovative program will transport you into the uncharted creative territory of CADENCE—an intersection of musical phrase and inflection in voice. It’s more than a performance; it’s an invitation to leap into an unknown yet beautifully harmonious exploration of new sonic frontiers.

Georgy Tchaidze piano
Wakefield Brewster spoken word

GOD IS A SCOTTISH DRAG QUEEN

Presented by Quatro Entertainment
Wednesday October 2nd, 2024
7:30pm

God, dressed in a floral power suit, comes down to set the record straight and expound on everything from Adam & Eve to Star Wars and answer humankind's most asked questions in a hilarious, and unforgettable night of comedy! Loved by Preachers and Atheists alike, this show has quickly become one of the most popular one man shows touring today and has received critical acclaim for its non-stop brilliant look at pop culture and humanity through the eyes of a silly, foul mouthed, and very loveable Scottish Deity.

THE FRETLESS: THE GLASSWING TOUR

Presented by The Fretless Music Inc.
Thursday October 10th, 2024
7:00pm

Discover the Magic of The Fretless Live: The Glasswing Tour

Prepare to be captivated by the electrifying energy of The Fretless, a Canadian quartet renowned for their Juno award-winning talent and ground-breaking sound. With their latest album, Glasswing, set to release on September 13th, The Fretless invites you to embark on a decade-long musical journey encapsulated in ten original compositions, including three mesmerizing tracks co-written and performed with the phenomenal Madeleine Roger.

The Glasswing Tour (featuring Madeleine Roger) promises a live performance like no other, transforming the traditional concert experience into a theatrical masterpiece. This tour is not just about the music – it’s an immersive adventure that intertwines auditory splendour with stunning visual artistry. The performance has been meticulously crafted, featuring collaborations with world-class theatrical set and lighting designers to create a harmonious blend of sound and sight.

Every detail is thoughtfully considered to elevate the concert into a multi-sensory spectacle, ensuring an unforgettable evening for all who attend. Don’t miss your chance to witness The Fretless’ innovative and genre-defying performance – a celebration of music, creativity, and artistry that will leave you spellbound.

Secure your tickets now and be part of an extraordinary musical odyssey with The Fretless!

Muslim Art Movement XII
Art of Resistance: The Power of Creative Activism

Presented by Western Muslim Initiative
Saturday October 12th, 2024
6:30pm

Join the Movement!

The Western Muslim Initiative is hosting its twelfth annual Muslim Art Movement art show featuring art and performances by Muslim talent, film screenings, refreshments, and more!

This year’s theme, Art of Resistance: The Power of Creative Activism, is a direct response to the current events taking place in our world and the urgent need to fight injustices and end oppression. With limited resources, creativity and self expression have become some of the most powerful tools to shed light, instill empathy, and inspire change. We hope you join us in making this a night of amplifying marginalized voices, fostering a united community, and re-energizing the ongoing fight for peace and justice.

The GRAND is in walking distance from the LRT line and ample street and paid lot parking is available in the area. Event entry is located on the west side of the building on 1st street SW. Ramps and elevators are present on site for those with reduced mobility.

About The Western Muslim Initiative
Run entirely by volunteers, The Western Muslim Initiative, or WMI for short, is a not-for-profit organization that aims to celebrate and unite the diverse Muslim identities in Calgary. WMI prioritizes positively contributing to the social and spiritual well-being of our community through organizing a variety of events including intimate iftars, art nights, mental health seminars, and of course Muslim Art Movement. Follow us @the.wmi to stay updated with our events!

THE WHISTLIN DONKEYS

Presented by QMC Entertainment Ltd.
Friday October 18th, 2024
8:00pm

Hailing from County Tyrone, The Whistlin’ Donkeys have been performing together since 2011 and have gained a strong following in Ireland and around the world.

The band are known for their unique blend of traditional Irish music and Celtic rock influences, creating their own distinctive sound that will keep your feet stomping and hands clapping all night long.

The band features Fergal McAloon on vocals, Stephen Corrigan on guitar, Tomás Quinn on banjo, Michael Kerr on fiddle, Danny McCormack on bass, and Oscar Bradley on drums. Together, they deliver infectious energy and captivating live performances that are not to be missed.

From fan-favorites like "Bees Wing," "South Australia," and "Can't Help Falling in Love," as well as their latest release “When The Ship Comes In,” the band perform a perfect mix of upbeat songs, catchy melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics that create an unforgettable experience for all that come to see them.

Whether you're a fan of Irish folk music or Celtic rock, the Whistlin' Donkeys are a band that you won't want to miss. Make sure to check out their Linktree to stay up to date on their latest releases, tour dates, and more!

This event is age-restricted: 18+
Standing room only

BIG BAND BURLESQUE - THE ODYSSEY

Presented by Glitterverse Productions
Saturday October 19th, 2024
7:00pm

Glitterverse Productions is extremely proud to return to The GRAND with the next edition of Big Band Burlesque - The Odyssey.

Join us on Saturday, October 19, 2024 as we head on an adventure back to Club Obi Wan and a time when the big bands of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller and Cab Callaway ruled the airwaves. Come on a sentimental journey with the Midnight Blue Jazz Society and their 17 piece big brass band as they lead us through the decades with added flavours of swing, jazz, blues, latin, funk, classic rock and their own take on modern hits.

Combine these sounds with the glitz and glamour of some of western Canada's premier burlesque performers and vocalists bring to the stage, and you have yourself one exciting evening that is not to be missed.

The Bar and Lobby open at 6:00 PM.
The Theatre opens at 6:30 PM.
The Show begins at 7:00 PM.

The show will run approx. 2.5 hours, inclusive of one intermission and two musical sets.

NAPPY

Presented by NAPPY Dance Collective
Friday + Saturday October 25th - 26th, 2024
6:00pm

NAPPY’s highly anticipated second season event orients towards the audacious, thrilling, arousing, funny, joyous, and even brutal. The event features original work by NAPPY’s distinctive creative voices, Cindy Ansah and Tiara Matusin, in collaboration with Christahh Ahh, Shermar Herbert, Jared Tobias Herring, M'Kayla Kongnetiman, and Mpoe Mogale. Making its premiere at the event is a dynamic dance film by acclaimed international actor, dancer, and choreographer Sam Darius set on members of the cast. Mainstays of the event include a vibrant Black business market, a curated gallery space, a lively pre-show concert, and a celebratory networking afterparty. NAPPY passionately presents an evening-length experience that invites all audiences to immerse themselves in the boundlessness of contemporary Black expression.

This event is made possible through the support of The GRAND, Canada Council for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, Dancers’ Studio West, The University of Calgary School of Creative & Performing Arts, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and every single collaborator and community member who has reciprocated our enthusiasm for the collective endeavor.

About NAPPY Collective
NAPPY Collective is an emerging all-Black contemporary dance collective committed to emboldening the arts and the spaces they inhabit, exposing them as capable environments for nurturing the pursuits of Black creatives. NAPPY is an acronym for Not A Political Playground Y’all. The history of the word “nappy” is tangled in Eurocentric beauty standards that were used to justify painting Black bodies as “lesser than” their white counterparts. The term has historically been used to negatively describe Afro-textured hair as dry, kinky, coarse, and dirty. We plan to confront and reclaim the term to describe that which is unique and beautiful and invite Black creatives to unapologetically embrace their multifaceted selves. Although Black existence is inherently political, we value stylization, individuality, and humanity, to display local Black virtuosity, collectivity, and diversity in its many facets and artistic disciplines.