Celebrities join in unveiling Studio Bell, a long-awaited musical landmark in Calgary
A lot of buzz has been circulating throughout Calgary’s music community in the months leading up to July 1, Canada Day, when Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, opens to the public.
Construction began on the mammoth $191-million project in early 2013, and now the National Music Centre (NMC) is heralded as a new landmark on the map of Canadian music. It is a museum, concert space, recording facility, workshop and gathering place all in one five-floor, 160,000 square foot building.
The facility, which envelopes the remnants of the King Eddy, a renowned Calgary blues bar, places Western Canada, and Calgary in particular, as an integral part of the national music scene. Many of the displays within the building not only celebrate the achievements of a variety of artists covering all kinds of musical genres, but it also highlights the work of Western artists like k.d lang, Ian Tyson and Tom Phillips.
“The opening of Studio Bell is a momentous occasion for Canada and for Alberta,” Mosker said. “I look forward to welcoming the world to Calgary to experience the wealth of Canada’s music story and the incredible future potential it holds.”
Mosker also remarked that, although the process to build and fund the NMC has been long and rife with challenges and obstacles, it was a pleasure to work with a passionate team of people, including more than 400 volunteers, dedicated to seeing the job completed.
“The passion is the medium that motivates you,” Mosker said. “The Alberta spirit of hard work and entrepeneurship allowed this dream to become a reality.”
The first official note of music in the halls of the NMC, however, came from the championship drum group Eya Hey Nakoda. It seemed fitting that the music of Canada’s First Nation’s people, the first music to ever echo across this land, was also the first to grace the halls of Canada’s National Music Centre.
In addition, indigenous philanthropist and mentor Casey Eagle Speaker gave Studio Bell and the NMC a blessing in the Blackfoot language.
Other guests included Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell and Ricardo Miranda, the provincial culture and tourism minister. Mayor Naheed Nenshi also gave a lengthy speech on what he feels the project means for Calgary.
The City of Calgary’s declaration of 2016 as the year of music in Calgary seems to have been an accurate description so far. Between hosting the 2016 JUNO Awards, the opening of the National Music Centre and the myriad of music festivals throughout the summer in Calgary, there has been a constant ebb and flow of artists and events reverberating across the city this year. And it’s only the beginning of July.
Calgary has, in fact, had a very strong live music scene for decades. Cuddy said Calgary is “one of the most important cities to hit when touring the country” because there never seemed to be a shortage of music lovers.
Aside from the recording studios, the NMC has over 300 instruments ready to be played, as well as the latest in digital production technology and some old-school analog mixers for artists seeking a classic sound.
The goal of letting old-school and cutting-edge technology mingle, according to NMC president Mosker, is to not separate music based on genre, age or sound, but to promote an environment where all types of sounds can be explored and shared. State-of-the-art recording equipment sits side-by-side with painstakingly restored instruments that are extremely rare or hold a special place in Canadian musical history.
Throughout the five floors of the building are displays that educate viewers about the intricacies of making music and recording, as well as celebrating the achievements of prolific Canadian artists while marking milestones in the music industry.
Among these are a few interactive displays, including a fully functional drum kit and piano that invite patrons to sit down and thump out a few beats or tinkle a soothing melody. On-screen tutorials instruct new players, or veteran artists can simply play away to their heart’s content. There is also a small soundboard that allows a user to adjust the mixing of a song to experience the job of a sound engineer.
While some exhibits are still under construction, what was open contained eye-catching visuals, rich stories of Canadian musical history, unique instruments and, of course, plenty of music to listen to on headphones scattered throughout the exhibits.
The official opening of the National Music Centre is on July 1, when admission is free. The NMC will be open seven days a week throughout July, before beginning regular hours in August. Admission to the NMC will be between $11-18 depending on age, with youth, students and seniors getting a discounted rate.
One of the first concert series hosted by Studio Bell and the NMCis the Bell Live Series at the King Eddy. This concert series will be held during Stampede week from July 8-17, with live music being performed in the newly restored space that once housed the old King Edward hotel.
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Thumbnail photo by Jodi Brak