Events

ALWAYS ALL AGES
(except when it’s not)

Congress believes in paying artists, but also believes in accessible arts! If any of our cover charges are a barrier for your entry, please come anyway, and pay what you feel. If you can pay the suggested door price – great!! All money collected for shows goes directly to the artists. 

Upcoming Events:

Conscious Transformation Collective

Thursday November 7
7 pm – Pay From the Heart

Change is inevitable. When the Buddha distilled the characteristics that mark all of existence down to only three, the first he named was impermanence (anicca in Pali).  How can we cultivate the attitudes and states of mind that will allow us to not only survive in a sea of change, but ride the waves with peace, joy and exhilaration?

The theme for this gathering is how to feel empowered with a sense of agency and grounding around the massive disruption that technological developments in general and artificial intelligence in particular are bringing.

These sessions will take place in two parts: the first on inner development, including a 20-30 minute meditation or mindfulness practice to deepen our connection with calm, peace, joy, and non-clinging awareness. The second half will focus on how to skilfully bring this clear state into the world. We will cover a variety of topics and modalities, but we will always aim to have the material be as practical as possible and to always include some interactive activities.

HYMMmelodies

Saturday November 9
8 pm 

This monthly show is a rich tapestry of music and dance with multi-instrumentalists evoking the songs of the Middle East and Europe.

Acoustic Jam & Open Mic

Wednesday November 13
7 pm – free – all ages

A new monthly jam and open mic open to all acoustic performers! Hosted by Busker Bob.

Spencer Jo + Willy Big Bull + Exandra Fang + Pit Props

Friday November 15
7 pm – $15 – All Ages

Come join us for a night of acoustic folk/rock/blues/alternative/punk with four amazing acts, including Exandra Fang making their Calgary debut.

Odditease Burlesque

Saturday November 16
8 pm –  $15 – 18+

From dazzling fan dances that could outshine a disco ball to cheeky routines that’ll have you laughing like a villain in a campy movie, this show is a tribute to everything Odditease loves about burlesque! Grab your friends, don your best glittery attire, and come enjoy a night of fabulous fun that’s bound to be “breast in show.”

Tickets in advance at Showpass

Housing Crisis

Thursday November 21
8 pm – $15 – 18+

The next installment of our monthly drag show features special guest Noble Oney! Will our lesbian clown lovers finally find their perfect house? (Spoiler alert – no they won’t).

Connect The Dots: Rap and Hip Hop Showcase

Saturday November 23
7 pm – $10 ADV – All Ages

Tickests in advance at EventBrite

JUSTDAVEthe1 and BONE CRATE from Saskatoon, with LUCED TRIP from Moose Jaw, are joining forces with local Calgary artists to bring a night of authentic, grassroots hip-hop to Congress Coffee. As part of the CONNECT THE DOTS collective—a group uniting artists from Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and Regina—these Saskatchewan emcees are collaborating with Calgary’s own WigglySheep, Bizzness, and the well-known RUBIX for an unforgettable night of creativity, rhythm, and lyrical skill.

This event is a celebration of connection, drawing the best from Saskatchewan’s hip-hop scene and blending it with Calgary’s local talent to showcase the true power of collaboration.  Join us as we connect the dots through beats, bars, and the raw essence of hip-hop culture.

 

Transformatie with Calgary Without Patriarchy Collective

Sunday November 24
7 pm – $11 – All Ages

Tickets are by donation, with a suggested minimum of $10. Proceeds will be going to Stop The Stack YYC.

Donate in advance at Eventbrite

Join Calgary Without Patriarchy at Congress Coffee Company on Sunday November 24, to honour Trans Day of Remembrance with their special concert- “Transformatie.”

CWP will be performing songs by Vivek Shraya, Joanna Borromeo and a tribute to James Baldwin.

Featuring Chantal Chagnon and Comrade Yulia Borscht

With Special Guests: Bella DeSouza-Cook, Rae Rubin-Hamilton and Chelsea Ashton.

ArtistSpeak* Workshop: Mental Health

Thursday November 28
7 pm – $25 – All Welcome

*Part talk show, performance and art gathering, see artists in performance and conversation w/ host Kenna Burima. Craft supplies incl!

Doors @ 6:30pm. Show starts @ 7pm.
Tickets available on EventBrite

Featured Artists:

Join host Kenna Burima as she delves into the intersections of creativity and mental health. The evening features an incredible line up of artists sharing how they navigate their own mental health through creative processes and expressions.

Adora Nwofor is an award-winning comedian, activist, event planner, producer, writer, artistic director fashionista. https://bluuphoria.com 

John F. Gerrard is a multidisciplinary artist who merges mental health advocacy with his art and writing practice. https://www.johnfgerrard.com 

Amy Nelson is a singer, songwriter and musician, who pens sad, introspective songs that speak to the travails of modern times. http://www.amyflyingakite.com 

Eddy Robinson is a harm reduction and gender diversity educator, advocate and activist. https://safelinkalberta.ca 

Riverwest Therapy Collective is a collective of mental health practitioners, each in our own private practices, working together to promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for our clients, clinicians, and community. https://www.riverwesttherapy.ca 

Drag is for All Ages

Saturday November 30
2 pm – $10 – All Ages

A monthly celebration of self-expression through the art of drag! Drag is for All Ages is a family-friendly event featuring youth performers using the artform of drag and the power of music to share their creativity in a welcoming and supportive environment. Come cheer them on! 
$10 at the door – please bring cash! 

Urban Earthlings Club

Monday December 2
7 pm – free – all welcome

Is the climate crisis causing you to pay attention to the natural world in new ways?
Do you have a bipolar relationship with the natural world?

Alternately despairing because of climate change and ecstatic because of some new, never noticed before, beauty?

Would you like to have a rich experience of the natural world even as you live in the city?

Join others who are reshaping their relationship with the natural world from one of oblivious consumers to aware members of our vibrant ever changing Earth community. Urban Earthlings Club will be a gathering of people who want to nurture their emerging identity as Earthlings in community, hearing new stories and developing practices.

Navigating Disruption: Social Change

Thursday December 5
7 pm – pay from the heart

Change is inevitable. When the Buddha distilled the characteristics that mark all of existence down to only three, the first he named was impermanence (anicca in Pali). And as Otto Scharmer, founder of TheoryU, puts it, “the only thing we can say with certainty about the future is that it will be informed by disruption”.

Knowing this, how can we cultivate the attitudes and states of mind that will allow us to not only survive in a sea of change, but ride the waves with peace, joy and exhilaration?

The theme for this gathering is how to feel empowered with a sense of hope, agency and grounding around the reactivity and conflict that the current rapid pace of social change is triggering. We will be looking at how to better understand what is behind echo chambers, ‘culture wars’ and other highly-polarized social dynamics so we can avoid getting caught and help others to do the same.

#1A 215 36 Ave NE
Calgary AB T2E 2L4
403-452-7320

FALL/WINTER HOURS
7 am - 5 pm Monday-Thursday
7 am - Close Friday
9 am - Close Saturday
9 am - 5 pm Sunday

NO SHOW? WE CLOSE AT 5PM
SHOW OR SPECIAL EVENT? WE CLOSE WHEN IT'S OVAH!