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:

Cartoon & Cereal Party

Saturday October 5
10 am – FREE- All Ages

Our monthly cartoon and cereal party is getting seasonal with the beloved short series Over The Garden Wall. On an adventure, brothers Wirt and Greg get lost in the Unknown, a strange forest adrift in time; as they attempt to find a way out of the Unknown, they cross paths with a mysterious old woodsman and a bluebird named Beatrice. Slightly spooky content – suggested for ages 7 and up. 

Emblematics Album Release

Saturday October 5
8 pm – $12 Adv/$15 Door – All Ages

Tickets on Showpass

Lavish, inventive arrangements combined with engaging melody has always been the distinctive hallmark of indie rock band, Emblematics. Their music is a unique mix of inspired guitar riffs, atmospheric synths, pounding drums and intricate vocal harmonies. The band’s sound reflects their many influences, artists such as Radiohead, Blur and Grizzly Bear. Over their career, Emblematics have played countless shows, charted at multiple radio stations, and have garnered critical acclaim for their albums. (Listen on their website)

Acoustic Jam & Open Mic

Wednesday October 9
7 pm – FREE – All Welcome

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

HYMMmelodies

Friday October 11
8 pm – $10 – All Ages

Our monthly show of incredible instrumentation, vocals and flamenco! HYMMmelodies is hosted by Bijan Mysani for an evening of Middle Eastern and Eastern European traditional and modern music. (Check out some previous performances on YouTube)

It’s Time! A Sonic Tribute to Max Roach

Saturday October 12
8 pm – $15  – All Ages

Join Jon McCaslin for his centenary tribute to the iconic jazz drummer Max Roach featuring solo drums, improvised duets with Chris Tauchner (keyboards) and a percussion discussion with Raul Tabera.

Shinolas + Airship One

Sunday October 13
6 pm – FREE – All Ages

Welcome back to the 90s! The Shinolas were “fantastic, sloppy, fun power pop” and “one of the most criminally overlookeded of Calgary bands – their garage rock via Guided by Voices rubs us in all the right places” (Calgary Cassette Preservation Society). 

They are joined by Airship One – a lo-fi indie rock project by Edmonton artist Chris Zimmel.

This is an early show! And a free show with a donation of $ or food to the Calgary Food Bank. Woot!

MusicFit Workshop

Wednesday October 16
7 pm – PWYC

Creative mentor and mindset coach Mike Schwartz leads you through a series of thought-provoking cues and discussions on how you can achieve more success (defined by you!) in your musical career. 

Sh*t Talker: Surviving Two Years of Drag

Friday October 18
8 pm – $15  – 18+

Buy tickets on Showpass

Confessions, drama, accusations, comedy, poetry, magic, apologies, lies, denial, delusions, 70s-inspired choreographed dance routine, live singing, attention-seeking behaviour — half of that, or more, in “Shittalker”: an anniversary show celebrating THE comedy queen of Calgary, Comrade Yulia Borscht.

Darlings of Oden

Saturday October 19
7 pm – $10-$15 – All Ages

This is a family friendly pagan performance art show, expressing pagan culture, beliefs, and way of life through beautiful performance art, song and story telling. The opening ceremony begins at 6:15 with an opening prayer, smudging and sound bath experience by donation by the amazing Divine Nation. Please arrive before 6:15 to be respectful of the relaxing energy or at 6:50 for the performance.

Community Choir: Chappell Roan Edition

Sunday October 20
2 pm – PWYC – All Welcome

Kicking off Congress Coffee’s Community Choir’s new season, join superfans Kenna Burima and Dani Phantom for an afternoon of Chappell Roan and the music that inspired The Midwest Princess! Wanna be a star? Check out the set list and message @kennaburima to claim your song and join her on stage!

Chappell Roan – Femininomenon
Red Wine Supernova
HOT TO GO!
My Kink is Karma
Pink Pony Club
Good Luck Babe!
4 Non-Blondes – What’s Up
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Lorde – Royals
Rihanna – Stay
*This is a PWYC event (suggested donation $10)

Housing Crisis

Thursday October 24
8 pm – $15  – 18+

Tickets on Showpass

Well-known Calgary lesbians Comrade Yulia Borscht and Dani Phantom are trying to move in together. House of Milfs was such an appealing option but unfortunately, Toxic Lethbridge Leopard Print Fabric™ turned Yulia into a cursed cat monster. Modern medicine is powerless, so the couple has to make a deal with the Sewer Oil Dumpster Cannibal Creature – Ether Rich, who is known to hold legendary (local scale legend) supernatural mystical power. Maybe a spare room too?

You will be transported to a new world of drag fantasy featuring Ether Rich. Get ready for laughter, drama, and jaw-dropping performances.

Jolene Marie + Cas

Friday October 25
8 pm – $10 – All Ages

Jolene Marie delivers a delicate blend of folk, dream pop and influences from the 60’s – her music has been compared to such artists as Cat Power, Sibylle Baier and Mazzy Star. (Listen on Spotify)

Cas is an up and coming songwriter who uses her powerful voice to showcase stories of overcoming hardship and finding joy. (see her Youtube page)

Drag is for All Ages

Saturday October 26
2 pm – $10 – All Ages

The Hallowe’en edition of Drag is for All Ages! Come support and celebrate young performers using the art of drag for self-expression! Hosted by Shane Onyou and special guests.

Hallowe’en Howl with Forbidden Dimension

Sunday October 27
3-5 pm – $5-$10  – All Ages

It’s the 2nd annual Halloween Howl with your favourite monster rock band Forbidden Dimension!

3 pm – 4 pm: Pumpkin Carving + Crafts plus “ghostly” kid-friendly cartoons!

4pm: Forbidden Dimension play a sweet all ages early show!!

$5 for kids 12 and under / $10 teens + adults. Make a table reservation by calling us at 403-452-7320

El Faro Flamenco Tablao

Friday November 1
8 pm – $20  – All Ages

El Faro, meaning the lighthouse in Spanish, aims to be a beacon of improvised live music in Calgary, featuring the top local and visiting flamenco performers alongside new and emerging artists. With flamenco, we bring together many artforms of guitar, signing, dance, and percussion, whether it is with a traditional approach, or a modern spin to create wonder for all types of audiences.

Cartoon & Cereal Party

Saturday November 2
10 am – free – All Ages

Side of Fries Band

Saturday November 2
8 pm – $10  – All Ages

Klezmerovitz

Sunday November 3
2 pm – $10  – All Ages

Dice Dynasty D&D

Sunday November 3
5 pm – $10 – All Ages

Urban Earthlings

Monday November 3
7 pm – free  – All Ages

Conscious Transformation Collective

Thursday November 7
7 pm – PWYC 

HYMMmelodies

Friday November 8
8 pm – $10 – All Ages

OHM Shanties

Saturday November 9
8 pm 

Acoustic Jam & Open Mic

Wednesday November 13
7 pm – free – all ages

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

Friday November 15
7 pm – $15 – All Ages

Odditease Burlesque

Saturday November 16
8 pm –  $15 – 18+

Housing Crisis

Thursday November 21
8 pm – $15 – 18+

Dave_The_1

Saturday November 23
8 pm – $10 – All Ages

Trans Day of Remembrance with Calgary Without Patriarchy Collective

Sunday November 24

ArtistSpeaks Workshop: Mental Health

Thursday November 28
7 pm – $25 – All Welcome

Drag is for All Ages

Sunday November 29
2 pm – $10 – All Ages

#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!