Mastodawn

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Edmonton! No fooling, it's April! And has been for a while... I hope you enjoyed the long weekend, but it's past time I post my monthly events calendar, eh?

The spring in your step may be caused by squishing wet ground, but there's still plenty to do, mostly indoors, with some indie music & theatre festivals plus lots of music in the clubs, pubs, & concert halls.

#YEG #YEGmusic #YEGarts

1/17

April Edmonton Festivals & Events

Apr 8-12: Hi-Light Festival of indie rock with multi-act showcase nights at Blackbar, Dive Bar, The Buckingham, and The Aviary. $20/night or $55/fest.

Apr 8-14: NorthWestFilmFest at Metro Cinema. Includes finalists for an Edmonton film prize, as well as international indie movies.

Apr 9-11: RapidFireTheatre hosts Bonfire, a festival where they test out new structures or themes for improv shows.

Hi-Light 2026: April 8-12th, 2026 - Edmonton - Edmonton - Apr 8, 2026

Hi-Light Festival is back for it's 4th year! April 8-12th, 2026 Edmonton, AB 6 Shows 5 Days 4 Venues 31 Bands

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Apr 11 (Sat): Sensory Festival is co-led by groups in the Deaf and Autistic community, to celebrate alternative artistic expression through rhythmic music and tactile art. At the Bison Lodge (formerly Old Timer's Cabin), $7.

Apr 16-19: Dreamspeakers International Indigenous Film Festival, primarily at City Centre Cinemas. Online screenings will be available the following week.

Apr 16-18: Tiny House Concert Series at the John Walter House museum, with concerts by Olivia Street, D'Orjay, and Lindsey Walker at 8:30pm each night. Very limited tickets, $36/night.

Apr 16-18: Cityscape Edmonton Festival of "underground" electronic sounds. $35-45/pass, $11-14/night.

Apr 17-18: Stage Struck: A One Act Play Festival has 7 plays grouped in 3 sessions at the Gateway Theatre. $35 full pass.

Sensory Festival - 2026

Sensory , a one-day celebration of art, performance, and community voices—bringing people together to create belonging.

Eventbrite

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Apr 17-19: Edmonton Tattoo & Arts Festival at the Expo Centre. $35/day.

Apr 18 (Sat): Zine Fest at the Milner (Downtown) Library.

Apr 30-May 3: Jabulani Arts Festival showcasing African, Caribbean, and Black artists in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts. At the Roxy, most performances $10/event with some free workshops & parties.

May 1-9: Jane's Walk tours exploring urban design & history.

Edmonton Tattoo & Arts Festival - Edmonton Expo Centre - Edmonton - Apr 17, 2026

The worlds first customer centric ticketing and discovery engine for events, activities, and things to do. The opposite of everything you hate about buying tickets.

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

#YEGTheatre Calendar

(also check out the festivals mentioned above)

Until Apr 12: The Citadel production of The Wizard of Oz is based on the classic movie musical. Tix up to $180, with few cheap seats left.

Apr 1-11: Deserters from UAlberta Drama is a new play with no clear plot description. But something to do with war & political debate. $25 with discounts.

Apr 4-26: Casey and Diana is set in an AIDS hospice (Casey's House) in 1991 Toronto, as it prepares for a visit from the Princess of Wales. At the Citadel's MacLab theatre, $40-147.

Apr 10 (Fri): A Fringe Benefit 18+ art gala & cabaret show, at Westbury Theatre. $50 ticket, or add a donation on top.

The Wizard of Oz - The Citadel Theatre

The Citadel Theatre

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Apr 9-19: Marjorie Prime is the story of an older woman settling into a relationship with an AI recreation of her deceased husband's character. From Trunk Theatre, at the Varscona, $35 with discounts & a couple pay-what you can shows.

Apr 9-12: Rat Academy, the original Fringe hit, plays at the Roxy ($25-35). Then
Apr 17-May 16: Rat Academy 2: Gnaw & Order will be showing at Rapid Fire Theatre ($22-27).
A Roxy ticket is good for a $5 discount on the sequel.

Apr 11: Dapper Dan’s Indian & Outlaw Extravaganza a poetry cabaret with an indigenous perspective, at the Roxy's Lorne Cardinal Theatre, 7pm, free admission.

Bespoke Ticketing

Vitamin

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Apr 15-25: Waiting for the Parade at Walterdale theatre is a WWII story focusing on women supporting the effort from Canada. $27.

Apr 30-May 16: Request Programme from Northern Lights Theatre is a wordless performance with a different performer each night, plus live original songs. At the Fringe's Studio Theatre, $37 with 2-for-1/pay-what-you-can nights, or $10 to go back for a second performance.

Waiting for the Parade – Walterdale Theatre

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Amelia's #YEGmusic Picks

(an opinionated selection; check my pinned posts for more listings & regular events)

Apr 8-12:
Hi-Light Festival.

Thurs, Apr 9:

Awesome acoustic blues double bill with Suzie Vinnick and Morgan Davis at St David's Church in Leduc. 7pm, $30.

Trippy electric folk-pop from BC's The Nightshades, with Kip Lily, at The Aviary. 7:30pm (door), $18.

Funky jazzy grooves from The Dyrty Byrds Organ Trio at The Commercial. 8pm, no cover, 18+.

Fri, Apr 10:

Acoustic rock from Jessie Rose at The Carrot. 7pm, $10 (kids $5).

The first in a series of actual blues acts at Blues on Whyte this month, modern blues-rock from Garret T Willie at Blues on Whyte (The Commercial). 9:30pm, $18, 18+.

Hi-Light 2026: April 8-12th, 2026 - Edmonton - Edmonton - Apr 8, 2026

Hi-Light Festival is back for it's 4th year! April 8-12th, 2026 Edmonton, AB 6 Shows 5 Days 4 Venues 31 Bands

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Fri/Sat, Apr 10-11:

Roots-rock from Indecisive at Five & Dive. 9:30pm, no cover, 18+.
The band also hosts a showcase night at the same bar on the first Thursday of every month. (But I keep not getting my monthly calendars out in time to include it...)

Sat, Apr 11:

Afternoon funky grooves from Funk Cove at Black Dog Freehouse. 4-6pm, no cover, 18+.

Sweet folk-blues from Suzie Vinnick at The Blue Chair. 7pm, probably $20 cover.

"Chamber pop" from harpist Elisa Thorn & others at St Mary's Church (68St@112Ave). 6:30pm, $20.

Folk fusion grooves from Aysanabee and AHI at Festival Place. 7:30pm $42-46.

Millennial angst-pop from Prozzak at Midway Music Hall. 7pm, $52, 18+.

Big brass funk-rock from Ontario's My Son The Hurricane, with King Muskafa, at The Commercial. 9:30pm, $21, 18+.

EVENTS CALENDAR — Five & Dive Restaurant and Bar

The Best Dive Bar in Edmonton. We have something every day of the week for all the Rock 'n' Roll lovers out there. Karaoke, Bingo, Trivia Night, Live Music and more.

Five & Dive Restaurant and Bar

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Sun, Apr 12:

Jazzy R&B from saxophonist Jacob Rabuka Sextet at The Yardbird. 8pm, $15.

"Ethereal pop" from Calgary's Everlae at Naked Café. 7pm, $15.

90s smooth seductive R&B from Brian McKnight at River Cree. 7pm, $130-235, 18+.

Tue, Apr 14:

Sweet chanteuse jazz from Madeleine Peyroux at the Horowitz Theatre (UAlberta SUB). 8pm, $66-98.

Wed, Apr 15:

Grunge-rock with cello from Saskatchewan's Cupid's Heart at Naked Café. 7:30pm, cover not specified.

Rough & raw songwriter folk from Sam Steffen at Little Brick Café for the River Valley Sessions. 7pm, $50 for full fireside experience with snacks & bevvies, $12 to listen from the café.

Emerging Artists Presents Jacob Rabuka - The Yardbird Suite

Jacob Rabuka's latest project features new original music pulling from a vision five years in the making.

The Yardbird Suite

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Thu, Apr 16:

Alt-country & folk-rock from Jesse Roper with The Goddamsels at The Starlite. 7pm, $38.

Fri, Apr 17:

Cheerful folk-rock from 0Stella at Salisbury Greenhouse (Sherwood Park) for the Ravenwood Music Club. 7pm, $20.

Country-soul & blues from Crystal Shawanda at St Basil's (New Moon Folk Club). 7:30pm, $35.

Classic swing jazz with some similar-era country blues from Misery Mountain Boys with Sean Pinchin, at The Yardbird. 8pm, $33.

Beachy hipster pop-rock from Said The Whale at The Starlite. 8pm, $47, 18+.

90s hardcore hip-hop from Onyx at The Dive Bar. 8pm, $44, 18+.

Bluesy folk-rock from Kenneth David Eckert at Sherlock Holmes Campus. 8pm, no cover, 18+.

Punk-pop from The Bleeding Hearts and Panic Pixie at The Commercial. 9:30pm, $20-28, 18+.

Jesse Roper w/ The Goddamsels | The Starlite Room

Jesse Roper https://www.instagram.com/jesseroperofficial/ https://fanlink.tv/Roper_WDITV The Goddamsels https://www.thegoddamsels.com https://www.instagram.com/thegoddamsels/

The Starlite Room

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Sat Apr 18:

Afternoon bluesy roots-rock from Trevor Howlett & The Cruz Brothers at Cask & Barrel pub. 4pm, no cover, 18+.

Intimate jazz grooves from Biboye Onanuga Blacktet at Paper Birch Books for the Pocket Sized Series. 7pm, $15 (probably).

Classic reggae from (the 50th anniversary edition of) The Wailers at Midway Music Hall. 7pm, $60, 18+.

Classic millennial Canrock from The Sam Roberts Band at the Jubilee. 8pm, $49-123.

Jam band blues rock as Up On Cripple Creek play "the Blues of The Band" at The Yardbird. 8pm, $42.

A little more live music than usual at Daisy's Saloon with a country open mic followed by a set by Jasmyn Wright. 7pm (open mic), 9pm (show), no cover before 9.

Latin rock (plus mariachi) from Furia at Rocky Mountain Icehouse for their monthly fiesta night. 9pm, $17, 18+.

Cask and Barrel on Instagram: "🎶 Garage Band Saturdays at The Cask & Barrel! Join us every Saturday at 4PM for live music, great times, and no cover 🎉 April Lineup:  ▫️ April 4 – Best Case Ontario  ▫️ April 11 – Handsome Young Dads  ▫️ April 18 – Trevor Howlett & The Cruz Bros  ▫️ April 25 – Bianca Berkland Grab a drink, bring your friends, and spend your Saturday with us! 🍻"

caskbarrel104 on March 28, 2026: "🎶 Garage Band Saturdays at The Cask & Barrel! Join us every Saturday at 4PM for live music, great times, and no cover 🎉 April Lineup:  ▫️ April 4 – Best Case Ontario  ▫️ April 11 – Handsome Young Dads  ▫️ April 18 – Trevor Howlett & The Cruz Bros  ▫️ April 25 – Bianca Berkland Grab a drink, bring your friends, and spend your Saturday with us! 🍻".

Instagram

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Sun, Apr 19:

An eclectic Edmonton roots line-up featuring Briana Lizotte, Denim Daddies, and Secondhand Dreamcar at the Winspear. 7:30pm, $36-50.

Mon, Apr 20:

Sultry-smooth jazz-pop from Diana Krall at the Jubilee. 7:30pm, $64-300.

Rollicking roots-rock from The Sheepdogs at the Winspear. 8pm, very few tix left at $68.

Thu, Apr 23:

Rootsy blues-rock from Saskatoon's The Blue Mules at Blues on Whyte / The Commercial. 8pm, no cover, 18+.

Sounds of YEG | Winspear Centre

Winspear Centre

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Fri, Apr 24:

Bluesy acoustic folk-rock from Romi Mayes at The Blue Chair Café for one of their final shows. 7pm, probably $20.

Expressive folk-pop from Kaeley Jade with Jed & The Valentine at The Aviary. 7:30pm (doors), $23.

Songwriter folk-roots from Maria Dunn Trio at The Yardbird. 8pm, $31.

Sweet folk & acoustic classics from Kim Gates at Sherlock Holmes Campus. 8pm, no cover, 18+.

Roots-rock-reggae party from The Steadies, with Buns, at The Commercial. 9:30pm, $12-20, 18+.

Fri-Sat, Apr 24-25:

Bluesy folk-rock from Kenneth David Eckert at Sherlock Holmes Downtown. 9pm, no cover, 18+.

Music

Blue Chair

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Sat, Apr 25:

Afternoon jazz-pop from Bianca Berkland at Cask & Barrel. 4pm, no cover, 18+.

Jazz fusion from France's Beltuner at the Backstage Theatre. 7pm, $20.

Classic Motown revue from Timothy Noel & The Rearviews at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre. 7pm, $33.

Roots rock from Sparrow Blue with Jade Elephant and Darlin', at The Commercial. 9:30pm, $15-20, 18+.

Cask and Barrel on Instagram: "🎶 Garage Band Saturdays at The Cask & Barrel! Join us every Saturday at 4PM for live music, great times, and no cover 🎉 April Lineup:  ▫️ April 4 – Best Case Ontario  ▫️ April 11 – Handsome Young Dads  ▫️ April 18 – Trevor Howlett & The Cruz Bros  ▫️ April 25 – Bianca Berkland Grab a drink, bring your friends, and spend your Saturday with us! 🍻"

caskbarrel104 on March 28, 2026: "🎶 Garage Band Saturdays at The Cask & Barrel! Join us every Saturday at 4PM for live music, great times, and no cover 🎉 April Lineup:  ▫️ April 4 – Best Case Ontario  ▫️ April 11 – Handsome Young Dads  ▫️ April 18 – Trevor Howlett & The Cruz Bros  ▫️ April 25 – Bianca Berkland Grab a drink, bring your friends, and spend your Saturday with us! 🍻".

Instagram

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Sun, Apr 26:

Last chance for brunch at The Blue Chair Café, with Graham Guest playing piano blues. 10am-1pm, will probably be busy.

Afternoon grooves from Laurelle K at Frank's Pub. 2pm, no cover.

As part of the CKUA Radio fundraiser, a live broadcast of Roy's Record Room followed by Dave Babcock & the Nightkeepers, in CKUA's Beresh Arts Den. 2pm (radio show), 4pm (concert), no cover but advance registration recommended.

Strutting slutty hip-hop from Calgary's 86Love at the Skybar Lounge. 8pm, $28, 18+.

Tues, Apr 28:

Modern Newfoundland folk from The Ennis Sisters at the Horowitz Theatre (UAlberta SUB), with opening set by Mallory Chipman, fresh off her Juno win. 7:30pm, $60.

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

Thurs, Apr 30:

What looks to be a monthly jazz night at Frank's Pub, with Jacob Do Quartet. 7pm, no cover, 18+.

Classic electric blues & R&B from The Black & Blues Band, at The Commercial AKA Blues on Whyte. 8pm, no cover, 18+.

Fri, May 1:

Alt-country/cowpunk from The Uncas with The Bing Bang Boys and Nadine Kellman, at 9910. 8pm, $23, 18+.

Sat, May 2:

Funky modern brass band grooves from The Brasstactics at The Yardbird. 8pm, $34.

Mon, May 4:

Earnest anthemic folk-pop from Royal Wood at Festival Place. 7:30pm, $42-45.

Events

Welcome to Frank's Community Pub in Strathcona and Mill Creek, here are some answers to frequently asked questions that get asked at our pub! Please reach out if you don't see the answer you are looking for.

Amelia Bellamy-Royds

And looking ahead more of early May...

Thurs, May 7:

Roots and Rhythm – A Journey of Nations, at The Roxy's Lorne Cardinal Theatre as part of Jabulani Festival. 7:30pm, $10.

Community showcase at Five & Dive featuring Sam Steffen, Jesse Ferguson, & more. 7:30pm, no cover, 18+.

Prepare for the North Country Fair at The Commercial, bands TBA. 7pm, $10, 18+.

Hipster alt-country from Daniel Romano's Outfit at Double Dragon. 7pm (doors), $32, 18+.

(hopefully I'll have posted a May calendar before the following weekend)

Music Performance: Roots and Rhythm – A Journey of Nations – Theatre Network