The Calgary Folk Music Festival celebrates the winter by hosting Block Heater this Thursday through Saturday.
The celebration will take place at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers, lighting up the riverside with music, community and fire-pits.
For the 11th year in a row, the Block Heater offers a respite from the cold and dark months with a giant heated tent, indoor stages, and a diverse variety of artists warming up the indie folk scene. The lineup features headliners Cedric Burnside, Field Guide, Fruit Bats, Goldie Boutilier, Jeremie Albino, Joel Plaskett and The War and Treaty, as well as 20 other artists from across North America.
Here are five artists you won’t want to miss during the musical winter weekend.
D’orjay and The Lovely Luvies Fam
A rural Alberta native, D’orjay has carved their own space in old school country music with an innovative spin and a focus on its Black roots. They defy the rules of the mainstream to create experimental and cathartic musical experiences that touch the souls of anyone listening. With their silky smooth yet powerful voice, authentic lyrics, and entertaining performances, D’orjay’s sets are sure to enthrall audiences, who can catch them on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Upper Barracks.
Be sure to check out the title track on D’orjay’s album, New Kind of Outlaw, a musical blend of soul, country, and rock with a riveting breakdown that begs to be heard live.
Burnstick
This Juno-nominated husband-and-wife duo captures the hearts of Canadians with their emotive twin harmonies and poignant lyrics. Both Indigenous artists, Nadia and Jason Burnstick use their music to tell engaging stories about Indigenous history and culture that simultaneously communicate pain and hope. Audiences can watch Jason play his lap slide Weissenborn guitar live to add to Nadia’s deeply resonant vocal performance on Saturday, Feb. 7th at the Upper Barracks.
For a peek at Burnstick’s discography, listen to “Où Allons-Nous,” a gritty folk song that incorporates blues elements to deliver their deliciously unique sound. It’s off their recently released French EP, Poussière et prairie.
Inn Echo
Lovers of traditional Celtic folk will revel in the outstanding performances of Inn Echo, a group of three young multi-instrumentalists who journeyed across North America to capture the vibrant music scene of PEI. The trio dynamically switches between fiddles, cellos and guitars, displaying a mastery of strings and rhythm that will get audiences off their seats and dancing. Watch Karson, Tuli and Tom perform at the Horizon Heating Stage on Saturday, Feb. 7.
“If Only,” a song off their latest album, Hemispheres, encapsulates Inn Echo’s original Celtic compositions rooted in time-honoured traditions.
PIQSIQ
Sisters Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Ayalik combine traditional Inuit throat singing (katajjaq) with contemporary electronic manipulation to compose a hauntingly beautiful discography that is at once mystical and political. In their mission to reclaim katajjaq as an Indigenous practice, PIQSIQ’s performances are entirely improvisational and interactive with the given environment and audience, creating a spontaneous and unique experience for every show. The duo will grace the Horizon Heating Stage on Friday, Feb. 6.
Give a listen to “Ahiani” (“Elsewhere”), an ethereal track composed of nature sounds and mesmerizing throat vocals, off PIQSIQ’s debut release, Altering the Timeline.
Cedric Burnside
If there is a single artist that people will be flocking to the Block Heater to see, it’s Grammy Award-winning bluesman Cedric Burnside. The grandson of legendary blues artist R.L Burnside, Cedric taps into classic hill country blues while maintaining a unique style that strays from the 12-bar-blues into untreaded territories of musical excellence. Cedric was featured on the soundtrack of the 2025 hit film Sinners, which centres around 1920s Mississippi Blues, of which Cedric is an expert. Catch him at the ATB Mainstage on Saturday, Feb. 7.
His 2024 single “Juke Joint” is an homage to the Mississippi blues hubs where Cedric honed his craft and an essential listen.
Tickets for the 2026 Block Heater are on sale now on the Calgary Folk Music Festival website, with flexible options for youth and families.
