BIG

Music festivals are my favourite. Countless people of all backgrounds, shapes, sizes, social status, walks of life, and otherwise – coming together as one; ready to smile, dance, high five, and sing at the top of their lungs to their favourite artists. Coming together to meet new people, share new experiences, witness new bands, and make memories to last a life time.

A festival is a community – strangers and old friends bonding over a shared love of music, art, and experience.

I’ve been to a lot of festivals, and they all have their own special gift to share. Camping festivals, truly, make for an “impromptu” community like none other. Urban festivals allow fans an experience in new cities, and open the door for all kinds of after parties. Large scale festivals bring countless headlining acts to one location for near back to back sets. Local festivals are at the heart of a community, and live on with the community members year after year; they help to define the core of a city and its identity. They leave a lasting impact on the people who make a city what it is.

I feel incredibly lucky to say that I am one of the core members who helps to bring BIG Winter Classic to Calgary every January. It’s a festival in the dead of a winter – a time most Calgarians choose to either bundle up inside, or run to the mountains for ski getaways.

BIG is four days of music, art, and local love. It’s craft beer, it’s inside and out, and it’s in the heart of Calgary’s music scene. It’s focused on local acts, with a little love for those out of town headliners as well. It’s inspiring, and a hell of a party. It’s a showcase in what this city is made of – incredible artists, musicians, and above all else, friends.

We (BIG) started with weekly playlists last year; an idea I had after having the chance to represent BIG at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. I wrote about that once… it was pretty fun. Anyways. Each of the last two years has featured a “BIG Team Series” of playlists – inspired by the gang that make BIG what it is. This is the list that I curated for the 2019 series, and I really hope you like it. I’d also really dig it if you gave a little love to the lists of all BIG’s team members. They’re pretty cool people (ok, they’re very cool), and they have a crazy range in musical tastes – I bet you find something new, and I bet you find something you like! We’re doing a bit of an “AMA” type thing with this series too, so you can really get to know everyone (and thus the questions in my super cool album cover above – shouts to Willis at HAWK Design)!

Keep an eye on bigwinterclassic on Spotify, and keep an eye for 2019’s festival (going down January 24-27) – I’d love to see you there!

Much love, as always.

Jesse