Concerts

Since the late 1880s, live musical shows have been presented for the public’s enjoyment. Before more specialized venues like the Jubilee Auditorium existed, Northlands Park’s historic Livestock Pavilion once illuminated Northern Alberta as an operatic centre and country-crooning salon by the railroad tracks.

Later, with the Coliseum’s construction, a strong shift occurred. While shows kept coming to Edmonton, crowds got bigger, the spectacles more impressive, and entertainers more international. From 1975 through to the present, the organization has been a purveyor of the region’s shifting tastes, gratifying the musical sensibilities of a wide range of fans.

Networking is a crucial way of making sure that big shows visit Edmonton. By building strong relationships with national promoters and liaising on an ongoing basis, Northlands Park ensures that their venues will be highlighted when bands are considering where to tour.

Rexall Place, originally the Coliseum is the largest of the concert facilities. Perhaps the better known of Northlands Park concert venues, it provides a world-class stage, 18,000 seats, and the necessary versatility for varying entourages. Flexible to the desires of bands and their promoters, the organization also presents outdoor shows on the Telus Stage, the exhibition ground’s tarmac, or in the smaller arena in the AgriCom building.

With the technology available, show theatrics have become as prominent as the music. Performers and bands often arrive on the grounds at 6:00 a.m. with anything from two to 17 semi-trailers full of equipment. Elaborate sets are put together in preparation for the same night.

Up to 27 tonnes of speakers may be stacked for aural pleasure and Northlands Park staff routinely partner with experts such as the city fire department and police service to ensure the safety of fans that will be exposed to pyrotechnics or break-neck speed moshing. With all-ages crowds and a multitude of people in one space, safety is an imperative concern for staff managing concerts.

Having built up a strong reputation in the music industry, and being able to attract shows that will deliver big crowds, Northlands Park has developed a strong repertoire of concerts. In recent times this resulted in hosting the Canadian Country Music Awards and the Juno Music Awards—the first time the Juno ceremonies were held in a prairie city.

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