The inaugural Interstellar Rodeo festival was held from July 27–29, 2012 in Edmonton. That year, the popular Edmonton Folk Music Festival had a problem with ticket sales. The event sold out almost immediately and many folk music fans failed to get a ticket. This helped boost Interstellar Rodeo. Those who had failed to purchase a ticket to the Edmonton Folk Music Festival chose the new festival as an alternative.
The first International Rodeo featured an international line-up that included performers and bands from Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Mexico, and other countries. Famous Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor was supposed to perform at the festival but was unable to participate due to illness. She was replaced by Gillian Welch and Alejandro Escovedo. Although the festival focused on folk music, it also encompassed other genres and styles, including country rock, alternative hip-hop, folk pop, soft rock, blues, jazz, glam rock, etc.
In November 2014, Six Shooter Records announced that a sister festival to Edmonton’s Interstellar Rodeo would be held in Winnipeg. The Edmonton festival is usually held on the last weekend of July, and the Winnipeg event takes place in mid-August. Both festivals are held outdoors and run over three days, Friday through Sunday.
Edmonton’s Interstellar Rodeo is held at the Heritage Amphitheater located in William Hawrelak Park. It is the largest outdoor theater in western Canada. Winnipeg’s festival takes place at The Forks, a historic site and green space in downtown Winnipeg. Each festival has a single outdoor stage and therefore features a thoroughly selected line-up comprising the finest performers from numerous genres. Concerts are held rain or shine.
Photo: Winnipeg Free Press
