ROOFTOP TO FEATURE SPECIAL FOOD AND DRINK MENU AND LIVE MUSIC LATER THIS SUMMER
(Calgary, AB — June 16, 2021) – The National Music Centre (NMC) in partnership with the King Eddy are pleased to announce the opening of a newly outfitted rooftop bar on Thursday, July 1.
The King Eddy’s main floor bar and rooftop are owned by the National Music Centre. The Eddy has rented the main floor since 2018 and will now rent the rooftop space. Previously only accessible during the 10 days of the Calgary Stampede and for private events, the rooftop will now be run by the King Eddy team and accessible for three seasons.
Launching in time for Canada Day and the Stampede, the King Eddy Rooftop will be an open-air haven for the summer months, providing a sanctuary in the heart of the East Village for cold brews and street food-style bites.
The rooftop has been outfitted with a large pergola with a retractable awning. This new layer of shelter will allow the rooftop to be accessible for three seasons, while also offering plenty of outside airflow. Large fir timbers were used as part of the rooftop’s structural design to pay homage to architecture from the early 1900s, when the Eddy was originally built. The rooftop construction was funded through a mix of new government grants, sponsorship, and donations.
“The King Eddy’s rooftop construction is a capstone project to mark the five-year anniversary of Studio Bell’s opening in 2016,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, National Music Centre. “The newly outfitted space will offer greater accessibility to the rooftop and provide another safe outdoor space for people to gather. This project is part of several new investments made by NMC over the past year to reimagine operations, create vibrancy and accessibility, and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the King Eddy and the National Music Centre in the future.”
“Comfort and safety were top of mind when we were imagining the updated outdoor space,” said Gabrielle Vanderwerff, Restaurant Manager of the King Eddy. “There are very few covered rooftops in the city that are accessible for three seasons. We’re thrilled to open up this incredible rooftop terrace for Calgarians and out-of-towners to enjoy.”
Those lucky enough to grab a spot in the evening will be treated to live shows for Happy Hour during the Calgary Stampede, not to mention some incredible views—it’s known as the place to watch the Stampede’s nightly fireworks. For a list of all upcoming rooftop concerts, which are expected to kick off by the second week of July, visit kingeddy.ca/whats-on.
Starting July 1, the King Eddy Rooftop will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Walk-ups are welcome or check out kingeddy.ca/reservations in the coming weeks to reserve a spot.
About the National Music Centre
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music and is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in Calgary’s East Village. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
About the King Eddy
Founded in 1905, the King Edward Hotel was one of the first built in Calgary along 9 Avenue (known as “Whiskey Row”), and throughout its history was a home and destination for travelers, settlers, musicians, music fans, and citizens from all walks of life. From the early 1980s until it closed in 2003, the “Eddy” had a respected local, national and international reputation for great live music and was affectionately known as “Calgary’s Home of the Blues.” After a careful restoration of the historic building, the revitalized Eddy reopened for good as a bar, restaurant and live music venue in 2018. While the King Eddy stage was previously known for attracting blues greats like Buddy Guy and Pinetop Perkins, the new Eddy stage presents all music for all people. In addition to a stellar roster of local and out-of-town touring acts, the Eddy’s kitchen serves up new Canadian-inspired dishes and comfort-food classics for lunch, brunch and dinner. For more information, please visit kingeddy.ca.
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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
T 403.543.5123 | C 403.710.4758
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada