Our fifth annual Block Heater festival, presented by ATB, was three days of incredible performances that had us moving our feet and grinning ear to ear. Featuring thirty-eight artists — from the homegrown to the far-flung — on eight stages at five unique Calgary venues, there was something for everyone in a celebration of community in the midst of winter.
These are just a few of our favourite moments and photos from the festival taken by our amazing volunteer photographers: David Kenney, Chelsea Lees, Jesse Gillett, Lisa Amos, Jarrett Edmund, and Ron Sparrow.

Amy Nelson at Ironwood

Ironwood audience

Bella White at Gorilla Whale

Audience at Gorilla Whale

Tchutchu at Gorilla Whale

Marlaena Moore at Festival Hall

Carsie Blanton at Festival Hall

Carsie Blanton at Festival Hall

Block Heater chalkboard at Ironwood

Sam Lynch at Ironwood

Sam Lynch at Ironwood

Volunteers at Ironwood

Villages at Ironwood

Volunteer at Festival Hall

Villages at Ironwood

The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Amelie Patterson on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Wyatt C. Louis on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Volunteers at King Eddy

Laura Hickli on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Laura Hickli on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Volunteers at King Eddy

Marlaena Moore in the Future Standards session on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Marlaena Moore in the Future Standards session on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Jayme Stone's Folklife at Ironwood

AfrotroniX at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Cécile Doo-Kingue at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Cécile Doo-Kingue's drummer at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Cécile Doo-Kingue at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Audience at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Audience at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Kid Koala at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Kid Koala at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Angelique Francis at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Angelique Francis at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Audience at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Hannah Georgas at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Hannah Georgas at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Son Little at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Audience with Big Rock beer at Studio Bell

Carmanah on the Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

Carmanah on the Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

Carmanah on the Big Rock stage at Studio Bell


Jess Knights on the Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

David Wax Museum on the Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

Del Barber on the Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

Audience at the Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

Sunglaciers on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

nêhiyawak on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

nêhiyawak on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar on The ITeam stage at King Eddy

Audience at King Eddy

Volunteers at Big Rock bar at Central Library

Justin Rutledge at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Audience at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Richard Inman at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Richard Inman at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Red Hot + Riot session at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Lynn Olagundoye at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Development Manager Stephanie Mok at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Scene of the Rhyme session at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Shane Koyczan at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Geoffroy at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Geoffroy at Stand & Command stage at Central Library

Élage Diouf at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Élage Diouf at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Audience at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Boogát at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Boogát at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Audience at Studio Bell

Élage Diouf at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Hannah Epperson at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Hannah Epperson at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Big Rock at Studio Bell

The Weather Station at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Chad VanGaalen at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Chad VanGaalen at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Chad VanGaalen at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Volunteer at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

The Weather Station at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

DJ Shub at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Audience at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Part of the root, part of the landscape panel at Flipp Realty Hall at Studio Bell

Karimah at Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

Audience at ATB Canada Music Square at Studio Bell

Jom Comyn at Big Rock stage at Studio Bell

Volunteers at Studio Bell

Volunteer at Festival Hall