Why Calgary House Concerts (CHC) Is So Special

From Basement Beginnings to Community Connection

Over 11 years ago, Calgary House Concerts started in the cozy basement of a family home — 20 or 30 people gathered for an afternoon of music, laughter, and home-cooked food. The goal? To create something simple but powerful: a space where people could come together, hear great music, and feel like they belonged.

Today, that same heart lives on — just in slightly bigger rooms. We’ve moved into community centers, but we bring the same warmth, hospitality, and intimacy to every event. It still kind of feels like a living room. It still kind of feels like home.

More Than a Show — It’s a Shared Experience

CHC is not about flashy performances or big crowds. It’s about what happens when neighbors gather, artists feel safe to share their stories, and music brings people a little closer to each other.

Each concert recreates the comfort of a living room — with some food in hand, pleasant conversations, and laughter between songs. It’s casual. It’s family-friendly. It’s full of heart.

The Power of Food, Music, and Welcome

At many CHC events, we often still serve home-cooked food — creating a full sensory experience that invites people to stay, talk, and connect.

It’s not just about what’s on stage — it’s about who’s in the room, what’s shared, and the memories made between bites and verses. That welcoming spirit is what makes CHC feel different — more like a gathering of friends than a typical concert.

A Place to Lift Each Other Up

CHC offers a safe, respectful stage for professional and independent musicians to be truly heard and appreciated.

Through our Youthful Bridges Project, we invite young local artists to submit audition videos to open a show — giving them real experience and a meaningful audience.

Our listeners become part of the story too — cheering on performers, forming new friendships, and contributing to a culture of support and creativity.

Healing Through Music & Connection

These concerts aren’t just entertainment — they are good for the soul. They ease loneliness, uplift moods, and offer gentle joy. Music shared this way brings people together in the most human way possible: with presence, openness, and no pressure to be anything but yourself.

Who Benefits

Musicians: Fnd meaningful, well-supported performance opportunities in a warm and listening environment.
Youth artists: Are nurtured, mentored, and celebrated in their first steps on stage.
Community members: Attend high-quality live music events in spaces that feel familiar and safe.
All-ages audiences: From babies in laps to grandparents in comfy chairs — everyone belongs.
Food banks: Benefit from donations collected at each event.
Community associations: Bring vibrant, creative life into their venues — building connection and local pride.

Built for Collaboration & Community Growth

CHC works hand-in-hand with community associations to share event posters, co-host shows, and keep programming fresh and inclusive.

We offer support with grant writing, planning, and promotion — helping others use music as a tool for building stronger, more connected communities. As well, we’re always looking to collaborate and co-create with like-minded people, organizations, and initiatives that care about people first.

Calgary House Concerts acknowledges Treaty 7 territory—the ancestral and traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Kainai, Piikani and Siksika as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and Stoney Nakoda First Nation.