By Derek Martin
Oxford Stomp has become one of Calgary’s defining summer music events, and its return to Prince’s Island Park once again delivered the kind of day that live music fans look forward to all year. With Arkells, Portugal. The Man, Cannons, and The Blue Stones all on the bill, the festival brought together a lineup that felt built for a memorable night in the heart of the city.
The Blue Stones Open Oxford Stomp With a Fiery Kickoff
The Blue Stones got things started with a strong opening set that quickly caught the crowd’s attention and set the tone for what was ahead. Their performance came out with enough grit and energy to wake up the early crowd and get the day moving in the right direction. The Blue Stones delivered a packed 14-song set that kept the crowd fully engaged from start to finish, building momentum with each track before closing on “Shakin’ Off the Rust.” That final number sent the audience into the next transition on a high, energized and ready for the next band to hit the stage.
Setlist
- Your Master
- Come Apart
- Be My Fire
- Don’t Feel Right
- Magic
- One By One
- Happy Cry
- Kill Box
- Healing
- Black Holes (Solid Ground)
- Let It Ride
- Rolling With The Punches
- Don’t Miss
- Shakin’ Off The Rust
Cannons Keep the Momentum Rolling at Oxford Stomp
Cannons followed with a lively set that helped keep the momentum building. The crowd stayed engaged throughout, and the band’s sound fit the open-air festival setting perfectly, adding another layer to the day’s atmosphere. A sun-soaked, synth-laced midset that had fans swaying and singing along, highlighted by an extended outro that melted into the evening light. Cannons followed with a packed 16-song set that traced the band’s time together while putting a clear spotlight on material from their recent album, Everything Glows. The performance balanced crowd favorites with newer songs, giving the set a strong sense of range while keeping the energy steady and the audience locked in.
Setlist
- Loving You
- Starlight
- Hurricane
- Carousal
- Bright Lights
- Heartbeat Highway
- These Nights
- Purple Sun
- I Get Weak
- Up All Night
- All I Need
- Desire
- Take Me To Tokyo
- Bad Dream
- Light As A Feather
- Fire For you
Portugal. The Man Bring a Dynamic Mid-Bill Surge to Oxford Stomp
Portugal. The Man stepped in as co-headliners and delivered a set that brought a different kind of pulse to the evening. Their performance added a sense of variety and depth to the lineup, giving the crowd a stretch of songs that kept the park fully locked in. A genre-bending co-headline slot that surprised with an intimate acoustic bridge before exploding back into crowd-favorite anthems.
Setlist:
- Denali
- Knik
- Tanana
- Glide
- So American
- Got It All
- Senseless
- Creep In A T-Shirt
- What, Me Worry?
- Evil Friends
- Modern Jesus
- Hip Hop Kids
- Purple Yellow Red And Blue
- Atomic Man
- People Say
- Work All Day
- Phoenix
- Dummy
- Angoon
- Live In The Moment
- Someday Believers
- Feel It Still
Arkells Close Out Oxford Stomp With Their Trademark Intensity
Arkells closed the night with the kind of performance they’ve built their reputation on. High energy, strong crowd connection, and a packed park all came together to make for a big ending to an already impressive show. It was the kind of finish that reminded everyone why Oxford Stomp continues to hold such a strong place in Calgary’s live music scene.
Setlist:
- Hand Me Down
- What Good?
- Private School
- Never Thought This Would Happen
- Ride
- Drakes Dad
- Nowhere To Go
- People’s Champ
- Skin
- Imagine Barcelona
- Money
- John Lennon
- Knocking At The Door
- Relentless
- I Love It
- What’s On Your Mind
- Leather Jacket
- You Can Get It
- 11:11
- My Heart’s Always Yours
