Coca Cola Stage 2008

The Coca Cola Stage always has some of the best entertainment to be found at The Calgary Stampede. Big stars in the entertainment and music industries are usually headlining every night, but Coca Cola supports family entertainment, too. The stage doubles, during the daytime, for excellent events and entertainment geared to little people!

Here's the line-up of Coca Cola Stage performers who are set to entertain families and kids in 2008. There are a variety of 'acts,' who perform on a daily basis, including "SUPERDOGS" (my favourite thing to watch)! Other performers headline as featured performers for certain days during the Stampede.

First, a list of the featured performers:

July 6: Barney (You know - the purple dino) - 11:30am, 1pm, 3:30pm

July 7, 8: The Heebee Jeebees (12 and 3pm) - 'comic a capella band' and Hall Of Fame inductees 2005, with 7 Award winning CDs that are available a iTunes! Members are: Jonathan Love, Cedric Blary, Chris Herard, and Ken Lima-Coelho. These boys boast over 15 years experience and over 1500 shows!

FiFi and Fuzz-Buzz - 11am, 2pm - (Jaycee Park area) Flowertot and her friend FuzzBuzz (puppeteer fun for young children)

There is also a huge "Balloon Bash" on Monday July 7th! "Balloon-a-grams" experienced balloon twisters (bet you didn't KNOW balloon twisting is a vocation, eh?) will be there to build balloon arches, make balloon pets and characters, balloon hats and more.

July 9: Hip Hop Harry - 11:30am, 1 and 3:30pm - positive-message 'rap-along' songs with Hip Hop Harry and The Hip Hop Harry Dance Crew - acrobatic and 'break' dancers.

July 10, 11: Toopy and Binoo - 11:30am, 1 and 3:30pm - Crazy and fun Big Mouse with Little kitty - kids have probably watched these characters A LOT on television. Now they'll get to see Toopy and Binoo close-up.

Dora (The Explorer) and Diego - 11am and 2pm - (Jaycee Park area) popular tv characters the kids will know a lot more about than parents do!

Now for the daily stuff:

* Buckaroos is open every day - 11am-11pm for various activities like face-painting, button-making, speed stacking, plasma cars, etc. Special (early bird) date and hours - July 3 open 6-11pm - July 6 - 9am-11pm - July 8 - 10am - 11pm.

* SuperDogs are featured every day, several times per day (fantastic!). In the Stampede Corral area - showtimes: July 3, 7pm, July 4, 7, 10&11, noon, 3pm and 7pm - July 6, 8 &9, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm - July 5 12&13, 11:30am, 2pm, 4:30pm, 7pm. These pooches really are some of the best entertainment the Stampede offers during Stampede week!

* The Great Aggie Challenge runs every day in the Jaycee Park area. 2:30pm and 4:30pm, with additional shows July 5, 6, 9 & 13th. Trivia question contest (challenge) with agricultural related trivia.

* Pedal Tractor Pull held at the 'Saddledome Lane' area: July 3, 5&7pm, July 4, 11:30am and 3&5pm, July 5, 11:30am and 5pm, July 6, 11:30am, 5&7pm, July 7, 11:30am, 1&5pm, July 8-13th, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3pm, 5&7pm. Fantastic treat for little people aged 4-12, mini John Deere's - a lot of audience participation and fun.

* Doodoo The Clown: 11:30am, 3pm - comedy, magic and dance

* Splash'N'Boots - July 3, 7pm, Daily - 1pm, 5pm, 7pm with additional shows on July 5, 6, 9, 12&13th at 11am. Toronto Star called these performers (duo) "The best in Children's Entertainment"

* Freddy Fusion: July 3 - 6pm (Trivia Show) and at 7:30pm Fusion Show. Daily Trivia Show 6pm and Fusion Shows, noon, 2pm, 4pm, and 7:30pm. Visual comedy and a duck? The fusion show is 'science magic' - educational and fun at the same time.

With the long list of children's performers, you might think it would be hard to schedule in other performers. Well - it probably has been hard for organizers to schedule other performers into the time-table, but the list of family and adult shows is just as long as for the kiddies!

July 3: 10pm - Faber Drive - a band from Mission B.C. Debut Album, "Seven Second Surgery." Guitar and lead vocals: Faber, Lead guitar: Hinsley, Bass guitar: Krikit, and Drums: Red Bull. Singles 'Tongue Tied' and "Second Chance' from Faber Drive's debut album went to the top of the charts after released in May 2007. Best New Group at the 2008 Junos.

July 4: 8pm - ILLScarlet - punk-pop-reggae-jammin' from Mississauga Ontario. Vocalist Alex Norman and Drummer Swav Pior teamed up in high school, then later added other members to the group. Bass: John Doherty, guitar: Will Marr.

July 4: 9pm - State Of Shock - 2008 Juno nominees for "Life, Love and Lies" album, released in June 2007. Song, "Money Honey" has surpassed "Platinum" category for digital sales. That means over 55 000 digital sales and counting!

July 5: 9pm - The Trews - these guys have a reputation already as Canada's hottest LIVE band and have already released 3 albums! Latest album "No Time For Later."

July 6: 9pm - Hedley - from Vancouver. Jacob Hoggard, Tommy Mac, Dave Rosin, and Chris Crippin. Latest released album "Famous Last Words" and a released song from that album, "Never Too Late" is rising quickly in Canadian charts.

July 7: 9pm - Lifehouse - guitarist-vocalist Jason Wade, drummer Rick Woolstenhulme, and bassist Bryce Soderberg. Great melodies, stacked harmonies and layered strings. Album, "Hanging In The Moment" released in 2001 and ever since, this band has been gaining a solid fan base.

July 8: 9pm - Finger Eleven - previously Rainbow Butt Monkeys (wonder why they changed their name?) - great band, no matter the name, with hits since the late '90's. 3 Juno Awards in 2008!

July 9: 9pm - Puddle Of Mudd - Kansas City natives. Over 5 million of their debut albums, "Come Clean" have been sold. This band has released 5 albums, totalling over 7 million copies. Wesley Scantlin, Doug Ardito, Christian Stone, and Ryan Yerdon. Latest album, "Famous" with song also called 'Famous' is a chart topper in the U.S.

July 10: 7pm - BC/DC - this coverband is not fooling around - excellent AC/DC covers will please AC/DC fans. Tons of stage energy and roster of tunes to showcase all of AC/DC's best material. Nothing is left out.

July 10: 9pm - MerQury - Queen covers - terrific tribute to the late Freddie Mercury! This group has gained acceptance and popularity worldwide! They were showcased last year with great success and were crowd-pleasers at Calgary's own Nashvile North stage!

July 11: 8pm - Jully Black - songwriter and vocalist from Toronto. She has written tunes for Destiny's Child, and shared time onstage with 50cent, Usher, Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Josh Groban, and has also toured with The Black-Eyed Peas. Latest album - "Revival" with single, "Until I Stay" is climbing the charts. 2008 Juno Award in R&B/Soul recording of the year!

July 11: 9pm - Natasha Bedingfield - #1 single in the U.S.A. with six million albums sold worldwide! UK's biggest female pop star. Latest album "Pocket of Sunshine" is already high up in the Canadian charts.

July 12: 9pm - Dierks Bentley - HOT young country music artist. 2 Platinum albums. 2005 CMA Horizon Award recipient, and a 2006 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year nomination. ACM Top New Artist award in 2004. This country singer has a long list of awards and nominations. His Greatest Hits album released May 2008.

July 13: 9pm - Plain White T's - Tom Higgenson, Dave Tirio, Mike Retondo, De'Mar Hamilton, and Tim Lopez have a single that hit worldwide charts! The single: "Hey There Delilah" - album, "Every Second Counts"

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