Umpteen-gallon hats on the C-Train. Beer tents at most every downtown street corner. Stacks of pancakes higher than most Kensington bungalows. This can only mean one thing — Stampede season is upon us, and there’s no use denying it.

But there’s plenty going on, even if you’re not into steer wrestling. If North of America playing a packed house party — as it did last week during Sled Island — has you feeling nostalgic, Medicine Hat noise-dance troupe Mt. Royal, playing July 7 at Broken City, is here to help. It’s a messy smorgasbord of squealing Casios and sloppy all-in gang vocals, it’s a little Halifax-retro, a little Revolution Summer; mostly, this sounds like Alberta in 2010. Delightful Victoria, B.C. trio Freak Heat Waves join the party. Fun never sounded this discordant.

Now, if you’re the rodeo type, you could catch Stampede performances by treadmill-champions OK Go or the irritating tween-pop of Stereos. Or Bon Jovi. And yes, there are plenty of country acts playing, but for something more atypical, head to the Palomino on July 10 to catch the roots-rock of Southern Skyline. Don’t be fooled; although the band’s name might conjure images of the Memphis horizon, the group has travelled from Stockholm, Sweden to tour Western Canada. While its Nordic homeland is best known for furniture and preteen vampires, the quintet craft their art around classic American outlaw country with a hint of honky-tonk swagger. Local favourites The Smokin’ 45s get the night started.

If clenched jaws and fist-pumping are more up your alley, head over to Flames Central to catch MSTRKRFT’s JFK (or Jesse Keeler, to friends), also on July 10. Long Toronto’s de facto scummy house icon, he’s also bringing his former tour photographer and protégé St. Mandrew for the ride. Go for the Thunderheist mash-ups, pricey streetwear and seizure-inducing strobes. Stay for the most iconic moustache in Canadian music since Gordon Lightfoot. And dance. A lot.

Sticking with the CanCon, Six Shooter Records’ alt-country vagabonds NQ Arbuckle land at the Ship & Anchor on July 14. Although they hail from Toronto, this ain’t Ryan Adams-inflected urbane country. Instead, this is truck-stop music: It’s the aural equivalent of a hot chicken sandwich washed down with waxy black coffee. Or, in other words, it’s the perfect pick-me-up for the downtrodden. The quartet arrives with honey-throated songstress, and frequent collaborator, Carolyn Mark. Check out “Officer Down” on their Myspace page if you’re not yet a believer. Cry into your beer. Rinse, lather, repeat.