Calgary folk-rocker Wil plays Olympic Plaza this Friday at noon

At the height of Stampede season, it might seem redundant to throw your own rodeo. Don’t tell that to the fine folks at the Palomino — their third annual Rock & Roll Rodeo on Saturday, July 12 is the perfect antidote to cowboy clichés. Vancouver’s Joey Only Outlaw Band will provide the twang (they’ll be pushing their newest slab of outlaw folk, Fire on Anarchist Mountain). Locals are in charge of the rest — Cam Penner will supply the country soul, while The Smokin’ 45s and The Hardtails will up the swagger with their rockabilly stylings. The pure anarchy of the west will be the domain of punk rock heroes The Ex-Boyfriends, and The Garter Girls Burlesque troupe will bring saloon-girl sensuality in spades.

Not to be out-cowboyed, the Jack Singer Concert Hall hosts Steve Earle on Tuesday, July 15. As anyone who saw Earle at the 2005 Calgary Folk Music Festival knows, he’s not afraid to speak his mind on any number of issues. Fortunately, he’s also a fantastic musician (he’s been hailed as the saviour of country music more than once in his 20-plus year career), which always makes the politics go down more smoothly.

The same could be said of Michael Franti, who’ll bring his Spearhead to Flames Central on Friday, July 11. Hip hop, funk, reggae and rock share equal space in Franti’s work, as do passionate pleas for peace and understanding. Franti has inspired a global following on the strength of his touring, and his shows are not to be missed.

He’s not the only can’t-miss show at Flames Central this week, though. The Supersuckers, known to some (well… themselves) as the greatest rock ’n’ roll band in the world, take the stage on Thursday, July 10. Power-poppers Jimmy Eat World will be there on Saturday, July 12. And next Thursday, July 17, hip hop legends The Roots hit Calgary for the first time ever — anyone who misses that show will be kicking themselves for years.

Finally, Calgary’s favourite folk-rocker, Wil, will be playing a set at Olympic Plaza on July 11 at noon. Given that half the city will be taking off early on Friday to kick-start their Stampede weekend, you really have no excuse to skip it.