Wrote By: Amanda Waschuk (Calgary Correspondent - Canada)

Hopefully all those who have been going the Stampede got a chance to check out the ever-popular Coca Cola Stage.  Here, attendees of the Calgary Stampede are given the chance to see their favorite artists for free!  So you can imagine the size of the crowd that congregates just before a performer goes onstage.  Also, just to the side of the stage is one of several beer gardens perfect for those of-age and wanting to escape the hurricane of screaming fans.  The Calgary Stampede is becoming known in for its rock-meets-country music persona, where you can see performances from Sugarland, Kid Rock, The Judds, Plain White T's, Lifehouse and a few dozen more, for anyone's musical tastes. I was lucky enough to see the following bands at the 2008 Coca Cola Stage: 

Seventh Rain was the first radio-savvy band to play the Coca Cola Stage.  Based out of Calgary, the band were winners of an X92.9 contest in 2005 and shipped to Vancouver to record an album.  Their first radio hit was titled "It's Not You".  Although lead singer Ryan Williams started out rough sounding during this show, he improved after a few songs and the crowd got a taste for their fun pop-rock music.  Fans were given a preview of some new tunes that are sure to become radio hits. 

Faber Drive followed, putting on a good show as always.   Being a pop-punk band, the crowd was filled with the youngsters that define the fan base for that genre, and they loved every minute of it.  They played their current radio hit "When I'm With You", which is to be expected; but switched it up by playing their cover of "I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight". 

IllScarlett is an Ontario-based band making waves with their original reggae-rock sound.  Given the opportunity to open for State of Shock, who has many radio hits and therefore a decent-sized fan-base, illScarlett was able to play for new ears and hopefully gain some new fans, as they are a band deserving of recognition.

State of Shock is a Canadian rock-band infamous for their song "Money Honey".  Being another radio-station discovery (in Vancouver), they have built a name for themselves through massive marketing of "Money Honey" and touring with Nickelback.  This drew a large crowd for their Stampede show and everyone rocked late into the night.  

The Trews are one of those bands that you just have to see when they're in town (especially when it's free!).  With a distinct alternative-rock sound, this band has created a stage presence that draws crowds and keeps them there.  They had a great set list full of new and old songs in a great complimentary order.

On Sunday, Collective Soul was the main attraction at Cowboys (a downtown Calgary nightclub), with local band Joshua's Habit opening.  Having heard good things, I was looking forward to Joshua's Habit but found myself disappointed.  This rock band didn't bring anything new to the genre and I found myself disconnected from their show.  Collective Soul was good, but played a more mellow show than fans have come to expect.  Of course they played their rock hits like "Gel" and "To Where the River Flows", but in an attempt to inform fans of their new album (which is more soft than previous albums), they showcased many of the songs from this CD, Afterwords.

Johnny Reid played the super popular Stampede Bar -- Nashville North (yet another stage on the Stampede grounds to watch all day performances at!) on Monday.  This country star was born in Scotland and the accent stuck but with it came an enticing, powerful voice.  Fitting right into the cowboy scene, Johnny played to an ecstatic crowd ready to get in some two-stepping. 

Read about the second half of the 2008 Calgary Stampede