The Electric Highway was one of the first festivals to be shut down at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in Alberta. Everyone watched as things unfolded, struggling to comprehend that life as we knew it was being suspended as the world started to lock down. What we all thought was going to be a short-term, temporary measure dragged on for months.
Many months later after much uncertainty with health and travel restrictions as well as personal health issues for one of the festival organizers, The Electric Highway is finally a go! The festival returns to Calgary, AB, Canada as a 3-day event on March 23, 24, and 25, 2023. The full event will take place at Dickens in downtown Calgary. Dickens has been a cornerstone in the Calgary live entertainment scene for the past 16 years. With great food, a terrific atmosphere, friendly staff, and one of the best stages in the city, Dickens hosts many live music events including Terminus Festival and various Sled Island events. The Electric Highway is excited to be working with Dickens to make this event a great experience for bands, expo vendors, and most of all festival attendees.
A big thank you to FACTOR Canada for the support via a festival restarting grant. After the pandemic cancellation and financial losses, the boost has really allowed the festival to continue and move forward.
Buckle up for The Electric Highway Festival!
Three days of killer bands, rad artists, and fuzzy vibes at Dickens in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The 2023 edition of the festival focuses on desert rock and metal, doom, sludge, heavy psych and has expanded to include some punk and hardcore bands as well.
The 2023 lineup brings an electric offering of bands including some of the bands previously booked for 2020 and new acts to replace bands that were unable to attend this year or are no longer in existence. The festival features Californian headliners SASQUATCH, one of the festival’s past favourites, laying down their brand of fuzzy, kick-ass desert rock and heavy psych with direct support from Vancouver’s LA CHINGA returning for their fourth appearance on Saturday, March 25th. BLACK MASTIFF returns to headline Friday, March 24th with Calgary’s GONE COSMIC, and HYPNOPILOT headlines the Thursday, March 23rd show with support from CITIZEN RAGE. These are just a few of the wicked bands that will be playing at The Electric Highway. The full lineup can be found below.
3-day festival pass holders can pick up their wristbands at Dickens at any time during the event. Pre-order merch sales will also be available for pickup throughout the weekend too. Don’t be disappointed. Order your merch ahead of time.
The Electric Highway is a fully immersive festival experience and offers much more than just music. The festival also features an art and vendor exposition during all three days at Dickens, March 23 – 25, 2023.
Festival passes are on sale starting Jan 25th – 10AM MT; check www.TheElectricHighway.ca to purchase and for more festival information.
All tickets and pass holders will be receiving instructions by email on how to transfer their 2020 tickets for 2023 ones. As well, all vendors will receive an email to confirm their attendance. Anyone that cannot attend this year – both ticketholders and vendors – can transfer their attendance to a future year.
The Electric Highway looks forward to bringing this year’s festival to you, and can’t wait to see everyone in March!
The Electric Highway Official 2023 Lineup:
Saturday, March 25th – Festival headliner: Sasquatch (Los Angeles, CA) with direct support from La Chinga (Vancouver, BC)
Friday, March 24th – Headliner: Black Mastiff (Edmonton, AB/Vancouver, BC) with direct support from Gone Cosmic (Calgary, AB)
Thursday, March 23rd – Headliner: HypnoPilot (Lethbridge, AB) with direct support from Citizen Rage (Calgary, AB)
All other festival bands are:
- Brown Dwarf (Red Deer, AB)
- Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary, AB)
- Destroy My Brains (Lloydminster, AB)
- Empress (Vancouver, BC)
- Father Moon (Calgary, AB)
- Garuda (Cranbrook, BC)
- Hombre (Calgary, AB)
- Iron Tusk (Siksika, AB)
- Molten Lava (Vancouver, BC)
- Musing (Calgary, AB)
- No More Moments (Siksika, AB)
- Owls & Eagles (Calgary, AB)
- Set & Stoned (Crossfield, AB)
- Space Queen (Vancouver, BC)
- Tebby & the Heavy (Edmonton, AB)
- The Astral Prophets (Calgary, AB)
- The Basement Paintings (Saskatoon, SK)
- The Sleeping Legion (Winnipeg, MB)
Ticket Information:
Advance 3-day Festival Passes are $75. Advance passes go on sale from January 25, 2023, until March 22 or while quantities last.
Regular Festival Passes are $95 at the door if quantities are available.
Limited 2-day passes will be on sale from February 13 until March 22 or while quantities last.
Advance single-day tickets will be available from March 1 to March 22 or while quantities last.
Please note: All ticket/pass holders from the canceled 2020 Electric Highway can redeem their tickets and passes for 2023 festival tickets and passes or can choose to hold on to them to use at a future edition of The Electric Highway. You must contact the festival via email to arrange the transfer of your passes before attending the festival. They are holding spots for all previous pass holders until February 28, after that tickets and passes are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
