Irricana residents to host car show and country music event

A handful of Irricana residents have fused their love of country music and collector cars into a one-day event to take place in northeast Rocky View County later this month.

The Cars and Country Stars show and shine music festival is set to take place July 24 on a plot of land just south of Beiseker off of Range Road 262. The event will feature live music, classic cars, food trucks, camping and fireworks at nightfall.

According to Ken Klassen, a coordinator of the event, Irricana is home to many auto aficionados and country music fans. He said the event was born of a desire to reinvigorate the community after the COVID-19 pandemic had put a stop to many scheduled car shows and music concerts in the area.

“This little group of us, we’ve been involved in a few car shows in the area – bringing music in and bringing car people together,” he said. “We just think there’s a great tie between good music and cars and a nice Saturday afternoon.”

He added the upcoming car show is open to all kinds of automobiles – not just classic T-birds and muscle cars.

Ken Klassen and a group of Irricana residents are hosting Cars and Country Stars, a show and shine and country music festival for classic car buffs and music lovers this summer. Submitted For/Rocky View Weekly

“A car show attracts all different kinds of cars and everybody has a different view on what a classic car is,” he said. “So, we welcome one and all. We look at pride and investment of time. It’s not just dollars, it’s what people are proud of.”

Klassen said the car hobby has evolved over the years and is continuing to change over time. He added he has seen a trend toward tuner cars in recent years, and that each generation brings with it a different vision that always makes hosting car shows interesting.

The car show is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with musical performances set for later in the day, starting around 4 p.m.

The concert will include performances from headliner Julian Austin, Calgary-based bands Tacoma and High Steppin Daddy, Canadian country artist Cole Malone – who is also scheduled to perform at Nashville North during the Calgary Stampede – and Lori Kole, an independent Nashville recording artist.  

According to Klassen, as far as bands go, the team “knocked it right out of the park.” He added New Brunswick-based musician Julian Austin will put on a show to remember.

“The first time I saw Julian was probably back in the early 2000s opening for Brooks and Dunn, and I’ll tell you, this guy is a showman,” he said. “If you look up showman, there’s going to be a picture of Julian there.”

He added the team putting on the July 24 shindig has compiled “the best of the best” for the event with two stages for the performers to play from.

“That’s when things will get exciting,” he said. “When the evening comes, it’s going to be lively.”

The Cars and Country Stars show south of Beiseker will be host to a wide-array of new and old collector cars on Jul 24. Submitted For/Rocky View Weekly

While guests are encouraged to bring their own refreshments, the event will facilitate a number of food trucks on site to satiate hungry guests. No formal COVID-19 health restrictions will be enforced, however, Klassen noted guests are encouraged to stay home if they are feeling unwell.

“Other than the evening show, it’s all outdoors,” he said. “The venue – there's nothing prettier. It’s all on the grass and there's a little lake on site.

“It’s got a great ambiance.”  

Entry to the event will cost $40 per person, which includes camping for attendees who would like to spend the night.

Klassen said the coordinators are not hosting the event to make money and any additional funds raised over and above costs incurred to promote and put on the event will go to local charities.

“We’re expecting people to come from far and around, but we’ve also found in the last number of years with doing car shows in Beiseker and Irricana that it really helps bring the community together,” he said.

“We’re doing this for the spirit of the event – we just think it creates community spirit.”

Those interested in purchasing a ticket, or who would like more information about the Cars and Country Stars event, are encouraged to visit carsandcountrystars.ca