Stampede Activity: BC/DC at the Wildhorse Saloon Tent

For the second year in a row, Tammy and I had a night out during Stampede courtesy of Bow Cycle. Kurt secured a bunch of tickets, and the BCC Ambassadors had the first crack at them. We had fun last year, so I put my hand up.

First step was heading downtown on the C-Train. We walked up (it was a lovely evening) and met with the group at the Oak Tree Tavern in Kensington. Tammy and I shared a “Date Night” pizza (blue cheese, bacon and roasted garlic) along with a couple of ciders. We had a good time talking with Hannah and Ashley, who were sitting across from us.

Then we all walked over to the Wildhorse Saloon tent. Tammy wasn’t too happy about that part: her boots aren’t made for walkin’, and so we ambled rather than strode.

We got there, and it was the same as last year: nice and airy (it’s a huge tent, the size of a gymnasium) but loud with the music and people’s (shouted) conversations. Expensive drinks. There was the obligatory people-watching. As a couple of people who have been in a committed relationship for 27 years… we don’t envy people trying to find love at Stampede.  😝

But we were there for the band. The band was BC/DC, an AC/DC tribute band that has been playing together for 20 years from Nelson, BC. They went on at 9:00, but not before the canned white-bread country music that was playing switched to some Queen and Bon Jovi first to warm up the crowd. 🤘

It was loud. The sound was not nearly as good as when we watched the Scorpions in 2010, but more in line with the opening band (Dokken) at that concert. But we had a great time anyways. We ended up on the floor, about 20 feet back from the stage. Tammy couldn’t see much, since I didn’t hoist her on my shoulders. But they had a number of cameras and were projected on the big screen.

Ian asked me to list all of the songs they played, but that was difficult. Highway to Hell, Back in Black, You Shook Me All Night Long, If You Want Blood, You Got It, High Voltage, Hells Bells, Shoot to Thrill, For Those About to Rock, Thunderstruck, Bad Boy Boogie… It was an hour and a half at high speed.

When the encore was over, Tammy and I headed for the exit. We were both sweated out and ready to hit the hay. I had a bike ride in the morning and neither of us had slept well the night before thanks to my stuffed up nose and snoring…

I caught a little bit of the concert. It’s the intro to Hells Bells, which is one that Ian and I sometimes play with him on the drums and me on guitar.