Big Rock Eddies
“I think it is safe to say that Big Rock Brewery makes Calgary’s favorite beer. Since the start, its customers have been its biggest promoters. Long before it became known as crowdsourcing, Big Rock thought up creative ways to involve those promoters in its brand.”
Just over a year ago Shelagh McNally had a very interesting observation. She realized that if you stacked two hay bales on top of each other they took on the shape of a beer can. From that simple thought came an award winning idea that not only gets tremendous attention from drivers across the province, it also enables us to strengthen our relationships with the farmers that grow the world’s best barley for our beer.
Last week the Canadian Marketing Association announced that the Hay Bale Program won a Silver award at their 35th Annual Canadian Marketing Awards.
Congratulations to Shelagh, Karla, Curtis and all the farmers that have called and asked to proudly display a Big Rock beer can on their land for others to enjoy.
Thomas Varughes hugs one of the Grasshoppers who came to his rescue.
The Big Rock Grasshoppers, a women’s soccer team that we sponsor in Edmonton, just reunited with Thomas Varughese and his family. A little over a year ago, Varaghese suffered a massive heart attack while driving. He managed to pull over beside a soccer field and yelled ‘help’; as soon as the word left his mouth the Grasshoppers came running over and began CPR.
It took Varughese this long to find his ‘Soccer Angels’. Check out this CTV segment, it’s quite inspirational.
At Big Rock we seem to always do it the hard way. I’m not sure if we do it that way because we are stubborn, slow witted or simply because we get to do it our way. When Ed started Big Rock during a recession, at the age of 60 and did it by brewing Ales (when everyone in the country was accustomed to Lagers) he definitely did it his way. Not easy but, alas, he did it and we are very happy he did.
Well, again it seems we are taking the hard way with a new project called Untapped Alberta. This project is the lovechild of four proud Alberta partners that are supporting Alberta artists and communities. I say this project is being done the hard way because it would be much easier to simply sponsor an existing project, slap our logo on it and be done with it. But that wouldn’t be meaningful and wouldn’t be our style.
ATB Financial, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Alberta Music and Big Rock Brewery have joined forces to create this five part concert series with the hopes of supporting emerging Alberta artists to get some additional exposure. Our bigger dreams are to have this be such a success that it gives us confidence to grow it over the years to come.
The musicians were selected from our Big Rock Untapped program as well as through recommendations from the four partners. Tickets are available at local ATB branches and venues for $10 (includes a beverage of course) with proceeds being donated to local community groups and charities.
Here’s where we are playing - hope you can make it:
CALGARY
Date: September 25, 2009
Venue: The Ironwood Stage & Grill
Artists: Chad VanGaalen, The Wet Secrets, Sidney York
Charity: Discovery House
MEDICINE HAT
Date: September 26, 2009
Venue: Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre
Artists: Brett Nelson, Pear, John Wort Hannam
Charity: Santa Claus Fund
BEAVERLODGE
Date: October 3, 2009
Venue: Beaverlodge Community Centre
Artists: Celeigh Cardinal, Tracy Millar, Tenille Nadkrynechny
Charity: Hythe Playschool Society, Parents for Progress Playground Society
EDMONTON
Date: October 23, 2009
Venue: TransAlta Arts Barns
Artists: Krystle Dos Santos, Carrie Hryniw, Politic Live
Charity: Youth Emergency Shelter Society
RED DEER
Date: October 24, 2009
Venue: The Vat
Artists: Domino, Lindsay Ell, Soul Side In
Charity: Red Deer and Stettler & District food banks
I look forward to seeing you out there. Let me know what you think of the project and feel free to offer any advice to make it even better for the future.
… because the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. A Friday afternoon in August shouldn’t require a jacket and gloves!
Warthog Untapped
The beer stayed cold!
Shelagh McNally toasts the event, “We were thrilled to host H.O.G.® members for this special event. They managed to enjoy themselves and were appreciative of our hard work - even when the weather did its crazy Calgary-thing. I hold up my glass and toast them and hope they find their way back to Big Rock when the sun is shining.”
Hosted by Red Dawg, Warthog Untapped featured local acts: Lindsay Ell, The Lions and the Matt Blais Connection.
Red Dawg and Shelagh McNally
Red Dawg, a close friends of Big Rock, said, “I think the Big Rock venue should host events like this all summer long. It’s perfect for concerts - and I think we should bring back the beer Olympics! I definitely wanna host that one!”
Reviewing the music he had this to say, “Lindsey Ell was unbelievable local talent and at just 21 years she has a huge future - and a huge voice. The Lions are a great party band, a riot on stage and an awesome mix of both covers and originals! And, Matt Blais…great voice and the band is very tight. What’s not to love?”
Untapped Artist: Lindsay Ell
Untapped Artists: The Lions
Untapped Artist: Matt Blais Connection
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