Badlands being bad, Cowboys compliant with noise bylaws at Stampede
Stampede music venues get hit with a slew of noise complaints, Cowboys Music Festival was found to be compliant, while the EDM venue, Badlands Music Festival, gets hit tickets for being too loud.
Author: Clayton DeMaine
During the first four days of the Calgary Stampede, the city got bombarded with 70 noise complaints. After investigations from community safety officers, Badlands, an electric dance music festival, was struck with tickets for failing to lower their music below the allowable decibel limit.
A spokesperson for the City of Calgary’s bylaw office told Juno News in an email that in the first four days of the world-renowned Calgary Stampede, the city received 70 noise complaints for various tents and events across the city.
According to the spokesperson, 40 noise complaints were made concerning the Cowboys Music Festival, though after an investigation, the Cowboys’ off-park music tent and festival were found to be below the allowable maximum decibel limit.
“Community Safety Peace Officers are out each night taking noise readings from nearby residential locations. We’re pleased to report that every noise reading taken for Cowboys Music Festival has been below their allowable maximum decibel limit as prescribed in their Noise Exemption Permit,” the spokesperson said.
Of the other noise complaints, 15 were directed at the Badlands Music Festival, another 15 originated from the National Saloon, five were directed at the Whisky Rose, and one complaint was made against Mexifest.
Wildhorse Saloon was among the few music events that did not receive any complaints.
The Badlands Music Festival tent, however, was the only tent to receive a ticket.
“After multiple warnings, a ticket was issued last night to event organizers at Badlands Music Festival tent for exceeding their allowable maximum decibel limit. That ticket is now under review,” the city spokesperson said.
Calgary bylaw “strongly encourages” event organizers to adjust their decibel levels to ensure that they are compliant with their respective noise exemption permits, “to avoid escalating enforcement action.”