Influence is a resonance—sometimes audible, sometimes ghostlike—passing between bodies, disciplines, and ideas. In these realms, sound becomes a coalescence of past and present, shaped by who listens, who remembers, and who responds.
Sound gathers as a living geography—charted not by borders, but by forces that shape how music is imagined, made, and shared. The Sound Atlas Festival presents Realms of Influence, illuminating the currents moving through contemporary creation: lineage and rupture, place and displacement, technology and touch.
Across three days, composers, performers, and listeners step into overlapping worlds shaped by distinct gravitational pulls and soundscapes rooted in modern composition, sound design, and chamber music performance.
As always, the festival features world-class performances by local, national, and international artists presenting works by living composers in a dynamic and interactive coalescence of musical possibilities.
Featured artists include: Kevin Day, Holly Roadfeldt, NUM, Kensington Sinfonia, Timothy Steeves, Rod Thomas Squance & Zaheer-Abbas Janmohamed, Contemporary Performance Lab fellows, and host ensemble Latitude 49.
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Day 1: Lineage and Rupture
The 2026 Sound Atlas Festival begins where past and present collide. Composers, performers, and listeners step into overlapping worlds shaped by distinct gravitational pulls and soundscapes.
Featured artists include Holly Roadfeldt, Latitude 49, and Rod Thomas Squance & Zaheer-Abbas Janmohamed.
Day 2: Altered Currents
Works shaped by nature, machines, networks, and the altered acoustics of modern life define this day’s programming. Performances unfold across various spaces within Contemporary Calgary, presenting contemporary music by living composers and sound artists in dynamic settings.
Featured artists include Contemporary Performance Lab fellows, Latitude 49, and NUM.
Day 3: Coalescence
This final day moves through zones of exchange where music reveals the invisible forces acting upon it—and upon its listeners. Influence is not something escaped, but something inhabited, reshaped, and carried forward into new terrain.
Featured artists include Timothy Steeves, Kensington Sinfonia with Jani Parsons, and Latitude 49.
SAF Block Party
Bring lawn chairs or a blanket, along with big ears and good spirits, for an evening of live music, storytelling, fellowship, and beer at the Sound Atlas Festival Block Party.
The event features Calgary’s The Establishment Brewing Company, with beer available for purchase and consumption inside Contemporary Calgary, the festival partner.
Outside, one-of-a-kind performances unfold on a pop-up stage in the front plaza. The inaugural SAF Block Party offers a relaxed, family-friendly preview of the festival. Admission is free and no ticket is required.
Artistic Directors: Jani Parsons & Chris Sies
Realms of Influence: June 26–28 at Contemporary Calgary