Calgary rooftop balcony bash strikes the right note

If you live near Broken City pub in Calgary's Beltline, you may have noticed a trend on Friday nights lately.

It's music pumping for about an hour starting at 6:30 p.m.,bookending what's become another Calgary tradition, the shout out to front-line workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are calling it Balcony Bash.

• Watch this DJ bring the party to the people at a recent Balcony Bash, in the video at the top of this story.

The executive director of the Beltline Business Improvement Area says weekly dance parties broadcast from a pub roof is a new and creative way to bring people together with music andthe reaction has been incredible.

"We had no idea coming into this and it's exceeded our expectations tenfold. It has been amazing," Adrian Urlacher told CBC News.

"Our goal is to have a different theme, a different vibe for everybody. This isn't niche music. It's for the masses."

Last Friday, '90s music was on tap, and it was '80s-themed the week before.

And if Broken City is too far physically, they are live streaming the party.

Local eateries and craft brewers are contributing with special offerings.

Skylar Howrish enjoyed the music with her partner and dog last Friday from the street below.

"It just makes me want to dance," Howrish said.

"I'm stoked to get back when this is all over. I think it helps people remember that there are venues that are out there and it gets you really excited for the future of entertainment and all of that in the city. It's good."

And that reaction is music to Urlacher's ears.

"Music connects," he said.

"It's one of the easiest art platforms that brings people together. It can define a mood, feelings. It's a connector for most people. We have a lot of live music venues in downtown Calgary that are not available to anybody right now, so let's bring the party to the people from a safe distance."

With files from Hala Ghonaim