Honoring Springsteen on the eve of his first concert in Calgary in more than twenty years

It’s been 21 years since Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band last played a show in Calgary, but that all changes this weekend with a sold-out concert at the Saddledome.

And on Friday, the band members celebrated a new local collaboration with a star-studded event at the National Music Centre.

Just 24 hours before what is sure to be a massive concert, E Street guitarist Stevie Van Zandt and bassist Garry Tallent were ready to hammer out a new collaboration that will bring some music history to our city.

A partnership between the National Music Center and the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music includes traveling music exhibitions and programs.

They’ll be here before they hit the road and eventually end up in New Jersey, at a new historic Springsteen factory.

One of the key partners of this collaboration will be Van Zandt’s “Teach Rock” project, which aims to introduce new generations to vital arts taking place in the two countries.

The longtime E Street Band guitarist tells CTV he is very impressed with the National Music Center.

“This place really puts you on the map. We go to a lot of cities, and they don’t have music museums. This is a great thing for the city in terms of its identity. For those of us who come and go quickly, this will stand out,” said VanZandt.

Saturday’s concert is at 7:30 PM in the Saddledome

Ticket holders were already lining up on Friday morning to secure their spot on the floor closest to The Boss.

The Saddledome doesn’t have any crucial parking now that construction has started on the arena, and it’s going to be very busy on Saturday night, so anyone coming should get there early.