Calgary Cassette Preservation Society rescues overlooked musical heritage of Southern Alberta
In the heart of Calgary, the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society (CCPS) is on a mission to preserve and celebrate the region's lesser-known musical heritage. Founded in 2006 by Arif Ansari, the society has been dedicated to digitising and archiving cassette tapes from the 1980s and 1990s, a time when these fragile and disposable media were popular among local musicians.
Based online at https://calgarycassettes.org/, the CCPS has amassed over 2,600 cassette recordings, many of which would have otherwise been lost to wear, moves, or neglect. These recordings, now available to the public and future researchers, offer a unique insight into the local music scene that might have otherwise been overlooked.
Arif Ansari, a long-time member of Calgary's music scene, is passionate about the project. He emphasises the rarity of some tapes in the collection, with only a few copies left in existence. Arielle McCuaig, a board member of the CCPS, shares this sentiment, stating that without the society, much of the local music would be lost forever.
The CCPS is not just about preserving the past. It's also about fostering appreciation for the region's music scene and providing an enduring connection to the local musical past for musicians and fans alike. In addition to the cassette tapes, Arif Ansari plans to add around 500 LPs, 800 CDs, and 1,000 gig posters to the archive.
The society's online archive is a valuable resource for understanding the connections between bands and the music scene. It's a testament to the importance of documenting local music, even if the bands never achieved mainstream success. Arielle McCuaig highlights this, emphasising the need to encourage local musicians in a city like Calgary, which often lacks support for arts and culture.
The CCPS's website allows users to listen to music for free, offering a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the region's musical history. Friends and music lovers have shared their cassette collections, records, and CDs with Arif Ansari for the archives, contributing to the society's mission to archive lesser-known bands from southern Alberta.
In a world where digital music has become the norm, the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society stands as a beacon for the preservation of physical media and the musical history it holds. By rescuing and conserving a vital part of the region’s musical heritage, the CCPS ensures that the stories of these lesser-known bands live on, offering a rich tapestry of musical history for all to enjoy.
[1] Source: Calgary Cassette Preservation Society website.
- The Calgary Cassette Preservation Society (CCPS) not only focuses on preserving the musical past but also promotes an appreciation for the region's home-and-garden grown music scene, creating an enduring connection to local music for musicians and fans alike.
- The CCPS's archives extend beyond cassette tapes, with plans to add LPs, CDs, and gig posters, establishing a comprehensive repository for understanding the connections between bands and the local music scene in Calgary.
