CKUA radio stage at KDays with the Northern Empire Arts Marching Band rehearsing before their scheduled performances on Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

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For nearly 60 years, music has been an integral part of KDays. This year, that tradition continues with the help of CKUA. The public-funded radio station prides itself on highlighting Albertan talent that goes unnoticed by larger stations and streaming services.

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“CKUA has a very particular role in providing opportunities for artists to gain exposure in a format where they may not normally have any,” said station CEO Adam Mitchell.

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CKUA’s stage at KDays serves the same purpose as its broadcasting, with local acts as the focus rather than the big-ticket ones at the main stage.

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“It’s really important for us to be in the community,” Mitchell said. “Working, sharing live experiences with both the artists and the people who are listening.”

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Mitchell said many of the artists booked this year will also have their performances broadcast on CKUA.

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“Those are really great experiences for our listeners, but it’s also a great opportunity for us to show what type of things we’re sharing on air with the audiences that are there to see it in person.”

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Community radio is becoming increasingly uncommon, but Mitchell said CKUA believes its niche will keep it healthy despite the changing media landscape.

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“We’re donor-supported almost entirely,” Mitchell said. “We are locally curated and locally operated, we’ve got studios in Edmonton and Calgary, and we’re broadcasting 16 transmitters across the province.

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“I think we represent an alternative to the sort of rotation play and algorithm-driven music selection. We’ve got music experts and music fans and festival producers who make up our host roster. Providing an opportunity for people to discover something new on the radio, I think that sets us apart.”

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At the end of the day though, Mitchell and CKUA care the most about maintaining a vibrant local culture, and Mitchell emphasized that it’s about people.

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“It has to be real humans doing real things. I think that real artists making real music on real airwaves is what we’re all about.”

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