The Calgary Stampeders are excited to announce that acclaimed Calgary indie band The Dudes will be performing at halftime of the Stampeders’ 2013 regular-season opener at McMahon Stadium on Friday, June 28.

Formed in Calgary in 1996, The Dudes have been named “Calgary’s Favourite Band” by FFWD newspaper on multiple occasions and have long had a strong local following before earning greater national and international recognition in recent years.

The halftime performance by the proud Canadians and Calgarians is the perfect way to kick off the Calgary football season and the Canada Day long weekend.

“Calgary is the place,” said Dudes frontman Dan Vacon. “It’s the community, the love you get on the streets, the high-fives. I’m about as proud a Calgarian as they get.”

The band, which has toured extensively across Canada and in Europe, is rounded out by guitarist Bob Quaschnick, drummer Matt Doherty and bassist Brock Geiger.

“We’re very proud to have a great Calgary band like The Dudes help us kick off another season of great Calgary Stampeders football,” said Stampeders president Gordon Norrie. “I know that all of the band’s longtime fans will be thrilled for the chance to hear them on Friday night and I know The Dudes will have a lot more new fans by the end of their performance.”