Sparkly cowboy-pop and soft hearts: Caylie G’s ‘Prom’ turns the Aviary into a queer dreamscape
Sequins, disco balls, and sparkly cowboy-pop: Caylie G’s Prom turned The Aviary into Edmonton’s loudest love letter to queer joy and self-expression.
Bathed in blue stage light, Caylie G leads her band during Prom, a glitter-filled EP release show at The Aviary. Photo credit: Lyra Brown
MacEwan alum and pop-folk artist Caylie G brought sparkle, sincerity, and community to The Aviary on Oct. 18 with Prom — a sold-out EP release show that doubled as a love letter to queer joy and emotional honesty.
The crowd—decked out in poofy dresses, pressed suits, and glitter filled the room shoulder to shoulder on Saturday night for Caylie G’s “Prom,” the release show for their latest EP, Girls.
“If you like the new songs, yay. If you don’t like them… be nice,” Caylie laughed early in the set, earning cheers from a crowd who already knew every lyric.
Backed by a full band and a dazzling prom-themed stage setup, complete with a merch table sparkling with stickers and hand-burned CDs, Caylie delivered a night that was equal parts performance, confession, and celebration.
The sold-out show opened with covers that set the tone for the night’s playful nostalgia, including a mashup of Stacy’s Mom and Teenage Dirtbag that had the crowd screaming along to every word.
Caylie’s voice shifted from soft, breathy verses to bold, soaring choruses, blending country twang with pop polish. Behind her, the band anchored the performance with tight rhythms and bright guitar work, filling the room with sound that felt as physical as it was melodic.
“It’s time to crown a prom king and queen,” Caylie later announced, tiaras in hand, as High School Musical karaoke music filled the air. “I decided I get to pick—because it’s my prom.”
That mix of humour and heart carried through the night. Even between songs, Caylie’s banter flowed like conversation at a sleepover, equal parts comedy and sincerity. “I’m someone who feels things really deeply,” they told the audience, before dedicating the next song to softness and emotional honesty.
The Girls EP builds on the sound Caylie has coined “sparkly cowboy-pop,” a blend of folk, country roots, and glimmering pop production. The EP’s lead single, “Brenda Heather Kelly,” has already gained traction on TikTok for its infectious hooks and sarcastic storytelling.
“It was important to me to write something fun and cinematic,” Caylie said in an earlier interview. “There’s this stigma that pop music isn’t serious, but for me, pop has always been the way I tell stories—especially queer ones.”
Behind that pop sheen lies a deep emotional current, something producer Robbie Townsend said was key to shaping the EP. “We actually made Girls before Softhearted Cowboy,” Townsend explained. “The whole thing came together super-fast, in a very intuitive way. Caylie’s one of those artists who can pull a song out of thin air—it’s raw, but that’s what makes it stick.”
That mix of precision and vulnerability resonated with the crowd.
“Prom is so fun—I never got to go to my grad because it was 2020,” said audience member Pyper Johnstone. “It’s like an upbeat Phoebe Bridgers vibe. I love it.”
Her partner, Matthew Reimer, agreed: “Seeing her live, I was blown away. She’s just that good.”
Local musician Rachel Dromarsky, who joined Caylie for two songs, said their mentorship has been life-changing. “She takes the initiative to lift up young performers,” Dromarsky said. “She’s an inspiration to so many.”
Halfway through the set, Caylie paused to acknowledge the cause behind the celebration.
“A dollar from every piece of merch tonight is going to Skipping Stone,” they said, referring to the Calgary-based nonprofit supporting trans and gender-diverse youth.
“Queer people are far more resilient than we should have to be,” Caylie said. “When people don’t show up for us, we show up for each other. My shows will always be a place where people can be exactly who they are—unapologetically and enthusiastically.”
The crowd erupted in cheers. For a moment, the prom theme melted into something larger: a declaration of joy and survival.
As the night ended, Caylie closed with crowd favourites Lesbian and her lead single Brenda Heather Kelly before ending the show with a full-stage singalong—ten performers sharing one mic, the audience chanting “fuck love, eat bugs.”
The energy of the evening hung in the air long after the lights dimmed. Prom wasn’t just an album release; it was an act of glittering community and fearless self-expression.
Caylie G is now developing her first full-length album. She said there’s no firm release timeline yet, but the project will continue building on the playful, queer pop identity introduced in Prom.
