Alberta flood relief concert raises $1.5M

A star-studded outdoor concert featuring acts including Nickelback and Jann Arden on a balmy night in Calgary raised at least $1.5 million for flood relief in Alberta.

More than 30,000 people attended the Alberta Flood Aid concertthe biggest in the city's history at McMahon Stadium.

Besides Albertarockers Nickelbackand Calgary-bornArden,many other Canadian stars took to the stage.Among them wereLoverboy, Tom Cochrane, Matthew Good and Corb Lund.

Prime Minister Harper was a surprise guest at the show and spent the evening in the stands with Alberta Premier Alison Redford.

The funds raised will go into the Calgary Foundation's Flood Rebuilding Fund, which willfunnel the money to several organizations helping flood victims across southern Alberta.

Comedian Brent Butt hosted the event, which started when Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshithanked the legions of volunteers who helped in the floods aftermath.

"That citizen covered in mud, and mosquito bites, cut and scraped and bruised, saving the home of someone she doesn't even know. Let's hear it for every single volunteer. Thank you all," he told the crowd.

He acted out a dream of introducing a band at a rock concert when he asked the crowd to "give it up for Tom Cochrane!"

Nickelback blackout

The concert was broadcast across the country on television, but prior to Nickelback's performance the broadcast came to an abrupt stop, which leftpeople at home wanting to watch the band wondering what happened.

• STORIFY:Dropping concert feed during Nickelback draws criticism, jokes

It appears the band did not sign the clearance form to allow its performance to be televised.

"The @Nickleback exclusive performance was a request from the band. Sorry we couldn't live stream this portion of the concert," tweeted Telus, which was a broadcast partner for the event.

The reaction has been intense on social media.Theband has not responded toCBC'srequest for comment.

Organizers are defending the band today, saying the headline act's performancewas never intended for broadcast, as it was meant exclusively for those in attendance.