Sled Island

What do you get when you throw 30 of Calgary's best-loved musicians in a room, have them draw names from a hat to form new bands on the spot, and give them less than 12 hours to write and perform new material?

Find out at the next Sled Island Rock Lotto on Saturday, December 19 at 9:00pm at the Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club (109 7th Ave. SW)!

Tickets are $10 at the door. Presented by Big Rock Brewery.

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Winter has only just begun, but we’re already thinking about summer (and you should be, too)! Sled Island returns for its 10th year from June 22 - 26, 2016, and early bird passes are now on sale!

For a limited time, you can grab any Sled Island 2016 pass for more than 25% off the walk-up price.* Prices go up when we announce our 2016 curator on January 19, 2016!

We can’t give anything away just yet, but we can tell you that it’s going to be a really, really good year. We can’t wait to see you in June!

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Sled Island is now accepting project proposals for the festival's 2016 visual art programming!

We’re seeking submissions of artistic and performative projects in the form of visual, sculptural and new media installations; performances; and critical art writing. Projects do not need to contain a direct link to music to be included, but applicants are encouraged to take the sites, sounds and experiences of Sled Island into consideration when crafting proposals. We want to hear your ideas about how visual art can transform spaces, challenge disciplinary boundaries and initiate new ways of engaging with our festival and our city!

The deadline to apply is February 15, 2016 at 11:59pm MST.

Sled Island is also accepting submissions of music, comedy and film.

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The last Video Vulture Live! event of the year happens Sunday, November 29 at Good Luck Bar (207 12th Ave. SW)!

This month, we're presenting 1976 Taiwanese cult classic Master of the Flying Guillotine. Watch the one-armed boxer face a gang of super-powered kung fu masters, including a stretchy-limbed yoga master and a blind monk who wields a deadly decapitation machine! Bonus: the film boasts a krautrock-heavy soundtrack that features Neu!, Kraftwerk and more.

Doors at 7:00pm, introduction by the Video Vulture (John Tebbutt) at 7:30pm, film at 8:00pm. Admission and popcorn are free!

The annual GIRAF festival of independent animation is just around the corner! We're thrilled to be a community partner for the premiere screening of Lyle Pisio's Haiku series on Friday, November 27 at 7:00pm at the Globe Cinema (617 8th Ave. SW).

Calgary artist, musician and animator Lyle Pisio has teamed up with some of the city's finest audio artists to create 10 stop-motion "haikus" that will screen as a complete series for the first time at the festival. The event will also feature a live performance from Pisio's improvisational music project, Street of Crocodiles, with musical contributions from a host of Calgary heavyweights including Chad VanGaalen, Peter Moller, Jun K. Lee, Chris Dadge, Cody Oliver, Chantal Vitalis, Mark Stewart and Janet Turner.

Tickets are $10 at GIRAFFest.ca. Purchase before November 21 and make it a double feature with The Quay Brothers in 35mm for just $15!

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The third annual CUFF.Docs lineup has been revealed! We're excited to present Breaking A Monster on Saturday, November 21 at 9:30pm the Globe Cinema (617 8th Ave. SW).

Spending their weekends playing music in Times Square, pre-teen metal band Unlocking The Truth soon take on a veteran industry manager and land a $1.8 million dollar record deal. Breaking a Monster is the story of their rapid breakout and coming of age.

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Video Vulture Live! returns for its next installment on Sunday, November 1 at Good Luck Bar (207 12th Ave. SW) with 1960 British horror film The Flesh and the Fiends, starring Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasance.

Edinburgh surgeon Dr. Robert Knox requires cadavers for his research into the functioning of the human body; local ne'er-do-wells Burke and Hare find ways to provide him with fresh specimens. Based on the real-life antics of murderers William Burke and William Hare.

Doors at 7:00pm, presentation from the Video Vulture (John Tebbutt) at 7:30pm, film at 8:00pm. Free entry, free popcorn, licensed!

Sled Island returns for its 10th anniversary from June 22 - 26, 2016!

Early bird passes go on sale December 1, 2015 at SledIsland.com. More details coming soon!

Music, comedy and film submissions are now open.

APPLY NOW

Last Halloween, CJSW 90.9FM and Sled Island closed out CJSW’s Funding Drive with a massive Halloween party themed around a classic of 90s music: Big Shiny Tunes 2.

This year, we’re turning the clock back a decade to present a night of covers honouring the biggest artist of the 80s: Michael Jackson!

Friday, October 30
Doors at 8:00pm
Royal Canadian Legion #1 (116 7th Ave. SE)
Tickets $10 advance

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19 Calgary acts will put their own spins on Michael’s biggest hits, from "Off The Wall" through to "Earth Song." Bands include Crystal Eyes, No River, Shaani Cage, Aleem Khan, Orthicon, Melted Mirror, The Evan Wilson Sexperience, Chron Goblin, Outlaws of Ravenhurst, Untrained Animals, Kiran & Corinthian, Lucid 44, members of Devonian Gardens, Funkensheist, Dominic Pierce, DRI HIEV, Rap X and more to be announced.

Upstairs, shake your body to a video dance party featuring a spread of tunes from the 80s and beyond!

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Thanks to our official beer sponsor, Big Rock Brewery!

Sled Island presents the third installment of cult film series Video Vulture Live! at Good Luck Bar (207 12th Ave. SW) on Sunday, September 27!

This month’s pick is 1975 Chinese superhero flick Infra-Man. It’s free, and we’ll be serving free popcorn!

Doors at 7:00pm, lecture from the Video Vulture (John Tebbutt) at 7:30pm, film at 8:00pm.

Sled Island is thrilled to present Made in Japan at the Calgary International Film Festival!

Made in Japan chronicles the career of Tomi Fujiyama, a Japanese country music sensation who reached the height of her success in 1964 performing in Nashville with Johnny Cash. Now in her 70s, Fujiyama is seeking a comeback in America. This documentary captures her resurgence in the time of new Nashville, where talent doesn’t always beat out popularity and commercial success. 

Tomi Fujiyama and Director Josh Bishop will be in attendance at both screenings!

Friday, September 25 at 5:00pm (all ages)
Sunday, September 27 at 7:00pm (18+)
Globe Cinema, 617 8th Ave. SW

Tickets at CalgaryFilm.com.

Just announced: Sled Island will also present Tomi Fujiyama in a special live appearance at the Ship & Anchor Pub (534 17th Ave. SW) on Saturday, September 26 at 8:00pm. Fujiyama will play with a local backing band featuring members of The Bitterweed Draw and the Matt Masters band. Free!

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POP Montreal, one of our favourite multi-venue music and arts festivals on the planet, returns September 16 - 20, 2015!

We'll be in attendance to present a showcase featuring OBN IIIs, Girl Arm (pictured at Sled Island 2015), Blanka and Calgary's Grosser.

Wednesday, September 16
Doors 8:00pm | Show 8:30pm
Casa del Popolo (4871 Boul St-Laurent, Montreal)
$10 advance | $12 at the door

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He has the soul of a lion, claws of steel, and he fights like lightning! He's Lion Man!

We're excited to present this 1975 Turkish action film on Sunday, August 30 as part of Video Vulture Live!, a new monthly film series happening at Good Luck Bar (207 12th Ave. SW). Doors at 7:00pm, introduction/lecture from the Video Vulture (John Tebbutt) at 7:30pm, screening at 8:00pm. After the film, John will host a Q&A and tease September’s film!

The event is free, licensed, and we’ll be serving up free popcorn!

Sled Island is pleased to present Mark Mills with Aleem Khan and Doug Hoyer on September 12 at Commonwealth Bar & Stage (731 10th Ave. SW).

You can talk all you want about the infectious sonics of Mark Mills' power-posi sex-pop jams, but you'll be missing the point. The man himself is a burning torch of furious love, at once beautifully mundane and larger than life. All it takes is to hear one of his searing anthems or to catch a single glimpse at one of his frenzied performances and you'll know; Mills is an unstoppable force of hooks, charm and exuberance.

Early show! Advance tickets available here.

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Join us and Unit Structure Sound Recordings on August 1 at 7:00pm for a night of experimental music in many forms at EMMEDIA!

This split tape release show for Montreal’s Jean-Sébastien Truchy (Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche, Fly Pan Am) and sound/visual artist Charles Barabé will also feature Montreal’s explosive Black Givre and Calgary trio Ancient Snake. If you caught Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche or Black Givre at Sled Island this year, you already know not to miss this show!

All ages welcome, $5 at the door.

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Sled Island loves film, and nobody knows film better than John Tebbutt, Calgary's Video Vulture!

We're beyond excited to co-present a new monthly film series at Good Luck Bar featuring films selected by the Video Vulture himself. First up: 1983 kung fu comedy Shaolin Drunkard on July 26. John will give a brief introduction/lecture at 7:30pm and the film will screen at 8:00pm. After the film, John will host a Q&A and tease the next screening. Doors at 7:00pm.

This event is free, licensed, and yup—we'll even have free popcorn! 

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Sled Island 2015 had some incredible live moments, and many of them happened right in CJSW 90.9FM’s studios! We’ve collected all 20 of this year’s Live on CJSW sessions (including Loscil, The Coathangers, Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche, Birdstriking, Obnox, Mdou Moctar and more) into one handy playlist so that you can relive the sweet sounds of your favourite Sled Island 2015 artists, or check out those you missed.

Miss out on Sled Island merch during the festival?

Tees, tanks and totes are now available in our shop, along with limited-edition silkscreened show posters for Yo La Tengo, Viet Cong, Swervedriver, Lightning Bolt, Fu Manchu, King Tuff, Ex Hex, Drive Like Jehu, Body/Head (pictured) and more.

Shop now

That's a wrap!

Our five days of music, comedy, film, art and fun are over, but will linger on in our hearts for the rest of the year! Check out photo highlights from this year's festival here.

Whether you attended, performed, volunteered, sponsored, partnered or even just checked out one thing at Sled Island, we thank you. We can't wait to see you again for our 10th anniversary in 2016!

Sled Island is sad to learn that due to immigration issues, TroyBoi is unable to enter Canada and won't be making it to Sled Island or any of his other upcoming tour dates.

With the bad comes the good: we have now added ace party-starter Falcons to today's bill! Tory Lanez, Teengirl Fantasy, Mykki Blanco, Smalltown DJs and all the other great talent will be unaffected by the change and things will kick off in the East Village at 4:00pm.

Bonus: Teengirl Fantasy and Falcons are the secret guests for tonight's show at The HiFi Club!

Don't worry too much, TroyBoi fans—he's been rescheduled for November 5 at The Hifi Club. Stay tuned to The HiFi Club for more details on that show.

With so many artists playing Sled Island, things often change between when our program guide goes to print and when the festival hits. Read below for all the particulars on what's been adjusted.

Remember that our online schedule always has the most accurate and up-to-date information!

Wednesday, June 24

• Old Man Gloom replaces Pentagram at Dickens
• The Backhomes replace Iceberg Ferg and Astral Swans replaces Construction & Deconstruction at Local 510 Parking Lot
• Daniel Lanois is featured at the National Music Centre Master Series
• Aleem Khan replaces J. Sherri at Nite Owl (Downstairs)
• Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche replaces Superbloom at The Palomino (Upstairs)
• Eric Steel performs as part of Jupiter Comedy at the Oak Tree Tavern tonight

Thursday, June 25

• Counterfeit Jeans replaces Superbloom at Broken City (Patio)
• Feel Alright performs at Broken City (Patio) at 8:00pm

Friday, June 26

• Tee-Tahs replace Ben Disaster at The #1 Legion (Upstairs)
• WHIMM replaces Low Life at Dickens
• Fury Things replace Construction & Destruction at The Palomino (Upstairs)
• Yo La Tengo perform at Flames Central rather than Saturday as previously listed
• Derek Adams performs at the Theatre Junction GRAND Studio
• Brandon Craig performans at the Theatre Junction GRAND Studio
• Amy Bugg performs at the Theatre Junction GRAND Studio

Saturday, June 27

• Wares replaces Moss Lime at Tubby Dog
• Showcase artists revealed as High Klassified, Jazz Cartier and Keys N Krates at Nite Owl (Upstairs)
• Tough Age replaces Real Sickies at Nite Owl (Downstairs)
• Gina Freeman performs at the Theatre Junction GRAND Studio
• Jeff D'Silva performs at the Theatre Junction GRAND Studio

Sunday, June 28

• Technical Kidman replaces Moss Lime at the Topman Presents at Republik Stage

Sled Island, VICE and Fido have teamed up to bring you Unfiltered: a night of music courtesy of Keys N Krates, Jazz Cartier and High Klassified.

You can RSVP now for a free entry to the show. Don't worry, passholders—we've saved room for those of you who do not RSVP. Passes on sale right here. 
 

Need a little expert endorsement to narrow down your Sled Island schedule? We've got just the thing. Some of our favourite DJs at CJSW have compiled their picks alongside links to Soundcloud streams. Next up: Femcon Music from Jasmine Retzer & Kerry Maguire.

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Need a little expert endorsement to narrow down your Sled Island schedule? We've got just the thing. Some of our favourite DJs at CJSW have compiled their picks alongside links to Soundcloud streams. Next up: Beats/Electronic from Kaleem Khan.

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Today is your chance to get your Sled on early! We have a handful of events including the ninth annual Sled Island Poster Show opening at the Theatre Junction GRAND Mezzanine at 6:00pm, the Canadian premiere of Danny Says at 6:30pm at the Hifi Club, special Sled Island editions of Quiz Shoe at Broken City at 7:00pm and Punk Rock Bingo at the Ship and Anchor at 8:00pm. Don't forget, WRECK CITY Presents DEMO TAPE is in full swing down at the old Penguin Car Wash.

Then, of course, is the music! Our traditional Kick-Off Party at Commonwealth is chock full of talent including past festival favourites The Courtneys, Cousins and Shaani Cage plus Godspeed You! Black Emperor pick Avec Le Soileil Sortant De Sa Bouche and more, more, more! Limited walk-up tickets will be offered to those without a festival pass for $15.

Wanna see it all? You're gonna need a pass! They're still for sale online, but you can also buy directly at pass pickup at The Fairmont Palliser before 10:00pm.

Need a little expert endorsement to narrow down your Sled Island schedule? We've got just the thing. Some of our favourite DJs at CJSW have compiled their picks alongside links to Soundcloud streams. Next up: Punk/Metal/Heavy/Psych from Kai Sinclair.

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Need a little expert endorsement to narrow down your Sled Island schedule? We've got just the thing. Some of our favourite DJs at CJSW have compiled their picks alongside links to Soundcloud streams. First up: Experimental/Other from Whitney Ota.

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Hey, under-18 pals! Exams are almost done, which means it's almost time to party! To help you plan your Sled Island schedules, we had our All-Ages Reps comb through the lineup to let us know their picks. Read all about what has them excited below and check out our All-Ages page for more info and to get your All-Ages Pass. We can't wait to see you guys at the festival!

Sofia Daschle, Grade 8

Crosss
Not quite metal, but almost a genre of its own, Crosss is definitely an act worth seeing. With roots in post-punk, their brooding melodies and guitar lines will have you captivated. Find them at Tubby Dog on Thursday, June 25.

Isis Graham
Following Sled Island's Instagram, I was surprised to see that Isis Graham is a DJ! I know Isis from my music studio (Beat Drop), and I know I'll be checking out her beats at the East Village Block Party on Thursday, June 25.

WHIMM
Born in Toronto, WHIMM is a three person post-punk band. Their strong, fast beats mix perfectly with the distant sounding vocals on their records. Make sure you check out what is going to be an excellent show at Tubby Dog on Thursday, June 25.

Curtis Wilson, Grade 11

Godspeed You! Black Emperor
It is the beautiful chaos you never thought you would fall in love with. Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a powerhouse band from Montreal that disbanded in 2003 only to be brought back together in 2012 for a phenomenally well-received album ('Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!). Performing Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26 at the picturesque Central United Church, GY!BE is the powerhouse band of the festival that you (and I) do not want to miss!

Radioheaded 3: A Listening Party to Watch
One Yellow Rabbit's Denise Clarke and her Beautiful Young Artists take the stage and physically reimagine Radiohead's sixth studio album Hail to the Thief. This ensemble is certain to produce a masterpiece, incorporating their own unique talents and intermingling them with those of the beloved Radiohead. They are playing from Wednesday, June 24 to Saturday, June 27 at the Big Secret Theatre, and this is a secret you most definitely want in on.

Thor Harris on Mental Illness
Thor Harris is a studio veteran, having played with bands such as Ben Frost (who is performing at Sled Island this year), Swans (who were at Sled Island in 2013), and many, many more. Harris' discussion on Thursday, June 25 at the Theatre Junction GRAND Studio will touch on the prevalent link between creativity and mental illness within artistic communities, as well as share his own experiences. This is a master of his craft sharing insight on one of the largest struggles in his life, and a truly unique experience for this year's Sled Island lineup.

Maddison Zapach, Grade 11

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
I am most looking forward to the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, playing Saturday, July 27 at the Olympic Plaza. I dig their incredibly entertaining and multifaceted performance style. Their unique spin on brass music, incorporating elements of jazz, hip-hop and calypso, is sure to make for a legendary show.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor
The Godspeed You! Black Emperor show, in terms of my inevitable level of self-embarrassment and excitement, is another contender for first place. Their music, stripped of words and vocals, is so powerful and visual that it’s difficult for me not to phase out reality completely and buy into the wonderfully terrifying dramatics of their songs as I listen. This is surely the most popular band on Sled Island’s lineup this year, and I’m sure all who see and hear will testify that their post-rock sound shook the seats of Central United Church, where they’ll play on Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26.

Son Lux
Son Lux is another band that I am incredibly pumped to see. Their song “Lost it to Trying” has this crazy ability to be relevant in both my happy and my sad moments, and is what a 2011-version of myself would have described as “epic.” You will certainly see me amidst the crowd of music lovers on Wednesday, June 24 when the band plays Central United Church.
 

Get ready—we're adding four more headliners to the Sled Island 2015 lineup!

Sludgy, post-metal titans Old Man Gloom (made up of members of Isis, Converge, Zozobra and Cave In) will headline Dickens (replacing Pentagram) on Wednesday, June 24! All Pentagram ticketholders have been refunded online and those holding physical tickets should return to their point of purchase to receive a refund as these tickets will not be honoured for Old Man Gloom. Tickets for Old Man Gloom are now on sale here.

But wait, there's more! VICE and Fido will present Unfiltered, a party open to Sled Island passholders and those who RSVP, at Nite Owl on Saturday, June 27! This stacked lineup includes past Sled Island performers Keys N Krates plus next-big-thing rapper Jazz Cartier and chilled beat maestro High Klassified. Stay tuned for RSVP details or purchase your festival pass now!

In less exciting news, Danny Fields and Brendan Toller are no longer able to attend Sled Island. Subsequently, A Conversation with Danny Fields has been cancelled, while Danny Says will still screen at the Hifi Club on Tuesday, June 23.

Sad news in the Calgary Herald today. After decades of amazing live music at different homes in Calgary, longtime Sled Island venue Republik is closing its doors. The Sled Island 2015 shows taking place at the venue will be unaffected, with our annual Pig Roast being the very last show to grace Republik’s stage. Let’s make sure to relive all our happy memories from Republik’s history and party twice as hard in its honour!

Here's what you catch at the Topman Presents at Republik stage at Sled Island:

Wednesday, June 24:
Swervedriver, Bridstriking, Slow Down Molasses and The Neutral States
Tickets

Thursday, June 25:
Daniel Lanois, Lydia Ainsworth and Jon Mckiel
In partnership with the National Music Centre
Tickets

Friday, June 26:
Hot Mess DJs
Walk-up tickets available

Saturday, June 27:
Jaga Jazzist, lushush and Untrained Animals
Tickets

Sunday, June 27:
Ex Hex, Obnox, Meat Wave, Homebody, Moss Lime and Renny Wilson Punk Explosion
The 6th Annual Sled Island Wrap-Up Pig Roast
Walk-up tickets available

Sled Island regrets to announce that due to immigration issues beyond the festival’s control, both Pentagram and Low Life have cancelled their appearances at Sled Island 2015. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Pentagram tickets purchased online will be automatically refunded via Ticketfly within 48 hours. Those who purchased a ticket in stores (Sloth Records or Lukes Drug Mart) may return their ticket to its place of purchase for a refund.

Sled Island will announce replacement artists soon.

Please direct any questions or concerns to info@sledisland.com.

A Sled Island pass gives you access to music, film, comedy, visual art, special events and even some red hot deals!

For the 2015 festival, we've teamed up with more awesome local businesses than ever to give passholders a deal on our favourite goods and services. During the festival, show your Sled Island wristband to save a few bucks on food, clothing, music, recreation and more while supporting our awesome Community Partners in the process. 

Check out the Discount Guide and grab your pass today!

UK fashion brand TOPMAN, available exclusively at Hudsons Bay Chinook Centre and Calgary Downtown, wants to treat you and a friend to Sled Island Discovery Plus Passes (value: $350/pass)!

Just fill out the online entry form below before June 17, 2015. Be sure to also sign up for TOPMAN’s e-newsletter to stay up to date on all things TOPMAN.

Enter now!

#TOPMANCA

Everyone at Sled Island is so proud of the amazing lineup that has come together for 2015. That said, with over 250 bands, comedy, film, visual art and special events, we know it can be a bit daunting to navigate! To help you out, our team has rounded up just some of the talent they are most excited to see. 

Check out our picks!

Use these picks as a jumping-off point for exploring everything the festival has to offer—once you've picked your own faves, why not grab a festival pass and build your schedule?

Sled Island is proud to welcome festival attendees under the age of 18 to a wide range of programming at our 2015 festival!

With a $50 All-Ages Pass, our younger pals can check out everything from small intimate concerts at Tubby Dog and the National Music Centre to the massive blowout at Olympic Plaza with Television, Drive Like Jehu, Viet Cong and more! In those venues (and more), you’ll have a chance to see everything from emerging bands featuring under-18 members themselves to some of the most well-respected and established artists in the world.

For complete listings, browse our 2015 lineup using the tag "all-ages." Individual tickets for select shows are available here and all-ages shows are marked accordingly. Don't forget: select film, art and special events will be open to attendees of all ages. Find out which ones by checking the schedule page for all events with diagonal stripes.

We've also compiled a Soundcloud playlist for your listening pleasure!

Sled Island is looking for music and arts lovers aged 12 - 17 to help spread the word about all-ages programming at the festival! If you're passionate about the arts and want to help us spread the word, hit us up at allages@sledisland.com. It's fun and there are some sweet perks!

Whether you're attending with individual tickets, as an Al-Ages Rep or with an All-Ages Pass, we welcome you to Sled Island 2015!
 

Now that we've announced our full 2015 schedule, even more single tickets for Sled Island shows are now on sale!

From the indie folk of Juan Wauters to the pummeling hardcore of Turnstile, the flawless electropop of Jessy Lanza to the art rock of Carla Bozulich, we have you covered. We've also added tickets for two special film screenings at Sled Island: A City Is An Island (with shorts including Dude, That's Insane: A Tribute to Chris Reimer) screens on Monday, June 22 at Commonwealth and Danny Says (with Danny Fields and director Brendan Toller in attendance) screens on Tuesday, June 23 at The Hifi Club. 

Click here for full listings of all individually ticketed options or head to the shop and get it all with a pass.

Sled Island is thrilled to have celebrated orchestral post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor as the festival's guest curators for 2015. 

Each year, Sled Island's guest curator helps set the direction and tone of the festival through specialized programming choices and with their presence at the event. This year, that includes two very special shows—Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s first in Calgary—at the beautiful Central United Church (tickets to these shows are now sold out, however, a Festival Discovery Pass will get you in, subject to capacity). Additionally, the band has thoughtfully assembled an incredible set of artists to perform.

With Sled Island's full schedule just released, there's no time like the present to delve into their picks:

Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche (Montreal, QC): An experimental mix of funk, electronic and krautrock that has to be heard to be believed.
Big|Brave (Montreal, QC): These quiet/loud post-rockers are also Southern Lord’s most recent signing.
Body/Head (Northampton, MA): The experimental guitar duo of Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) and Bill Nace.
Carla Bozulich (Los Angeles, CA): An interdisciplinary artist and art-rock provocateur.
David Dondero (Duluth, MN): Quite simply one of the greatest living songwriters.
The Ex (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Living legends, they deftly navigate genres as diverse as punk, folk and free jazz.
Fred & Toody (Portland, OR): Members of Dead Moon and Pierced Arrows, they are the incredible and incredibly proud grandparents of modern garage rock.
Matana Roberts (Brooklyn, NY): A fascinating artist who weaves music, sound, dance, poetry and narrative into her improvisational structures.
Mdou Moctar (Agadez, Niger): Experimental, electronic Tuareg guitarist and star of Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai, a Tuareg remake of Prince’s Purple Rain, screening at Sled Island.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a band we've dreamed about seeing in Calgary for years, and we can't wait to welcome them to this year’s festival!

At Sled Island, we think all of our events are noteworthy. That said, we do present a series of Special Events for some of the more unique happenings at the festival. This year, highlights include the interactive and revealing NMC Master in Residence: Daniel Lanois, the ambitious rock orchestra piece Band Dialogue IV / Calgary composed by Seth Olinsky (aka Cy Dune), the fascinating Thor Harris on Mental Ilness and Shelter From the Storm, where festival attendees will be inivited to enter the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre to experience its culture through works by its clients, staff, volunteers and more.

Beyond that, we have events from ranging from dance performances to talks and tutorials to parties. We're also dropping in on a few of our favourite weekly local events to add a little Sled Island flavour. Take a look at the full lineup now, and don't forget to grab that pass! A Festival Discovery Pass is the best to experience special events, music, comedy, film, visual art and more.

Here we go! The third annual, free, outdoor, all-ages East Village Block Party presented by Skullcandy returns on Thursday, June 25 from 4:00 - 10:00pm at the East Village RiverWalk Plaza. 

The East Village Block Party (or EVBP for short) is perhaps the most danceable event at Sled Island! We’ve lined up dance-floor-rattling UK act TroyBoi, r&b and rap hotshot Tory Lanez, outré rapper/punk Mykki Blanco, trippy technological futurists Teengirl Fantasy and more. Thanks to party experts The Hifi Club for curating this special lineup.

All that dancing calls for a little refreshment. Thankfully, Big Rock will be on hand with a beer garden equipped with some tasty suds to keep you going. Look around for food trucks, too!

Perhaps you’ll be in the mood to do a little shopping. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered: expect Sled Island and performer merch, plus the charming Market Collective crew, who will be offering locally-made artisan goods for your purchasing pleasure.

This is a rain or shine event. By now, we all know that it takes more than a little precipitation to get this city down. Let’s party!

Looking for a unique way to arrive at Sled Island? We've teamed up with SharetheBus to offer rides straight to the festival from nearby cities. Choose an existing trip or propose your own and ride to Sled Island surrounded by other music fans. This is your best bet for an affordable trip, and you might just meet some new friends along the way! Head to SharetheBus.com to check it out.

Surprise! We know we said that we were done announcing our music lineup, but we just can't help ourselves! Exciting new additions to the 2015 festival include hip-hop pioneer DJ Maseo of De La Soul (who are also performing at Sled Island), Hyperdub electropopper Jessy Lanza, Yonatan Gat of Sled alum Monotonix, hardcore heavyweights Turnstile plus Cy Dune and Miles Cooper Seaton of Akron/Family (performing separately).

To see these great acts and over 250 more plus visual art, comedy, film and more, head on over to the shop and buy a pass! Announcements on the East Village Block Party, Special Events and more are still to come.

We're partnering with our friends at Levitation Vancouver to offer Sled Island passholders in the city (or those wanting to take a last-minute trip!) a chance to experience both festivals.

For the first time ever, Timbre Concerts and Austin Psych Fest have paired up to bring the good vibes north, launching the Levitation Vancouver Festival from June 5 - 7, 2015. Featuring The Black Lips, The Black Angels and Vancouver heroes Black Mountain playing a special 10th Anniversary set, all on the main stage at Malkin Bowl in majestic Stanley Park, the festival is a great way to add even more music to your summer.

Buy your Sled Island pass before Monday, May 25 at 11:59pm and you'll be entered to win two Malkin Bowl Weekend Passes to Levitation Vancouver.

Do you enjoy needlessly competing with your friends over activities involving beer? Do you enjoy bikes and bike culture and currently own (or would like to own) a super-rad pair of wheels?

For the third year in a row, Sled Island is happy to present the Green Island Bike Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, June 13. The event, which is sponsored by Big Rock, aims to promote bike culture in the city, support green initiatives and will help get you familiar with a bunch of awesome Sled Island venues, so you can get prepped for the upcoming festival.

Create a team of two to four people and complete a list of challenges all over the city for a chance to win a ton of great prizes, including four decked-out Electra Bicycle Company bikes courtesy of Big Rock. If you don't have a team of four we will do our best to make one for you, so please register as an individual! Please email us if you need help putting together a team.

We meet at the Enmax Stage in Prince's Island Park at 12:00pm and wrap at about 5:00pm. Come along for the after party at Local 510! The event is rain or shine, so dress accordingly and make sure you bring your bike and bike gear. Seriously, it’s a bike scavenger hunt, so you need a bike!

Sign up your team here.
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Sled Island is pleased to announce our visual art program for 2015! This year is all about exploring the boundaries of art, music and performance with projects that disrupt, reframe and challenge the theoretical and physical spaces of these complimentary art forms.

To mention just some of the many projects that we are excited about: Lisa Lipton’s multi-venue performance crosses the genres of film, mixed-media installation, performance, theatre, music and drumming; the films of UK artist and filmmaker Dick Jewell reveal the infamous nightlife of iconic London clubs; Nicole Kelly Westman and Ryan Mathieson bring together conceptually distinct and geographically dispersed practices for a single collaborative performance; Mat Lindenberg invites Sled Island audiences to participate in a projection-mapped landscape that responds to movement and sound; and offsite/between-site projects by Jolie Bird, Natasha Jensen and Dana Buzzee, as well as Jill Stanton, bridge the physical spaces of Sled Island through guerrilla wheat pasting and site-specific interventions.

As previously announced, Sled Island has partnered with WRECK CITY for a new project called DEMO TAPE. Expect more details on this large-scale endeavor in the near future!

Check out the rest of the visual art program by clicking here. Remember that a festival pass is the best way to experience visual art, music, comedy, film and more. Get yours today.

Attention Yo La Tengo fans! Please note that the date of Yo La Tengo’s hotly-anticipated return to Sled Island has been changed from Saturday, June 27 at Flames Central to Friday, June 26 at Flames Central. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Within 24 hours, those who have purchased tickets for Saturday, June 27 online will be given the option to receive a refund via Ticketfly OR simply have their ticket adjusted for the new show date. Those who have purchased tickets for Saturday, June 27 in stores (Sled Island Office, Sloth Records, Lukes Drug Mart or Purr Kensington) may return their ticket to its place of purchase for a refund OR can keep their ticket to have it honoured for the rescheduled show on Friday, June 26. Please direct any questions or concerns to info@sledisland.com.

Tickets for Yo La Tengo at Flames Central on Friday, June 26 are now available here.

Now announcing Talk Show Telethon: A Sled Island Visual Art Fundraiser on Thursday, May 28 at 8:00pm at the National Music Centre (134 11 Ave. SE)!

Join Sled Island and special guests from the Arbour Lake Sghool as well as DJ Ryan "KOOL DREAMZ" Scotch for a wild and wacky fundraiser in support of visual art at Sled Island 2015. Featuring absurd performances by Andrew Frosst, John Frosst and Justin Patterson, as well as a slew of contests, games-of-chance, and a live telethon and auto-tuned auction, Talk Show Telethon will entertain, amaze and raise serious cash for some seriously awesome art at Sled Island 2015.

Beverages available for purchase courtesy of Big Rock Brewery and Jameson Irish Whisky.

Food generously provided by Corbeaux Bakehouse.

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Sled Island is excited to announce the local talent that will be on stage this June in support of 2015 comedy headliners Bridget Everett, Mark Little, Chris Locke and Will Weldon!

Derek Adams, Amy Bugg, Brandon Craig, Jeff D’Silva and Gina Freeman will be joining the lineup, showing the incredible depth of Calgary's comedy community. Three cheers and a few laughs for them!

Plus, don’t miss out on Jupiter Comedy featuring Noor Kidwai and Eric Steel on Wednesday, June 24 at the Oak Tree Tavern (Level 2, 124 10 St. NW) and freewheeling improv extravaganza Past Your Bedtime featuring Renee Amber and Andrew Phung (pictured) on Friday, June 26 at the Loose Moose Theatre (1235 26 Ave. SE) for more of what makes Calgary comedy world-class!

Full schedule and tickets will be available soon, but the best way to experience all that our comedy lineup has to offer (plus 250+ bands, film, visual art and more) is to buy a festival pass!

Keep your eyes on SledIsland.com for our visual arts and special events announcements in the coming weeks.

Sled Island is pleased to announce Shelter From the Storm in partnership with the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre Society (DI).

Under the creative guidance of DI Artist-in-Residence Kris Demeanor, Shelter From the Storm will engage DI clients, volunteers and employees in collaborating to create original songs, poems and stories that capture the Centre's culture and community. Participants will craft this material into a high quality performance that will debut at the DI on June 27 as part of Sled Island, and will be open to Sled Island passholders. The project will also be captured in a documentary that will screen alongside the performance.

For details, check out the Shelter From the Storm website. The site will feature regular updates, film clips, blog posts and photographs as the project unfolds.

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Big noise? You bet! High energy? You got it!

On Friday, May 15, Central Library is unveiling their brand new teen space with an all-ages rock show featuring some rad local bands. Come check out Night Committee, Lunatique, The Nitehawks and Heavy Weather at 5:00pm. We'll be set up with a booth of Sled Island goodies, so make sure to come say hi! This is event is free to the public and the first 150 guests will get free poutine from The Family Fry Guy. You can't go wrong: RSVP on Facebook now.

Can't make it to the full festival in June? We're adding a few more individual tickets for select Sled Island shows. All newly added shows go on sale at SledIsland.com on Friday, May 8 at 10:00am. Read on to see what's new, or click here to see our full list of tickets. Some tickets will also be available at Sloth Records (736 17th Ave. SW), Lukes Drug Mart (112 4th Street NE) and Purr Kensington (1220 Kensington Road NW). Updates will be made before the on sale date.

In addition to these new shows, we'll be dropping off physical tickets for the previously announced Daniel Lanois, Jaga Jazzist and Swervedriver shows at Sloth Records and Lukes Drug Mart on May 8.

Remember that a festival pass gets you access to all Sled Island events (250+ bands, film, visual art and comedy), and about 70% of venue capacities are reserved for passholders.

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Join us for another round of soon-to-be-legendary Calgary one-offs to find out what do you get when you throw 30 of Calgary's best-loved musicians in a room, have them draw names from a hat to form entirely new bands on the spot, and charge them with the task of writing and performing material that's less than 12 hours old! These bands are only available night-of—after that, you'll have to settle for the rumour mill ("they had two bassists?!") or blurry camera phone photos.

On Sunday, May 17th at The Palomino (long weekend!), Sled Island is doing it again in the name of raising funds for the festival. Tickets will be $10 at the door.

The moment you've been waiting for is finally here! We're so excited to be sharing the full music lineup for Sled Island 2015.

Today we unveil nearly 200 bands from all over the country and beyond. A few very special international headliners have been added, including legendary innovative hip-hop act De La Soul, indie rock deity and past Sled Island performer Yo La Tengo, genre- and gender-defying riot act Mykki Blanco, as well as fuzzed-out garage rocker Colleen Green. These exciting artists join a massive berth of exceptional Candian talent in the form of brooding acts like Maica Mia, Scattered Clouds and Neu Balance, indie rippers like Fountain, Tee-Tahs and Beat Cops, furious and heavy bands like Dead Soft, Shooting Guns and Dead Ranch, hip-hop talent from Tory Lanez, Oseko and Rougies Clique, plus weird pop in the form of Kappa Chow and Quaker Parents.

As always, a massive component of Sled Island is showcasing our hometown talent. Among the many stellar bands included on the lineup, we'd like to mention rising garage-punks The Mandates, club scene and tour circuit favourites 36?, the challenging and rewarding Friesen Waters Duo, doom devils The Weir, flow conscious hip-hop luminary A.Y.E. & The Extroadinary Gentlemen, plus newer act Blü Shorts, made up of members of other awesome local bands.

Previously announced bands include guest curators Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Television, Drive Like Jehu, Body/Head, Daniel Lanois, Ex Hex, King Tuff, Lightning Bolt, Ben Frost, Jaga Jazzist, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Black Milk, Pentagram, Fu Manchu, Swervedriver, Pissed Jeans, Viet Cong, Iceage, Son Lux, Hundred Waters and Lydia Ainsworth. As part of Godspeed You! Black Emperor's guest curation (which includes Body/Head), they have also invited The Ex, Matana Roberts, Fred & Toody, Carla Bozulich, Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche, Mdou Moctar, Big Brave and David Dondero to join.

Also recently announced: this year's comedy program will feature Bridget Everett, Chris Locke, Mark Little and Will Weldon. Stay tuned for additions in the weeks to come.

Sled Island's film program is back as well, and includes docs chronicling music from Montreal to Cambodia, the life and times of punk royalty Danny Fields (in attendance at the festival!), plus a loose Tuareg take on Prince's Purple Rain (starring none other than Sled Island 2015 artist Mdou Moctar). Check out the lineup here.

A limited quantity of individual tickets for select shows will go on sale on Friday, May 8 at 10:00am at SledIsland.com, but you can make the most of your Sled Island experience by choosing a festival pass! It's the only way see all the music, comedy, film and visual art you can handle from June 24 to 28, 2015.

This weekend, Sled Island is hanging out with our pals at Market Collective! We're setting up camp with raffle tickets, merch and more. On top of that, Sled Island staffers will be spinning tunes from some of our festival favourites!

Admission is $5 and is good for the entire weekend (May 1 - 3, 2015). Come on out to support local artists and have a blast!

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The Sled Island experience is about more than just music. With that in mind, we are proud to announce this year's robust film program! With docs chronicling music from Montreal to Cambodia, the unlikely rock royalty story of a Harvard dropout, and a loose Tuareg take on Prince's Purple Rain (starring none other than Sled Island 2015 artist and Godspeed You! Black Emperor pick Mdou Moctar), this may be Sled Island's most memorable film lineup yet.

Our 2015 program offers a wealth of documentaries, including A City Is An Island, which explores the rich musical talent in Montreal and the relationship that language has to the city's musical output; Danny Says, the unexpected story of a Harvard dropout who went on to work with a veritable who's who of musicians that shaped 20th century music (Danny Fields and filmmaker Brendan Toller in attendance!); and Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll, a one-of-a-kind look at a music scene formed out of conflict. As a very special booking, we've tapped Akounak Teggdalit Taha Tazoughai, the first-ever feature-length film with dialogue exclusively in Tuareg. The film, which translates to Rain the Colour of Red with a Little Blue In It, is a gorgeously shot homage to Prince's Purple Rain, starring Mdou Moctar.

Tickets will be available soon, but don't forget—a festival pass is the best way to experience film, music and more at Sled Island!

Sled Island regrets to announce that due to circumstances beyond the festival's control, Cancer Bats will no longer be appearing at Sled Island 2015. Please direct any questions or concerns to info@sledisland.com.

Sled Island happens each year thanks to our hundreds of volunteers!

Want to lend a hand? Applications to volunteer are now open, and we have a wide range of crews you can join before or during the festival. We can't wait to see you all in 2015!

Sled Island is excited to reveal the lineup for our 2015 Olympic Plaza stage!

This centrepiece of Sled Island's programming will feature post-punk legends Television, the recently-reunited Drive Like Jehu, Calgary's own Viet Cong, neo-garage maestro King Tuff, Mary Timony of Helium and Wild Flag's Ex Hex, bad boys of jazz Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and more on Saturday, June 27 in downtown Calgary's Olympic Plaza (228 8th Ave. SE).

Best of all, the event is all-ages, free for kids under 12 and fully licensed! Expect an outdoor festival experience like no other.

Tickets are $50 online or $55 at the gate, but remember that festival passes gain entry (and get you access to all access to all Sled Island events, including 250+ bands, film, visual art and comedy)!

Can't make it to the full festival in June? You're in luck: a limited quantity of individual tickets for select shows will go on sale on Friday, April 17 at 10:00am at SledIsland.com!

Tickets will also be available at Sloth Records (736 17th Ave. SW), Lukes Drug Mart (112 4th Street NE) and Purr Kensington (1220 Kensington Road NW)—check the list below for full ticket information. With Record Store Day happening on Saturday, April 18, we suggest hitting them up on Friday to get a jump on things (or make it part of your Record Store Day plan)!

Remember that a festival pass gets you access to all Sled Island events (250+ bands, film, visual art and comedy), and about 70% of venue capacities are reserved for passholders. We'll be announcing over 150 more artists, including two more headliners, in the weeks to come!

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No joke—Sled Island is delighted to announce our featured comedy performers for the 2015 festival!

The New York Times has called our headliner Bridget Everett "an unbridled performer who makes Bette Midler seem like Julie Andrews." Supporting Bridget Everett is Canada's Best Male Comedian of 2014 Chris Locke, Picnicface alum and Mr. D star Mark Little, along with Calgary-born, American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile star Will Weldon (he played High School Student #5)! Not only will they be featured over two nights at the Sled Island Comedy Amphitheatre, but Chris Locke will also be hosting and recording his mega-hit podcast Utopia to Me? for Sled Island attendees.

Tickets will be available soon, but the best way to experience our comedy lineup in all its glory is to buy a festival pass!

Hit refresh at SledIsland.com in the next month for our full comedy lineup, plus film, visual art and even more music to come.

Can't wait until June? Join us at Local 510 (510 17th Ave. SW) tonight (Tuesday, April 14) at 7:30pm for Sled Island's final pre-festival comedy showcase!

Coming from out of town and looking for a place to stay during the festival? Sled Island works with a number of hotel and accommodations partners to provide artists and attendees with the best possible visitor experiences.

We recommend The Fairmont Palliser, the festival's host hotel, as your first look for Sled Island bookings. They're offering special rates to Sled Island attendees.

For additional special rates, visit our Accommodations page.

On Tuesday, April 14, we'll be announcing some of this year's spectacular comedy lineup! (UPDATE: Check it out!)

That same night at 7:30pm, come bust a gut in celebration at Local 510 (510 17th Ave. SW) with some of Calgary's and one of Edmonton's finest and funniest, telling jokes big and small and even medium-sized for Sled Island's final pre-festival comedy showcase!

Featuring Derek Adams, Amy Bugg, Alan Cho, Brandon Craig, Jeff D'Silva, Gina Freeman, John Mick, Austin Lonneburg and host Sarah Adams. (Any relation to Derek Adams?? Come find out!)

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Drum roll, please! Our second wave of 2015 artists is here.

With the release of their first album since 1998, Swervedriver will be joining this year's lineup along with experimental electronic composer and producer Ben Frost as well as cyborg electro-pop act Teengirl Fantasy. Also making the trek are Cancer Bats, a band known for infusing southern metal and hardcore; the always prolific Obnox; lo-fi three-piece Guantanamo Baywatch; veteran ambient artist Loscil; as well as hilarious yet heartfelt songwriter Juan Wauters. The festival will also welcome grungy post-punk and garage rock band Meat Wave, tyrannical duo Sumac, minimalist post-metal band Mamiffer, bad boys of jazz Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Godspeed You! Black Emperor pick Mdou Moctar, who is coming all the way from Niger, Africa. You can also catch Chinese punk/noise outfit Birdstriking, the newly reunited Duotang and guitar/drums duo Cousins.

Excited yet? We've barely scratched the surface! Additional acts include Astral Swans, Black Givre, Blonde Elvis, Corinthian, The Courtneys, Crosss, The Dories, Dream Whip, Empty Heads, Energy Slime, Faith Healer, Grounders, Homebody, Hush Pup, JOYFULTALK, Low Life, Michael Feuerstack, Monomyth, Moss Lime, Numenorean, Renny Wilson Punk Explosion, Shaani Cage, Tough Age, TroyBoi, We Hunt Buffalo and The WPP.

Over the course of the festival, more than 250 bands will play at over 30 venues across Calgary. Previously announced bands include guest curators Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Television, Drive Like Jehu, Lightning Bolt, Body/Head, Daniel Lanois, Ex Hex, King Tuff, Pentagram, Fu Manchu, Viet Cong, Pissed Jeans, Jaga Jazzist, Black Milk, Hundred Waters, Son Lux, Lydia Ainsworth, The Coathangers, Iceage and Oxbow. As part of Godspeed You! Black Emperor's guest curation (which includes Body/Head), they have also invited The Ex, Matana Roberts, Fred & Toody, Carla Bozulich, Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche, Big Brave and David Dondero to join.

Get your pass today. A limited number of individual tickets for select shows will go on sale April 17.

Can't get enough exciting announcements? Stay tuned—we'll be announcing our Comedy and Film lineups in the coming weeks.

On April 7, Sled Island will announce our exciting second wave of artists for the 2015 festival!

To celebrate, we're headed to Local 510 for a free Sled Island Music Video Party featuring videos from 2015 festival acts, with DJs to follow. It's a great way to get acquainted with our lineup and party at the same time!

Tuesday, April 7, 8:00pm
Local 510 (510 17th Ave. SW)
Free

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Sled Island and The Hifi Club are ecstatic that critically acclaimed UK producer Andy Stott will be joining us for a Pre-Party on May 6!

Stott has gained international respect for his jarring fusion of industrial harshness and choral beauty, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have him in Calgary for this special event. Tickets are on sale now.

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Sled Island and Lukes Drug Mart are excited to announce the third annual Sled Island Pre-Party featuring Owen Pallett, Royal Canoe, BESTiE and Mark Mills.

Sunday, June 14
1:00 - 6:00pm
Lukes Drug Mart (112 4th Street NE)

Best of all, the event is free, outdoors and open to all ages! Warm up for Sled Island with an afternoon of fun in the sun!

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Each year, Sled Island’s Green Island team works to minimize the festival’s impact on the environment, achieving a greener Sled Island and a greener Calgary.

Want to get involved? Now's your chance! We're hiring a Green Team Coordinator and a Bike Coordinator.

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Sled Island loves local comedy! We’re teaming up with two of Calgary's top comedy nights to present special showcases featuring their favourite local talents. We’ll be visiting these shows to scout out this year’s Sled Island Comedy lineup, which means performers will be pulling out all the stops! Expect top-notch sets from some of Calgary’s best and brightest.

The Jupiter Comedy Sled Island Showcase
Tuesday, March 17
Nite Owl (213 10th Ave. SW)
Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm
$5 cover
Jupiter Comedy has hosted a weekly sold-out show at the Oak Tree Tavern for over three years, and now they're branching out with a new weekly show at the Nite Owl. Everyone who comes through town wants a couple of minutes on their stage—you never know who’s going to show up (past guests include Bob Odenkirk and Key and Peele)! Hosted by Eric Steel.
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The Red Carpet Comedy Sled Island Showcase
Wednesday, March 18
Cafe Koi (1011 1st St. SW)
Doors at 4:30pm, show at 8:30pm
$10 cover
If you’re a fan of stand-up comedy, this show was created for you. Only new material is allowed at Red Carpet Comedy, making for a highly entertaining mix of moments that are incredibly funny, plus some that need a bit more work! For this special showcase, however, comedians will be bringing the finest of their Red Carpet Comedy material, telling their best jokes from previous shows. The show will feature Brittany Lyseng, Jeff Kubik, Derek Adams, Kristina Scaman, Tommy Mellor, Brandon Craig, Ben Cannon and Amy Bugg. Hosted by Jeff Toth.
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Sled Island is thrilled to announce its first wave of 2015 festival artists.

In addition to previously announced guest curators Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sled Island will  continue in the tradition of bringing you some of music's most beloved and respected minds with such acts as post-punk legends Television, the recently reunited Drive Like Jehu, Mary Timony of Helium and Wild Flag's Ex Hex, doom pioneers Pentagram, fuzzed-out stoner rock icons Fu Manchu and the ruthlessly highbrow Oxbow, while continuing to bring more contemporary and growing talents like the furious noise rock duo Lightning Bolt, neo-garage maestro King Tuff, Calgary's own Viet Cong, the ragingly grotesque Pissed Jeans, breathtaking jazz ensemble Jaga Jazzist, word whiz Black Milk, haunting electro-folk act Hundred Waters, digital composer Son Lux, eerie popster Lydia Ainsworth, ripping partiers The Coathangers and the affectingly broody Iceage. 

One very special booking for 2015 is Daniel Lanois, who will be doing a residency and artist talk at the National Music Centre, culminating in an intimate performance of his pulsating ambient work from latest release Flesh & Machine later in the week at Republik. This exclusive engagement will uncover his one-of-a-kind journey through music and provide a look at his enduring brilliance in the field. 

Now, we are extremely pleased to announce Godspeed's list of eclectic and well-balanced selections, including Kim Gordon's latest band Body/Head, avant-jazz renegade Matana Roberts, garage and folk icons Fred & Toody, indelible songwriter Carla Bozulich, Constellation Records "supergroup" Avec Le Soleil Sortant De Sa Bouche, the bombastic Big Brave, lauded folk act David Dondero and anarchist jazz punks The Ex, we welcome you.

Thanks for sharing our joy in revealing this first peek at Sled Island! Expect a lot more to come, spread across our festival's 30+ venues where we bring you big talent in small spaces. A pass is the best way to experience the festival and can be purchased today. See you in June!

Just announced: Electric Eye Music Festival returns to Lethbridge from May 7 - 9, 2015 as an expanded three-day music and arts festival!

We're psyched to help present the festival’s kickoff show on May 7, 2015, featuring Calgary's Chad VanGaalen and Viet Cong at the German Canadian Club of Lethbridge (902 6th St. N, Lethbridge).

Want more? The full festival lineup also includes Sled Island faves Shooting Guns, Radiation Flowerz (formerly Powder Blue), Catholic Girls, DRI HIEV, Physical Copies, Snake River, Living Hour, Soft Serve, ANZU, Birch Barks and others to be announced.

Limited advance tickets are available at EEMusicFest.com and Blue Print Entertainment (519 4th Ave. S, Lethbridge). Buy an Electric Eye Providence Pass for full festival access and you’ll be eligible to win a pair of Discovery Passes to Sled Island 2015!

For complete details, visit EEMusicFest.com.

Sled Island is thrilled to announce Godspeed You! Black Emperor as the festival's guest curators for 2015.

Each year, Sled Island's guest curator helps to set the direction and tone of the festival through specialized programming choices and with their presence at the festival. Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a band we've dreamed about seeing in Calgary for years, and we can't wait to see (and hear) what's in store for this year's festival with their thoughtful input.

Since forming in 1994, the celebrated orchestral post-rock band have released four critically acclaimed albums and wowed audiences with stunning shows that blend wall-of-sound performances with captivating film projections. In addition to unleashing their top musical picks on the city, the band will be playing two very special shows at the Central United Church in what will be their first-ever appearances in Calgary.

Excited? Festival passes are now on sale at a limited-time rate of 10% off!

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Internship dates: March 2 - July 3, 2015
Application deadline: February 6, 2015 at 4:00pm MST

This is an unpaid internship, however, students who meet SCIP criteria are eligible for a $1000 bursary.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Working closely with the Sled Island team, the Visual Arts Curator will be responsible for programming, planning and executing the Visual Arts component of the 2015 festival. With guidance and mentorship from Sled Island staff, the chosen applicant will receive valuable experience in curation and exhibition logistics, as well as insight into festival planning.

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Internship dates: March 2 - July 3, 2015
Application deadline: February 6, 2015 at 4:00pm MST

This is an unpaid internship, however, students who meet SCIP criteria are eligible for a $1000 bursary.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Under the direction of Sled Island’s Executive Director and Director of Marketing & Communications, the Partnership Assistant will help develop and maintain relationships with media and community partners as well as corporate sponsors.

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All good things must come to an end...including our special early bird rates on 2015 festival passes!

We’ve got lots of exciting news to come in the next couple of months, including our 2015 curator announcement on February 3. You've got until then to get your 2015 pass at 20% off—you won’t regret it when you find out what we have in store for this year's festival!

Discovery Pass - $159
All-Access Festival Pass
Grants access to all Sled Island events including 250+ bands, comedy shows, film screenings, art exhibitions and installations and special events!

Discovery Plus Pass - $279
All-Access Festival Pass (everything you get from the Discovery Pass)
Plus Priority Access (skip to the front of any line-ups!), gain access to the artist lounge, score a sweet silk-screened Sled Island tote bag filled with special delegate inserts and more!

All-Ages Pass - $40
Created specifically with our "under 18" buddies in mind, an All-Ages Pass offers full access to the all-ages venues, including Olympic Plaza, Tubby Dog and many more. Please note that the All-Ages Pass is for festival attendees that are still under 18 years by June 24, 2015 - valid ID is required at pickup.

Sled Island is pleased to be collaborating with WRECK CITY on a possible project to take place during this year's festival.

WRECK CITY is now sleuthing a venue (or venues) for the project. They need public help—your help—in finding temporary access to vacant, abandoned or pre-demolition inner city buildings for a public, contemporary art exhibition.

Interested in some detective work? Have ideas for a raw, accessible and exciting venue somewhere downtown or nearby?

Learn more or download the PDF.