Every June, there’s a palpable buzz across Calgary’s downtown and Beltline as music lovers bounce between venues on bike or on foot, searching for memorable music experiences during Sled Island.
For nearly 20 years, Sled Island has created opportunities to discover new music as hundreds of artists come to Calgary to take part in the five-day festival. This year, from June 17 to 21, over 200 bands, comedians, special events and conference panels will take over the city, offering something for everyone.
Curated by clipping
Every year, Sled Island invites a guest curator to help put together its lineup — it’s part of Sled’s unique and quirky charm. “While technology has made more music than ever available to billions of people, it has also brought some level of cultural homogenization. It’s not rare to see festivals in vastly different places have somewhat similar lineups,” says executive director Maud Salvi. “Having a different guest curator every year gives each edition of the festival a distinct and unique feel.”
This year’s curator is experimental hip-hop group clipping. “clipping. is a band that is hard to categorize, with many different influences, which is why we thought they’d make great curators, and they delivered,” explains Salvi. “Their wish list was very eclectic, with an overall penchant for the experimental, but applied to many genres.”
Music lovers can enjoy clipping.’s diverse selection, including rapper billy woods, horrorcore noise rap artist Backxwash, sound composer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Calgary hip-hop duo Cartel Madras, Australian free noise musician Granpa, gothic industrial artist Lana Del Rabies, experimental project Cooling Prongs and Nigerian‑American pianist Sharon Udoh, who will also be joining clipping. for their highly-anticipated performance at The Palace Theatre on Saturday, June 20.
There are hundreds more artists to discover, so make sure to check out the full lineup online, or be spontaneous and go where your heart tells you — new artist discoveries are part of Sled Island’s magic.
Beyond the music
“Special events round out the programming and give attendees a broader overview of Calgary’s artistic community, beyond just music,” says Salvi. “Five days of live music can be a lot, and it’s nice sometimes to take a break and experience something different, while still being part of the festival.”
In addition to all of the incredible music, the festival will feature two nights of stand-up comedy with some amazing Canadian talent. This year’s special events include the Opening Party and Poster Show Launch at Sled Village, Sled Island Drag Brunch, Quiz Shoe, the annual Wrap-Up Pig Roast and more.
Tips and tricks
With so many options available, it’s hard to know how to Sled. The Discovery Pass is a good option for those looking to try a little bit of everything, as it gives you access to all Sled Island events. Salvi suggests planning ahead, but also allowing some time for spontaneity.
“Often, the most memorable experiences happen watching a band you knew nothing about 15 minutes before. There is a special kind of magic in stumbling upon a live show that blows you away. It’s like winning a lottery, except your odds of that happening at Sled Island are pretty high,” she says.
Keep in mind that Sled Island is a marathon, not a sprint. Salvi says the wrap-up barbecue, held on Sunday, June 21, is one of her favourite events, and it’s well worth pacing yourself to make it to the end.
“Finally, make a point of trying something new, whether it’s visiting a venue you’ve never been to, checking out the comedy or the drag brunch for the first time, or going to a show outside of your usual music taste. Having a curious mind is the best way to make the most of your experience,” she says.
For passes and tickets to select shows, visit SledIsland.com
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