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Sediment ClubA side project of Show Me the Body’s Jackie McDermott, deadpan “rhythm and noise” band Sediment Club have been blending outsider genres like ambient and dub with no wave and post-punk bedrock since 2008. Auteur Jim Jarmusch has announced his fandom on Instagram, and the act is in good company with Wharf Cat Records label mates Water From Your Eyes and Bush Tetras. The fiercely DIY band are road dogs whose live energy is captured on Live At Trixie’s Palace, available on Bandcamp.
CUERPOS
Taking their name from the Spanish word for “bodies,” CUERPOS shakes minds – and hips – with their enthralling live show. The dance duo blends psych and post-punk with the dub, reggae and cumbia of their Latin heritage, seamlessly merging cultural history with cutting-edge sounds to score a non-stop psychedelic dance party.
Brass Lip
Formed late last year by Sydney Madorsky (Intimacy, Artificial Slits) and Ashley Pridham (Hairnet, Dream Whip), Brass Lip has come out swinging hard with urgent egg punk energy. The band’s debut tape vol I is a brash mission statement of riotous attitude and non-stop headbanger riffs with tongue firmly in cheek.
mineo kawasaki
Drummer and composer mineo kawasaki builds electronic soundscapes with both live drums and a MIDI controller. The solo project employs vinyl sampling infused with elements of house, techno and experimental music to carve tracks that work well both on the headphones and the dance floor.
Stem Champ
“This one's for all y’all who feel weird at parties,” reads part of the Bandcamp description of indie act Stem Champ’s latest single, “In the Hotel Light.” Though the name began as a pseudonym for frontperson Sare Alemu’s solo work, Stem Champ is decidedly now a power pop/emo/punk ensemble. Already popular on Edmonton stages, Sled Island 2024 will be the band’s proper introduction to Calgary audiences.
Tea Fannie & The Collective
Chameleonic rapper Tea Fannie returns to Sled Island after a stand-out performance opening for Princess Nokia at The Palace Theatre in 2022 and making an appearance with K-Riz at the festival last year. Her style — that runs from trap to soul to ‘00s styles to Caribbean vibes — has made her a star on the rise. Start with the track “Okay,” which was featured in a documentary from Telus OPTIK.
Neighborly
Islander indie-psych outfit Neighbourly are reinventing themselves in 2024, and you’re invited for the ride. First, the band dropped Outside 311, a blistering 4-track EP that layered the band’s funky sensibilities overtop of energetic post-punk. Next up is Alla Discoteca, a promised exploration of Italo disco led by the irresistibly groovy single “Rana Toro.”
Barbara
Experimental indie quartet Barbara make their sophomoric appearance at Sled Island this year. After promoting their ecstatic debut last year, Barbara is gearing up for record number two that features the breezy skronk of latest single “Currents.” Expect to hear fresh tracks this June.
Gadfly
Homa Khoshnavas began creating Gadfly while in her home nation of Iran. Since moving to Canada in 2018, she has become the band-leader of this unique mix of grunge, metal, and persian music. Distorted guitar buzz becomes the hypnotic melody in a Cantrell-esque garage sound, with lyrics that ruminate on political oppression.
Enny Owl
Described as “the sound nature would make if it could sing,” fantastical songwriter Enny Owl creates magical realities brimming with celtic folk melodies and bathed in ethereal pop production. Her latest release Homes in Humans is a heartfelt concept album devoted to healing and finding oneself – common occurrences at her radiant live shows.
Jed Arbour
After wowing audiences last year, Jed Arbour returns to Sled Island hot off the heels of their new album Disappointing Dog Park. The album leans more heavily into their post-rock influences, creating an intense and ethereal atmosphere while maintaining an intimacy and vulnerability that you can experience in person at this year’s festival.
Midnight Channel
Born from the University of Lethbridge's music program, Midnight Channel is an unpredictable free jazz collective that balances structured and complex compositions with head-spinningly quick improvisation. Regularly performing since their early days at Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, the band’s breathtaking studio album Gemini Sunrise is a sonic odyssey that welcomes any and all guests.
About Sled Island:
Sled Island is an annual five-day independent music and arts festival in Calgary, Alberta that brings together a community of music, comedy, film and art with over 30,000 attendees in multiple venues across the city. For more information, visit SledIsland.com.
Upon entering a festival venue, the passholder agrees to being photographed, filmed or recorded in that venue, and agrees to the publication, reproduction, distribution and broadcast of all photographs, video or other recordings of the passholder's voice or likeness without further notice or compensation in any publicity, advertisement or other publication carried-out by, or on behalf of, Sled Island and in perpetuity in any manner and media whatsoever, including print, broadcast or internet.
Everyone has the right to feel safe and included at Sled Island. All festival attendees must abide by Sled Island's safer spaces and inclusion policy and agree to the code of conduct, which can be found at SledIsland.com/SaferSpaces.
Sled Island acknowledges Calgary as the traditional territory of the Blackfoot and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Ĩyãħé Nakoda First Nations, including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney First Nations. Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Palomino, 109 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Tickets
