If you still think that Calgary is just a cowboy town with no celebrations other than Calgary Stampede, you’re missing out on one of the most exciting events. Every June, the five-day Sled Island Music and Arts Festival brings together over 250 artists, comedy, cinematic, and art groups, as well as over 40,000 visitors at more than 30 venues in Calgary. Learn more about this spectacular event below on calgaryski.net.
Launched in 2007
Sled Island was launched in 2007. For five days, various locations across Calgary host mini-parties for music lovers featuring live music from genres ranging from country to indie. Sled Island unites people to discover new songs and support their favorite artists.
The festival is organized by the Sled Island charity, which nurtures Calgary’s artistic community through performances and educational opportunities. The main activity of the organization is presenting the annual music and arts festival, which has become a cornerstone of Calgary’s cultural calendar. Additionally, Sled Island runs year-round art and educational programs through various community partnerships.
A Eclectic Blend of Music, Art, Comedy, and Cinema
Over 250 artists participate in the festival, including local talents. Popular performers often play alongside emerging artists, giving attendees diverse experiences. In addition to music, the festival offers film screenings, poster shows, art exhibitions, fairs, food courts, and more. Each year, the festival’s tone and direction are set by the invited curator, who influences the special program as well as through their presence. Bands from across Canada and the US gather during events that run from noon until 2 a.m. During the same time, artists, designers, and comedians fill the city with various performances.
One of Sled Island’s advantages over other Calgary festivals is that its venues are spread across the city. This shows the scale of the event. Innovative, eclectic, and thoughtfully programmed, combined with Calgary’s youthful energy, Sled Island creates a unique festival experience.
Sled Island 2023
For the 2023 event, held from June 21-25, Sled Island partnered with the SET Experimental Art Events festival, led by Iranian artists. The festival featured a selection of the most captivating electronic and experimental musicians from Iran and the diaspora.
The curator for Sled Island 2023 was Bartees Strange (born Bartis Leon Cox Jr.), an American musician of English descent. His music spans indie rock, alternative rock, and hip-hop. Strange was born in Ipswich, England, to a military father and an opera singer mother. He moved with his family to Germany, Greenland, and then the United States. Before his music career, Cox worked as a communications director at a non-profit environmental organization in Washington.
Among the invited artists were the American rock band Osees, Chicago indie-rock group DEHD, American folk musician Helado Negro, Toronto hip-hop artist Akintoye, gothic-folk artist Emma Ruth Rundle, punk rock revolutionaries from Philadelphia Mannequin Pussy, and many more.
Free and Paid Events
The festival includes both free and paid events. The 2023 free family day is scheduled for June 24, from 12:00 to 21:00, in the Ramsay neighborhood (southeast Calgary) at the Lilydale parking lot. Visitors can enjoy live music, free skateboarding sessions from The Compound, food trucks from The Curryer and Arepas Ranch, and an art battle at nvrlnd Arts Foundation. There will also be plenty of beer, cocktails, and ice cream.
The cinematic section will feature the premiere of the Canadian documentary Even Hell Has its Heroes at the Globe Cinema, as well as four short films made by local filmmakers with disabilities at the National accessArt Centre.
A Few Tips
- Bring a charger for your phone, snacks, headache tablets (since loud music may cause headaches), sunglasses, and earplugs (if the festival noise gets too much).
- Protect your feet! Nothing will ruin your mood like blisters. Always carry band-aids, extra socks, and remember, Sled Island is not the time for new shoes.
- Be ready for discoveries. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the artists. The festival is designed to introduce you to new bands you may have never heard of.
- Don’t think you’re too old or uninformed if you don’t recognize the artists’ names. People watch movies without knowing the stars, go to operas and symphonies without knowing what they are about, and try new restaurants despite the lack of reviews. Not knowing something shouldn’t stop you from experiencing new things.
- Many of the venues are close to each other, mostly located in downtown Calgary. The festival helped Calgary build bike lanes in the downtown and Beltline areas, so why not take advantage of this for easy and convenient access to locations?
- If you decide to drive, you can find free parking on the street after 6 p.m. And just in case, keep a bike in your trunk.
- Although Sled Island may seem intimidating to many, and ticket prices may seem high, the event is truly worth attending for those who love music and the culture surrounding it. Even if some of your favorite bands aren’t performing, this could be a great time to broaden your horizons and make new connections. Sled Island is chaotic and energetic. The festival attracts a wide audience and receives high praise from both local and international artists. Step out of your comfort zone, visit unique venues across the city, and enjoy amazing performers from all over the world.