The second wave brings the wow.
When the first wave of artists was announced for Sled Island 2017, it was done in the hopes of sparking some interest and leading to discovery. That it certainly did.
Now, though, the Calgary alternative music and arts festival is stepping things up with some names that don’t need much investigation to build the excitement.
Artists announced Tuesday morning for the fest, which takes over the city from June 21-25, include: J-pop-punk legends Shonen Knife; veteran Cali hip-hop artist DJ Quik; Tokyo post-rockers MONO; punk legend Mike Watt, who will be bringing his bass and The Missingmen; Toronto synth-poppers DIANA; Canadian space oddity Simply Saucer; American Lips, the new project from Sebastien Grainger from Death From Above 1979 and Adrian Popovich from Tricky Woo; and continuing the strong Japanese contingent at Sled garage-rock act, Guitar Wolf.
Other names announced are Jimmy Edgar, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, OZZIE, Meatbodies, Pinkish Black, Les Filles de Illighadad, Uniform, Mrs. Magician, Half Waif, JLK and the Assassins, Man Meat, Frigs, SIANshperic, ANAMAI, Expanda Fuzz, Faith Healer Fake Palms, Feminal Fluids, Isaac Rother & The Phantoms, jo passed, Jock Tears, Living Hour, Marlaena Moore, Mauno, Needles//Pins, No More Moments, Porcelain Raft, Protruders, respectfulchild, Sightlines, Silver Dapple, The Avulsions, The Sorority, Un Blonde and WASIU.
Some of the local talent announced includes FOONYAP, Lab Coast, Melted Mirror, Gawker, Crims & Flow, Crystal Eyes, Leather Jacuzzi, Sinzere and soft cure.
The aforementioned DJ Quik marks one of the first picked by guest curator Flying Lotus. Some of his other choices include Seven Davis Jr, Yves Tumor, Dedekind Cut, Ash Koosha and Tierra Whack with more to come.
All of these acts join previously announced artists including Low, Converge, Land of Talk, Ex Eye and Silver Apples.
Tickets and passes are available now from the fest’s website and include options range from $214 for the Discovery Pass, which grants access to all Sled Island events (music, comedy, film and art), subject to capacity, to the Discovery Plus Pass for $366, which grants priority access to all Sled events, entrance into the artist lounge access, a T-shirt,limited edition screen-printed poster and other goodies. As with every year, there’s also an All-Ages Pass, now priced at $35, which lets those under 18 into the more than 50 all-ages events.
A limited number of single tickets to select Sled Island 2017 shows will also go on sale Friday, April 14 from the site.
Mike Bell has been covering the Calgary music scene for the past 25 years with publications such as VOX, Fast Forward, the Calgary Sun and, most recently, the Calgary Herald. He is currently the music writer and content editor for theYYSCENE.ca, and the co-host of the show Saved By the Bell, which airs Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. on CJSW 90.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter/@mrbell_23 or email him at mike@theyyscene.ca. He likes beer. Buy him one.
