| June is the new tune that I've been hummin', which means that the first ever Sled Island festival is just around the corner. The behemoth event (Destroyer! Les Savy Fav! Boredoms! Fred Armisen?) is obviously the biggest news this month, but back it up a second – there are a few other things going on as well.First up is tonight's (Thursday, June 7) Ramp event at Broken City, where instrumental maniacs Lint will perform with special guests Markus Lake (ex-Incandescence/now Suicide Boys bassist), Mark Fleischaker (drummer for Ole), Charlie Haze (pedal steel player) and Aaron James MacInnis (Lesssound creator/saxophonist), and will be joined by openers Tetrix and Meta. Lint is also appearing at Sled Island, with a set at The Underground on Saturday, June 30.Fresh off a set at the ImaginAsian festival, Axis of Conversation is gearing up to release a debut full length, Delusions Of Safety, this fall. But first, they're appearing at Shag Fest, at the Shaganappi Community Centre on Saturday, June 9, then at Sled Island, on Thursday, June 28 at the Cantos music museum."Our fricking eyes popped out when we logged onto the website and saw our name," says the band. "Only Matt knew we were on the bill and he kept it a secret from us. The bastard." So what kind of special surprises can we expect for their Sled Island set? "The very real possibility of Shelly going into labour."Mark Hamilton, front man of Woodpigeon and Spreepark, and curator of Sled Island’s Bunny Hill series (showcasing local artists), has some fantastic things to say about the festival. "As the curator I can't think of anything else that's making me more excited these days," he exclaims. "When I came back to Calgary from Europe, I told myself I'd only stay in town if I managed to change it. Thanks to Zak Pashak and the rest of ‘Team Sled Island,’ I can truly say we're doing it. "I’m most excited to see my friends and other local musicians up on the stage alongside international artists right where they belong," he continues. "I’m also particularly excited about some of the newer artists who are along for the ride, a few who are playing their first proper shows with the festival. There’s a new group called Neighbourhood Council who are all under 18 and make awesome Feist-like indie pop. There’s another guy who plays under the name Knots, and his songs just kill me." (FYI: both Neighbourhood Council and Knots play at EMMedia on Saturday, June 30).
For their own set at Sled Island (with The Dears at The Grand on Friday, June 29), Hamilton explains that Woodpigeon will have "some horn action," and will be previewing a few songs from their upcoming EP. They’ve also been joined up with Japan’s Lirico records and have been invited to play the End of the Road festival in England this September, that will also include Howe Gelb and the Super Furry Animals. Oy vey!Jane Vain and The Dark Matter is playing with hottie Haligonian Rebekah Higgs at the Hifi Club on Tuesday, June 19 and will open for Cat Power at Sled Island (on Wednesday, June 27 at the Knox United Church). "We are super excited about this festival," says front woman James Fooks. "It’s absolutely wonderful, and the lineup is amazing. To get to see all of these bands all at once in this city is really unbelievable. Also, it’s pretty great that local bands are given the opportunity to open for such inspiring, incredible acts!"Rapper Ricca Razorsharp is also appearing at Sled Island (on Thursday, June 28 at Koi), and celebrating his 30th birthday this month. "I was one of the early entrants and I didn’t really know what I was in for," he says. "But as the festival grew in scope and stature, I realized that I had gotten in on the ground floor of something great. Also, it helped quell the murderous hostility I had been harbouring towards the judges who didn't select me for NXNE. Now I can drink $600 worth of beer with the airfare I saved."After opening for Frog Eyes and finally launching their super stylish website (www.azedabooth.com – check it out!), Azeda Booth are also appearing at Sled Island on Thursday, June 28 at Cantos. Singer/multi-instrumentalist Jordan Hossack sums up his expectations for the event succinctly. "I've never been to a music festival and have no idea of what to expect," he shrugs. "But anything that showcases what Calgary has to offer is dope."
If you’re a local artist doing something interesting and want to have it written about, drop me a line at either alvy411@hotmail.com or myspace.com/alvy411. Hava Nagilah! |
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