Artists, fans celebrate the return of Sled Island

Sled Island is back!

From Tuesday until Sunday, over 200 acts flood venues across Calgary for the six-day celebration of music and art which returned in full force after two years of pandemic cancellations.

Since 2007, the festival has made a name for itself with its eclectic cache of performers and venues.

You could take in the ambient sounds of Gatineau's Nick Schofield at the Central United Church. 

Or the Post-Punk stylings of Lethbridge's Body Lens at PinBar, a pinball and arcade themed pub in the Beltline.  

Local focus essential

This year's festival is headlined by international acts like rapper Princess Nokia and California punk band Joyce, but Sled Island is known for giving local talent a platform.

One member of Calgary band Ghostkeeper — pictured below — says this helps keep the city's music scene vibrant. 

"They make such a good effort to showcase local bands and bands that are getting their footing, and especially genres that have a harder time playing gigs in Calgary. Sled is so good for having a huge, broad demographic of the stuff they play and promote."

After three years not performing, lead singer Shane Ghostkeeper was nervous to hit the stage.

"I've never usually had a whole lot of stage fright until post-pandemic and for some reason it's taken quite a toll on me. For this first run of shows, I've been admittedly getting the jitters, [been] nervous and forgetting lyrics," said Ghostkeeper.

"But I'm still having a blast, I'm still having fun!" he added. 

Out of town opportunity

Zachary Doble, Connor Day and Greg Mayer (l-r) of Medicine Hat's tarotfuntime — pictured below — say they feel lucky to play Sled Island as there is not always an appetite for shows in their hometown. 

Even when there is a desire to put on shows, "there's nowhere to play," said Day.

"The thing about Medicine Hat is that there's no venues. We used to have three or four and they all got shut down [or] people couldn't keep them open," said Day, the band's guitarist and vocalist.

Chance to reconnect with community

Friends Angela Mae Dejos, Miguel Lawal, and Eli IIagan (l-r), say they are enjoying the festival's "good vibes." 

The trio of first time attendees were at Kafeeklatsch cafe to watch their friend perform with Calgary band Local Singles — pictured below.

For them, events like this are important after two years of isolation from the community. 

"It's so easy to make friends ... I talked to five random people within the 10-minute span we've been here," said Mae Deos.

"Honestly, like of course we're all scared to come out after all that but it feels like home," IIagan added. 

Sled Island will wrap up on Sunday, June 26.