Founded by Zak Pashak in 2007, The Sled Island Music and Arts Festival is an annual independent festival held in over thirty venues in downtown Calgary, Alberta. Sled Island allows many generations of festival goers to gather for four days each year to celebrate the wealth of creative talent that exists within the Calgary, and experience an array of music, film and visual art. The mandate of Sled Island is to celebrate, showcase, and nurture emerging and established local talent alongside national and international music, film, and visual art in an inclusive, engaging setting.

Festival dates are June 20-23, 2012.

2007

The festival was founded by Zak Pashak, owner of Broken City. Sled Island's inaugural festival year saw an estimated 6,000+ visitors attend concerts in multiple venues featuring 96 bands over the course of four days from June 27–30, 2007. Sled Island featured a stylistically diverse range of independent music, placing local musicians (Woodpigeon, Chad VanGaalen

Chad VanGaalen

Chad VanGaalen is a Canadian musician and artist from Calgary, Alberta.-Infiniheart:Following a few scattered independent releases, done mostly on homemade CDs with hand-drawn art, VanGaalen released Infiniheart on Canadian independent label Flemish Eye...

, Hot Little Rocket, S.I.D.S., etc.) alongside international musicians (Boredoms, Cat Power

Cat Power

Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...

, Spoon

Spoon (band)

Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...

, The Walkmen

The Walkmen

The Walkmen are an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000 with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon , Walter Martin , and Matt Barrick —and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer and Hamilton Leithauser . All but Bauer...

 etc.). A variety of art shows and a film screenings complimented the music lineup.

2008

The 2008 Sled Island Music and Arts Festival happened from June 25–28, 2008 featuring guest music curator Scott Kannberg

Scott Kannberg

Scott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg is a musician best known for being a founding member of the indie-rock band Pavement.-Career:...

 of the seminal indie band Pavement. The full festival lineup included: Mogwai

Mogwai

The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...

, Of Montreal

Of Montreal

Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...

, Wire

Wire

A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads and to carry electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate. Standard sizes are determined by various...

, RZA

RZA

Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...

, Drive-by Truckers

Drive-By Truckers

Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...

, Jose Gonzales, Extra Golden, Gutter Twins, Beans, Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Michael Richman is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970 he founded The Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, generally acoustic backing...

, Chris Gheran, The Dodos

The Dodos

The Dodos are an American indie rock band consisting of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber.- History :The Dodos began playing music together in 2005, when musician Meric Long, who had been gigging steadily in San Francisco as a solo singer-songwriter, was introduced to Logan Kroeber through a mutual...

, Deerhunter

Deerhunter

Deerhunter is an American four-piece indie rock group originating from Atlanta, Georgia. The band, consisting of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver, and Lockett Pundt, have described themselves as "ambient punk," though they incorporate a wide range of genres, including noise rock, art...

, BBQ, Women, No Age, Qui, Pride Tiger, Wet Secrets, Carolyn Mark

Carolyn Mark

Carolyn Mark is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter. She has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of the duo The Corn Sisters with American colleague Neko Case, as well as with the bands the Vinaigrettes, Jr. Gone Wild, Showbusiness Giants, the Fixin's and the Metronome Cowboys...

, Elliot Brood, Portastatic

Portastatic

Portastatic is an American indie rock band founded in the early 1990s by Mac McCaughan. Portastatic began as a solo project for McCaughan, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Superchunk...

, Scott Kannberg, Whitsundays, Woodpidgeon, Mother Mother, Broken West, Chad VanGaalen and more.

A major addition to the festival in 2008 was an increased focus on visual art. Wayne Baerwaldt (guest art curator) announced that the arts component would feature 15 exhibitions including works from Peaches

Peaches (musician)

Merrill Beth Nisker , better known by her stage name Peaches, is a Canadian electronic musician and performance artist who lives in Berlin, Germany. Her songs are noted for disregarding traditional gender norms and their use of sexually explicit lyrics...

, Noam Gonick

Noam Gonick

Noam Gonick RCA is a Canadian film director, screenwriter and artist.The son of radical Marxist and former Manitoba MLA Cy Gonick, Noam supplemented his formal film education by studying directors Guy Maddin and Bruce LaBruce. His survey of Maddin's life and work became the documentary Waiting...

, Luis Jacob, Paulo Whitaker, Wil Murray, Justin Evans, Miriam Bankey, Chris Millar, Dave & Jenn, Ryan Sluggett, Kyle Beal, Kim Neudorf and Patrick Lundeen. Organizaers held a poster contest aimed at high school students to help get them more involved in the festival.

2009

The 2009 Sled Island Festival took place June 24–27, 2009 at multiple venues in the beltline and downtown core of Calgary, Alberta. Colin Newman

Colin Newman

Colin Newman is an English musician, record producer and record label owner.-Biography:Newman is a member of the rock band Wire. When the band temporarily split in 1980, Newman pursued a solo career. His first solo LP, A-Z, was released in 1980 on the Beggar's Banquet label...

 of the British post-punk band Wire

Wire

A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads and to carry electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate. Standard sizes are determined by various...

 and Githead

Githead

Githead is a musical collaboration that includes Wire's Colin Newman as well as electronic musician Robin Rimbaud alongside ex-Minimal Compact members Malka Spigel and Max Franken.- Biography :...

 acted as the guest music curator for Sled Island 2009 along with his wife and band mate Malka Spiegel. The Sled Island 2009 full festival lineup included over 250 bands/artists, including 90+ local bands. Some of the musicians who performed at Sled Island 2009 were: The Breeders

The Breeders

The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...

, Liars

Liars (band)

Liars is a three-piece band formed in 2000 consisting of Angus Andrew , Aaron Hemphill , and Julian Gross...

, Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K. is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, entertainer, and motivational speaker. He is the host of the television series Destroy Build Destroy.-Early life & career:Andrew Wilkes-Krier was born in Stanford, California, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan...

, Health, Chris Gheran, Shearing Pinx, Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy

is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...

, Githead, Holy Fuck, Anvil

Anvil

An anvil is a basic tool, a block with a hard surface on which another object is struck. The inertia of the anvil allows the energy of the striking tool to be transferred to the work piece. In most cases the anvil is used as a forging tool...

, The Bronx

The Bronx

The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...

, Monotonix

Monotonix

Monotonix were a garage rock band from Tel Aviv, Israel. They released their debut EP in 2008 and have toured mostly the United States and Europe, including notable now legendary appearances at SXSW...

, Women

Women (band)

Women are an art rock band from Calgary, Canada. Their debut album Women was released on VanGaalen's label Flemish Eye on July 8, 2008 in Canada and on Jagjaguwar in the United States on October 7, 2008...

, Slim Twig, The King Khan & BBQ Show, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Braids

Braids (band)

Braids is an art rock band from Calgary, Alberta and presently based in Montreal, Quebec. Braids consists of Raphaelle Standell-Preston, Katie Lee, Austin Tufts and Taylor Smith. The band members met at a young age and began collaborating in high school...

, Mount Eerie, Biz Markie, Azeda Booth, Jody Glenham, Puberty, Friendo, Knots, Nü Sensae and many more.

2010

The 2010 Sled Island Music and Arts Festival was from June 30-July 3, 2010 with the Sled Island Film component from June 24–29, 2010 in Calgary, Alberta. The 2010 Sled Island festival lineup included the following music acts: Girl Talk

Girl Talk (musician)

Gregg Michael Gillis , better known by his stage name Girl Talk, is an American musician specializing in mashups and digital sampling. Gillis has released five LPs on the record label Illegal Art and EPs on 333 and 12 Apostles....

, The Melvins

The Melvins

The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...

, Built to Spill

Built to Spill

Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...

, The Thermals

The Thermals

The Thermals are an American indie punk band based in Portland, Oregon. The group was formed in 2002. With influences heavily rooted in both lo-fi punk, as well as more standard rock, the band's songs are also known for their political and religious imagery.- History :The Thermals came together in...

, Les Savy Fav

Les Savy Fav

Les Savy Fav is a New York City indie rock band. Their style is influenced by art rock and post-hardcore. The group is known for the stage presence of lead singer Tim Harrington...

, Hot Water Music

Hot Water Music

Hot Water Music is a punk rock band from Gainesville, Florida. The members of the band are Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo. HWM first formed in 1993...

, The Pack A.D.

The Pack A.D.

The Pack A.D. is a garage rock duo from Vancouver, Canada. Formed in 2006, The Pack A.D. consists of singer/songwriter/guitarist Becky Black and drummer/songwriter Maya Miller. The Pack A.D...

, WhoMadeWho, The Black Lips, Kobra and the Lotus

Kobra and the Lotus

Kobra and the Lotus is a female fronted heavy metal band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The musical style is often compared to classic NWOBHM, Iron Maiden, Dio, and early Metallica or Iced Earth.-Biography:...

, Hot Panda

Hot Panda

Hot Panda is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2006 based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.-History:Hot Panda formed in 2006 naming themselves after a Chinese restaurant in Edmonton. The band released their debut EP Whale Headed Girl July 2007. They subsequently signed to Mint Records and released...

, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are an American rock band formed in 1999 in Washington, D.C. and currently recording for Matador Records. They have released six full-length studio albums and have toured internationally...

, The Posies

The Posies

The Posies are an alternative rock/power pop group. The band was formed in 1987 in Bellingham, Washington by primary songwriters Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. They are best known for their radio hits "Golden Blunders" , as well as "Dream All Day", "Solar Sister" and "Flavor of the Month"...

, The Almighty Defenders, Fucked Up

Fucked Up

Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...

, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, !!!

!!!

!!! is a dance-punk band that formed in Sacramento, California, in 1996. Members of !!! came from other local bands such as The Yah Mos, Black Liquorice and Popesmashers...

, King Khan & BBQ Show, Deerhoof

Deerhoof

Deerhoof is a musical group consisting of Satomi Matsuzaki, John Dieterich, Ed Rodriguez and Greg Saunier.-Origins:In 1992, Greg Saunier, having recently graduated with a degree in music composition from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, joined a short-lived San Francisco quartet called Nitre Pit, on...

, The Bronx

The Bronx

The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...

, Chain & The Gang, Women

Women (band)

Women are an art rock band from Calgary, Canada. Their debut album Women was released on VanGaalen's label Flemish Eye on July 8, 2008 in Canada and on Jagjaguwar in the United States on October 7, 2008...

, Azeda Booth, In Medias Res

In medias res (band)

In Medias Res is an indie rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band consists of Andrew Lee , Ash Poon , Ryan Flowers and Robert Tornroos . Tornroos replaced the band's original drummer, Steve Watts, after the latter left the band in 2011...

and many more!

2011

The fifth edition of Sled Island ran from June 22–25th, 2011. Headliners included Sleep, Twin Shadow, Minus The Bear, An Horse, The Sword, Blonde Redhead, Dum Dum Girls, Wild Flag, Of Montreal, Buzzcocks, Zola Jesus, Deertick, Dandy Warhols, Crocodiles, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, BJ Snowden, and more!