Finding Sled Island
Every June, something strange and electric ripples through Calgary’s core, a four-day portal opens, and those who step through find themselves in a completely different city. Welcome to Sled Island.
In this episode, we dive into one of Canada’s most exciting and under-hyped music and arts festivals, an annual eruption of sound, sweat and synchronicity. Sled Island transforms downtown Calgary into a sprawling stage for indie darlings, punk legends, experimental weirdos and everyone in between.
Sled is a sensibility, a spirit, a way of seeing the city anew. We talk to artists, organizers and longtime Sled-heads about what it means to stumble into a late-night set in the historic Legion or catch a mind-blowing act in the basement of the Palomino Smokehouse.
This is Calgary’s best kept secret, a love letter to DIY culture and a masterclass in what it means to build a scene.
Starring: Maud Salvi, Kurtis Gregor, Bianca Dayrit, Hemen Tor-Agbidye
Host: Adora Nwofor @statuesse
Production House: FOREIGNERZ @sansfuccs
Director: CONTRA @cartel.contra, Eman Safadi @emansafadi1,
Producer: Eman Safadi, CONTRA
Director of Photography: Vince Raquel @vinceraquel
Additional Camera Operators: Jevan Bailey, Jashan Makan, Shardul Sharnagat, Gbohunmi, Ilia Kosmak, Nathan Holt
Editor: Vince Raquel @vinceraquel
Assistant Editor: Eman Safadi, CONTRA
Colourist: Vince Raquel
Unit Photographer: Michaela Neuman @equidem
Sound Design: Eman Safadi, Vince Raquel
Location Sound Mixer: Jevan Bailey, Vince Raquel
Title Sequence: Cole Edwards @colee.design
Additional Footage (Jack Harlow): Braedin Weinberger – Module Creative
Special Thanks to Sled Island for historic festival footage & photographs
Thank you to all the musicians who made an appearance:
Otoboke Beaver / Hawa B / Kerub / Horse Jumper of Love / Brain Bent / K-Riz / Sophia Royer / Planet Giza / BITTER/WASHED / SANAM / Flying Lotus / Backxwash / BAWAH / Ribbon Skirt / Sasami / Tea Fannie / Yaya Bey / BB BOMB / Ghostkeeper / Bijaan / Little Snake / Radio Active Vampire Teeth / R.A.P Ferreira / Suzie Analogue / Peelander-Z / PERRA / Soul Glo / Amy Nelson / Jiajia Lu / BRIDGELAND / Ginger Beef / Uncanny Valley / Queens D. Light / Ahya Simone / BATHS / Mick Jenkins / ZENON / Evicshen / Jack Harlow / Tamara Shevon / JPEGMAFIA / Princess Nokia / Lowkita / Yuutsuu / mHz / Vivek Shraya / Sudan Archives / Oddisee / Arlo Maverick / Sergeant and Comrade / Mouraine / Bad Bodies / Dri Hiev / Teafannie / Rae Spoon / Brain Bent / Haviah Mighty / Spellling / Mary Lattimore
Music:
You Know I Got It – Tyris White
QUALITY ASSURANCE AUDIO – Brain Bent
(Untitled) – prod. 32
SALT – DriHiev
VISITORS – bloom
Inside Your Love – KRIZ
Infrared – Wanderlust
5am Joint – Teefanie
Indie Type Beat – Dan Darmawan
About the Living a Creative Life Web Series
Calgary Arts Development launched this web series to celebrate the thousands of Calgarians who are living creative lives in our city.
The Living a Creative Life web series, hosted by local activist and comedian Adora Nwofor and produced by Foreignerz, will release a new episode each month.
Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Tune in and be sure to subscribe to the #yycLCL channel on YouTube for premiere reminders.
