Idolator
There are many reasons why the just-announced Sled Island festival, which is set for June 25-28, became the front-runner on my personal "festivals I'd like to attend this summer" list. First, it's happening in Calgary, a city that I have wanted to visit since my young days poring over the hockey standings in the sports pages. Second, it's not happening in a big open space but in "a variety of locations" around the city, thus ensuring that I can maybe avoid sunburn for at least a few daylight hours. And as Matos pointed out, Sled Island differentiates itself from other summer shows by having a lineup made up of a bunch of solid indie bands instead of the Radiohead/Jack Johnson hydra that's constricting the rest of the continent—and said lineup includes Wire and Miss Murgatroid with Petra Haden and Jonathan Richman. The full lineup will be announced May 1, but there are many artists who have already committed, and they're after the jump.
Wire
Of Montreal
Jonathan Richman
The Gutter Twins (Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan)
Jose Gonzales
RZA (Bobby Digital)
Mogwai
Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs
No Age
Deerhunter
Dodos
Drive By Truckers
Extra Golden
Miss Murgatroid and Petra Hayden
Woodpigeon
Beans
Hot Little Rocket
The Broken West
Cave Singers
Wet Secrets
Pride Tiger
Portastatic
Headlights
Ramblin' Ambassadors
Bison
Mother Mother
Elizabeth
Modern Man
Luther Wright
Whitsundays
Elliot Brood
Carolyn Mark
Sled Island [Official site]
Comments
I think the thing I like most about this lineup is that, in addition to having a tight focus with some range and well-set standards, most of the acts have been doing it a while, and not necessarily obvious festival picks. Bigger fests tend to book these kind of artists more sparingly unless they're headliners of the first (Radiohead) or second tiers (Spoon, say); early-billed acts tend more toward hot newcomers and buzz bands. So while it isn't especially geezer-ish, it's got some heft, experience-wise.
Did something happen to Preston School of Industry? Is Spiral playing a solo set?
Alright! I live in Calgary. This will be a good summer for music.
This is such a great new festival. Last year, it's first, went over hugely and I'm so glad they're back for more. The line up's already shaping up to beat out Coachella (which unfortunately gets my vote for most disappointing lineup of 2008). And, damn it, if it's not the year I finally committed to attending that festival. However - between Sled Island and an inaugural festival in Pemberton, B.C., I've got alotta spendin' and music-enjoyin' to look forward to this summer. Rock on, Western Canada!
@baconfat: I heard that Spiral Stairs was a guest curator this year
I can't remember who the heck I was mentioning Miss Murgatroid to the other day -- one of the Weird Weeds, I think. Wonderful to see her name again. (And given she does a killer Wire cover, who's for a collaboration?)
Hmm... could probably crash at some relatives' place for free in Calgary. But my wife would probably want to boycott the event on the grounds that Calgary is the Canadian right wingnut paradise.
But Wire and Carolyn Mark as part of the same event... damn, that would be fun.
The good news: June 25 is my birthday (my 25th, no less) and this would be an awesome way to spend it. The bad news: Calgary is quite an expensive hike from my humble mid-Atlantic abode.
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