Sled Island and connectFirst present: DEHD, Shirley & The Pyramids and more

DEHD

DEHD does a lot with a little. With just post-punk bass lines, jangly guitar, steady drums and the odd electronic flourish, the band creates a formidable bedrock upon which its dual vocal melodies can soar and swirl together. I.e. on “Bad Love,” from last year’s excellent album Blue Skies (the band’s first for Fat Possum), bassist Emily Kempf and guitarist Jason Balla stack their vocals upon one another until the tension makes it feel like it’s all about to come toppling down.

It’s the alternation and intertwining of their vocals that lives at the heart of DEHD’s sound. Together, they create an androgynous storm replete with characters by Kempf and voyages to the limits of their collective range — all while drummer and occasional vocalist Eric McGrady holds it down. This gives the music a lived-in urgency that alerts the listener that the emotion from their words is real.

Until Blue Skies, DEHD recorded for various boutique indie labels, releasing debut Dehd in 2016 and Water in 2019 before exploding in popularity with 2020’s Flower of Devotion. That album came out mid-pandemic and was described as a force of connection, filled with road trip anthems for a time apart. It received a Best New Music designation from Pitchfork and made many year-end best lists.

DEHD’s sound has remained true throughout its discography, but the melodic force and focus on minimalism grows ever stronger with each release. Blue Skies is an undeniable future classic, full of cathartic choruses that feel at once ready for the masses and so specifically personal as to tell rich stories. Road-ready after a year of touring behind it, DEHD arrives for the first time in Calgary for a set that is sure to inspire mass singalongs and the collective rapture we’ve all been missing.

 

Shirley & The Pyramids

Springing from the mind of Aron Zacharias, Shirley & The Pyramids has charted the cosmos of psychedelic jam rock since 2015. The five-piece boils groovy krautrock, shoegaze fuzz and bluesy shuffles into a frenzied stew of mayhem on latest album Maid of Time, tempering wild experimentation with razor-sharp melodies and enchanting sincerity.

 

Big Evil Rat

Big Evil Rat’s tunes are scrappy, jangly, and energetic rock ‘n’ roll at its finest. Sprinkle in a touch of punk rock and dash of psych, and you’ve got yourself the delightful love child of members from Archaics, Molan, Power-Buddies, Fitness and more. A worthwhile mish-mash of Edmonton supergroups that’ll get your toes tappin.’

 

Love Language

Using the beloved formula of layering distorted guitars over accessible indie rock, Love Language pays homage to the best bands of the ‘90s without feeling like part of a bygone era. Recently released EP, Indian Cowboy, reflects on the tension of expressing Indigeneity in a culture of entrenched colonial religious and social values.

 

The Wesleys

Concocting a blissfully eclectic assemblage of ‘60s garage pop, ‘70s guitar riffage and ‘90s DIY style, The Wesleys are an absolute breath of fresh air. Driving, uptempo rock numbers featuring jangly, fuzzy guitar arpeggios and melodic vocal sweeps are abundant on the 2022 EP Outside Voices.

 

WUT

Catchy, fun and sassy on its exterior, WUT tackles tough political themes through lyrical content about law enforcement, the patriarchy and power dynamics. The band crafts memorable tracks through a steadfast rhythmic foundation, edge-of-breakup guitar chords and ear-pleasing vocal harmonies. Simply put, WUT’s not to love about WUT?!

 

Crystal Eyes

On its latest album, 2022’s The Sweetness Restored, this Calgary collective takes a great leap forward. Slick, polished and all-pro, the nine tracks (co-produced in Montreal by Canadian darling Basia Bulat, who also lends some backing vocals), display a band confidently blending the best of atmospheric shoegaze and straight-up, pretty, pristine dream-pop.

 

Dead Friends

Dead Friends is one of rowdiest, prairie-surf-garage bands to see play live. Wavy riffs and tender, yet grounded vocals seem to inspire lots of crowd surfing. Gentle bopping along the shore of the mosh pit is also very acceptable. No swim lessons required.

 

 

About Sled Island

The Sled Island Music & Arts Festival is a five-day, multi-venue festival taking place June 21 - 25, 2023. For more information, visit SledIsland.com. 

Everyone has the right to feel safe and included at Sled Island. All festival attendees agree to abide by Sled Island's safer spaces and inclusion policy, which can be found at SledIsland.com/SaferSpaces.

Sled Island acknowledges Calgary as the traditional territory of the Blackfoot and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Ĩyãħé Nakoda First Nations, including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley First Nations. Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

Please note: This is an 18+ event.