Sled Island and connectFirst present: Mannequin Pussy, Maneka, Sick Puppy and more

Mannequin Pussy

Mannequin Pussy deals in sonic catharsis. The snarling riffs and primal yells that populate the band’s discography contrast with poignantly vulnerable lyrics and aching shoegaze melodies. This vibrant approach to punk rock defines the uncertainty of the last decade, as Mannequin Pussy leads us fearlessly into a new one.

Initially formed in Connecticut, Mannequin Pussy began life in 2010 as a scrappy two-piece project for childhood friends Marisa “Missy” Dabice and Athanasios Paul. They released two EPs in 2011, playfully titled Meatslave and Bonerjamz!.

After relocating to Philadelphia, they released their self-titled debut album in 2014. This 18-minute blast of hardcore joy established Mannequin Pussy as a force with which to be reckoned. In 2015 and 2016, respectively, Kaleen Reading Colins “Bear” Regisford joined the Mannequin Pussy lineup.

The band cut its teeth on the touring circuit and released Romantic in 2016. The album’s balance of taut fury and bitter reminiscence earned the group rave reviews from Rolling Stone, and a path to eventually join the legendary Epitaph Records.

Mannequin Pussy’s first release through Epitaph was Patience, a collection of emotional revelations delivered with ferocious speed. Patience explored the melodic sensibilities of the group without losing any grit and was acclaimed by Pitchfork as one of the best albums of 2019.

With Paul exiting the band, the now three-piece barrelled into a new era with 2021’s Perfect EP. These blistering five tracks explore themes of isolation behind a wall of guitar pop, offering a chance to thrash our anxieties away. Don’t miss them at their first-ever Calgary show.

 

Maneka

Former Speedy Ortiz-ian Devin McKnight now records exciting genre exercises as Maneka. Caught between his obvious talent for ‘90s-indebted indie rock and a voracious appetite for samples and studio wizardry, Maneka is a genre-agnostic exploration of a restless creative spirit. 2022 album Dark Matters is equal parts anthemic slacker tunes and complete non-sequiturs of jazz and electronic music — it’s an intoxicating mix.

 

Sick Puppy

Finally, something good to come out of the pandemic. Trapped in a house together, Sick Puppy decided to write a stupidly catchy song about John Belushi, included on its five-song EP, Haunt the Hill. Crunchy riffs, relatable lyrics about surrogate boyfriends, all neatly packaged in two minute tunes. Fun as hell.

 

WAIT//Less

A fresh and fun new punk band from the West Coast, WAIT//LESS delivers a quick, auditory jab to the throat that will leave you wanting more. Deep, lustfully loud vocals with massive, quick riffs and snappy percussion combine to make us weak in the knees and ready to headbang.

 

Kamikaze Nurse

Taking its name from Simone Weil’s belief in radical compassion and courage in response to a great evil, Kamikaze Nurse plays noisy dream pop that is both frenzied and heavenly. Torchbearers to the sound created by Sonic Youth, the band adds to that palette with the pop stylings that are synonymous with its label, Mint Records.

 

Jed Arbour

Reminiscent of the lo-fi aesthetic and raw vulnerability of Phil Elverum or Cat Power, Jed Arbour is a showcase for the incredible songwriting of Jed Stein. Their songs carry a profound and haunting intimacy — a space that very few writers can occupy comfortably. Complete as a highly versatile and dynamic three-piece that can range from folk to post-rock, this is a truly impressive group that demands your attention.

 

Stripmall

There’s an ugliness to every city stripmall. A dirtiness and melancholic hopelessness that seems to hang over every shop, every sad soul drawn there for whatever ultimately insignificant reason. Somehow and in some way, this Calgary four-piece captures that feeling in sonic form, crafting sooty post-punk that gives voice to emptiness and nothingness, but in a way that’s entirely cathartic and almost edifying.

 

 

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.