Sled Island and Servus present: billy woods + guests

billy woods

Whether founding a record label, writing a children’s book, or forming rap supergroups, billy woods has an experimental, entrepreneurial touch that has influenced the world of underground hip-hop for decades.  

billy woods introduced himself to the world in 2003 with his lo-fi rap mix tape Camouflage. Released on his DIY record label Backwoodz Studioz, this album featured extensive collaboration with Vordul Mega of Cannibal Ox. His first fully solo record, The Chalice, came one year later, and it’s been all gas no brakes ever since. He’s released nine solo albums to date, his most recent being 2025’s Golliwog, a menacing batch of abstract hip-hop that earned rave reviews from Exclaim! and The Guardian. 

On top of his prolific solo efforts, billy is one-half of the rap duo Armand Hammer with ELUCID, with which he’s dropped seven studio albums and numerous mix-tapes of East coast-flavoured rhymes. Not to be outdone, he also records as Super Chron Flight Brothers with Priviledge, and is a member of rap supergroup, The Reavers. 

Being the son of a Marxist intellectual from Zimbabwe and a Jamaican English teacher, it comes as no surprise that billy’s writing is dense and literary. The narrative complexity of his rhymes are matched by the unconventional, uncompromising approach he has to production. This is an artist who is unafraid of the more confrontational sides of songwriting. 

With a deep discography and an increasingly rare sense of integrity in his craft, billy woods is a true original, with a bumpin’ live show that is not to be missed. 

Important info:

Start and running times are subject to change. Please check the Sled Island schedule in June for exact set times.

Upon entering a festival venue, the passholder agrees to being photographed, filmed or recorded in that venue, and agrees to the publication, reproduction, distribution and broadcast of all photographs, video or other recordings of the passholder's voice or likeness without further notice or compensation in any publicity, advertisement or other publication carried-out by, or on behalf of, Sled Island and in perpetuity in any manner and media whatsoever, including print, broadcast or internet.

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

All passes and tickets are non-refundable. 

About Sled Island:

Sled Island is an annual five-day independent music and arts festival in Calgary, Alberta that brings together a community of music, comedy and art with over 25,000 attendees in multiple venues across the city. For more information, visit SledIsland.com.

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 Goodstoney First Nations. Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).