Sled Island and Servus present: Horse Jumper of Love, Hailstones and more

Horse Jumper of Love

From contemplative slowcore to melodic indie rock, Horse Jumper of Love has covered miles of sonic ground across five albums. They wear their influences on their sleeves as well, whether opening for Duster’s reunion tour or creating a fuzzed out Smashing Pumpkins cover. Latest album Disaster Trick hoodwinks listeners with intimate songs awash with shoegaze heaviness.

Hailstones

Beginning in 2023 as the solo endeavour of Idlefon’s Hesam Ohadi, Hailstones soon transformed into a collaborative symphony of shoegaze-y dream pop. Now featuring Mehraun Ehsani (canadabasement) on guitar, Bo Scavvies (The Bonsais) on bass, and of course Ohadi’s captivating vocals over keys, Hailstones are a dreamy sight to be seen.

Ribbon Skirt

Led by Anishinaabe musician Tashiina Buswa, Ribbon Skirt is a four-piece alternative group from Montreal formerly known as Love Language. Their 2025 debut album Bite Down (released on Mint Records) brings a darker and more introspective sound, dealing with themes of memory, grief and Buswa’s connection to her Indigenous identity and cultural practices.

Bluffing

Featuring prominent local jazz drummer David Lavoie, along with guitarist Aidan O’Reilly and bassist Jae Polgar, Bluffing isn’t messing around with their hazy brand of uniquely Canadian indie rock. Their second EP, Nature, is a three-track trifecta of American indie, emo, and just a bit of Pavement-style grit, creating a raw, dynamic sound they’re becoming known for.

Barbara

“Kurt Cobain but pretty” just begins to describe Barbara’s experimental indie rock and psychedelic dabblings. After back-to-back appearances at Sled Island and the inaugural Bob-Sled festival in January, Barbara is set to return to the other side of the Rockies once again, this time in support of their brand new sophomore LP, SO THIS IS LIVING.

Dresser

This Montreal trio creates art-rock built on a foundation of well-considered lyricism, drawing inspiration from songwriters like David Berman and Jason Molina. Their introspective songs are laced with overdrive and untethered delivery, evoking hints of post-punk, emo, and krautrock influences. Check out the ‘24 release Fuel for a taste of their eclectic sound.

Witch Victim

Everything-gaze collective Witch Victim have finally released their self-titled EP, and Calgary has taken notice. The six-song shoegaze odyssey was #1 on CJSW for the first two weeks of its release, and its shambling grooves even made waves on Windsor and Victoria radio stations. These psychedelic purveyors are always a “can’t miss” piece of the Sled Island puzzle.

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 nearly 30,000 attendees in multiple venues across the city. For more information, visit SledIsland.com.

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.

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).