Sled Island, Servus and Exclaim! present: illuminati hotties, Poolgirl and more

illuminati hotties

Sarah Tudzin treats the studio like both a jungle gym and pressure cooker. This tension is the fuel behind illuminati hotties, her music project that combines sugary pop instincts with scrappy punk energy and chaotic experimentation to create a sound Tudzin has dubbed “tenderpunk.”

Tudzin launched the hotties after cutting her teeth as a sound engineer with the 2018 debut Kiss Yr Frenemies, a record bursting with sharp‑edged humor, tender introspection, and explosive hooks. When label turmoil threatened to stall the project, Tudzin responded with the now‑iconic Free I.H.: This Is Not the One You’ve Been Waiting For (2020), a self‑released mixtape that cemented her as one of indie rock’s most defiant voices. Its 2021 follow‑up, Let Me Do One More, expanded the sonic palette with swaggering rock riffs and bubblegum‑bright melodies grafted onto incisive lyrics.

Beyond her own music, Tudzin is also a sought-after producer and engineer, working with the likes of boygenius, Slowdive, Weyes Blood, Speedy Ortiz and Logic. You could say that working on these releases helped Tudzin hone the balance of emotional clarity and adventurous production. In 2021, she launched the imprint label Snack Shack Tracks through Hopeless Records in another firm statement of artistic integrity and control.

illuminati hotties continues to evolve with 2024’s Power (which earned raves from Rolling Stone) and last year’s single “777,” a track co-produced with Jay Som that forges into fuzzy shoegaze territory. Tudzin’s magnetic front‑of‑stage force that has to be seen to be believed, and you’ll get your chance this year at Sled Island.

Poolgirl

Combining riot grrrl and punk influences with melodic indie rock, five-piece group Poolgirl brings an equally antagonistic and cheerful energy to playing music, with singsong harmonies interspersed with distorted guitars, heavy breakdowns, screams and laughter. Check out their latest single “Triple A” for a little taste of what to expect.

 

Thee Soreheads

Bold, female-fronted punk band Thee Soreheads blend raw power, biting hooks, and multilingual grit. Switching between English and Spanish, their sound channels classic punk urgency with a modern edge. Releasing demos, a live session, and now their debut EP, they showcase tightly crafted tracks that explore anger, identity, and resilience.

dead ex girlfriends

Hailing from Treaty 6 territory in Saskatoon, grunge/punk four-piece dead ex girlfriends channel a cathartic release that resonates widely, delivering raw and unapologetic soundscapes mirroring their lived experiences as queer and Indigenous fems. Fearlessly addressing crucial issues like domestic violence, sexual assault and racism, the group aspires to drive change through their powerful performances and evocative lyrics.

Circling Girl

Drawing inspiration from dream pop icons such as Cocteau Twins and The Sundays, and modern indie favourites Beach House and Alvvays, Circling Girl crafts glimmering harmonies and spaced-out guitars that walk the line between familiar and fresh. Their latest album, Only My Veins Know, unfolds as a lush dreamscape and a medium for self-exploration.

Thee Canadian Dispatch

Largely inspired by the Japanese noise rock of the late ‘90s and mixed with influences from dance punk and ‘00s garage rock, Thee Canadian Dispatch blends it all up into a melodic yet brusque explosion of trashy art punk, fueled with fast BPM and fused with moody off-kilter lyrics.

Sub // Cell

There's a veteran pedigree behind the evolving local garage rock monster Sub / / Cell. Featuring members of Window Lamp, Parisian Orgy, Lushings and Cheer, this supergroup’s swampy approach to post-punk owes as much to The Jesus and Mary Chain as it does to its prairie surf essence, throwing just the right reverb and melodic hooks to reel listeners in.

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).