Sled Island Kick-Off Party with BETABOYS, DJ Dine & Dash, Brain Bent and more

BETABOYS

In the carefree hands of BETABOYS, nostalgia is an endless party and you’re always invited. Blending new-wave hooks with indie-pop charm, the band’s latest EP Just Yesterday is full of hopeful vibes and deadly saxophone licks. Seeing them live is akin to watching The Breakfast Club for the millionth time: comfortable, yet timelessly exciting.

DJ Dine & Dash

Local deck-maestro DJ Dine & Dash blends classic EDM vibes with innovative beats to craft a unique journey of disco and French house, showcasing both a deep respect for tradition and a knack for pushing boundaries. Catch him every Friday in residency at Sweet Loretta – or, better yet, catch him at Sled Island and be infected by his rhythms. 

Brain Bent

Frenetic post-punk freaks Brain Bent sound like an electrical outage during a battle of the bands between Devo, Gang of Four and The B-52’s. On stage, they wear matching uniforms, trade off vocal duties and blur the line between shredding and performance art. New music is coming soon, but start off with “​​Quality Assurance Audit” for a proper taste.

Lost Decade

Future-funk trio Lost Decade soulfully updates new wave for a new era with cascading electronic melodies and dramatic rhythms, all built around the powerhouse vocals of Chenelle Roberts. Latest single “Departure” feels like a forgotten gem of ‘80s synth rock found on tape in the back of your mom’s minivan.


WAIT//LESS

Fronted by Calgary transplant Rebecca White, WAIT//LESS is an adrenaline shot of organized garage punk chaos from the West Coast. Debut single “Another Year” sounds straight out of The Stooges’ Funhouse, with throaty gang vocals chanted over a gnarly riff that leaves it all on the floor.


Fraud Perry

With a swagger and charisma that shines through in her music and stage presence, Fraud Perry is direct and uncompromising in her work. A stylistic tour de force, Perry takes the heaviest elements in rap, new wave and punk to craft a brash and enthralling sound rooted in melody and committed to making you move.


Völur

Melding a myriad of global folk traditions with a foreboding overture of doom metal, Völur has created an atmospheric musical journey akin to Led Zeppelin’s epic fantasy explorations and BIG|BRAVE’s sweeping intensity. Expect heavy tones, shrieked vocals and refrains reminiscent of free jazz.


Malaika Hailey

Multi-genre vocalist Malaika Hailey grew up being classically trained (and winning competitions) in Winnipeg before moving to Calgary. Her debut album Spiritual Gangster dropped in April and kicks off with a prayer for the listener before Hailey chews up tracks ranging from minimal, bass-rattling bangers to neon-coloured pop tunes.


Brock Geiger

A prolific collaborator with contributions to more than 30 records, Brock Geiger is setting out on their own with an eponymous solo project. Their arty take on indie rock will be available to the public on a debut record this year. Between you and us though, after hearing a few previews, we have to say Geiger more than lives up to the pedigree of their live-band collaborators Chris Dadge, Clea Anaïs, Nate Waters, and Kevin Sullivan.

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, film and art with over 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).