Sled Island presents: Black Country, New Road + guests

Black Country, New Road

Emerging from London’s genre-bending “Windmill” scene in 2018, Black Country, New Road are a band of true originals, constantly shape-shifting and re-defining the boundaries of art rock on their own terms. 

BCNR originally featured a lineup that included Isaac Wood, Tyler Hyde, May Kershaw, Georgia Ellery, Lewis Evans, and Charlie Wayne, adding Luke Mark shortly after the release of their math-y debut single “Athens, France.” Their first album, 2021’s For the First Time, further solidified the group’s commitment to genre agnosticism, blending post-punk swagger with elements of free jazz and klezmer. The record was nominated for the Mercury Prize, and was included in the Best Albums of 2021 lists for NME and The Guardian.

Almost one year to the day after their first album’s release and led off by four eclectic singles, ‘22’s Ants From Up There reached number three on the United Kingdom Albums Chart and added shades of chamber pop and indie rock to the sonic quilt. Shortly before this album’s release, lead singer Isaac Wood announced his departure, leaving the remaining six members to re-define BCNR’s sound.  

Change can be an opportunity, and the group rose to the occasion. The 2023 live album Live at Bush Hall chronicled the rebirth of a band, a rousing collection of entirely new compositions created since Wood’s departure that debuted a layered, multi-vocalist approach. This was followed by 2025’s Forever Howlong, a pastoral odyssey of folk rock hooks, prog-y digressions, and twee instrumentation that the band later showcased on an international tour packed with memorable live showings. 

It’s a new, exciting era for Black Country, New Road. Celebrate the next chapter with all of us here at Sled Island.

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).