Sled Island presents: Sweeping Promises

DOWNSTAIRS

Sweeping Promises

Like all the good post-punk bands, Sweeping Promises brims with propulsive bass, angular guitar and jittery drums, but what makes this act a whole better than good are killer hooks, flecks of new wave synth and giddy eccentricity found on debut album Hunger for a Way Out. Recently signed to Sub Pop, 2022 marks the group’s first-ever tour.

Slut Prophet

Self-described as an “anti-post-punk” post-punk band, Slut Prophet has been a playful, somewhat absurdist staple in Calgary for seven years. New listeners should start with the track “Cyclops,” a nine-minute epic from the Pity Party EP. It’s the perfect encapsulation of frontperson Audrey Niksic’s speak-sing-screech vocals, guitar freakouts and the band’s motorik-adjacent rhythms.

Gorgeous

Seriously: Fucking gorgeous. Wiggle your way through the weirdness of this New York art-school-aesthetic-summoning duo, one that still pays tribute to the masters of the ’70s and ’80s experimental NYC scene, such as Sonic Youth and Television, while taking things ever forward with wonderfully odd, syncopated soundscapes.

BRIDGELAND

A new project from local players Chris Zajko, Matt Pahl, Danny Baker, Tomas Lobos and Aria Janzen, Bridgeland has released just a few snippets from its jam space so far. What we’ve gleaned, though, is that this dependable crew is exploring a vibrant intersection of post-punk and space rock with Zajko’s vocals — which you may recognize from Melted Mirror and Sharp Ends — at the fore.

Poltergeist

Consider Poltergeist your one-stop shop for goth sounds. Kalen Baker and his not-so-merry band somehow manage to mix metal, post-punk, cold wave and shoegaze into a cohesive whole. Slasher movie synth? Check. Disembodied moans, creaky-basement bass and absolute shredding? Check, check, check. Don’t miss this new addition to the Calgary scene at Sled Island.

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Heaven for Real

Formerly a stalwart of Halifax’s indie scene, Mint Records band Heaven For Real pairs oddball pop and art-rock with a sophisticated ease. Recent EP Sweet Rose Green Winter Desk Top Tell This Side Autumn Of The Fighter Hot In A Cool Way combines jangling guitar, cooed falsetto and almost jazz-like instrumental playfulness. The group’s second full-length is due later this year — you might just get a sneak preview during Sled Island.

Sunforger

Forged from the ashes of past project Mono No Aware, Sunforger is a twitchy indie rock band that plays with elements of emo, math-rock, post-punk and post-grunge for songs that’ll make your teeth itch. Each song is unpredictable yet tight, wound up into about two-minutes of controlled chaos each. Fear not, as each song has an anchoring sense of rhythm and melody to keep things on the rails.

OKGB

Made up mostly of ex-Calgarians, OKGB makes a catchy brand of post-punk that uses the angularity of the genre as a bedrock for magnificent hooks. Though those signature baritone vocals have the deadened timbre you’d expect from the genre, the quintet is all energy, especially live. For a fun detour, check out the alter-ego project of the band, Peggie & the Discount Country Band.

Window Lamp

Like surf rock channeled through a bratty punk rock ghost, Window Lamp makes gritty garage rock that goes bump in the night. Downcast guitars and speak-sung vocals make for an arresting pairing on tracks like “Lie” and the more-experimental “Episode,” which features a cooing falsetto that enriches the band’s existing dynamic.

tarotfuntime

Commonly described as ’70s rockers with a psychedelic feel, tarotfuntime’s sound has evolved over the last several years from stoner rock into a noisy, dance sound with groovy riffs and chaotic, head-banging energy that lives up to its namesake of a fun time.

About Sled Island

The Sled Island Music & Arts Festival is a five-day, multi-venue festival taking place June 22 - 26, 2022. The full lineup and schedule is available at SledIsland.com. 

Everyone has the right to feel safe and included at Sled Island. All festival attendees agree to abide by Sled Island's safer spaces and inclusion policy, which can be found here.

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 Wesley First Nations. Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.