Sled Island and CJSW present: Tha Retail Simps, Spec Realists, Bananahaus and more

Tha Retail Simps

If you like your punk a little bit sleazy and full of Raw Power, meet Tha (The/Thine/Thee) Retail Simps. Dubbed “Montreal’s premier slop rock act” by MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, the Simps aren’t afraid to let their groovier-side shine, with horns and schmaltzy ballads nicely breaking up the power-chord rippers. It’s music guaranteed to make you want to start wearing leather. 

Spec Realists

Meet Calgary’s newest crooked‑grin punk delinquents. Spec Realists filter busted pop hooks through basement show noise with joyful, seat‑of‑their‑pants abandon, leaving behind a trail of warped melodies and lo‑fi sparks. On A Frolic Of Our Own is their irresistible 2026 debut tape, and you better believe them when they say “(We're Not Punks) We're Art Punks.” 

Bananahaus

Expect overcaffeinated riffs, meticulous arrangements, and silly melodic shenanigans when you enter the Bananahaus. They pray at the altar of Deerhoof openly, though listen closely, and you may hear the ghost-notes of such numinous weirdos as Pere Ubu, Captain Beefheart and The Raincoats. Their sophomore release, grounders, explores the terrifying, feral, unhinged world of elementary school.

Parisian Orgy

Originally launched as a solo project in 2015, Parisian Orgy has since blossomed into an eight-piece supergroup with a flair for chaos. Powered by synths, their post‑punk antics lean hard into humour, especially onstage. Members also moonlight in Uncanny Valley, Sunglaciers, and Sub // Cell, making the band a slapstick collision of Calgary’s finest art-punk jesters.

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).