Sled Island 2024 First Wave Lineup: Reverie’s Top Picks
Calgary’s legendary Sled Island Music and Arts Festival revealed the first wave of its lineup today and thus, the countdown begins. The festival, running from June 19th to 23rd in the vibrant downtown core of the city, unites music lovers from far and wide as they discover the newest compelling acts who perform alongside established artist’s. While we eagerly await Sled Island’s full lineup announcement, here are a few acts on REVERIE’s must-see list this summer.
Show Me The Body
As the curator of Sled Island this year, the New York hardcore trio will put their spin on the festival with unique selections representative of their eclectic, DIY ethos. The band are known for bringing artist’s together, forming their own alliance, CORPUS, to unite artists in a community and connect with DIY scenes outside the five boroughs. Their curated picks are already shaping up to be eagerly anticipated, with bands like Soul Glo, WIFIGAWD, and more (continue reading our list to find out!).
Lustsickpuppy
Brooklyn-born musician, Lustsickpuppy, is a digital hardcore-meets-hip-hop act who is known for their high calibre live performance. As a multidisciplinary artist, from painting to fashion - Lustsickpuppy is bound to send the crowd into a cathartic frenzy and scratch the itch for those who have been wanting more hyperpop-inspired programming at Sled Island. Thanks, Show Me The Body, for this fire pick!
Planet Giza
Shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris prize, Montreal-based funk-rap trio, Planet Giza diversifies hip-hop. Consisting of rapper Tony Jones and producers Rami B and DoomX, the group cultivates their sound through influences of EDM, Jazz and Funk. Posting their remixes and mixtapes on SoundCloud, they plan on bringing their flair and distinct sounds to the dance floor as they grace this year’s lineup!
NGHTCRWLR
As long term fans of metal-outfit, King Woman, REVERIE is very thrilled to catch the latest project from the NYC-based, Iranian front-person, Kris Esfandiari. Dipping into experimental noise, with electronic elements that transports listener’s into Kris’ cinematic voyage, NGHTCRWLR will bring a bone-chilling edge to the festival that will fulfill our delights (we’re hoping for her cover of The Prodigy’s “Firestarter”).
Ethereal Tomb
Sled Island has a few heavy-hitter metal acts on this year’s lineup, but a stand out is Canadian doom band, Ethereal Tomb. While the band lean strongly into the thick sludgy metal we’ve come to associate with the genre, it’s difficult to ignore the ways the band is inspired by melodic hardcore throughout. The interplay of their darker sound with the vibrancy of the hardcore scene is well-suited for a crowd of Sled Islander’s who attend the festival to discover bands who don’t quite fit into the mainstream parameter or molds.
Kue Varo and the Only Hopes
Coming off a successful year of new music and uplifting live shows, Kue Varo and the Only Hopes will make their ripping Sled Island debut as a full-band. With hit songs like the prairie-anthem “Yip Yip” and “Gates of Hell”, we’ll be swaying and swooning with the melodic spells the band cast on stage in their hometown.
Brain Bent
Seeing Brain Bent on the lineup feels like a treat, as the band played their last local show back at the beginning of 2024 after announcing that they were hitting the studio shortly after to work on new music. With no planned dates on the horizon other than Sled Island (…for now), REVERIE waits in anticipation for their matching boiler suits!? and post-punk antics!? to return on the stage.
For more festival info and tickets, visit www.sledisland.com.