Sled Island Festival Continues Canada’s “A Festival For Every Province” Mandate

There are many reasons why the just-announced Sled Island festival, which is set for June 25-28, became the front-runner on my personal “festivals I’d like to attend this summer” list. First, it’s happening in Calgary, a city that I have wanted to visit since my young days poring over the hockey standings in the sports pages. Second, it’s not happening in a big open space but in “a variety of locations” around the city, thus ensuring that I can maybe avoid sunburn for at least a few daylight hours. And as Matos pointed out, Sled Island differentiates itself from other summer shows by having a lineup made up of a bunch of solid indie bands instead of the Radiohead/Jack Johnson hydra that’s constricting the rest of the continent–and said lineup includes Wire and Miss Murgatroid with Petra Haden and Jonathan Richman. The full lineup will be announced May 1, but there are many artists who have already committed, and they’re after the jump.

Wire Of Montreal Jonathan Richman The Gutter Twins (Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan) Jose Gonzales RZA (Bobby Digital) Mogwai Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs No Age Deerhunter Dodos Drive By Truckers Extra Golden Miss Murgatroid and Petra Hayden Woodpigeon Beans Hot Little Rocket The Broken West Cave Singers Wet Secrets Pride Tiger Portastatic Headlights Ramblin’ Ambassadors Bison Mother Mother Elizabeth Modern Man Luther Wright Whitsundays Elliot Brood Carolyn Mark

Sled Island [Official site]