Five Calgary acts to see at Sled Island this week

Atmospheric electronic music in a historic church and mind-melting punk rock in a coffee shop.

It's Sled Island season again.

The annual festival of music, comedy and the arts runs from Wednesday to Sunday at a variety of venues across Calgary's inner-city.

This year's iteration is headlined by international acts including Chicago-based rock band DEHD and Washington D.C-based indie rock and hip-hop artist Bartees Strange.

Strange is also the festival's guest curator and had a hand in picking some of the lineup.

There's also big-name Canadian talent like Toronto rapper and Polaris Prize winner Haviah Mighty.

As always, though, the mainstay of the festival remains local talent.

Many of the acts that will take the stage are from Alberta, and 71 of the 230 bands in the lineup are from the Calgary area.

Key of A host Tarik Robinson has done his homework and recommended five must see acts from this city and the surrounding areas this week.

Bennett Mitchell

The Calgary born and raised indie-folk singer-songwriter's has the city's fingerprints are all over his latest LP Mouse. The album was recorded in Mitchell's bedroom in downtown Calgary and mastered at the National Music Centre.

He will be performing on the main floor at Modern Love (formerly known as Broken City) on Thursday at 8:30pm.

Double Rider

It's a family affair for the three-piece rock band from Siksika Nation.

The trio, formerly known as Third Generation, is made up of a pair of siblings and their cousin. The band has a classic rock sound with a contemporary twist.

While they have been playing music and developing their sound since 2014, the group just released their debut full length album Times of the Day at the beginning of 2023.

They will be playing the Palomino at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Ebun

Sled Island describes Ebun's sound as "eccentric, rhythm-heavy pop that is perfect for late-night journaling or late-night clubbing."

The Airdrie-based singer glides over afro-pop, R&B and hip-hop influenced instrumentals.

She makes her Sled Island debut at Modern Love (formerly known as Broken City) on Friday at 3:30 p.m. 

K-Riz and the Family

K-Riz is a name many in Alberta hip-hop circles will be familiar with. The rapper formerly based in Edmonton now calls Calgary home. 

He followed up his 2016 debut album Fresh Air with a couple of EP's in 2020 and his latest album Peace and Love in 2020.

K-Riz and the Family will be performing on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. at the Commonwealth Bar and Stage main floor and Friday at 3 p.m. at the Palomino Smokehouse. 

Shebear and the Hibernation:

This Indie rock trio with surf rock leanings boasts one of the funkier names on the lineup this year. According to Sled Island, Shebear "navigates through a stratosphere of alluring hooks and perfectly deployed harmonies."

Yet to put out an album or EP, the group has released a steady drip of singles and played shows around Calgary since 2019.

They play The Dandy tasting room on Thursday at 9 p.m.

The full lineup and more information on the festival can be found on the Sled Island website.