Sled Island Music & Arts Festival unveils the first wave of artists playing the 2024 edition of the event, running June 19 – 23. The annual festival presents a thoughtfully chosen lineup of music, comedy, film, art and conference programming in multiple venues across Calgary, Alberta each June. The artists announced today, ranging from highly established performers to compelling new acts, represent just a small sample of the 200+ bands that will perform at this year’s festival.

Joining Sled Island’s previously announced 2024 guest curator, Show Me the Body, is incisive Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins (performing with a full band at The Palace Theatre), Los Angeles indie rockers Cherry Glazerr, genre-bending rap artist Kari Faux, Montreal-based hip-hop trio Planet Giza, ‘70s Zamrock revivalists W.I.T.C.H., renowned soundscape composer Laurel Halo, British electronic producer Forest Swords, eminent post-punk three-piece Wombo, and Philadelphia hardcore punk group Soul Glo (selected by Show Me the Body).

Also included in the first wave lineup is acclaimed Toronto-based death metal band Tomb Mold, avant-garde ambient composer and Calgary native Sarah Davachi, hypnotic indie-pop musician Lael Neale, Chicago-based free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements (led by poet and musician Moor Mother), illustrious multidisciplinary artist Malcolm Mooney (best known as the original singer of the ‘70s German krautrock group Can) with his new project Malcolm Mooney & The Eleventh Planet, and Canadian “doom-esque” metal group Ethereal Tomb.

Sled Island’s guest curator helps to shape the festival’s programming. Show Me the Body’s previously mentioned curator pick, Soul Glo, will be joined by several other exciting selections, including prolific underground rap artist WiFiGawd, experimental pop artist LUCY (Cooper B. Handy), digital hardcore-meets-hip-hop act LustSickPuppy, industrial noise project NGHTCRWLR (the latest embodiment from King Woman’s Kris Esfandiari), and more still to be announced.

Rounding out today’s announcement is some incredible Alberta-based talent, including psych-infused indie group Kue Varo & The Only Hopes, wildly energetic post-punk outfit Brain Bent, Edmonton indie-punks Stem Champ, hip-hop powerhouse Tea Fannie & The Collective, and retro-pop supergroup Ginger Beef, featuring award-winning flutist Jiajia Li and veteran producer/multi-instrumentalist Warren Tse.

Sled Island’s complete 2024 lineup will be announced in the coming months, including additional headliners, over 150 more bands as well as comedy, film, visual art, special events and conference programming.

Purchase passes for Sled Island HERE
See Sled Island 2024 first wave HERE