Sled Island 2013's cancellation due to the flooding and the state of emergency issued in Calgary in June was an unprecedented situation for the festival and its attendees, participating artists, partners and friends. The flood brought real devastation and loss, which was matched by an undeniable and inspirational spirit and resolve. In the wake of the flood, Sled Island offered refunds to all ticket and pass holders and faced losses of up to $200,000. Today, we are thrilled to report that thanks to the overwhelming support of our community, including attendees, artists and our numerous partners and other supporters, Sled Island will return as strong as ever in 2014.
During the four week period following this year's cancelled festival in which Sled Island offered full refunds to all pass holders, nearly 70% chose not to ask for a refund or chose to reinvest their refund in the festival through our online charitable donation page at InvestYYC.com.
The early bird gets the...Sled Island 2014 festival passes! Yes, thanks to everyone who supported the festival in 2013, we're back June 18-22, 2014 and are putting our passes on sale December 2nd! After that humbling show of support, we're making sure our passes are as valuable as ever, with even more slots held at each venue for pass holders only. Basically, the best. Christmas. Present. Ever.
Discovery Pass - $159 (limited time price)
All-Access Festival Pass
A brand new skating rink is opening up at Tompkins Park (on 17th Ave between 7th St & 8th St) and the 17th Ave BRZ is throwing a little party this Saturday, November 30th from 11am-3pm to celebrate! We'll be down there with limited edition silkscreened posters to sell along with some of our best buds, everyone from the Ship & Anchor, who'll be serving food and beverages to Sloth Records who have promised to bring a stack of albums from former Sled Island artists and Sled Island wishlists artists alike, to Local 510, who've invited DJ Tim Woolvett down to spin some fantastic tuneage! Simply, it should be a total jam. Come say hi (and pester us about who you'd most like to see at Sled Island 2014!).
Today we're thrilled to announce the 2014 guest curator, Kathleen Hanna (The Julie Ruin, Le Tigre, Bikini Kill), celebrated musician, feminist activist and zine writer. Each year, the guest curator helps to set the direction and tone of the festival through specialized programming choices and with their presence at the festival.
Kathleen Hanna, a Portland, Oregon native, has been involved in underground music and art since the 80s. Both a contributor to the zine riot grrrl and co-founder of the movement of the same name, Hanna cemented herself as one of the most important voices in feminist activism in pop culture and punk rock. That voice and a do-it-yourself sensibility were primary drivers of one of her early bands, Bikini Kill. In 1998, Hanna paired her left-wing politics with an electroclash musical direction to form Le Tigre. In 2010, following a battle with late stage Lyme Disease, Hanna formed The Julie Ruin, releasing their debut album in September 2013 on Dischord Records. That same year, a Sini Anderson-directed documentary, The Punk Singer, documenting Hanna’s work, premiered at SXSW.
Do you hear that rumbling? It’s Sled Island getting ready to announce our initial headliners for the 2014 festival. Stay tuned for the big announcement on March 4th!
Today, the first wave of headliners has been announced, representing what is sure to be one of the most diverse line-ups in the festival’s history. Sled Island 2014 is thrilled to present: a rare appearance from UK space rock legends Spiritualized, the celebrated and eclectic American singer-songwriter Neko Case, the world’s greatest party rock band Rocket From The Crypt and refined experimental pop artist and David Byrne and Swans collaborator St. Vincent. These artists are joined by the currently exploding American post-hardcore of Touché Amoré, Joel Plaskett Emergency, the Canadian national treasures who return following their cancelled 2013 appearance, the smooth-as-silk Danish-Canadian boudoir-R&B duo Rhye and the critically-acclaimed Atlanta hip-hop legend in the making, Killer Mike. Rounding out the first wave are psych-rock power trio flag-bearers Earthless, the long-awaited re-emergence of riot grrrl co-founder Kathleen Hanna in The Julie Ruin, alt-rock icon Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü) and goth-tinged experimental singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe.
Sled Island 2014!
