Built to Spill - Photo by Jarrett Edmund

Live, In Review:

Sled Island

(Part 2)

By: Krystle McGrath

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As someone who is a huge music festival fan, I was elated to have the opportunity to attend and write about Sled Island this year! There is truly something for everyone to enjoy, and the people that come out to Sled are some of the best, weirdest, truest music lovers that I have ever encountered. This was the first year I got to experience the “true” Sled Island experience – which is of course biking between venues throughout the fest. Everyone that I spoke to was celebrating with me that I was able to fully immerse myself in this custom.

Sled Island had me jumping in the middle of a mosh pit at The Legion, swaying softly within the warm walls of Broken City, answering my life’s questions in Central United Church, and feeling the heat of sunbeams in the parking lot of the old Lilydale factory. I wanted to get a variety of shows in this year, to really cover my bases and find a good balance between seeing music I already love and seeking out new loves as well. I truly feel as if I succeeded in this endeavour, and I can honestly say this is one of the best Sled Island years I have ever had! Although I enjoyed many, many more shows than what is covered here, these were definitely some of my favourite performances of the festival.

Silvering

Seeing Silvering live again was such a treat! It had been so long, and my heart was truly yearning to witness the genuine and earnest performance of the sad girl indie music that Silvering is best known for. The tinge of angst that wallows in the shadows of every note intertwines with the softness of Shalom’s stage presence and vocal performance, creating an auditory experience that allows you to close your eyes and pretend that you’re in a coming-of-age movie where you are the main character. Sad…but make it fun. Silvering’s live performance allows you to see her ability to connect with people through friendly and honest banter, revealing the wholesomeness of her character. Plus hearing those high notes once she is singing in her head range? Now that is out of this world!

Sonido Nuevo

Self-described as a “joyful, funky, psychedelic, jazz and rock band”, it is not hard to see why explaining the experience of seeing this band live is difficult to do (in the best way possible!). Sonido Nuevo is the solo project of local legend, Scott White (of Calgary favourites such as 36?, Websites, and Winky P), and their Sled performance was only their second show ever! In the first 3 seconds, you can tell this group knows what they are doing, and they love it. You are constantly being treated to an ambush of intricate sounds and incredibly high-quality instrumental skill. The dreamy, funky soundscapes fill your ears and your soul so much that the almost entire absence of lyrics leaves nothing to be desired. If you love wacky noises, fun, dancy music, and the pure joy of good musicianship – definitely be sure to catch Sonido Nuevo’s next show. You won’t regret it!

Bennett Mitchell

Bennett Mitchell is an absolute pleasure to see live. A creative, innovative, interesting, and genuine songwriter, Bennett Mitchell has created a band and a project that is enjoyable to see time after time after time. The songs are full to every corner, packed with so many beautiful, delicate decisions and additions, from the keys to the drums to the harmonies. There is clear thoughtfulness and precision built into every song and performance. Bennett’s lyrics are narrative and personal and give a small window into his life and emotions, something that can be very vulnerable to commit to and present onstage. But Bennett does it. He gives both a vulnerable and fun performance, and his band knows exactly what to do to support each other and put off the best show they possibly can. This performance was pleasant, practiced, tight, and an all-around good time that I am glad I fit into my Sled.

Lushings

Lushings was super fun to see live, especially in a venue like PinBar. Their soft psych rock is such an interesting blend of genre. For someone who isn’t extremely well-versed or knowledgeable about what songs fit into what genre, it was incredibly interesting to witness a band’s performance that I would say blends established genres to create a great sound. Stylistically, the drums felt more rock n’ roll, whereas the vocals were very reminiscent of psychedelic music. This blurring of lines was really fun to witness as somebody who had never seen the band before. Being in this space, I got lost in the music. There is always something to focus on. Even if you’re feeling anxious (like I do most of the time), when seeing them live you are able to tune into the bass line or the guitar rhythm and heighten those instead of your thoughts. No moment was empty, and everything felt very purposeful.

Built To Spill

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the Built To Spill show. I knew it would be good for sure, but because I wasn’t very familiar with their music, I wasn’t sure if I would understand the hype that everyone was feeling when I walked into The Palace. Luckily, this was not something to be concerned about at all! The energy of the bassist was one of my favourite parts of the show, the way they moved and fully immersed themselves into their playing experience – it was incredible to watch. I also absolutely love seeing bands that have a non-male presenting bassist AND a non-male presenting drummer, it always inspires me to want to be a better musician and empowers me to feel like a more confident music badass! Being surrounded by so many people, really filling a huge room, with people who genuinely want to be there, are thankful for the band, their performance, and for the experience of live music, is exactly why you go to something like Sled Island. Built To Spill makes you feel like a teenager again, living life and rocking out with your best pals, cares pushed aside to another day.

Mighloe

I had an absolute blast at Sled this year (as always), seeing pals, biking around, and catching some great live music. The best thing about Sled is finding new music and seeing acts you have never heard of, or perhaps might not have gotten the chance to see, without the platform that Sled provides. Although I enjoyed everything I saw this year, my favourite new find was certainly Mighloe. I cannot believe I had never seen her perform before, but I am eternally grateful that I have now! The church setting provided the perfect simple backdrop for such a passionate and visceral performance. The soft, interesting, unique vocals invoke the sweetest of R&B vibes and the passion of song. The lead singer had such a confidence, in both her performance and herself, it enticed me and held my full attention from start to finish. The sound quality was impeccable, live shows can be incredibly difficult to get good audio from, but this performance sounded like it was crafted in the studio. Getting this quality of sound from an entire band performance, with a mix of instruments and vocals, is delicious. A beautifully sexy sound that makes you want to cuddle up with the one you love, light some candles, and enjoy each other’s company. The weather and timing also perfectly aligned to compliment this performance, as during the second half of Mighloe’s set, the sun was setting through the church windows, casting the softest of light across the band and the gorgeous frontwoman. I will never forget how incredible it was to witness this performance and these performers for the first time.

Kellarissa

Experimental pop, disco act, Kellarissa, was ethereal. Her outfit for the performance was amazing, fitting the vibe of the space, the sounds, and the visuals like perfect pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Shimmery and loose, beautiful, and mystifying. The background visuals that were displayed throughout the performance depicted a dark, starry night with a burning sun. An image that projected across Kellarissa’s face in beautiful intensity, drawing you into the world that she has created. The backing track of harmonies and sounds brought this performance to another level, with sure and full vocals that made it hard to believe it was a one-person performance. Every song was so filled out and incredibly tight, with very interesting and unobvious harmonies. I would call this mysterious dance music – it washes over you, both unnerving and cleansing you at the same time. Experiencing this show solo is, in my opinion, the perfect way to take in this act.

Can I Crash On Your Couch? Financing Your Tour Panel

Along with the music and art that is constantly happening and being viewed at Sled, there are also some incredible panels to check out that are great for information and networking. I was lucky enough this year, for the first time, to be able to attend one of these panels. As someone who is interested in music from an artist’s perspective and also someone with the desire to break into the industry side of things, I found it really great to be able to listen to the opinions, tips, stories, and recommendations of the panelists. The session began and we moved all of our chairs closer to hear from some very interesting people about what to do, and what not to do, while considering the idea of touring or full-on booking tours. It is a big commitment and there are so many questions that music lovers and performers have about how to “do it right”, and although there is never one set way, hearing a discussion between knowledgeable individuals is never a waste of time. I am very glad I got to attend this panel and will definitely be checking out more of these in future years.

Thomas Thomas

If you picture the perfect day, with the perfect weather, with the perfect people – you will essentially have just pictured the Thomas Thomas show that took place at the Block Party on Saturday. Everyone on stage dressed in some semblance of yellow (I may be biased as that is my favourite colour) and a strong band connection and communication creates the most immaculate vibes you could ask for. The happiness and groove just radiates off these guys as they dance, sing, and perform their hearts out. I was incredibly impressed with this performance, having seen Thomas Thomas before, because the sound was so good! Especially at an outdoor show, this can be hard to accomplish, but the mix was really well done. I could really hear Shannon’s voice, I could hear her keys complimenting the guitar, and nothing seemed out of place or too loud that it drowned anything else out. It just sounded good. It sounded fun. It was a gorgeous summer day, and Thomas Thomas was the absolute perfect embodiment of the life of the party for a block party.

Living Hour

If you are interested in shoegaze and like bright guitar notes and powerful vocals, I would definitely recommend seeing Living Hour. Their performance at Sled Island’s block party was really enjoyable. The lead singer flawlessly switched instruments between songs and their vocals were incredibly powerful. They looked like they were having fun, which I always like to watch, and they knew how to hold the attention of a crowd with just the power of really good music. The high vocals really got me, when the lead singer got up to their highest range, wow that blew me away! Their name perfectly describes the experience of seeing them live in the sunshine. It feels like an hour you are truly living.

If you have never attended Sled Island, I would truly recommend it. The volunteers are incredible (and so is being one if you have ever considered it – I loved it!), the attendees are welcoming and joyous, and there is no doubt you will come out of the experience with more music recommendations than you’ll know what to do with! Try something new, go see a performance you’ve never heard of, or a genre that you don’t typically indulge in! Why not? Sled Island is the time to explore and enjoy whatever you stumble upon.

- Krystle McGrath

Live, In Review: Sled Island (Part 2)

Live, In Review:

Sled Island

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