Guided by Voices, Deafheaven highlight 2016 Sled Island annoucement

Bob Pollard of Guided by Voices performs in 2011. // Courtesy lenovaphotolibrary

By Jason Herring, Feb. 9 2016 —

Sled Island, a popular Calgary annual music and arts festival, announced the first wave of headliners for their 10th anniversary festival on Feb. 9. And based on the artists revealed so far, it looks like this will be a year to remember.

Guided by Voices highlights the artists announced. The prolific ‘80s indie rock band is reuniting for their first-ever Calgary show and will play at the Olympic Plaza. Artistic director Maud Salvi says the band is a long-time “bucket list” get for the festival.

Other major names on the list are black metal giants Deafheaven, seminal indie rock icons Built to Spill, garage rock pioneers The Sonics and emerging art-pop songwriter Julia Holter.

The announcements follows the Jan. 19 reveal of Toronto electronic musician and performance artist Peaches as Sled Island’s guest curator, who is playing at Flames Central on Jun. 25. Other musicians coming to town include Angel Olson, HEALTH, Tortoise, Protomartyr, Psychic TV, SUUNS, Dawn of Midi and Duchess Says.

The initial announcement of 16 artists is just a fraction of Sled Island’s total lineup. According to festival organizers, there will be over 250 performers, including visual artists and comedians.

Sled Island will run from June 22–26, 2016 at over 35 venues across Calgary.