Sled Island 2016 picks from CBC Calgary

With bicycles whizzing every which direction and over 250 bands playing multiple venues peppered throughout inner-city Calgary, Sled Island can be an intimidating beast. Fortunately, we've got some suggestions for you.

From the nostalgic to musical magic, five acts to get you started at Calgary's sprawling indie music fest

CBC News Posted: Jun 21, 2016 10:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 22, 2016

Eclectic and spread throughout the inner city, Sled Island can be a difficult festival to navigate, that's why we've selected a few can't miss shows to help start you off. (Diane and Mike Photography/Sled Island Music Festival)

With bicycles whizzing every which direction and over 250 bands playing multiplevenues peppered throughout inner-city Calgary, Sled Island can be an intimidating beast.

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Fortunately, some music-loving CBC Calgary folk havepored over the schedule, done the hard work of listening to lots of tunes, and come up with five bands that shouldn't be missed at this year's festival.

Kaytranada

Chosen by Chris dela Torre,a host and associate producer/technician on the Homestretch.

I'm a bit late to the party on this guy, but I've become addicted to his music and I'mequally intrigued by his story. Montreal's Louis Kevin Celestin started making music at 15 (he's only 23), and spent the next few years cranking out a new beat every day. Some 17 releases later (!), Kaytranada is now one of the most in-demand producers of the electronic genre, blessing dancefloors around the world with sunny, sexy and soulfully psychedelic grooves.

Kaytranada playsFlames Central onFriday at 11 p.m. Don't miss it unless you feel like missing the best dance party of the summer.

SUUNS

Chosen by Drew Anderson, web journalistfor CBC Calgary.

If it's performance insanity you're looking for, Peaches at Flames Centralon Saturdaynight is probablythe show you shouldn't miss. But for sheer musical delight, my bet's on Montreal band SUUNS.

The group's driving rhythms and repetitive droning melodies are addictive and the perfect head bobbingsoundtrack for aSaturdayafternoon at Olympic Plaza. The music is contradictory, somehow mellow andforceful all at once. While there will be plenty of opportunities to catch bands that fall into yourfavourite musical corners, SUUNS standsapart for its originality.

SUUNS play Olympic Plazaon Saturdayat5:30.

HEALTH

Chosen by Katherine Duncan, host of Keyof A.

I went to see HEALTH on a tip from a friend when they played Sled Island back in 2009.

Nothing prepared me for the kinetic intensity of the experience, and the magnetic pull I'd feel to get right up close to the thentrio at Broken City. Transfixed, captivated, wanting more of their layered, noisy, but carefully choreographed craziness. I had to go back and see them again the next night to see if they could pull of that level of intensity in a bigger venue, and if their show would exert the same powerful effect on me. They could, and did. Now, sevenyears later, I can't wait to experience HEALTH again.

HEALTH plays Dickens Pub onThursday at midnight.

Speedy Ortiz

Chosen byDaveWaddell, associate producer/technician for the CalgaryEyeopener.

"Who is this? They're awesome..."

The best moments of this festival are the surprises the bands and artists that catch your ear and draw you in, even if you aren't sure who they are or where they're from. Some festivals are built around headline acts and well-known groups,this festival is built around discovery and exploring new sounds.

I suspect Speedy Ortiz is going to be one of those discoveries for a lot of Calgary music fans. The Massachusetts indie rockers have only been around since 2011, but they already have three LPs and three EPs under their belts each one receiving high praise from music critics and fans. They have a fantastic guitar-heavy 90ish sound (Liz Phair and Pavement are the first two influences that jump to mind) and they reportedly put on a tremendous live show.

Speedy Ortiz play Olympic Plaza on Saturday at 4:20 p.m, and again at the festival-closing pig roast at the Palomino on Sunday.

Land of Talk

Chosen by Tracy Fuller, associate producer for the Homestretch.

It's been a long time since Land of Talk graced a festival stage. The Montreal group's entire catalogue is part of the soundtrack to my years in and around journalism school. Land of Talk's last album, "Cloak and Cipher", came out in 2010, and though it got good reviews from Pitchfork, Spin, CBC Radio 3 and others lead singer Liz Powell and company basically disappeared from public life after the album tour. If Powell's name sounds familiar, fans of Broken Social Scene will remember she joined that Toronto collective in 2009.

But now, Land of Talk is back.

In December, fans started whispering about updates on the band's website and new photos on their all-but-abandoned Facebook page.Sheer curiosity, not to mention Liz Powell's awesome stage presence,should be reason enough to check out Land Of Talk.

Land of Talk play Olympic Plaza on Saturday at 6:50 p.m.

Tune in to CBC Radio Onefor your chance to winDiscovery Plus Passes, which give you access to all Sled events subject to capacity (skip to the front of lines!), Artist Lounge privileges, a Sled Island delegate bag and more.

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