Sketchy Records Puts Calgary Punk on the Map, and on the Press
Medusas featured on Calgary Caling. Photo credit: Daman Singh.
When longtime punk devotee Julius Sinkevicius moved from Toronto to Calgary a few years ago, he didn’t expect to fall so hard for the city’s underground music scene. A veteran of the late, ’80s punk scene, he’d once run a small record shop called Sketchy Records, a teenage passion project that fizzled before spreadsheets and streaming were part of the lexicon. But his DIY spirit never left. After decades in Toronto and Seattle, he arrived in Calgary and found something unexpected: a scene bursting with creativity, energy, and heart.
“I was blown away by the quality of bands here,” he says. “There’s such a mix of young and older musicians, and the music holds up against any big city.”
That realization sparked the rebirth of Sketchy Records, a small but mighty local label dedicated to championing Calgary punk. What began as a one-off vinyl release quickly grew into a community-building project. Recently, the label released Calgary Calling, a 15-band compilation entirely rooted in the city—from the mastering and artwork to the pressing and stickers. “One hundred percent of that record is Calgary,” Sinkevicius says proudly.
The album features a vibrant cross-section of Calgary’s punk ecosystem, from the raw ferocity of Total Wolf, Toxic Fem, and Rebel Grrrlz, to the melodic edge of The Break-Ins, Julius Sumner Miller, Turnarounds, and Upside Down Man. Emerging acts like Letters to Norma, Sleepy and the Bugs, Terrible People, and The Galacticas sit alongside Juliet’s Got a Gun, The Morons, and Medusas, capturing the city’s blend of grit and a moment in time where new bands are pushing their sound.
Calgary Calling.
The compilation became a surprise success. It hit No.1 on CJSW’s charts in July and earned praise across Canada for its production quality and diverse lineup. Parents of musicians even approached Sinkevicius at the Punk Rock Flea Market to thank him for including their kids. “That was the best part,” he recalls. “Seeing how much it meant to people.”
Behind the scenes, Sketchy Records operates on pure passion. Sinkevicius handles everything—from curating bands and mastering vinyl to designing artwork and folding zine inserts by hand. The accompanying booklet, a photocopied and hand-stapled zine, nods to punk’s cut-and-paste roots. Each band got a page to fill however they wanted: photos, lyrics, or simply a logo. “It’s all part of that DIY ethos,” he says.
One of the breakout acts from Calgary Calling is Upside Down Man, a four-piece that embodies the city’s loud-and-loving punk spirit. Featuring Brook Hadden (guitar/vocals), Josh Cameron (drums), Matt Egerton (bass), and Steve Larsen (guitar), the band originally formed in 2006 out of the ashes of The Intended. After a long hiatus, the members reunited in 2021 when life serendipitously brought them all back to Calgary.
“Realizing how much we missed each other and the music we loved, we began jamming and writing new songs,” says Hadden. Their return quickly gained momentum: 2023’s Looking Up re-introduced their fast, hook-laden sound, and this fall they’re following it with Fairy Tale for a Modern Age, produced by Belvedere’s Casey Lewis.
While the EP doesn’t follow a strict concept, it channels the anxieties and small salvations of everyday life. “It reflects how we feel about the mess we all currently find ourselves in, and how when we get together with the people that matter to us—our friends, our community—we can find a way forward,” Hadden explains. Songs like “Now or Never” and “Lessons” balance urgency and optimism, featuring sing-along choruses with head-banging anthems.
The connection with Sketchy Records felt natural. “When Julius approached us, we were immediately impressed by his passion for the Calgary punk scene,” the band says. “Having the opportunity to release on vinyl has always been a dream for all of us, and we’re super grateful to Sketchy Records for making that dream a reality.”
Their record-release show happens December 12 at The Blox Arts Center in Calgary, with more dates—including a potential B.C. tour—planned for 2026.
Upside Down Man. Photo credit: Krys Mchugh @lookinglass_photography.music.
For Sinkevicius, Upside Down Man’s upcoming vinyl represents what Sketchy Records is all about: trust, collaboration, and community. “Doing Calgary Calling helped build relationships,” he says. “My heart’s in the right place.”
As he prepares new releases from Upside Down Man and recently Letters to Norma, Sinkevicius is proving that Calgary’s punk scene doesn’t need outside validation to thrive—it just needs people willing to do the work. “I’m not in it for money,” he says. “I just want to see these bands get the recognition they deserve.”
For him, the mission goes beyond records. It’s about showcasing Calgary’s punk vitality to the rest of Canada and beyond. “If one of these bands gets signed or tours outside Alberta, I’d be thrilled,” he says. “That’s the dream—to get people outside the city paying attention.”
Pre-orders for Upside Down Man, as well as other releases on Sketchy Records, are available here.
