Sled Island Day Four: Ribbon Skirt, Horse Jumper of Love, Slash Need, Otoboke Beaver, Pearly Moon, and more
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Otoboke Beaver
Drag Brunch at the Palomino was a fun way to start the day. Karla Marx is a masterful host; her stand-up comedy has incredible timing and perspective. All of the acts I was able to catch brought it and each performer had a lot of unique personality. The drag brunch rallied everyone’s energy for the long day of Sledding ahead. Moreover, a good breakfast is always appreciated.
At Pinbar, Rebel Grrlz started the set off rolling, serving immediate high energy. Their very straightforward riot girl rocking punk vibe, primed Pinbar for a great showcase of punk talent. They were followed by Lushclot, whose lead knew how to ham it up for the crowd; two or three times a song she would pull an audience member into the show. Being one of Sled’s family-friendly venues and an afternoon showcase, people with small children started to filter into Pinbar. It’s great that this kind of show was accessible to that audience, especially when kids make late-night punk show outings near impossible.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - lushclot
I crossed the street over to Ship and Anchor. Lowkita had just started her set as the second act of the Ship Hop showcase; The emcee for the night, KTheChosen, did a great job of conveying the spirit of Ship Hop and making everyone feel welcome in their space. A little bit of Caribbean, a little bit of 90s, and a whole lot of movin', Lowkita held the house down. Hawa B followed, and she was pure sex appeal. Not only does she have a steely R&B-indie sleaze sound and an incredible voice, but she moves so fluidly, carries herself with immense confidence, and enraptures every viewer. She dominated the crowd in all senses of the word. The showcase closed with 538st, who played a real mellow, chill-hop acoustic set. It was a very sunny, daytime vibe; The crowd escaped from the rain and were mentally chilling lakeside in 538st’s hometown of Kelowna, listening to the waves and ambient sunlight. It was one of those unique, live-only experiences; you’ll never hear the songs in this acoustic way again.
Photo credit - Marcus Ogden - Lowkita
I closed off my Sled at Loophole. SILKRØAD’s set felt like being blasted by X-rays and an endless stream of pure percussion. The room went from zero to one thousand in the span of a single track. The pure high-speed electronica with various anime sequences projected behind filled everyone with what felt like pure lightning. SILKRØAD, clad in stark white Edward Scissorhands-type garb, kicked off the night with a bang. Slash Need’s following set was absolutely Lynchian. It was dark, and the room was thick with heat; it felt as if one was wrapped in a big, sweaty hug- in a good way. Slash Need had such a definitive and menacing presence, supported by haze-induced low visibility and dancers clad in BDSM chains crawling around the crowded shoulder-to-shoulder loophole floor. Void Comp’s was the perfect final set to catch; they played very chill, easygoing synth wave with enough rhythm to it that you could still sway and bob your head. It was a gradual cool-down for the action-packed day. - Marcus Ogden
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)
I kicked off my Saturday afternoon at the main floor of the Palomino, catching the entirety of Saskatoon-based ‘emo-gaze’ four-piece, blind commentary. I was introduced to blind commentary while planning for my radio show, and the moment they were announced on the Sled Island lineup, I needed to show up. Though the main-floor stage of the Palomino was small, the band utilized as much space as possible. blind commentary was epic, and the entire show, I found myself semi-hyperfixated on their drummer, who was passionately shredding on the drums. Saskatoon has a gem in blind commentary, and I’m glad I got to catch them during Sled.
Later in the evening, I found myself back on the main floor of The Palomino catching the set of Edmonton’s Pearly Moon, fronted by Patrick Earles. Patrick Earles also had Arthur Bennell from Blume (another artist from Edmonton) playing the guitar during the set. Another band I only managed to catch in passing during last year’s Sled, Pearly Moon’s blend of psych-rock and pop felt far more immersive this time around. Their dreamy guitar textures, tightly arranged melodies, and charismatic stage presence made for a set that felt both nostalgic and refreshingly current. Patrick Earles shouted out Confluence Distilling’s Maté Plus, which might’ve been the most relatable thing I heard all festival, because I, too, am a devoted fan. It was the perfect, low-key moment to close out my night at Sled Island—one of those small, serendipitous details that remind you Sled isn’t just a music festival; it’s a community stitched together by shared tastes, inside jokes, and unexpected connections. - Gabrielle Cadiang
Photo credit: Gabrielle Cadiang - Blind Commentary
My Saturday at the Legion started as they usually do, chill and spread out. People were bouncing between the two floors, enjoying Dandy pizza and shooting pool. When Denver-based Barbara came on, their set ushered people downstairs. Their slowcore indie rock was infused with electronic elements, and people were gravitating towards the stage.
By the time Ribbon Skirt hit the stage, the floor was packed with soft rock lovers. Lead singer Tashiina Buswa hypnotized the crowd with her powerful vocals and entrancing performance style. Preaching issues involving Indigenous populations in Canada, the band's performance of “Off Rez” was particularly striking. Buswa ended her set by jumping into the crowd and singing among the amped-up fans.
Photo credit: Daman Singh (@damaan_) - Ribbon Skirt
People guarded their territory on the floor during the stage setup for Horse Jumper of Love, eager to get a good view of the Boston trio. After a few conversations with others around me, it seemed like almost everyone on that floor were long-standing fans of the band, looking back all the way until 2017. The Legion proved to be a perfect venue for their introspective heroin rock as the room carried their raw vocals and atmospheric pauses. The crowd sang along to almost the entire set, and at one point everyone seemed to be swaying in unison. Horse Jumper of Love, a band who makes music for studying your bedroom ceiling alone in the witching hour, united a whole crowd through their own feelings of loneliness. I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say something in me healed while hearing “Dirt” live alongside so many others who they have touched. And for the people who may not know Horse Jumper of Love so deeply, their live show was the best way to become acquainted with them.
Photo credit: Daman Singh (@damaan_) - Horse Jumper of Love