Sled Island 2016 Official Program Guide - Published by BeatRoute Magazine

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MUSIC
MARLAENA MOORE
EDMONTON, AB
Wed 8:00pm - Central United Church
Thu 6:00pm - Palomino (Upstairs)
Not content to wow the world with only her band
Switches, Marlaena Moore’s solo output shouts
about the inner demons so many of us have.
Cheerily titled tracks like “You’ll Absolutely Die”
propose solutions rather than simply highlighting
problems. Both her voice and guitar know exactly
when to hold back for effect and push forward for
impact.
MÁSCARAS
PORTLAND, OR
Fri 1:00am - Palomino (Upstairs)
Sun 4:00pm - Central Memorial Park
These Sled Island vets are back and ready to take
on the festival with sweaty sincerity. Celebrated
and prolific drummer Papi Fimbres hits a spread
of Latin-inspired rhythms in over 24 running projects.
No less impressive, guitarist Carlos Segovia
and bassist Theo Craig mess with rhythm and riff
to meet somewhere between surf and cumbia music.
The trio jams out goliath instrumental tracks
that are as heady as they are physical.
MASKS
CALGARY, AB
Fri 8:30pm - Palomino (Upstairs)
Sat 7:00pm - Local 510 (Parking Lot)
Hide under the covers if you must. MASKS’ unrelenting
species of post-punk is dead set on rattling
your innards. With loud rhythm, jagged, creeping
guitar jangles and growling vocals, MASKS’ music
is like the end of a slasher flick when the killer’s
disfigured face is finally revealed. This brew is one
of terror and delight.
MAXJULLIAN
CALGARY, AB
Wed 7:30pm - Tubby Dog
Fri 9:00pm - Flames Central
Not too long ago, MAXJULLIAN left his home in
Prince George to find a more urban landscape
in which to show off his hip-hop style. Quickly
linking with Calgary producer A.Y.E., he had one
of the breakout performances at Sled Island 2015.
His flow is on point, the production straddles
cloud rap and classics, and he never veers from a
relatable narrative.
MELTED MIRROR
CALGARY, AB
Wed 8:00pm - Local 510 (Parking Lot)
Fri 11:30pm - Dickens
A fresh throwback to ‘80s new wave, Melted
Mirror are a mixture of synth and drum machines
destined to be played in the passenger seat of a
DeLorean as the sun sets. If you close your eyes
and listen intently, fluorescent stars may flood the
backs of your eyeballs.
MERGANZER
OTTAWA, ON
Thu 7:00pm - Theatre Junction GRAND
Accomplished violinist and multi-instrumentalist
Mika Posen has a knack for slow-burning,
pop-noir storytelling. Using her own invention,
the “mikatron,” Posen accompanies her lingering
whispers with stirring baroque accompaniment
for atmospheric pop songs that are timeless and
enchanting.
METAFLOOR
CALGARY, AB
Wed 10:30pm - The Hifi Club
MetaFloor is a multi-genre electronic music producer
in Calgary, AB. Largely focused on minimalist,
bass driven tunes, he has played throughout
Western Canada’s rich bass music scene, including
sets at festivals like Shambhala. Also a community
organizer as part of the Sub Chakra crew, he
definitely knows how to throw a party.
MILK TOAST
CALGARY, AB
Thu 10:00pm - #1 Legion (Downstairs)
Sat 2:00pm - Tubby Dog
Milk Toast are an unapologetically twee band that
make the dreamiest pop you’ll hear at Sled Island.
2015’s Your Band Sucks & Punk’s Dead showcased
the band in peak form, but it’s their charming
live show that has kept them in the hearts of
Calgarians.
MITCHMATIC
EDMONTON, AB
Wed 12:00am - #1 Legion (Upstairs)
Mitchmatic’s multifaceted abilities as an MC,
musician and producer are crucial components
of the stuttering beats, clever lyrics and esoteric
sampling that define his hip-hop sound. One of
the core members of Edmonton’s Old Ugly crew, he
has consistently raised his game to higher levels
with each of his releases.
MONROEVILLE MUSIC CENTRE
CALGARY, AB
Thu 12:30am - #1 Legion (Upstairs)
Monroeville Music Centre is a thoroughly conceptualized
musical project that is also a fictional
institute for outsider music. Sounding not unlike
waking up to an infomercial at 3am in the ‘80s,
MMC offers a surreal journey through imagined
nostalgia.
MOON KING
TORONTO, ON
Fri 12:30am - Broken City
Sat 3:20pm - Olympic Plaza
Moon King revolves around the duo of Daniel Benjamin
(ex-Spiral Beach, past touring member for
Grimes, Sean Nicholas Savage and Doldrums) and
Maddy Wilde. The pair’s debut album Secret Life
showcases dual vocals atop tensely wound indie
pop coloured with flecks of krautrock and psych.
On stage, the tracks come to life with the band’s
ecstatic stage presence.
MOTHS & LOCUSTS
VICTORIA, BC
Sat 10:30pm - #1 Legion (Upstairs)
MOTHS & LOCUSTS are like the bastard child of
consciousness-altering psych and unhinged prog-
JULIA HOLTER
VAL VERDE, CA
Thu 10:00pm - Theatre Junction GRAND
Julia Holter has been making left-field pop music over the
span of four albums, including her 2013 breakthrough
Loud City Song. While that album used the 1958 musical
Gigi as a spiritual framework, Holter’s latest venture
Have You In My Wilderness is the singer’s most accessible
release to date. Gone are the overarching narratives and
heady concepts. Instead, Holter turns in confessional pop
stunners like lead single “Feel You.”
The strings and orchestral elements that appeared on
Loud City Song return, but Holter doesn’t let them overpower.
Instead, all of the ornate instrumentation serves to
bolster Holter’s already irresistible voice. It floats between
a Nico-esque baritone and a popstar in hiding, switching
between the two effortlessly. Even more impressive is the
fact that Holter and her band manage to translate her
decadent songs live.
Sled Island 2016