Sled Island is an annual multi-venue music and arts festival that attracts nearly 17,500 attendees each year.

Young by Calgary festival standards – it’s entering its fourth year now – Sled Island is on a roll in terms of fulfilling its mandate: to celebrate the best emerging and established local talent alongside national and international independent music, comedy, film and art.

The 2009 event saw performances by 170 bands at venues all over town. Past international performers are a who’s who of indie rock – bands like Yo La Tengo, Broken Social Scene, Drive-By Truckers and Spoon – while iconic locals like Tegan and Sara and Chad VanGaalen have also played shows.