Sled Island: Daily Guide — Friday
Photo by Duncan Kinney. Duffy Driediger with Sean Hawryluk in the background of Ladyhawk rock out at Dickens Pub on Thursday night. The group is back tonight for a 1a.m. show at Broken City tonight.
Well, today is the big one. If you pick any day to go all out at Sled Island this would probably be it. From the main stage show at Olympic Plaza starting at 3p.m. to the 17 venues that will rock late into the night, your ears will likely be bleeding and feet blistered after this day, but hey, it’s all worth it.
Anybody who’s anybody will be at:
Olympic Plaza, duh. Local group the Summerlad kicks things off at 3p.m. and is then followed up festival headliner Malajube, Holy Fuck, Liars, The Breeders and more. This show is slated to run until 11p.m. but get there early if you want to be anywhere near the stage.
Looking for a little local flavour?
Local sensation Chad VanGaalen’s new project Black Mold takes the stage at Lord Nelson around 10:30a.m. Fresh off his 80-piece ensemble concert, VanGaalen is one of those acts that simply must be part of your Sled Island lineup.
Venue to settle in at
Besides the eight-hour marathon at Olympic Plaza, Dicken’s promises to be a crazy show. Von Zippers are set to rock out at 11p.m., opening for King Khan & BBQ, who are then followed by Monotonix. By all accounts from last night Monotonix throws a kickass party and crowds will likely pack into Dickens’ for this one.
What if I am sick of music?
Well Nardwuar’s Video Vault does have sets from Hot Panda, The Evaporators and others on tap, but it also has hilarious footage from the “journalist’s” many interviews with everyone one from Snoop Dogg to Mikhail Gorbachev. The laughs get underway at 7p.m. at the Plaza Theatre.
Late-night lovin’
Los Angeles noise band HEALTH take the stage at the Marquee Room at 1a.m. After teaming up with Crystal Castles to produce an album and opening for Nine Inch Nails during their 2008 fall tour, this band has a ton of momentum going for it and will be a perfect excuse to thrash your head around until the early morning hours. Check out this live performance:
Three things to know before you go
1. The Breeders, who headline at Olympic Plaza at 9p.m., have been around since 1988. Their biggest hit “Cannonball” came out way back in 1993 but the group just released their fourth album Monster Battles in 2008.
2. The Great Orbax Freak Show will perform five times at The Distillery tonight. Burnaby Q. Orbax and his brother Sweet Pepper Klopek a.k.a. The Monsters of Schlock, will show you things you likely don’t want to see like ass-stapling to a two-man straightjacket escape. Think Jackass gone apeshit.
3. Somehow Monotonix is going to pack hundreds into Tubby Dog for a 5p.m performance. Should be hilarious to watch hundreds of business people walk past this crazy party on their way home. Bring your elbow pads and mouthguards if you are going to go.
