Bob-Sled music festival returns to The Palomino
Emma Voelpel, Staff Writer
The Sled Island Music Festival is typically in hibernation until summer, but The Palomino Smokehouse will be warming up in January with a special edition, Bob-Sled 2026.
Presented alongside 88’ Brewing Co., the event hosts everything from indie folk to death metal, allowing all genres and artists to fly onto Calgary’s radar.
The show’s lineup features well-known acts from all over Canada, as well as highlights upcoming local bands from the city.
From Jan. 21 to 24, The Palomino will be filled with a variety of different musical styles, making it a special party for music lovers.
Those who wish to access all the shows can purchase wristbands starting at $88, whereas individual shows will start at $26 on sledisland.com.
Ribbon Skirt on KEXP. Photo by Renata Steiner,
courtesy of Instagram/@ribbonskirtband
Featured Canadian Bands
Showcasing Canadian talent has always been a major highlight of Sled Island’s summer festival, and Bob-Sled is out to prove that the winter edition is no exception.
Each night has an array of different acts, representing different corners of Canada, with artists coming all the way from Vancouver Island and Southern Ontario.
Bands joining the lineup include Canadian acts such as Packs, Ribbon Skirt, Hedonist, and Milkmaid.
Packs—an indie-rock band from Toronto—will open the festival on Jan. 21, being the first to introduce Calgary to the Bob-Sled sound. With three studio albums already out, Packs can be described as a mix of dreamy pop with a little edge from their powerful bass lines, all the while exploring topics of love, friendship, and change.
“I don’t think I will ever not have anything to learn, ever. That means there’s always going to be songs to write,” said lead singer Madeline Link to Groovy Tunes in 2021.
Performing the second night is Ribbon Skirt, a Montreal-based indie-rock duo made up of Tashiina Buswa and Billy Riley, who have made a name for themselves with their fast-paced driving rhythms. Their label, Mint Records, described their music as “threads that explore memory, love, grief, and Buswa’s relationship to her Indigenous heritage” on their website.
Welcoming the weekend, Friday will feature the death metal band Hedonist. Originating in Victoria, the band has seen international success with their sound that remains authentic to death metal, while also paying homage to the 80s rock sound. Their music toes the line between haunting and abrasive.
Finally, the closing Saturday night will feature the upcoming Calgary-based band, Milkmaid. The all-female act will be making a return to the Palomino after debuting there last August.
A post-sludge band with tribal influences, Milkmaid continues to find their sound amongst the
Calgary scene, returning again and again to play local festivals, such as Bob-Sled.
Each of these bands represents a different music scene from all over Canada, marking the tip of the iceberg for performers at Bob-Sled.
Sled Island & 88’ Brewing Co.
The Sled Island Music and Arts Festival has been running since 2007, showcasing local artists from Calgary, as well as independent acts from around the world.
The yearly festival has created a communal atmosphere and safe haven for those who enjoy independent punk, amongst the other music, art, and comedy embraced by the event.
“It’s dedicated team working tirelessly each year to put together one week of relentless aesthetic moments, bridging the gap between the mainstream and the underground,” says Range Magazine in their coverage of the festival.
As for 88’ Brewing Co., they have been a longtime partner of the festival, creating brews that are exclusive to Sled Island, with many to be featured at the upcoming event.
