With influences such as Sonic Youth, Unwound and the riot grrrl movement, it's fitting that Vancouver band Sontag played the Kathleen Hanna curated showcase at Sled Island this year. Between raucous guitars and commanding lyrics, Sontag is a band who wears their influences on their sleeves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFlBJ1xZK10

Dan Deacon went on stage as I walked through the Legion’s artist entrance. While hopping over instrument bags and disassembled drums, a Sled Island volunteer stopped to tell me that this was the artist entrance and I shouldn’t use it. My friends sauntered by, nodding in passive agreement. I said, “It’s cool. I’m an artist.”

The second these words rolled off my tongue, I felt stupid. Having already shamed myself, I decided to follow up with, “I’m Dan Deacon.”

What is Sled Island?

The easiest, most convenient definition is that it's a music and arts festival. While this description is technically correct, it's by no means final.

Sure, there is music and there is art. But there's more to it than that.

To say that Sled is just a festival is to say that Elvis was just a musician. The words fit, but they're flat and don't tell the whole story.

The 2014 long list for the Polaris Music Prize was announced on Thursday at the National Music Centre in Calgary as part of the Sled Island Music & Arts Festival. Sled Island performers Shooting Guns, Solids and Bry Webb were among the nominees.

Established in 2006, the Polaris Music Prize recognizes the best new Canadian album, based solely on artistic merit.

While Michael Bay previously said that the third Transformers movie, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, would be his last one, he's back and giving the franchise an overhaul. Transformers: Age of Extinction introduces the Dinobots to the series, while swapping out the main cast for a new family of characters played by Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor.

Calgary Hitmen players Beck Malenstyn and Jake Bean have been selected to join Canada’s national under-17 development camp.

“It’s terrific when your players get recognized, and having Beck and Jake invited to the camp is a testament to their ability and the work of the Hitmen scouting staff,” said Hitmen general manager and vice-president of business operations Mike Moore.

The Canadian Hockey League announced the 96 skaters invited to Canada’s national under-17 development camp on Tuesday, June 10.

Unplayably hot temperatures. Bribery scandals hovering over the heads of politicians and FIFA officials. And now, emerging allegations of massive human-rights abuses against migrant workers building infrastructure for the event. Welcome to the most controversial World Cup in soccer’s history.

Based on the name of Vancouver duo The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, I expected A Real Fine Mess to be a mix of death metal and maritime folk music. However, their sound is defined by a funky mix of bluegrass and blues.

Ellen Doty’s debut album Gold is jazz in the most classic sense. Unashamed and frank, Doty embraces a sound that brushes aside modern studio gimmicks.

When it works, Gold stands out as a homegrown and warmhearted listen meant for easy summer days. When it doesn’t, the lyricism falls flat, forcing songs to drag out and overstay their welcome.

Defying expectations that glass art is delicate, Calgary- based art collective Bee Kingdom’s works are robust, satirical and amusing.

The group’s new exhibition, Bee Kingdom: Iconoclasts in Glass, reflects artistic activity in Calgary. Mary-Beth Laviolette, curator of the exhibit, thinks the pieces show a unique approach to glass art.