For anyone who’s been to Sled Island, visiting Calgary’s Palomino is a must. The Palomino (or “The Pal” to those who prefer slang) is a barbecue joint and music venue in the center of downtown Calgary. Inside, it is dimly lit, with walls covered in mud-brown paint and exposed brick. It smells like propane and barbecue sauce and feels like you’re inside a piece of brisket—you could call it rustic. This is the location I chose for my interview with Concrete Vehicles, a five-piece punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sled Island 2026 taught me three new things about Calgary: the Palomino isn’t as good as it smells, the trains are free downtown, and there is more than one library. The last one may seem insignificant, but when you’ve agreed to meet at a library for an interview, it becomes quite important. When I went to meet Sam Woywitka (of SAMWOY) for a 1 p.m. interview on June 19, I paced around the building for 10 minutes before realizing there was, get this, another library, at which point I dashed outside and hopped in an Uber that took me to the correct spot. When I arrived, Sam was very forgiving and led me to his car for the interview below.

Shaun Lee chats with Calgary band, Crystal Eyes.

Shaun Lee caught up with Matt Swann at Sled Island 2022 for a quick chat.

Ty Vanden Dool chats with Miesha Louie about the upcoming Miesha & The Spanks release.