Sunglaciers

What was your first Aviary experience?

It was sometime after those first pandemic restrictions were lifted. It ended up being just us with Stem Champ opening! It was Stem Champ's first or second show as a band and they ripped! Wares were meant to on the bill as well, but I think they had to cancel due to whatever that cold was that was goin around!

What was your most memorable experience?

I think this was all the same night, back in '22 or '23. Someone wrote "fuck Sunglaciers" on the wall in the green room in sharpie. People were smoking cigarettes inside after the show was done. And someone thieved Kyle's bass guitar right outside the venue! In fairness I think one of us was tasked with watching it, and failed the task. It happens. Not to worry, though! it was a cheap guitar.

Who are you looking forward to share the stage with most this weekend?

Tebby & the Heavy always put on a great show. We're also stoked to play with Pearly Moon. Pat is great and has been a pal for a long time! Sneaky pop hook master.

What can people expect from you in 2026? New music? Any festivals?

Well, we just put out our 4th full length last week! So we'll be playing that in its entirety for the fine yeg folks. We're also heading over to the UK for Focus Wales in May! After that, a lil Sled Island, hopefully some PurpCity, and a bit of touring later in the year. We've also begun writing our next album so we'll start debuting some new material sooner rather than later!

What’s one thing you want people from outside YEG to know about our music scene?

Our scene depends heavily on the yeg scene! We always love playing with Edmonton bands when they come down here. They're a secret source of inspiration as the music always rocks! So, bands from Edmonton please take note: get your asses down here because you are awesome.

Haidee

What was your first Aviary experience?

- Love fest 2020 by Mercy Funk

What was your most memorable experience?

- My EP release show in Fall 2025 and opening for MILQ's last show in 2022

Who are you looking forward to share the stage with most this weekend?

- Dylan Ella

What can people expect from you in 2026? New music? Any festivals?

- New music (collabs + singles) playing across Alberta this spring/ summer

What’s one thing you want people from outside YEG to know about our music scene?

- We have many incredible pop artists here in the City and the community is vibrant. Everyone in the pop scene is supportive and we all share the same goals/ pursuing the same dreams which makes it feel less lonely/ achievable

Pearly Moon

Q: What was your first Aviary experience?

A: There may be some shows I went to before this that I’m forgetting, but one of my old projects Ominous Cloud played a Mangled Tapes show there in 2018. I wouldn’t say I started going to shows at The Aviary regularly or playing there regularly until 2022 or 2023, but that was the first time I can remember playing there.

Q: Who are you looking forward to sharing the stage with most this weekend?

A: Sunglaciers crashed at my place a couple times when they were playing some of their first Edmonton gigs almost 10 years ago, so it’s a pretty big deal to me that we’re finally sharing a bill. Very cool to be playing with Tebby & The Heavy, been trying to make that happen for a little bit. Smokey’s a local legend, stoked to have him on the bill as well.

Q: What can people expect from you in 2026? New music? Any festivals?

A: I’m currently working on a 5 song EP, gonna try my best to have that ready for the summer or fall. You’ll hear a few of those songs in the set!

Q: What’s one thing you want people from outside YEG to know about our music scene?

A: I don’t think Edmonton’s really known as a music town, and I don’t think it’s a city people really pay attention to outside of Western Canada. I think that means Edmonton is an easier city for up and coming artists to make an impression, and an environment that produces some truly unique, special art.

Q: What was your most memorable experience?

A: Seeing Preoccupations last summer, both because it was an incredible set and because Monty wore a Pearly Moon shirt that night!

Smokey Sings

What was your first Aviary experience?

-it’s hard for me to separate early memories of the Aviary from the Artery once the fellas took over. I can’t remember the first band I saw there, but I remember being relieved and excited they’d brought the same transformative dirtbag flair to the new stage and witnessing that it’s not just the location, but the people, who make a space.

What was your most memorable experience?

-most memorable is a selfish, ecstatic one: playing the Field+Stream reunion rerelease to a sold out room of champions, the best scene a person could hope for.

Who are you looking forward to share the stage with most this weekend?

-the bill is so excellent it’s hard to pick! I’ve somehow never made it to a Sunglaciers set yet, so I can’t wait for that. Paint Drying have become family to me, a band I look forward to seeing perform as much as off stage. And Patrick (Pearly Moon) always does something fascinating to his songs.

What can people expect from you in 2026? New music? Any festivals?

-in 2026 I’ll be releasing a new EP, new songs and bsides from Bleak Heritage. Heading back to Scandinavia/Europe this summer and then playing Down By The River here in Edmonton

What’s one thing you want people from outside YEG to know about our music scene?

-our scene in Edmonton has become so supportive and positive, the petty competition that infects many scenes just isn’t present here anymore. We’re all showing up to deliver and witness art and community and it rules. I’m proud of us.