illScarlett

Formed in the early 2000s in Mississauga, Ontario, illScarlett blends alternative rock, ska and reggae with a punk-leaning drive and straightforward pop structures. Fronted by singer-guitarist Alex Norman alongside drummer Swavek Piorkowski, the band first built momentum with local gigs and impromptu sets around festivals before stepping onto tours like the Vans Warped Tour. Their debut, Clearly in Another Fine Mess (2006), laid the groundwork with offbeat guitar chops, Jamaican-inspired rhythms and direct choruses. All Day With It (2007) took that approach wider with the single Who’s with Me?, followed by the self-titled illScarlett (2009) and 1UP! (2012), refining a balance between reggae rock, ska punk and pop-punk. On stage, the set pivots between skank-friendly grooves, punchy riffs and ear-catching hooks, true to the band’s roots in the urban youth culture of southern Ontario. illScarlett plays at Dickens in Calgary, AB on August 28, 2025, with special guests.