Reading & Leeds 2011 Dance Stage Lineup

Bringing a worldwide exclusive show to this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival, our co-headliner on The Dance Stage is UNKLE Sounds. The ever-evolving James Lavelle will debut UNKLE Sounds, an audio-visual DJ show pushing original tracks from UNKLE’s career plus select UNKLE remixes of other artists and remixes of UNKLE tracks on to the dance floor. With set and production design by long time UNKLE collaborators, Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones, the show will bring UNKLE’s illustrious music and visual history into the future. With exclusive audio and visuals being prepared for these shows, they are not to be missed.

 

We are not exaggerating when we say our co-headliners on The Dance Stage, SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO, are one of the most successful electronic music acts around today. Early singles such as ‘The Mighty Atom’, ‘The Count’ and ‘Kitsuné hit ‘Hustler’ led to a 2007 debut album ‘Attack Decay Sustain Release’ on Wichita Recordings. The record was their breakthrough. Perhaps more importantly, it also gave birth to what would become one of electronic music’s most talked-about live shows, a celebrated DJing career and respect among their peers for a dedication to an analogue production aesthetic. These days, the live show is as forward-thinking as ever with an added component of video gradually being added to enhance and expand the experience. In other words, SMD are busy. Long may they remain so.

 

SUB FOCUS (LIVE) – the alias of DJ and producer Nick Douwma – is one of the biggest names in drum and bass and a pioneer in breaking down genre barriers within dance music. Rising from bedroom producer to major player in just a few years, Sub Focus has collaborated with the likes of Deadmau5, Dizzee Rascal and The Prodigy, with his stunning recent single ‘Splash’featuring vocals by Coco Sumner. Having joined Pendulum on tour last year to rave reviews, expect dancefloor hysteria as he brings his raucous melting pot of electronic beats to the Dance Stage at Reading & Leeds.

Producers Dan Stephens and Joe Ray are NERO (DJ set). Before setting the dubstep world alight (which resulted in a BBC Sound of 2011 nomination), NERO made drum ‘n’ bass for the masses. Having first come to widespread attention with a remix of The Streets ‘Blinded By The Lights’, they’ve subsequently remixed tunes for La Roux, N*E*R*D, Daft Punk and Beyoncé amongst others. The duo’s third single, ‘Guilt’, made its premiere when Zane Lowe selected it as his Hottest Record In The World, and will be included on the debut album which will drop early August.

SBTRKT (DJ set) is the elusive London based producer making some of the freshest beats around, and he’s heading for the decks at Reading & Leeds. He’s got the airwaves in a stir with Mary Anne Hobbs declaring ‘when people ask you who’s your top tip for next year, this guy might be it’. Recently SBTRKT has wrapped up remixes for Basement Jaxx, Jack Penate, Portico Quartet and These New Puritans. With solo releases forthcoming on the Young Turks, Brainmath and Ramp Recordings stables, look out for ltd release 12”s, a new album and further remixes from one of the hottest new UK producers.

 

 

Already a massive name on the underground rap scene, 2010 saw Dagenham’s DEVLIN emerge as one of the UK’s most exciting crossover artists. Blending playful storytelling with social realism and ‘the biggest vocabulary in grime’, Devlin’s meteoric rise from parties and open mics to three million YouTube hits, a five-label bidding war and a deal with Island Records has seen him dubbed ‘the Eminem of Essex’. Weaned on rap, inspired by garage, schooled by grime but with a scabrous wit and sound all his own, Devlin will be tearing up the Dance Stage this summer at Reading & Leeds.

Tipped by the Guardian as “one of this summer’s most irresistible festival bands”, CRYSTAL FIGHTERS are a thrilling addition to the Dance Stage. Their Basque-by-way-of-Hackney vibes are a jubilant collision of old-world musicianship and future electronics, utilising traditional wooden percussion and pipe whistles alongside raved-up synths and bass-driven computer-funk. The band have been honoured twice with a Radio 1 Record of the Week, whilst the energy and intensity of their live shows is legendary – “the single most exciting show in dance music” says Mixmag. Expect their gloriously euphoric sound to be the talk of Reading & Leeds.

 

UK post-dubstep duo MOUNT KIMBIE are one of the hottest acts of the moment, their debut album ‘Crooks and Lovers’appeared in over thirty ‘Best of 2010’ lists including Pitchfork, NME and Mixmag. Their minimal ambient soundscapes defy genre pigeonholing, featuring delicate loops, sampling and field recordings to hypnotic and haunting effect. With countless sold-out shows worldwide, their appearance on the Dance Stage at Reading & Leeds could be the best chance to catch them this summer.

Reading’s very own anarcho-electro heroes DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? return with the promise of another incendiary performance on the Dance Stage. Having severed ties with major labels to stay true to their experimental rave-rock roots, the band’s first album for Cooking Vinyl, ‘Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You’, was released in March and was a Top 3 UK dance chart smash. While their resolutely indie approach has earned transatlantic success and a touring spot with Linkin Park, a loyal UK fanbase will ensure a frenzied reception at both Reading & Leeds this summer.

COLD CAVE are back with a new album, ‘Cherish The Light Years’, and are heading to Reading & Leeds Festival. The record sees the band move in a new direction whilst still retaining the pulsing synthesizers, huge beats and post-punk sounds of their 2009 debut, ‘Love Comes Close’.Guest appearances arrive from the likes of Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and members of hardcore bands Glassjaw, Hatebreed and Moss Icon amongst others. The album delivers in all the right places and these shows are sure to do the same.

D/R/U/G/S is the project of one Callum Wright, who crafts some of the most euphoric, radical new music around. Early tracks quickly found their way onto the blogs and soon were being written about by NME, The Fader, Q, Dummy and XLR8R and played by Rob da Bank and Steve Lamacq on radio. This attention sent him on the road, and since starting out he has played around the UK and Europe, going down a storm at In The City, where he was given the title Most Buzzed About Act. In the live arena, Callum cements his reputation as one of the most exciting new musicians around.

 

 

Since emerging from the hyperbole last summer Southern US four-piece MONA have certainly caused a rumpus, be it the buzz of their first couple of low key releases, their (early) appearance on Later…With Jools or the London debut at Rough Trade East, the band certainly know how to get attention. Having won MTV’s Brand New For 2011 seeing off competition from Jessie J, The Vaccines and Jamie Woon, the imminent release of the much anticipated self titled debut album in May, gigs with both Kings of Leon and Morrissey and a first showing at Reading & Leeds, 2011 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for the band which has already seen The Guardian heralding them as “…very much rock ’n’ roll’s great white hopes.”

 

Expectations run high for MILES KANE playing his debut solo appearance at the festivals this year. The ex. Rascal and part time Last Shadow Puppets man has stepped out as a solo artist and releases his album ‘Colour of The Trap’ in May 2011.   Described as ‘half boy- next-door, half charisma-firework’ Kane has instantly lovable star quality.   The single ‘Inhaler’ dominated the airwaves at the end of 2010 and so far this year he has toured with Beady Eye as well as played his own shows. Look out for the darker corners of vintage pop, psych and blue-eyed soul sounds.

 

Sunderland’s FRANKIE & THE HEARTSTRINGS come armed with their acclaimed debut album ‘Hunger’ when they hit Reading & Leeds Festival this summer. The band have drawn comparisons to the likes of Dexy’s Midnight Runners and Orange Juice amongst others and built a reputation for their live shows and in particular the exuberant antics of frontman Frankie Francis.   Primed with a clutch of brilliant singles and an ever growing fanclub, Frankie & The Heartstrings look set to be one of the weekend’s highlights having evolved into one of the country’s best loved bands.

 

Hailed by The Observer as “surely the best live band in Britain”, Yorkshire’s PULLED APART BY HORSES come highly recommended.   Long recognised as a phenomenal live experience since their inception back in 2007, the quartet released their debut album last year and is a fitting accompaniment to the band’s incendiary live shows which more often than not witness much carnage both musically and physically. Catch Pulled Apart By Horses and you’ll see a band excel in their natural habitat with a whirlwind of noise and acrobatics!

 

Not your conventional outfit, EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS fronted by Alex Ebert – who in turn becomes his childhood alter ego whenever the group perform – started playing together about two years ago and their shows have borne out scenes of euphoric joy as the group by turns bring their rousing, wildly adventurous, almost choral psychedelic folk rock to the live arena. With excitement building Stateside and debut album scheduled for later this year, catch this unique and incredible group when they play this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival.

 

The release of YUCK’s debut eponymous album this year continued the rise and widespread acclaim for this London based band. Formed from the ashes of Cajun Dance Party, they’ve taken the spirit of Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jnr, Teenage Fanclub and Pavement amongst others and created their own fresh sound.   Having been featured in the BBC Sound of 2011 poll, everybody is invited to check out one of the best and brightest new bands around, not to mention one of the most mercurial and unpredictable.

 

California’s FUNERAL PARTY bring their punk-disco to Reading & Leeds Festival. Their kick-ass single ‘New York City Moves to the Sound of LA’ infected the airways on its release and the album ‘Golden Age of Nowhere’ which “shakes your hips as well as grabs your balls” followed earlier this year picking up more fans along the way. Expect frenetic dancing and moshing to infectious tunes.

www.myspace.com/funeralparty 

 

With the release of their debut album ‘Crazy For You’ last summer, BEST COAST were hailed by many as ones to watch - with the album figuring highly in many end of year polls . The NME were gushing in their praise when they said “Best Coast have shot straight to the top of the pile for two reasons; great songs and immense charm” before handing the Los Angeles trio their favourite new band of 2010 gong.   This summer marks a Reading & Leeds debut for Best Coast when they arrive with their infectious lo-fi summer soundtrack including the online hit single ‘Boyfriend’ to the NME/Radio 1 stage.

 

Led by the legendary Pink Eyes/Damian Abraham, FUCKED UP bring their hardcore punk all the way from Toronto to get things going in the NME/Radio 1 tent this year. With a history of raucous and rocking live shows the band have won over lots of fans in the UK. New album ‘David Comes To Life’ is a rock-opera (honestly!) which promises blistering melodic rock ‘n’ roll, crossed with all manner of psychic weirdness. 

 

DANANANANAYKROYD bring ‘Fight Pop’ (their description!) to the Reading & Leeds Festivals this year. Since releasing their first records in 2006 they have picked up support and fans around the world for their ‘part craft pop, part noise, all energy’ sound. The Glasgow six-piece have a new album ‘There Is A Way’ due later this summer which is sure to find yet more fans drawn to this exciting live act.

 

Weekend tickets £192.50 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £82.50 plus booking fee • Early entry permits £15 • Weekend ticket prices include camping.

 

Tickets are strictly limited to a maximum of four per household for those booking by telephone or online and two per person for personal callers to walk in stores.

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