All Points East’s announcements continue with a special celebration of one of the most innovative, influential and groundbreaking pioneers in musical history.
Kraftwerk will celebrate 50 years since their debut release at East London’s Victoria Park on May 29, a UK exclusive and another unmissable show after Tame Impala were announced as the first headliner for May 23.
The multi-media project Kraftwerk was started in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in Düsseldorf, Germany. They set up their legendary electronic Kling Klang Studio where they composed produced and recorded all their Kraftwerk concept albums.
Since the late 60s they have been closely connected with the Düsseldorf Contemporary Art Scene and after an early experimental phase, Kraftwerk achieved international recognition in 1975 with their first concept album Autobahn.
With their futuristic music and technical innovations Kraftwerk created the soundtrack for the digital age of the 21st century. Over five decades their compositions, using new studio techniques, pristine melodies and synthetic voices, computer sounds and robotic rhythms, have had a global influence across an entire range of music genres and musicians. From electro to hip hop, house to techno, synth pop to industrial and ambient to EDM, it is hard to ignore just how much impact Kraftwerk’s music has had.
The man-machine Kraftwerk will present their legendary live show from the main East Stage combining digital surround sound with breathtaking 3-D animations and robotics. And in true All Points East style, a stellar bill of acts will accompany them on the day in Iggy Pop, Johnny Marr, The Orb, Chromatics, Anna Calvi, Kim Gordon, Grandmaster Flash, Jehnny Beth and John Maus with more to be announced.
Also joining: IGGY POP, JOHNNY MARR, THE ORB, CHROMATICS, ANNA CALVI, KIM GORDON, GRANDMASTER FLASH, JEHNNY BETH, JOHN MAUS
Following a hugely successful inaugural year, OnBlackheath festival is back and promises to be bigger and better with the announcement of platinum selling five piece Elbow and pop icons Madness as this year’s headline acts. OnBlackheath, inpartnership with John Lewis, will return to one of London’s most beautiful open spaces on Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September 2015. Tickets on sale 9am Friday 20 February and available via www.onblackheath.com
Music complimented by food, OnBlackheath offers festivalgoers a memorable experience on the historic green space of London’s Blackheath Common SE3. OnBlackheath will also feature an array of exciting attractions including a Chef’s Club Immersive Dining Experience, Food Demonstration Stage, a whole host of entertainment dedicated to kids and the family, urban arts experience area, interactive sreet entertainment and much much more.
Saturday's headliner will be BRIT and Mercury winning Elbow, a band that, over six studio albums, have established themselves as one of the most important acts the UK has ever produced. With their current album 'The Take Off and Landing of Everything' entering the UK charts at Number One and a well deserved reputation for incredible live performances this headline set is sure to be unforgettable.
Madness will be hitting the main stage on Sunday for their only London date this year. In the last 5 years the band have released two of their most critically acclaimed albums ‘The Liberty of Norton Folgate’ and ‘Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da’. At the end of 2014 they embarked on a hugely successful arena tour, including a date at London’s O2 Arena.
Madness commented: “We thought we’d left no stone unturned in London: Palaces, parks, stadiums… and now the kind people of Blackheath are letting us play there. Lets hope we don’t cause an earthquake south of the river.”
Manic Street Preachers will arrive on Blackheath following the release of one of the most critically acclaimed albums of their career (Futurology) and the reissue of their 1994 masterpiece The Holy Bible which was also played in full at some of the most feverishly received gigs the band have ever played. They are unarguably one of the UK's most treasured rock & roll bands.
Also heading to the main stage on Saturday will critically acclaimed Anna Calvi with many more artists still to be announced. Whilst leading independent label Heavenly Recordings will be back to curate the second stage Heavenly & Friends.
Sunday will see the likes of American R&B star and food lover Kelis and British soul singer Laura Mvula take to the main stage. National radio DJ Gilles Peterson will be making a return and will be bringing an array of live music and DJ sets to hisWorldwide Stage.
The Meantime Sessions Stage has also been announced and makes a welcome addition to the bill with artists including The RudeVandals plus Chris Holland All Stars.
The 9th Latitude Festival in Suffolk, England drummed up great interest after winning Best Line-up at the 2013 Festival awards. Trying to live up to expectations this year, they enlisted big acts like Damon Albarn, the Black Keys, Robyn & Röyksopp, as well as up and coming bands like Jungle, Childhood, and Bondax. Aside from the comprehensive bill of musicians and bands, Latitude also had a wide variety of cultural offerings ranging from theatre, comedy, cabaret, to literature, poetry, and dance.
Photo courtesy of Latitude Festival – Marc Sethi
Day 1
The festival opened with a huge surprise last Thursday but not exactly of the good kind. Friday headliner and crowd favorites Two Door Cinema Club cancelled the very last minute leaving plenty of fans heavily disappointed. Vocalist Alex Trimble was reported to have collapsed at Seattle Airport en route to England due to stomach problems. With many traveling from as far as Japan just to see the trio, the cancellation led to an uproar and a huge pile of heatbreaks. TDCC was the first band to be announced to headline the festival– as early as December 2013. It was supposed to be their first festival headline after touring for 5 years and climbing up the ranks.
Filling up that glorious headline slot, Lily Allen agreed to step up to do the job; but not without getting loads of backlash from disappointed festival goers. One twitter user compared the change as paying to sleep with Keira Knightley and ending up with Susan Boyle. Tired of the negative reaction the change elicited from fans, Allen wrote on twitter: “If you’re going to be rude about my replacing @TDCinemaClub on here, can you just un @ me please ? I’m so exhausted by the nastiness”
Despite that, Lily Allen’s courage to still show up was commendable. She paid tribute to the trio by wearing a Two Door Cinema Club shirt and doing a cover of ‘Something Good Can Work.’ This seems to be an olive branch offering to TDCC fans and it was gracefully received. The main stage didn’t end up a disappointment and the night ended with the crowd chanting her name.
At the BBC Radio 6 Stage, festival goers were treated to some excellent show of guitar skills starting with Anna Calvi and Slowdive. Calvi treated fans with some new songs from her album ‘One Breath’ and with classics such as ‘I’ll be Your Man’ and ‘Desire’. There was a silence of deep awe during the last few songs, and the following band, Slowdive proved worthy of the momentum. The band from Berkshire had their own strong following with their announcement of a comeback this year after more than a decade of absence.
Headlining on the same stage was Scotland’s well- respected guitar band Mogwai. The set was expected to be an attack to the senses and they certainly lived up to expectations. More than an attack to the senses though, it was also an attack to the ear drums, with Stuart Braithwaite cheekily saying “I hope any children in the audience are wearing earplugs” before playing 'Master Card.'
Other acts to note on the first day was the surprise show by Rudimental on the main stage and the highly energized performance by the Editors.
Day 2
The second day provided some dilemmas to festival goers as to which stage to go to. It started early with Simon Amstell packing the Comedy stage with almost triple its capacity. The Essex local gave fans a peek of the show he will be touring this coming autumn. It was slightly peppered with some past materials but it sure didn’t leave fans short of laughter.
After that, all roads led to the BBC Radio 6 stage where the legendary duo Hall & Oates were welcomed with much gusto after almost 10 years of absence in the UK. They started with ‘Maneater’ which got the audience and even the BBC cameramen up to their feet. They followed it up with huge hits like ‘I Can’t Go For That’ which included a breathtaking 5-minute solo (forgive the pun) by saxophone player Charles "Mr. Casual” DeChant. They came back for an encore playing ‘You Make my Dreams Come True’ which prompted mass sing alongs from the old and young alike.
Photo courtesy of Latitude Festival
It was also a big day for Swedish musicians, with First Aid Kit bringing sunshine to the Oberlisk Arena with some delightful harmonies from their new album and a beautiful rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘America’. Swedish singer Robyn & Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp also fired up a party at the BBC Radio 6 stage. The 2-hour set probably saw the most excitable crowd that day and they proved worthy of the adulation. The audience danced along to the long string of hits and went wild to ‘Dancing On My Own.’ The light show and production were far from bad too.
The night ended with some thunderstorms and with Damon Alborn capping the night by bringing Blur band mate Graham Coxon onto the stage, much to the delight of fans. They played a captivating performance of the Blur song ‘Tender’ amidst all the lightning and heavy downpour. Simply memorable.
Photo courtesy of Latitude Festival
Day 3
The thunderstorms from the previous night didn’t seem to dampen the spirit of festival goers. The last day of the festival saw the new chart-topper George Ezra croon fans at the BBC Radio 6 Tent. The 21-year old seemed to be overwhelmed by the amount of people who came to see him, but managed to meet and beat all expectations with beautiful melodies from ‘Budapest’, ‘Cassy O’, and ‘Leaving It Up To You.’
Hardcore fans of American bands Phantogram and Tycho didn’t mind the muddy trek up to the iArena stage to watch the bands from New York and San Francisco do their take on synthpop music. Sarah Brathel of Phantogram unleashed her inner beast and performed singles like ‘Falling In Love’ and crowd pleaser ‘Black Out Days.’ They were immediately followed by Tycho, aka Scott Hansen, which along with his band, brought his design works and projected them on the wall to accompany their music. To say it was a hauntingly beautiful set was to say the least.
The big responsibility of closing up the festival was left up to The Black Keys. The backdrop to this much-anticipated show was an elaborate set-up including multiple screens and painted theatre curtains. The crowd which was eager for a great send-off sang along to hits like ‘Lonely Boy’, 'Howlin' For You' and ‘Fever’. Although the set was mostly well-received, it was also noticeably lacking in energy compared to the previous nights’ headliners. One festival goer quipped, “They don’t seem to have much chemistry between the two of them tonight.”
Overall, it was a successful festival. It had minor glitches and the wellies were certainly put to use, but what would be an English music festival without those?
As the Green Man Festival 2014 tickets go on sale, we have the details of the first lineup phase announced for this years event which includes the wonderful Beirut, Neutral Milk Hotel, First Aid Kit, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Daughter, Anna Calvi, Sharon Van Etten, Polica, Jeffrey Lewis, Tunng and Toy.
The multi-talented Zach Condon and Beirut headline the Mountain Stage on Friday August 14th. Their amazing 2010 set is the stuff of whispered legend among the Green Man faithful…
And what better way to close four days of five-star live music than with a Sunday headline set from Neutral Milk Hotel, one of the great US alt-rock bands of the 1990s, back together in their classic line-up led by the mercurial Jeff Magnum?
Harmonies as pure as a Scandinavian stream from Swedish sisters First Aid Kit, skuzzy stoner-rock from Kurt Vile & The Violators, nocturnal atmospherics from the soon-to-be-massive Daughter, and epic raw emotion from Anna Calvi.
…not to mention…
Brooklyn indie-folk favourite Sharon Van Etten, genius cult hero Jeffrey Lewis & The Jrams, blissful folktronica from Tunng and moody krautrockers Toy.
…and ALL these unbelievable bands…
I Break Horses |Ry X | Lanterns on the Lake | Frank Fairfield | Fat White Family | William Tyler | Michael Chapman | Speedy Ortiz | Georgia Ruth | All We Are | Happyness | Plank! | Eaves | Sons of Noel & Adrian | Valleyers | John Mouse
Latitude is hugely excited to announce that Two Door Cinema Club will make their first festival headline performance on the Obelisk Arena. Announcing the trio ahead of the biggest show of their career at London’s O2 Arena to 16,500 fans, Latitude has confirmed the Irish indie rockers will make the step up to headline Latitude’s main stage. With infectious guitar riffs, glistening electronica melodies and Alex Trimble’s lifting vocals, the band will be slowing down after a year of intense touring to play their one and only UK show of 2014 at Latitude. Not only will this be their first appearance at Latitude, but also the band’s very first festival headline show and we are delighted that Latitude is once again the place for a UK act to take that step. We welcome them with open arms and feet ready for a night of infectious anthems!
Kevin Baird from Two Door Cinema Club comments on their headline appearance:
"It's really exciting for us to be headlining Latitude in 2014. Over the past 5 years we've made the progression from playing in the small tents to being close to the top of the bill on the main stage. Headlining a great festival like Latitude is obviously quite a big deal for us but we also feel like it is the next natural step. We're ready to headline. We're ready to smash it."
Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp and Swedish indie-pop pioneer Robyn, will enchant festival goers in a special joint appearance at Latitude on their Do It Again 2014 tour. The two acts who collaborated to stunning effect in 2009 with ‘The Girl and The Robot,’ a clear stand-out track on Röyksopp’s third album Junior, are reuniting for a small number of shows in 2014. Latitude will be the only opportunity in the UK to catch these grand masters of electro-pop performing hits from their illustrious careers.
Californian sister trio Haim took the UK by storm in 2013, following an outstanding appearance on ‘The Jools Holland Show’ and subsequent release of their breakthrough album ‘Days Are Gone’, with ‘The Wire’ becoming the anthem of the summer for many. Nominated for an NME Award for ‘Best Track’ with 'Don’t Save Me' and topping the prestigious BBC ‘Sound Of 2013’ list, these talented siblings deliver an energetic live performance fusing retro, silky pop vocals and catchy rhythms. The crowds will no doubt go crazy for Haim during their debut Latitude performance.
Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Roots Award’, Billy and his band will be stopping off at Latitude, where his unique blend of political analysis, romantic idealism and engagement with contemporary society will be a perfect fit with the festival’s audience. Since the release of his internationally acclaimed new album ‘Tooth & Nail’, Billy Bragg has been recognised by the Association of Independent Music (AIM) with an ‘Outstanding Contribution To Music Award’. Bragg, who was first inspired to combine music with activism by the ‘Rock Against Racism’ movement in 1978, has put campaigning for equality at the centre of his life and work ever since. An activist for workers’ rights and the end of apartheid throughout the 1980’s, on hearing the news that Nelson Mandela had passed away during a recent show, he dedicated his song ‘Tank Park Salute’ to the inspiring former leader. His ongoing commitment to breaking down the walls of secrecy and silence that surround political power structures will resonate with Latitude’s 2014 theme of Secrets. Having previously joined festival goers in debate about identity in the Literary Arena, Latitude is delighted to welcome back Billy Bragg and his rapturously reviewed band for a UK festival exclusive performance on one of Latitude’s music stages.
Latitude is hugely excited to be welcoming Booker T. Jones, one of the all-time legends of Memphis Soul and frontman of legendary Stax session band Booker T. & the M.G.'s. This musical heavyweight has played on every record that Otis Redding ever made and wrote the classic Stax hit ‘Green Onions.’ Having recorded with the likes of Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, George Harrison, Sam and Dave, Neil Young, Barbra Streisand and Bob Dylan and more recently Valerie June, Booker T. received the Grammy 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in 2007 and Latitude can’t wait to see him spread his soul magic at the festival.
After her mesmerising 2011 appearance, Latitude is pleased to welcome back ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ Brit Award 2012 nominee Anna Calvi to the festival. Following her acclaimed 2013 album release of ‘One Breath’, Anna will bring her romantically visceral guitar sound and hauntingly sultry vocals to the festival.
Alabama native Phosphorescent has, across six albums, won widespread praise and critical plaudits for the sombre yet equally redemptive music of which he writes. His latest album, the universally acclaimed ‘Muchacho’, wowed critics on its release in March, and his recent shows with Latitude favourites, The National, further cemented the love for his live show. With a sound that ranges from country rock, to mournful barroom ballads, he will bring the ‘reverence and purity’ celebrated by Pitchfork for an unforgettable set.
The ever-prodigious Nils Frahm seems to exist on a continuous stream of musical output. Based in Berlin, the 31year old electronic and contemporary classical pianist is constantly flooring listeners and audiences with his intensely delicate pieces. Taught by Nahum Brodski – himself a student of the last scholar of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – his unconventional approach to an age-old instrument played contemplatively and intimately will bring a hushed silence whilst opening imaginations at Latitude.
Experimental Swedish band Goat have a magnificent live performance reputation that is sure to spellbind Latitude. Goat’s guitar riffs have been likened to Hendrix and their music is a magnificent melting pot of music genres, with an audio-visual live performance that owns the stage. Colourful and psychedelic, their live show can only be seen at Latitude this summer and is not to be missed!
American folk-pop nomad Cass McCombs brings his uniquely laconic and yearning music to Latitude following the release of his epic sixth album ‘Big Wheel and Others.’ With vocals ranging somewhere between the lilting melody of Morrissey and the driving earnestness of Bob Dylan, McCombs’ contemplative lyricism and macabre jams are not to be missed.
Chicago singer/songwriter Willis Earl Beal’s songs run a wide gambit of sounds from gospel confessional to noise-touched soul ballads, all characterised by his booming voice. Beal’s self-produced second album ‘Nobody Knows’ released on XL in 2013 has been described by NME as “one of the most commanding vocal performances of the year…a bold, beautiful and uncompromising record.”
San Fermin is the brainchild of 24-year-old Brooklyn based composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone, who wrote the outfit’s self-titled debut album over six weeks after studying under the avant-garde classical composer Nico Muhly (Björk, Grizzly Bear, Antony & the Johnsons). The result is a sweeping, full-bodied soundscape with multiple distinct peaks and ambitious thematic connections described by The Daily Telegraph as “a consistently surprising and exciting record.”
Latitude is hugely excited to announce one of 2013’s breakthrough artists, 21-year-old singer songwriter Marika Hackman. Handpicked by Burberry as one to watch in 2012, and with her single ‘Bath Is Black’ nominated for Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record of 2013’, Hackman’s star is truly on the ascent. While Hackman has already supported previous Latitude favourites Laura Marling and Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit on tour, her crystalline vocals and spectral, unsettling music sets her apart from her British folk contemporaries. Watch out for her new EP ‘Sugar Blind’ produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J) and released by Dirty Hit Records this December.
New York based Ryan Lott, aka Son Lux, is a post-rock and alternative hip-hop musician. The multi-talented producer’s credits include arranging and programming for films ‘Looper’ (2012) and the ‘Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby’ (2013) as well as recent collaborations with Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti, These New Puritans, Nico Muhly and Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry. 2013’s ethereal and nocturnal experimental rock LP ‘Lanterns’ has been lauded as his best work to date and features contributions from Peter Silberman of The Antlers, DM Stith and yMusic of Dirty Projectors.
Modern folk singer-songwriter Josephine Foster from Colorado will bring her wyrd-folk and melancholy balladry to Latitude this year. Foster’s influences include Tin Pan Alley, and her eclectic and engagingly mercurial output includes everything from albums of children's songs and the poems of Emily Dickinson, to neo-psychedelica and Spanish folk songs.
