Drenge

Reading and Leeds Festival add alt-J, Palma Violets, Modestep and more

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With only four months to go until August Bank Holiday Weekend, Reading & Leeds Festivals are excited to add over 60 new acts to an already incredible bill headlined by Mumford & Sons, Metallica and The Libertines.
Leading the charge are indie rock heroes and all round band of the moment alt-J. Last seen headlining the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage at the Festivals, the band’s sophomore album ‘This Is All Yours’ has established them as one of Britain’s brightest and biggest bands, who will deservedly step up to an evening set on the Main Stage in 2015.
 
Gus Unger-Hamilton says:
"We're really over the moon to be returning to Reading & Leeds. It'll be our third time playing, and we always have the best time."
 
Joining alt-J on the Main Stage on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds, Palma Violets will be treating revelers to cuts from their upcoming ‘Danger In The Club’. Their garage rock clatter is sure to get the crowd going, whilst Drenge graduate to Main Stage status with their extremely loud brand of grunge.
 
Fusing dubstep and rock to create a sound that is entirely their own, London’s Modestep step up to the plate on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, joined on the bill by raucous LA skate punks FIDLAR and Japanese metal idol stars Babymetal, who will be opening the stage.
 
Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds will see the return of Festival favourites The Gaslight Anthem, whose signature heartfelt punk rock is sure to provide one of the afternoon’s biggest singalongs. Lead by the iconic Laura Jane Grace the passionate, dynamic punk of Against Me! will cause a similar stir whilst British hardcore titans Feed The Rhino will be providing a suitably noisy start to the day.
NME / BBC RADIO 1 STAGE
Joining the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage line-up on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds are energetic Brooklyn indie-punks Parquet Courts and LA indie-poppers Echosmith.
After storming the stage last year Scottish chart-smashing rockers Twin Atlantic will return to the bill on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, celebrating a huge year with a characteristically anthemic evening set. London indie favourites Spector and up and coming rock newcomers Nothing But Thieves return to the Festival. British soul and R&B singer Kwabs, AWOLNATION, Ghostpoet and The Skints are added to the bill on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds.
BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE
Getting the BBC Radio 1 Dance tent moving on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds will be Jacob Plant, Maribou State, LANY and All We Are, while dance-icon MK will be bringing his stunning show to close the stage on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds. Oliver Dollar is added to the bill at Reading only, while Kevin Saunderson will fill this slot with an exclusive set at Leeds.
 
After a stunning 2014, pop provocateur Charli XCX also joins the Radio 1 Dance Tent line-up, a highly anticipated performance in the wake of her critically acclaimed new album Sucker and a sold-out UK tour. Secondcity,Dimension x Kove and Elliphant will join an amazing line-up on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, whileBlonde Live, Rustie, Evian Christ, Snakehips, TCTS and 99 Souls are set to entertain the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage audience on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds.
THE LOCK UP / THE PIT
Joining an already huge line-up on the Lock Up, on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds will be Modern Baseball, The Bots, The Smith Street Band and Youth Man.
 
The Pit will feature a of line-up of gargantuan established acts and fresh emerging talent including iconic metalcore group Atreyu, PVRIS, And So I Watch You From Afar, Black Peaks, Ho99o9 and The One Hundredon Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds.
 
On Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds, American metalcore five piece Beartooth are added to the bill, and former Gallows frontman Frank Carter will be bringing his new band Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, whileriff-tastic Bristol rockers Turbowolf, Moose Blood, Queen Kwong, Hawk Eyes, Single Mothers, Black Foxxesand Fort Hope are also now revealed for the stage.
FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE
Fresh indie talent has been added to the line-up for the much-loved Festival Republic Stage, with Saint Raymond set to bring his joyous indie pop to the masses on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds. Bombastic Scottish trio Prides, Bear’s Den, Vaults, Joywave, Eliza And The Bear and Hunter & The Bear are also revealed for the bill.
 
With new single ‘Our Eyes’ currently receiving huge radio support and fast-amassing buzz for her forthcoming second album, Lucy Rose will play second on the bill on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, with Blossoms and Bad Breeding also added to the line-up.
 
Geordie heroes Little Comets will take to the stage on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds, along with Mini Mansions, Gengahr, Hippo Campus, Sundara Karma, Black Honey and The Sherlocks.
BBC 1XTRA STAGE
 
One of the most exciting stages at the Festival, the BBC 1XTRA Stage sees British legend Ms Dynamite announced for Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, joined by visceral Tempa T, Loyle Carner, and Kiko Bun.
 
Dope D.O.D., Fekky, Siobhan Bell and Isaiah Dreads are revealed for the line-up on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds, joining a bill which features some of the best urban talent the world has to offer. 

Richie Sambora and more added to Download Festival

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Celebrated rock icon Richie Sambora has been added to the line-up for Download Festival 2014. His performance will feature special guest, Australian singer-songwriter and guitar goddess Orianthi.

A modern rock guitar legend, Sambora has played to more than 34 million fans worldwide over the course of a career that now spans over four decades.

Sambora is one of the few hard rock musicians to truly transcend genres; his collaborators include Cher, LL Cool J and Eric Clapton, and his three solo albums bestride hard rock, blues and experimental rock with the most recent – 2012’s Aftermath of the Lowdown – receiving critical acclaim.

This year will be Richie Sambora’s first visit to Europe’s biggest rock and metal festival, offering hard rock aficionados a rare opportunity to watch one of the icons of the genre in action.

Other outstanding acts joining the Download 2014 line-up today include psychedelic rockers Turbowolf, bringing their electrifying yet laid-back blend of punk, metal and funkadelica back to Download for the first time since 2012, and Birmingham post-hardcore mob Cytota.

Among the Donington debutants announced today are a pair of local acts in Derybshire post-grunge duo Drenge and Nottingham noise machine Baby Godzilla.

They will be joined by a host of nascent alt-rock superstars made up of blues rockers The Temperance Movement, progressive metallers Nothing More, hardcore colts Dead City Streets and London art rockers Goldray.

Download Festival 2014 takes place from June 13-15 and will be headlined by Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park – in a rare performance of their legendary debut album Hybrid Theory – and Aerosmith.

Dot to Dot Festival drops Drenge, The Pizza Underground and Catfish & the Bottlemen in second announcement

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Booming Derbyshire duo Drenge are the big act of the second Dot-to-Dot Festival announcement. 

The Loveless brothers have built up a wild fanbase through their titular debut album and supporting slots, including one with Dot to Dot headliners Peace before their own headlining tour in Spring 2014.

Former child actor Macaulay Culkin brings his 'The Velvet Underground' tribute act, The Pizza Underground to the UK, with hits like 'I'm Waiting For Delivery Man' and 'Cheese Days' under the belt.

Rising star Luke Sital-Singh will also showcase his talents, alongside The Heartbreaks.

The inner-city festival takes place on consecutive days in Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham on Friday May 23, Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25, respectively.

Further new additions Saint Raymond and Catfish and the Bottlemen are playing certain legs of the festival, with Nottingham and Manchester for the former and just Manchester for the latter.

These new names come secondary to the initial announcement, which saw Peace, The Midnight Beast, Courtney Barnett and Wolf Alice, amongst others, playing the festival, which costs just £20.

Full Line-Up So Far:  Peace // The Midnight Beast Drenge // Saint Raymond* // Catfish & The Bottlemen** // Real Estate // Lauren Aquiliana 
Luke Sital-Singh // Courtney Barnett // Darlia // Kyla La Grange // Wolf Alice 
The Pizza Underground // Hudson Taylor // Josh Record 
Amber Run // Barbarossa // Betty Who // Big Sixes // Caveman // Champs // Charlotte OC 
EZRA FURMAN // Frank Hamilton // Fred Page // Freddie Dickson // Fyfe // Gallery Circus 
Gavin James // Gengahr // George Barnett // God Damn // Horse Thief // JAWS // Joel Baker 
La Femme // Lapland // Laura Welsh // Life // Life In Film // LSA // Marika Hackman 
MT Royal // No Sinner // Noah Gundersen // Norma Jean Martine // Port Isla // Pup // Sean McGowan 
Sivu // Slaves // Southern // St Paul & The Broken Bones // Sundara Karma // The 45s 
The Heartbreaks // The Jacques // The Trouble With Templeton // We The Wild // We Were Evergreen 
Wonder Villains // Young Kato // Young Romance 
*Nottingham and Manchester Only ** Manchester Only 

Second batch of artists announced for Dot To Dot Festival

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Kicking off the second announcement is Drenge. 2013 was a big year for the grungy garage-punk two-piece with an abundance of touring around the release of their self-titled debut album, which featured heavily in end of year lists across the board.
 
Macaulay Culkin's Velvet Underground tribute band, The Pizza Underground are set to perform with numbers such as I'm Waiting for Delivery Man, Cheese Days and All the Pizza Parties among their repertoire.
 
Hotly tipped solo-artist Luke Sital-Singh, who featured in the long list BBC Sound of 2014 poll, has received much support and rotation on BBC 6 Music with recent singles Fail For You and Greatest Lovers. His debut album is due imminently. Emerging less than quietly in 2012, The Heartbreaks caused a stir from the shores of Morecambe to the bright lights of London and hustle and bustle of Japan with their debut album 'Funtimes'. The band will release their second album 'We May Yet Stand A Chance', produced by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers) this June.
 
Amber Run play lovingly crafted indie-pop with arena sized ambition, showcased best on recent single  Spark which received support from the likes of Zane Lowe and Fearne Cotton on Radio 1. Having honed their craft at an early age busking in Dublin, Hudson Taylor have become a word-of-mouth favourite with their energetic live shows. Drawing inspiration from their parents' record collection, the brothers fuse classic and contemporary influences to create raw, folk-infused melodic pop.
 
Lauren Aquilina incorporates piano-led melodies and delicately haunting layered vocals. Tracks such as the breath-taking piano-led ballad ‘Wonder’ demonstrate a raw song-writing talent. 90's revivalists Jaws mix elements of baggy with shoegaze which has drawn comparisons to acts like Ride and The Stone Roses.

A bucklet load of artists added to T in the Park lineup

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The Summer Festival Guide is excited to bring you the latest lineup news for Scotland's T in the Park.  A bucklet load of artist have been added that will join headliners Biffy Clyro, Calvin Harris and Arctic Monkeys.

The Charlatans, DJ Fresh & Messy MC, Reverend & The Makers, The Magic Numbers, Twenty One Pilots, Foxes, Wolf Alice, Drenge, Circa Waves, Josh Record, Royal Blood, Chloe Howl and Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Plus a host of cutting edge EDM and drum ‘n’ bass acts will bring the big club atmosphere straight to the heart of the Scottish countryside when they perform in the Slam Tent, including Joris Voorn, Robert Hood, Duke Dumont, Pretty Lights, Skream, Kerri Chandler, Tale of Us, Guy Gerber, Jackmaster, Alex Smoke, Factory Floor, Mark Henning and Clouds.
 
The Charlatans have been an inspirational force in British rock for more than two decades now. They remain as exciting and relevant now as when they first broke through to the immortal strains of The Only One I Know in 1990. The Manchester legends played the 2nd T in the Park back in 1995 and have been firm favourites with festival fans throughout the festival’s history. They’re sure to receive a warm welcome back when they take to the T in the Park stage for the first time since 2008.
 
 
Rising from London’s underground electronic scene in the mid-1990s, DJ Fresh is one of the most influential figures on the UK drum 'n' bass scene today, with 2 million record sales, two no.1 singles and a further two top 5 singles to his name. His single Louder became the first dubstep single to reach the top of the UK singles chart, before he returned to the no.1 spot with 2012’s Hot Right Nowfeaturing Rita Ora. His third record Nextlevelism featured collaborations with Dizzee Rascal and Juliette Lewis, with a fourth studio album set for release this year. His T in the Park performance will see him team up with the legendary Messy MC.
 
Reverend & The Makers were at the forefront of the resurgent Sheffield indie-rock scene in 2005/2006, smashing into the top ten with their debut single Heavyweight Champion of the World. The band’s appearances as part of the bill for Oasis’ now legendary final shows at Wembley Stadium bolstered their growing fanbase. They returned early this year with the release of their fourth albumThirtyTwo, much to the excitement of their loyal fans.
 
The Magic Numbers, known for their unique harmonies, melodic hooks, song writing craftsmanship and timeless sound, return to T in the Park having last played the festival 8 years ago. To date, the band have released three successful albums, including their Mercury Prize nominated 2005 self-titled debut, with many of their singles gracing the top 20 charts, resulting in over a million album sales worldwide.
Having self-released two albums in 2009 and 2011, Twenty One Pilots quickly attracted serious label attention. Known for their irrepressible on-stage energy, the duo have built an avid international following, with their debut studio album Vessel showcasing their distinctive fusion of piano-driven indie-rocktronica. They’ll make their T in the Park debut this summer. 
Foxes’ soaring pop melodies are anchored by an edgy melancholia, as showcased on hit single Youthand on her Grammy-winning collaboration with Zedd, Clarity, which was the soundtrack of the summer in America last year, reaching the Billboard Top Ten.
Some of the most hotly tipped breakthrough acts of the year are also gearing up to play T in the Park for the first time this summer. Wolf Alice have won plaudits from the likes of BBC Radio 1, NMEand The Guardian after they released their debut EP Blush at the end of 2013. Drenge – aka brothers Rory and Eoin Loveless – will bring their raw grunge-inspired blues pop sound to the festival for the first time. Also appearing are Liverpool indie-pop four-piece Circa Waves who recently went down a storm at the NME Awards Tour 2014 –and Brighton blues rock duo Royal Blood, who were championed on the BBC’s Sound of 2014 list, and who have been invited to open for T in the Park headliners’ Arctic Monkeys when they play their Finsbury Park shows this year.
 
Since they walked away with the top prize on UK primetime TV talent show, When Will I Be Famous in 2007, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers have fast become a global phenomenon, with their cover of Avicii’sWake Me Up surpassing 1 million YouTube views, and taking their signature 'Bagrock' sound to the masses. The band said:  “In 2004 we performed one song at T in the Park as special guests of The Darkness. For the past 10 years we have been working towards our ultimate ambition of coming back to T in our own right. There are just not enough words to describe how thrilled and honoured we are at being asked to play the Main Stage in 2014.  Bringing our special brand of 'Bagrock' to this world famous festival with a home crowd – it just doesn't get any better!”
 
Founding member of the legendary group Underground Resistance with ‘Mad’ Mike Banks & Jeff Mills,Robert Hood’s seminal works on Jeff Mill's Axis and his very own M-Plant imprint paved the way for a wave of stripped-down dance floor minimalism. He brings his influential minimal Detroit techno to the Slam line-up.
 
2014 looks set to be huge for the unstoppable Duke Dumont, who is currently sitting at the top of the charts with his irrepressible summer anthem I Got U feat Jax Jones. The British DJ and producer’s breakthrough hit, 2013’s Need U (100%) feat. A*M*E also reached no.1 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording.
 
Pretty Lights will bring his sample-based electro hip hop soul to the Slam Tent. His epic soundscapes have a vintage vibe – instead of sampling existing recordings, he has worked with everyone from the Harlem Gospel Choir to members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Treme Brass Band to create a unique sound. Already confirmed to headline Chicago’s Spring Awakening Festival and play at Sonar in Barcelona, Pretty Lights will bring the party atmosphere to Balado this July.
 
Kerri 'Kaoz' Chandler is a house legend – his fusions of heady bass-lines, synthesizers, and catchy choruses are sure to go down a storm at T in the Park. Also joining the Slam bill is Glasgow’s Alex Smoke, who blurs the boundaries between electronica, techno, classical and hip hop, melding European minimalism, pop structures and emotional strings to create a moody blend of melancholic electronica.
 
T in the Park 2014 – artists announced so far
 
FRIDAY 11th JULY: Biffy Clyro, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons, Pixies, Steve Angello, Alesso, Haim, You Me At Six, Manic Street Preachers, Chvrches, DJ Fresh & Messy MC, The Magic Numbers, Maximo Park, Foxes, The Rifles, Len Faki, Pan-Pot, Drenge, Pretty Lights, Jackmaster, Josh Record, Wolf Alice, Clouds, Factory Floors, Alex Smoke.
 
SATURDAY 12th JULY: Calvin Harris, Paolo Nutini, Pharrell Williams, Elbow, Rudimental, Ben Howard, James, Bombay Bicycle Club, Twin Atlantic, The 1975, The Charlatans, John Newman, Embrace, Katy B, The Human League, Nina Nesbitt, The Stranglers, Joris Voorn, Dave Clarke, Duke Dumont, Robert Hood, Carl Craig, Clean Bandit, We Are Scientists, Ella Eyre, George Ezra, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Twenty One Pilots, Circa Waves, Skream, Chloe Howl, Guy Gerber, Magda.
 
SUNDAY 13th JULY: Arctic Monkeys, Jake Bugg, Disclosure, Bastille, Example, Tinie Tempah, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, London Grammar, Tame Impala, Kodaline, Above & Beyond, Sam Smith, Passenger, Sven Vath, Metronomy, Newton Faulkner, Chance the Rapper, Slam, Reverend & The Makers, The Twilight Sad, Inspiral Carpets, Julio Bashmore, Kerri Chandler, Royal Blood, Levon Vincent, Tale Of Us, George Fitzgerald, Mark Henning, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and many, many more acts to be announced (line-up subject to change).

Noah and the Whale, Everything Everything + more for Sound City

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Noah and the Whale are used to playing huge venues but will play a much more intimate show in Liverpool at the Anglican Cathedral, the perfect setting for a much fuller sound that belies their more folksy beginnings.  The band release their fourth album ‘Heart Of Nowhere’ in May and will showcase tracks from it at this very special show. 

Band of the moment, Everything Everything recently released their second album ‘Arc’ to widespread critical acclaim and their art-funk stylings are not to be missed.  Melody’s Echo Chamber’s kaleidoscopic fusion of psych rock and warm hypnotic pop is a thing of great beauty whilst the futuristic indie pop of New Yorker Darwin Deez and crystalline leftfield pop of Manchester based Dutch Uncles will also be two hot Sound City shows.  Delphic’s debut album heralded a reappraisal of dance influenced rock music and paved the way for the current crossover success of the genre and their second album ‘Collections’ sees them heading into even more adventurous territory.  The experimental drone of Oneohtrix Point Never and noisily drenched voodoo pop of local band Stealing Sheep will take music matters in a much more avant garde direction.
 
Punky blues rock from the Peak District comes courtesy of Drenge, a band being tipped by everyone to watch out for in 2103 whilst blog queensPins showcase why the North West contines to produce the UK’s most exciting music.  Savages are another girl band whose post-punk is rapturous, passionate and intriguing.  Wave Machines second album ‘Pollen’ was a masterpiece that met with huge critical acclaim and their homecoming show at Sound City will show why they are one of the best bands the city has produced.
 
Also newly announced today are: Alessi’s Ark, Jetta, Bipolar Sunshine, Loom, Deep Sea Arcade, Blackeye, Skaters, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Wolf People, Splashh,  Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs, Lulu James, Arcane Roots, Still Corners, Luls, Hands, Wild Smiles, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam, Mikill Pane, Bebe Black, Jacob Banks, Bo Ningen, Big Deal, Night Engine, Mind Enterprises, Golden Fable,Likely Lads.
 
Having previously announced acts such as Dexys, The Walkmen, Enter Shikari, Reverend and the Makers, AlunaGeorge, Thee Oh Sees, Mount Kimbie, Future Of The Left, King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Darkstar, Toy and more, Sound City underlines its commitment to showcasing the world most exciting new talent, up close and personal.
 
Sound City also boasts an acclaimed convention giving attendees the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the music and entertainment industry.  Giving a keynote speech for 2013 will be Andrew Loog Oldham, former PR man for The Beatles and manager of the Rolling Stonesand Sound City will also present Set In Stone a photo exhibition of the history of the Stone Roses by Ian Tilton who has documented the band at every stage of their career from the initial hectic gigs and TV performances to their reformation in 2011.  Many of these images have never been seen before.
 
A big focus in 2013 will be to provide key insights in the workings of a band and Murph from The Wombats and his manager Simon Bobbet will talk about the unique relationship between and band and its manager.  Enter Shikari In Focus will speak to the key people around the hardest working band in Britain and Tracey Thorn will discuss a career which has spanned 30 years in the music industry.
 
‘Social Media Hellraiser’ Jon Morter was behind the Rage Against The X Factor campaign and worked on the fight to save BBC 6 Music.  He has worked on campaigns for artists such as Nirvana, Sex Pistols and the recent Number 1 album for the Rolling Stones and was instrumental in the success of the recent Christmas Number 1 with the Justice Collective in aid of the Hillsborough families.  His panel will highlight the potency of social media.
 
Many more panel, speakers and guest will be announced for the convention shortly.
 
LINE UP TO DATE
 
Noah and the Whale / The Walkmen / Dexys / Everything Everything / Enter Shikari / Thee Oh Sees / Darwin Deez / Delphic/ Mount Kimbie / Reverend and the Makers / AlunaGeorge / Dutch Uncles / King Krule / Oneohtrix Point Never / Future Of The Left / Toy / Wave Machines / Egyptian Hip Hop / Stealing Sheep / Drenge / Savages / Melody’s Echo Chamber / Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Ian Prowse & Amsterdam /Darkstar / Outfit / Swim Deep / Alessi’s Ark / The 1975 / PINS / Wolf People / Theme Park / Jetta / Hawk eyes / Bipolar Sunshine / Loom /Deep Sea / Arcade / The Family Rain / Blackeye / Skaters / Splashh / Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs / Dan Croll / Soley / Lulu James / Arcane Roots / Still Corners / Luls / Hands / Wild Smiles / Mikill Pane / Bebe Black / Jacob Banks / Murkage / Bo Ningen / Big Deal / Amateur Best /Night Engine / Fossil Collective / Marmozets / Hacktivist / Brolin / Mind Enterprises / Golden Fable / Neck Deep / Likely Lads