Oslo Live Festival held for the fourth time in Kontraskjæret at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. The arena is a gem in the city and it is very easily accessible by metro, tram and bus.
Aiming to turn the fortress into a mega outdoor clubbing experience, a new setup will see a custom build DJ platform complete with huge LCD screens.
Leftfield, Ludacris, Groove Armada, Digitalism, Simian Mobile Disco, Pretty Lights, Casiokids, Goldfish, Big Bang, Fred Falke, Florrie, Kaskade, Wiley, Daniel Adams-Ray, Rebecca & Fiona, Schlachtofbronx, Bob Hund, Friendly Fires + a few local acts are already announced for this year.
We’ve got a few more confirmed that we will announce in the week to come and a few offers pending. Previous years we’ve had act’s such as Justice, 2manydjs, Big Boi, Diplo, Kent, Scissor Sisters, Crystal Castles, Klaxons, Santigold +++
Zane Lowe leads the charge this year as Music Director for the ‘Rocks’ brand. The godfather of new music has championed the Ibiza Rocks movement since its beginning in 2005 and is part of the family, dedicated to pushing boundaries in live music in Ibiza, Mallorca and beyond.
It seems only fitting that Zane will join The Vaccines at both Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks - the band he declared had ‘the hottest record in the world’ when he heard their demo ‘If You Wanna’ last summer. The London lads release that very single and their debut album ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines’ today (14 March). It is sure to be everything music fans expect and more when they hear it performed live at Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks. A seminal music moment inevitably ensues.
Zane Lowe, Music Director, ‘Rocks’ Brand said: “I DJ-ed at the first ever Ibiza Rocks event and have been a supporter ever since, so it’s great to make it official. It’s exciting, ambitious and totally in tune. The energy is inexplicable and it’s drawn me back year on year. Playing the opening of Mallorca Rocks last year was one of my best gigs to date and I’m delighted to be asked to be a bigger part of the events and the programming this year. Business as usual then. See you in the summer.”
Indie outfit The Wombats are returning for their first Ibiza Rocks live gig since 2008 and their Mallorca Rocks debut show. They will be supported by hotly tipped Slough boys Brother and it’s safe to say that both bands pack as much in performance pedigree as they do in attitude. Nowhere else are thundering live performances and scorching hot summer nights so perfectly placed than at Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks.
The Wombats said: “Last time we played Ibiza Rocks we had an amazing time. At that time, the gig was held by a racetrack. We had a guy dressed up as a wolf on stage and we rode around the race track in a horse and chariot before the gig! Pretty special memories. We can’t wait to play in both islands this year, double the fun! See you there.”
An appearance from the legend that is Fatboy Slim will go down in history as he makes his Mallorca Rocks debut before bounding over to the Ibiza Rocks Hotel courtyard to wow the crowds in this famous space for the very first time. He’s played Ibiza Rocks Bar before, but now it’s time for Fatboy Slim to premiere poolside! Totally Enormous EXTINCT Dinosaurs will be out in full force to support Fatboy Slim. Whether the fans are front row in the 2000 capacity open-air venue or watching with their friends from their bedroom balcony with a bird’s eye view of the stage, the unrivalled atmosphere at Ibiza Rocks and Mallorca Rocks truly unites the crowd.
Norman Cook said:“Everybody say, HOTEL, MOTEL, HOLIDAY INN…….It’s been a while since I last played Ibiza Rocks. Some say too long. Anyway hang on to your minibars and make ready the trouser press I’m checking in!”
Hailing from Herfordshire, dance punk trio Friendly Fires are set to light up the stage this summer at Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks. Fans might quite literally see them ‘Jump in the Pool’ in true rock star fashion. Mercury Prize nominated band Friendly Fires playing an open air stage next to a giant lagoon style pool – now there’s a match made in musical heaven.
Team ‘Rocks’ may now be a market leading brand internationally and top of the hit list of gigs that global bands and artists want to play, but the promoters always stay true to booking a bill that includes the very best of British and to giving a European platform to the hottest breakthrough talent around.
Since supporting Chase and Status at Ibiza Rocks last year, Tinie Tempah has broken records and boundaries in British music with hit single ‘Pass Out’ being the smash hit of 2010 and securing him the British Single and British Breakthrough at the recent BRIT Awards. He has worked with the likes of Swedish House Mafia and Ellie Goulding and will undoubtedly pass out all the hits and pull out all the stops for his headline shows at Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks.
Dirty grime and pounding dance beats merge into one when Dizzee Rascal unleashes his distinct sound to the masses and there’s no audience more in demand of Dizzee’s sound than the ‘Rocks’ crowd. Barely doing any other live dates in summer 2011, but back for the love of it and by phenomenal public demand, Dizzee is sure to raise the bar yet again when he bounds onto the Balearic Islands to deliver two more wild nights of unmissable music.
Two of the most exciting producers to hail from the UK, bonafide festival headliners Chase and Status, played an electrifying set in Ibiza last year and return in 2011 to share the bill with Labrinth, a young London musician sticking two fingers up in the face of generic pop music to deliver a new wave of British cool to the sun licked shores of Mallorca and Ibiza. Labrinth produced smash hit ‘Pass Out’ for Tinie Tempah and he’s ready to show the Balearics that he’s got plenty more where that came from.
‘Rocks’ welcomes back Example, supported by superstar producer Sub Focus who collaborated with phenomenal success on huge dance floor filler ‘Kickstarts’ in 2010 and will join forces again in the Balearics this summer. Another ‘Example’ of a breakthrough artist that Ibiza Rocks bet on is back in a headline slot. Example will also be performing material from his new album due out in the summer who he has worked on with Skream, Nero and Chase & Status. Prepare for euphoric choruses and deafening cheers from the ‘Rocks’ crowds in the courtyards, on the hotel balconies and beyond.
Example said:“I first experienced Ibiza Rocks as a punter many years ago before I was doing my own gigs when Faithless were headlining and The Kooks were an unknown support. Two years ago I had the pleasure of supporting Dizzee at Ibiza Rocks. Last year it was Calvin Harris. Now this year I’m headlining Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks it’s going to be overwhelming. The atmosphere is like nothing else I’ve experienced anywhere else in the world”
Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro are quite literally the best live act on the planet right now – they picked up an NME Award last month that said so. Prior to this, they had already won over the Ibiza Rocks crowd when they played the opening party last year, which culminated in the bare-chested and tight jean clad trio considering it so much of a career highlight that they finished their phenomenal set by diving headfirst into the Ibiza Rocks Hotel pool in celebration. Biffy Clyro may be Rock Gods that now grace the very biggest stages, playing to tens of thousands of people a time, but team ‘Rocks’ are proud to have lured these boys back to blast their big sound to a more intimate crowd in the Balearics this summer. It didn’t take much persuasion!
The pioneers of the Balearics live music scene will welcome the pioneers of British dubstep Magnetic Man to work the crowd into a frenzy and make the hotel grounds throb with heavy basslines well into the night. Magnetic Man (Skream, Benga and Artwork) were undoubtedly the biggest draw of the recent NME Awards Tour and they will show why when they thoroughly mix things up at Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks. With the shimmering vocals of dubstep’s first lady Katy B as support, this is set to be one pulsatingly hot gig that cannot be missed.
BRIT and NME Award winners, world class global bands, best breakthrough talent, music icons and legends – ‘Rocks’ has them all. Last year saw The Specials headline Ibiza Rocks which became one of the most talked about and successful gigs of the summer. This year, Suggs and co will take to the stage in Mallorca and Ibiza as multimillion selling and multiple award winning band Madness bring their riotous sound of British ska to the fresh faced Balearic crowd.
Madness said:“Madness in Ibiza? Nothing new there then!”
Madness are the penultimate act to play this summer and some VERY special guests will be announced soon and will bring the 2011 season to a stunning close – Mallorca Rocks on 20th September and Ibiza Rocks on 21st September. The closing party guests and many more acts will be announced in the coming weeks
Andy McKay, CEO, ‘Rocks’ Brand said:“It’s phenomenal to be in a position to present such a strong lineup. The bands love Ibiza Rocks and each one goes away desperate to come back. It’s an unrivalled gig experience for bands and fans alike and to have these massive festival headline acts wanting to play in our more intimate, unique space is testament to that. We started Mallorca Rocks with five gigs last summer and the sheer magic of those shows has meant we’re now mirroring the Ibiza line up with seventeen weeks of gigs right through summer. It’s a pretty special experience.”
Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks are proud to have British Male BRIT Award winner Plan B kick start the seriously hot seventeen week long series of gigs at Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks this summer (Tues 31/5 and Wed 01/06 respectively)
Plan B said: “This is going to be fun. I’ve never been to Ibiza before. I better start working out what I’m going to wear now, it’s going to be hard to make speedo’s work with my suit jacket.”
Information, tickets and holidays available at www.ibizarocks.com (Gig Tickets priced £30 plus booking fee)
*Special Opening Party Midweek Break*
Monday 30 May for 4 nights at Ibiza Rocks Hotel for only £86
Monday 30 May for 4 nights at Mallorca Rocks Hotel for only £74
Offer includes 4 night’s accommodation in standard rooms including a guaranteed gig ticket for Plan B. Flights booked separately at www.monarch.co.uk from only £46.99 one way.
**IBIZA AND MALLORCA ROCKS THE SOUND OF A NEW GENERATION**
The Great Escape hits Brighton on the 12th – 14th May 2011.
The Great Escape, Europe’s leading event for showcasing new musical talent announces the first artists for the 2011 festival. Taking place in Brighton over 3 days in May, The Great Escape kick starts the festival season, introducing 15,000 music lovers to the key artists and sounds of the year. With over 300 bands playing in 30 venues over 3 days in Brighton as well as hosting its acclaimed music conference for 3,000 industry professionals, The Great Escape is one of the main dates in the music calendar.
Headliners for 2011 are Friendly Fires whose sparkling modern pop has ignited many dancefloors and dominated radiowaves with both their albums of off-kilter, pulsating electronica – A huge show for The Dome. After having played one of their first UK shows at TGE 2010, we are pleased to welcome back Warpaint, who will be bringing their ambient alt-country, post rock all the way from LA to the south coast. Girl of the moment, and unanimously One To Watch for 2011, Katy B is arguably the hottest name in music right now. You’ll recognise her vocal contributions to Magnetic Man and Count and Sinden anthems, while her own productions deceptively blend her sweet vocal tone and dark story-telling lyrics.
With Ireland announced as the partner country for this year’s event, The Great Escape is delighted to welcome the carefully crafted indie folk of Villagers who will be playing tracks from their Mercury nominated album ‘Becoming A Jackal’. Revisiting the rougher end of Brit Pop are Brother whose self titled ‘Grit Pop’ has seen them compared to Oasis and their anthemic indie rock proves guitar bands will still have a big say in the charts this year.
Full line up so far includes the following, with many more artists to be announced over the next couple of months:
Friendly Fires **(dome show) / Katy B / Warpaint / Villagers / Twin Shadow / Brother / Little Dragon / D/R/U/G/S / Becoming Real / PVT / Dutch Uncles / Tribes / SBTRKT / The Heartbreaks / Spark / Nedry / Worriedaboutsatan / Big Deal / The Soft Moon / Teeth / Marques Toliver / Tripwires / Lucy Swann / Vision of Trees / Seams / The Holidays / The Jezabels / Said the Whale / Team Me / Bonjay / Deep Sea Arcade / Seekae / The Mountain and the Trees / Winter Gloves / DZ Deathrays / Woodhands / gaBLe
Super Early Bird tickets are currently on sale at an incredibly competitive £35. This offer lasts until 15th February when the price will increase to £45, so music lovers are urged to get tickets early to ensure more bands for your buck! Tickets can be purchased from www.escapegreat.com or local outlets Resident and Rounder.
**This year, a small number of our shows will take place at The Dome in Brighton. The first of our 2011 Dome Shows to be announced is Friendly Fires. To ensure guaranteed access our Dome Shows, attendees can top up their festival wristband for just £6 per show, or purchase separate gig tickets on www.escapegreat.com.
TICKETING INFO:
Super Early Bird 3 Day Festival Tickets are on sale for £35 (offer expires on the 15th Feb)
Friendly Fires / Dome Show Single Gig Tickets costs £18.50 or top up festival wristband for £6
