LMFAO, The XX, Paolo Nutini join Sziget Festival 2012 lineup

Joining them also are Indie revelations Ting Tings, Norway’s coolest and sexiest Katzenjammer, LA underground hip-hop guru Flying Lotus, the soulful and inspiring Fink and the one and only Anna Calvi. All this and a lot more awaits fans from all over the world this summer, between 6-13 August in Budapest.

The 20th edition of Sziget Festival could give quite some excuse for getting lost in memories, but the Sziget team has always tried to present new stuff and keeps on doing so. Probably this is the only programming method that works for an event that is the unofficial world champion in the category of internationality – once again expecting fans from over 60 countries to the well know Danube island.

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Redfoo and SkyBlu are without any doubts the coolest party icons of these days. They teamed up to create LMFAO (you might wanna check what these five letters actually mean) and took over the planet with their unavoidable Party Rock Anthem. LMFAO is a role model for young kids around the world and started a tidal wave of shuffling in 2011.

LMFAO

London-based The xx have shown their potentials already in 2009 when releasing their debut LP. Their homemade album became platinum and created a huge buzz in some of the highest valued English media, while also earning them a Mercury Prize (given by the British Phonographic Industry).

Paolo Nutini has some Italian origins – hard to deny it with such a name – but lives and works in Scotland, and counts as one of the most talented singer-songwriters and a true titan of the folk-blues scene. 2006 saw the release of his debut album, These Streets, rocketing him to the top 3 of the British charts. His second LP came out in 2009 with the title Sunny Side Up.

"If The Libertines defined the start of the decade and Arctic Monkeys its middle, then Glasvegas are almost certainly going to define its end and beyond" – as stated by the New Musical Express. The impact of the Glasgow-based band in the UK and success of their debut album did not go unnoticed in North America either. See them for yourself at Sziget.

The Ting Tings means groovy guitar pop in a duo format, a joint venture of Katie White and Jules De Martino, the two members of the British indie combo. They have already sold millions of their first LP and are now promoting their 2012 Ivor Novello Award-winning record, Sounds of Nowhere.

The name Katzenjammer might awake memories of bad hangovers, but the four hot girls from the cold north are anything but depressed. The Oslo-based band is renown for cool and characteristic singing, playing more than 25 different instruments and mixing genres such as folk, pop, rock, country and Balkan music.

Flying Lotus is one of the most popular acts of the experimental electronic scene and a true representative of the LA underground hip-hop culture. Two years ago he earned an Independent Music Award with his third album, Cosmogramma, then backed it up with another IMA for the video of his 2011 single, MmmHmm.

Fin Greenall, aka Fink is a singer-songwriter from the UK, mixing his producer skills with romantic, human and thoughtful pieces and charismatic performances. He released five LPs during the last ten years, amongst them the 2011 album, Perfect Darkness, highly praised by many, including The Guardian.

Anna Calvi is another exciting and inspiring representative of the UK singer-songwriter scene, also proven by her Mercury Prize and BRIT Awards nominations in 2011 and 2012. Many think she’s the biggest prospect of the genre since Patti Smith, so you are right to expect something special from her also at Sziget.

The Kooks, Glasvegas & Warpaint added to Bilbao BBK Live 2012

Sadly Bilbao BBK Live also announces that Klaxons has cancelled all their summer commitments, including Bilbao BBK Live festival, to concentrate in the recording of their new album. We wish them all the best and hope to see them soon in Bilbao!

But announcements don’t end here: This year Bilbao BBK Live will be launching a third major stage adding 20 more international bands to the line-up of the event. Finally, the last bit of news is that Day Tickets for Thursday and Friday will be on sale from tomorrow (8th Feb). Day tickets for Saturday will be available soon after the announcement of the third headliner.

Confirmed headliners for Bilbao BBK Live 2012 so far are Radiohead and The Cure; and adding to the headliners, Noah and The Whale, Snow Patrol, Band of Skulls and Tribes are amongst the bands performing in Bilbao this July. (see full list below)

Bilbao BBK Live is no doubt becoming bigger and better, attracting, once again, the biggest names in music. Previous editions of the event have included headliners such as Coldplay, Pearl Jam, Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction, RHCP and Suede.

Three Day tickets to the festival, which include camping, are available for just £88+ booking fee. One Day Tickets are available for £46+ booking fee. All on See Tickets, Ticketweb and Lastminute.com.

Glasvegas, Seasick Steve and more for Latitude Festival 2011

With four bespoke arenas dedicated to music, Latitude offers an incredible array of sonic brilliance, bands and artists hand-picked to create the perfect soundtrack to the perfect weekend. Whether it’s the hottest new band or the once in a life-time chance to see a legend perform; if it’s rock or pop, folk or blues, electro or dance, Latitude’s music arenas have it all. With The National, Paolo Nutini and Suede headlining the Obelisk Arena; Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals and Eels headlining The Word Arena and a whole wealth of musical talent playing across the weekend, Latitude once again boasts an exciting and unique line-up.

And whilst the best bands play, Latitude’s unrivalled arts programme features the very best from the worlds of theatre, poetry, literary, comedy, cabaret, dance, art, fashion and film. All of these performances come together to create one spectacular weekend. Visually stunning, awe-inspiring and mind-expanding – Latitude Festival just gets better and better with these new additions:

glasvegasThe roaring down tempo swarm of Scottish quartet Glasvegas seduced the world in 2008 with their critically acclaimed and platinum selling eponymous debut album which received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize a year after its release. They also played Latitude in the same year where new fans Blondie watched in awe from the sidelines. They return this year armed with second album ‘EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \ ‘ which sees the band incorporate spoken word into their cresting, shoegaze-inspired rock. This long awaited return will be a soaring and phenomenal comeback.

seasick steveAmerica’s most famous former busker Seasick Steve has been spinning yarns upon impulsive-sounding 12-bar blues since his pre-teens. Drawing on his early life (before hitting the big time in the UK after his appearance on Jools Holland’s ‘Annual Hootenanny’ in 2006) his ramshackle blend of rock and blues using old and homemade instruments has hit a chord with a huge audience. Following last year’s stop gap EP ‘Songs For Elisabeth’, Seasick Steve is due to release his fifth album ‘You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks’. Be sure to be part of the crowd and join in the boot-stomping frenzy!

Singer songwriter Samuel Beam, or Iron & Wine to his legions of fans, has consistently delivered a fine body of hush-voiced folk and Americana. From his debut on legendary label Sub Pop, ‘The Creek Drank the Cradle’, to this year’s excellent ‘Kiss Each Other Clean’, each album is soaked in lantern-lit strums and Samuel’s throaty whisper. This year’s release sees lilting melodies coming more to the fore, with less of the organic twang of the past and more of the propulsive simplicity that will grasp an audience and throw them into a spontaneous choir, perfect for Iron & Wine’s soothing lullabies.

Dog Is Dead hail from Nottingham; formed in 2007 the band has played various festivals and supported bands of the calibre of Ok Go, Cajun Dance Party and One Night Only. They released their first two singles last year with a third – ‘River Jordan’ to complete the trilogy in March. Both ‘Glockenspiel Song’ and ‘Young’ have been featured on popular E4 drama ‘Skins’. Their almost gospel like, vocal-led indie is uplifting and harmonious making these new kids on the block ones to look out for!

Also playing in the Music Arenas over the weekend is a fantastic mix of burgeoning acts and household names including: one of the final performances by Bright Eyes, the euphoric noise of Deerhunter, Bellowhead, Everything Everything, Wanda Jackson, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, the magnificent Eels, Esben & the Witch, Gold Panda, French soundtrack master Yann Tiersen and The Cribs to name just a few.

Elsewhere throughout the weekend, festival goers can enjoy readings from leading poets and authors including Linton Kwesi Johnson, Esther Freud, Jo Shapcott, Simon Armitage, Sarah Dunant, Dave Gorman and Alexei Sayle; top comics Alan Carr, Omid Djalili, Jason Byrne and a festival debut of Never Mind The Buzzcocks; exciting theatre and dance productions presented by The Gate, Bush Theatre, Sadler’s Wells and English National Ballet to name but a few, cabaret performances from David Schneider & Friends, Will Adamsdale, Bourgeois and Maurice; and BAFTA return to the Film & Music Arena with a fantastic programme of Q&A’s, discussions and workshops including comedy stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon discussing their hilarious work on Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Trip’.

With DJ’s, The Winter’s Ball and late night parties found throughout the site, it is a unique and special weekend of fun, culture and entertainment. An intimate world away from reality waiting to be explored and enjoyed.