Palma Violets

Best Kept Secret Festival 2013

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Its a very rare occasion that you get to experience a new festival without hearing the experiences of others, and I wasn't sure what to expect from Best Kept Secret, but I was pleasantly surprised by the site, the friendliness of others and sheer organisation, this is definitely a top European festival to be reckoned with.

Not only is it situated on a safari park, but it is surrounded by a beautiful lake and a white sandy beach. Revellers have the opportunity to kick off those shoes, get their feet wet and go swimming whilst listening to some great bands that are were offer. And don't worry if you're not a great swimmer, there are life guards on patrol looking out for your safety.

For the foodies out there, a great selection of both meat dishes and veggie delights were on offer at a reasonable price. And although the weather wasn't on our side, this didn't stop anyone from grabbing a free poncho, throwing it over themselves and making the most of what was on offer. Like most European festivals, BKF operates on a token system, and have a great incentive to ensure you don't litter. For every cup you return to the bar you receive half a token, 2 tokens gets you a free beer, so before you know it, you'll be receiving a free beer for your efforts.

Best Kept Secret Festival

Friday saw the doors open at 5pm, and within easy walking distance you had a choice of 3 stages. Most of the artists had only a slight overlap, so if you wanted to check out a number of bands, then it was easily done. On the bill were Swim Deep, The Maccabees, Bloc Party, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Fuck Buttons and closing the main stage were the Arctic Monkeys. Not only did they pull in biggest crowd, but they played an hour and a half set including their classics which had everyone jumping up and down.

Day 2 saw the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Alt-J, Allah-Las, Koreless and Damien Rice take to the stages. Damien Rice entertained the crowd with his hits and it wasn't long before everyone was singing canon ball in unison.

The final day ended with the Local Natives, Everything Everything, Palma Violets, Kurt Vie and the Violators, Portishead and Sigur Ros. Not only was there a great selection of established bands on offer, but also some exciting new bands to watch out for. One band that stood out were Autre Ne Teut, hailing from New York, these guys provided a packed out tent to a mixture of way out musical styles mixed with some great beats to match. Sigur Ros closed the festival with an incredible set and atmosphere to match. They also donated some used signed drum heads and drum brushes, all proceeds donated to Unicef. For anyone looking for their next European festival, I would strongly recommend BKF, you won't be disappointed.

Sigur Ros @ Best Kept Secret

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEST KEPT SECRET FESTIVAL

Open’er Festival confirms Everything Everything, Mount Kimbie and more!

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The line-up for this year's Open’er Festival is ever expanding as more outstanding major acts confirm for 2013’s edition.
 
Some amazing worldwide reowned acts join the Open'er bill today alongside a shining array of some of Poland's freshest and biggest selling music talent. Here they are…
 
Everything Everything

Can pop queen Beyoncé meet the avant-garde Arvo Part and twisted Mr Bungle on one record? Yes, if we're talking Everything Everything. Their second release "Arc" only confirmed that the Manchester band is among the most interesting ones on current UK scene. Combining an intelligent approach to art-rock with seeking their own interpretation of music, based on beat and the pulse

Everything Everything

 
Mount Kimbie
Mount Kimbie are two producers – Dominic Maker and Kai Campos – who discovered their style in late dubstep, a hushed sound famous from the albums by The xx and James Blake. Their music is minimalist, with many omissions, yet also danceable beats and pulsating bass. They debuted in 2010 with a well-received LP "Crooks & Lover”, which featured their most popular song to date: "Carbonated"
 
The National

You really thought Open’er 2013 could happen without The National? Only a few European dates (often headlining), and among them one at our festival, makes us proud and happy to welcome Matt Berninger's band to Open'er Main Stage again. The timing is perfect – for a few weeks, we've been enjoying the brand new, 6th studio album from the American band. "Trouble Will Find Me" is a full-on follow-up to "High Violet", both in terms in chronology and music and lyrics
Savages
 The all-female post-punk quartet Savages formed in early 2012, and released their debut single "Flying To Berlin" exactly a year ago. This was enough for the girls to surface the blogosphere and join trend-setting parties like New York's CMJ Maraton. Savages didn't take long to get signed (to Matador Records) or to record a debut album – "Silence Yourself" was released early in May  
 
Palma Violets
Often compared to The Libertines, Palma Violets rose to fame thanks to the path set out by Arctic Monkeys. Their internet popularity is the fruit of videos, depicting their chaotic, ultra-energetic concerts and social media. The grassroots success was soon backed up with big musical media – Palma Violets were listed in BBC Sound of 2013
 
Rykarda Parasol
A singer who swapped opera singing for rock music ten years ago, playing it in a dark manner, not unlike Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. She recorded her new, third album in her native San Francisco
 
Pianohooligan
Pianohooligan is the wild spirit of Polish jazz. A regular to international festivals. Real name Piotr Orzechowski, he experiments with his looks, but most of all with his music. Last year saw the release of his album "Experiment: Penderecki”, featuring works inspired by the distinguished Polish maestro
 
Stroon
Stroon is a Slovakian electronic music producer, who feels most comfortable in post-dubstep. He usually collaborates with different groups and projects
 
Plum
Two weeks ago, Plum played a great show at Barcelona's Primavera Sound. We could see with our own eyes how the crowd grew and grew with each minute, quickly turning from concentration to wild dancing
 
Fuka Lata
 Fuka Lata were another Polish highlight of Primavera Sound. The Warsaw duo performs psychedelic synth pop, easy to love for all retro music fans
 
Kim Nowak
Kim Nowak seemed to be a one-off side project for Waglewski brothers, usually working with their hip-hop projects. Lucklilly, they became a full-time group, who followed their great debut with an even better, darker release "Wilk"
 
Vienio (Profil Pokoleń)
Kapitan Nemo, Tomek Lipiński, Dezerter and Kodym (Apteka) are all guests invited by Vienio, the co-founder member of Molesta, rapper and journalist, to collaborate on his new solo album"Profil Pokoleń”. The release is a result of Vienio's meetings with musicians that shook the Polish scene in the 1980s
 
Łąki Łan
As this year's Open'er key visual is a grass ball, we absolutely had to inscribe Łąki Łan into it, especially when the gents have proven more than once that the Gdynia airport is their natural habitat
 
Ballady i Romanse/Igor Boxx
The Open'er audience had a chance to see both Ballady i Romanse and Igor Boxx of Skalpel on Open'er stages. This year, the musicians will meet in the same time and place, although with a very different repertoire
 
Sorry Boys
"The Sun", the first premiere song from Sorry Boys in two years, shows a new direction in their sound. You can hear hints of Bat For Lashes, Niki & The Dove, or even Kate Bus
 
hipiersoniK
A new project on the Polish scene, yet very successful both locally and abroad (they toured the UK with Hawkwind). hipiersoniK are inspired by cyber-punk culture, both in their music and lyrics
 
Semantik Punk
Semantik punk is a new name of Moja Adrenalina. The change of name came with the breakthrough album "abcdefghijklmnoprstuwxyz". It was produced by Rick Robinson, who was behind the decks while recording legendary albums by Sepultura and Slipknot
 
L.U.C & Motion Trio
L.U.C and Motion Trio will be Open’er's live premiere. What put the world-famous accordion trio with the musically hyperactive L.U.C? First, they met by chance at a hotel, and then took a step-by-step artistic path to find unusual musical solutions, finally releasing the album "Nic Się nie Stało”.
 
Please The Trees
Please The Trees are an alternative highlight of Czech alternative, who plant a new tree in every town they play. Awarded in their home country, often compared to The National and regular live acts abroad, they recently released their third album "A Forest Affair"
 
Hot Casandra
Hot Casandra – a Romanian electronic duo with a strong electropop drive. Currently residing in London, they've been venturing further and further onto the European scene, which is proven by their invitation to Open’er

 

Rock Werchter Thursday lineup complete

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The line-up for Rock Werchter 2013 is taking its final form, with the 4th of July now complete. Latest additions are Vampire Weekend, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Vintage Trouble and Fidlar. The full line-up for Thursday 4 July is as follows:
 

Main StageMarqueeThe Barn
All Time LowFidlarPalma Violets
AirbourneVintage TroubleThe Black Angels
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club    Laura MvulaBalthazar
Vampire WeekendJessie WareBiffy Clyro
The NationalJamie LidellBloc Party
Green DayDizzee RascalSigur Rós
Netsky (live)The Bloody Beetroots 

Green Day

Bar a handful of names, the line-up for Rock Werchter 2013 has now been fully revealed. The list of confirmed acts makes for impressive reading: A Day To Remember, Airbourne, All Time Low, Alt-J, Angel Haze, Asaf Avidan, Azealia Banks, Balthazar, Band of Horses, Bastille, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Ben Howard, Biffy Clyro, Bloc Party, Blur, Boys Noize, C2C, Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires, Depeche Mode, Disclosure, Dizzee Rascal, Django Django, Earl Sweatshirt, Editors, Fidlar, Frank Ocean, Gary Clark Jr., Gogol Bordello, Goose, Graveyard, Green Day, Jake Bugg, James Blake, Jamie Lidell, Jessie Ware, John Legend, Jonathan Jeremiah, Ke$ha, Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon, Laura Mvula, Lianne La Havas, Major Lazer, Matthew E. White, Modest Mouse, Modestep, Netsky (live), Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Odd Future, Of Monsters and Men, Palma Violets, Passenger, Phoenix, Rammstein, Richard Hawley, Rudimental, Sigur Rós, Tame Impala, The Black Angels, The Bloody Beetroots, The Bots, The Gaslight Anthem, The Hives, The Lumineers, The National, The Script, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Tom Odell, Trash Talk, Two Door Cinema Club, Vampire Weekend, Vintage Trouble, Vitalic VTLZR and Volbeat. 

The Rolling Stones to rock London’s Hyde Park this summer!

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AEG Live and The Royal Parks today announced that rock icons The Rolling Stones are returning to London’s Hyde Park this summer for a sensational outdoor concert on Saturday 6 July as part of Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park.

The concert takes place almost 44 years to the day since the Stones first played Hyde Park, and will see Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood return to where they truly belong, back on the live stage, following the huge success of their ’50 and Counting’ shows last year. A North American tour has also been announced today, for more information go to www.rollingstones.com.

The Rolling Stones Hyde Park

Tickets for The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park go on general sale 9am Friday 5 April from www.bst-hydepark.com.   Barclaycard Unwind customers will be able to purchase tickets from 3pm Wednesday 3 April from www.barclaycardunwind.com.

Support comes from The Vaccines, The Temper Trap, Gary Clark Jr and King Charles, plus Palma Violets, Tribes, The Boxer Rebellion and more across three other stages.

The Rolling Stones were recently crowned ‘Best Live Band’ at the NME Awards, where they also won the Best Music Film award for ‘Crossfire Hurricane’, and have been celebrating five decades of rock ‘n’ roll over the past 12 months with the release of a greatest hits collection GRRR!, a groundbreaking documentary film ‘Crossfire Hurricane’, a photographic book ‘Rolling Stones: 50’, and five spectacular concerts in London and New York, marking their first live shows in as many years.

Their Hyde Park concert on 5 July 1969 is widely acknowledged as one of the most significant moments in modern music history. As well as seeing the live debut of guitarist Mick Taylor, the concert became a tribute to founder member Brian Jones, who had tragically passed away two days prior.

Mick Jagger commented, “We had such a great time playing the five concerts last year, we want to keep it going! Hyde Park holds such great memories for us and we can’t think of anywhere better to perform to our UK fans this summer.”

Keith Richards added, “We all had such a ball last year, and the energy between the band is so good, we can’t wait to get back on that stage where the Stones belong.”

Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park is a totally unique and world class event for London, giving music fans throughout the capital the chance to see many of their favourite headlining and supporting music artists play over back to back weekends in ticketed events.

Each live music-packed weekend will be linked by a midweek programme of diverse entertainment, accessible for all to enjoy. From Monday to Thursday, the entire Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park site, save for the main stage, will give visitors the chance to get involved with smaller, more intimate events offering film, music, literature, sport and a specific family day that will expand the Barclaycard British Summer Time Hyde Park experience to genuinely appeal to the whole family.

Rob Hallett of AEG Live says, “This will be the biggest gig of the summer in London.  The Rolling Stones are a true British institution and the true spirit of rock n roll. Their return to Hyde Park is a landmark event.”

Linda Lennon CBE, Chief Executive, The Royal Parks, said: “We can’t wait to welcome The Rolling Stones back to Hyde Park. The Barclaycard presents British Summer Time is a new era for music events in Hyde Park so what better way to celebrate that then to have the original headliners return to where it all started.”

 

BARCLAYCARD PRESENTS BRITISH SUMMER TIME HYDE PARK – SATURDAY 6 JULY – LINE UP

 

THE GREAT OAK STAGE

THE ROLLING STONES

The Vaccines

The Temper Trap

Gary Clark Jr.

King Charles

 

THE THEATRE STAGE

Palma Violets

The Boxer Rebellion

Temples

Story Books

 

VILLAGE HALL

Tribes

Broken Hands

Drenge

Gabriel Bruce

Will Heard

 

BANDSTAND

Trigger Finger

Kimberley Anne

Splashh

Loom

Will Cook

Whinnie Williams

Ellie Gouding, Dizzee Rascal, Rizzlee Kicks and more for Ibiza & Mallorca Rocks

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Ellie Goulding is undoubtedly one of the UK’s most singular and compelling songwriters. In the two-and-a-half years since releasing massive debut album Lights, Ellie has secured huge global success including the USA where she’s sold over 3m albums.  Back with new album Halcyon and lead single, Anything Could Happen, Ellie shows a new immersion in electronica and dance beats, producing a fascinating collision between the clubbing scene and Ellie’s love of folk-pop soundscapes.  These gigs are perfectly placed and it is a huge honour to have one of the worlds most successful female solo stars take centre stage for her debut at the Rocks Hotels. 
 
Ellie Goulding said: “I’m really excited to be in Ibiza this summer. Ibiza Rocks is something I've always wanted to play and the crowds have a reputation of really bringing it! Performing to people is my favourite thing and being able to do it somewhere I absolutely love is a bonus. See you there!”
 
Dizzee RascalAfter tearing up the new year in style with the release of DirteeTV.com The Mixtape Vol.2, Dizzee Rascalreleases featured track Bassline Junkie this month, a taster of what’s to come from Dizzee’s forthcoming fifth studio album and his headline gigs at Rocks. It’s been almost 10 years since Dizzee released his debut single and Rocks is proud to have been on an incredible journey with the East London MC turned worldwide legend who has just been chosen by Muse to appear as a special guest on their UK Stadium tour.  Having first headlined Ibiza Rocks in 2008, Dizzee’s love affair with Ibiza began and headline gigs followed in 2009, 2010 and 2011.  Back to the Balearics to his home away from home, Dizzee will once again bring his genre-fusing musical genius to the famous open-air Rocks stage with a full new live show.
 
Dizzee Rascal said: “I can’t wait to get back to Ibiza Rocks this year, I’m looking forward to a big party!  It always goes off on that island, I love vibing off the crowd – those guys know how to rock it!”
 
Since performing at Ibiza Rocks in 2011 just as they released their debut album, London indie-rock outfit The Vaccines have smashed the live scene, released No.1 follow up album Come of Age and become one of the most sought after bands on the festival circuit.   Having sold out London’s Alexandra Palace and 02 Arena within 6 months of each other and currently on a European Tour, the guys will be Balearic bound once more for back to back headline shows in Mallorca and Ibiza before continuing stateside where their success has also soared.  Support on this show comes from Palma Violets, who have just completed the NME Awards Tour and are arguably the most hyped band since The Libertines.  A special show guaranteed.
 
Justin Young, The Vaccines said: “'We still have incredibly fond memories of the first time we played Ibiza Rocks. It was so much fun. It was in the middle of our first busy summer playing festivals and the whole thing felt like a holiday. So much so, that we're coming back. We're already excited at the prospect.” 
 
Since supporting Dizzee Rascal & The Streets at Rocks two years ago, Rizzle Kicks success has gone stratospheric. There’s a mutual love between Rizzles and Rocks – they even filmed their video for ‘Dreamers’ at Ibiza Rocks House at Pikes last summer. Having hooked up with Norman Cook and Neptunes super producer Pharrell Williams on their forthcoming new album and currently touring the U.S with fellow Rocks headliner Ed Sheeran, Rizzle Kicks will bring BIG things back to the famous open-air Rocks stage this summer.

Rizzle Kicks said: “We can't wait to play Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks again.  We've supported twice so being back to headline is going to be huge. The sun is shining and everyone is in holiday mode.  The gigs have a real party atmosphere with people dancing on their bedroom balconies all around the stage.  It's a pretty unique experience…you really get up close to the fans and we cant wait to get back"

Rocks will kick off the season in style in with the unique swagger and sound of Jake Bugg – BRIT award nominee for Best British Breakthrough Artist and one of the most hotly anticipated singer/songwriters of this generation. Previously announced artists also include Example who will make a triumphant return to the Balearics with his full live festival show for headline gigs in both resorts, supported by acclaimed DJ/Producer Redlight, who will also showcase his new live show at Ibiza Rocks.   Arguably the ‘must see’ live band of the moment Foals will headline the Ibiza Rocks Closing Party, supported by newly announced Sydney based duo Jagwar Mar who are hotly tipped as ‘ones to watch’ for 2013.
 
Ibiza Rocks Group is also pleased to announce a new broadcast partnership with MTV, to screen live performances, exclusive artist interviews and all the highlights from the 16 week long series of outdoor gigs from the Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks Hotels this summer broadcast on MTV Live HD and flagship channel MTV Music. Eight shows will be broadcast in total, with 4 x 30 min artist specials from Ibiza Rocks, 2 x 30 min artist specials from Mallorca Rocks and 2 x 60 min (multi-artist) compilation shows incorporating live track selection and exclusive interviews. Coverage will also feature interview footage from Ibiza Rocks House at Pikes Hotel, the legendary rock ‘n’ roll Ibiza retreat where the headline bands stay. London based production company, JJ Stereo, will produce all content.
 
More ‘must see’ solo stars, bands and cutting edge DJ’s will be announced over the coming weeks, so fans can forget the mud and rain this summer and start looking forward to the gig, and holiday of a lifetime in the sun-soaked Balearics.
 
Offering a choice of quality accommodation options at exceptional value, Mallorca Rocks every Tuesday from 04 June – 17 September and Ibiza Rocks every Wednesday from 05 June to 18 September.  Announced so far below, with much more to come:

 MALLORCA ROCKS IBIZA ROCKS
04 JUNOPENING PARTY: JAKE BUGG05 JUNOPENING PARTY: JAKE BUGG
11 JUNRIZZLE KICKS12 JUNRIZZLE KICKS
18 JUNTHE VACCINES  | PALMA VIOLETS19 JUNTHE VACCINES | PALMA VIOLETS
13 AUGEXAMPLE LIVE  | REDLIGHT DJ SET14 AUGEXAMPLE LIVE  | REDLIGHT LIVE SHOW
20 AUGELLIE GOULDING21 AUGELLIE GOULDING
27 AUGDIZZEE RASCAL28 AUGDIZZEE RASCAL
17 SEPCLOSING PARTY: SPECIAL GUESTS18 SEPCLOSING PARTY: FOALS | JAGWAR MA
 

 

Emeli Sande, Ben Howard and more added to Isle of Wight 2013 lineup

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Raising the bar once again, more magnificent acts will be appearing along with Main Stage headliners The Stone Roses, The Killers and Bon Jovi.  Plus Jake Bugg, The Script, Bloc Party, Paloma Faith, The Maccabees, Ellie Goulding, Blondie and many more spectacular acts still to be announced.

Main Stage

Emeli Sande – Friday 14th June

Ben Howard – Saturday 15th June

Laura Mvula- Saturday 15th June

Newton Faulkner – Sunday 16th June

Palma Violets – Friday 14th June

Big Top

Lianne La Havas – Friday 14th June

Willy Moon – Saturday 15th June

Young Guns – Sunday 16th June

Kids in Glass House – Sunday 16th June

Tracer – Sunday 16th June

The Garden Stage

Levellers – Friday 14th June

Hugh Cornwell – Friday 14th June

Steve Forbert – Saturday 15th June

The Blockheads – Thursday 13th June

Stackridge – Thursday 13th June

THE STONE ROSES – THE KILLERS – BON JOVI – EMELI SANDE – BEN HOWARD – JAKE BUGG THE SCRIPT – BLOC PARTY – PALOMA FAITH – THE MACCABEES – PALMA VIOLETS

THE LEVELLERS – LAURA MVULA – LIANNE LA HAVAS – ELLIE GOULDING

HAPPY MONDAYS – FUN – YOUNG GUNS – KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES – TRACER

IMPERIAL TEEN – NEWTON FAULKNER – WILLY MOON – STEVE FORBERT – THE FARM STACKRIDGE – BLONDIE – IMAGINE DRAGONS – THE BLOCKHEADS – BONNIE RAITT REPUBLICA