Parov Stelar Band

Beat-Herder turns 10 with Basement Jaxx and more

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Over the last decade, Beat-Herder has come to be known for its unrivalled attention to detail when building the site. Built entirely from scratch by hand, the festival houses all manner of surprises at every twist and turn. Each year unexpected new areas magically appear for festival-goers to stumble upon. Last year’s new additions included a swimming pool in the woods, housed in a Scandinavian style wooden cabin, complete with changing rooms and lifeguards and The Ring, a huge earth mound with a Stonehenge-esque entrance.

This year Beat-Herder was crowned winner of the Extra Festival Activity Award at the UK Festival Awards, an award that recognises events that paid that extra bit of attention to detail that creates a magical and unforgettable festival experience.

Today, the first names for the special 10th anniversary edition of the festival are announced. Headlining the festival on Friday will be Basement Jaxx, the dancefloor conquering duo whose prolific output over the last 10 years is responsible for shaping UK dance music as we know it today. Considered by many to be national treasures, their back catalogue contains hit after hit and they were among the first to bring dance music to the mainstream with their progressive yet accessible sound.

Joining them are Saturday headliners, electro swing kings the Parov Stelar Band.Beat-Herder was the very first UK festival to debut the beloved Austrian pioneer of the electro swing movement, Parov Stelar, back in 2012 and the crowds have been crying out for his infectious and incendiary show with full live band ever since.

Also confirmed are true Motown legends Martha and the Vandellas, who are playing a rare UK date following a worldwide tour last year in honour of the 50th anniversary of their signature track Dancing in the Street. The traditionally dance-focussed Toil Treesstage will play host to the likes of legendary DJs like Andrew Weatherall and PaulWoolford, Krysko and Dirtybird stalwarts Catz 'n Dogz and emerging star Shiba San. Old friends and original headliners of the very first Beat-Herder Festival, dub legends Dreadzone are also confirmed to return a decade later for the tenth anniversary.

2015 LINE UP SO FAR ANNOUNCED:

Basement Jaxx
Parov Stelar Band
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Catz 'n Dogz
Shiba San
Paul Woolford
Andrew Weatherall
Plump DJs
Vanilla Ace
Dreadzone
Utah Saints
The Lancashire Hotpots
Krysko
Greg Lord
Mooqee
Jeramiah Ferrari
Moose Funk Squad
Horse Party
Captain Hotknives
Good Foxy
Eddie Earthquake & the Tremors
Ed Stones & the BD3s

Legends Arrested Development and more set for Boomtown Festival

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Reggae’s soul master Toots and the Maytals, one of reggae’s most prolific singer/songwriters Richie Spice, international reggae sensation Collie Buddz and the Kingston Band. As well as Foreign Beggars,Redlight, Chinese Man (Live), Dub Inc., Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Gentleman’s Dub Club and so much more…

With the Fair officially splitting up into several different districts this year, the expanse of musical genres nicely reflects the various personalities for each area and unique stage. First up, let take a trip through the ska, swing, folk and punk line-ups:

It is with enormous excitement that BoomTown welcomes the Parov Stelar Band; for those who are unfamiliar with this Austrian DJ, turned uber producer’s work, he has stealthily been taking over the global music scene in recent years with his inspired styles and samples from the most varying of genres (soul, pop, jazz and swing) creating an incomparable and peerless sound. The full band are known for their lively and exuberant live shows and right up OldTown’s street! Next up for the Town Centre Stage is Grammy award winning musical alchemists Ozomatli. This super group from LA effortlessly fuse Latin salsa, urban hip-hop and jazz-funk into their signature sound, which, when seen live emits a rich energy that will perk up even the weariest feet… Another signature sound for BoomTown will come at the hands of the ska heavyweights – Mad Caddies, these stalwarts of ska have been knocking around pleasing ska hungry crowds all over the world for nearly two decades and now it’s BoomTown’s turn!

This first round of artists includes, not one, but TWO Grammy award winners, the second of which are sunshine reggae and positive afro-centric political pioneer’s Arrested Development. With their mega hits ‘Tennessee’, ‘Mr Wendal’ and ‘People Everyday’, they host a back catalogue that defined the sound of a generation, BoomTown will once more be a city filled with smiley faces and overwhelming happiness when this legendary group take to the stage!

Being the friendly bunch that they are at BoomTown, they do like to welcome back some familiar faces and honorary BoomTown residents, this year sees the very welcome return of some of the cream of the crop from BoomTowns’ gone by, including: 2011 headliners and reggae royalty Toots and the Maytals, rocksteady rambunctiousness from The Neville Staple Band (The Specials) as well asThe Selecter and the super saucy Molotov Jukebox. Along with BoomTown regulars, The Skints, Babyhead, Ska Cubano, Random Hand and a selection of awesome newcomers; Demented Are Go, Orkestra Del Sol,  Hoffmaestro, Les Hurlements D' Leo, Suicide Bid, The Creepshow and Flap!

Whilst over on the Reggae, dub and jungle stages the first couple of headliners for this year include: one of Jamaica’s leading dancehall stars Richie Spice and one of the most buzz-worthy Reggae artists over the past few years Collie Buddz and the New Kingston Band. Also to be found in the reggae, dub and jungle stages are: Dub Inc., Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Million Stylez, Gentleman's Dub Club, Necessary Mayhem Showcase feat. Tippa Irie & Mr Williamz, Mungo's Hi Fi,  Musical Youth, Iration Steppas meets Channel One in a Dubwise Fashion, Robbo Ranx (BBC Radio 1xtra), Prince Fatty + Horseman, I-Fire, Dreadsquad feat Dr Ring Ding + Kasia Malenda + El Fata, Marcus Visionary, Buggsy (full live band), David Boomah Feat. Only Joe  

And finally for the break and bass stages BoomTown presents… the trailblazing electronic crossover act Foreign Beggars, Bristol based DJ and producer Redlight, the bad ass, old skool hip-hop meets baile funk sounds of the formidable Chinese Man (live), dubstep pioneers Digital Mystikz, Koan Sound, Calyx & Teebee, DJ Zinc, South Central Live, LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad, Opiuo, B.Triats, Mak & Pasteman, Reso, Rack n Ruin, Woz (Black Butter Special)

Sticky, Randomer and Slipmatt b2b Billy Bunter.