I made my way down there on Thursday in time for Friday’s music and the atmosphere was buzzing with many festival-goers joking around and talking with a real sense of excitement about the forthcoming bands there. I entered, squeezed my tent into the crowded yellow camp and left to have a look around the festival.
I was surprised at the huge open space called ‘the village’ that occupied a few acres. It had food stalls covering its perimeter with most people relaxing and enjoying the prospect of having a special weekend. There were even a few football goals set up where people were playing a couple of 5-a-side games of football which seemed quite unusual for a festival. When the night came there were a couple of stages open and places to go that were outside of the main arena. The Relentless stage in the village proved a hit with its thumping dance music played to massive crowds till the early hours of the morning, with this stage open and it being popular every night of the bank holiday weekend. It perhaps showed that dance music perhaps should not be entirely in the background at Leeds Festival.
FRIDAY
I woke up the next day and made my way towards the main arena. The main arena was really well laid out with people having to make their way down a slight slope to get to the main stage. Though, it was about a five minute walk to the main arena the distance was not a bother but was welcomed as it made the whole arena seem less cluttered then some other festivals.
The first band on the main stage was We Are the Ocean, and with the amount of rain that was pouring down on the crowd, it did seem like we were indeed – the ocean. The rain didn't hold this band back as they put on a spirited set, and bar a couple of technical hiccups, played with plenty of energy to wake the early birds up.
Next over to the NME/Radio 1 tent came Best Coast who tried to add a bit of sunshine to the day with their summery lo-fi songs. Keen to stay out of the apocalyptic downfall of rain that just would not quit, I headed towards the deliciously named Ham Sandwich in the BBC Introducing tent whose light cute instrumentation suited the lead singer’s gentle voice; they seem like a band who will gather a strong following in the coming years, they’re even suitable for vegetarians.
Now to a band on the main stage of which I am a huge fan: Interpol. They played a brilliantly atmospheric set list that evenly covered their four albums. It was hard to take my fan goggles off for these guys, though perhaps the crowd wasn’t too up for them. It was a treat for fans nonetheless. It was now Elbow’s turn. The rain had finally completely stopped by now, but for me an eight hour drenching of rain was preferable to the drenching of a suspiciously warm cup of liquid that was hurled towards my section during Elbow’s set. Elbow’s Guy Garvey tried to warm the crowd up in a more endearing manner by trying to get us all to move, being particularly insistent on us all keeping our hands up in the air for long periods (perhaps he should have called the band ‘Hands’ not Elbow)
Next was Muse whose live reputation is out of this world. They opened with an eerie voice (from Tom Wait’s ‘What’s he Building?’) talking whilst there were flashes of large shadows of the band, contained in a curtain. Finally the curtain raised and much to the crowds anticipation they launched into 'New Born,' the first track from Muse's second album 'Origin of Symmetry' which they had previously claimed they would play the whole way through. And they did.
Due to the massive guitar riffs on the album and Muse's amazing ability to put on a show, the whole thing was incredible. Particular highlights included 'Micro Cuts' where Matt Bellamy showed off astonishingly high pitched vocals for dramatically long periods before the song came crashing to its epic guitar crunching close.
It wasn't just Matt who was thoroughly impressive musically, Chris and Dominic were too, and they particularly got to demonstrate this during a drum and bass jam for a few minutes while Matt went off stage. The sheer power of them during this jam left me thinking that these two could do a whole live set as a duo and still produce a better show than most bands (though I'm not suggesting they should lose Matt)
Muse’s set was littered with all sorts of cool things;lasers, flames the size of the stage, fireworks, interesting videos, lights and of course plenty of gigantic eyeballs filled with confetti that were thrown into the crowd. No band should ever perform without some form of gigantic eyeball being thrown around somewhere. Muse really did throw everything at this headline slot, bar the kitchen sink, and to be honest an on-stage kitchen sink wouldn’t have been all that spectacular. At the very end – after Muse had come on and played nine of their greatest hits – a fireworks display came bursting out from the top of the stage and as this came to a close I was left with my heart racing and with a sense of awe. Fantastic!
SATURDAY
The next day started off sunny while I made my way to see Miles Kane's set of high trousers, kicks and Indie licks. He had a cool swagger about him that made it hard to take your eyes off of him, even during his weaker songs. The next highlight of the day was Deftones. I've heard a lot about these guys but never seen them live before and they absolutely blew me away. I'm sure that, based on that set, they would have gained fans from the few people there who weren’t familiar with them before.
After having left the main stage for a bit to purchase an expensive Yorkshire pudding the size of a paddling pool, and still with the Deftones wonderfully gripping set in the back of my mind, it was now time for 30 Seconds to Mars. Similarly to Deftones I could not believe how great they were. Jared Leto spoke to the crowd in between songs and gave the whole set an intimate feel, almost as if he was addressing everyone personally in a crowd that had thousands; it was something really special. Towards the end they made the performance even more special for dozens of crowd members at the front when Jared invited them onstage for 'Kings and Queens,' and credit to the on-stagers; they all went mad.
Next up were Jared Leto's "good friends" and headliners My Chemical Romance. They came out in their album themed attire putting on a triumphant display. No sign of the trouble they had at Leeds twin festival Reading in their 2006 performance, where they got bottled by many angry Slayer Fans (who were stupidly placed next to them on the bill that year). They stormed through many songs off their latest album ('Danger Days') and put on an all round good show.
SUNDAY
On the final day Leeds Festival we were treated to not one but two festival headliners. Just as Pulp had stepped aside for The Strokes to go on stage last at Reading on the Saturday, The Strokes returned the favour and Pulp went on last at Leeds on the Sunday. Pulp played a strong set and won over many of the youths of the festival who may have only heard a couple of their songs, as when queried on the best performance of the weekend; Pulp was a popular choice. It also seemed to make more sense to have Pulp last over The Strokes, as Jarvis Cocker and co. seemed genuinely excited to be there; dancing around the stage in his unique style, whereas The Strokes were somewhat static and let their anthems and cool approach do the talking (or singing). Earlier highlights in the day included the sing-alongs to Madness' 'Our House' and opener 'One Step Beyond', though the lesser known tracks did not go down as well with the crowd; it was worth it for the well-known ones.
All in all the festival was a major success and although the amount of rain did make it an extremely Welly-squelching affair, it was clear that behind all those festival goers mud covered faces there were big white smiles..
The bandstand stage features the new breed of upcoming super-stars, hand picked from the rich array of original talent in the Capital and beyond, full line up as follows:
Friday July 1
Saturday July 2
Sunday July 3
Smiler
Starboy Nathan
Big Deal
Time Takers
Russo
Lonsdale Boys Club
Pro Dot
True Tiger
Liz Lawrence
G FrSH
Jamie George
Funeral Suits
Kasha
Millions Like Us
Paradise Point
Reece
Luke Bingham
Smokin’ Barrels
Rascals
Felix Baugmartner – DJ set
Twissman
Tenny Ten
Lauren Loretto
Shortston & Dazzler (New Breed Crew)
Alex Thompson
Charlotte Rene
Rebecca Closure
This completes the lineup for Wireless with Barclay Card.
We welcome MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE as first time headliners at their only English festival appearance of the year. They conquered the globe with their platinum-selling third album, the bombastic The Black Parade. But the band’s four members, Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Ray Toro and Frank Iero took a radical new direction for their current album Danger Days: The True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys; an utterly outrageous, gleefully creative explosion of every quirk, kick and punch the band had been holding in for years. It’s the album My Chemical Romance have been building towards their entire, nearly decade-long career as it defies lazy labels and demolishes expectations. Beholden to no scene, credo or code it’s a rock ‘n’ roll album from the future aimed directly at the dead-hearted present. The band’s vision was rewarded with two NME Awards including the highly prestigious Best International Band. Expect a powerful and thrilling performance from a band at their peak.
THE STROKES are set to co-headline this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. Having recently topped NME’s album of the decade list for debut ‘Is This It’ they can justifiably be described as one of the perennial rock bands of our generation. Their first three albums achieved critical acclaim and led to multimillion sales and headline festival appearances. With the band’s eagerly anticipated fourth album, ‘Angles’, due out 21st March, these dates are sure to re-confirm their staggering live reputation.
PULP will co-headline this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival, the Leeds show being their only date in the North of England since they announced their return. Quite simply one of the most popular and successful British groups of our times, the Mercury Music Prize winners have forever etched their way into the history of British music with anthems such as ‘Common People’, ‘Sorted For E’s & Wizz’ and ‘Do You Remember The First Time’ and these sets from the Sheffield band are sure to be one of the events of the weekend.
* The bands will flip places at the festivals with The Strokes playing after Pulp at Reading and Pulp closing after The Strokes in Leeds.
MUSE TO HEADLINE
Sunday 28th August at Reading Festival
Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
One of the biggest, most impressive live bands in the world, and regularly voted the best, MUSEreturn to Reading and Leeds for what is sure to be a monumental performance and their Only European Shows of 2011. The band have sold over ten million albums since their formation in 1994 and the trio of Matt Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard have enthralled audiences globally with their incredible live shows. Currently working on an amazing set list which will include all the massive tunes from their extraordinary back catalogue, the Teignmouth group are also putting plans in place to build a spectacular one off, never seen before, stage set which is sure to see the band live up to their tag as Britain’s most ambitious live act. Having recently picked up a Grammy Award for their fifth studio album ‘The Resistance’ and named by the NME as the ‘Best Band’ for the second year running, the group are planning to record the follow up later this year. This will be an un-missable highlight of the weekend to enjoy tens of thousands people singing, dancing and air-guitaring to one of the UK’s most celebrated rock acts.
Friday 26th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 27th August at Leeds Festival
From Los Angeles, Special Guests THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS have built a huge following since the release of their debut eponymous album in 2002. Featuring Jared Leto (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter), Shannon Leto (drums, percussion) and Tomo Miličević (lead guitar, keyboards) the band have released three albums and collected countless awards and gold discs along the way. Their latest release ‘This Is War’ was produced by Flood and Steve Lillywhite and has been described as their “strongest and most accomplished work to date.” The band’s live performances have included ballet dancers, string quartets and opera singers in the past, all secondary to Leto’s enthralling showmanship so Reading & Leeds can expect a fabulous performance at this their Only UK Festival Appearance.
www.thirtysecondstomars.net
American punk rock at its very finest, THE OFFSPRING have enthralled audiences since they formed back in 1984. They have sold an incredible 35 million albums worldwide and toured continually with an incredible live show. Currently working on their ninth studio album, which vocalist Dexter Holland has hinted will be ”straight-up rockin'” this set is sure to feature hits such as UK Number. 1 ‘Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)’, ‘Original Prankster’ and ‘You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid’. These are the bands Only UK Festival Appearances in 2011.
DEFTONES’ sixth and latest studio album‘Diamond Eyes’ was named iTunes’ 2010 Rock Album of the Year and is recognised as one of their best to date. The Californian band’s diverse and genre -bending sound has seen their career span over a decade and secured them global success. Off the back of a mammoth tour of Europe and the US the band return to the main stage this summer and are sure to be firing on all cylinders at this their Only UK Festival Appearances.
Formed in 1999 and selling over 100,000 records in the UK alone, RISE AGAINST are set to make their Main Stage debut at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. The punk rock four-piece from Chicago, Illinois graced us with their stage presence in 2009 when they headlined the Lock-up stage, now having released their sixth studio album ‘Endgame’ and touring once again, we can look forward to an explosive return.
We welcome BRING ME THE HORIZON, the Sheffield band who are defining the sound of modern metal. Their third full length album, ‘There Is A Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let’s Keep It A Secret’ was released to fantastic reviews last year and their live shows are legendary. Since their formation in 2004 they have found fans around the world and a blistering performance is sure to be in store.
www.bringmethehorizon.co.uk
Energetic pop–punk icons NEW FOUND GLORY once described themselves as “five kids from the suburbs that knew some power chords”. The band have certainly come a long way, with 2010 seeing the 10th anniversary reissue of their groundbreaking self-titled album. Their fusion of emo, pop and heavy hardcore riffs will once again bring a lot of fans dancing to the main stage.
Recently signing a worldwide record deal with their new label Cooking Vinyl and releasing their third studio album ‘Hope’, 2011 is certainly moving quickly for six-piece Welsh rock-bruisers,THE BLACKOUT. Having played storming sets on numerous sell out headline tours, the band will once again be unleashing their wrath this summer.
www.theblackout.net
Brighton based youngsters ARCHITECTS have certainly made an impact since their arrival on the UK metal scene, playing alongside acts such as Paramore, Jane’s Addiction and metal legends Faith No More. With the band opening proceedings on the main stage, you can guarantee an explosive start to the day.
Saturday 27h August at Reading Festival / Sunday 28th August at Leeds Festival
Brooklyn-based alternative rock band THE NATIONAL return to Reading & Leeds Festival after a five year absence, and will no doubt do so to a huge warm welcome. The release of their fifth album ‘High Violet’ last year saw them crack the top five in the UK and US and pick up a massive fan base along the way. These were added to the supporters in the know who had been praising and proclaiming the greatness of this five piece since the release of their debut album in 2001. A genuine hype-free success story they can only win-over more people with their classic Americana sounds this summer.
Festival favourites JIMMY EAT WORLD bring their unique brand of Arizona rock to Reading & Leeds this summer. With recently released album ‘Invented’ heralding a return to the classic sound of their earlier albums, the band fronted by Jim Adkins since they formed in 1993, have continued to thrill crowds with their hard-edged yet melodic rock sounds and blistering live shows.
Don’t watch that, watch THIS as our Special Guests MADNESS, North London’s finest moonstompers rock up to the Reading & Leeds Festival with their unique brand of nutty boy ska/pop. Expect a barn-storming greatest hits set comprising old favourites and tracks from the latest album 2009’s return to form ‘The Liberty of Norton Folgate’. ‘One Step Beyond’, ‘House of Fun’, ‘My Girl’ – the hits are endless and Suggs and Co. are a formidable live act who will guarantee outbreaks of crazy dancing and sing-a-longs.
Since releasing their debut album ‘Tourist History’ – the 2010 Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the year in March 2010, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB have rapidly become one of the biggest new success stories in UK music. After selling out headline tours in the UK, US, Europe, Australia, Japan and South America the band have deservedly earned both a devoted word-of-mouth live following and huge critical acclaim. The Times have called them “the band of the moment” and NME declared that they have “quietly become one of the UK’s best loved bands.”
Few artists at Reading & Leeds Festival this year will have recently celebrated their 70thbirthday, but SEASICK STEVE – guitarist and bluesman extraordinaire is a truly unique individual. He made his first UK television appearance on Jools Holland’s show in 2006 and was an instant hit – an overnight sensation after playing for over 50 years. Two Brit Award nominations followed in 2009 and 2010 and he’s just kept playing and startling fans with his incredible talent. A classic artist for the festival.
Late 2008 marked the end of a chapter in the life of Leeds’ THE PIGEON DETECTIVES, with a sold out headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace which, added to the 500,000 sales of their first two albums left the band with an impressive CV. Now, fresh from a self imposed two year hiatus they return recharged with a new album. ‘UP,GUARDS AND AT ‘EM!’, ever popular with the public, this year’s appearance at Reading & Leeds – particularly in Leeds , will once again remind us what an enviable live proposition The Pigeon Detectives are.
www.thepigeondestectives.com
The past twelve months has seen Welsh trio THE JOY FORMIDABLE emerge as one of the acts to watch in 2011. Having headlined the NME’s Radar Tour last year and playing a sold out UK tour early in 2011 live is where The Joy Formidable excel. The gigs had the critics salivating with a breathless NME declaring them “a shockingly special band.” On stage they push themselves emotionally and sonically to create soundscapes that produce an intense, yet uplifting experience often resulting with singer Ritzy Bryan amongst the crowd.
Sunday 28th August at Reading Festival / Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
The Reading & Leeds Festival play host to one of the UK’s most loved and influential bands this summer – ELBOW - one of only two UK festival appearances the band have confirmed this year. The immense success of the double platinum selling ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ brought with it the acclaim the band so richly merited, winning the Mercury Music Prize in 2008, a Brit Award for Best British Band, a South Bank Show prize for Best Album whilst also picking up a pair of Ivor Novello Awards for ‘One Day Like This’ and ‘Grounds For Divorce. Since then the band have written and recently released their fifth studio album ‘Build A Rocket Boys’ entering the charts at Number 2 – the band’s highest ever chart position, and it seems another chapter is written in one of the most intriguing and heart-warming stories in British music.
With the release of INTERPOL’s eponymous fourth album last year, expectation was high and the band didn’t disappoint. “…another album of exquisitely anguished atmospherics…” exclaimed one critic whilst another stated; “…a stadium band in the making, if they choose to be.” The grandiose cinematic beauty and often eerie intensity of Interpol’s catalogue lends itself to soaring climatic shows and as on previous occasions Interpol will plough where others merely follow. A rabid and loyal fanbase will see a band at the top of the game, for those yet to join the ranks catch this stunning live act and be converted.
Since the release of FRIENDLY FIRES self-titled debut album in 2008, accolades have arrived thick and fast for this trio from St Albans. The album was a slow burning success which over the ensuing two years saw the band rack up sales in excess of 200,000 in the UK as well as picking a Mercury Music Prize nomination and two Brit Award nominations. The band draw inspiration as much from the electronic world as the guitar one and this is no more obvious than when they hit the stage which has led them to be one the most exciting and critically feted new bands of the past few years. Currently holed up in the studio putting the finishing touches to their second album, this year’s appearance should be captivating.
The ever youthful post-hardcore quartet from St Albans ENTER SHIKARI are favourites at Reading & Leeds. Irrespective of which stage they play, the mantra remains the same; have fun and the crowd go absolutely insane! The band have built a fearsome live reputation over the past few years whilst touring across the globe with appearances at Big Day Out In Australia and The Warped Tour in the US and with news that the band are looking to release new material later this year, fans and newcomers alike will again be drawn to what is a most exhilarating live experience.
Dundee’s THE VIEW bring their energetic and hit-packed live show to this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. The band who with a Number 1 and Mercury Music Prize album ‘Hats Off To The Buskers’ under their belt first entertained the crowds here when they headlined the NME/Radio 1 stage way back in 2007. This year will witness no less excitement when they appear playing old favourites along with new material from their third album ‘Bread And Circuses’ with no let up in their irrepressible live experience.
FRANK TURNER has developed from a fledgling artist armed with an acoustic guitar and an exceptional DIY work ethic and blossomed from an underground hero to a bona fide mainstream success story following the demise of his previous band Million Dead. From supporting Green Day at Wembley last year and more recently being nominated for two NME Awards at this year’s Brats, the past twelve months has been a whirlwind success which shows no sign of slowing down. A new album is imminent which will no doubt win this amazing artist more fans.
TAKING BACK SUNDAY play the UK for the first time ever under their original line-up which saw their 2002 debut album ‘Tell All Your Friends’ pave the way towards the bands future successes . With a brand new studio album set for release produced by Eric Valentine – (QOTSA, Lostprophets) the five-piece from Long Island are sure to be a hit on the Main Stage this summer.
Dan Brown, Liam Cromby, Alfie Scully, Jack Spence and Tom Whittaker are WE ARE THE OCEAN. The band formed in 2007 and has since toured with the likes of The Used, Lostprophets, You Me At Six and Funeral For A Friend. If you have yet to experience We Are The Ocean then there is no better time than these sets, sure to be the talk of the site at the close of the weekend.
Friday 26th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 27th August at Leeds Festival
Reading & Leeds are thrilled to welcome BEADY EYE to headline the NME/Radio 1 Stage for their first ever appearance at the festival. Formed after Oasis split in 2009, Liam Gallagher, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock released their debut album ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’ in February of this year and played their first live shows worldwide in March. Having been voted the ‘greatest frontman of all time’, Gallagher and the band have already gained plaudits for their live performances with one newspaper declaring Gallagher to be “in the most commanding vocal form of his career”. This should be an absolutely not to be missed highlight of the weekend.
www.beadyeyemusic.com
Formed in 2007, West London trio WHITE LIES released their debut album ‘To Lose My Life’ in 2009 reaching number one on its release to a fanfare of both critical and commercial acclaim. With an 18 month world tour under their belts the band emerged as one of the bands of 2009. Recharged, excited and buoyed by a new found self- belief, this year has seen the follow-up ‘Ritual’ – their full-blooded big-booted tech-rock outing continue the band’s ascendancy both here in the UK and around the world.
The continued maturation of NOAH AND THE WHALE has been a pleasing thing to follow – from the joyous burst of their debut ,’Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down’, through the lovelorn sobriety of ‘The First Days Of Spring’, it now reaches a kind of fruition on the recent ‘Last Night on Earth’. Certainly the band seem to have come of age, as perceived leaders of the same British folk-rock scene that has spawned so many in recent times, with this album the band have found their place and perhaps appear to stand a little taller and little broader than their peers. Theirs is a beautifully woven tapestry of richness, words and entertainment, be enthralled.
THE VACCINES are the quartet who have mopped up the superlatives when it comes to the next big thing over the past six months – including being shortlisted in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll and primed with their debut album ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines’ – look set to thrill on this, their first Reading & Leeds Festival showing. The debut single ‘Wreckin’ Bar’ bore all the hallmarks of what The Vaccines were about, songs that wiggle their way into your consciousness and won’t let go. So, what can you expect from The Vaccines? Excitement, thrills, melody, power, romance?
About to release their third album ‘The English Riviera’, the follow up to 2008’s critically acclaimed ‘Nights Out’ – METRONOMY bring their vast sonic soundscapes to this year’s festival. Although a lot of the newer material sees the band embrace warmer pop melodies they haven’t left the dancefloor behind and new tracks such as ‘The Look’ with it’s all conquering synth-riff will be a festival favourite come the end of the summer.
Having worked with a diverse range of artists including Florence Welch, Marianne Faithfull, Tilda Swinton and most recently Patti Smith, PATRICK WOLF’s iconoclastic music has seen him spread his prodigious talents into a number of fields. Following his previous album ‘The Bachelor’ in 2009, Wolf has been working on new material which arrives in the shape of new album ‘Lupercalia’. Renowned for the spectacular, especially live, the new songs should propel him into the bigger arena that the scale and ambition of his new music already inhabits.
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS are already (naked and) famous in their native New Zealand, one of 2010’s genuine organic buzzes has seen a band lauded by the critics and now with Down Under virtually conquered look set to trailblaze likewise in the Northern hemisphere. This is a band set to blow a crater in 2011’s musical landscape with their first international release ‘Passive Me, Aggressive You’, a young group of warped sound merchants to invest your heart and soul in, catch ‘em early on their festival debut!
Saturday 27th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 28th August at Leeds Festival
Headlining the NME/Radio 1 stage we are honored to welcome the incredible JANE’S ADDICTION. The flamboyant, outspoken frontman Perry Farrell is one of the most thrilling and electrifying artists of our generation and as anyone privileged to see the band will testify, they remain one of the world’s most accomplished live acts. ‘Jane Says’, ‘Been Caught Stealing’ and ‘Just Because’ are just some of the classic tracks the band have recorded over their eventful career. The group will also be featuring material from their upcoming new album set for August release. The new album was produced by Rich Costey (Muse, Rage Against The Machine etc) and TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek joined in to help write, program and play bass in what promises to be one of the most anticipated releases of 2011. Jane’s Addiction are a definite must-see for rock fans everywhere and are guaranteed to give Reading & Leeds a very special moment.
Fresh from headlining this year’s NME Awards tour, CRYSTAL CASTLES, a somewhat anti-social duo of drummer Ethan Kath and the ever enigmatic vocalist Alice Glass return to grace Reading & Leeds Festival. Famed for their uncompromising style both on and off stage their performances are a wonderful cacophony of chaos and crowd participation. With two albums under their belt, sold out tours worldwide, Crystal Castles have created an unexpected and remarkable loyal cult following which is witnessed no more so than when they take to the stage. Miss this duo at your peril.
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB return to play this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival, their first appearance since 2009. The band have certainly not been idle in the intervening period having released their well received debut album ‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose’ in 2009, picking up ‘Best New Band’ at last year’s NME Awards and releasing their stunning Top 10 acoustic album ‘Flaws’ last summer. 2011 sees the band plug back in and are currently recording their third album which is slated for release later this year.
From their festival debut last summer, EVERYTHING EVERYTHING appear to have gone from ‘ones to watch’ to THE ones towatch. Last year saw a nomination on the feted BBC Sound poll, a year later has seen them pick up The Times Breakthrough Award at this year’s Southbank Awards for their sensational debut album ‘Man Alive’. Described as a record “..of arresting unpredictability and melodic beauty and subtlety, melding art-rock and the dance floor”, everybody’s favourite new cerebral pop outfit look set to continue their breathtaking trail with a highly anticipated showing at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival.
Armed with a new album ‘Blood Pressures’, THE KILLS – Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart – return to Reading & Leeds with their swagger and sass intact. Since their arrival in 2003 the duo have retained the searing guitars, driving rhythms and sexually charged lyrical savvy that has become their trademark. Mosshart, meanwhile as vocalist in The Dead Weather which has further enhanced her reputation and that of The Kills as one of the most vital, striking bands today, whose vividly unique ‘rock’ is at once effortless and timeless.
Los Angeles hip-hop collective OFWGKTA (otherwise known as Odd Future… or Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All) have garnered a cult following in the US. Talented, hilarious, villainous and immature – they are at the forefront of modern hip-hop. Having released no fewer than 12 full length albums since 2008, all available for free on their website, the group recently completed a two stop tour, their first outside of Los Angeles, in New York and London which sold out within 48 hours of announcement. Their concerts have frequently been compared to punk rock shows, with stage diving and moshing – these hip-hoppers are very much in the ones to watch category.
Sunday 28th August at Reading Festival / Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
Stepping away from their day jobs in Soulwax, 2 MANY DJ’s will be this year’s co-headliners on the NME/Radio 1 Stage. Initially finding fame with their genre mashing mixes, the brothers went onto produce remixes for the likes of Gorillaz, The Klaxons, Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem and many more. The 2 MANY DJ’s set is a guaranteed show stopping headline for this year’s festival and is not to be missed.
As Mike Skinner calls time on THE STREETS it’s hard to underestimate how important our co-headliners have been to the past decade of British music. The final album, ‘Computers and Blues’, crams everything Skinner has learnt in the course of his very personal five album odyssey into a package as irresistibly box-fresh as his game-changing 2002 debut ‘Original Pirate Material’. Ladies and gentlemen, charge your glasses for a farewell toast to The Streets.
www.the-streets.co.uk
After splitting in 2006, DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 are back and ready to plug in their instruments at Reading & Leeds for another blast of dance-rock mayhem. Formed in 2001, the band were a wakeup call for a stagnant guitar scene. Keeping things simple, the Canadian group had little more than drums, some skittering electronics and bone shuddering bass. With an awesome live reputation, these sets are sure to exceed their own very high standards and deliver a thrilling performance.
PANIC! AT THE DISCO are back and will be performing at Reading & Leeds in support of new album ‘Vices and Virtues’. Just barely out of high school, the emo-pop outfit burst out of suburban Las Vegas in 2005 with their full-length debut, ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’. Crafting pop-influenced songs with theatrical touches, quirky techno beats, and perceptive lyrics the tents are sure to be packed out for these shows.
Psychedelic rock band WARPAINT formed in 2004 and consists of Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman, Jenny Lee Lindberg and Stella Mozgawa. The all-girl quartet from Los Angeles have toured incessantly over the last couple of years, with standout shows at CMJ and SXSW. NME awarded the debut album 9/10, and were moved to say ‘it’s arguably the greatest debut of the year’.
Highly rated London based five-piece CHAPEL CLUB follow their sold out UK tour with an appearance on the NME/Radio 1 stage. ‘Palace’, the band’s acclaimed debut album will play its part along with new tracks that together encapsulate the band’s musical diversity – be it the Kraut rock drive of ‘After The Flood’, the seductive roller coaster of ‘The Shore’ or the pop elegance of recent single ‘All The Eastern Girls’ – a song for every mood… Chapel Club are a remarkable band, join the congregation!
When CAGE THE ELEPHANT released their self-titled debut in 2009, they were heralded as saviors of slacker funk-punk thanks to their hit ‘Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked’. The album went on to sell over 500,000 copies worldwide, and remained on the Billboard 200 Chart for 73 consecutive weeks. The raucous Kentucky rockers are now back with new album ‘Thank You Happy Birthday’, so get ready for another ferocious kick of gut-grabbing rock ‘n’ roll.
Friday 26th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 27th August at Leeds Festival
THE HORRORS will take to the Festival Republic Stage as our headliners for what is sure to be two very special shows. After forming in the summer of 2005, the band quickly gained notoriety around London for their look, sound and brief but frantic live shows. Mixing shoegazing, post-punk and goth influences, expect The Horrorsto deliver one of those iconic Festival Republic Stage moments.
Saturday 27th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 28th August at Leeds Festival
After drawing one of the weekend’s biggest crowds last year, THE MIDNIGHT BEAST return as our Festival Republic Stage headliners. The internet sensations sent YouTube into meltdown last year with their cover of Ke$ha’s ‘Tik Tok’. If you haven’t seen them live yet, think of them as a musical version of the characters of The Inbetweeners, and be sure to catch them this summer at Reading & Leeds.
Sunday 28th August at Reading Festival / Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
We are proud to welcome the quintessential rock star PETER DOHERTY as a Festival Republic Stage headliner. After last year’s incredible performances with The Libertines, one of the best British songwriters of our generation returns in what is sure to be one of the highlights of the weekend.
Sunday 28th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 27th August at Leeds Festival
The return to the Reading & Leeds Festival of the multifaceted TIM MINCHIN is one of the highlights of this year’s Alternative Stage. Having won numerous awards since his rise from obscurity to celebrity in the mid–noughties, Tim has firmly established himself, both here, back home in Australia and America as one the most versatile performers on the live circuit. Tim has performed sell out shows at The Sydney Opera House, Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Just for Laughs Festivals in Canada amongst others. He has appeared on numerous TV shows, written a pilot for Radio 2 and recently written the music and lyrics for the musical ‘Matilda’ with The Royal Shakespeare Company which opened late last year. 2010 also saw Tim embark on his first Arena Tour of the UK where he was joined by the 55 piece Heritage Orchestra and a band, which he then took on a sell out tour of Australia before its return to the UK culminating in two shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Always one for the unexpected, this year is no exception and will feature Tim and a special rock ‘n’ roll set!
Saturday 27th August at Reading Festival / Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
The Alternative stage welcomes the superb talent of LEE NELSON. The cheeky, happy-go-lucky loveable tearaway from South London has recently been a hit on the stage for other reasons than just stand-up, performing with best pal Omelette to Wham’s ‘Club Tropicana’ on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief. Lee is of course a character created by comedian Simon Brodkin whose successes include the hit BBC3 vehicle ‘Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show’. He has also written for and performed on ‘Al Murray’s Multiple Personality Disorder’. Brace yourselves for this one, it’s gonna be ‘Well Good’.
Award-winning stand-up, writer and performer RUSSELL KANE has firmly established himself as one of the best comics in the UK since exploding onto the scene in autumn 2003. This year saw Russell win the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award for his show ‘Smokescreens and Castles’ – the most prestigious award in Comedy – having been shortlisted for the award a total of three times including one nomination for Best Newcomer for his Edinburgh show, ‘The Theory of Pretension’. In a prolific few years for Russell, some of the highlights include writing a play called ‘The Great British Country Fete’ for the Bush Theatre, joining ITV2’s ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here Now’ presenting team and making an acclaimed appearance on BBC 1’s flagship comedy show ‘Live At The Apollo’. Described as ‘one of the finest young performers around’ by Time Out and an ‘inspiring and brilliant stand-up… perfect’ by Chortle, these shows are not to be missed.
Friday 26th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 27th August at Leeds Festival
In describing HENRY ROLLINS, the tendency is to try to squeeze as many labels as possible into a single sentence – but if he could be reduced to a single word, that word would undoubtedly be ‘workaholic’. For more than a quarter century, Rollins has toured the world as a spoken word artist and as front man for both the Rollins Band and Black Flag. When he’s not living out of a suitcase, Rollins is constantly working as an actor, radio DJ, author and publisher. Henry’s spoken word performances are a seamless mix of humour and political commentary. In 2010, he toured both hemispheres on the slogan ‘knowledge without mileage equals bullshit’ with his ‘Frequent Flyer Tour’, and the Reading & Leeds fans are sure to be in for a treat when he arrives in 2011.
Saturday 27th August at Reading Festival / Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
One of Britain’s most acclaimed comics, MARK THOMAS has also been at the forefront as one of the country’s most recognised and influential activists. With a career on stage spanning 25 years, from his early days as a guest on Radio 1’s The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Channel 4’s numerous series of the cutting edge Mark Thomas Comedy Project / Mark Thomas Project to his well documented and life changing influence Dispatches programmes, he has continued to argue and investigate. In recent years, Thomas has undertaken several sold out tours of the UK, the latest, ‘Extreme Rambling’ (Walking The Wall) recounts his walking the entire length of the Israeli Separation Barrier crossing between the Israeli and Palestine side. “Moving and inspiring…as gripping as any live performance you will see.” said The Guardian. Passionate and emotive, catch this multi award winning comedian, author and activist and you cannot fail to be inspired.
www.markthomasinfo.com
TICKETING INFO
Weekend tickets £192.50 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £82.50 plus booking fee • Early entry permits £15 • Weekend ticket prices include camping.
Online/Telephone from Monday 21st March 7.15pm:
Tickets are strictly limited to a maximum of four per household for those booking by telephone or online and two per person for personal callers to walk in stores.
Selected HMV stores from 8am Tuesday 22nd March. See websites for store listings.
In Person from Tuesday 22nd March 8am:
Reading tickets can be bought at face value,in person from Tuesday 22nd March 8.00amwhen paid for in cash at the Reading Arts & Venues Box Office, The Hexagon.
Leeds tickets can be bought at face value, in person from Tuesday 22nd March 8.00am when paid for in cash at Leeds Visitor Centre.
Also in person from Crash Records and Jumbo Records subject to booking fees.
Please note that picture ID/proof of address will be required at the time of booking. Tickets are subject to availability.
Limit of 2 per household/person for personal callers.
Children under 13 (12 and under) are admitted free but MUST be accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Please note there is no separate children’s area at this event.
Amongst the first names of the Pop-Rock Main Stage you get Pulp, coming back on stage after a long period of silence and already announcing that 2011 will see them playing only a few big festival gigs – including Sziget Festival, of course – in their classic line-up. Dizzee Rascal was chosen as the best male performer at last year’s BRIT Awards, and this time all Sziget-fans will have the chance to see why. Main Stage will also host Chicago-based melodic hardcore act Rise Against, Californian rockers Smash Mouth and folk-punk icons Flogging Molly. Interpol is currently on tour with their new album and without any doubt they are going to be one of the most awaited bands of this year’s Sziget Festival. The delicate, enchanting chamber-pop of The National has already fascinated the audience of the world’s most important festivals, and it was definitely not by accident that they received the album of the year prize from Q magazine. Sziget-fans were crazy about Gogol Bordello, so we are more than happy to announce that they will return this year, while Chemical Brothers also promise a spectacular new show for 2011.
The newest venue of Sziget Festival is called Europe Stage, aiming to present bands from various parts of the Old World. These bands are typically very popular in their own countries, often filling arenas and stadiums, but not yet achieved break through on an international level. Sziget Festival does its best to open up gates for bands like Triggerfinger, often referred to as the Flemish AC/DC, or the Belgian Queens of the Stone Age, promoting their new album All This Dancin’ Around. The Europe Stage also welcomes one of the most popular Italian alternative rock bands Verdena and make sure you get ready for Söhne Mannheims, German allstars formed of a dozen of outstanding musicians and covering a wide range of styles from r’n’b to reggae, rock, hiphop and pop.
World music fans get a five-day roundtrip of various genres and as usually, Sziget Festival’s World Music Main Stage will focus on the latest revelations and the biggest shots of the scene without geographical or stylistic limits. A fine example is AfroCubism, one of the greatest sensations of the past few months. We should also mention Cuba-based Eliades Ochoa and band, teaming up with Mali giants Kasse Mady Diabaté, Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyaté and Djelimady Tounkara to make an unforgettable show. The Argentine-Swiss-French combination of Gotan Project will once again present an undoubted skill in pushing the borders of tango, while the world music venue also offers a fine selection of Balkan music: Goran Bregovic will play beloved Romany anthems together with his remarkable Wedding And Funeral Band. A great news for fans of flamenco as well as hiphop is the gig of Barcelona-based Ojos de Brujo, playing at Sziget as an important station of their farewell tour. Rotfront from Berlin will try their best to be even more successful than they were last year… quite a challenge to say the least. And this is still just a prelude of happiness. France, a clear stronghold of folk- and world music will also have a firm representation with two beautiful bands. Old friends Les Hurlements d’Léo will create a special merge of the sensitivity of French chanson and ‘merciless’ punkrock, while Debout Sur Le Zinc will play the first Sziget show of their 12 years career, revealing their irresistible style of Celtic-Klezmer-tango-rock-gypsy-fusion.
The A38-WAN2 Stage has been offering a wide selection of trendy and cult bands year after year and this process goes on also in 2011. The venue will host Marina and the Diamonds, who is not only a fashion-dictator, but was also nominated for BRIT, BBC Sound and NME music awards, and has even received the prize of the best British/Irish band of the year at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Another great band playing on this stage will be Skunk Anansie, a band hard to label in terms of genre, playing an interesting merge of metal, reggae, electronics and post new-wave. And we should not forget about Hurts, flagship of contemporary British synthpop, awarded as best new band on the 2011 Shockwaves NME Awards.
The Party Arena is the place to be at nights if you are into dj’s and partyculture in general. But even more than that: before the sun goes down this is also an exciting live act scene. Some of the artists playing here will include The Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77, one of the most talented players of the electronic scene and new rave allstars Hadouken! Fans will also get the chance of listening to Crystal Castles, aiming atan audience that is open to visualize unknown and fantastic levels of musical existence. Those who have already seen them play live are captured by their sound and charisma forever. So make sure you arrive early to fit in the tent.
Sziget Festival has also a lot to offer for the fans of harder styles. This year organizers will make sure that rockers can get out of their well known tent and enjoy some fresh air with the introduction of the Metal Main Stage. The venue will present rock and metal acts in an open-air scenery with two international and two domestic stars playing each day. For this stage the focus is not necessarily on following the latest trends, rather on highlighting brutal guitar-riffs and some of the legends of the scene. The two early names announced suggest that this venue will be one of the most popular stages of the festival this year. Who are they? According to some fresh news, one of the most important metal bands of all times, Judas Priest is going on tour for the last time ever and they will definitely visit Sziget to make sure fans get stiff necks after a crazy night of headbanging. Motörhead will also return to Hungary, playing a thundering, high-speed, friendly and evil gig like they always did throughout the thirty-five years of their career. If you have ever seen them before, you already know that they simply ignore the age factor, so their live shows are as crazy and wild as the ones you get from musicians half of their age. Co-headliners playing at the venue will include Finnish power-metal heroes Sonata Arctica, already crowned with four golden records and surely considered as one of the most striking bands of the scene.
Although this is just the beginning, only a fragment of all the star-performers to be announced later, it is already clear that music fans from all over the world will have a great time at Sziget Festival also this year.
Last but not least, another great piece of news: you can buy your Sziget Festival tickets in 2011 for the same price you did last year. Early bird weekly tickets (including camping) are available for 170 Euros till 30 April and if you are not the camper type you can buy a non-camping weekly for 140 Euros. The prices will go up 30 Euros each after the early bird period is over, so it does make sense to think ahead. Daily tickets will be available for 45 Euros.
The rest of the lineup announced so far is as follows:
Arcade Fire, Pulp, Portishead, Underworld, Grinderman, Beirut, Hadouken!, Fedde Le Grande, Tiga, James Zabiela, Joris Voorn, Gramophonedzie. More to be announced soon.
If that isn’t enough EXIT 2011 plays host to a variety of 400 performances on 20 stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels – a walk through the mystical fortress is like a trip through a magical wonderland. Music ranges from rock, dance, indie, Latino, reggae, electronica, chill out and regional music, so there is no better festival in the world that brings you so much value and so much variety! EXIT is still the coolest, most adventurous and best value for money festival experience in Europe for the discerning festival goer. Offering more entertainment, easier and cheaper travel options, stunning weather and an atmosphere unlike any other festival, ensure it’s on your list of things to do 2011!
TICKETS: EXIT & eTickets.to continue to deliver the best value festival ticket around, with pre event ticket redemption and fast entry through their own entrance. Buy tickets from; www.etickets.to/exit
First release tickets are limited so buy now to avoid paying more than you have to! First Release – 4 day festival ticket – £89 + b/f Second Release – 4 day festival ticket – £105 + b/f Camping ticket – £25 + b/f
Since the release of their first worldwide hit ‘Where Is The Love’ in 2003 The Black Eyes Peas have become a bona fide hip hop phenomenon. The band have sold over 27 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide. Their latest single ‘The Time (Dirty Bit)’, taken from new album ‘The Beginning’, was their fifth single to hit number one here in the UK whilst ‘I Gotta Feeling’, which was out last year, became the first single to sell more than one million downloads in the UK. Renowned for their electrifying live show the band gave a stupendous half time performance at last nights Super Bowl in Dallas, Texas and they recently sold out the 60,000 tickets available for their concert at the legendary Stade de France in a record breaking 60 minutes! With other smash hits including ‘My Humps’, ‘Rock That Body’ and ‘Boom Boom Pow’ the band are set to give an explosive headline performance on Friday 1 July.
The Chemical Brothers have forged a career by pushing boundaries. Over the seventeen years since the release of their first single the band have sold millions of copies of their seven studio albums – five of which consecutively hit number 1 in the UK. At the end of last year they were honored with the prestigious Q magazine ‘Hero’ award, they have won multiple Grammy awards and are renowned for their vocal collaborations having worked with a dizzying array of handpicked artists, from Noel Gallagher to Beth Orton, The Flaming Lips to Midlake, Q-Tip to Kele Okereke. Their remarkable new live show, which has been heralded as their most spectacular yet, is set to dazzle the crowds on Saturday 2 July at this years Wireless with Barclaycard.
A stellar line up of artists are already confirmed to join The Black Eyed Peas on Friday 1 July. Last year saw Plan B play to a rammed tent on the second stage, since then his second album ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ has become one of the biggest selling albums of 2010. It’s hit the number one spot twice and reached triple platinum sales. He was recently awarded with the ‘Best Breakthrough’ artist at the Q awards, is soon to embark on a sell-out arena tour of the UK, and is confirmed to perform at this years Brits where he is nominated for three awards. The undisputed breakout star of 2010, Tinie Tempah returns to Wireless with Barclaycard for the fourth year in a row. His platinum selling debut album The Disc-Overy topped the album charts last year and so far boasts three hit singles. Nominated for four Brit awards (the most nominations for any one artist this year), and also set to perform at the ceremony, Tinie has earned industry respect well beyond his years. Pop-grime superstar Example will be back in full force this summer, he released his highly anticipated album ‘Won’t Go Quietly’ in 2010 which spawned four Top 20 hits including the infectious ‘Kickstarts’. Friday’s line-up this is set to be a must see event! Saturday’s headliners The Chemical Brothers will be in fine company. After releasing their Gold debut album ‘More Than A Lot’ in 2008, drum & bass maestros Chase & Status last year boasted two sold out tours, won a Q Award for Best Video and were nominated for the Critics Choice Festival Headliner at the UK Festival Awards. Their highly anticipated second album ‘No More Idols’ was released last month, featuring mind-blowing collaborations with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, White Lies, Cee-Lo Green and Plan B. Aphex Twin, the prolific alpha male of electronica, will send a wave of arrhythmic dance through the Hyde Park crowds when he hits the decks nearly 20 years after he released his first ever record, ‘Angalogue Bubblebath’. Hailed for his distinctly experimental approach, Aphex Twin has cemented himself as one of the most inventive and influential figures in contemporary electronic music. Rave-indie band The Whip released their debut album ‘X Marks Destination’ in 2008, the Mancunian four-piece have become an unstoppable force in the electro-indie scene with big stomping dancefloor fillers including ‘Trash’ and ‘Divebomb’. Singer, songwriter and high funkstress Janelle Monae has created a distinctive sound of melded cabaret, hip-hop, rock and soul. Her debut album ‘The ArchAndroid’ was released to widespread acclaim last year and found itself in many critics ‘best albums of 2010’ lists. A truly electrifying performer she is sure to give a thrilling debut performance at this year’s Wireless with Barclaycard. With New York rockers Battles, Canadian electro-funk twosome Chromeo, Mancunian beat shaper Justin Robertson and Hot to trot DJ duo Nero (who won a highly coveted place in the BBC sound of 2011 list) also confirmed Saturday’s line-up so far ensures it will be one non-stop party!
2010’s acclaimed line-up saw headliners P!NK, LCD Soundsystem and Jay-Z perform show stopping sets to tens of thousands in Hyde Park. Previous headliners have included such luminaries as Morrissey, The White Stripes, Kanye West, Daft Punk, New Order and Basement Jaxx. Hyde Park has been home to London’s most sensational summer concerts for over four decades, an iconic location for some of the greatest names in musical history. Acts that have performed include The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Blur, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Roger Waters, The Who, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters and The Police.
Wireless with Barclaycard is a spectacular open-air live music experience in the heart of bustling London. It offers a chance to experience the excitement and watch the best in popular music right on your doorstep; with many more acts and details still to be unveiled, Wireless with Barclaycard 2011 is certain to be the big event on the summer’s musical calendar.
Ticketing Information: Tickets for Friday 1 July and Saturday 2 July are priced at £49.50 and £48.50 respectively, plus booking fees.
From Friday, multi-day tickets will be available. 2-day tickets will be priced at £92 plus booking fees, and 3-day tickets will be priced at £130 plus booking fees.
Barclaycard customers have the exclusive opportunity to purchase two for one tickets, on sale Wednesday 9th February at 9am via www.barclaycardunwind.com
Vodafone customers can buy tickets 48 hours before they go on general sale. Get yours from 9am, 9 February at www.vodafone.co.uk/vip
Purchase a Carbon Offset for 50p as an add on to your order to negate the environmental impacts of your travel to and from the festival, these funds will be used to invest in environmental projects in local schools. More details are available on www.wirelessfestival.co.uk
After Pulp had announced their reunion, fans on and off the British isles were ecstatic. So were we since the boys and girls from Sheffield are about to play their only gig in Germany at this year’s Melt! as part of just a few festival performances worldwide. Entertainment galore awaits us: Pulp will play their greatest hits only.
Last year, hit machine Robyn’s been busy as well producing one album after the other. The Swedish pop icon pulled an album trilogy out of the hat as if it were the easiest thing in the world. With all her new songs in tow, Robyn will conquer Ferropolis in no time.
Where there’s Melt!, there’s definitely the Kalkbrenners. Since he started djing, Paul Kalkbrenner has been part of the Big Wheel Stage line-up. At last year’s Melt!Picknick, he even performed together with his brother Fritz Kalkbrenner. At Melt!’s 14th edition, both happily continue their liaison with Melt! Mike Skinner and Melt! also have a mutual history which will be continued when The Streets arrive at Ferropolis this summer. Speaking of traditions, Markus Kavka’s opening slot at Big Wheel Stage is definitely part of this year’s festival madness again as well as Ellen Allien crossing the finish line at Sleepless Floor on Monday morning.
Regarding the festival’s stages: Melt!Selektor Stage at Desperados Beach will be part of the festival line-up again. Like last year, the stage will be curated by Modeselektor. Also the Big Wheel Stage will see performances by a variety of DJs on Sunday as well.
Pulp
Melt! Festival’s eagerly awaiting the reunion of the year! Pulp are back and ready to rock. Since Jarvis Cocker and his band mates split in 2002, many fans have been waiting for this moment. After many discussions, vague promises, vigorous denial from the band, we can finally stop worrying. The boys and girls from Sheffield are about to conquer Melt!Festival’s main stage in their original line-up: Nick Banks, Jarvis Cocker, Candida Dayle, Steve Mackey, Russell Senior and Mark Webber. From “Common People” to “This Is Harcore”, the band will perform a best of set that will definitely make your summer. Pulp is only playing a few festivals this summer. This exclusive German show is a one-off deal that you don’t want to miss this year.
Robyn
2010 was all about Robyn. The Swedish dance pop diva not only released one but three mini albums, Body Talk I-III. She pulled dance floor fillers like “Dancing on My Own” or “Hang With Me” out of her hat in between gigs and press conferences to successfully hold her ground in the music biz. After the peroxide blonde bundle of energy toured the globe last year, Robyn’s going to present the complete Body Talk works to the Melt! crowd. Enjoy!
Paul Kalkbrenner
Pauly and Melt! Festival – mates for life. At the beginning of his career, Berlin Calling and packed arenas were still far away, the DJ already rocked Big Wheel Stage in Ferropolis. In 2009, he was part of the Bpitch Special. In 2010, Kalkbrenner curated Melt! Picknick, put together a formidable line-up at Melt! beach and entertained more than 5,000 fans. This year, he’s going to top it all: in 2011, Paul Kalkbrenner will play main stage for the first time to bring you “Sky and Sand.”
All confirmed acts so far
Ame (live) | Atari Teenage Riot | Gui Boratto | Boys Noize | Bpitch @ Sleepless Floor: Ellen Allien, Kiki, Chaim, Skinnerbox | Busy P | Cut Copy | DAF | Isolée | Fritz Kalkbrenner | Paul Kalkbrenner | Markus Kavka | The Koletzkis | Live At Robert Johnson @ Sleepless Floor: Roman Flügel, Arto Mwambé, Manuel Raven, Oliver Hafenbauer, Gerd Janson u. a. | Loco Dice | M.A.N.D.Y. | Miss Kittin | Modeselektor present Melt!Selektor | Monarchy | Pulp | Robyn | The Streets | Tensnake | Total Confusion B2B2B – Tobias Thomas, Michael Mayer & Superpitcher |
Tickets
3-day ticket valid for Friday, Saturday and Sunday: EUR 104 plus pre-sale fee and EUR 5 garbage deposit
There are no day- or 2-day tickets for Melt! 2011.
In the price included are camping and parking (from Thursday 15.07. 01:00pm until Monday, 19.07. 03:00pm).
Tickets and Infos available under www.meltfestival.de/tickets only.
Next was Muse whose live reputation is out of this world. They opened with an eerie voice (from Tom Wait’s ‘What’s he Building?’) talking whilst there were flashes of large shadows of the band, contained in a curtain. Finally the curtain raised and much to the crowds anticipation they launched into 'New Born,' the first track from Muse's second album 'Origin of Symmetry' which they had previously claimed they would play the whole way through. And they did.
