SBTRKT

Alt-J, Portishead, Noel Gallahers High Flying Birds and more set for Latitude 2015

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Latitude today announces the line-up for their 10th Edition which takes place Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th July 2015 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.

Ten years ago Latitude Festival creator Melvin Benn set out to rewrite the festival rulebook, showing that music lovers could also be culture lovers, by creating the UK’s first multi arts boutique festival set out to challenge the festival status quo

First to headline Latitude’s Obelisk Arena on Friday night is a band close to Latitude’s heart; Mercury Prize-winning art-rockers alt-J. Having delivered outstanding sets on smaller Latitude stages over the years, 2015’s triumphant return promises to be a special moment for all who have witnessed their incredible Latitude journey. With a recent sold out arena tour and two critically acclaimed albums, the Leeds trio will no doubt give the Latitude audience a stunning set.

Portishead will give a rare UK appearance as they top the bill on Saturday. Emerging in 1994 with landmark album Dummy, Portishead have remained adventurous and uncompromising throughout their 20-year career.  Compelling, provoking and moving; this will be an unmissable performance.

Closing Latitude this year is an outfit fronted by one of Britain’s most loved musical figures; Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Song-writing pioneer and out-spoken cultural icon, Gallagher’s relevance has never faltered and Latitude is delighted to welcome him and his latest band to their 10th anniversary Edition. Performing tracks from the recent critically acclaimed album Chasing Yesterday (which Gallagher produced as well as wrote), plus plenty of classic sing-along Oasis tracks, this will be a closing show to be remembered.

Quotes from headliners:

"We are hugely excited to return to Latitude for the third time. Playing there has always been so memorable. Latitude has always supported us, and to go from playing the smaller stages to this means it will be a night of celebration."

alt-J

“I've been to Latitude before as a festival goer and really enjoyed it I think the effort they put into their whole programming –  music,  comedy and  film  –  is what makes it a great festival to  be part of. And  I'm really looking forward to it.” Geoff Barrow from Portishead

“I love the vibe at Latitude and the location. Good forward thinking programming as well, I played a couple of years ago in the cinema tent with a silent film project I was doing and it was a really good experience…looking forward to this one very much.” Adrian Utley from Portishead

 “Well not only have I never played at Latitude before, but I’ve never even been there, ever. So yes, I’m really looking forward to headlining the Festival on July 19th” Noel Gallagher

Other special appearances on the Obelisk Arena will include a selection of some of today’s most exciting and respected British artists; we start off by welcoming Nicky Wire back to Latitude ten years down the line with the legendary Manic Street Preachers who will be performing a selection of loved tracks from their varied and extraordinary career, Canadian electronica-maestro Caribou, electronic auteur James Blake will return for a third time, and both soul sensation Lianne La Havas and folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling for a second and all with new albums to share. Festival favourites, Wild Beasts return to share their latest critically acclaimed album with us and we also welcome the soulful Mancunian JP Cooper to Henham Park for the first time.

Gracing us from all corners of the globe are four time Grammy award nominee Nigerian musician Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, transfixing Swedish singer-songwriter and Latitude favourite José González, American soul singer Benjamin Brooker, blues veteran Seasick Steve, and soul veteran Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens will be bringing us her Daptone released gospel music.

This year the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage will host even more exciting musical treats including headline sets from three accomplished British acts; top of the bill on Friday is pioneering sonic technician Jon Hopkins, platinum selling rock band The Vaccines will headline on Saturday, and a festival exclusive show from SBTRKT who will close the stage on Sunday night with his soulful and textured take on electronic music preceded by the highly acclaimed live show from La Roux.

Other acts set to play on the coveted BBC Radio 6 Music Stage include; Catfish And The Bottlemen who have risen up through the Latitude stages, all-female punk rockers Savages, acclaimed alternative pop group Django Django, London-based pseudonymous musical duo Public Service Broadcasting and Americana four piece The Districts. With forty albums under his belt King Creosote is back to perform songs from an extensive career and has previously graced both the Poetry Arena and iArena at Latitude, also announced today is American musician and legend The Thurston Moore Band and two-piece grunge band Drenge.

Esteemed artist Mark Kozelek brings Sun Kil Moon to Latitude, also announced are Years & Years with their eccentric blend of R&B and 90’s house, and Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers returning for round three, South London’s Kwabs, alternative rock group Wolf Alice, and BBC Sound Poller SOAK is also on the bill as well as exclusive performances from Toro Y Moi and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Announced acts for the i Arena include one of electronic music’s most renowned talents, Warp Records cult artist Clark who headlines Saturday. Joining the festival to headline Sunday are London based musical duo Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell otherwise known as The 2 Bears. Also announced; the unique and the distinctive Adult Jazz, hot new talent Jack Garratt, multi-instrumentalist DM Stith, blues  rock experimentalist Duke Garwood hugely talented singer songwriter Shura, the incredibly refreshing indie rockers Gengahr, Texan gospel and soul songster Leon Bridges and folk-pop star Marika Hackman. .

Joining the eclectic line-up are; Icelandic ambient techno duo Kiasmos, hotly-tipped twin sister musical duo Ibeyi, post-punk indie rock band The Twilight Sad, captivating singer Nadine Shah, soul powerhouse Curtis Harding, Norwegian singer songwriter Susanne Sundfør and the brilliant, all-female Swedish pop-quartet Dolores Haze outrageous King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard who specialise in psychedelic tunes!

The People's Ear will present a line-up essential to create a heat to warm the ears from 11pm-3am every night on the iArena. Acts include self-taught musical craftsmen Ben UFO, three of the most innovative names in electronic music – untouchable London wordsmiths The Four Owls, Grammy nominated funk master Werkha (Live) and his live band, musician, three-piece DJ EZ, producer Monki and Alexander Nut and tropical bass heroes The Busy Twist. Expect and believe!

In an exclusive festival appearance at Latitude, Gareth Malone will this year be putting together a unique choir of Latitude festival goers. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to apply to be part of this 100-strong group who will rehearse at several points over the weekend, culminating in a Main Stage lunchtime performance on Sunday 19th July. In addition, Gareth and his Voices choir will be performing on the Waterfront Stage on Saturday 18th July.’                                                              

COMEDY AT LATITUDE

Over the last ten years Latitude’s comedy line-up has set the bar for summer festivals, offering the Latitude audience a unique opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the business all over the same weekend. It’s also the first chance to see the acts destined to make waves in Edinburgh later in the summer.

Headlining this special 10th Edition year will be national treasure Alan Davies, the longstanding QI panellist is well-known for his glorious insight into worldviews. Growing up in the ‘70s, losing his mother as a little boy, the vagaries of Facebook, sex toys and being a father are just some of the subjects he tackles.

Festival organisers are hugely excited to announce Jason Manford to headline the Comedy Arena. Renowned for his hilarious observations and loveable, friendly delivery, Jason has been a firm favourite with comedy fans of all ages since his first solo stand-up show earned him huge critical acclaim. The Perrier nominated comic won Chortle Breakthrough Act in 2006, Latitude’s inaugural year, and has risen to become one of the UK’s favourite TV comics.

2013 British Comedy Award Best Male Comic nominee, and Live At The Apollo star, Jon Richardson is one of the UK's brightest and immensely likeable stand up heroes. Back with a brand new stand-up routine to delight audiences, Time Out call him ‘Sublimely brilliant, stunning…He is a comic right on the verge of greatness. If you haven’t seen him yet, get your finger out and sort it!

Off the back of his hugely successful Channel 4 TV show ‘Catastrophe’ Rob Delaney brings his performance to the Suffolk setting. Voted the funniest man on Twitter, Latitude welcomes Rob’s hilarious but sometimes dark anecdotes and tales to the festival for the first time.

Australian comedian and television presenter Adam Hills best known for hosting The Last Leg on Channel 4 will bring his combination of positive uplifting comedy and rampant spontaneity to the Comedy Arena.

Another award-winning comic performing at the festival this year is Jack Dee. Best known for his sarcasm and deadpan humour, he takes a break from being everyone’s favourite grumpster to lend a helping hand to Latitude Festival goers with his side splittingly funny show Help Desk where he will be joined by a panel of star comedians from the festival line up to offer expert advice on the Latitude audience’s problems.

Perrier Award winning Irish comedian David O’Doherty will bring his stand-up routine to the festival this summer. Also on the bill is; Latitude’s resident prankster Josh Widdicombe, Canadian super comic Katherine Ryan, one of many stand out female comics programmed for the festival this year. With a formidable reputation on the live circuit and high profile TV appearances to her name, Katherine will pull out all the stops this summer.

This year’s festival will host; self-proclaimed “spit and sawdust” performer Shappi Khorsandi, Best Show nominee at the Edinburgh Fosters Comedy Awards in 2014 Sara Pascoe, brilliant Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss, top of the 2015 tipster list Dane Baptiste,  lyrical anti-lad, Liam Williams, the hugely popular Holly Walsh, the effortlessly talented Joe Lycett, fantastic bombastic star of the hit show ‘What Would Beyonce Do’s Luisa Omelian, ventriloquist Nina Conti with her popular puppet characters and Viral Tap star Matt Richardson who all join the 10th Edition celebrations.

WATERFRONT STAGE 

Following from his sold out Barbican shows, we are hugely excited to announce that piano virtuoso Chilly Gonzales will be performing his new album Chambers on the Waterfront Stage with the Kaiser Quartett. Switching gears from his 2013 collaborations with Grammy winners Daft Punk and Drake, Gonzales’ Latitude show will be an entertaining and intimate experience orchestrated especially with Hamburg’s Kaiser Quartett displaying his inimitable touch. This will be a stunning highlight of the festival and it is not to be missed.

Since 2008 Sadler’s Wells has presented a special programme of dance at Latitude Festival to audiences in excess of 40,000 people across the years. This summer the theatre returns for an eighth consecutive year, presenting a diverse programme on the outdoor Waterfront Stage that will appeal to audiences of all ages and that reflects the theatre’s reputation for presenting world class dance in all its forms. Full line-up to be announced.

POETRY ARENA

At the heart of Latitude the Poetry Arena showcases the very best stand up and beat poets, alongside laureates and literary legends. Headlining this year’s Poetry Arena will be the former laureate and award winning poet Simon Armitage CBE who is described by Poetry Review as “the front man of his generation”.

Tim Key, star and creator of Radio 4’s Late Night Poetry Programme Tim Key is as a poet, actor, comic and film star, appearing as Alan Partridge’s sidekick in Mid-Morning Matters and Alpha Papa. A brilliant poet and Edinburgh Perrier Award winner we are delighted he will be joining us in the Poetry Arena this year.

Children’s favourite and recently appointed professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths and presenter of Word of Mouth on Radio 4 Michael Rosen joins the celebrations. Last year Michael packed the Poetry Arena to the rafters. Number one poet of the parents, Michael was the subject of a recent viral campaign to hire him as Education Minister.

Punk Rock legend, performance poet and Latitude favourite the inimitable Doctor John Cooper Clarke is expected to bring a new collection of poetry. A seminal influence on punk the voice of Manchester and beat poets everywhere, expect a ferociously funny performance and make sure you get a seat early.

Smashing into the Poetry Arena to read his latest poems will be BBC Three’s ‘Uncle’ writer and star Nick Helm, his hilarious stand up style has been described as ‘brash and bullish’.

FILM & MUSIC STAGE

The first name announced for the Film & Music Stage is Brit Award nominated George the Poet. A poet for the people, George mixes social and political comment with humour to demonstrate his passion for poetry as a powerful tool to educate the masses.  George delivers an unforgettable live performance, which consists of a hypnotic blend of poetry and rap.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

The Kids Arena keeps children entertained all day and into the night with everything from pond dipping & astronomy to pizza making and night-time disco and fire-show. There’s something for everyone! Use traditional tools or pan for gold, explore the woods or ID animal bones!…investigate a crime scene or head to the Kids Theatre for shows, music, drama classes and puppetry. There are giant crafts from building with architects to shaping willow, working with clay, knitting, felting or getting busy with a million stickers! Amazing activities come from a range of trusted names, from Macmillan’s Children’s Books to the Zoological Society of London, Suffolk Wildlife Trust to the Woodcraft Folk and many more.

The Inbetweeners’ Teen Area is a hidden woodland wonderland-offering teenagers a packed weekend. Chose music, media, fashion and technology workshops, including; a live stage, new DJ Academy and chill-out area with Culture Works East and Access to Music. Or join our friends from Greenpeace; tackle wildlife, bush-craft and survival skills or get physical with climbing nets and a zip wire suspended high in the trees – a real walk on the wild side!

SPECIAL ADDITIONS

Other Voices will bring a little bit of musical magic from its spiritual home on the Wild Atlantic Way in the West of Ireland to Suffolk for this year’s Latitude Festival. Now in its fourteenth year, Other Voices has previously accepted invitations from Le Poisson Rouge in New York City, Wilton’s Music Hall in London and The Glassworks in Derry-Londonderry during their Festival of Culture in 2013. 

This year Latitude welcomes, Solas, a new spa area providing an oasis of calm by day and meticulous merriment by night. Meaning ‘light’ in Irish, Solas invites festival goers to learn the art of chilling out. Take refuge in the specially designed holistic area where expert therapists will soothe the mind and body with massages, yoga, treatments and workshops to ease and appease, while indulgence meets decadence in bubbling hot-tubs and seaweed baths. Dotted throughout the zone will be a hand-picked selection of installations; unwind under a canopy of reflective art and light and expand your mind as you investigate the sonic robotics of Indonesian inspired Gamelatron. 

As darkness unfolds, Solas will become an intimate​ tableau of late-night party corners. A piano bar sunk into the forest floor will entertain and ignite, while the ElectroShack spins a dizzying array of upbeat earworms. Jump on the furniture and make yourself at home at My Club House, peer across the festival grounds from the secret Hilltop Hideaway, or shed your 21st century cool and embrace the sunshine kitsch at Body Holiday.

Sky Arts returns for the 10th celebrations to bring fans highlights from the Latitude weekend. Two 120minute jam packed shows of performances, interviews and highpoints will be televised the weekend after the festival.

The final of Sky Arts ​Guitar Star, a major new competition to search for a world-class guitarist, will film the winning player performing on Latitude’s Obelisk Arena. For more information visit: http://www.sky.com/tv/show/guitar

This year for the first time ever Latitude will be partnering with ActionAid a leading international development charity who support women and children living in extreme poverty. They work to help empower women and children to fight for their own rights and to create lasting change.

By day, the new ActionAid tent will be home to creative craft workshops, games and festival fun activities and by night the tent will transform into a late-night party venue with DJ’s playing until the early hours. Look out for signings and guest DJ sets from some of the festival acts too.

With support from Festival Republic and Firebrand merchandise, ActionAid will also be teaming up with one of the 2015 Latitude acts to create a limited Edition festival item which will be available to buy exclusively at the festival. All proceeds will go towards supporting ActionAid’s work to change lives for good.

Latitude is synonymous with the perfect festival experience, and this year organisers are going one step further with Latitude’s Charity Concierge. Imagine someone going to the bar for you…putting up your tent….even holding your place in the queue for the Comedy Stage or Theatre tent. Latitude’s team of 100 enthusiastic volunteers will be offering these services throughout the arena and in some campsites, to raise money for the Kenyan Orphan Project. And Festival Republic will match fund every penny. The team are aiming to raise £50,000 so lie back in the sunshine and let someone else do the leg work!

Outlook Festival complete lineup with SBTRKT, Beenie Man and more

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Outlook has just revealed the final wave of artists for September 2015 as the festival enters its 8th season in Croatia. Set in an abandoned 19th century fortress of dance floors, intimate spaces and passageways which look over the Adriatic Sea, Outlook unites some of the world’s finest purveyors of dub, reggae, hip-hop, drum ‘n’ bass, garage, grime, dubstep, house, techno and electronica and more across a spectacular weekend of music.

SBTRKT is the final artist announced for the opening concert at the incredible 2000-year old Roman Amphitheatre in Pula. One of the UK’s most celebrated and intriguing producers, his catalogue of esteemed remix work includes M.I.A, Radiohead, Modeselektor, Basement Jaxx, Mark Ronson, and Underworld. SBTRKT joins the already announced Jurassic 5, Roni Size Reprazent Live, Gentleman’s Dub Club and Trojan Sound System on Wednesday 2nd September.

Outlook Festival’s roots dig deeply into a rich range of sources and inspirations, with reggae and Jamaican dancehall just two of these strands. Beenie Man is a Grammy award-winning Jamaican reggae artist and is referred to as the world's "King of Dancehall," whilst New York by way of Brixton meets France as Shinehead & Legal Shot Sound create crowd-rousing Jamaican Reggae sounds. The Bug’s ‘Acid Ragga Live’ joins the dots between experimental acid and ragga dancehall to incredible effect, the 7” label and Ninja Tune offshoot a truly unique creation from Kevin Martin, and The Heatwave is a bashment-raving scandal, a non-stop dancehall party like nothing Outlook has ever seen before.

Outlook features several momentous anniversaries in 2015. DMZ will be bringing their full crew celebrating their 10th anniversary with Digital Mystikz, Loefah, Kode 9, Hatcha, Youngsta, Chef, N-Type, Quest, Silkie, Distance, Pinch, Sgt Pokes & Crazy D, featuring long-lost dubs to showcasing the freshest heavyweight plates. Also deeply embedded in the festival’s DNA is drum and bass, dubstep, bass music and garage. The final round of names further enhances Outlook’s credentials; Rinse FM’s Oneman has been turning heads melding old school UK garage with DMZ style dubstep, famed for his hip hop and sets for The Boiler Room, the now legendary back to back parties with Jackmaster or opening for dance titans such as SBTRKT and Major Lazer. DJ Hype is one of the most iconic names in drum and bass, the long-serving Fabric London resident a pillar of the scene, and Renegade Hardware is one of the most iconic drum and bass nights in the past two decades, from their scene-leading The End parties in London to curating riotous sessions around the UK. In 2015 they celebrate 20 years in the business, and bring Loxy & Ink, Bad Company UK, Maztek, Digital & Spirit, Keaton, Ant TC1, Cold Fusion and MC Stapleton to Outlook. Break & Kyo (Live) bring their drum and bass to Outlook too, and Pinch, Bristol's leading man of dubstep who runs Tectonic Recordings, also comes to the party showcasing the 10th anniversary of his label.

Chris Lorenzo / Cause & Affect are widely known for pioneering the jack house / bass hybrid scene, furthered by Lorenzo’s award-nominated productions with Hannah Wants, Cause & Affect’s weekly show on Rinse FM and accolades from the likes of Annie Mac, Eats Everything, Monki, Skream, B Traits, Target and EZ. And Loefah’s Swamp 81 label will be taking over the Moat Stage with their bass infused house & techno, helmed by Loefah alongside label artists Mickey Pearce, Paleman, Klose One, Benton and Chunky.

Outlook embraces many kinds of diverse artists performing at the festival. UK reggae collective Vibronics Feat Madu Messenger & Echo Ranks lay down their heavy steppers and dub sounds, whilst old skool veterans Kenny Ken & DJ Ron will be taking Outlook on a musical journey through 20 years of jungle and drum and bass. OBF Feat Shanti D & Stand High Patrol will be bringing their dub & dancehall selections from France. Both run their own sound systems, have released albums on their own in-house imprints and rock dancehalls worldwide. LEVELZ is a loose-knit group of MCs, DJs and producers with the potential to evolve into one of the most exciting creative forces to emerge from Manchester in recent years. Hailing from Japan, Part2style are one of the top sounds in the Tokyo bass scene; they will be playing their original dubplates in reggae, dancehall & jungle styles. Reggae Roast will be bringing their Sound System to Outlook for the first time which will vibrate the walls of the fort, and Croatian female experimental hip-hop MC/vocalist Diyala will be making her debut at the festival. She lived in Brooklyn in her childhood and in 1999 Diyala started MCing in Croatia. Influences from hip-hop, alternative rock and experimental music can be heard in her amazing vocal work.

Further names revealed include Fracture, Novelist, The Mouse Outfit, Elijah & Skilliam, Solo Banton, Xtrah, Hybris, Moxie, Catching Flies, MC DRS, SP:MC, Foreign Concept, Hyroglifics, Fre4knc, Kutmah, Chopstick Dubplate Feat Jacky Murda & Aries, Mark System, MC GQ, Stamina MC, Charlie P, Barely Legal, Compa, Gerra & Stone, Anti Social – Quest & Silkie, True Tiger, David Boomah, Kiko Dan, Chef, Siobhan Bell, Work It Girls, MC Sgt Pokes, MC Crazy D, Shanty, Chainska Brassika, Dan Man, Mantmast, Sun of Selah, Vital Techniques, Doctor Jeep, Sammy Dreadlocks, Shepdog, Blazin and Finwa.

The complete lineup:
Beenie Man, Run The Jewels, Boy Better Know, The Madlib Carnival – Madlib, Pete Rock, J Rocc and Moodymann, Wiley, Noisia, Dusky, Flatbush Zombies, Shy FX, Congo Natty feat Congo Dubz & Tenor Fly, Jeru The Damaja, The Beatnuts, Digital Mystikz, DJ EZ, Goldie, Mount Kimbie (dj set), Cutty Ranks, Kate Tempest, David Rodigan, Loefah,  Oneman, Protoje & The Indiggnation, BADBADNOTGOOD, Yung Lean, Araabmuzik, The Bug Feat Flowdan, Manga & Miss Red, DJ Hype, Chris Lorenzo, Sherwood & Pinch, dBridge, Icicle Entropy Live, Dub Phizix & Strategy, Renegade Hardware 20 feat Loxy & Ink, Bad Company UK, Maztek, Digital & Spirit, Keaton, Ant TC1, Cold Fusion, MC Stapleton and Fokus & Mantmast, Break & KYO (Live), Zed Bias, Toddla T, Tippa Irie, Shinehead & Legal Shot Sound, Sango, Mr Carmack, Newham Generals, Stormzy, P Money, Big Narstie, My Nu Leng, Norman Jay MBE – Good Times, Artful Dodger, Kurupt FM, Youngsta, Hatcha, The Heatwave, Novelist, Maribou State Live, Paleman, Vibronics Feat Madu Messenger & Echo Ranks, Bodhi, Lone, Mumdance, Om Unit, Fracture, Kenny Ken, The Mouse Outfit, Mickey Pearce, Klose One, FKJ Live, Kahn & Neek, The Upbeats, Enei, Mefjus, Rockwell, High Focus Records, Little Simz, Rodney P, Skitz, Mungo's Hifi, Iration Steppas, Channel One Sound System, Soom T, OBF Feat Shanti D, Stand High Patrol DJ Set, Elijah & Skilliam, Barely Legal, Cause & Affect, Riko Dan, Skeptical, Kasra, Ivy Lab, Xtrah, Matt Jam Lamont,  Logan Sama, Flako, Kenny Knots, Hybris, Distance, Applebottom, Chopstick Dubplate Feat Jacky Murda & Aries, LEVELZ, MC DRS, SP:MC, Chunky, Moxie, Flava D, Truth, Foreign Concept, Hyroglifics, Fre4knc, Kutmah, Mark System, Emperor, DJ Haus, Billain, Seven Davis Jr, Dubkasm, Benton, Kromestar, Spooky, Mella Dee, Catching Flies, Commodo, Quest, Silkie, MC GQ, Stamina MC, Jack Sparrow, Kaiju, Alexander Nut, Amy Becker, Charlie P, Jay Prince, Jon Phonics, DJ Milktray, Pyrmdplaza, Chimpo, DJ Ron, Diyala, Necessary Mayhem, Part2style, Reggae Roast, 2Shy, Biome, David Boomah, N-Type, Chef, Compa, Gerra & Stone, Egoless, Kiko Dan, True Tiger, Digitron, MC Fox, MC Sgt Pokes, MC Crazy D, Shanty, Chainska Brassika, Afriquoi, Danny T & Tradesman, Ishan Sound, Adam Prescott, Parris, Shepdog, Dan Man, MC Fokus, Visionobi, Mantmast, Fixate, Hi5 Ghost, Boofy, Hannah Faith, Bambooman, Siobhan Bell, Work It Girls, Dread MC, Vital Techniques, Filip Motovunski aka Noon, Rahmanee, 207, Chew The Fat, Roots In Session, Said, Necone, Rasheed, Dirty Beatz Crew, Kodin , Vilify, Push UK, Sun of Selah, Doctor Jeep, Sammy Dreadlocks, Pean, Blazin and Finwa.

Parklife Weekender Review 2014

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Temperamental wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of 70,000 festival goers at last weekend’s sold-out Parklife Festival, which now in its fourth year, saw Snoop Dogg, A$AP Rocky, Disclosure and Sam Smith prove to be essential highlights.

Arriving at around 1pm, SFG headed straight to the Hospitality tent for some early afternoon drum & bass with flashing strobes, courtesy of Logistics and later, Camo & Krooked.

Heading to the main stage for Kiesza, who is accompanied by two male dancers, her 90’s influenced choreography and funk tracks prove an early treat. Giant In My Heart fuses disco and funk perfectly, before the Canadian ex-navy recruit takes to the piano for a stripped down cover of Haddaway’s, What Is Love, showcasing her powerful vocal range. Ending with number one track, Hideaway, she lifts everyone’s spirits despite the grey clouds looming up above. Catchy “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” and house-y beats provide the first sing-a-long of the weekend (with many more to come), before the track is mixed into Gorgon City’s deep-house edit. Now recording her debut album, expect another catchy chart-bothering track to go viral in the coming months.

Spending around 20 minutes struggling to find the Colonnade presents: Drop the Mustard stage, where the majority of the main house draws performed, SFG caught some of Hot Natured’s, Lee Foss’ Ibiza-cum-Manchester house set at the hilltop Kaluki stage. Eventually, finding the Greek coliseum-like Colonnade stage, SFG caught house duo Waze & Odyssey’s set, including their now infamous house remix of R Kelly’s timeless classic, Bump & Grind as well as a remix of Robin S’, Show Me Love. Later at the Colonnade, it was Route 94’s turn on the decks. Performing a mostly obscure but impressive house set, with the exception of Defected Records releases, Fly 4 Life and Tell You Why, the young London-based producer drew a large crowd, with one fan feeling the need to scale a tree, receiving a smile from the producer and applause from the audience below. But it was number one house crossover hit, My Love, which saw everyone take out their iPhone’s to record the sing-a-long moment before 94 imminently takes his sound to Ibiza for the summer.

Pacing back to the opposite end of the site, to the Red Bull Academy Presents stage, Gold Panda’s hotly-anticipated set proved essential for the eyes and ears. Synth-led electronics impressed the large crowd during cutting-edge debut album offerings, Vanilla Sky, Snow & Taxis and early track Marriage before a chopped up reinvention of fan favorite, You, with its pitch-shifted vocals circling around the tent.

Back at the main stage, Grammy –winner, Foxes, attracted a large crowd with tracks from her debut album Glorious, including Youth and recent single, Let Go For Tonight, while another Hot Natured label-mate, Richy Ahmed, continued the Amnesia Ibiza-ready house vibe with 808 hi-hats and drum machines aplenty during his mid-afternoon Kaluki stage set.

Later, the sun shined while Radio One DJ Annie Mac drew the biggest crowd so far with a house orientated set including Ten Walls’ new track, Walking With Elephants and Gorgon City’s collaboration with Laura Welsh, Here For You as well as Second Citys’ I Wanna Feel which rocketed to number one two weeks ago. Later, before Sigma’s, Nobody To Love, she tells the crowd to, “grab your friend, boyfriend, or a total stranger”. Its sets like these, demonstrating which tunes to play to get thousands of people dancing, which stand testament to why she is such a hot DJ commodity.

Rudimental, who, trumpets included, perform album tracks, Spoons and Baby, show a softer side to the Black Butter Records collective. Dedicating Not Givin’ In, to his son, DJ Locksmith pulls on the crowds heartstrings before the drum & bass beats kick in, but are soon cut off due to a technical problem. It’s all back to normal though after the crowd chant “Rudimental, Rudimental, Rudimental” to give them the support to carry on, which they do oh so professionally, continuing with album tracks, Free, and later, Feel The Love.

It’s A$AP Rocky however, who delivers the best and most charismatic performance of the weekend, as a more than deserving replacement to Kendrick Lamar, who cancelled his slot. Weed promotion, referring to women as “hoes” and a whole lot of swearing, but what else would you expect from song’s titled, Hella Hoes and Fuckin’ Problems which are performed with a fifteen-man-strong A$AP Mob watching him from the side of the stage. Bassier and rowdier than on record, Palace and Wassup take the Now Wave tent to Rocky’s hometown, Harlem, New York City. “Put your hands up if you smoke fucking weed ‘cos that’s what I stand for”, demands Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, before Purple Swag where he toys with the crowd saying, “are you people ready to get turnt up or what?” New A$AP Mob track, Hella Hoes, results in a mosh pit before taking it to a “whole new mother fucking level” during Skrillex-produced Wild For The Night and Lana Del Rey-featuring Hands On The Wheel. Thanking the audience for getting him so far, he exclaims, “I can’t wait to get on them rides tonight” before a quick run through of his part in final track, Fuckin’ Problems. If you ever get the chance to see A$AP Rocky live, TAKE IT. You won’t be disappointed.

Weaving back into the middle of the main stage crowd for Saturday headliner, SFG didn’t know what to expect from the legendary Snoop Dogg’s headline set. “Who’s getting blazed in the house tonight?” asks Snoop’s DJ during a ten minute prelude to the iconic rapper coming onstage. Dressed in a USA stars and stripes jumper and yellow shades, Snoop stalks the stage with everyone taking his picture. He dedicates Supa Dupa Fly to “all the girls in the house” before rapping his part on Justin Timberlake collaboration, Signs, and his brief part on Katy Perry’s, California Girls. The only thing he could be blamed for, is looking relatively bored and indifferent, but it is Snoop Dogg after all, why should he be bothered?

Ending the night back at Kaluki in Marc Kinchen provided early evening house, in his number one remix of Storm Queens, Look Right Through, which is quickly followed by his Medicine remix of Shadow Child's, Friday and his edit of Hot Natured’s, Reverse Skydiving.

Sunday would prove to be better weather on the whole, aside from one insane downpour during Warpaint’s set which saw everyone flock to the nearest tent.

Opening the Disclosure Presents: Wildlife stage, Kanye West-collaborator Pusha T, performed tracks from his acclaimed debut album, My Name Is My Name as well as his part on the aforementioned Kanye hit, Mercy. Stalking the stage, which looks like brown lego bricks stacked high, Pusha runs through the trap beats of King Push and Nostalgia. Promising a new album in the not-so-distant-future, he continues with Numbers on the Board, seeing arms in the air pulling back and forward – an impressive debut at Parklife for the hotly-tipped ex-Clipse rapper.

Next up, are classical-cum-electronic Cambridge graduates Clean Bandit, who remained at the top of the charts for a month earlier this year with their single Rather Be. An early afternoon set time doesn’t seem to affect the eager crowd, growing by the minute. Arriving onstage to classical music alongside two guest vocalists, the quartet open with older track, A&E, before Dust Clears, with Jack Patterson leading the vocals over a synth-y beat. Tracks from their debut album New Eyes soon follow. Up Again, begins as a hand-swaying, blissed-out production before drum beats and classical chords intrude, culminating in a full on drum and bass climax while Come Over hears cellist Grace Chatto’s sweet vocals soar over a Caribbean, almost reggae beat. Mid-set, it’s clear that new single Extraordinary could become their second number one judging from the crowd’s reaction. Heart on Fire, featuring vocals from Elizabeth Troy is dedicated to “all the garage heads” before the lyrics of Mozart’s House ask, “so you think electronic music is boring?” Following this genre-crossing set, they’ve proved that that their sound is far from boring. Nightingale is then mixed into Gorgon City’s deep-house edit before feel-good festival anthem, Rather Be, which stayed at number one for a month, ends their set with the crowd on each other’s shoulders singing along word perfect.

Unexpected pop star Sam Smith, arrives for his 5pm slot to screams of excitement. Opening with Nirvana, he shows his powerful voice off straight away before Disclosure collaboration Together, complete with Chic-esque funky bass guitar lines. Leave Your Lover slows the set to a mellower, emotional halt, with some female fans starting to tear up, before further winning them over by telling the crowd that Manchester is his favorite place. Before new track, Restart, Smith informs the audience that he’s filming the music video right now, and of course everyone is more than happy to clap and sing-a-long for it. An unexpected cover of Arctic Monkey’s track, Do I Wanna Know breaks up the set with a unique take on the indie hit. Money On My Mind and Lay Me Down follow with emotional lyrics, while the heavens fittingly starting to open, before ending with recent number one single, Stay With Me. It’s obvious that Smith is providing the definitive sound of 2014, after his vocal talent was first discovered by the mainstream on another Disclosure collaboration, Latch, which is given a flawless acoustic rendition.

Later, over in the Heidi Presents: The Jackathon tent, Hot Since 82 brings deep house and techno beats to a sweaty strobe light flashing tent, delivering arguably the best bass orientated set of the weekend.

Over in the Sounds of the Near Future tent, SBTRKT gives an astonishing live
set. Opener, Pharaos, gets the packed tent going before the masked man says, "It's so good to be back. It's been like two years since we've been here.” New lasers and synths track Temporary View, which went up on Soundcloud just two days ago, receives a great reaction as a taster of what to expect from the impending second album. Debut album tracks, Never Ever, Trials of the Past and Wildfire follow with tribal drum beats and feature Drake-collaborating, Sampha’s recorded vocals and Little Dragon’s in the latter, which echo around the at-capacity tent.

Pacing back to the Wildlife stage to catch headliners Disclosure, it was shockingly easy for SFG to get near the front – probably because Oxford indie-types, Foals, were headlining over on the main stage. The wunderkind production duo of house revivalists, Guy and Howard, open with synth led F For You featuring on record vocals courtesy of Mary J Blige. Preacher lyrics and simplistic house beats follow in When a Fire Starts to Burn and newer Friend Within collaboration, The Mechanism, with the background screens showing the duo playing in real time while Guy picks up the bass guitar to play the funky chords in the former, while pyrotechnics shoot from the top of the stage. Checking with the crowd that they are okay to play some older material, they bounce into older E.P tracks, Boiling, Tenderly and Flow before inviting guest vocalist, Sasha Keable, onstage during album track Voices and later Sam Smith to join them for the song which started it all off, Latch.

It’s only in its fourth year, but soon enough Blur’s iconic single won’t be the only thing which comes to mind when thinking of Parklife. Providing a great line up, the organisers delivered great variety at an affordable price, SFG cannot wait until next year!

Photos by Paul Taylor

Love Saves the Day 2014

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It might still be a baby on the festival circuit, but Bristol’s Love Save The Day has no trouble drawing the hordes. Students, ravers, and the trendy youth of the West Country are all out to play for the festival’s third birthday.

Thick, grey clouds loom on Saturday, with a washout predicted for the day’s entirety, but spirits are high, and these wellie-clad punters ain’t afraid of no mud. Located in the heart of Bristol’s centre, attractive little Castle Park seems an odd choice of location to hold a dance festival, but a convenient one nonetheless.

With a generous helping of DJs on the line up, we are launched headfirst into the housey beats that usually form the late night proceedings. The likes of Crazy P and Kove get the party started on the Futureboogie and BB Records stages, while the main stage presents a more eclectic mix of genres.

Kiesza proves a highlight, largely due to her impressive ability to carry out intricate dance routines while simultaneously projecting note perfect vocals. The crowd seems entertained when she beckons a chorus of “oohs” and “ahhs” during her most famous track, ‘Hideaway’; it’s an impressive turn out for the soon-to-be star.

Trudging through the already muddy grounds, we find a collection of smaller venues sheltered within the trees, including a ‘Cocktails and Dreams’ stage complete with a campervan selling exotic cocktails, and the ‘Dance Off’, an area for the hardcore ravers where a boxing ring has been erected in front the stage – presumably intended for busting moves rather than for competitive fighting.

Later, Hercules and Love Affair provide a rather disappointing set on the main stage, and despite their garish outfits, seem to struggle to really engage with their audience. Annie Mac picks things up again, offering nearly an hour and a half of healthy dance beats as the heavens really open.

Saturday’s final headliner, Eats Everything, is local to Bristol, and his house tracks are successful in carrying the party into the night, gearing up the hardcore ravers for the after party taking place off-site at a nearby nightclub.

A much brighter and sunnier start to Sunday sets spirits high. Kicking things off are Laid Blak, recognised for their reggae infused music and weed-themed lyrics. Joined on stage by their children and revelling in the midday sun, the group seem to be having so much fun that they appear reluctant to leave at the end of their set!

Subsequent act Gentleman’s Dub Club are equally as excitable, and prove to be one of the standout performances of the festival. A parade of suited and booted men make up this ten-man band, complete with trumpeter and saxophonist. Exuding energy, they prance, skank and bounce their way through the set, urging the audience to join them in doing so. As the clouds part, they entice the crowd into a sun dance, which subsequently works its magic for the rest of the festival.

As the day progresses, bar queues begin to snake around the festival, as the crowds line up to wash down the afternoon with a customary Bristolian cider or Pimms for such weather. The lack of bars and food stalls is one of the biggest problems at this festival, which no doubt would benefit financially by making refreshments more readily available.

Quantic and Clean Bandit are both hits over on the main stage, with the former injecting a refreshing dose of salsa and jazz into the mix, and the latter pleasing the audience with their rendition of ‘Rather Be’. Yet perhaps the biggest crowds are drawn at the opposite end of the festival, when Shy FX and then Mike Skinner take to the Soundboy stage. Skinner swops vocals for decks, and surprisingly proves to be quite the DJ.

Bringing proceedings to a close, Jamie XX spins and remixes furiously to produce his trademark electronica sound, warming up the stage for headliner SBTRKT. Joined by regular collaborator Sampha, the set is slick and entrancing, enhanced by a hypnotic light show reserved for only the biggest artists.

Aside from the food and drink niggle, Love Saves the Day is a triumph. Despite covering such a small area of ground, the sound from its six stages never muddles, and it is particularly refreshing to see artists given such long sets. Bring on year four!

 


Created with flickr slideshow.

 

Love Save the Day weekend and Saturday tickets SOLD OUT

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The Summer Festival Guide brings you the latest news about Love Saves the Day which has for the third successive year set to sell out well in advance of the festival.  Weekend tickets and Saturday tickets are now completely sold out a remarkable seven weeks in advance of the show and Sunday tickets are selling fast with the third tier tickets set to sell out imminently.
 
Sunday’s Love Saves The Day line up celebrates the very best in electronic and bass music culture with Team Love yet again bringing the globe’s most visionary sonic pioneers to Bristol’s Castle Park.
 
Sunday will see the mighty Sbtrkt headline the main stage at Love Saves The Day with one of his first live performances of the year playing a set of classic tracks and premiering new material.  From his early dub-tinged club focused singles to the crossover success of his self-titled debut album, Sbtrkt has never been afraid to push musical boundaries and his eagerly anticipated album is due for release in 2014.
 
Preceding Sbtrkt will be one of the most respected names in music Jamie XX.  Outside of his day job in Mercury Prize winning electronic indie outfit the XX, Jamie is a prolific producer and remixer.  His signature combination of haunting melodies and low key club percussion provide the backbone for his work. Jamie has just premiered his new single Sleep Sound, which is set for release on 5th May, and his set will feature some exclusive new material.
 
Surely one of the most hyped and eagerly anticipated albums of 2014 already is forthcoming from Neneh Cherry with RocketNumberNine.  Produced by man-of-the-moment FourTet, with guests such as Robyn featuring, it is Neneh’s first solo album in 17 years.  Neneh also has a special affinity with Bristol, having been amongst the first to champion the ‘Wild Bunch’ who later became ‘Massive Attack’, lending them her studio many years ago that enabled the recording of the seminal ‘Blue Lines’.  This is going to be a pretty special Bristol show for us all.
 
Love Saves The Day is delighted to welcome DJ, producer and Magnetic Fields head honcho Will Holland aka Quantic who makes a rare UK appearance with his new live show.
 
Despite the generations between them, dub stalwart Adrian Sherwood and dubstep veteran Pinch have teamed up to create an incredible clash of dub, reggae and modern electronic music.  This will be the first live manifestation of their collaboration.  Drum & bass legend Shy FX, bass boy of the moment Dismantle and another of Radio 1’s champions of dance music B. Traits will also perform highly anticipated sets. The legendary Greg Wilson will take to the decks at the UK’s finest electronic music festival with Gentleman’s Dub Club, Laid Blak, Special Request, A Sagittariun, Jus Now, Congo Natty and many others ensuring that festival goers enjoy the very best electronic sounds in the beautiful surrounds of Castle Park.
 
Love Saves The Day partners with some of Bristol’s and the UKs finest clubbing institutions including Just Jack, Futureboogie, The Dance Off, Teachings In Dub, Black Butter, The Blast, Horse Meat Disco and Soul Train.
 
LINE UP SUNDAY 25TH May
A Sagittariun / A.Quake / Aba Shanti-I / B.Traits / Breakage / Congo Natty with Nanci + Phoebe / Crack / Digital Soundboy / Dirty Talk / Dismantle / Dubkasm / Durkle Disco / Dutty Girl / Falling Up / Felis / Fire Man Sam / Francis Inferno Orchestra b2b Fantastic Man / Gentleman's Dub Club / Greg Wilson / The Heatwave / Idle Hands / Jakwob / Jamie XX / Javeon McCarthy / John Talabot / Jus Now / Laid Blak / Livity Sound / Ms Dynamite / Neneh Cherry & RocketNumberNine / Pardon My French / Quantic / Sam Binga ft. Redders / Sbtrkt / Sherwood and Pinch / Shy FX / Sip The Juice / Soul Train / Special Request / Stylo G / Teachings in Dub / Tessela / The Blast / Trap

Danny Brown, SBTRKT, Gold Panda and more join Beacons Festival lineup

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Beacons Festival, the cutting-edge music and arts festival are pleased to reveal the latest acts. Joining Bonobo, Ghostpoet, Django Django, Local Natives, Savages, Dutch Uncles is DANNY BROWN. A natural born rapper, the 32 year-old began his life in rhyme at a young age, thanks to his mum, who raised him on a literary diet of Dr. Seuss books. A little edgier than a rhyming kids' book writer, Detroit-born Brown started turning heads back in 2010 with his debut album The Hybrid. 2013 brings album number three, entitled Old and Danny's had hip-hop fans foaming at the chops with anticipation for its release. 

Danny Brown joins the recent additions of  SBTRKT (DJ), GOLD PANDA, WIRE, JAMES HOLDEN, T. WILLIAMS, THROWING SNOW, FINDLAY, EAGULLS and SKY LARKIN.

Beacons also revealed that the fancy dress theme for the Friday is Frontiers of The Future along with a new outdoor stage The Red Bull Music Academy. T. Williams, Throwing Snow and James Holden will headline that stage with further announcements due soon.

Beacons is a three-day, four-night festival and for a short period, tickets are available at £99.50 with deposit schemes still available. Early Bird tickets are now sold out and Beacons have launched a new ticket. The Beacons Bundle which features 24 cold beers or cider, a Beacons hand printed tote bag with the festival programme and a weekend ticket all for the price of £129.50.

Newly confirmed artists below:

Danny Brown 
Eagulls 
Findlay
Gold Panda 
James Holden 
New York Brass Band 
Sbtrkt
Sky Larkin
T. Williams 
Throwing Snow 
Traams
Wire 

NME / Radio 1 Stage announced for Reading and Leeds Festival

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ON THE NME / RADIO 1 STAGE

Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival

The MaccabeesTHE MACCABEES’ third album ‘Given To The Wild’ was released earlier this year to massive critical acclaim and soared into the UK charts at Number Four.  The South London five-piece are enjoying a hugely successful year so far, and with a sold out Brixton Academy under their belts The Maccabees are further cementing their status as one of the most exciting British bands of our time.  We welcome them for their first headline appearance on the NME/Radio 1 Stage.

www.themaccabees.co.uk

FOSTER THE PEOPLE have garnered a huge amount of critical acclaim and public adoration on both sides of the Atlantic since the release of their debut album ‘Torches’.  With last year’s feel-good hit of the summer ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, word of their music spread in a manner that was shockingly quick, even in the age of endless internet churn with everyone agreeing on one thing: this was a band on the cusp of an undeniable breakthrough and Foster The People show no sign of slowing down.

www.fosterthepeople.com

Band of the people, THE COURTEENERS, head to Reading & Leeds Festival ahead of the release of their third studio album, the follow up to 2010’s ‘Falcon’.  With the Manchester four-piece eager to road test new material, head honcho Liam Fray recently declared their new sound as “industrial Motown”.  An incredible live band, this could be one of the years most talked about performances.

www.thecourteeners.com

Hot on the heels of his eighth album ‘A + E’, erstwhile Blur guitarist GRAHAM COXON returns to solo business with a hotly anticipated appearance on the NME / Radio 1 stage. The critics have been positively slavering over this latest outing and will undoubtedly see this appearance over-subscribed.

www.grahamcoxon.co.uk

Passion PitWith the follow up to 2009’s critically acclaimed ‘Manners’ under construction, we welcome PASSION PIT to this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival.  Hailing from Massachusetts, expect a blend of new electro dance tunes and old favourites.

www.passionpitmusic.com

Alternative rock band, THE BLACKOUT are Sean Smith, Gavin Butler, Matthew Davies, James Davies , Rhys Lewis and Gareth Lawrence.  With a new album scheduled for release in August, these very special shows at Reading & Leeds will give fans a unique preview.

www.theblackout.co.uk

Always a favourite at festivals THE HIVES are sure to get things jumping with their infectious, thrilling garage rock hits.  With new single ‘Go Right Ahead’, a sax-laden, glam-rock stomp hitting the airways now and previewing new album ‘Lex Hives’ due in the summer, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, Nicholaus Arson, Chris Dangerous, Dr. Matt Destruction, and Vigilante Carlstroem will bring the sound of the summer to the NME/Radio 1 Stage.

www.thehivesbroadcastingservice.com

This year sees SPECTOR graduate from their BBC Introducing Stage debut at last year’s festival with a well merited position on this year’s NME/Radio 1 stage. Nominated for the BBC Sound Of 2012 the band, fronted by one Fred Macpherson, were formed in 2010 and have released a trilogy of singles through Luv Luv Luv. With a  debut album slated for later in the year this East London based five-piece bring their melancholic widescreen pop to the stage at Reading & Leeds.

www.spector.co.uk

Following inclusion on the BBC’s Sound Of Poll, Brooklyn’s FRIENDS are taking 2012 by storm.  Armed with one of the singles of the year, ‘I’m His Girl’, and the captivating follow up ‘Friend Crush’, expect these shows to be the talk of both sites come the August Bank Holiday weekend.

www.afriendszone.com

With debut album ‘Breakfast’ unleashed last month, CHIDDY BANG are ready to step into the limelight.  You’ll have heard their MGMT sampling breakthrough track ‘Opposite Of Adults’, and with time spent touring with Tinie Tempah, are sure to be ready to deliver one of the shows of the year.

www.chiddybang.net

Brooklyn’s HERE WE GO MAGIC make their first foray to Reading & Leeds this year. The band who  came to the attention of Nigel Godrich with their  2010 album ‘Pigeons’ have just released the fruits of those joint labours – ‘A Different Ship’ which had Spin Magazine saying “…this is the sort of music  that would happen if Paul Simon had made ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. Yes it’s that good”.  Get there early and see what the fuss is all about.

www.myspace.com/herewegomagic

Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival

Hailing from El Paso, Texas AT THE DRIVE-IN came, conquered and released three albums: ‘Acrobatic Tenement’, ‘In/Casino/Out’, the EP ‘Vaya’, and their ultimate swansong ‘The Relationship of Command’ which is now cited in dispatches as one the most important albums of its genre. Then they split.  Now it looks like the many who were never able to see this incendiary live act back in the day will have their dreams fulfilled with this NME/Radio1 stage headline show.  This band are name checked and revered by fellow musicians and fans alike and this, their ONLY UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE will definitely be unmissable.

www.atdimusic.com

On the eve of their fifth album ‘In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull’ THE CRIBS make a return to the scene of one (or two) of their best ever shows.  Recently reverting back to their near legendary three-piece status the band continues to evoke passion amongst their fiercely dedicated and ever growing fanbase.  The Jarmans – brothers Gary, Ryan and Ross have always been fiercely independent, proud of their DIY ethos and from their early days adept at writing great songs leaving a catalogue of classic punk rock brilliance, battle scars and memories.  The Cribs will once again be thrilling, spilling, entertaining and engaging.

www.thecribs.com

MASTODON have never really done anything the ‘conventional’ way. The Atlanta-based band formulated their own brand of highly-skilled hard rock over a decade ago when others were rehashing 80’s metal, and went on to mastermind a string of complex concept albums.  With new album ‘The Hunter’ hitting the Top 10 in the US last year the band are picking up more and more fans – head-banging will be compulsory at this scorching show.

www.mastodonrocks.com

Canadian punks BILLY TALENT come to Reading & Leeds Festival with expectations for their upcoming fourth album riding high.   The band, led by vocalist Ben Kowalewicz had been playing together for almost a decade before a name change lead to a record deal and their debut eponymous album was released in 2003.   “A sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band has grown out of these four former Mississauga teenagers' shared high-school dreams of … well … growing into a sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band” is how they describe themselves.   Check it out for yourself at the NME/Radio 1 Stage.

www.billytalent.com

MIIKE SNOW are back and return with their new album ‘Happy To You’ later this month.  The hugely talented Stockholm-based three-piece have previously dabbled in the DJ scene and in punk bands, alongside electro and new wave, which lead to writing and production stints with the likes of Madonna and Britney Spears.  Now ready to step out of the studio again, these shows are a must see for all music fans.

www.miikesnow.com  

SantigoldAnticipation is high for the return of SANTIGOLD and her new album ‘Master of My Make-Believe’ and this show will be the perfect opportunity to see this high-rising artist.  Last year’s collaboration ‘Go’ with Karen O of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs was described as a "brittle and brilliant brawler of a track" by the NME and ‘Disparate Youth’ the first track released from the new album is also picking up plaudits.  Citing Aretha Franklin, Devo, James Brown and Siouxsie and the Banshees as influences, this is an eclectic and exciting singer not to be missed.

www.santigold.com

Set to tear up the festival season this summer, DRY THE RIVER are one of the most talked about artists of the year.  With three years and over 250 shows already under their belts, they released their debut album ‘Shallow Bed’ to rave reviews last month, with NME declaring they’ve made an “accomplished, luxuriant, expertly crafted” record.  Get down to the front early for these sets.

www.drytheriver.net

Glasgow’s TWIN ATLANTIC follow a successful 2011 with the release of their Gil Norton produced ‘Free’ album. The quartet cut their collective teeth with slots supporting the likes of Gaslight Anthem, Angels And Airwaves and Taking Back Sunday and as singer Sam McTrusty says  “…we’re giving people something to believe in again.” Catch them and believe too…

www.free.twinatlantic.com

Formed by ex. Gallows frontman Frank Carter and ex. Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File guitarist Jim Carroll, PURE LOVE’s debut single ‘Bury My Bones’ has just been previewed on BBC Radio 1.   Currently working on their debut album due later this year with producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies), Carter commented "Rock might not have been as popular in recent years, but that's definitely going to change because we haven't released our album yet. I want to make music that's timeless and classic." 

www.therealpurelove.com

Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival

JusticeEd Banger’s JUSTICE make electronic music that everyone can rock to.  With riffs now as heavy as their beats, the Grammy-nominated Parisian pair head for Reading & Leeds armed with new album ‘Audio, Video, Disco’. The record has established them as an international force who are equally at home blaring from a dance club sound system or performing in an arena.  Expect a powerful and mesmerising headline performance from a truly unique group.

www.facebook.com/etjusticepourtous

Since releasing their debut album ‘Tourist History’ 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, Asia, Japan and South America, playing two successive sold out nights at Shepherds Bush Empire and selling out Brixton Academy in under four hours, 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".

www.twodoorcinemaclub.com

The release of THE HORRORS’ third album ‘Skying’ saw the band’s already impeccable credentials soar even higher.   The record was celebrated across the board by fans new and old as their finest yet and recently won the NME ‘Album of the Year’ accolade.  Not that their debut ‘Strange House’ and follow up ‘Primary Colours’ hadn’t already cemented their reputation as one of the most original and ground breaking groups around. Both dense and expansive, insidiously poppy and stubbornly arty, The Horrors are one of the bands you must see at the festival.

www.thehorrors.co.uk

SBTRKT returns to Reading & Leeds Festival after last year's triumphant DJ set on the Dance Stage at both sites and live performance on the Alternative Stage in Leeds.  This time round, fans will be treated to his famous live show at both sites.  His self-titled debut album propelled towards the top of DJ’s playlists around the world with his combination of funk, soul, synths and bass.  Fresh from releasing single ‘Hold On’ with Sampha, SBTRKT now has his sights firmly set on the August Bank Holiday weekend.   

www.sbtrkt.com

The legendary vocalist fronting the MARK LANEGAN BAND has sung with some of the greatest bands of the last two decades. Lanegan formed the Screaming Trees in the 80’s and made some of the finest albums of the grunge scene.  He’s worked with the coolest names around since and his distinct baritone voice has been described as "as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather”.  

www.marklanegan.com

Having wowed the Main Stage last year, THE JOY FORMIDABLE return at the personal request of Foo Fighters to play a very special set. Currently mixing their second album in New York with Andy Wallace, the trio made waves on both sides of the Atlantic with their debut album ‘The Big Roar’ in 2011, NME declaring that ‘its big but it’s certainly clever’ and Rolling Stone thrilling to ‘multi orgasmic crescendoes’. Having recently sold out New York’s Terminal 5, this return to UK shores promises to be a perfect preview of the band’s second album, due later in the year.

www.thejoyformidable.com

Having evolved from various outfits, Camden-based quartet TRIBES came to the fore at the start of 2011 and has seen the band accrue plenty of support both in print and on the airwaves. The band’s debut album ‘Baby’ was unleashed earlier this year reaching Top 30 status en route, further embellishing the plaudits already bestowed upon them.  If last year’s appearance is anything to go by the tent will be filled to the gills for those to see on of the UK’s finest live acts of recent years.

www.tribesband.com

On its release earlier this year, the self-titled debut album from DJANGO DJANGO was succinctly hailed thus: "It's a dream of the psychedelic tropics, a heady explosion of colours, an album that takes what it means to be in an indie band and gives it a good shake…" This art pop quartet first emerged back in 2009 doing things their way whilst releasing selected tracks, mainlining into the nation's psyche and producing what has been one of the year's highlights.

www.djangodjango.co.uk

Young Minneapolis five-piece HOWLER marked their arrival on this side of the Atlantic last year in a barrage of hysteria. Having rapidly signed to Rough Trade Records, they consequently released the ‘This One’s Different’ EP and supported The Vaccines on their Autumn UK tour. Earlier this year saw the arrival of their debut album ‘America Give Up’ with the band showing few signs of slowing up.  This summer’s shows mark their debut at Reading & Leeds and will see further clamoring down the front as they play their biggest shows to date.

www.howlerband.com

OF MONSTERS AND MEN’s debut album ‘My Head Is An Animal’ went to Number One on its release in Iceland from where the band hail.  Describing themselves as “an amiable group of day dreamers who craft folkie pop songs” they turned into local heroes after winning a yearly battle of the bands competition.  This will be one of the first chances to see this highly tipped six-piece.

www.ofmonstersandmen.is

Sigur Ros, Franz Ferdinand and more for Berlin Festival 2012

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First up, and for their only scheduled performance in Germany this year, Icelandic band Sigur Rós will showcase new songs from their eighth studio album, set for release later this year. Also making an exclusive appearance at Berlin Festival is British act Franz Ferdinand, who first appeared on screen in the early Noughties with hits like “Take Me Out” and “This Fire”. The band are back with their fourth studio album in 2012 and will be performing many of their new tracks at Berlin Festival. German favourite Paul Kalkbrenner is also set to get the crowd at Tempelhof Airport ready for take off. His shows are always an instant sell out and his 2011 album Icke Wieder is a true chart-stormer. which is guaranteed to be a party starter. Another act ready to whip the ardent crowd into a dancing frenzy is Britain's legendary techno duo Orbital. Following their 2008 reunion, the in-demand duo have been touring and working on some brand new material which they are ready to unleash at Berlin Festival.

Friendly FiresAnd the names just keep on coming with confirmed performances from Friendly Fires, Metronomy, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, SBTRKT and German DJ duo Modeselektor who will celebrate their Berlin Festival debut at Club Xberg this year. Italian DJ duo Crookers and acts Cro, Daughter, Dumme Jungs, First Aid Kit, Frittenbude, Jamie N Commons, Kraftklub, Little Dragon, Major Lazer, Morning Parade and Slagmalsklubben are also confirmed to perform. Further highlights will be announced soon. Get ready…it’s going to be BIG!

Festival-goers purchasing a Berlin Festival 2-day ticket will be in for a treat this year. With 10,000+ headphones, the Silent Arena Aftershowparty will give ticket holders the chance to continue partying after the final main stage gig from midnight till 4am at Tempelhof Airport. It’s going to be the biggest ever Silent Disco! The DJ line-up will be announced soon. The Art Village will also make a welcome return to Tempelhof Airport, boasting over 60 national and international artists. Urban art, murals, performances, sculptures and more will all be on show plus an art bazaar, bars, booths, and the Design & Record Label Market as well as the art prize and a costume competition will complete the Art Village. And new for this year is the addition of accommodation at the festival site. We’ll have more info on this soon…

All confirmed acts so far Berlin Festival @ Tempelhof

Airport Bonaparte * Cro * Daughter * First Aid Kit * Franz Ferdinand * Friendly Fires * Frittenbude * Jamie N Commons * Junip * Paul Kalkbrenner * Kraftklub * Little Dragon * Major Lazer * Morning Parade * Orbital * SBTRKT (live) * Sigur Rós * Tocotronic * WhoMadeWho Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin Crookers * Digitalism * Dumme Jungs * Metronomy * Modeselektor live * Slagmalsklubben * Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Tickets Berlin Festival

2-day ticket: EUR 74 + booking fees valid for 7th + 8th September including Berlin Festival and Silent Disco Aftershow party @ Tempelhof Airport Doors/stage time (Fri + Sat): 12.30pm Silent Aftershow Party: midnight-4am

Kombiticket: EUR 89 + booking fees valid for 7th + 8th September including Berlin Festival @ Flughafen Tempelhof and Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin as well as shuttle service to Club Xberg. Doors/stage time Berlin Festival (Fri + Sat): 12.30pm Doors/stage time Club Xberg (Fri + Sat): 11pm

Bestival lineup gets even bigger!

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LIVE:
Bat For Lashes / Ben Howard / SBTRKT / Roots Manuva / Alabama Shakes /
Sage Francis (UK Festival Exclusive) / Grimes (UK Festival Exclusive) /
Chairlift / Gesaffelstein / Iceage / Ren Harvieu / Factory Floor /
Porcelain Raft / Toy / Kindness / Dismantle / Dirty Beaches / General Levy /
Top Cat feat. Sir Coxsone Outernational /  Josh Kumra / Errors /
Trailer Trash Tracys / Forest Swords / Stay+ / Skinny Lister /
Misty's Big Adventure / Ryan Keen / Nina Nesbitt / BIGkids /
The Lovely Eggs / Alt-J / St Spirit / Charming /
Shepherds / Seán McGowan

DJs:
Moodymann / Kavinsky / Girl Unit

AND IN THE AMBIENT FOREST:
Mixmaster Morris / Chris Coco / Phil Mison / Pete Gooding

GETTING TO BESTIVAL:
Bike to Bestival / Swim to Bestival / Taxi to Bestival please with Minicabit /
Life’s a journey – share it! – Car sharing

PLUS:
The Cuban Brothers and Fatima Whitbread
Hit The Dancefloor For Let’s Dance For Sport Relief

Rob da Bank says: “Hello my wild and wondrous friends… another raft of fine musical acts to tickle your ears come September. I’m delighted that Natasha Khan is bringing her Bat For Lashes guise back to Bestival, her shows are always otherworldly and plain incredible. Add in electronic soul wunderkind SBTRKT, UK hip-hop legend Roots Manuva (playing on his fortieth birthday no less!), the new king of folk Ben Howard, the incredible Alabama Shakes and American poet Sage Francis doing his only UK show of the year plus a very special Moodymann set playing in the Roller Disco complete with his roller disco crew flown in from the States and I’m ready to roll! Music aside, we are as usual ramping up the level of non-music related activity so if you want to take part in a nighttime ping-pong tournament in the woods, go tree climbing or join the Wildlife tug of war (first round will be Foxes vs Cockroaches) then check www.bestival.net  for loads more fun and games! See you in September”.

Making a very welcome return to Bestival is Bat For Lashes. A firm favourite round our way, the Mercury Prize and Brit nominated chanteuse is currently recording the follow up to her acclaimed second album Two Suns and we really can’t wait to see her again. Singer-songwriter Ben Howard will also be making an appearance with his rootsy folk stylings, which helped his debut album Every Kingdom to a top ten chart position, making him a certainty to captivate the crowds. Masked beat manipulator SBTRKT will be liberating your feet with his tribal post-dubstep melange, plus there will be dub, hip-hop and raga coated in the unique lyrical dexterity of Roots Manuva and the exalted Alabama Shakes, who have been getting everyone from the likes of David Byrne to Adele giddy with glee, will be demonstrating just why they’re so hotly tipped.

There will also be penetrating verse in a UK festival exclusive from much admired emcee Sage Francis, boundary beating pop and yet another UK festival exclusive from Grimes, Brooklyn flavoured electro-pop from Chairlift, dirty throbbing bass from Gesaffelstein, Danish punk action with Iceage, cinematic soul from BBC Sound of 2012 nominee Ren Harvieu, post-industrial, noisenik disco from Factory Floor, dreamy pop from Porcelain Raft, shimmering psychedelia from Toy and lo-fi loveliness from Kindness. And there are plenty more musical charms on offer from Dismantle, Dirty Beaches, General Levy, Top Cat feat. Sir Coxsone Outernational, Josh Kumra, Errors, Trailer Trash Tracys, Forest Swords, Stay+, Skinny Lister, Misty's Big Adventure, Ryan Keen, Nina Nesbitt, BIGkids, The Lovely Eggs, Alt-J, St Spirit, Charming, Shepherds and Seán McGowan.

That’s not all, as the turntable worrying skills of Detroit techno wizard Moodymann, Gallic electro-houser Kavinsky and dubstep jukester Girl Unit are all set to make appearances to hype up the dancefloor. And in the Ambient Forest there will be some suitably soothing sounds from the inimitable Mixmaster Morris, Chris Coco, Phil Mison and Pete Gooding.

Chase & Status and 30 more acts set for Hideout Festival 2012

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Chase & StatusHideout Festival now boasts a DJ set from one of the biggest acts in drum & bass and dubstep – Chase & Status, who have recently been nominated for Best British Band at the Brit Awards. Now joining his counterpart Skream at the event is the other half of one of the most legendary Duo’s in dubstep – Benga. The new BBC Radio 1 ‘In New DJ’s We Trust’ DJ will be stepping up to the plate and spinning some innovative dubstep sounds alongside his long-standing musical collaborator.

German act Loco Dice is now set to add his unique take on house and techno to the line-up, while Resident Advisor’s 2011 2nd best DJ in the world Seth Troxler has also been confirmed.

Dubstep favourit SBTRKT will be bringing big beats from behind his mask, while Canadian act and owner of Turbo Recordings Tiga will also be stepping up to the plate.

Ticket holders can also now expect to hear one of the original pioneers of drum & bass Shy FX, head honcho of Digital Soundboy, as well as Redlight, who’s recently released single ‘Get Out My Head’ is set to storm into the charts this week.

Simian Mobile DiscoHideout is also welcoming into it’s elite assembly the likes of huge Canadian talent Art Department, global electronic leaders Aeroplane, Scuba, Simian and Mobile Disco to name but a few. The full and final line-up can be viewed below and is also available on Hideout Festival’s Facebook page and all-new website.

With all this confirmed and yet more added extras to come, Hideout Festival 2012 really is proving itself to be the essential festival of this summer and is in place to surpass the caliber set by last year’s event. Not for the faint-hearted, Hideout Festival 2012 will once again combine the beautiful setting of a beach holiday with the intense euphoria of the most turbo charged electronic festival.

2012 early bird tickets have already sold out and despite the unbridled sell-out success of last year’s inaugural festival, standard tickets remain at a mere £99 for all three nights.

Stay alert for updates on boat parties coming soon, which will be announced on Hideout Festival Facebook and Twitter pages, plus sign up to the Hideout Festival newsletter to avoid missing out www.hideoutfestival.com

 

LINE-UP

NEW ADDITIONS:

CHASE & STATUS DJ SET
LOCO DICE / SETH TROXLER
SBTRKT DJ SET / BENGA / TIGA

AEROPLANE / ART DEPARTMENT / FRICTION / HIGH CONTRAST
JACKMASTER / NINA KRAVIZ / REDLIGHT / RUSTIE / SCUBA
SHY FX / SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO / SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER

BEN UFO / BLAWAN / BORGORE / CITIZEN / DOORLY
EATS EVERYTHING / GAVIN HERLITHY / PAUL WOOLFORD / RALPH LAWSON
SIMON BAKER / STOPMAKINGME / SUBB AN

FULL LINE UP:

RICARDO VILLALOBOS / CHASE & STATUS DJ SET
LOCO DICE /ANNIE MAC / SKREAM & BENGA
JAMIE JONES / SETH TROXLER
SUB FOCUS DJ SET / SBTRKT DJ SET
SPECIAL GUEST: SKRILLEX

ANDY C / CLAUDE VON STOKE / DJ FRESH / EROL ALKAN
FOUR TET & CARIBOU B2B DJ SET / MACEO PLEX
MAYA JANE COLES / SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO / TIGA

AEROPLANE / ART DEPARTMENT / ARTWORK / BEN KLOCK
BREAKAGE / BORGORE / DAMIAN LAZARUS / FRICTION / HEIDI
HIGH CONTRAST / HYPE / JACK BEATS / JACKMASTER / JULIO BASHMORE
KERRI CHANDLER / NINA KRAVIZ / PEARSON SOUND
PRINS THOMAS / REDLIGHT / RUSTIE / SCUBA / SHY FX / SOUL CLAP
SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER / TODDLA T / ZINC

BEN UFO / CAMO AND KROOKED / CITIZEN / DOORLY
EATS EVERYTHING / GAVIN HERLHY / GEDDES / KYLE HALL
PAUL WOOLFORD / RALPH LAWSON / RICHY AHMED
ROBERT JAMES / SIMON BAKER / STOPMAKINGME / SUBB AN / YOUNGMAN

BOWSKI / CERA ALBA / DEATH ON THE BALCONY / ESKIMO TWINS
KRYSKO & GREG LORD / MAK & PASTEMAN / MATT LONG / MATTHEW HOAG
MIKE JONES / NORTH BASE / PEOPLE GET REAL / PERO FULLHOUSE
STEPPA / THE SONIC EMPORIUM / TONN PIPER

MC’S DREAD, DRS, GQ, IC3, ID, RAGE, SGT POKES, TONN PIPER, WREC

BOAT & POOL PARTIES HOSTED BY BIGGER THAN BARRY / CHIBUKU

CROSSTOWN REBELS / DROP THE MUSTARD / FACE / HOT CREATIONS / JAUNT
JUST JACK / METROPOLIS / MONO CULT / MULLETOVER / SONIDO / WAX:ON
WE OWN / ZUTEKH

TICKETING INFORMATION:

EARLY BIRD TICKETS: £80 plus booking fee – SOLD OUT
DEPOSIT SCHEME: £49 plus booking fee / Full balance payable by 1st April 2012 – Available from www.skiddle.com