Month: February 2014

Jamie Cullum, Frank Sinatra Jnr and more for Cheltenham Jazz Festival

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Opening on International Jazz Day, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns at the end of April with an incredibly unique and diverse programme packed with jazz, world and blues legends, superstar international acts and outstanding emerging talent.

Running across six days from April 30th – May 5th, this year’s festival presents a star-studded line-up featuring the likes of Grammy and Golden Globe-winning Jamie Cullum, who will premiere his eagerly anticipated new album backed by an 11-piece big band, a special 70th birthday concert from jazz fusion trailblazer Billy Cobham, five-time Grammy-winner Robert Cray, the incomparable Laura Mvula, who returns to Cheltenham as this year’s Artist in Residence, as well as shows from big hitters such as Jools Holland, Curtis Stigers, Tinariwen, Kurt Elling, Gregory Porter and Frank Sinatra Jnr.

The younger generation will be represented by the likes of rising-star US trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, the inspirational Zimbabwe-born vocalist ESKA, BBC Sound of 2014 nominee Nick Mulvey, and acclaimed New York-based instrumental fusion band Snarky Puppy, who are teaming up with DJ Gilles Peterson for the return of the festival’s popular club night. Among an impressive roster of British talent being showcased will be the much talked about reunion of acclaimed big band Loose Tubes, one of the UK’s most renowned improvisers Paul Dunmall, accomplished pianist Jason Rebello, and the boundary-pushing Julian Siegel Quartet.

The festival continues its association with BBC Radio 2, who will broadcast live on-site across the weekend. Slots include a gangster-themed Friday Night Is Music Night, celebrating the golden age of jazz and featuring the inimitable talents of Kurt Elling, Curtis Stigers and Liane Carroll, and a special Jamie Cullum radio show, which will go out live on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to a world class line-up of acts, the Beyond the Band tent will feature talks, workshops and masterclasses and will transform into a ‘silent cinema’, hosting a range of jazz inspired films.

Festival Director Ian George:

“We’re proud to once again be delivering a really diverse Festival programme that covers the entire jazz spectrum, incorporating blues, soul, funk, world music and more. We welcome musical megastars alongside the brightest emerging talents, all set against the beautiful backdrop of regency Cheltenham.”

The 2014 Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place from April 30th – May 5th and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens, featuring a Big Top stage, the Jazz Arena, and a food, drink and market area.

Tickets go on sale to members from February 24th and on general sale from March 3rd.

The full Cheltenham Jazz Festival line-up is below.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2014 – Full Programme

April 30th

Jamie Cullum

The Big Top 
9pm

Jason Rebello

The Daffodil

9.15pm

May 1st

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

The Jazz Arena

7pm

Judith Owen

The Daffodil

9.15pm

Laura Mvula

The Big Top

8.30pm

May 2nd

ESKA with special guest Laura Mvula

The Jazz Arena

6.30pm

Julian Siegel Quartet

The Playhouse 
8pm

Friday Night Is Music Night – Hoods, Horns & Hooch

The Big Top 
8pm

Hailey Tuck

The Daffodil

9.15pm

May 3rd

Anthony Marsden

Hotel Du Vin 
12pm

Paul Dunmall Sextet

The Playhouse 
12.15pm

Nick Mulvey

The Jazz Arena 
12.30pm

Loose Tubes

The Big Top 
2pm

Denys Baptiste – Now is the Time…

Town Hall

3.45pm

Tigran

The Jazz Arena 
4.15pm

Michael Wollny Trio

The Playhouse 
6pm

Robert Cray

The Big Top 
5.30pm

Kurt Elling Quartet

Town Hall 
7pm

Tinariwen

The Jazz Arena

7.15pm

The Speakeasy

The Daffodil
10.30pm – 2am

The Edge Project

The Playhouse 
10pm

Gilles Peterson and Snarky Puppy

Town Hall
10.30pm

May 4th

Trondheim Jazz Exchange

Parabola Arts Centre
11.45am

Sunday Lunch with Laithwaite’s Wine and Nearly Hot Club Four

The Daffodil

Bar open 11.30am

Lunch served 12.30pm

Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet

The Jazz Arena

1.15pm

Jake Isaac and Lake Street Dive

The Big Top 
2.30pm

Iain Ballamy’s Anorak XL

Parabola Arts Centre

3pm

Liane Carroll Trio

The Jazz Arena

4.15pm

Billy Cobham at 70

The Big Top

5.45pm

Dan Nicholls’ Strobes + ByramArt

Parabola Arts Centre

6pm

Sinatra Sings Sinatra

The Jazz Arena

7.15pm

Gregory Porter and Blue Note Guests

The Big Top

9pm

Thomas StrØnen’s Time Is A Blind Guide

Parabola Arts Centre

9pm

May 5th

Family Show: Jazz All Stars ft . Natalie Williams

The Jazz Arena

11am

London Afrobeat Collective

The Big Top

1pm

Fringe Showcase: Jo Silver and the Café Bohemia & The Indigo Kings

The Jazz Arena

2.30pm

Curtis Stigers

The Big Top 
4.15pm

Get The Blessing and Kairos 4Tet

The Jazz Arena

6.45pm

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra featuring Gregory Porter and guests

The Big Top 
8.15pm

 

Dizzee Rascal and White Lies to headline Y Not Festival 2014

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We can now reveal the first lineup announcement for this year Y Not Festival which takes place in August.  Headliners Dizzee Rascal and White Lies lead this years lineup along with The Fratellis, Newton Faulkner, Reel Big Fish, The Blackout and many more performing on the numerous stages across the weekend.

Dizzee Rascal – HEADLINER
White Lies – HEADLINER
The Fratellis
Newton Faulkner
Reel Big Fish
Andrew W.K.(solo)
The Blackout
Cerebral Ballzy
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Itch
Eliza & The Bear
Lonely The Brave
Darlia
Night Engine
Best Friends
Flyte
Brawlers
Nothing But Thieves
Nordic Giants
Black Moth
The First
Youth Man
Hungerhoff & The Wild Roots

Festival organiser, Simon Mawby has said, “We are so excited with our first announcement and are welcoming some of the biggest names we've ever had to our stages. The best part is this is just the beginning, with another headliner and hundreds more acts to come. It will truly be the best value Y Not ever."

Y Not will host ten stages, with the best talent from these music genres: rock / indie / hip hop / folk / dance / electronic / punk / blues / acoustic / reggae and roots. But it’s not all about the bigger bands. Y Not continues to support up and coming talent with its long established, purpose-built Allotment Stage.

The National, Mogwai, Kendrick Lamar plus more for Optimus Primavera Sound

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We are pretty excited to let our Summer Festival Guide fans know that the Optimus Primavera Sound lineup is now complete with The National, Mogwai, Kendrick Lamar, Pixies and more announced today!

Among all the confirmed names, we reinforce the presence of American band The National, the Californian rapper Kendrick Lamar and the legendary and influential Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso.

The first festival shows for newly reformed British band Slowdive, New Yorkers Television with their master piece “Marquee Moon”, Spoon’s effervescent pop, who have a new record, the third reincarnation of Slint claiming their crucial role in the appearance of slowcore and the presentation of the new record by Scottish band Mogwai are also added to this edition’s line-up.
Current names arrive at Optimus Primavera Sound to showcase their more recent work: Nicolas Jaar’s new project, Darkside, Danish artist Trentemøller, with his melancholy fusion of indie and electronica, the Haim sisters with the recently acclaimed phenomenon “Days Are Gone”, and the fiery electronica of !!! (chk chk chk) and St. Vincent with a new self-titled album that proves, once again, that there is a great gap between conventional pop and the sonic fusion created and reinvented by the New Yorker.

A true heterogenic mix of musical styles is going to invade the city of Porto: the post-rock of the Canadian band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Charles Bradley’s soul, the intimate sound of Rodrigo Amarante, or noisy British band Loop are some of the names that compose an eclectic and varied line-up.

Also, in the national landscape, we find bands with several musical references. Lisbon band You Can’t Win Charlie Brown will come to Optimus Primavera Sound with “Diffraction/Refraction”, a more challenging and sophisticated album than “Chromatics”, where vocal harmonies and the constant dialogue between folk and electronica are deepened. Also Os Da Cidade, a band that joins António Zambujo, Ricardo Cruz, João Salcedo and Miguel Araújo Jorge, promise to reinvent some of the traditional Portuguese sounds to cover them with a personal and delicate touch. HHY & The Macumbas, a project led by Jonathan Uliel Saldanha, will take their electrifying dub rhythms to the Parque da Cidade, for an extra sensorial experience, while Torto showcase, the hungry instrumental trio, in a fusion of guitar, bass and drums invites to a bold stroll outside each person’s “comfort bubble”.

Busta Rhymes set for Bestival 2014

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Rob da Bank says: “Woo hah people! Yes it’s true, Busta Rhymes has got you all in check and he’s coming to Bestival for his first ever UK festi appearance! I’m such a Busta fan and it’s amazing not just to see him back in the charts with another banger with Thank You but also to know he's getting on the ferry and bringing it to Bestival!”

Yes, you might have noticed that we like a bit of hip-hop at our Desert Island Disco, so we are extremely pleased to say that rap superstar Busta Rhymes is coming to Bestival to flex his next level skills in what will be his first ever UK festival appearance. A bona fide hip-hop colossus whose intricate technique has brought him a sack full of plaudits, Busta is gearing up to release the much anticipated Extinction Level Event 2 this year and we can’t wait to witness his dopeness on our main stage!

Beacons Festival announce headliners Daughter, Darkside and more!

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Beacons Festival is pleased to reveal the first acts for 2014. New York opulent disco / astral funk duo Darkside, ethereal and intimate yet mountain-range massive sounding London trio Daughter and the elegantly crafted electronica tunes ofJon Hopkins will headline the festival.  

The Fall, who will make a rare festival appearance are joined by Hookworms off the back of a huge 2013, Dixon who was Resident Advisor DJ of the year, Jools Holland favourite Melt Yourself Down, TOY, Daniel Avery, King Creosote, Sweet Baboo, Eagulls (after that Letterman performance) Max Graef, Money, Girl Band, Pins, Galaxians make up some of the first wave of bands.

The Thursday night welcome party will feature entertainment, expanded from last year to include a late night silent disco with special guest DJs. Art and Culture will again be an integral part of the festival. A new field named Hunters Field will accompany an expanded arts area, The Space Between, a larger Dawsons Art Hashhouse and the new outdoor stage, The Argyle. Entertainment will range from spoken word, yoga, film and documentary Q&As and meet The Brewers, with 5 Point Brewery being confirmed so far.

Beacons Festival has grown a reputation for providing festivalgoers of all ages with an extensive selection of award winning street food. This year the area is larger with confirmed vendors by REDS true BBQ, Laynes Coffee, Patty Smith burgers, Dough Boys pizza, Mothercluckers chicken and Bundobust (Indian street food/ craft beer combo).

Other festival highlights include The Diddy Rascals family area, which is also getting a revamp and will double in size. The Whitelocks Ale tent will feature the anticipated and expanded Ale festival. A new beer tent from Leeds’ hottest new venue, Belgrave Music Hall are amongst the new additions to Beacons Festival.

“Keeping Beacons going after the flood in 2011 has been really hard, but when Wild Beasts headlined in 2012 the stars realigned and it was totally worth it. Now I don’t think about booking acts just to sell tickets. With Dixon, Jon Hopkins and Daniel Avery on site over the weekend we genuinely feel we have the 3 best producers in the world at the moment so we are well chuffed”  Ash Kollakowski, Beacons Festival

ALL CONFIRMED BANDS:

DARKSIDE 
 DAUGHTER 
JON HOPKINS  
THE FALL 
 NIGHTMARES ON WAX 
HOOKWORMS 
TOY 
KING CREOSOTE
EAST INDIA YOUTH 
EAGULLS 
SWEET BABOO
 MELT YOURSELF DOWN 
MONEY 
TRAAMS
 PINS 
GIRL BAND
 CHEATAHS
MENACE BEACH
GALAXIANS 
GOLDEN TEACHER
CHAMPIONLOVER 
AUTOBAHN

FIRST DJS

DIXON 
ROMAN FLUGEL 
MANO LE TOUGH 
SPECIAL REQUEST 
DANIEL AVERY 
MAX GRAEF 
AARTEKT

 

Biffy Clyro, Miles Kane and more added to Rock Werchter

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The Summer Festival Guide can announce that Rock Werchter adds six new artists to its lineup over the weekend of the 3rd July to the 6th July.  Bastille, Miles Kane, Biffy Clyro, London Grammar, Midlake and The Wombats will perform over the weekend.

Biffy Clyro

An overview of the bands announced so far for each day of Rock Werchter 2014:

  • Thursday 3 July: Metallica, Placebo, Damon Albarn, Skrillex, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, Dropkick Murphys, Miles Kane, The Wombats, London Grammar, Valerie June
  • Friday 4 July: Arctic Monkeys, Ellie Goulding, Major Lazer, Jack Johnson, Crystal Fighters, The 1975, The Naked and Famous
  • Saturday 5 July: Pearl Jam, The Black Keys, Pixies, Triggerfinger, Imagine Dragons, Biffy Clyro,  Haim, Agnes Obel, Midlake, Kodaline
  • Sunday 6 July: Kings of Leon, Stromae, Franz Ferdinand, Bastille, Babyshambles, MGMT, Birdy, Foals, Passenger, Metronomy

Bastille and Chase & Status to headline Boardmasters 2014

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Bastille and Chase & Status have been confirmed to headline Boardmasters 2014, the UK’s biggest surf and music festival, which will take place on the stunning Cornish coastline from Wednesday 6 August to Sunday 10 August. Ben Pearce, Dan Croll, Palma Violets, Bipolar Sunshine, George Ezra + plus many more have also been confirmed to play across the weekend at the Watergate Bay site, with a whole host of acts still to be announced including the third headliner.

Bastille

Andrew Topham, Festival Director, says: “We are delighted to announce these first acts, making it Boardmasters biggest music line up to date and still more to come!”

This year’s 4 times BRIT Award nominated band Bastille quickly become one of the biggest bands in the UK since they broke onto the music scene last year with their debut album ‘Bad Blood’. To date the album has clocked up over a quarter of a million sales in the UK alone, becoming the biggest selling debut album of the year so far and still remains in the UK top 10. The band’s single ‘Pompeii’ has become one of the stand out tracks of the year with over half a million sales to date. 

Electro duo Chase & Status released their Gold selling debut album ‘More Than A Lot’ in 2008. Since then they have gone on to collaborate with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, White Lies, Cee-Lo Green and Plan B. Their most recent album ‘Brand New Machine’ stormed the UK charts reaching the no.2 spot in October 2013. Renowned for their electrifying live shows the Drum & Bass maestros are sure to give an explosive performance. 

Also confirmed to play across the weekend at Watergate Bay are Ben Pearce, Palma Violets, Reel Big Fish, George Ezra, Dan Croll, Bipolar Sunshine, The Cuban Brothers, Raleigh Ritchie, Coves, Kidnap Kid, My Nu Leng, Tcts, Billon, Big Deal, Lyger, Emily & The Woods, Dj EZ, Roska, Toyboy & Robin, Monki, The Golden Boy, Eton Messy Presents: Friend Within, Blonde, Isaac Tichauer, Bodhi and Eton Messy Dj Set.

Established in 1981, Boardmasters is a 5-day event situated in two legendary locations in Cornwall. Boardmasters opens on Wednesday 6 August at Fistral Beach, the UK’s surfing mecca and will host the festival’s surf, BMX and skate competitions in addition to the ‘Beach Sessions’ gigs. The festival continues down at Watergate Bay, arguably the most picturesque festival site in the UK with beautiful, uninterrupted views of the ocean for a weekend of explosive live music. The festival has grown year on year with 2013 seeing over 150,000 visitors. 

For 2014, Boardmasters continues its residence at renowned surf hot spot, Fistral Beach, hosting five-days of thrilling surfing. From Wednesday 6 August to Sunday 10 August a record number of fans, friends and family is expected to watch the competition unfold. Surf categories will include Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Longboard, Pro Junior, Under 16’s and the Air Show. The festival is embracing even more home grown talent than ever before. 2014 is already looking likely to be a record year.

Bombay Bicycle Club, Icona Pop and more set for Longitude Festival

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With tickets going on sale at 9am tomorrow morning for this years Longitiude, we have another lineup announcement to give you folks!

Bombay Bicycle Club, First Aid Kit, Icona Pop, George Ezra and Koreless will join the already announcedBastille, Haim, Chvrches, Sam Smith, Bonobo and more!

TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend tickets €149.50 / Day tickets €59.50 inclusive of booking fee.

Subject to licence

Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketmaster.ie

Tickets are on sale tomorrow at 9am

Boomtown Fair 2014 headliners announced

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First up, is the welcome return to the UK festival circuit after a seven year hiatus, The Cat Empire! Other headliners of this incredibly diverse festival include one of the biggest names in Californian ska-punk NOFX, the most well-known band in the history of reggae The Wailers, another reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, Grammy Award winning Mali musicians Tinariwen, eight-time winners at the BBC Folk awards Bellowhead and at the other end of the musical spectrum; queen of the dancehall Lady Saw, French ragga supremoes Raggasonic, the world debut outing of the UK Allstars, electronic mastermind Tipper and the raw electronic sounds of Boddika. This is one seriously hot initial line-up looking to set the summer on fire! BoomTown Fair is held over 7th – 10th August at the Matterly Estate, Winchester and caters for a huge amount of musical tastes from folk and world music, all the way through to the soul penetrating bass of ragga and jungle.

Accompanying the headliners The Cat Empire and NOFX on the ska, swing and punk stages are:  New Orleans Hot 8 Brass Band, bringing their version of the traditional marching band right up-to-date with bass, funk and hip-hop sounds.There will also be cheeky cockney chappies Chas n Dave with their special blend of ‘Rockney’; Hayseed Dixie will be bringing a unique take on AC/DC classics with their very own genre of ‘Rockgrass’.  The irrepressible[dunkelbunt] and the Secret Swing Society, five piece folk-punk outfit The Dreadnoughts; lost legend of Ska Freddie Notes, along with; Tape Five, Phoenix City Allstars feat Rhoda Dakar, Russkaja, Woohoo Revue, The Destroyers, The Trojans, Molotov Jukebox,  La Selva Sur, Babyhead and Horace Panter's Uptown Ska Collective.

In addition to very welcome return of Jimmy Cliff, the inaugural appearance at BoomTown of French trio Raggasonic and the first-lady of dancehall and GRAMMY winner Lady Saw, the reggae, dub and jungle stages are going to be shacking to the sound of some of the meatiest basslines in the world of reggae and dub! One of the most exciting acts to venture into the Lion’s Den, is the world debut of the UK Allstars, as the name suggests, this line up consists of the ultimate selection of originators from UK dancehall; Congo Natty, Congo Dubz, Tippa Irie, Top Cat, General Levy, Daddy Freddy, Sweetie, Irie, Tenor Fly and Nanci & Pheobe!!!  Also bringing the full force of their bass to the incredible Lion’s Den temple stage will be Warrior King, Easy Star All Stars performing the entirety of ‘Dub Side of the Moon’, Chronixx & Zinc Fence Redemption, Dawn Penn, The Skints, Mungo’s Hi-Fi Full Sound System, Macka B & The Roots Ragga Band, Benny Page, Raging Fyah, The Heatwave, Robbo Ranx & Stylo G & Sister Nancy.

With folk and world music a key focus for BoomTown this year and a dedicated brand new stage to host it all, there is set to be a huge influx of live acts to the festival with much more acoustic music available to soak up and chill out in one place; with international big hitters such as Tinariwen and Bellowhead the first announced headliners, along with global music movement Playing For Change Band, created to inspire and connect the world through music and with some of the most recognisable names in world music involved this is one collective of musicians not to miss! Mercury Award nominee Sam Lee and Friends, the incredible Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate, the whirling dervishes of English folk 3 Daft Monkeys, BoomTown favourite Dub FX, along with Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit, Eliza Carthy, The Bad Shepherds, Treacherous Orchestra, Dizraeli & The Small Gods, Skinny Lister, La Chiva Gantiva and Beans On Toast.

Meanwhile, down in the depths of DownTown, amongst the Arcadia Spider BoomBox and the BodyShop is where the bassiest of bass and the most broken of beats can be found!! Confirmed so far are: Tipper, Boddika, Special Request, Hannah Wants, Dub Phizix & Strategy, Ms Dynamite, Mele’ & Slick Don, Friend Within, Rockwell, Stanton Warriors, Kahn & Neek, Proxy, Optiv & Btk, Black Sun Empire, Aphrodite, Bong Ra, Kry Wolf, Zed Bias, My Nu Leng, Swindle & Royal T, Altern8, Machine Code, Panachea, DJ Champion, Mouse Outfit, Jus Now,.

FULL LINE UP SO FAR:

SKA, SWING AND PUNK STAGES:

The Cat Empire / NOFX / Hot 8 Brass Band / Chas and Dave / Hayseed Dixie

/ [dunkelbunt] and the Secret Swing Society / The Dreadnoughts / Freddie Notes / Tape Five / Phoenix City / Allstars feat Rhoda Dakar / Russkaja / Woohoo Revue / The Destroyers / The Trojans / Molotov Jukebox / La Selva Sur / Babyhead / Horace Panter's Upown Ska Collective

REGGAE, DUB AND JUNGLE STAGES:

Jimmy Cliff / Raggasonic / Lady Saw / UK Allstars – feat: Congo Natty, Congo Dubz, Tippa Irie, Top Cat, General Levy, Daddy Freddy, Sweetie Irie, Tenor Fly, Nanci & Pheobe / Warrior King / Easy Star All Stars  / Chronixx / Dawn Penn / The Skints / Mungo’s Hi-Fi full Sound System / Raging Fyah / The Heatwave / Robbo Ranx & Stylo G / Jus Now

FOLK AND WORLD STAGES:

Tinariwen / Bellowhead / Playing For Change Band / Dub FX / Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit / Eliza Carthy / The Bad Shepherds / Treacherous Orchestra / Sam Lee and Friends / Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate / 3 Daft Monkeys / Dizraeli & The Small Gods / Skinny Lister / La Chiva Gantiva / Beans On Toast

BREAK AND BASS STAGES: 

Tipper / Boddika /  Special Request / Hannah Wants / Dub Phizix & Strategy / Ms Dynamite / Mele’ & Slick Don / Friend Within / Stanton Warriors / Kahn & Neek / Proxy / Optiv & Btk / Black Sun Empire / Aphrodite / Altern8 / Kry Wolf / Zed Bias / My Nu Leng / Rockwell / Swindle & Royal T / Bong Ra / Machine Code / Panachea / DJ Champion / Mouse Outfit feat. Dr Syntax & Sparkz

 

OFF Festival announce first lineup of artists

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This years Poland's Off Festival will host another lineup of top musical acts, in 2014 the first lineup announcement consists of Neutral Milk Hotel, Glenn Branca, Holden, Oranssi Pazuzu, Fuck Buttons and Perfume Genius.  Keep an eye on the Summer Festival Guide for further news to come!

Neutral Milk Hotel
One of the most important scenes in American indie rock was the collective known as Elephant 6. And the most important record born of the imaginations of those musicians was In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel. The now-legendary album is still guaranteed to evoke tons of emotions with its combination of folk melodies and lo-fi sounds. Jeff Mangum's trebling voice sings stories that explore such themes as the tragic fate of Anne Frank. It wasn't just the reviewers at Pitchfork who were impressed with the unique release (ranking it the fourth best album of the nineties), but also Arcade Fire and the Decembrists, whose music clearly echoes this wonderful band's ideas.

Glenn Branca
In New York mythology, Glenn Branca is the god of noise and the patron saint of crippling distortion. He's also one of the leading figures of the no wave scene. When his band Theoretical Girls failed to garner the response it deserved, he set out on a solo career. Since then he's been recording deafening yet carefully composed guitar symphonies influenced as much by Steve Reich as they are by The Velvet Underground. Branca's group was where the guitarists of Swans and Helmet began their adventures in music. Playing under his tutelage was considered such an honor that one friend of his followed Branca around for months, begging for him to let her boyfriend into the band. He agreed, and it's a good thing he did, because her name was Kim Gordon, and his was Thurston Moore. The rest is history. Important announcement: Glenn Branca will be curating one whole day at the Experimental Stage! More details will be announced shortly.

Holden (live)
He's been gone for so long that everyone has pretty much stopped waiting for him to come back. But return he did, and he put everyone else back in their place. The Inheritors, his first album in seven years, has garnered excellent reviews and was hailed the best album of 2013 by the electronic music website Resident Advisor. And with the erudition this British artist demonstrates on his 70 minute release, it's no wonder. Holden resurrects the memory of analog KLF synths, Cluster's interstellar voyages, and esoteric 1960s British psychedelia. He doesn't shy away from more dance-worthy forms, either, as proven by the ecstatic, house rhythms of"Renata." This somewhat-forgotten decathlete won every possible event last year.

Oranssi Pazuzu
There's a theory that states that all the best rock bands have a color in their names. You know: Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple… It's time to add Oranssi Pazuzu to the list (the first word means"orange," while Pazuzu is the name of a terrible demon in Babylonian mythology), even though this band will never achieve the same status as the others. Not with this music, anyway. Sometimes referred to as the blackmetal Hawkwind, and at other times called the inventors of kraut-death metal, these Finns have figured out how to combine the trance and freedom of 70s psychedelic rock with the sounds of contemporary black metal. Oranssi Pazuzu's third album, Velonielu, is one of last year's best extreme music records. And you might want to check out some of the other acts on their label, Svart Records. This isn't the Finland you thought you knew…

Fuck Buttons
If there's a place that needs another comeback of Massive Attack or Portishead, Bristol definitely isn't it. The cradle of trip-hop has a new star that's shining like a supernova. Andrew Hung and Benjamin Power started off by borrowing from Aphex Twin and Mogwai, and within a few years, their music was featured at the greatest mass event of the year. This was no music festival: it was the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, where viewers across the globe heard the massive track titled"Olympians." By no means have Fuck Buttons gone soft since that success. Their latest album, Slow Focus, conjures up apocalyptic visions accompanied by massive beats and an army of synths. This is the kind of music Giorgio Moroder would have recorded if he had been born in post-industrial Detroit.

Perfume Genius 
Mike Hadreas' intimate compositions reveal him to be the talented heir of Xiu Xiu and Antony & The Johnsons. Not only does he share their sensitivity, but the portraits he sketches out in his songs also seem to come from a similar lineup. Perfume Genius' subjects are victims of violence, emotionally broken, future suicides nurturing their trauma. The music that accompanies these difficult stories is charmingly sparse and unsettlingly friendly. Lyrical piano phrases, delicate drum taps, subtle harmonies, and that voice: candid, fragile, and overflowing with emotion. Yet there is a certain boldness dormant in it, a bravery that compels him to take on difficult themes and surprising perspectives. YouTube removed one of his music videos, causing an uproar in the art world. He can be himself at the OFF Festival. To be honest, that's exactly what we're counting on.