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The Summer Festival Guide is excited to reveal the first lineup announces for this years BluesFest which includes some of the biggest names in Blues, Jazz, Soul and RnB.
Now in its fourth year, and widely regarded as one of the highlights of the live music calendar, BluesFest made history in 2013 when it relocated to the Royal Albert Hall and became the iconic building’s first ever full-scale music festival. The four day event was a resounding success, with over 40,000 music fans enjoying an incredible run of shows from the likes of Robert Plant, Ronnie Wood, Bobby Womack, Van Morrison, Gregory Porter, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Mavis Staples, Chris Rea and many more. This year’s festival will feature a similarly world class line-up as evidenced by the first batch of headliners which includes the return of one of the most indelible artists of the 20th century, the legendary Van Morrison (Oct 28th), songwriting icon Elvis Costello (Oct 29th), the inimitable Georgie Fame (who opens for Costello on Oct 29th), multi-Grammy-winning Sheryl Crow (Oct 31st) and chart-topping jazz funk outfit Level 42 (Oct 26th). Although all these artists are now celebrated for their own distinctive sounds and styles, they all credit the blues as the start of their musical journeys.
Elvis Costello: "I've waited a, long, long time to share a bill with Georgie Fame. There is no better address to do it than Albert's Royal Hall. Fame at last!"
As was the case with last year’s festival, BluesFest 2014 will be hosted exclusively at the Royal Albert Hall, with performances taking place not just in the main auditorium, but also in other rooms around the building during the daytime, utilising the Grade 1 listed venue’s varied selection of performance spaces. Alongside the headline concerts in the main auditorium each evening, some of the additional daytime activity introduced in 2013 will return including intimate sessions from festival artists, exclusive exhibitions, showcases, and an ‘In Conversation With’ series.
The Summer Festival Guide has the latest additions to this years Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night lineups including Nils Frahm, James Holden, Simian Mobile Disco and more!
These are the artists that complete the program for Sonar 2014:
Nils Frahm, Buraka Som Sistema, Chris & Cosey, MØ, Daphni b2b James Holden, Simian Mobile Disco “Whorl”, Tokimonsta, Ryan Hemsworth, Dj2D2, Monki, Debruit & Alsarah, Uner presented by Pioneer dj, Stwo, Dengue Dengue Dengue, Elijah & Skilliam feat. Flava D, Sau Poler, Jameszoo, Simmone Jones, Arufe, Pick A Piper, Octo Octa, Mwëslee, Shelby Grey, Kresy, Nev.Era, Pina, Mr. k!, Territoire, Eme Dj, Sunny Graves, Rayo 60, Xavi Mateu & Carlos Bayona, Sonia Gómez & Lucy Suggate & James Holden, Discos Paradiso Crew, Glue Kids, BSN Posse, Mario Nieto, 3QUINOX, Dj Enpunto, Dj Der, Ordre Etern, Sanatruja, Vallès.
Top international names
The popular young German pianist Nils Frahm will perform on the SonarHall stage, and will demonstrate why he is one of the most revered new school representatives, combining acoustic with electronic.
Meanwhile, British duo Simian Mobile Disco present their new project 'Whorl' at SonarComplex, in which bpms will be replaced by a primal ambient approach akin to Tangerine Dream.
Rounding off the new additions to Sonar by Day are new Nordic pop star MØ and two pulsating sets at SonarVillage from Canadian beat makers Ryan Hemsworth and Frenchman Stwo.
Sonar by Night highlights will include: the collaboration betweenDaphni (Dan Snaith, Caribou) and James Holden, who will join forces to offer an unprecedented and electrifying four handed dj set on Saturday night at SonarLab; a set by the BBC Radio1 DJ & presenter Monki who will close the SonarCar stage with UK house and bass music of the highest order.
Red Bull Music Academy at SonarDôme
The infallible Buraka Som Sistema head the newly confirmed acts on the SonarDôme stage, curated by Red Bull Music Academy. The Portuguese group is famous for the assimilation of the most exciting in African and South American dance rhythms in a spectacular live show.
Joining them will be the mythical Chris & Cosey, founders of Throbbing Gristle, interminably investigating and advancing in the field of cutting-edge electronica; the exceptional LA producer Tokimonstafrom the Brainfeeder family; American housemaster Octo Octa; the fruitful alliance between Frenchman Débruit and Sudanese vocalistAlsarah; the UK garage and grime trio consisting of Elija & Skilliam(Butterz label chiefs) together with Flava D; Spanish nationals Sau Poler and Arufe, both of whose careers are about to take off; Peruvian cumbia-step duo Dengue Dengue Dengue; the contemporary electronica of Dutchman Jameszoo; charismatic electro-rock from American and Berlin resident Simonne Jones; and psychedelic groove from Canadian and ex Caribou drummer, Pick a Piper.
Today’s excellent Spanish scene
Sonar completes one of its most exciting Spanish line-ups ever, drawing from the national scene’s strength and depth in recent years.
New additions include the hypnotic electronica of Nev.Era, the industrial techno of Pina, the dream-noise of Sunny Graves, environmental drones from Rayo-60, Galician beatmaker Mwësleewho will close one of the nights at SonarCar, the cinematic hip-hop ofGlue Kids, bass music from BSN Posse, garage-house from Kresy, pictorial post rock from Territoire, the 3QUINOX audiovisual collision, the versatility and knowledge of Discos Paradiso Crew, supreme skills on the decks from DJ2D2, Dj Der, Enpunto and Shelby Grey, open-minded electropop from Xavi Mateu & Carlos Bayona, post-dubstep from Mario Nieto, the dance power of Uner (presented by Pioneer DJ), the noise experimentation of Ordre Etern, dance movement from Sonia Gomez and Lucy Suggate to the music of James Holden, the pop vocation of Eme DJ, the groovy house ofVallès, the future beats from Sanatruja and the dance floor versatility of Mr.k!.
This year, for the first time, Sonar will collaborate with the Mercat de les Flors venue, central reference for contemporary dance and performing arts in Barcelona. They will host the show "The Inquisitive Middle" at Sonar by Day, a dance piece created by choreographer and performer Sonia Gomez and dancer and performer Lucy Suggate, inspired by the music from "The Inheritors" James Holdenwho will be performing live.
Beside the main sponsor EstrellaDamm and the further confirmed sponsors RedBullMusicAcademy and adidas, Sonar will also be supported by Bershka, RonBrugal, PioneerDj and illycaffè.
New names were added to the always colorful line-up of Sziget Festival. All genres will be covered this year as well, so Deadmau5, Axwell, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Kooks, Crystal Fighters, Anti-Flag will be great add-ins to the previously announced acts like Queens of the Stone Age, The Prodigy, Placebo, Imagine Dragons and many more. The Island of Freedom is held between 11-18 August in Budapest. Tickets for discounted ‘Advance round 1’ prices are available till 30 April.
Sziget is known for its diverse musical world and 2014 will also be dedicated to this open-minded tradition. To the already announced names, organizers added many exciting new performers, who will definitely keep the audience moving both in front of the stages and also wandering from one venue to the other.
This year Day 0, 12th August, is also very special as not only Queens of the Stone Age will perform, but fans can check out the opening show of Deadmau5 as well. The Canadian EDM superstar, a groundbreaking electronic artist, is an emblematic figure of the biggest festivals. He makes music that changed pop culture as we know it. Up to this point, his career stands earmarked by a series of firsts and shattered records. Also playing on Day 0, Anti-Flag, an ultra provocative punk rock band from Pittsburgh, are known for their tight paced music and sharp lyrics. Their music and message is a call to action for people of all backgrounds and beliefs to focus on making tomorrow a better place for all.
The global dance icon, five-time Grammy nominated Axwell has had little time to rest upon his laurels over the past decade. In a career that has taken him from the Swedish underground to the top of the charts, he has risen as an idol of modern house music. He will also make a frenetic gig at Sziget this year.
In addition, The Kooks will also play their characteristic and stylish British post-punk music, reminding us a little bit of the 60s. The band of Luke Pritchard comes all the way from Brighton to Sziget with their new album, so old fans will also have some surprises.
Bombay Bicycle Club will also bring their guitar-driven music to the Sziget audience this year. Their newest album is innovative, a beautiful collection of songs that will stand the test of time from a band at the top of its game. The songs are built around ethereal loops that owe more to experimental electronica than to the kind of indie-rock the band was initially known for.
The music of Crystal Fighters merges traditional-acoustic Basque music elements with slushy bass and euphoric electronic sounds mixing altogether an atmosphere of loose chillwave and speedy dubstep-electro. The London-based band makes such a complex music and merges so many genres that currently there is no one else in the alternative dance universe like them.
With a successful music career spanning over the course of two decades, Macedonian born Kiril Dzajkovski is without a doubt one of the most respected and critically acclaimed electronic artists from the Balkans. He is regarded as one of the pioneer producers to introduce Balkan sounds to the modern dance production – globally known as the "Balkan Beat phenomenon". At Sziget we can see Djaikovski ft. TK Wonder & MC Wasp.
Tasteful, stylish, mostly moderate tempo, essentially melancholic, but uplifting music is what Girls in Hawaiido. They create some kind of magical atmosphere with their indie pop. They come to Sziget from Belgium and they will present their unique miracles, showing us their most recent album, Everest.
Mount Kimbie have played a central role in forging a new form for electronic music. Their influence stretches far beyond the tiny corner of the dance music underground that birthed them and, with the duo now signed to the legendary Warp label, it looks set to stretch further still in the coming years.
Wild Beasts play a sophisticated and elegant guitar-music in which we can barely hear a little folk rock sound. Their music is lacking any kind of monumental character rather their trade-mark is the beautiful voice of singer-guitarist Hayden Thorpe. They were nominated for the Mercury Prize two years ago for their album 'Two Dancers' and now they are arriving to Sziget with their recent album 'Present Tense' released this February and navigating us to the maze of synthpop.
Full Line Up so far: Queens of the Stone Age, The Prodigy, Placebo, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Lily Allen, Deadmau5, Bastille, Imagine Dragons The Kooks, Jake Bugg, Stromae, Axwell, Die Fantastischen Vier, London Grammar, La Roux, Ska P, Bombay Bicycle Club, Tom Odell, Miles Kane,, Crystal Fighters, Klaxons, Michael Kiwanuka, Laidback Luke, Darkside, Bonobo, Anti Flag, Palma Violets, Wild Beasts, The Big Pink, Kavinsky, Outrun Live, Fink, Borgore, Mount Kimbie, Jagwar Ma, Djaikovski ft. TK, Wonder, Brody Dalle, Girls in Hawai, Starlight Girls.
