After the sensational EMMURE pulled out due to illness it left us dissapointed and with an empty stage slot… Metalcore fans will be pleased to know that BURY TOMORROW have just joined the line up for this year's SlamDunk Festival!
After last year's incredible headline performance it's no wonder why we're so excited to have these guys join once again an incredible line up on the Monster Energy Stage. Front man Dani Bates states “It was a pleasure to headline last year. We can’t wait to bring the pain in a fast paced set. Circle pits galore.”
Also joining the line up this year are the winners of KERRANG!'s Fresh Blood competition – TRASH BOAT, after a month of voting in competition with nine other bands the pop punk five piece from southern Hertfordshire have come out on top and are more than excited to take SlamDunk's Fresh Blood stage by storm.
In a statement to KERRANG the band said..“We’re genuinely stunned to find out we won the slot to open the Fresh Blood stage and play the mighty Slam Dunk this year!” the band say. “Thanks to all of you beautiful people who took the time out of your days to give a shit about us, come holla at ya boyz so we can give you all big sloppy kisses!”
With the festival's lineup now complete, the South location selling out and the Northern locations near full capacity you better get your tickets quick before you miss out on arguably one of the best underground music festivals of twenty fifteen.
Awarded 'Best Metropolitan Festival 2014' and due to celebrate its 10th birthday next year things are going pretty well for Live at Leeds currently. One of a growing number of urban music festivals, there are some distinct advantages to be had from avoiding the expense and mud of the established camping festivals, and you get to sleep in a bed at the end of the day! Crucially though, there is a huge range of acts across multiple stages – and all at a very reasonable price tag of £27.50.
Based on an ethos of promoting up and coming bands, particularly local ones, the festival has given early career appearances in recent years for the likes of Jake Bugg, Rudimental and Royal Blood. However, a smattering of established acts are always on hand for those less adventurous punters with The Cribs, Gaz Coombs and experimental-punk-rock legend Thurston Moore all on the bill this year.
Legendary status comes in all forms and for the Leeds music scene it's a venue – in this case the Brudenell Social Club where things kicked off for me in impressive style with St. Petersburg's Pinkshinyultrablast doing their very best to revive the early 1990's British shoegaze sound. Fresh from a Radio 6 session earlier in the week their wall of sound comprising effects heavy guitar, synth and driving drum beat is well constructed and pleasingly reminiscent of their forebearers: Ride, My Bloody Valentine etc with perhaps even some Cocteau Twins thrown in for good measure. Next door on the smaller games room stage is Lancaster's Lake Komo offering up sweet pop melodies echoing somewhat The Magic Numbers. Back on the Brudenell main stage the fabulous Broncho from Oklahoma are in full swing. A raggle taggle bunch of skinny scruffs with ripped jeans, their twitchy, urgent Americana-punk is Ramones / Stooges inspired and has the afternoon audience bouncing joyously at the front.
In town at one of the bigger venues, Leeds Beckett University main stage I caught local band Hookworms' set of synth-led droning psychedelic rock. It's clearly a sound these boys take very seriously – powerful and confident; undoubtedly a band to watch for the future. Over the road Palma Violets open as they mean to go on with their driving, heavy blues rock sing-along anthems, sending a packed Leeds Town Hall into euphoria. Fans sitting on shoulders, jumping up and down, fists in the air: this is rock'n'roll as it should be – inspirational and ecstatic. On leaving the venue the queue for The Cribs was round the block leaving me questioning whether I would be able to get back in for the headliners but I was determined to catch Eagulls back at the student union, and was glad I made the effort. In the home of goth these Leeds locals are doing an admirable job of keeping the genre alive. The influence of Sisters of Mercy and The Mission is evident here using many conventions we have come to associate with that often, but unfairly, derided sound – scything guitar, walls of screechy feedback and a fabulously gaunt, waily voiced front man, complete with black over-coat.
Next up is Thurston Moore and his roots in experimentation and pushing the boundaries of New York's 1980's hard-core punk scene with his band Sonic Youth are very much on display in an elongated minimal Phillip Glass like intro plucked out on his guitar. However, this gives way to a catchy garage-punk chugging guitar groove which sustains his 15 minute opening track admirably. His vocals relatively quite in the mix, this is an altogether lighter, more melodic and easier on the ear sound than much of Sonic Youth's often challenging hard-core. Perhaps a little phased by the sparse turn out in the venue – packed to the gills for the previous set by Eagulls – Moore is initially rather taciturn but visibly perks up after a “We love you Thurston!” emanates from the audience, and finally breaks his between songs silence with a “Thank you” and introduction of his band as “Slade”!
Happily I am able to gain access to the town hall again for the second half of The Cribs set despite there still being a queue, albeit a diminished one. There is little that can go wrong here: the band are local boys made good (strictly speaking from nearby Wakefield rather than Leeds itself), now internationally famous rock stars playing a suitably rapturous homecoming gig. They belt out their catalogue of pop-punk anthems to an adoring crowd, surpassing the response, even, gained by Palma Violets. As has become customary in these parts at major homecoming gigs, the chants of “Yorkshire, Yorkshire” go up at the end and the band politely thank the audience before duly smashing up their instruments, denoting their now fully fledged rock star status.
To finish the day I can't resist making my way back to the Brudenell, which is at the fullest and sweatiest I have ever seen the venue, to catch the end of Slaves set. Keeping the DIY spirit of punk alive this is a primal and energetic two man drum and guitar assault, a Sleaford Mods / Rage Against the Machine hybrid perhaps. The security are kept busy by multiple stage invasions while band members Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent repay the compliment by jumping into the crowd themselves and completing the final song held aloft before embracing and leaving the stage – the gig clearly a powerful experience for them as well as us, and a great way to end Live at Leeds 2015.
Electronic label Get Physical will bring the label stalwarts to the fold with founders M.A.N.D.Y. and DJ T. What's more festival-goers can look forward to the distinctive rolling sounds of Fur Coat, a South American duo synonymous with Crosstown Rebels who will be special guests of the FACT Showcase, as well as LTJ Bukem a drum n' bass and breakbeat pioneer who pushed the genres out of small clubs in London to the mainstream. Two very special live performances come in the form of The Mole, a Canadian artist who has been pushing boundaries within electronic music since the 90's, and Stimulus Timbre – a Maltese artist who's music rides the ambient side of electronica.
The first release of Sunscape 2015 saw alternative acts such as Shpongle and Goldfish revealed for the Reflections stage, not to mention a very special showcase from Spanish outfit FACT and Berlin label Serialismfeaturing Livio & Roby, Konrad Black, Azimute and FACT Worldwide Residents. The new Nautilus stage will see Drum & Bass legends perform hosted by Jamais Vu including Fabio & Grooverider, Jumping Jack Frost,DJ Bailey and DJ Randall. One sure highlight and returning for 2015 is Electro-Swing Malta, tone of the country's hottest exports the infectious band have toured some of the biggest clubs in Europe and bring smiles wherever they go.
Much more than just a music festival Sunscape Festival will programme several areas that celebrate ARTand LIFESTYLE. The Art will feature collaborative installations by local and international Artists, Designers and Architects, Art Exhibitions, Live Art, Face Painting, Body Art & Henna, Visionary & geometric art and poetry. The Lifestyle area will include eclectic empowering workshops, talks & meditations throughout the day plus a carefully curated holistic area with Ayurvedic massage, Reiki Healing, Swedish body massage, aromatherapy massage and much more. There will be a sequinariun, tarot readings, meditations, sunrise & sunset Yoga and even surfboard Yoga, plus Pilates and Thai Chi and water sports with diving, jet ski, paddleboat and para sailing.
Stage splits for this year’s SlamDunk Festival have just be revealed, it’s time to see who you can see at May bank holiday’s one day travelling festival. In just under three weeks’ time you’ll be catching the likes of YOU ME AT SIX take the main stage by storm, it seems the highly anticipated ARCHITECTS will be headlining the Monster energy stage. Impericon holding out with hardcore bands and Desperados supporting the pop punk kids. Be sure to check out KERRANG’S Fresh Blood stage to show your support for upcoming new bands. Stage times are soon to be announced.
See full poster below.
New to the area? Festival maps are now online, please view them below. All the stages are within walking distance.
TWO MORE BANDS ARE TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK!
The winner of the KERRANG! Fresh Blood competition, as well as some very special guests on the Monster Energy stage. With the south location selling out and Leeds and Wolverhampton near full capacity you better grab your tickets quick.
Stage splits for this year’s SlamDunk Festival have just be revealed, it’s time to see who you can see at May bank holiday’s one day travelling festival. In just under three weeks’ time you’ll be catching the likes of YOU ME AT SIX take the main stage by storm, it seems the highly anticipated ARCHITECTS will be headlining the Monster energy stage. Impericon holding out with hardcore bands and Desperados supporting the pop punk kids. Be sure to check out KERRANG’S Fresh Blood stage to show your support for upcoming new bands. Stage times are soon to be announced.
See full poster below.
New to the area? Festival maps are now online, please view them below. All the stages are within walking distance.
TWO MORE BANDS ARE TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK!
The winner of the KERRANG! Fresh Blood competition, as well as some very special guests on the Monster Energy stage. With the south location selling out and Leeds and Wolverhampton near full capacity you better grab your tickets quick.
A beacon of bacchanalia in a wonderland of ludicrously good times, our very own church of dance, Temple Island, is set to return with a litany of big guns to add even more passion to Bestival’s Summer of Love. Curated by The Physical Network and now a firm Bestival fixture among over 25 stages, revolutionary soundsystems and psychedelic woodland-based adventures, Temple Island will be taking all-out partying to epic proportions this September 10-13 at Robin Hill on the Isle of Wight.
THE TEMPLE OF LOVE
TEMPLE ISLAND RETURNS FOR DANCEFLOOR LOVE-INS
THURSDAY:
MADLIB / JUICEBOX PRESENTS: JONAS RATHSMAN, EJECA, SG LEWIS, JOE HERTZ & JUICEBOX DJs / 99 SOULS
FRIDAY:
PHILIP GEORGE / DISCIPLES / TCTS / SHADOW CHILD / ALEX ADAIR / WORLD OF RAVE & MUSIC MONDAYS PRESENTS: ALTERN-8, LIQUID, RAT PACK, BABY D, KAOTIC CHEMISTRY, SLIPMATT, BILLY BUNTER, UNCLE DUGS / IDIOT SAVANT
SATURDAY:
HUDSON MOHAWKE / DC BREAKS / ZINC / NOVELIST / SHERWOOD & PINCH / KLOSE ONE / KURUPT FM / FONO / BARELY LEGAL / JOSEY REBELLE
SUNDAY:
B.TRAITS / PARANOID LONDON / MOXIE HYPERCOLOUR PRESENTS: DENSE & PIKA, LUKE VIBERT, TOM DEMAC, DMX KREW, 2 BAD MICE, A SAGITTARIUN, CEDRIC MAISON / DAVID DABIEH
PLUS:
DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR TEMPLE ISLAND DJ COMPETITION
AND:
DANIEL AVERY, HEIDI AND TOM TRAGO COME ABOARD THE PORT
A beacon of bacchanalia in a wonderland of ludicrously good times, our very own church of dance, Temple Island, is set to return with a litany of big guns to add even more passion to Bestival’s Summer of Love. Curated by The Physical Network and now a firm Bestival fixture among over 25 stages, revolutionary soundsystems and psychedelic woodland-based adventures, Temple Island will be taking all-out partying to epic proportions this September 10-13 at Robin Hill on the Isle of Wight.
Bestival’s principal dancer Rob da Bank says: “Bestival people! Man, I am so excited about the centre of our rave universe, Temple Island, and its line-up for 2015. Last year Temple Island, with its tiered stadium party vibe, was non-stop from Thursday till Sunday night, and one of my favourite places to hang out and get lost in my little pockets of downtime!
“This year I’m confident we’ve pulled some mega guests out the bag, from the mighty Hudson Mohawke to the incredible Madlib kicking it off on Thursday, chart botherers Disciples, Philip George and Alex Adair, plus our hardcore Friday night extravaganza, some vintage sounds from Sherwood & Pinch, and new blood Kurupt FM and B Traits, to name but a few. In fact, I can’t see a duff act within 100 decibels of that stage. Tops off, whistles out and get ready to rave… Temple Island-style…”
Temple Island curator and director of The Physical Network, Liam Negus-Fancey says: “This is Temple Island’s third year at Bestival, and this year we’ll be back where we were in 2014, continuing to build on the massive success of the stage. As always our line-up is focused on what the ambassadors want. And this year, Robby and I, and all of Bestival’s ambassadors will be selecting an up-and-coming DJ to join our amazing line-up. So please sign up for this once in a lifetime chance”
Getting it on from the get-go, Thursday will see hip-hop hero Madlib dropping the knowledge, and, transplanted from their Notting Hill Arts Club home, Juicebox presents underground house genius Jonas Rathsman, Ejeca, SG Lewis, Joe Hertz & Juicebox DJs, plus we’ll have a set from firing house duo 99 Souls to boot!
Friday‘s dancefloor spanking action comes from Philip George, producer of chart-smashing hit Wish You Were Mine, with sets from bass explorers Disciples, plus TCTS, Shadow Child and Alex Adair. There might just be a whiff of the old vaporub in the air, too, as World of Rave & Music Mondays Presents: Altern-8, Liquid, Rat Pack, Baby D, Kaotic Chemistry, Slipmatt, Billy Bunter and Uncle Dugs. And we’ll have escapism through live melody, courtesy of Idiot Savant.
Genre-swerving production powerhouse and seasoned floor destroyer Hudson Mohawke heads up Saturday’s DJ business, with sets from drum n bassers DC Breaks and legendary beats purveyor Zinc, who will be performing a very special ‘Trust Me I Was There’ set. Plus there will be appearances from Novelist, Sherwood & Pinch, Klose One, Kurupt FM, Fono Barely Legal and Josey Rebelle.
Rinsing every last drop of love the weekend has to give, Sunday will see Digital Soundboy’s leading lady B.Traits taking things higher with help from Paranoid London, and Moxie. While Hypercolour presents: Dense & Pika, Luke Vibert, Tom Demac, DMX Krew, 2 Bad Mice, A Sagittariun, & Cedric Maison, plus we’ll have house & garage action from David Dabieh.
We’re also giving one up-and-coming DJ the chance to play on one of Bestival’s busiest stages with our momentous Temple Island DJ Competition! All you need to do to win a coveted slot on the stage is upload your finest floor-filling DJ mix (no more than 30 mins) to your Soundcloud/Mixcloud/YouTube channel and submit the link along with your name, age and location at http://bit.ly/BTIDJcomp. Bestival curator Rob da Bank and The Physical Network’s Liam Negus-Fancey will select their favourite 10 mixes, and then our Bestival Ambassadors will vote for the winning mix! An unmissable epicentre of saturnalia, Temple Island will transport you to new and euphoric dimensions of love for the party. Don’t miss it.
And, speaking of parties, we’re delighted to be able to announce that we have three new names to add to The Port’s insane line-up. All part of Annie Mac Presents’ historic Masters & Makers back to back sessions, we’re super-excited that techno genius Daniel Avery will be going up against his Phantasy label boss Erol Alkan, and Radio 1 resident Heidi will take on dancefloor destroyer Tom Trago, guaranteeing next level hands in the air action at our land-locked labour of love.
Joining Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Artwork, Congo Natty, Dark Sky, Disciples, Mak & Pasteman and more on the lineup are the almighty Ms Dynamite, house face Bok Bok and feel-good party duo The Menendez Brothers, among others.
Immerse yourself in Hijacked Festival’s themed areas – a full immersive aquarium, 1970s jungle, dramatic and playful main stage and hunting bar – that transform the beautiful grounds of Exeter's historic Powderham Castle. Or soar high above the site in Hijacked Festival's hot air balloon. Explore the artist mural series and sculptures, where artists from around the UK showcase their work. Hijacked hosts one of the South West’s biggest murals, theatre performers, dancers and fairground rides.
Unique techno-tinged DJ Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs plays a DJ set, and UK mainstay vocalist Ms Dynamite headline. Pioneering producer Artwork, Nightslugs' own Bok Bok, and jungle forefather Congo Natty appear, plus critically acclaimed bass explorers Dark Sky and house party people Disciples join the party. Electronic selectors Eli & Fur take a dark turn, bass-house duo Mak & Pasteman bring it, and jungle invigorators Nanci and Phoebe keep it jumping.
Look out for Benedict Jackson, MC, DJ and producer Chunky, and Jabru, who promises to smash the ‘floor. House creative Last Magpie offers a genre-bashing set, party people The Menendez Brothers head, forward-thinker Madam X brings the bass, and disco-fueled duo MermaidS get involved, and there are so many more to check.
Download the Hijacked Festival companion app for full set times, and details on where each artist is playing – never miss a set. See the latest news and updates from Hijacked, plot your Hijacked journey with the smart map, and share across your socials. On-site beacons, located around the festival, will send special offers, updates and information to your smartphone – even if you don’t have signal. Download your Hijacked Festival app here.
The picturesque grounds of Powderham Castle, the 600-year old home of the Earl and Countess of Devon, which stands in a beautiful deer park on the banks of the Exe estuary, plays host to the city’s second visit from Hijacked Festival – the nomadic electronic music and creativity-embracing experience that ‘hijacks’ idyllic city locations. An intimate daytime party in an iconic city location – a hijack – the first Hijacked Festival event was a triumph, selling out, and 2015 will be even bigger.
Presenting an intimate daytime party in a picturesque inner-city location where electronic music takes the focus – a hijack – the first Hijacked Festival event was a triumph, selling out, and 2015 is set to be even bigger.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (DJ Set) | Ms Dynamite
Artwork | Bok Bok | Congo Natty | Dark Sky | Disciples | Eli & Fur | Mak & Pasteman | Nanci and Phoebe
Benedict Jackson | Chunky | Jabru | Last Magpie | The Menendez Brothers | Madam X | MermaidS
L.A. four-piece Warpaint will make their Latitude debut at this year’s 10th anniversary edition, performing on the coveted Obelisk Arena on Sunday evening. Performing seductive grooves from their widely acclaimed debut album ‘The Fool’ and this year’s popular follow-up Warpaint, the Californian band’s swirling sound, full of mysterious buzzes and coos, will delight the Latitude audience.
Santigold is back! Straight out of Brooklyn, Santigold has become a unique and inspiring figure on today's electronic musical landscape. Having worked with Jay-Z, David Byrne, Major Lazer and the Beastie Boys, Santigold is established internationally as one of the most exciting and fearless artists to emerge in the last decade. Her albums are widely praised for their genre-defying sound and instantly memorable melodies and her performance on the Obelisk Arena this year is one not to be missed.
Celebrating the 15 year anniversary of Badly Drawn Boy’s Mercury Prize winning album ‘The Hour of Bewilderbeast’ Damon Gough will be performing songs including the much loved singles ‘Once Around The Block’, ‘Pissing In The Wind’ and ‘Disillusion’and it is a pleasure to have them performing at Latitude.
Since their triumphant reunion in 2013 The Boomtown Rats make their long-awaited appearance at the festival this year. Led by musical legend and philanthropist Sir Bob Geldof, the band has had a series of massive hits throughout their incredible career including ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ and ‘Someone’s Looking At You.’ Powered by high energy nostalgia and their front man’s prancing charisma, Latitude is hugely excited to welcome them to the Obelisk Arena this year.
Latitude are delighted to welcome The Charlatans to the BBC 6 Music Stage. Stalwarts of the 90’s British indie scene who produced several iconic hits including ‘The Only One I Know’, The Charlatans are one of a handful of bands who have remained relevant since. Their twelfth album ‘Modern Nature’ was released earlier this year and received glowing reviews; even heralded as the best of their career. Fronted by national treasure Tim Burgess, whose solo set at Latitude 2013 was a festival highlight, we are expecting this set to be a lot of fun.
Additionally, British sing-songwriter, Kindness, who combines soulful sensuality with artful experimentation in his beautiful new album can be revealed as also appearing at Latitude, along with ambient music duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen who are one of the most prominent artists today bending the rules of contemporary classical music, the widely admired British rock band Tom Robinson and band who will perform songs such as their classic punk rock single, ‘Up Against the Wall’. Following the release of their debut album ‘Lost Souls’ in 2015, former Doves members bring their new band Black Rivers to Latitude.Often described as “Syrian Techno”, Syrian musician Omar Soulyman’s new album ‘Wenu Wenu’, produced by Kieran Hebden (Four Tet), distills Omar’s live performances into a fireball of Middle Eastern passion and excitement.
Latitude is the event of the summer to see the very best in new music. Tucked away in Latitude’s beautiful woodland area, this year the iArena will provide a magically intimate setting for the recently signed Matador artist HÆLOS, whose melodramatic electronic sounds nod towards legendary headliners Portishead; London-based neo-soul champion Ben Khan and Canadian sombre folk act Timber Timbre.Mali’s Songhoy Blues will be performing their critically acclaimed perpetual garage blues album “Music in Exile”, whilst punk-fired rock'n'roll classicist Ezra Furman brings his just announced album “Lousy Connection,” and we welcome both American indie pop band, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and returners Admiral Fallow from Scotland.
We’re proud to announce the final headliner for the TheLake Stage will be English singer-songwriter and pianist Rae Morris who’s already performed on tracks by Bombay Bicycle Club and Clean Bandit and is now stepping out into the spotlight with her solo material. Her debut album ‘Unguarded’ was released this year to brilliant reviews; expect to be seduced by her lustrous, emotive tones. Also announced for the Lake Stage is Welsh avant-pop singer Gwenno who creates home-fi keyboard sounds wrapped in echoed vocals and musique concrète-inspired beats.
We are hugely excited to announce the first names for DIY presents The Alcove Stage. Latitude prides itself on nurturing new talent and The Alcove is the perfect place to listen to the most exciting new voices of 2015. We are thrilled to reveal that DIY Magazine are on board this year to augment the exposure these new bands will get. Australian singer-songwriter Josef Salvat deals in soulful, and sometimes sorrowful, electro-pop. His debut EP ‘Hustler’ garnered more than a million plays on Soundcloud and sparked comparisons to Morrissey, Lana Del Rey and Gotye. Joining him will be the post-punk elecronica LoneLadywith her critically acclaimed release “Hinterland”, and abrasive punks Bad Breeding who being driven by frustration at the lack of prospects in their hometown of Stevenage, broke onto the scene last year with dissident rock 'n' roll anthem ‘Burn This Flag’ and the subsequent album ‘Age of Nothing’ which has to be noted as an important reflection of disaffected young Britain.
Known primarily as a post-rock putting Vessels in same camp as Mogwai and Battles, the ever-evolving Leeds quintet chose a more dance-driven sound for their third album “Dilate”. Jane Weaver brings her self-penned pop abstractions while London electro pop band Real Lies purvey dreamy electronic dance music that deals in the dirt of real life and R. Seiliog’s music interweaves melodic threads of psych, experimental electronics and modulating drones via spectral flecks of psych-noise. The defining feature of Erased Tape’s Douglas Dare is his understanding that beauty is erratic and his beautiful misshapen melodies. Taking their name from a famous Bob Dylan song title, up-and-coming Liverpudlian trio Clean Cut Kid will be at Latitude to deliver truly mesmerising folk melodies. Two of America’s most exciting young contemporary singer-songwriters will also be joining the Latitude bill. 19-year-old Brooklyn troubadour Tor Miller is gaining attention for his combination of stark piano chords, stunning voice and gospel fervour. Joining him is 21 year old Iowian Max Jury; an impeccable song-crafter and guitarist with one foot in the cornfields and the other in a dive bar, NAO who is one of the hottest names in London right now, favoured by the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Zane Lowe and with a new EP out on Monday, the electronic soul singer’s debut headline shows were completely sold out. Her Latitude set will be the perfect opportunity to catch her in an intimate setting while you can. Mixing lo-fi folk with choral harmonies and electronic elements, classically trained composer C Duncan is on the brink of great things. The young Scotsman’s highly anticipated debut album ‘Architect’ is out in July on FatCat Records.
Look out for newcomer Matt Woods with his beautifully produced pop tunes and a strong husky voice capable of hitting falsetto notes with ease, Woods is something special to hear early on and ones to watch, DMA’s who revisit Britpop with a twist in their double A- side ‘So We Know’.
In the Film & Music Arena the groundbreaking drum & bass legend Roni Size reunites his seven-piece band with a line-up comprising of Dynamite MC, Onallee, Si John, Dave Amso and Yuval Gabay. Reprazent are widely regarded as one of the most important live electronic music acts of the past two decades, their debut album ‘New Forms’ won the Mercury Music Prize in 1997 and was followed by 2000’s ‘In The Møde’.
Restless innovator, sampling wizard, classically trained pianist and superstar collaborator, Matthew Herbertis one of electronic music’s most versatile and prolific figureheads The all new Herbert live show will be a celebration of the house music side of Matthew Herbert's work. Primarily playing material from new album 'The Shakes', it will also feature some of Matthew's best loved work from the ‘Bodily Functions’ era with two new singers, Ade Omotayo (Kindess, Amy Winehouse), Rahel Debebe-Dessalegne (Hejira, Eric Lau), and a small brass section. London-based electronica and techno producer Max Cooper weaves together a selection of tirelessly errant and inventive machine funk for immersive dancing. Joe Mcalinden performs his live score to Edit- A Short Film by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard.
There will be broken balladry from the remarkable Brighton duo Games providing cold, haunting and cracked vocals that lie delicately over an imperturbable and minimal piano ebb, a parallel to that of a Philip Glass movie score. Powerful melodies create a captivating urban soundtrack, a modern lovechild of Aretha Franklin & Portishead, and perhaps the third cousin of a few jazz divas. Euphoric and vulnerable is the vibe here as Games respite you into a solitary daze of wonder and longing and Gazelle Twin & Carla MacKinnon present Out of Body. Commissioned by TheLondon Short Film Festival, this unique audio-visual collaboration between electronica artist Gazelle Twin and interdisciplinary filmmaker and animator Carla MacKinnon uses abstracted body-horror imagery alongside a glacial electronic score to explore puberty, phobia and transformation. Disjointed beats and disturbing animation sit well together in this visually stunning show, also accompanied by a selection of women-directed shorts that inform the work, including films by Sadie Benning, Allison Schulnik and Emily Richardson. Carla and Elizabeth (Gazelle Twin) will be on stage for a Q&A session following the performance.
White Mink is the zeitgeist-capturing speakeasy where the sounds and styles of the 1920s and 30s are turned on their head and smuggled into the 21st Century and they come to Latitude this year with The Electro Swing Speakeasy. More than just a night club and live music event, White Mink events collide the contemporary with the decadence of days gone by, delivering a whole evening of vintage inspired cabaret and entertainment for a thoroughly modern club night.
Hailed as one of the most innovative and intimate documentaries of all time experience Kurt Cobain like never before in the only ever fully authorised portrait of the famed music icon. Academy Award nominated filmmaker Brett Morgen expertly blends Cobain’s personal archive of art, music, never seen before movies, animation and revelatory interviews from his family and closest friends in Sheffield Doc/Fest Presents – Kurt Cobain: Montage (Film)
The brilliant Mark Lamarr’s God’s Jukebox takes over the Film and Music arena with guests announced so far including Horace Andy well-known as the sweetest voice in reggae and for his long association with British trip-hop band Massive Attack. Andy is the only singer of Massive Attack's rotating group of guest artists to appear on each one of the band's albums. Horace Andy has promised the Latitude audience, ‘hit after hit of fine reggae music.’ Mark’s other guest announced so far is a queen of roots, rhythm and soul,Sister Cookie is a fixture of the vintage music scene, her debut album is due for release at the end of 2015 on FOLC Records.
Within The Little House, catch the screening of Kevin Allen's Under Milk Wood starring Rhys Ifans written byDylan Thomas adapted by Murray Lachlan Young, Michael Breen and Kevin Allen. With live performance with a choir and solo voices. Under Milk Wood will turn the Little House in the Woods into the Harbourside Chapel. fFatti fFilms presents Kevin Allen’s radically updated film version of Dylan Thomas’s iconic peotic prose work, Under Milk Wood, as a specially commissioned performance. The adapted screenplay was written by Murray Lachlan Young, Michael Breen and Kevin Allen and stars Rhys Ifans and Charlotte Church. This erotic, surreal cinematic interpretation explores some of the more visceral elements of the funny, filthily fluid magical dreamscape of this unique world.
And inThe Faraway Forest, The National Portrait Gallery's Choir in residence, The Portrait Choir return to Latitude to perform a specially devised piece The Dawn Chorus – the trees come to life. Performed within the Faraway Forest on the Saturday morning of the festival the piece takes inspiration from the recent Portrait Choir performance of the Poet, the Lover and the Lunatic. Devised by Latitude's Tania Harrison, Portrait Choir Artistic Director Gregory Batsleer and Director Donnacadh O'Briain, as the dawn becomes day the woods comes alive with faces from the National Portrait Gallery's Collection, performances by the Portrait Choir as well as dramatic surprises from a company of Actors
Keith Allen brings his legendary Establishment Club back to Latitude with exciting special guests across the weekend in The Alcove. Watch, listen, learn and dance with Keith as he presents guests from Pere Ubu toDirty Soul Rockers, from the Hot Sprockets to Ruts DC, from Thabo and the Real deal to Jack Flash and Keith’s own legendary big band Grow Up.
It’s time to bring the dark side out of Latitude with a series of huge Late Night DJs. Nestled deep in the heart of the neon lit In the Woods, festival goers won’t be able to resist the vibrations featuring a hedonistic line-up of mind blowing electronic talent from across the globe.
On Thursday night at 10pm Mucho Soul & Size Doesn’t Matter present The Vinyl Frontier, a strictly vinyl only sound clash! DJ’s Si Kurrage and Mr Shiver: Size Doesn’t Matter Collective and Ket Shah&DJ AKA with The Mucho Soul Show. A special opening night four hour sound clash session of strictly vinyl platters that matter with the Mucho Soul and Size Doesn’t Matter DJ collectives going head to head! Expect an up-front selection of glorious sevens from heaven and 12inch pleasures of Funk, Soul, Disco, Reggae, House, Techno, Eighties, Nineties and everything in between.
On Friday night at 11pm, DJ A.K.A &KET SHAH (Back to back FM) present: Mucho Soul with special guest DJ Abi Clarke (Soul Jazz Records & West End Girls) Purveyors of the finest soulful rhythms and beats, DJ’s Ket Shah & D.J A.K.A of Back2Back FM’s popular underground radio show Mucho Soul bring their superb take on Funk, Soul, Disco, Electronica and Deep Soulful House to Latitude with special guest Abi Clarke joining them with her Boogie, Nu-Soul, R’n’B and Rare Grooves selections!
On Saturday night at 11pm Ashley Beedle &Jo Wallace present: A History of Black Music. A unique four hour overview of the history of Black Dance Music with tracks chosen by legendary selector, Ashley Beedle & Motown connoisseur, Jo Wallace. Iconic tunes will nestle alongside obscure gems giving an insight into the diverse and wonderful world of black dance music over the last 70 years! From Swing to Motown, Funk to Hip Hop, House to Happy, you’ll be signposted through seven decades of joyous music in the superb woodland surroundings of Latitude 2015.
On Sunday night at 11pm Si Kurrage & Mr Shiver present: Size Doesn’t Matter. The Size Doesn’t Matter crew bring a very special repertoire of Reggae, Jamaican Ska and Two-tone to the stage with a big helping hand from the Zoot suited charismatic Natty Bo who’ll be adding to the brew serving up his inimitable brand of 50’s and 60’s Rhythm and Blues, Cuban Mambo, Latin, Soul, Boogaloo and 70’s firm Funk favourites to the Latitude Sunday night finale!
Other Late Night entertainment includes United Vibrations, inspired by the beats and harmonies of the world. They are a product of a cultural fusion. Brand New Wayo will take you on a magic carpet ride, covering breadth and depth, from Dub to Jazz to Hip Hop via UKG, Disco, Afro beat and the cosmos.Nérija is a reflection of the search for individual strength in the face of external expectations through the form of music. Guilty Pleasures, an unashamedly glorious all-singing, all-dancing renouncement of pop music and an antidote to modern day clubbing fatigue created by Sean Rowley; Buttoned Down Disco, the largest indie dance party in the UK, coming to Latitude to rock the night, armed with ace music and glitter cannons to keep you dancing until 3am! and Pandora’s Playground wouldn’t be the same without the Disco Shed pumping out big tunes from their small home until the small hours.
