As ever, Ultra has handpicked a collection of the finest DJs from across the globe to join the stellar billing for the festival’s first South Africa edition. Double Grammy award-winner and global megastar Afrojack, 17-year-old prodigy Martin Garrix who has taken the world by storm in 2013 with his smash hit ‘Animals,’ and powerhouse duo Blasterjaxx will all be flying the flag for the Netherlands and infusing Cape Town Ostrich Farm and Nasrec Showgrounds with their unmistakable Dutch House sound. What’s more, Dirtybird Records kingpin and San Francisco native Claude Vonstroke will be taking to the stage to deliver the freshest sounds from the underground scene.
As well as these, Ultra favourites ‘The Voice’ and Kryoman are going to be on hand to keep the energy at full tilt at all times, having become integral parts of the festival through the years with their inimitable and amazing exploits.
Aside from all the acts coming from overseas, the Rainbow Nation is also offering up its own wave of the very hottest South African talent. Roger Goode, Pascal & Pearce, Haezer, Niskerone, Crazy White Boy, Das Kapital, Chris Jack, Household Funk and Grimehouse are just some of the many more artists that will be showing their skills in front of their home crowd.
Tickets for the first ever Ultra South Africa are available from www.computicket.com
They've been on a roll since 2010. Their breakthrough 5th album debuted as #2 in the US and went on to win three Grammy Awards , bringing hit singles "Tighten Up” and "Howlin' For You”. Following this the Dan Auerbach- Patrick Carney- producer Danger Mouse co-op entered Auerbach's Nashville studio to work on "El Camino".
The release's lead single, the anthemic "Lonely Boy", brought the band more Grammy awards, this time for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. "El Camino" landed the Best Rock Album title, while the record's co-producer Auerbach became Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical. The accompanying tour led through the world's biggest arenas, like New York's Madison Square Garden.
Tickets to that show sold out in just 15 minutes. We are sure that this performance, inaugurating Open’er Festival and being their first ever in Poland, will be a real treat for good music lovers.
Today more names were added to the Rock Werchter 2014 bill. Five particularly resounding names: Franz Ferdinand, Major Lazer, Pixies, Skrillex and Triggerfinger. Nice. Tickets for Rock Werchter go on sale on this Saturday. More festival news is on its way!
Skrillex is coming to Werchter on Thursday 3 July. The prince of American dance created something of an earth tremor in 2012. This time too, he promises great beats across the fields. Get out the dancing shoes again on Friday 4 July, because that’s when the hottest party machine of them all, Major Lazer, is at the festival. Then, on Saturday 5 July, Werchter is all about guitars. Or so the initial confirmations say. Pixies will generate a wave of pleasant frenzy over Werchter. And Belgium’s finest, Triggerfinger will be there on Saturday as well. At present the band are recording the successor to their successful album “All This Dancin’ Around” (2010) in Los Angeles. Franz Ferdinand will play the festival on Sunday 6 July. These Scots get the guitars swinging, more so now than ever. It’s party time!
KAZANTIP REPUBLIC announces its return for 2014! The 2-week long electronic music extravaganza will return to the glistening sunny shores of Popovka in the Ukraine, from 31 July – 14 August, once again welcoming the cream of the electronic music scene to perform in what is surely one of the world's most awe-inspiring locations.
In the spirit of Christmas, KaZantip Republic would like to offer their Z citizens some exclusive Christmas gifts. First, take a look at this brand new video from the 2013 event, sprinkled with a myriad of wonderful memories and announcing dates of the upcoming Z22 season.
http://kazantip-republic.com/prezents
Next, share the video on Facebook. By sharing the video, Z-citizens can claim a selection of exclusive Christmas 'PreZents', including the opportunity to purchase a KaZantip Republic 2014 Viza (ticket) for an outrageously low price of 90 EUR/120 USD (valid for the entire 2 weeks!) AND the opportunity to win a free Viza. Last, but not least, Z-citizens will be given the unique opportunity to become a Minister of Kazantip Republic, one of the most progressive republics in the world.
Step 4 Get your friends to 'like' and re-post the video. The top 100 Z-citizens who score the most likes and re-posts will be gifted a second Viza completely free!
Step 4 Click I Want My Gift to claim your exclusive 'Viza' purchase price
Step 5 Click I Want More Gifts for a chance to become a Minister of Kazantip Republic
Delivering a truly unique beach party experience in a beautiful location, Stop Making Sensereturns to Croatia’s picture-perfect Dalmatian Coast for its fifth year, from July 31 to August 3 2014. An essential stop on the festival-holiday calendar, Stop Making Sense is renowned for providing an escape, perfectly soundtracked by carefully selected DJs and artists who really bring this event to life.
For 2014 Stop Making Sense links up with Will Saul’s pivotal label Aus Music which returns for a second time, Glasgow’s legendary Sub Club is in full effect, and Corsica Studios’ flagship nightTrouble Vision and the legendary Warm gang bring the party once again. South London’s Get Diverted make their debut appearance, and East London scoundrels Orlando Boom are back for their third year, and Dalston Superstore residents Abattoir make their first trip out to Croatia. And with Danza Macabra, Lovesick and Croatia Calling completing the promoter lineup, 2014 is going to be a bumper year. And there’s still a promoter announcement to come, as well as headliners from each crew and a full lineup.
Located in the Croatian town of Tisno, Stop Making Sense makes full use of its stunning surroundings, with stages including the beach bar, the wood stage, set among the Mediterranean pines and oak trees, and the outdoor nightclub Barbarella’s Discotheque, where the party continues until sunrise. Providing 18 hours a day of music to move you, Stop Making Sense offers house, techno and electro, funk, soul and disco, and boat parties host revellers, taking in some of the idyllic sights of the coast. Enjoy the tunes at the tiki bar, feast in the town, lounge on the beach, or simply dance in the sunshine like it’s all that matters.
Three more names have been added to the line-up of the Bilbao BBK Live festival. Glaswegian festival crowd pleasers Franz Ferdinand, Hawaiian folk-rock singer songwriter Jack Johnson and American synthpop outfit Poliça join previously announced Phoenix, The Lumineers, The 1975 and Elliott Brood in the ninth edition of the festival, scheduled to take place from the 10th to 12th July, in the northern Spanish city of Bilbao.
It may be cold outside but the heat is on at Rocks HQ as excitement builds for what’s going to be the strongest Rocks line up ever. Taking the hugely coveted opening party slot in 2014 is the hottest new band in the world right now, HAIM, whilst week two will welcome the biggest British breakthrough band of the year, The 1975. Two weeks, two debut Balearic shows from two No.1 international artists.
Hailing from the San Fernando Valley, California, HAIM follow in the footsteps of huge international artists Biffy Clyro, Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg by headlining the Rocks opening parties and kicking off summer 2014 off in super hot style. Sisterly love abounds when HAIM take to the stage; winners of BBC’s Sound of 2013, they stole the show on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury this year before being hand-picked to support Mumford and Sons on their worldwide, sold out tour. HAIM’s debut album ‘Days Are Gone’ received critical adoration, monster sales and a UK No.1 and they just claimed a career milestone with a stunning performance on Saturday Night Live, further propelling the sisters to global superstardom as they embark on their own world tour. Rocks will proudly bring HAIM to Mallorca Rocks (03/06) and Ibiza Rocks (04/06) for their debut live shows under the sweet Balearic stars.
HAIM said:“Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks are going to be insane. We literally cannot wait to get there. Book your flights NOW.”
Week two will see another brilliant breakthrough band take to the famous poolside Rocks stage. Like HAIM, The 1975’s (self-titled) platinum debut topped the UK album charts and cemented their status as the home-grown success story of the year. With a run of sold out headline shows including 3 consecutive gigs at Brixton Academy and a special show just announced at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, the Manchester indie-pop quartet are in huge demand. The 1975 will headline Mallorca Rocks (10/06) and Ibiza Rocks (11/06), bringing with them their infectious set list of hits including ‘Chocolate’, ‘The City’ and ‘Sex.’ Clearly looking forward to it already, frontman Matt Healy said “Looking forward to Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks…we’re going to go f*cking bananas!”
Shane Murray, Promoter, said: “What a way to kick off next summer poolside at Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks. It’s a real coup to confirm Haim and The 1975 so early. They are two of the biggest breakthrough acts of the year and se the bar pretty high for the rest of the 16-week season. On top of this we’re about to launch Ibiza Rocks the Snow in Meribel next week so all in all it’s a really exciting time for the brand.”
With amazing memories of this summer still fresh, Reading & Leeds Festivals are excited to reveal that the first Main Stage headliner for the 2014 events will be the legendary Blink-182 in their only UK show! Joining them will be Jake Bugg,Disclosure, Metronomy, Of Mice & Men, Wilkinson and I Am Legion, the first amazing names set to appear across the Festivals for an unforgettable August Bank Holiday Weekend. The award-winning Reading & Leeds are the natural home for music lovers seeking the best acts, with the best atmosphere, surrounded by like-minded fans.
Festival boss Melvin Benn comments:
“2013 was a year of exciting additions for Reading & Leeds Festivals, making them bigger and better than ever. With extra stages and genres at both sites, there was a new diversity for all our fans to enjoy. However the core essence of the festival hasn’t changed and I think the line-up for next year will most certainly reflect that. I know our fans will be delighted to welcome back our first headliners, Blink-182, with what promises to be an amazing show, as well as the brilliant Jake Bugg stepping up to the Main Stage. I can’t wait to reveal the rest of our incredible line-up, so watch this space!”
Firm fan favourites, Blink-182 first played Reading & Leeds in 1999 and blew the Main Stage sky-high when they headlined in 2010. Mark, Tom and Travis return in 2014 to headline the Main Stage with their incendiary punk-pop anthems and you can be sure they’ll perform a set laden with hits such as ‘All The Small Things’, ‘Dammit’ and much more. The band will also be giving fans a debut airing of the much-anticipated forthcoming seventh studio album which will be released next summer, the first new material since their self-released EP in 2012, which featured ‘Dogs Eating Dogs’ and ‘Disaster.’ A band that never fails to deliver, this is a booking that will bring a smile to every ardent Reading & Leeds fan and will be the band’s only UK shows of 2014.
Mark Hoppus adds:
"I’m stoked to play Reading & Leeds 2014. It’s our fourth time playing the festivals, and we’re veryhonoured. The new year will see us in the studio preparing new music, getting ready to rock the fine people of the UK. Prepare for the fury."
Jake Bugg is one of the biggest success stories of Reading & Leeds Festivals in recent years. Even before he released his first album he’d already made his debut on the Festival Republic Stage in 2012. Returning to the Festivals in 2013, having travelled the world and received numerous accolades, Jake moved further up the bill, and with a Number One debut album under his belt, drew huge crowds to enjoy a hit laden set. Now following the release of his brilliant second album 'Shangri La', produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, we can announce that Jake will make another significant step up this year, taking his deserved place on the Main Stage.
Commenting on his appearance Jake said:
"Reading & Leeds have become a bit of a regular feature of my summers lately, so it's amazing to be asked back again. I was just kind of starting out the first time I played and it was a really important gig for me. Playing this year was fun and seemed like lots more people knew the songs; it was great hearing everyone singing the words back at me. I'm sure playing on the Main Stage will be a different experience again, so it's exciting. I've got my new album out so there's plenty of time for people to learn the words. It should be pretty special."
Often an artist like Jake Bugg comes along, who is so relevant and whose music has created such a buzz that fans demand their return to the Festivals; it is only right that Reading & Leeds provide the platform to see these artists excel. Another great example of this is Disclosure, the most successful British dance act in a generation, who turned the genre on its head in 2013 and opened the door for a host of underground dance acts to flood the mainstream. Throughout the year Disclosure soared to the top of the charts with their debut album ‘Settle’ and sold out venues across the world. Their set at last year’s Reading & Leeds was one of the stand out moments of the Festivals and the brothers return in 2014 with an arsenal of hit singles and a fearsome live reputation, this will be a headline performance in a packed arena.
Quintessentially English, modern pop act, Metronomy are one of the country’s most compelling live acts and make a welcome return to Reading & Leeds. New track 'I'm Aquarius' was launched by Zane Lowe as his Hottest Record In The World, had 120,000 SoundCloud plays in a matter of hours and went straight to Number One on Hype Machine. There is a new album ‘Love Letters’, recorded at the legendary Toe Rag studios, due in March 2014 and it promises to translate brilliantly to the live show.
Reading & Leeds introduced the exclusively rock element as an extension of the Lock Up Stage for the first time in 2013, providing a dedicated destination for the Festivals’ legions of rock and metal fans. Featuring memorable sets from Shikari Sound System, Funeral For A Friend and more, this was an extremely popular addition. Now for 2014 Reading & Leeds welcome Southern Californian metalcore quintet, Of Mice & Men. The band release their eagerly anticipated third album ‘Restoring Force’ in January 2014 via Rise Records, the follow up to breakthrough album 'The Flood'. Having received nothing but adulation across the rock media, and instantly selling out London’s Koko, these achievements are testament to where this band are going, and where they’re going is Reading & Leeds! Their exclusive festival performances in England & Wales will be ones not to miss.
2013 saw a three day stage for all things electronic headlined by Magnetic Man, Sub Focus and Knife Party, proving there is a huge thirst for dance amongst the Reading & Leeds faithful. Just confirmed for 2014 is Mark ‘Wilkinson’, now a household name thanks to the massive hit, and dance chart Number One ‘Afterglow’, taken from his debut longplayer ‘Lazers Not Included’. He’s managed to retain all his credibility thanks to his masterful production talents and skills as a DJ. He won ‘Best Breakthrough Producer’ at the National D&B Awards, an accolade that is sure to be followed by many more.
All-new in 2013, an additional urban and hip-hop stage saw Wiley, Devlin and Wretch 32 heading up a cast of many of the Urban elite. This bass heavy stage was a great hit with fans and is guaranteed to be better than ever in 2014. Combining grime, hip-hop, dubstep, drum and bass, and some stuff that’s yet to be defined, it’s safe to say that I Am Legion are in a league of their own. Their explosive self-titled collaborative album is the side project of Dutch record producers Noisia and Foreign Beggars rappers Metropolis and Orifice Vulgatron. This fresh and distinctive collective will bring a turbo-charged atmosphere with them to Reading & Leeds.
On Saturday 14th June 2014 FOUND Festival returns to East London for an intimate outdoor showcase of the world's most celebrated electronic talent.
FOUND once again curate the main stage with an eclectic group of artists renowned for standout contributions to electronic music culture past, present and future.
Joining FOUND in 2014 are a selection of brands that rest at the core of London’s thriving underground club community: Nofitstate, Love Fever and hosting a brand new VIP concept, Krankbrother Present: The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Nofitstate is a key destination for the more discerning house & techno lover. The brand has built a hard won reputation for throwing parties in interesting spaces, with extreme attention to sonic detail in quality music – as well as for its famous annual New Year’s Day parties. Resident Geddes has recently partnered with Simon Baker to launch the brand's label NFS. Their FOUND line-up is set to explore the tensions between house & techno with a forward thinking set of DJs from the UK & Europe.
A ‘contemporary showcase of sights and sounds for cutting edge people’, Love Fever, whilst drawing inspiration from the spirit of yesteryear, pushes the boundaries forward, searching for a new way of clubbing. Their London parties see revellers from every walk of life coming together in dark basements and glamorous lofts to dance the night away to a free spirited mix of disco, deep house, dubbed out techno and leftfield sounds. Love Fever has an extremely special line-up in store for FOUND, spearheaded by a legendary international selector.
Krankbrother (aka Danny and Kieran Clancy) is a London based party and DJ duo. Krankbrother specialise in ‘off location’ electronic music, showcasing artists in unique locations such as rooftops, streets, beaches, mountain tops, yachts, theatres and railway arches, with regular guests including Josh Wink, Magda, Four Tet, Daphni, Andrew Weatherall & Ellen Allien. Having hosted landmark events at a string of festivals, across London but also in Germany, Ibiza, Brazil, Croatia and beyond, krankbrother now take to the FOUND 2014 VIP and present: The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!
This year in the FOUND VIP, krankbrother will be drawing on their experiences in both restaurants and club nights to curate an afternoon of the best in house music, festival food, cocktails & craft beer. The Mad Hatter's krankbrother party will feature a DJ line up hand-picked by Danny and Kieran, as well as some incredible British street food, banqueting tables, fancy dress, a rabbit hole and some serious all round weirdness. Krankbrother will also be bringing their London renowned mixologist from their Hoxton cocktail bar Beagle, to oversee the VIP bars and create some quality British cocktails for the party…what's not to like?
The FOUND team have worked closely with these discerning brands and dedicated three months to selecting a stellar line-up comprised of some of the biggest European talents, pioneering US artists and some of the UK’s brightest future stars. This is a set of DJs chosen for their genuine dedication to sound.
The line-up will christen summer 2014 and deliver a very special assortment of artists in boutique surroundings.
THE FOUND FESTIVAL AFTER PARTY.
Once again the FOUND Festival will be followed by an epic London FOUND After Party, running through the night until 6am.
An impressive event in its own right, the After Party moves to a new location for 2014. With four rooms of programming at one of the city’s grandest venues, the sunshine fuelled sounds of the Festival are set to give way to a darker, eclectic late-night offering.
FOUND will present an international line-up of over 20 artists, featuring select talent from the Festival playing special sets, joining a host of new headliners and room hosts for the evening.
Beyond the FOUND main room, dynamic house & techno label Hypercolour present a showcase of some of their most exciting talent. Bubbling up from London’s underground, nomadic boogie crew Percolate promise a true party atmosphere, whilst East London’s comm•une will deliver a secret line-up centred around audio quality, exploring the dustier realms of their favourite DJ's record collections, played by a host of very special secret guests.
Gottwood 2014 starts as it means to go on with its first lineup announcement that brings together, among others, drum’n’bass pioneer Calibre, forward-thinking techno henchman StephanBodzin, the unique talent of CrazyPSoundsystem, Dense& Pika, MaxCooper (live), CraigRichards, PBRStreetgang and KrisWadsworth, resident of Berlin’s Panorama BarProsumer, the long-standing RalphLawson, live house dons SessionVictim and the big-hitting Italian duo TaleofUs.
Also lined up, catch the unstoppable EtonMessy, MaribouState, Avatism (live) and Brackles. See MarkoZenker (live), MoKolours (live), GangColours (DJ), MrBeatnick and Medlar. Plus Back to Basics’ very own DaveBeer comes to the woods,2 Bad Mice return after a cracking 2013, and many more.
The full lineup so far: CALIBRE & MC DRS | CRAIG RICHARDS | CRAZY P SOUNDSYSTEM | DENSE & PIKA | MAX COOPER (live) PBR STREETGANG | PROSUMER | RALPH LAWSON | SESSION VICTIM (live) | STEPHAN BODZIN (live) | TALE OF US 2 BAD MICE | ALEX JONES | AVATISM (live) | BARESKIN | BEHR | BRACKLES | CEDRIC MAISON | CHIMPO DAVE BEER | DENNEY | DUSTIN | ETON MESSY | FUTUREBOOGIE DJs | GANG COLOURS (DJ) GENERAL ROOTS (live) | JAMES WELSH | KONRAD WEHRMEISTER | KRIS WADSWORTH | LAST MAGPIE MARIBOU STATE | MARKO ZENKER (live) | MEDLAR | MO KOLOURS (live) | MORRIS COWAN (live) | MR BEATNICK NISSE NILSON | OJSMOOTH | STRATEGY | TCTS | TRISTAN DA CUNHA | WOLF MUSIC | and more still to come
