JD Fortune and Loane to join INXS on stage at Southern Sounds

InxsJD Fortune has fronted INXS since winning the CBS reality television series ‘Rock Star: INXS’ in 2005. Fortune’s first album with INXS, ‘Switch’, was released in 2005. After having a brief stint away from INXS, Fortune re-joined the group in 2010 at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics show and has since then continued to front the band.
Loane is a French pianist from Paris and in 2008 she released her debut album, ‘Jamais Seule’. The album earned her national acknowledgment and her song ‘Danser’ was voted ‘Song Of The Year’ on French Television. Her second album, ‘Le Lendemain’ was released in 2011 and sees Loane share a duet with Lenny Kravitz. In 2010 she recorded a French adaptation of the INXS hit ‘Mystify’ with John Mayer.
Headlining Southern Sounds alongside INXS we welcome Shihad, a band who have supported AC/DC, had three #1 albums and ranked 1st equal for the most top 40 charting singles in their home country of New Zealand. On the main stage we also present the most successful rock band ever from South Africa, Just Jinjer, alongside New Zealand’s I Am Giant and the South African dance duo Goldfish.
A one off chance to hook up with friends old and new, Southern Sounds will be the biggest Australian, New Zealand and South African gathering in Europe. An opportunity to celebrate your nationality alongside thousands of others and a whole host of attractions from south of the Equator.  Southern Sounds will feature a selection of the greatest musicians, amusement park rides, a surf simulator, bucking crocodiles, and London’s largest BBQ sizzle. Don’t miss this version of The Big Day Out on Clapham Common.
 
To watch INXS’ interview this week on BBC Breakfast:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfCPde1EuWU

Melt Festival – SOLD OUT

A unique music festival on the Ferropolis peninsula, Melt! is set against a breathtaking backdrop of five huge hulking coal mining diggers that tower into the sky. With such a great location and exciting, eclectic line up, it’s no wonder Melt! is sold out and is  one of the ‘must do’ festivals of the summer. Melt! was also named the ‘Artists Favourite Festival’ in the Festival Awards Europe 2011 and is continuing to grow in popularity.  Long live Melt!www.meltfestival.de
 
All confirmed Melt! acts do far;
A.T.O.L. | Addison Groove | Âme (live) | Anstam | Apparat Band | Atari Teenage Riot | Azari & III (live) | Beady Eye | Bodi Bill | Gui Boratto | Boys Noize Bpitch @ Sleepless Floor: Ellen Allien, Kiki, Chaim, Skinnerbox | Brandt Brauer Frick | Busy P | Carte Blanche | Clock Opera | Console | Carl Craig & Radio Slave B2B | Chase And Status | Cold War Kids | Crocodiles | Crystal Castles | Crystal Fighters | Cut Copy | DAF | Dadub (live) | Benjamin Damage & Doc Daneeka | Dananananaykroyd | Dial Records pres. Lawrence, John Roberts u. a. | Digitalism (live) | DJ T. | The Drums | Duchess Says | Edit Select | Errors | Everything Everything | Fake Blood (live) | FM Belfast | Foster The People | Gold Panda | José González | Guy Gerber | Calvin Harris | Richie Hawtin | Housemeister | The Hundred In The Hands | Iron and Wine | Isolée | Nicolas Jaar (live) | Junior Boys (live) | Junip | Fritz Kalkbrenner | Paul Kalkbrenner | Katy B | The Knocks | Markus Kavka | The Koletzkis | Jacob Korn (live) | DJ Koze | Les Savy Fav | Little Dragon | Live At Robert Johnson @ Sleepless Floor: Roman Flügel, Arto Mwambe, Oliver Hafenbauer, Gerd Janson, Manuel Raven | Loco Dice | Lucy | M.A.N.D.Y. | MEN | Metronomy | Miss Fitz | Miss Kittin | Gadie Mizrahi | Modeselektor present Melt! Selektor | Monarchy | The Moroders | Mutter | The Naked And Famous | Maayan Nidam | Noah & The Whale | No Regular Play | Nôze (live) | Ostgut Ton Special: Marcel Dettmann, Ben Klock, Marcel Fengler, Barker & Baumecker (live) | Phon.o | Planningtorock | Plan B | Proxy | Pulp | Christopher Rau | Robyn | Rusko | SBTRKT (live) | Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros | Siriusmo | Sizarr (live) | Sizarr Soundsystem | Smallpeople aka Dionne & Julius Steinhoff | The Sound Of Arrows | The Streets | Swans | Tensnake | These New Puritans | Total Confusion B2B2B – Tobias Thomas, Michael Mayer & Superpitcher | Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs | Albrecht Wassersleben | We Have Band | When Saints Go Machine | White Lies | Patrick Wolf | Jamie Woon |

Melt! Anthem
Here is a link to  this years Melt! anthem (http://www.meltfestival.de/hymne), which is available for free. We won’t tell you who wrote it, but we go way back. Another clue might be our slogan “U Melt! My Heart”.

 
Melt! Pre-Party 
The Audiolith crew’s parking lot raves have been an integral part of the Melt! cosmos since always. They had always been the perfect but unofficial opening party of Melt! Festival till last year. Then the boys officially came on board. Since the pre-party got bigger and bigger, we simply moved the debauchery from the parking lot to the Intro Zelt so we wouldn’t disturb the neighbours too much. In 2011, the pre-party will once again be held on Thursday night (14th July) with an obvious Audiolith presence. Frittenbude will conquer the stage together with Egotronic, Mediengruppe Telekommander are about to perform songs off their new album (a Audiolith/Staatsakt collaboration), various Audiolith DJs will fuel Melt! madness among the crowd and a secret special guest is also going to show up. Once again, the pre-party’s capacity is limited. Like last year, you have to pay a EUR 5 cover charge (incl. fees), which will be partially donated to charity. Tickets for our pre-party are only available as etickets here (www.meltfestival.de/tickets) in combination with a festival ticket only.  
Ticket holders, who want to enjoy our Melt! pre-party, should also act fast as well and buy their tickets here. There might not be any tickets available on location. last year’s pre-party was sold out. So if you want make sure that you actually get in, we urge you to buy your ticket in advance. 
 
Melt! Train 
Our hotel train rides again! Last year, our beds on wheels option for Melt! premiered. In 2011, a train will ride once more to the festival site in Ferropolis as part of our environmental project M!Eco. The last 100 Melt! Train tickets are also still available here; for ticket holders and those of you who don’t have tickets yet. This is your last chance to get hold of a festival ticket!

In collaboration with Cool-Tours ( www.cool-tours.de) and MixeryFunTravel (http://www.mixery-fun-travel.de/), we charter a Euro Express train, which will depart from Cologne. The train is stopping directly in front of the festival grounds. The best thing about it: every passenger will have his or her own private bed on Melt! Train including sanitary arrangements for four days. To assure that only Hotel Train passengers have access to their departments, special wristbands will be handed out. 

One compartment of the train is also equipped with its own DJ and a bar run by Cool-Tours. The bar will be open during the journey as well as during the day on location. New this year: Cool-Tours offers daily breakfast for EUR 19, which can be ordered in advance or on arrival. Train attendants will care for your needs the entire journey. 

Return journey plus four overnight stays will cost you EUR 99 (per person, festival ticket not included). To guarantee that you will be booked in a compartment with all your friends (up to six), one of you has to book single tickets for all the others. So if you book a compartment with six beds this will cost you EUR 594. 

Book your ticket via Cool-Tours here (http://www.festivalreisen.de/index.php?cat=c16_Melt%21.html). Further info on eco-friendly travel options to Melt! will be posted here ( http://www.meltfestival.de/de/melt_reise) soon.

Strawberry Fields Festival update

The line up features chart topping bands, some of the biggest DJ’s in clubland and the best in local talent. Over 75 artists and DJ’s, 2 stages, a massive Big Top Dance Arena, Orange KelisTree Main Bar with live music and a sumptuous Cocktail Bar with live DJ sets, Stone Circle acoustic sessions, Silent disco, a huge Vintage fair, Healing field, and a multitude of fun will be available at Cattows Farm, Heather in stunning rural Leicestershire. For more info http://www.strawberryfieldsfestival.co.uk/

Main Stage Acts include:
Kelis, Mystery Jets, Beardyman, The Rifles, The Moons, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Modern Faces

 
Dance Tent includes:
Kissy SellOut, Funkagenda, Jaguar Skills, NuTone, A.Skills, Pete Jordan, Graeme Park

 

Oslo Live Update

Oslo Live Festival held for the fourth time in Kontraskjæret at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. The arena is a gem in the city and it is very easily accessible by metro, tram and bus.

Aiming to turn the fortress into a mega outdoor clubbing experience, a new setup will see a custom build DJ platform complete with huge LCD screens.

LeftfieldLeftfield, Ludacris, Groove Armada, Digitalism, Simian Mobile Disco, Pretty Lights, Casiokids, Goldfish, Big Bang, Fred Falke, Florrie, Kaskade, Wiley, Daniel Adams-Ray, Rebecca & Fiona, Schlachtofbronx, Bob Hund, Friendly Fires + a few local acts are already announced for this year.

We’ve got a few more confirmed that we will announce in the week to come and a few offers pending. Previous years we’ve had act’s such as Justice, 2manydjs, Big Boi, Diplo, Kent, Scissor Sisters, Crystal Castles, Klaxons, Santigold +++

Mr Scruff set for Gottwood Festival + only 200 tickets left!

For those who aren’t familiar, the prolific Ninja Tune artist has been responsible for classic albums such as Keep It Unreal and Trouser Jazz on the esteemed label as well as DJ sets all over the world. He’ll be bringing his usual eclectic selection of Soul, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Reggae, Dubstep, Latin, African, Ska, Disco, House, Funk, Breaks, Soundtracks & loads more to Gottwood 2011.

Day tickets are now available for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday available here. From their popular Facebook poll the tribal theme has been confirmed, with Mantanza and Monkey Safari stepping up and looking forward to donning their costumes.

See the full lineup below:

Jamie XX
A Guy Called Gerald (Live)
The Correspondents (Live)
Kollektiv Turmstrasse
Round Table Knights
Phil Kieran (Live)
Lee Foss
Max Cooper (Live) 
DJ Format & Friends
Zeds Dead
Deadbeat
Chris Coco
Perc
Mr Thing
Midland
Monkey Safari
Dark Sky
Dan Beaumont
Royalty
Matanza (Live)

■■■
Itchy Feet DJ’s
Autophase
Mr Krum
eLDOKO
Dj Mac McRaw
Dom Chung
Meshkov aka Nooncat
Sven Dhose
Whatyes (Live Analog Set)
Rodhad
Mary Jane
Audio Is Guilty
Hof Gutow
Projekt 1
Dieter Polen
Urchins
Ben Gomori
Schadenfreude
Nick Agha (Live)
Count Chocula
Madera Verde & Alex Ruello
Gringo Da Parada
Ed Mackie
Dutty Moonshine
Graphics
Firas & Jay
Wetrooms
Thick As Thieves
Oli DAB & Robin
Lo:Tek
Brinsley
Josh Tweek
Off Putter (Maggot GLC)
D Jacques (Live)
Mr Solid Gold
Pelski
Picture House
Darkly
Cosmanauts
■■■
Timmy P
Ambitur
John Marshall
Daniel Parry
Hylu & Jago
Mystery
Hesseltime
Tweek
Croz
Cubiq
Bruno Schmidt
Tom Frank
Matthew Roche
Jasper
A.L.F
Real Nice
Dan Jordan
Hawker
Get Your Geek On
Ben & Harrys
Ryan Walkinshaw
Osky
Hannah Hammond
Medlam
Kartik Poria
Matt Duncan
Jigsaw
Timothy Alexander
Jack Mckeith & Jackson Edwards
Sharkbait
Charlie Holden
Six’Six
Jonna
Johnny Beverton
Proper Songs
Anna Wall
Sway2
Charlie Jordan
Arko Type
CoBerg
Jonna
Ben Smith
Crosbie Dawson

 

James Blake special performance at The Big Chill

James BlakeJames Blake ventured to some of London’s cutting edge dubstep clubs; DMZ and FWD>> around 2007 and was truly taken aback by the fresh sounds and atmosphere. Already studying popular music at Goldsmiths, the injection of inspiration from DJs such as Mala, Coki and Digital Mystikz propelled Blake down a path that led to the creation the now distinctive sound, which blended the electronic vibrancy of the emerging dubstep scene with the harmonies found in his teenage Motown-filled record collection.

Plays of his early singles on Rinse FM and feverous blogger attention sent Blake on a course which landed him several accolades. “CMYK” scored a Record of the Week from Nick Grimshaw and Single of the Year (2010) at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards, Blake’s reworking of the Feist track “Limit to your Love” was the Hottest Record in the World according to Zane Lowe. Following a year of concentrated recording Blake released his self-titled debut in February 2011 and the record quickly went on to become a top 10 hit, whilst the same year also saw Blake pick up a nomination for the Critics’ Choice category at the Brit Awards.

With contemporaries such as Jamie Woon, Digital Mystikz, Jamie xx and DJ Distance already confirmed for The Big Chill, Blake is a perfect addition to the now expanded festival.

Deer Shed Festival unveils arts program & gastronomic delights

Having already unveiled an enviable music line-up and more crafts and sports activities than a hundred episodes of Blue Peter rolled into one, Deer Shed Festival has also lined up artists and performing artists for this year’s event who will be creating work that evolves throughout the day and holding workshops for festival goers to get involved in.
 
Graffiti crew Best Joined Up mix classic street styles with fine art, a mash-up you could say. Creating artworks on Saturday, they will also be running tagging workshops on Sunday. As if traditional Morris dancing was not entertaining enough, how about Morris dancing with a gothic twist? Deer Shed Festival welcomes Jet Set Gothic Morris Dancers all the way from the spiritual home of goth – Whitby, North Yorkshire. Faery Floss combine two seeming unrelated thing as they offer relaxing yoga sessions over the weekend as well as supplying the festival audience with organic candy floss.
 
Cabinet Fatalia, all the way from Germany, combines (and we’re quoting here, obviously) “elements of freakshow, object theatre and cabinet of curiosities. The 6-wheel-mobile includes a chamber of mysterious viewing boxes, strangely animated furniture, convulsive forms and phantom guests. Fatalia’s viewing boxes are miniature constructions and hermetic dream worlds, in which secret desires, memories and present perceptions coexist.” Ooh err.
 
Duckett & Jeffreys Gallery are bringing their mobile gallery to the Deer Shed Festival site. The DJ Tour vehicle is a small but perfectly formed 1960’s dinky Sprite Caravan and will be exhibiting original artworks in CD cases. And on the final day of the festival, the Big Top will be home to a Sunday market with a wide variety of arts, crafts and vintage wares on sale, all from local Yorkshire artists.
 
And now on to the food…
 
As an army marches better on a full stomach, so a festival audience dances better full of good food and drink.  This year Deer Shed Festival has put together a mouth-watering menu to ensure festival goers of all tastes will be catered for.
 
There’s the French version of a Yorkshire pudding only flat and sweet from Absolute Crepe and The Crepe Company. According to Wikipedia, crepes are best served with cider. Luckily there are three bars on site selling drinks at pub prices so that’s an easy duo for festival-goers to get their hands on. Bars will be selling local Yorkshire real ale and one will have a late-night, drinking den flavour just for the grown-ups. Keeping on an international theme, they’ll be German sausages to make the eyes water from Bratengrill, pizzas courtesy ofPizza Farm, delicious selection of curries from Sizzle & Spice and oriental catering from Takodo.
 
Carnivores can choose from oak-smoked wraps from Dorset Smokery, hot pork sandwiches from Farmers Oven, ostrich burgers fromHolly Tree Farm and venison stew from Oldfields. Vegetarians can feast on award winning veggie burgers, falafel, hummus and a 13 ingredient salad from Goodness Gracious Healthy Foods and both carnivores and vegetarians can get stuck into hot Mexican food fromFood Bums Chilli Bar.
 
Geoff Allan Fish and Chips will be bringing good ol’ fashioned fish suppers to the Deer Shed Festival site and award winning pie maestrosI Pies return with their handmade pies, quiches and tarts. A firm favourite last year, Stovepuppets bring back their Yorkshire puds served with a choice of fillings and Lucky Chip is a pop-up version of a classic American diner with a difference, serving hand-cut chips with home-made sauces and a selection of nut and veggie burgers.
 
Yee Kwan’s award winning, Far Eastern-inspired, handcrafted ice creams and sorbets make the perfect dessert after one of the above treats or there’s Simply Strawberries (cream and chocolate sauce optional!). All dinners can be finished off with a lovely cup of steaming hot Joe from Coffee Galore.
 
Lullabelles Lunches will be serving delicious and tempting treats from Lullabelle, a pink VW campervan, while Oso Juicy will be dispensing super tasty smoothies from Poppy, their campervan-come-mobile-smoothie-shop. Fresher Snacks are bringing the Toastie House full of snacky delicacies to site and for those with a sweet tooth, Dinky DoughnutsMoo Moo’s Milkshake Bar and Joneva will be on hand to sate the sugar cravings. 
 
Music, arts, crafts, food, drink, sports – the Deer Shed Festival has it all for families this July.
 
Tickets available now through www.deershedfestival.com/tickets
Adult (16+) weekend ticket (Fri-Sun)                                      £59
Adult (16+) Saturday & Sunday only ticket                            £45
Child (6+) weekend ticket                                                            £15
Child (5 and under) weekend ticket                                         FREE*
Weekend campervan & caravan pass                                     £15
* But will require a ticket obtained through the ticket sales outlet
 
 
** MUSIC LINE-UP FOR 2011 **
I Am Kloot, The Go! Team, Frankie & The Heartstrings, The Leisure Society, Erland and The Carnival, Caitlin Rose, Admiral Fallow, Marcus Foster, Tom Williams & The Boat, Matthew and The Atlas, Lanterns on The Lake, Laki Mera, Arthur Rigby & The Baskervylles, Tigers That Talked, Spokes, Let’s Buy Happiness, The Neat, Just Handshakes (We’re British), Yonderboy, Hope & Social, Two Spot Gobi, My Forever, Sam Airey, Holly Taymar, Her Name Is Calla and The Glendale Family
 
** ACTIVITIES FOR 2011 **
Softball, football, swingball, hula hoops, sand pit, doodle wall, paintball art, graffiti workshops, ukulele lessons, junk modelling, badge making, cartoons & films, storytelling, blacksmith artist-in-residence, circus skills workshops, face painting
 
** THEME FOR 2011 **
Pop-up planetarium, Russian cosmonaut hosted cabaret, telescopes, binoculars, space hoppers, a band of merry local astronomers, star gazing, papier mache lunarscapes and more in honour of headliner I Am Kloot’s album Sky At Night

Steve Reich unable to travel for Sónar Festival

The composer and pianist Carles Santos, one of the most reputed artists in contemporary Spanish music will substitute Steve Reich on the pieces which should have been performed by the American author. Carles Santos joins the bcn216 orchestra and chorus Synergy Vocals, maintained therefore the foreseen repertoire intact for the Sonar 2011 inaugural concert at L’Auditori Barcelona. Both programmed pieces, “Sextet” and “Music for 18 Musicians”, will be interpreted entirely and without changes.
 
L’Auditori Barcelona and the Sonar festival organization have invited Carles Santos to join the project, who has confirmed immediately his interest in participating as a personal homage to Steve Reich, one of his most admired composers and of whom he has already interpreted part of his work on other occasions.
 

Rhythmtree returns to the Isle of Wight

Held over three days (22nd -24th July 2011) the event showcases a diverse array of music genres and world instruments and is expanding its range again this year.
 
Just walking around the site you can hear didgeridoo, mbira and samba. Taiko, hang, djembe, dhol, cajon and tongue drums. Overtone singing and human beat-boxing. Native American flute, jaw harp, gong, singing bowl, ocarina, and of course a wide selection of more familiar instruments. 
 
So…. if you’re up for hearing afro-beat, bhangra, latin, reggae, folk, rock, blues, klezmer, world fusion, electronica, dub, hip hop and the completely undefinable all on stage during an evening this festival is for you.
 
Line-up
KISSMET-Son of Dave-Kalakuta Millionaires
Kadialy Kouyate-Kagemusha Taiko-Secret Vibes
Zimbaremabwe-Faren Khan-African Cultural Arts
RadioSamsara-The Hut People-Kangaroo Moon
Moveable Feast-Totally Gourdgeous-SiezeTheDay
Elephant Talk-Phil Henry and Hannah Martin-TwoManTing
Oka Vanga-Dinkumbohos-Mal Webb
Martin Newnham-The Hanging Baskets-Lorenzo Aristodemo
Johnny Cope-The Nefarious GIB-Camel Walk-Tall Paul
Unidos Samba-Big Noise Samba-FaT Samba
Local Bands included this year…
Beachcomber-Born ina Barn-The Ohmz
MoonShiners-Rachel’s Reason-The Weatherkings
Revenge of the Lawn-The Chancers-PipingHotDoc
 
Ticket Prices
Adult (17yrs and over)Week-end camping …£65
Teen (12-16yrs)          Week-end camping…£30
Teen ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21
Children (11yrs and under) FREE
Saturday Day ticket No Camping…£25
Sunday   Day ticket No Camping…£25
Camper van supplement £25 Term and Conditions of Sale.
 
Island Outlets
Strings Guitar Center Monkton Street Ryde 01983 562262
Music Central Newport   01983 822798
The Ventnorian Ventnor
Rock and Rose Tattoo Studio Freshwater 07515758990
The Dairy Deli Shalfleet Garage Shalfleet

 

N-Dubz for T in the Park

N DubzThe London trio of Dappy, Fazer and the gorgeous Tulisa will explode onto the stage with their unique brand of UK hip hop full of attitude,  gritty rhymes and stunning vocals from Tulisa.  The group have been performing together since their teens and shot to the forefront of the urban scene in 2007 winning the MOBO award for Best Newcomer and have gone on to win several more including Best UK Act, Best Album and Best Song for ‘Playing with Fire’.  With only 5 weeks to go until the festival, the countdown is well and truly on!