New artists confirmed for Field Day 2013:
Amateur Best/ Connan Mockasin/ Dark Dark Dark/ Egyptian Hip Hop/ John Cooper Clarke/ Kurt Vile/ Mount Kimbie/ Palma Violets/ Savages/ Seth Troxler/ Shed/ Solange/ Splashh/ Stubborn Heart/ Wild Nothing
Previously announced:
Animal Collective/ Bat For Lashes/ Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs/ Chvrches/ Daphni/ Daughter/ Disclosure/ Django Django/ Do Make Say Think/ Emeralds/ Everything Everything/ Four Tet/ Francois & The Atlas Mountains/ F**ked Up/ Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion/ Hessle Audio DJs: Ben UFO, Pangaea, Pearson Sound/ How To Dress Well/ Jacques Greene/ James Yorkston/ Julio Bashmore/ Karenn/ Mulatu Astatke/ Thomas Mapfumo/ Tim Burgess/ TNGHT/ Virals/ Vondelpark plus more artists to be announced
Last October Solange released her single ‘Losing You’ – an infectious, mid-tempo break-up anthem evocative of early 80’s R&B that became an instant viral success,with ‘Sleep in the Park’ featuring Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes on the B-side. She thenreleased her highly anticipated seven-track EP ’True’. Headed by ‘Losing You’, it is released via Terrible, the label co-owned by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear and entirely co-written and produced by Solange and Field Day veteran Dev Hynes aka BloodOrange. ‘True’ has further set Solange apart – one we truly look forward to seeing at Field Day 2013.
Also confirmed is the winner of Resident Advisor’s 2012 DJ Poll, Seth Troxler, whose impressive career started in Detroit back in 2002 at the young age of 16. Since then, Seth has gone to ignite the world of house and techno with a constant barrage of vocal jams, winning over legions of fans for the singularity of his vision and inimitable bravado, which have made him one of the most captivating characters of modern dance music.
We are honoured to have performance poet John Cooper Clarke at Field Day this year. His biting, satirical verse delivered in his rapid-fire performance style hasresonated since the punk movement of the late 70s. After touring with most of punk’s seminal and ground breaking bands including the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Buzzcocks, The Fall, and Elvis Costello, to name but a few, he began to draw large crowds in his own right. Joy Division were proud to open for John on numerous occasions and New Order later supported him on their first joint Australian tour. One of Britain’s best loved and most important poets and performers, John is as vital now as he was then.
Also confirmed is Kurt Vile, who, once compared to Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty and Animal Collective in the same review brings to mind anything from Suicide to My Bloody Valentine and Nick Drake. He pieces together these disparate elements so seamlessly and unpretentiously that such reference points are rendered pointless by the singularity of his sound, reflected in his latest brilliant and critically acclaimedalbum ‘Smoke Ring For My Halo’ (Matador 2011).
Meanwhile, Virginia dream pop act Wild Nothing will bring their heavily 80’s rooted indie-pop of gentle harmonies, orchestrated synths and wandering voices that make up front man Jack Tatum’s ‘ideal world’ of pop music, portrait in their just-released, exceptional second album ‘Nocturne’.
Topping the Ones To Watch lists of 2013 are the ferocious four-piece Savages. With their highly awaited debut album still to be released in 2013, Savages' songs aim to remind us that music can still be straight to the point, efficient and exciting, while their live shows are truly electrifying. Also topping the lists for 2013 are Palma Violets,whose first single ‘Best of Friends’ was just voted NME’s song of the year and whose highly anticipated debut album ‘180’ is to be released next month. Often compared to The Libertines, 2013 will be a big year for this band and we are excited to have them at Field Day.
We are thrilled to welcome the unstoppable Mount Kimbie back to Field Day. With familiar beats underneath otherworldly productions, the electronic duo is arguably responsible for the birth of the term ‘post-dubstep’. Their debut album and live shows have garnered a cult status; recently signed to Warp, their second album isimminent. Expect a packed tent of devotees dancing to Mount Kimbie’s mesh of left field electronics, post-rock textures and bass weight – and new tracks to be aired for the first time at Field Day 2013!
Meanwhile Shed, the Berlin-based producer, and firm believer in the power of techno, will be the living example of how to reinvent oneself again and again within the boundaries of electronic music. Perfectly shown in his latest album ‘The Killer’ (2012), he melts and merges rough and demanding dance floor skeletons with shockingly detailed melodies, harmonic structures, irresistible hooks and airy arrangements, creating a never-ending climax of the groove.
Psychedelic pop artist Connan Mockasin has the kind of deliciously off-kilter and gloriously idiosyncratic worldview that rapidly proves addictive. Having toured with Charlotte Gainsbourg as her live band, as well as with Radiohead last November, and with new material planned for 2013, we can’t wait to have him on our stage.
After their debut EP ‘Some Reptiles Grew Wings’ produced by no other than Hudson Mohawke back in 2009 and two years of lying low, Egyptian Hip Hop finally released their anticipated debut album ‘Good Don’t Sleep’ last October. Be ready to be taken to a sonic world of their own, setting indie, prog-rock and 80s pop in between hypnotically pulsing rhythms and Elizabeth Fraser’s spine-tinglingly moving vocals which, at times, evoke the lush beauty of Cocteau Twins.
Also on board are Minneapolis band Dark Dark Dark. Fans of Beirut and Grizzly Bear will find plenty to appreciate in this chamber-folk quintet, with their spectral interludes, moments of muted drama, and backing vocals that sound like a Balkan choir, portrait in their beautiful new album ‘Who Needs Who’ (Supply & Demand/ Melodic, 2012).
With their just released eponymous debut, the duo Stubborn Heart emotes heartbreak over broken beats and dark, atmospheric space – a stunning and surprisingly poignant electronic soul record. Recently compared to The xx, SBTRKT and Four Tet, expect a clean, ghostly production coalescing with mournful vocals to positively ooze a bruised melancholy.
Also confirmed is Amateur Best, Joe Flory’s project that emerged from the ashes ofhis genius synth-pop proposal Primary 1, who will take us to the surreal world of his debut album/comic book ‘No Thrills’, out next month on Double Denim, featuring a collaboration with piano virtuoso Chilly Gonzales. Meanwhile, SPLASHH will showcase their myriad of floating, fuzz-laden grunge pop tunes, a result of leaving the beaches of the South Pacific behind and coming together to record in a small bedroom in Hackney.
Entering its seventh year, Field Day will be returning to the leafy green surroundings of Victoria Park with its unique formula of pioneering line-up coupled with village fete mentality, all in the heart of East London. Field Day will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend on Saturday 25th May.
Hosted by forward-thinking promoters Eat Your Own Ears, Bugged Out!, BleeD/ Lanzarote and proudly partnering with The i Paper, The Quietus, FACT Magazine, Last FM, Resident Advisor, The Line of Best Fit, Abeano, Dummy Magazine andStool Pigeon, Field Day is a festival that has become synonymous with imaginative and progressive bills hosting the likes of Franz Ferdinand, SBTRKT, Afrocubism, Grimes and Django Django last summer; 2013 is certainly shaping up to be no exception to this rule.
As with years gone by, Field Day will be providing ample entertainment for those looking for respite from the music in the Village Mentality area on The Village Green. Expect traditional side stalls inspired by country pastimes and weird and wonderful fete games, from classic tug of war, sack races and egg and spoon race to more unexpected and fantastic ones like tea bag tossing and the world famous winkle picking contest.
The excellent website Caught By The River, home to excellent writing by first class contributors on music, nature, ale and…fishing, has carved itself a unique place on the web since its beginnings in 2007 and will be hosting a fine area at Field Day 2013