BBC INTRODUCING STAGE
One of Huw Stephens’ BBC Introducing Discovery tips, Amber are five guys from Nottingham and London. Their first original song ‘Noah’ is described by Huw Stephens as “a glorious summer tune” and where better to watch it than at Reading & Leeds this August.
Indie-pop band As Elephants Are hail from High Wycombe and have been making music together since 2011. The band have enjoyed success with their debut single ‘War Cry’ which has received plays from national stations and DJ Mary Anne Hobbs. Their latest offering ‘Youth Blood/Lucifer’ gives more of a taste of their innovative indie-rock.
Big Wave are an indie-pop five-piece from Torquay who have recently released their new single 'Goldmine' through Art is Hard Records and have previously performed with bands including Metronomy. Their sunshine-rock style will make for the perfect summer time festival set.
Casablanca have received support from Huw Stephens who is a big fan of the London indie band. With comparisons to Bombay Bicycle Club, Cajun Dance Party and Theme Park expect good things from this four-piece when they take to the stage.
The melodic Welsh-based indie four-piece Catfish and the Bottlemen are signed to Communion Records. 2013 has seen the band support The 1975 on their UK tour and they will also join Glasvegas on their UK tour date.
Securing their place through Futuresound’s competition City of Lights aim to create their own brand of honest rock-pop that will ignite and engage feelings, thoughts & emotions. Meshing the song-writing aptitude of Biffy Clyro with the melodic mastery of UK big guns Snow Patrol and the heart and drive of Thrice, City Of Lights adeptly glide along the tight-rope of having an accessible sound with true longevity.
Glasgow based Crusades offer up a big dose of post hardcore, high speed riffs on their recent debut EP ‘Golden Throats’, released to received rave reviews and gaining air play on BBC Radio 1.
19 year old East London singer-songwriter Denai Moore only picked up a guitar two years ago but already counts Plan B and Tom Odell amongst her fans. Her debut EP ‘Saudade’ is out now featuring her haunting vocals and soothing mix of folk and soul.
Futuresound competition runners-up Glass Caves are building a feverish and faithful following throughout the North of England shifting thousands of their self-released ‘Glass Caves’ EP as well as selling out notable venues across their home county. The underground buzz spilt over to the masses in April 2013 when BBC Introducing gave the band their coveted BBC Radio 1 Playlist slot.
Transatlantic alternative pop trio The Grand formed in 2010. The brooding Wakefield indie rockers come on sounding like Nick Cave wrestling with The National, an attractive proposition that has seen them championed by BBC Radio 6 Music. Their first single ‘Romance Is Dead’ was released in Sept 2012 and the band are currently working on material for their debut album, expected in 2014.
Up-and-coming Exeter five-piece I Divide exploded onto the rock scene in 2011 with their debut album ‘What’s Worth More’. They have since toured with Funeral For a Friend, won the 'Best Rock Act' Award at the 2012 South Wales Music Awards and bring their raw energy to Reading & Leeds this Bank Holiday weekend.
Four-piece Jaws are quickly making a name for themselves in the West Midlands, performing alongside fellow Birmingham bands Peace and Swim Deep. As well as having a critically acclaimed vinyl-only EP ‘Milkshake’ under their belt, they now have a new single ‘Gold’ due for release at the end of the July. Keep an eye out for their catchy garage pop on the stage this year.
Nottingham born songsmith Joel Baker burst onto the scene via the internet with his spellbinding covers including Kanye West and Maverick Sabre. Now stepping out with his own politically minded tunes, he is set for big things.
King No-One were crowned the winners at the recent Martin House Centre Stage final having beaten 10 other strong finalists from the West and North Yorkshire areas. Encompassing smooth chilled melodic vibes right through to raw expressive rock, the band are becoming well known in their home town of York for gathering huge crowds whilst busking.
In their relatively short existence, Lonely The Brave have performed live at Maida Vale Studios for Dan P Carter's BBC Radio 1 Rock Show and received plaudits from major music titles. Their debut album ‘The Day’s War’ has been a year in the making and with a new member, the band are set to make their mark this year.
Alternative-folk-rock quartet Man Can’t Fly create emotive sounds and memorable hooks. Despite only forming a year ago, the Bradford band have already self-released their debut single ‘Don’t Waste My Time’ which has received numerous plays on BBC Radio 1.
Influenced by artists as diverse as Phoenix, Talking Heads and Kanye West, Newcastle’s Mausi bring plenty of energy and a dose of pop with their invigorating live performances. The quartet features siblings Daisy and Thomas Finetto who bring their feel-good vocals and danceable tunes, guaranteed to get the crowd moving.
Modo Stare is the project of Jon Headley, a musician, writer and producer from the UK and the group won their place on the stage through the Futuresound competition. Their music is built around a blend of old and new, electronic and acoustic, synthetic and organic; mixing 100-year old harmoniums with sparkling synthesizers, out-of- tune pianos with growling bass synths, and antique cuckoo clocks with distorted drum loops. The project’s debut full-length album ‘This Is How We Know What Love Is’, is almost finished and will be out soon
Five-piece Peasants King from South Wales, had their song 'Antidotes' selected as the 'Introducing Track of The Week' – gaining praise from Fearne Cotton, Greg James, Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens. Comparisons have been made to Kings of Leon and Vampire Weekend, so be sure to check them out.
Scottish trio Prides are making a name for themselves with their synthpop. Built on the foundations of previous band Midnight Lion, the introduction of a third member Callum has ignited them to a new level in 2013. The band are signed to Island records and have just released their single 'Out of The Blue’, so watch this space.
Ruen Brothers are monochrome-clad brothers Rupert and Henry Stansall from Scunthorpe, who share a fascination with the early to mid-1960’s that has set the music industry buzzing since Zane Lowe played their track ‘Aces’ earlier this year. Their sound has been compared to Roy Orbison, but their elaborate melodies and natural swagger are quickly earning them fans in their own right.
Hailing from Nottingham, 17 year old singer Saint Raymond is often described as the next Jake Bugg. A stratospheric rise is surely imminent, much like his debut EP ‘Escapade’ which rose up the iTunes chart following a release on Gabrielle Aplin’s label Never Fade.
Kent two-piece Slaves have gained a fearsome live reputation with their political punk. Taking their influences from punk behemoths UK Subs, Crass and Refused, their in-your-face songs have caught the attention of the industry with The Fly describing them simply as “brilliant”.
The four young members of Sundara Karma all come from Reading and claim that their indie-infused sound is “more refreshing than sunshine”. Shimmering indie escapism showcased in their debut single ‘Freshblood’ mixes percussive tropical beats with intoxicating sounds of the summer.
Four-piece alternative rock band Theory 59 from Cleethorpes are now a step closer to stardom after their latest single ‘Through The Lies Comes Clarity’ was added to the BBC Radio 1 playlist. With a full length album in the works and a UK tour in their sights, their passionate and energetic offering is set to make its mark on the rock scene sooner than you think.
London-based Thumpers have been playing music together since the age of 15 and, having previously been in Pull Tiger Tail, they have reemerged as an alternative pop duo. They have a big emphasis on rhythm with booming drums taking the leading role and will get the crowds moving at the Festivals this year.
Producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Frank Pescod initially made a name for himself creating scores for brands, TV shows and films. Now writing under the moniker To Be Frank, his four-track EP 'Nothing' was recently released via Solebay Music to critical acclaim.
Counting Tame Impala as fans, Tripwires will arrive at Reading & Leeds fresh from supporting the band in Switzerland. Their Festival shows will give them the chance to bring their nineties indie sounds to hometown fans in Reading and a brand new audience in Leeds.
Since forming their current line-up in 2010, Peterborough quintet We Are Fiction have been performing their unique blend of modern alternative rock to an ever growing passionate fan base across the country. Passion, love and energy are three things you can expect from their shows and music, with many describing them as a heartfelt, captivating and emotive band who possess a unique stage presence and sound.
Having cut their teeth on the underground circuit, We Are Knuckle Dragger are a trio hell-bent on unleashing their music to the masses. They have released two EPs, enjoyed support from Dan P Carter on BBC Radio 1 and have recently completed a tour with the Dillinger Escape Plan.
Leeds based duo Louisa Osborn and Chris Mulligan are signed to Dead Young Records and have a spark of the black magic which has seen them much talked about on the thriving West Yorkshire music scene. Since their sold out debut launch,Witch Hunt have wowed audiences alongside Wolf Alice, Veronica Falls and at festivals including Live at Leeds and Tramlines; they are runners up in this year’s Futuresound competition.
Tipped as one of the UK’s most outstanding up-and-coming independent musicians and producers, Zaheer has already received support from a range of stations including BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Radio 6 Music. His creativity and disregard for clichéd musical conventions mean he is catching the attention of the music industry, expect big things from him.
DANCE TO THE RADIO STAGE AT LEEDS
Leeds Festival welcome the return of the influential and innovative Leeds-based record label Dance To The Radio who will be taking over the BBC Introducing Stage on Thursday 22nd August and kicking off the weekend at Leeds in style with the following live bands:
Formed in 2010 out of the ashes of a Leeds-based rock band, Black Moth were seduced by the brutal and hypnotic lure of the riff, to emerge translucent, skinned and bleary eyed from their cocoon as a ferocious kick-ass heavy rock outfit.
Sheffield’s The Crookes are a four-piece at the forefront of the nascent new pop movement in the UK guitar scene. Set to release their second LP on legendary indie label Fierce Panda this summer and with a cult following already in the bag, be sure to see them for a dance on Thursday night in Leeds.
Manchester’s finest Dutch Uncles are a group who have pitched their tents firmly in pop’s left-field with crashing guitars, electronic dueling xylophones, and lead singer Duncan Wallis' eye-popping dance moves.
Leeds five-piece Hookworms are often bracketed among the latest wave of psychedelic rock. By only using their initials to avoid any form of ‘celebrity status’ adds to the mystery of the band’s deep, emotive lyrics involving attempted suicide and depression.
Leeds’ Menace Beach is the project of members of existing local bands with Rob from Pulled Apart By Horses, Nestor from Sky Larkin and Matt from Hookworms. Their hazy grunge songs have seen comparisons with Splashh and Swim Deep.
NEW ADDITIONS ACROSS THE REST OF THE FESTIVAL
NME / RADIO 1 STAGE
READING SATURDAY 24TH / LEEDS SUNDAY 25TH
Childhood have supported Palma Violets and have been compared to Stone Roses, House of Love and Primal Scream. The ‘fresh-faced’ band are renowned for evoking a feeling of heady joy, if not drug-induced euphoria – a cocky young bunch of lads who have come to shake things up.
BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE
READING FRIDAY 23RD / LEEDS SATURDAY 24TH
Named after a Nigerian state capital, Benin City is Theo Buckingham, Tom Leaper and Joshua Idehen from London. They have gained fans, as well as accolades, for their energetic live performances and have supported Soweto Kinch, VV Brown, Moko and Youngblood Brass band. Album ‘Fires In The Park’ is out now and has been described as ‘a sultry piece of afro dub blues’ in recent reviews.
READING SUNDAY 25TH / LEEDS FRIDAY 23RD
Bipolar Sunshine is the solo project of Manchester singer/songwriter Adio Marchant, a recent collaboration with Rudimental saw them run an experiment to create and produce a single in 24 hours and perform it in front of an audience. They succeeded! His debut EP ‘Aesthetics’ has received great reviews and single ‘Rivers’ was recently iTunes’ ‘Single of the Week’.
Stay Positive is a London based producer and classically trained violinist who just released his latest EP ‘Blood Brother’ via Stay Positive Industries, which sees a perfectly arranged composition in minimal techno.
Aussie duo Parachute Youth cite their influences as Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Cure and The Stone Roses, but their sound is completely modern and goosebump inducing. In their own words, “we're only a two piece but we make a lot of noise.
LOCK UP STAGE
READING SATURDAY 24TH / LEEDS SUNDAY 25TH
Decade are an alternative rock / post-hardcore band from Bath, formally known as Ready Set Low. They have supported the likes of Forever The Sickest Kids, D.R.U.G.S and Set Your Goals and have been locked away of late, hard at work making their album, watch this space!
FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE
READING FRIDAY 23RD / LEEDS SATURDAY 24TH
Brighton-based band The Wytches have had their music descried as “a cynical, dark and flowery take on psychedelia, 1950’s surf riffs, desert whips, loungey, melancholic shuffles with a stage performance that puts you under.”
READING SUNDAY 25TH / LEEDS FRIDAY 23RD
Overall winners at the recent Futuresound competition final in Leeds, where 60 regional bands compete to win a coveted spot to play at the festivals, were Leeds newcomers Battle Lines. Dark and cerebral, they blend shoegaze guitars with alt-rock and synthpop to create a raw and energetic live show. Reading & Leeds will be their UK festival debut, remember where you saw them first.
