Looking for the latest lineup, date, ticket information or latest news about your favourite festivals, look no further. Summer Festival Guide’s Festival News section covers all your needs!
Canadian producer and DJ Deadmau5 is firmly established as one of the most innovative and successful electronic live acts in popular music today. He has a host of accolades – four Grammy Award nominations, three International Dance Music Awards, three Juno Awards and was described as the “most influential, relevant and forward thinking person in electronic music” at the 2010 Beatport Music Awards.
London born, Irish raised singer songwriter Maverick Sabre has his name ringing round the world right now and rightly so. First championed by BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra’s MistaJam as one of his “Ones to Watch for 2011”, Maverick Sabre’s gritty yet soulful voice is drawing audiences in and leaving them hooked. His debut album ‘Lonely Are the Brave’, released in February this year, has received widespread acclaim for its catchy lamenting social-political content.
Aussie DJ duo Knife Party will now be hitting the Hyde Park stage on Friday 6 July. The act is the newly formed side project of Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, members of Australian electronic rock band Pendulum. Also joining the line-up is the much hyped electro act Feed Me. Double BRIT Award and three time MOBO Award and Mercury Prize winner artist Ms Dynamite also joins the line-up, and is set to bring her distinct sound to the Barclaycard Wireless Festival crowds. A formidable presence in the UK, her third studio album is set for release this year.
Chase & Status, Skrillex, Carl Cox, Skream & Benga. Not only a dream for talent train spotters, but just some of the revered names providing August’s aural assault on Clapham Common. Earmarking this year as our most eclectic and engaging, an unprecedented early interest has sent ticket sales soaring. With fervent enthusiasm from all involved, this quality quintuple is most qualified to engage your senses. However that is the just the tip of the iceberg. A warm SW4 welcome to Saturday stars Knife Party and Zane Lowe. Then last but not least, Sunday’s surreptitious ambassadors of Clapham carnage; Jack Beats, Foreign Beggars, Rudimental and Dread MC.
The cutting edge Knife Party duo consists of powerhouses Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, from last year’s headliners Pendulum. A privilege to welcome their sharp, succinct sound to SW4, following a musical direction away from Pendulum’s D&B mould. Their huge collaborative effort with Swedish House Mafia titled ‘Antidote’ debuted at number four in the UK Singles Chart, whilst their appearances at Space Ibiza and for UKF Bass Culture at Alexandra Palace have quickly proved what a sure fire hit Knife Party has become. Hinging primarily on an electronic house sound, it’s guaranteed to hit SW4 for six.
Zane Lowe is arguably the best specialist Radio1 DJ since the late great John Peel. His award winning Radio 1 show features the hottest new music and in the process has received numerous awards. He also heads the acclaimed MTV show ‘Gonzo’ and is heavily involved in Ibiza Rocks, the party which has ripped the White Isle rule book to shreds. Having played alongside the likes of Kasabian and Oasis at Wembley Stadium, plus The Prodigy at Milton Keynes Bowl, Zane is an outstanding DJ whose enthusiastic, fast paced and sometimes rowdy style always fires up the crowd.
Then the multiple DMC Award winning DJ duo, made up of Niall Dailly (DJ Plus One of Scratch Perverts fame) and Ben Geffin (The Mixologists). Jack Beats have had an immediate and profound effect on the club scene since teaming up in 2007, producing transcendent remixes for La Roux and Florence & The Machine amongst others. Citing influences as diverse as Timbaland and A Guy Called Gerald, the two began to hone a style fusing House, Hip Hop, Drum & Bass and Dubstep with Electro and Baltimore Club. The ensuing support from major industry players like Zane Lowe and Annie Mac, has accelerated them to stardom as evident in their latest red hot production ‘All Night’.
The Foreign Beggars don’t need begging, to showcase their underground repertoire of rousing rap, dubstep and grime. The beggars’ own ‘Dented Records’ has become the cornerstone of a meteoric rise to fame, combining these urban sounds with dance music cuts. This underpins a packed itinerary of energetic live shows, widely regarded as changing the face of UK hip hop in the last decade. So no surprise the Foreign Beggars, orchestrated one of the highlights at the recent UKF Bass Culture show. Recent collaborations with trendsetters Skrillex and Flux Pavilion is further proof of a raw unrivalled talent.
We’re not finished yet, all hail rising stars Rudimental! This North London collective have given the ever changing electronic music scene a rude awakening of late. Melding soulful house with acid, disco and deeper influences, results in a rudimentary sound for rocking any festival. New track ‘Spoons’ has been serving up just this, its blissful vocals having seduced BBC Radio One stalwarts Pete Tong, Annie Mac and the aforementioned Zane Lowe. Also proving Rudimental’s unique production versatility, a hot remix of ‘Drunk’ by Ed Sheeran. An addictive drum and bass lead is exacerbated by a vivacious melody – intoxicating all by itself!
Finally to complement a bulging bill Dread MC. Cranking up the atmosphere to dangerous levels this homegrown MC has perfected his trade performing alongside the biggest names in bass music. A talent which is effortlessly adapted to any genre, he will be performing exclusively alongside the brilliant Redlight. Makes us dread if SW4 can contain his madness!
So there you have it. Six further SW4 artists that encapsulate all genres – defying known definitions for every sonic style. Guaranteed to bring dancing delight to the Clapham faithful, there really is something for all tastes.
First up, and for their only scheduled performance in Germany this year, Icelandic band Sigur Rós will showcase new songs from their eighth studio album, set for release later this year. Also making an exclusive appearance at Berlin Festival is British act Franz Ferdinand, who first appeared on screen in the early Noughties with hits like “Take Me Out” and “This Fire”. The band are back with their fourth studio album in 2012 and will be performing many of their new tracks at Berlin Festival. German favourite Paul Kalkbrenner is also set to get the crowd at Tempelhof Airport ready for take off. His shows are always an instant sell out and his 2011 album Icke Wieder is a true chart-stormer. which is guaranteed to be a party starter. Another act ready to whip the ardent crowd into a dancing frenzy is Britain's legendary techno duo Orbital. Following their 2008 reunion, the in-demand duo have been touring and working on some brand new material which they are ready to unleash at Berlin Festival.
And the names just keep on coming with confirmed performances from Friendly Fires, Metronomy, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, SBTRKT and German DJ duo Modeselektor who will celebrate their Berlin Festival debut at Club Xberg this year. Italian DJ duo Crookers and acts Cro, Daughter, Dumme Jungs, First Aid Kit, Frittenbude, Jamie N Commons, Kraftklub, Little Dragon, Major Lazer, Morning Parade and Slagmalsklubben are also confirmed to perform. Further highlights will be announced soon. Get ready…it’s going to be BIG!
Festival-goers purchasing a Berlin Festival 2-day ticket will be in for a treat this year. With 10,000+ headphones, the Silent Arena Aftershowparty will give ticket holders the chance to continue partying after the final main stage gig from midnight till 4am at Tempelhof Airport. It’s going to be the biggest ever Silent Disco! The DJ line-up will be announced soon. The Art Village will also make a welcome return to Tempelhof Airport, boasting over 60 national and international artists. Urban art, murals, performances, sculptures and more will all be on show plus an art bazaar, bars, booths, and the Design & Record Label Market as well as the art prize and a costume competition will complete the Art Village. And new for this year is the addition of accommodation at the festival site. We’ll have more info on this soon…
All confirmed acts so far Berlin Festival @ Tempelhof
Airport Bonaparte * Cro * Daughter * First Aid Kit * Franz Ferdinand * Friendly Fires * Frittenbude * Jamie N Commons * Junip * Paul Kalkbrenner * Kraftklub * Little Dragon * Major Lazer * Morning Parade * Orbital * SBTRKT (live) * Sigur Rós * Tocotronic * WhoMadeWho Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin Crookers * Digitalism * Dumme Jungs * Metronomy * Modeselektor live * Slagmalsklubben * Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Tickets Berlin Festival
2-day ticket: EUR 74 + booking fees valid for 7th + 8th September including Berlin Festival and Silent Disco Aftershow party @ Tempelhof Airport Doors/stage time (Fri + Sat): 12.30pm Silent Aftershow Party: midnight-4am
Kombiticket: EUR 89 + booking fees valid for 7th + 8th September including Berlin Festival @ Flughafen Tempelhof and Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin as well as shuttle service to Club Xberg. Doors/stage time Berlin Festival (Fri + Sat): 12.30pm Doors/stage time Club Xberg (Fri + Sat): 11pm
Over the years, READING & LEEDS FESTIVAL has seen some of the most memorable musical moments in history. 2012 will be no exception and we are very proud to announce three exclusive Main Stage headliners coming to entertain the 160,000 fanatical music enthusiasts who make this the most thrilling festival on earth. If you want to see every band that matters then Reading & Leeds Festival at Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds is the only place to be this August Bank Holiday Weekend.
The greatest rock band in the world right now, and masters of whipping crowds into a frenzy, FOO FIGHTERS will kick off proceedings in Leeds on Friday and close the show in Reading on Sunday, playing their only UK shows this year. THE CURE have an unrivalled catalogue of both commercially and critically acclaimed hits and this is a long awaited return for this hugely influential and important band. They play Leeds on Saturday and Reading on Friday, their only UK shows this year. The biggest and most exciting UK band to have emerged in the last decade, KASABIAN make their first headline appearance at the festival on Sunday at Leeds and Saturday at Reading. Their epic and anthemic tunes will fill the fields at these, their only festival shows in England and Wales in 2012.
The NME/Radio 1 Stage always proves hugely popular and with THE MACCABEES, AT THE DRIVE-IN and JUSTICE lined up for 2012 it’s sure to be busier than ever. METRONOMY will top the bill on the Dance Stage bringing their blistering live show to the festival.
Many more names are still to be announced on these stages as well as the full line-up for the NME/Radio 1 Stage, Lock-Up Stage, Dance Stage, Festival Republic Stage, BBC Introducing Stage and the Alternative Stage. This is definitely the finest line-up you’ll find at any festival this summer with over 200 acts appearing at the most incredible event. Get your tent packed!
THIS YEAR’S HEADLINERS
THE CURE TO HEADLINE
ONLY UK APPEARANCES OF 2012
Friday 24th August at Reading Festival
Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival
THE CURE are arguably the biggest alternative rock band of the last thirty years with a stellar catalogue of critically and commercially successful albums and a worldwide fan base. Hugely influential, the group have earned their iconic status with countless hit singles, legendary live performances and their unique sound blending moody atmospheric songs with sparkling pop sensibilities. Incredibly the band have only appeared at the Reading Festival once before, in 1979 around the release of their debut album ‘Three Imaginary Boys’, so this is a long overdue return and both sites are sure to embrace this classic act.
ONLY FESTIVAL APPEARANCES IN ENGLAND AND WALES OF 2012
Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival
Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival
In their own words, KASABIAN were “built to headline festivals”. Since the release of their debut self-titled album in 2004, the Leicester group have swept all before them. With a string of festival anthems including ‘Fire’, ‘Club Foot’ and ‘Empire’, KASABIAN can rightly claim to be one of the UK’s biggest bands. Their latest album ‘Velociraptor’ continued this huge success, debuting at Number One in the UK, and confirmed their place at the top table of modern rock ‘n’ roll legends. A group which encapsulates the heady spirit of festival season, these shows will be a summer highlight for rock fans everywhere. KASABIAN are guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, singer Tom Meighan, bassist Chris Edwards and drummer Ian Matthews.
Having recently picked up five Grammy Awards, a Brit Award for ‘Best International Group’ and NME Award for ‘Best International Band’, and having seen last year’s ‘Wasting Light’ debut at Number One in 12 countries, FOO FIGHTERS return to headline Reading & Leeds Festival as the undisputed biggest rock band in the world today. Since first appearing at Reading in 1995 and ascending to headlining the Reading & Leeds Main Stages in 2002 and 2005, FOO FIGHTERS have never received anything short of a spectacular welcome from the crowds at Reading & Leeds.
In the tradition of their historic 2008 Wembley Stadium doubleheader and last year’s Milton Keynes weekender FOO FIGHTERS are poised to make this year’s Reading & Leeds a legendary event and a true must see for every music fan in the UK.
Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival
Grammy-nominated and multi-million selling three-piece PARAMORE are confirmed to perform their ONLY UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE at Reading & Leeds Festival 2012. This will be the band’s first UK show since their sold out tour at the end of 2010 which culminated in two nights at London’s O2. In the two years since their last visit, the band have toured across the globe, from South East Asia, Europe, and South America, to the US, Australia and Japan and we welcome them back to the festival with open arms. Taylor, Jeremy and Hayley are currently in the US working on the follow-up to their chart topping platinum third album ‘Brand New Eyes’.
Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival
With over 1.5 million sales of her second album ‘Ceremonials’, a Number One in the UK and Top Ten in the US, two NME Awards for ‘Best Solo Singer’ and ‘Best Track’ FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE have been riding the crest of the wave since picking up the ‘Critics’ Choice Award’ in 2009 at the Brits. The band have toured all over the world and are currently on a UK arena tour which will see them play to over 100,000 devotees. Florence first appeared at Reading & Leeds on the Festival Republic Stage and now this second from top of the bill placing continues the meteoric rise of this fantastic new British superstar.
Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival
Having recently headlined three shows at Alexandra Palace in London and sold over 1 million copies of their latest album ‘El Camino’, THE BLACK KEYS can safely take the title of band of the year. The group released their breakthrough album ‘Brothers’ in 2010 to widespread praise, debuting at Number Two in the US en route to winning three Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award. As drummer Patrick Charney has said of the band’s recent success, “We’ve taken the long road to get where we are. We’ve experienced everything from driving a thousand miles to play for no-one to winning Grammys” and of the new album, “I think where this record is going to shine for me is playing the songs live.” Six albums and counting leaves The Black Keys with a remarkable cache of songs from which to select and this set will be a feast to delight in at their ONLY UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE.
Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival
North London’s BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB have sold in excess of 350,000 albums and have performed to more than 150,000 people to date and have a headline appearance at their ‘local’ Alexandra Palace coming up soon. This year also saw them nominated for no less than three NME Awards which when added to an Ivor Novello nomination, two Top 10 albums and the NME’s ‘Best New Band’ Award in 2010, has seen this low-key quartet soar. Last year’s ‘A Different Kind Of Fix’ has just been certified Gold in the UK and we expect new and old favourites to be aired at both sites ensuring an ever burgeoning and loyal following.
There aren’t many bands who reach their third album ‘Sinners Never Sleep’ while still only aged between 21 and 22. Fewer still have sold out two nights at Brixton Academy, two nights at Hammersmith Apollo, or have played to a total of 65,000 people on their many UK tours. That YOU ME AT SIX are also playing the Main Stage at Reading & Leeds Festival is yet another huge accomplishment. Since the release of their debut album ‘Take Off Your Clothes’ they have been at the forefront of British rock music and have made many fans along the way. Expect a lively crowd!
Fiercely uncompromising duo Ethan Kath and Alice Glass aka CRYSTAL CASTLES have created a stir from their inception with shows that enthrall and excite an impassioned cult following. Two eponymously titled albums, and an inspired collaboration with Robert Smith from headliners The Cure in 2010 have cast them to an audience across the world which has seen a staggering 50 million plays and counting on Myspace and LastFM. This year heralds the arrival of their third as yet untitled album, and this is a chance to catch a band that will inevitably put on one of the most talked about shows of the weekend.
Tom DeLonge from Blink-182 references ANGELS AND AIRWAVES as his "art project" and with the release of the double album ‘LOVE Part One & Two’ accompanied with a full length science fiction film scored by the band this is certainly no ordinary hiatus from the day job. The band comprises of Matt Wachter on bass (formerly of Thirty Seconds to Mars), guitarist David Kennedy (ex. Box Car Racer) and Ilan Rubin (formerly Lostprophets and NIN) on drums – truly a supergroup for a super weekend.
With an eagerly awaited sixth album coming this year, COHEED AND CAMBRIA have been described as “mix(ing) up the standard pop-punk scheme with creative and original riffs”. The band have picked up fans world-wide with their unique blend of progressive rock and hardcore, having toured extensively since forming in 1995 and have earned a formidable live reputation – check them out.
Not many bands can really live up to the title ‘hardcore punks’, but Toronto’s CANCER BATS are the real deal. With a new album ‘Dead Set On Living’ coming later this Spring, which vocalist Liam Cormier has hinted at being a slight departure from previous releases, the four-piece can only pick up more fans along the way and will definitely win over the Reading & Leeds audience this year.
DEAF HAVANA formed in Kings Lynn in Norfolk but have taken influences from all over the world to create their own new British rock sound. Their debut album ‘Meet Me Halfway, At Least’ earned great reviews in the rock press, described in one mag as “(they) blend the best elements of screamo with ballsy southern licks all placed lovingly on a bed of chugging riffs” and the follow up ‘Fools and Worthless Liars’ elevated them higher with a number one record on the BBC Rock Chart. Sure to wake up the festival in style.
Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival
Armed with a debut single and immediate acclaim at the tail end of 2010, THE VACCINES certainly hit the ground running and tore into 2011 with gusto. On its release the band’s debut album ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’ pocketed further plaudits both critically and commercially achieving sales in excess of 250,000 in the UK. The band have an enviable reputation for their live shows and having hailed that “The Vaccines do it better than any British band have done in years” – they picked up the ‘Best New Band’ accolade at this year’s NME Awards. This summer you can see why when they make their debut on the Main Stage.
2012 has already proven to be a fantastic year for ENTER SHIKARI with their fourth album ‘A Flash Flood of Colour’ crashing into the Top Five in January with stunning reviews. Known for their fiercely independent stance, the band have stuck to their own ideals since they formed in St. Albans in 2003 taking their unique mesh of hardcore punk and breakbeat techno round the country with relentless gigging. This has given them a fearsome reputation as one of the most exciting live bands around and if previous appearances here are anything to go with, the crowd will go absolutely crazy. Get ready to mosh!
With James Mercer at the helm, Grammy-nominated THE SHINS set sail for Reading & Leeds Festival in support of their new album ‘Port Of Morrow’. The first new material in four years sees the band establish themselves as one of the most inspiring acts of our times. Mojo declared “the intermesh of emotion and technique is a rare trick to pull in pop, yet The Shins have just made it look easy”. With over one million records sold worldwide, The Shins’ melody, charm and infectiousness can’t be denied.
You’d have to have spent 2011 in hibernation to be unaware of the hysteria and hype currently surrounding ODD FUTURE. The Los Angeles rap collective are one of the most talked about acts in recent times. With their crude sense of humour and confrontational subject matter, the buzz surrounding them continues to grow ahead of the release of forthcoming album ‘OF Tapes Vol 2’. One of the most unique and intriguing acts to emerge in a long time; this spectacle is not to be missed.
Hailing from West London and three albums down the line, MYSTERY JETS have accrued success in abundance with their own quirky pop sound. Their imminent fourth album ‘Radlands’ saw the band relocate to Austin, Texas for the recording, the first time the band have recorded outside of the capital. A fervent fanbase will be down the front for classic songs from the new and previous albums.
Since the release of their debut almost four years ago, Brighton-based duo BLOOD RED SHOES have embarked on a gruelling, unrelenting tour schedule to all four corners of the world. The release of their recent third album ‘In Time To Voices” comes of age musically from their punk rock roots moving into an altogether more ambitious three dimensional sound that includes some of their most bold and defiant tracks to date. An electrifying live prospect making their debut on the Main Stage, make it a date.
Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival
No strangers to Reading & Leeds Festival, KAISER CHIEFS returned from a two-year hiatus last year with the release of their fifth album ‘The Future is Medieval’. The band have a career spanning selection of hits which they can call upon, be it the effervescence of debut ‘Oh My God’, the generation jumping ‘Ruby’ or the anthemic enormity of live classics ‘The Angry Mob’ and ‘Modern Way’. Kaiser Chiefs have wowed crowds worldwide, gained a phenomenal reputation for their live shows led by singer Ricky Wilson’s ebullient persona and along the way evolved into one of the UK’s most successful and favourite bands of the past decade.
Hailing from Bridgend in Wales, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have become one of Britain’s biggest metal bands over the last few years. With three amazing albums behind them (the latest being 2010’s ‘Fever’ with a new one promised soon) and massive success both here and in the US they have picked up awards and plaudits for their modern take on traditional rock. Always popular at the festival expect a packed crowd for the new kings of heavy.
ALL TIME LOW never fail to get the crowd bouncing, and their vibrant pop punk will liven up any audience and this festival will be no exception. The four-piece from Baltimore formed in 2003 and have released four albums to increasing acclaim. Their hilarious video for last year’s cracking hit ‘I Feel Like Dancin’ has notched over 3.5 million hits on YouTube and their fans will pack out both sites this summer.
All the way from New Jersey, THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM come to the Reading & Leeds Festival Main Stage with expectations for their new album ‘Handwritten’ riding high. They have won over fans worldwide with their anthemic tunes and energetic live shows where they take the spirit of The Clash/The Replacements and their most famous fan Bruce Springsteen and make a modern sound unmistakingly their own. Look out for arms in the air …
www.gaslightanthem.com
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL have attracted a cult following over the years with three dark and heavy albums and very sexy live shows! With a cast list that reads like a who’s who of rock with members culled from QOTSA, Foo Fighters and the likes of Mark Lanegan contributing, the band are mysterious, menacing and magnificent.
Incessant touring has seen this quartet from Southampton hone their live performance to great acclaim. Having released their debut album in 2009 BAND OF SKULLS surfed a wave of feverish approval following their inclusion on the ‘Twilight: New Moon Soundtrack’ and with the attention afforded to them in far-away places, the UK eventually caught up. This year’s ‘Sweet Sour’ album has again caught the critics’ imagination and with recent support slots with The Black Keys already taken care of they’re set to unleash their fresh arsenal of songs.
Fuelled by a love of classic rock, punk and post-hardcore bands, Leeds quartet PULLED APART BY HORSES quickly gained a reputation for their live shows which more often than not resulted in blood-letting and generally chaotic scenes, their shows are no less entertaining now. With a second album ‘Tough Love’ out now, PABH have been no less enthusiastically embraced and see a repertoire including dueling Thin Lizzy-style guitars, dark melodies reminiscent of Queens Of The Stone Age and the explosiveness of early hardcore that retains the defiance that has ridden with them from their early days. Miss at your peril!
Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival
THE MACCABEES’ third album ‘Given To The Wild’ was released earlier this year to massive critical acclaim and soared into the UK charts at Number Four. The South London five-piece are enjoying a hugely successful year so far, and with a sold out Brixton Academy under their belts The Maccabees are further cementing their status as one of the most exciting British bands of our time. We welcome them for their first headline appearance on the NME/Radio 1 Stage.
FOSTER THE PEOPLE have garnered a huge amount of critical acclaim and public adoration on both sides of the Atlantic since the release of their debut album ‘Torches’. With last year’s feel-good hit of the summer ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, word of their music spread in a manner that was shockingly quick, even in the age of endless internet churn with everyone agreeing on one thing: this was a band on the cusp of an undeniable breakthrough and Foster The People show no sign of slowing down.
Band of the people, THE COURTEENERS, head to Reading & Leeds Festival ahead of the release of their third studio album, the follow up to 2010’s ‘Falcon’. With the Manchester four-piece eager to road test new material, head honcho Liam Fray recently declared their new sound as “industrial Motown”. An incredible live band, this could be one of the years most talked about performances.
Saturday 25TH August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival
Hailing from El Paso, Texas AT THE DRIVE-IN came, conquered and released three albums: ‘Acrobatic Tenement’, ‘In/Casino/Out’, the EP ‘Vaya’, and their ultimate swansong ‘The Relationship of Command’ which is now cited in dispatches as one the most important albums of its genre. Then they split. Now it looks like the many who were never able to see this incendiary live act back in the day will have their dreams fulfilled with this NME/Radio1 stage headline show. This band are name checked and revered by fellow musicians and fans alike and this, their ONLY UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE will definitely be unmissable.
On the eve of their fifth album ‘In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull’ THE CRIBS make a return to the scene of one (or two) of their best ever shows. Recently reverting back to their near legendary three-piece status the band continues to evoke passion amongst their fiercely dedicated and ever growing fanbase. The Jarmans – brothers Gary, Ryan and Ross have always been fiercely independent, proud of their DIY ethos and from their early days adept at writing great songs leaving a catalogue of classic punk rock brilliance, battle scars and memories. The Cribs will once again be thrilling, spilling, entertaining and engaging.
Canadian punks BILLY TALENT come to Reading & Leeds Festival with expectations for their upcoming fourth album riding high. The band, led by vocalist Ben Kowalewicz had been playing together for almost a decade before a name change lead to a record deal and their debut eponymous album was released in 2003. “A sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band has grown out of these four former Mississauga teenagers' shared high-school dreams of … well … growing into a sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band” is how they describe themselves. Check it out for yourself at the NME/Radio 1 Stage.
MIIKE SNOW are back and return with their new album ‘Happy To You’ later this month. The hugely talented Stockholm-based three-piece have previously dabbled in the DJ scene and in punk bands, alongside electro and new wave, which lead to writing and production stints with the likes of Madonna and Britney Spears. Now ready to step out of the studio again, these shows are a must see for all music fans.
Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival
Ed Banger’s JUSTICE make electronic music that everyone can rock to. With riffs now as heavy as their beats, the Grammy-nominated Parisian pair head for Reading & Leeds armed with new album ‘Audio, Video, Disco’. The record has established them as an international force who are equally at home blaring from a dance club sound system or performing in an arena. Expect a powerful and mesmerising headline performance from a truly unique group.
Since releasing their debut album ‘Tourist History’ in March 2010, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB have rapidly become one of the biggest new success stories in UK music. After selling out headline tours in the UK, US, Europe, Australia, Asia, Japan and South America, playing two successive sold out nights at Shepherds Bush Empire and selling out Brixton Academy in under four hours, the band have deservedly earned both a devoted word-of-mouth live following and huge critical acclaim. The Times have called them “the band of the moment” and NME declared that they have “quietly become one of the UK’s best loved bands".
The release of THE HORRORS’ third album ‘Skying’ saw the band’s already impeccable credentials soar even higher. The record was celebrated across the board by fans new and old as their finest yet and recently won the NME ‘Album of the Year’ accolade. Not that their debut ‘Strange House’ and follow up ‘Primary Colours’ hadn’t already cemented their reputation as one of the most original and ground breaking groups around. Both dense and expansive, insidiously poppy and stubbornly arty, The Horrors are one of the bands you must see at the festival.
SBTRKT returns to Reading & Leeds Festival after last year's triumphant DJ set on the Dance Stage, this time round, fans will be treated to his famous live show. His self-titled, Mercury nominated debut album propelled towards the top of DJ’s playlists around the world with his combination of funk, soul, synths and bass. Fresh from releasing single ‘Hold On’ with Sampha, SBTRKT now has his sights firmly set on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Saturday 25TH August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival
After ranking high on several Best Of 2011 lists with their Mercury-nominated album ‘The English Riviera’ and playing to a sold out Royal Albert Hall in October, METRONOMY now turn their attention to 2012 with a headline set on the Dance Stage. Expect a belting, unashamed summer pop set which is sure to propel the quartet to new heights.
KATY B stops off at Reading & Leeds Festival having captured the sound, spirit and energy of British youth culture with 2011’s Mercury nominated debut album ‘On A Mission’. Having just won ‘Best Dancefloor Anthem’ for ‘Broken Record’ at the recent NME Awards, Katy has captured the hearts of many, setting her apart from her peers and firmly gaining her status as one of the UK’s biggest breakthrough acts of recent years.
www.katyonamission.com
Having recently completed a stint on the sold out NME Awards tour, 2012 is shaping up to be a huge year for AZEALIA BANKS. The controversial ‘212’ is fast approaching four million views on YouTube, whilst Azealia recently topped NME’s cool list for 2012 and featured in the Top Three in the BBC Sound Of 2012 poll. With her recently announced debut album ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ due out in September, Reading & Leeds audiences will be treated to a very special preview come August.
www.azealiabanks.com
Known for his lightening DJ mash ups, JAGUAR SKILLS is one of the most in demand names on the circuit. Praise has been forthcoming from Trevor Nelson who declared he is “the greatest mash-up DJ right now, no one does it better” while Mark Ronson stated “Jaguar Skills, like myself, is a proper ninja! He’s dope!!!” Expect an aural assault of every tempo, from dubstep to drum ‘n’ bass, and everything in-between.
Weekend tickets £197.50 plus applicable booking fees ● Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £85.00 plus applicable booking fees ● Early entry permits £15.00 ● Campervan permits £60.00 ● Lockers £15.00 ● Reading car parking £5.00 ● Weekend ticket prices include camping
Online/Telephone from Monday 12th March 7.15pm:
Tickets are strictly limited to a maximum of four per person/address/payment card for those booking by telephone or online and two per person/address/payment card for personal callers to walk in stores.
Since previously announcing Ed Sheeran for the Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks opening parties, he’s won two BRITs (British Breakthrough Act and British Solo Male) and his star keeps shining brighter as anticipation builds further for the moment he plays Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks opening parties in June (5th & 6th).
Next up is a stunning show, featuring two of the most exciting and critically acclaimed male solo stars to come out of the UK – singer songwriter Maverick Sabre and producer-turned-pop-star Labrinth. Since supporting Tinie Tempah at Rocks last year, MaverickSabre’s success has soared with debut album Lonely Are The Brave going gold and reaching No.2. It’s been an equally good year for Labrinth since supporting Chase & Status last year then smashing the singles chart with No.2 hit Earthquake. Ibiza Rocks has consistently nurtured new talent and provided a platform for breaking artists to play the biggest bill in the Balearics. In June, fans will see two of last year’s strongest support artists deservedly step up to headline slot status in June.
In 2005 Ibiza Rocks captured the Kaiser Chiefs for one of the first ever Ibiza Rocks gigs, just before their debut album Employment exploded. They returned for a phenomenal, intimate beachfront gig at Bar M in 2007. Six million album sales later and with a worldwide reputation as a mind-blowing live act that wow festival audiences the world over, Kaiser Chiefs are back in a BIG way with new album The Future Is Medieval – their fourth Top 10 album in six years. They make a welcome return to Ibiza Rocks, where they’ve gone with the brand from the back room of the club, to the intimate beach bar to the famous stage at the ‘Rocks’ Hotels.
Peanut, Kaiser Chiefs said: “We’ve done Ibiza Rocks a couple of times before, and it’s great because everyone’s on holiday. We did it back in 2005 and Ricky jumped into the crowd. When you’re in Ibiza, it seems like more of a relaxing time compared to other gigs.”
Kasabian are certainly on fire right now, with their fourth studio album Velociraptor taking the group to stratospheric new levels and winning the accolade of ‘Best Band’ at this years’ NME Awards. Kasabian first played Ibiza Rocks in 2006 (Bar M) and returned for a two night residency in 2007. Kasabian are an incendiary live act who consistently tops the polls of fans’ favourite festival headliners. Now the Leicester lads make their hugely anticipated return to head up the two biggest parties in the Balearics – in celebration of Mallorca Rocks 2nd birthday and Ibiza Rocks 7th birthday in July.
Professor Green is one of the hottest talents in the UK music scene right now. The acclaimed rapper’s second album At Your Inconvenience spawned the massive No.1 hit Read All About It. With an MTV Europe Music Award, a MOBO and an NME Award under his belt, Professor Green makes a triumphant return for these Spanish exclusive shows, following his phenomenal headline debut in 2011. DJ Fresh presents FRESH/LIVE joins him on the bill and as the man behind two of the biggest tracks of the past year, No.1 hit singles Louder and Hot Right Now, he certainly is the hot on the block right now and will be equally so in the Balearics.
Hailed by many as the most exciting producers in the UK today, Chase & Status are the biggest crossover act to come out of the underground in years. Their last two ‘Rocks’ shows have been total roadblocks when these boys brought their live show to town in 2010 and 2011. Having sold in excess of 500K albums, they return to the Balearics as bonifide superstars for standout shows in Mallorca and Ibiza in July.
Chase & Status said:“Can't wait to bring our live show over to the White Isle gain this summer. We love Ibiza and are looking forward to playing Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks again this year.”
Tinie Tempah is one of Britain’s biggest stars. Since debut album Disc-Overy hit No. 1, preceded by hit No.1 singles Pass Out and Written in the Stars, the sensational solo star has become one of the most award-winning, best-selling performers of recent times. With Kylie Minogue dancing to his set on the balcony and the fans going nuts all round him last year, Tinie Tempah’s gig was the talk of the town as he teased the ‘Rocks’ crowd to ecstatic proportions. Due to mass public demand, he’ll be doing it again in August.
This is an amazing time for Example. Third album Playing in the Shadows debuted at No.1 and delivered two No.1 singles, Changed the Way You Kissed Me and Stay Awake. Infact, Stay Awake produced by Nero is about waking up at Ibiza Rocks and seeing hundreds of kids still going from the night before. Example strutted his stuff as a support act in 2009 and 2010 before absolutely killing it during his own headline shows at ‘Rocks’ in 2011.
Bloc Party are back and are set to make their ‘Rocks’ debut as part of their hugely anticipated return to the live scene. Ibiza Rocks was born out of a concept to create a night for dance kids who wanted to rock and rock kids who wanted to dance. The East London art rockers, fronted by Kele Okereke, are the very essence of that. This gig has been a long time coming for team ‘Rocks’ and it’s a huge honour to be bringing one of the bands that influenced the brand, Bloc Party, to the Balearics for the very first time.
The newly reformed New Order are back together and will make their massive debut at Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks in September. One of the most highly influential and critically acclaimed bands of the 1980’s, New Order were the pioneering force behind electronic music, largely responsible for the opening the world famous Hacienda Club in Manchester in 1982 and for 1983 hit Blue Monday, the best-selling 12 inch single of all time. Their 5th album Technique (1989) was partly recorded in Ibiza and perfectly encapsulates Balearic beats and acid house influences into their electro/rock sound. They have influenced generations of hit making musicians the world over and are one of the most in demand on the festival circuit this summer. It will be a proud moment when they take centre stage for these unmissable sets under the Balaeric stars in September.
Lana Del Rey joins a host of phenomenal live acts that will take the Festival by storm, so don’t miss out on what will be one of THE hottest weekends of the year. Tickets are available now from www.isleofwightfestival.com.
Renowned for its eclectic line up, of the best in new and established music the Isle of Wight Festival is one of the most loved weekend events of the summer calendar – and this year is no exception! Head to the official Isle of Wight Festival Facebook site Facebook.com/iwfestivalfor all the latest Festival updates, exclusive news, videos & interviews. And follow us on Twitter @IsleofWightFest to get up to the minute tweets to keep you in the know!
2012 LINE UP:
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS · PEARL JAM · BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND · GROOVE ARMADA · THE DARKNESS · MAGNETIC MAN · ELBOW · BIFFY CLYRO · NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS · EXAMPLE · TINIE TEMPAH · NOAH AND THE WHALE · JESSIE J · THE VACCINES · FEEDER · MADNESS ·PRIMAL SCREAM · LABRINTH · KELIS ·LANA DEL REY · ENTER SHIKARI · DJ FRESH · ASH · BAND OF SKULLS · JOAN ARMATRADING · PROFESSOR GREEN · WRETCH 32 · KATY B · BLACK STONE CHERRY · LOICK ESSIEN · STOOSHE · CLEMENT MARFO & THE FRONTLINE · SPECTOR · ZULU WINTER · THE MILK · SWITCHFOOT · BOYCE AVENUE · BRIT FLOYD · CRYSTAL CASTLES · THE CHARLATANS TELLIN’ STORIES · THE PIERCES · MILES KANE · PULLED APART BY HORSES · BEST COAST · DRY THE RIVER · CARO EMERALD · PENGUIN PRISON · X · THE VIRGINMARYS · THE CHRISTIANS · CHRISTINA PERRI ·BETH HART · TERRY REID · STACKRIDGE · TENSHEDS · THE REAL D’COY
LIVE: Bat For Lashes / Ben Howard / SBTRKT / Roots Manuva / Alabama Shakes / Sage Francis (UK Festival Exclusive) / Grimes (UK Festival Exclusive) / Chairlift / Gesaffelstein / Iceage / Ren Harvieu / Factory Floor / Porcelain Raft / Toy / Kindness / Dismantle / Dirty Beaches / General Levy / Top Cat feat. Sir Coxsone Outernational / Josh Kumra / Errors / Trailer Trash Tracys / Forest Swords / Stay+ / Skinny Lister / Misty's Big Adventure / Ryan Keen / Nina Nesbitt / BIGkids / The Lovely Eggs / Alt-J / St Spirit / Charming / Shepherds / Seán McGowan
DJs: Moodymann / Kavinsky / Girl Unit
AND IN THE AMBIENT FOREST: Mixmaster Morris / Chris Coco / Phil Mison / Pete Gooding
GETTING TO BESTIVAL: Bike to Bestival / Swim to Bestival / Taxi to Bestival please with Minicabit / Life’s a journey – share it! – Car sharing
PLUS: The Cuban Brothers and Fatima Whitbread Hit The Dancefloor For Let’s Dance For Sport Relief
Rob da Bank says: “Hello my wild and wondrous friends… another raft of fine musical acts to tickle your ears come September. I’m delighted that Natasha Khan is bringing her Bat For Lashes guise back to Bestival, her shows are always otherworldly and plain incredible. Add in electronic soul wunderkind SBTRKT, UK hip-hop legend Roots Manuva (playing on his fortieth birthday no less!), the new king of folk Ben Howard, the incredible Alabama Shakes and American poet Sage Francis doing his only UK show of the year plus a very special Moodymann set playing in the Roller Disco complete with his roller disco crew flown in from the States and I’m ready to roll! Music aside, we are as usual ramping up the level of non-music related activity so if you want to take part in a nighttime ping-pong tournament in the woods, go tree climbing or join the Wildlife tug of war (first round will be Foxes vs Cockroaches) then check www.bestival.net for loads more fun and games! See you in September”.
Making a very welcome return to Bestival is Bat For Lashes. A firm favourite round our way, the Mercury Prize and Brit nominated chanteuse is currently recording the follow up to her acclaimed second album Two Suns and we really can’t wait to see her again. Singer-songwriter Ben Howard will also be making an appearance with his rootsy folk stylings, which helped his debut album Every Kingdom to a top ten chart position, making him a certainty to captivate the crowds. Masked beat manipulator SBTRKT will be liberating your feet with his tribal post-dubstep melange, plus there will be dub, hip-hop and raga coated in the unique lyrical dexterity of Roots Manuva and the exalted Alabama Shakes, who have been getting everyone from the likes of David Byrne to Adele giddy with glee, will be demonstrating just why they’re so hotly tipped.
There will also be penetrating verse in a UK festival exclusive from much admired emcee Sage Francis, boundary beating pop and yet another UK festival exclusive from Grimes, Brooklyn flavoured electro-pop from Chairlift, dirty throbbing bass from Gesaffelstein, Danish punk action with Iceage, cinematic soul from BBC Sound of 2012 nominee Ren Harvieu, post-industrial, noisenik disco from Factory Floor, dreamy pop from Porcelain Raft, shimmering psychedelia from Toy and lo-fi loveliness from Kindness. And there are plenty more musical charms on offer from Dismantle, Dirty Beaches, General Levy, Top Cat feat. Sir Coxsone Outernational, Josh Kumra, Errors, Trailer Trash Tracys, Forest Swords, Stay+, Skinny Lister, Misty's Big Adventure, Ryan Keen, Nina Nesbitt, BIGkids, The Lovely Eggs, Alt-J, St Spirit, Charming, Shepherds and Seán McGowan.
That’s not all, as the turntable worrying skills of Detroit techno wizard Moodymann, Gallic electro-houser Kavinsky and dubstep jukester Girl Unit are all set to make appearances to hype up the dancefloor. And in the Ambient Forest there will be some suitably soothing sounds from the inimitable Mixmaster Morris, Chris Coco, Phil Mison and Pete Gooding.
The festival will take place from the 15th to the 17th June in Black Bush Valley on the Matterley Estate. Complemented by Hampshire’s beautiful hills and plush woodland the festival will be an incredible artistic playground, and promises party-goers a feel-good three days featuring a mix of eclectic acts and genres.
Organised by likeminded festival-lovers with a simple mantra to put on a brilliant festival done to the highest standards, Golden Down promises to be an intimate three day getaway, with a capacity of only 5,000. Although it won’t change your life it will certainly be a magical, musical Mecca that is a must… provided you are over 18!
Taking the festival back to its glorious roots, the event has a prominent musical narrative, with guests being carried through from day to night with contemporary and good-time tunes and acts. Artists will play from noon onwards and continue into the festival’s late night celebrations. However, the entertainment doesn’t stop there as revellers can enjoy Golden Down’s delights well into the early hours of the morning.
A handpicked selection of brilliant musicians will warm up the festival site during the afternoons; Submotion Orchestra, Floating Points, Lucy Rose, Stealing Sheep, Slow Club, Portico Quartet, Time & Space Machine and Adrian Sherwood (DJ Set) are all confirmed.
As evening dawns the next wave of enviable artists take to the stage, with Friday welcoming Ghostpoet, The Herbaliser, and ethereal headliner Four Tet. Saturday evening will see MOBO award winner Roots Manuva headline, with many more acts to be announced. Occupying the evening slot on the final day of the festival are Apparat and Dub Pistols, who are headed up by the legendary Lee Scratch Perry.
Late night at Golden Down will showcase some of the best DJs in the Dance Tent, including house legend Kerri Chandler, tech/house aficionado Portable, and the forward thinking Pearson Sound; along with ‘footsteppin’ Julio Bashmore, self-confessed ‘Galactic Funk’ DJ Space Dimension Controller, Leeds supremo Midland, and the genre-bending Ben UFO.
As well as crafting the perfect party atmosphere, chill out time at Golden Down will be unparalleled. There will also be a broad selection of fantastic bars on offer supplemented with award-winning fresh food at fair prices, plus big welcoming camp sites, plenty of toilets and washing facilities.
Limeface, the Festival organisers are expecting over 3,000 music fans to descend on the area at the end of July, making it one of the largest single events in the history of the area and position Wales alongside some of the best European rock festivals.
Feeder, featuring singer/guitarist Grant Nicholas and bassist Taka Hirose are confirmed as the headliner on the Saturday night of this year’s festival. With 25 hit singles and over 5 million record sales under their belt, this summer will see them performing tracks from their new album “Generation Freakshow’ released on 23rd April, along with classic hit singles, including ‘Feeling the Moment’, ‘Buck Rogers’, ‘Come Back Around’, ‘Renegades’ and ‘Just A Day’.
This year’s extended festival will feature an additional full day of top quality rock acts, featuring Northern Ireland’s finest, The Answer as special guests on the Sunday night. Hot on the heels of 2 years touring the globe with AC/DC, singer Cormac Neeson and the boys are embarking on an ambitious headline touring schedule which will include an appearance at this year’s Steelhouse Festival.
The Steelhouse places a high priority on showcasing and developing young talent. This year’s festival will feature some of the best up-and-coming rock bands.
Revoker, who has already graced the stages of Download and Hammerfest will get the opportunity to rock the valleys and bring their brand of ‘thrash riffs an infectious timeless choruses’ to the rock starved masses of South Wales.
The Dirty Youth, featuring vocalist Danni Monroe – who featured on ‘world rock chicks – live’ in New York – have toured extensively throughout Europe and will shortly be touring with KORN. They’ll return to Wales to play their mammoth new single ‘Fight’ which has been featured heavily on SCUZZ TV.
Other confirmed bands include: Prosperina, Henry’s Funeral Shoe, Gentlemans Pistols and Marshall Amps ‘Ultimate Band Contest;’ winners Sons of Icarus.
The festival will also see the return of the extremely popular Friday night tribute party. This year it will feature Europe’s longest running KISS tribute act ‘Dressed to Kill’, along with 2 other bands to be confirmed.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, with another 8 top quality bands to be announced in the next couple of weeks, including Saturday night’s special guests and Sunday nights festival closing headline act.
The intention is to continue the family friendly theme of last year’s event by again making the event free to children of 14 and under as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
The event organisers have continued their commitment to providing the ‘best value’ festival. The full weekend tickets have been set at £55, which places the Steelhouse Festival as one of the most affordable 3 day festival in the UK.
More information, tickets and announcements are available at: www.steelhousefestival.com
Worldwide known Californian rebels, a band famous for living the “sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll“ lifestyle, and the castout heroes of many generations, Guns ‘N’ Roses will perform on the Main Stage at this years Exit Festival. Led by the famous enfant terrible and the icon of rock ’n’ roll culture Axl Rose, “G n’ R“ have been missionaries of the rockers’ freedom, accumulating sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide. Guns N’ Roses earned their recognition and popularity in the 80s and the 90s with its music, which is a blend of hard rock, blues rock, heavy and glam metal, but also with their spectacular concerts, scandals and fights. Since their 1987 debut album Appetite For Destruction, Guns N’ Roses have produced some timeless rock anthems including; Sweet Child of Mine, November Rain, Paradise City, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Don’t Cry, or Welcome to the Jungle. Love em or hate them, you’ll be singing along to them. This will definitely be a show to watch!
The EXIT Dance Arena is world renowned for its incredible energy and setting – set within the moat of the fortress walls, it’s the no 1 party destination for dance music fans from around the world. 2012 will be another year of unadulterated electronic music of the highest calibre with Laurent Garnier LBS, Azari & III live and Brodinski being the newest artists to be announced. From techno to electro to dirty house to house with a disco twist, the Dance Arena covers all tastes and will keep you dancing all night long. Pushing cutting edge new talent and tipping its hat to the old school, the music in the arena never disappoints and the experience of dancing with 20,000 people as the sun rises over the fortress walls is truly mind blowing!
On Sunday 15th July French electronic music pioneer Laurent Garnier joins EXIT for an unforgettable finale with his new tour entitled ‘L.B.S’. Only three letters but several different meanings: "Laurent + Ben + Scan X", "Live Booth Sessions", "Loud Bass & Samples", LBS is a new, very club orientated project that will bring together Laurent Garnier (DJ & machines), Benjamin Rippert (keyboards) and Stephane "Scan X" Dri (machines). Straight out of the DJ booths of some of the best clubs on the planet, L.B.S offers the best of both worlds by combining the versatility and flexibility of the DJ set with the ability to experiment tracks live. Two decks, a Rhodes, several keyboards and machines will be used to create organic improvised four-hour sets guaranteed to work the dance floor and keep those feet moving. Laurent Garnier explains a little about his project "I especially want to carry on creating and exploring whether through Dj-ing or playing live. But also, get even closer to the public than we can in a festival. During the live sections of L.B.S I will be developing and fine-tuning new tracks in front of (and with) the crowd to create the live of the future, but also to test out new tracks. We’ll be taking our time, something that isn’t really the done thing nowadays!!” Laurent has always pushed the boundaries of electronic music and we can’t wait to see what this new project has in store for the 20,000 strong Dance Arena crowd. Watch L.B.S at Nuits Sonores here for a taste of what is to come
Saturday 14th July will see the enigmatic Canadian Azari & III take to the stage for a live performance. Having received many rave reviews in 2011 and produced highly regarded tracks such as ‘Hungry for the Power’ and ‘Reckless (With Your Love)’, this mysterious act have been active under various pseudonyms since the mid-90s, and have experimented with every genre, from garage rock to house and disco. Numerous original tracks and remixes vary from melancholic numbers with a slice of ambient, all the way to dancefloor anthems knit together with techno. Controversies associated with the first video for ‘Hungry for the Power’ which was deleted from Youtube for explicit content only fuelled the hype around them, with the debut album named after the band itself, which was released in August 2011 on Tiga’s Turbo Recordings, earning exquisite scores from critics and fans alike.
On Thursday 12th July Brodinski will take to the decks, closing the first night of the festival. Brodinski is one of the most exciting young producers to have emerged on the scene in the past few years. His sets contain everything from hard techno, pumped up house to old school and the freshest hip hop. The Brodinski stir-up started in October of 2007, when his first single Bad Runner saw the light of day. Brodinski surfed on the waves of glory in the best possible manner – the second EP, Oblivion soon followed, for the label Turbo Recordings, which was later followed by a compilation named The Best of Everything. The next logical step for the 24-year old was the formation of his very own label, named Bromance, in November of 2011. Brodinski started this year with another boom, a remix of a track named ‘On'n'On’, by the French duo Justice.
First of the acts for the elclectic Elektrana Stage are Danish electro pop band When Saints Go Machine. The four-piece band was formed in 2007, and their debut album named 'Ten Makes a Face’ was released two years later. This all-boy electro pop band, often compared to the likes of Bloc Party and Empire Of The Sun, replaced the electro pop melancholy of the first album on their new release named 'Konkylie', with a more mature sound and energetic tones, leaning towards dance electro as opposed to the previous Scandinavian pop effect. Combining vocoder and a colorful downbreaking electro effect, though associated more with indie rock than electro, WSGM are tieing together a unique frame, creating a new echo in the history of electro pop.
LINE UP SO FAR: Guns’n’Roses, New Order, Richie Hawtin, Gossip, Wolfmother, Luciano, Laurent Garnier LBS, Miss Kittin, Azari & III, Buraka Som Sistema, Art Department, Maceo Plex, Reboot live, Brodinksi, Kenny Larkin, Robert Dietz, Maayan Nidam… with much much more to be announced!
TICKETS: Early Bird Tickets: £85 plus booking fee SOLD OUT Loyalty Club Tickets: £89 plus booking fee Standard Tickets: £95 plus booking fee Camping Tickets: £25 plus booking fee VIP Tickets: £220 plus booking fee
