Friday 26th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 27th August at Leeds Festival
THE HORRORS will take to the Festival Republic Stage as our headliners for what is sure to be two very special shows. After forming in the summer of 2005, the band quickly gained notoriety around London for their look, sound and brief but frantic live shows. Mixing shoegazing, post-punk and goth influences, expect The Horrorsto deliver one of those iconic Festival Republic Stage moments.
With a long awaited new album ready to drop on 20th June, DIGITALISM are all set to perform at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. The German duo make electronic music that everyone can rock to. Over the past few years, they have been the go-to men for indie remixes, having reworked the Klaxons, Futureheads and Cut Copy. With the new album featuring a track co-written with The Strokes front man Julian Casablancas, the record is sure to drag the indie kids back to their electronic party.
Five years on from his acclaimed debut album, TOM VEK is back. Vek spontaneously released his first album just as the digital age was dawning, then disappeared. Now he returns with his second album ‘Leisure Seizure’, released on 6th June on Island Records. An artist with a unique and singular vision, these sets are not to be missed.
Genre hopping four piece, WHITE DENIM, head to the Festival Republic Stage off the back of their critically acclaimed new album, ‘D’. Fiercely experimental and talented, The Guardian were moved to say “they cram more radical change into single songs than many bands managed in entire lifespans”.
One of the most talked about artists of 2011, ANNA CALVI is set for her first visit to Reading & Leeds. After a nomination in the BBC Sounds poll in January, Anna has since released her debut album through Domino Records, with The Evening Standard declaring that “her raw talent is undeniable: 2011 is Calvi’s for the taking”.
www.annacalvi.com
THE ANTLERS is Peter Silberman, Darby Cicci and Michael Lerner. With a new expansive sound on recent album ‘Burst Apart’, released via our Alternative Stage friends Transgressive Records, the plaudits are piling up and The Antlers look set to become one of the names of the festival.
FOSTER THE PEOPLE are “a band with greatness absolutely within their grasp” according to The Sunday Times. The three piece, who recently played their first UK shows, are now readying their debut album ‘Torches’ which is due out later this month.
New York punks CEREBRAL BALLZY have a reputation for being one of the most exciting bands on the circuit. With a sound compared to the likes of Black Flag, Minor Threat and early Beastie Boys this is a group that never disappoints live.
DRY THE RIVER are one of the one’s to watch at this year’s festival. After building momentum in 2010, 2011 has seen the band play rapturously received shows at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas (hailed by NME as one of the highlights of the week) and begin recording debut album, due for release later this year, with Peter Katis (The National, Interpol).
Knoxville’s ROYAL BANGS released their debut album in 2008 through Audio Eye Records, an independent label founded by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys. Trading instruments and production duties, band members Chris Rusk, Ryan Schaefer and Sam Stratton are now back with new album ‘Flux Outside’.
Exeter’s THE COMPUTERS released their debut full length album ‘This Is The Computers’ last month. There is no ambiguity or airs of pretension here. The Computers play sartorially-snappy supersonic rhythm and blues with larynx-shredding vocals. Rock Sound summed it up by declaring their sound as “50’s fuelled riffery and scream along gang vocals with an intensity that would make Chuck Berry roll in his grave”.
ISLET are liquid, rotating between instruments, singing, howling. Drum-duo breakdowns, splashes of guitar, searing organs. Playing music for the joy of the moment. Their second mini-album, ‘Wimmy’ was released in October 2010 and was recorded and mixed themselves in Cardiff, and affirms Islet to be one of the most exciting new bands that the UK has seen for a long time.
On a break from Queens of the Stone Age, Michael Shuman joined forces with long time friends Tyler Parkford and Zach Dawes to create MINI MANSIONS. Josh Homme describes the band’s sound as “genuinely psychedelic with huge hooks… after listening to Mini Mansions just once, you won’t be able to get it out of your head”. Be sure to get in the arena early to witness these sets.
Hailing from the blistering valley of Los Angeles and touted as rock’s new generation is CHERRI BOMB, a badass all girl rock band who have already shared the stage with such bands as Filter, the super group Camp Freddy and toured with the Smashing Pumpkins.
Saturday 27th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 28th August at Leeds Festival
After drawing one of the weekend’s biggest crowds last year, THE MIDNIGHT BEAST return as our Festival Republic Stage headliners. The internet sensations sent YouTube into meltdown last year with their cover of Ke$ha’s ‘Tik Tok’. If you haven’t seen them live yet, think of them as a musical version of the characters of The Inbetweeners, and be sure to catch them this summer at Reading & Leeds Festival.
NYC’s RIVAL SCHOOLS will remind us just what we’ve been missing when they return to the UK this summer. Since reforming in 2008 after nearly eight years away the band has been touring the US and Europe relentlessly, including a UK co-headline tour with…The Trail Of Dead. The pioneers of Post-Hardcore will certainly appeal to a whole new generation of fans now they’ve released their much anticipated third album ‘Pedals’.
Known for their unrelenting tours that has seen them play over 300 gigs since the start of 2009 Belfast’s finest AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR (ASIWYFA to their fans) are still going strong. From appearances at festivals around the world to a support slot for rock supergroup ‘Them Crooked Vultures’, we can look forward to the instrumental quartet’s subtle rhythms on the Festival Republic Stage
www.myspace.com/andsoiwatchyoufromafar
Since Forming in 2007 Chicago’s five-piece Indie rockers SMITH WESTERNS have managed to tour both the USand Europe while supporting the likes of MGMT, Florence and The Machine and Passion Pit, now they arrive at this year’s Reading & Leedssure to perform a storming set.
www.smithwesternsmusic.com
From being awarded with the critically acclaimed Australian Music Award to a personal request to support Foo Fighters, Australian four-piece CLOUD CONTROL are now set to unleash their collection of quirky, harmonic psyche-pop at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. Drowned In Sound declared “They have made a tremendously enjoyable album”. A tremendously enjoyable set is nigh.
www.cloudcontrolband.com
Recently signing to Lily Allen’s Sony imprint label ITNO, new rising talents in the shape of Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin make up the mystery and intrigue that lies behind CULTS. The duo have enjoyed huge critical acclaim for their eponymous album released this summer and have quickly gained the tag as a band not to miss live … so don’t!
www.cults.bandcamp.com
MARIARCHI EL BRONX, the Alter ego of LA rockersThe Bronx have released material under both identities previously and have recently announced a tour with Foo Fighters later in the year. The band always receive a rapturous response to their Mariachi-style performances and we expect nothing less this year.
www.mariachielbronx.com
Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi are the inspirations behind GROUPLOVE. After a US tour opening for Florence and the Machine and a debut album to be released later this year, we can certainly expect greater things to come from these US indie rockers, including a thrilling set at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival.
www.grouplovemusic.com
Camden’s TRIBES described by fanboys The Mystery Jets as “The future of rock’n roll”; a sentiment chimed by everyone from NME to Radio 1’s Huw Stephens. Their debut EP ‘We Were Children’ also gained Zane Lowe’s coveted ‘Hottest Record in the World’ status. The 4 piece will be coming straight back at us with their debut album later this year not to mention a rip-roaring set on the Festival Republic Stage.
www.myspace.com/tribesband
BIG DEAL were recently the NME Radar band of the week and they described them as “Armed with just an acoustic and electric guitar, the set-up may be sparse, but its bittersweet soundtrack certainly packs a punch”. This London duo are building a reputation as ones to watch so don’t miss their Big Star/Velvets/ woozy, sexy pop classicism inspired sound.
www.myspace.com/weareabigdeal
YOUNG THE GIANT completed their first UK tour in 2010 now the Californian quintet’s return to the UK is imminent as they prepare for a full-on set at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. Thanks to early radio support across the UK including Radio 1 and NME radio the band certainly have fans, including Morrissey who stated recently “I will be kneeling with gratitude on a hardwood floor for many years to come”
www.youngthegiant.com
Compared to The White Stripes and Cat Power, Brooklyn’s Blues rock partnership, Jessica Larrabee and Andy Laplant are the talented duo behind SHE KEEPS BEES. Their fiery, soulful sounds are sure to keep us wanting more when they perform.
www.shekeepsbees.com
Sunday 28th August at Reading Festival / Friday 26th August at Leeds Festival
We are proud to welcome the quintessential rock star PETER DOHERTY as a Festival Republic Stage headliner. After last year’s incredible performances with The Libertines, one of the best British songwriters of our generation returns in what is sure to be one of the highlights of the weekend.
www.albionrooms.com
BROTHER arrive as one of THE most talked about bands of 2011. With their Stephen Street produced debut album ‘Famous First Words’ out on 1st August, these shows are guaranteed to be the talk of both sites come the end of the weekend. Brother, with their classic British rock’n’roll sound and swaggering confidence, are quickly creeping into the nation’s consciousness.
www.acidlove.net
ED SHEERAN created a name for himself when he came to attention after posting a video through SB.tv displaying his diverse style. After extensive gigging, performing songs from his early EPs and albums he recently signed a well-deserved record deal with Atlantic. His talent is truly phenomenal.
www.edsheeran.com
THE TWILIGHT SINGERS arrive at Reading & Leeds on the back of the band’s critically acclaimed new album ‘Dynamite Steps’. Clearly the next chapter in an already long and stellar career for lead singer Greg Dulli, Dynamite Steps has been one of the best-reviewed albums of his lengthy career on both sides of the Atlantic and he will no doubt convert yet more disciples to his broad church. www.thetwilightsingers.com
We welcome COCKNBULLKID, aka, 25 year old Hackney resident Anita Blay. Having released her debut single back in 2008, she has been earning accolades ever since and in possession of one the most interesting, credible pop record of the year in ‘Adulthood’ which has seen her reach out to more fans worldwide.
www.cocknbullkid.com
Rising stars TWIN ATLANTIC released their debut album ‘Free’ earlier this year. The Glasgow rockers won rave reviews for the record, and with anthems from the Lostprophets and My Chemical Romance school of rock, be sure to get down the front for these sets.
Formed in 2006 Dublin’s FIGHT LIKE APES (FLA) have since toured the UK with The Ting Tings, The Prodigy and Kasabian. Their 2010 release ‘The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner’ won the Irish album of the year and they claim their influences to include B-movies, computer games, kung-fu and wrestling – don’t miss their ‘trademark twin-synth attack’.
www.fightlikeapesmusic.com
One of the UK’s brightest talents, BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH, released his debut EP ‘A Million Miles Out’ at the end of 2010 and quickly garnered praise across the board. Radio 1 DJ’s Zane Lowe and Fearne Cotton were vocal supporters, whilst Jo Whiley made ‘Atlas Hands’ one of her tracks of 2010. With his debut album out next month, be sure to catch this very special act this August.
Currently on tour with Gomez, LITTLE COMETS have been creating a buzz in all the right places since their intriguingly titled debut album ‘In Search of Elusive Little Comets’ was released in the New Year. The Guardian were moved to say “they’re your new favourite hip-hoppy, pop-rocking, uni gate-crashing, social networking band”.
Hailing from Manchester DUTCH UNCLES met at primary school and released their debut album ‘Cadenza’ for Memphis Industries earlier this year. Described by the band as “definitely pop music but hopefully with a little bit more for the listener to scratch beneath the surface” the group have mixed pop and indie and added something very special to the mix.
From the horse’s mouth – ‘NIGHTBOX believe the invention of the drum kit has improved humanity’s standard of living more dramatically than penicillin, sliced bread, and the wheel combined. The five band members have dedicated their life’s work to the primal bliss that rhythm brings, and their labours have consistently borne joyous, funky fruit’. Get your dancing shoes ready for these Canadian boys.
www.nightbox.ca
Sinister speed-punks FLATS yank together the spirit of every raucous punk band that’s come before them but give it their own inedible and thrilling spin. Their live reputation has been earned by continual visceral live shows and they are sure to wake up the day.
ROMANCE are a three-piece post punk group from London. After forming in 2008, the band are starting to make waves in all the right places. With influences such as Bauhaus and Siouxsie And The Banshees, they create a fresh reworking of the seventies Goth sound. See for yourself over the weekend.
www.istheromance.com
TICKETING INFO
Weekend tickets £192.50 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £82.50 plus booking fee • Early entry permits £15 • Weekend ticket prices include camping.
Tickets are strictly limited to a maximum of four per household for those booking by telephone or online and two per person for personal callers to walk in stores.
Credit Card line: 0870 060 3775 or online at:
Selected HMV stores, see websites for store listings.
