From 8th till 11th July 2021 EXIT will once again welcome people from over 100 countries to gather at one of the biggest medieval fortresses in Europe, set high on the banks of the river Danube in Novi Sad, Serbia.
First headliners that are revealed include one of the most influential music producers and Grammy awarded artist David Guetta, two-time leader of “Billboard’s” singles list and one of the biggest hip hop acts Tyga and DJ Snake, the author of many popular global hits and winner of two Billboard awards. A special moment is left for the finale end when one of world’s most in demand DJs Eric Prydz and the acclaimed electronic artist Four Tet will join forces for a special b2b set to create one of the most iconic closing performances at the spectacular mts Dance arena stage. Exit’s 20th anniversary simply couldn’t pass without the powerful Sepultura, a legendary metal band with fourteen albums and some of the riffs which have left a mark on rock music in general. After last year’s magnificent performance, Dax J is set to bring the flame of techno in a furious b2b with Kobosil. The line up will also feature the new generation of EXIT stars including german DJ and producer Boris Brejcha, indie heroes Metronomy, Grammy Award winner for lifetime achievement and live punk icon Marky Ramone, swedish rock sensation Thundermother, Denis Sulta, and leading regional music artist such as Laibach, Marko Nastić, Goblini, Massimo, Coeus, Kristijan Molnar b2b After Affair, Lag, Layzie, Runy, Space Motion. These are just the first round of confirmed acts, many new names and surprises will be announced soon.
Described in some quarters as setting a new benchmark for music festivals, Houghton announces a progressive and eclectic group of names for its third edition on 8th-11th August 2019.
After making arguably one of the most successful debuts of recent times in 2017, the festival opted to make only minor improvements to its simple and refined approach in 2018. In 2019, the festival is staying true to its ethos and is continuing to incorporate art, music and sculpture into the beautiful surroundings of Houghton Hall, Norfolk.
The musical programme reflects Craig Richards’ eclectic taste, while continuing the festival’s tradition of encouraging long extended sets and unique live acts, across bespoke and cutting edge sound systems from German manufacturer d&b audiotechnik.
As always, Houghton casts a spotlight on an array of rising talent and experimental artists. They have also confirmed plans to expand and develop the Pinters stage format, offering a unique 360 soundscape listening environment for jazz, ambient and experimental sounds and inviting artists that promise to explore all of the corners of the musical spectrum. Estonian violinist and vocalist Maarja Nuut, the rapidly rising Object Blue, UK jazz pioneers Matthew Halsall and the Elliot Galvin Trio, German dubtronica trailblazer Pole, and the abstract and beautiful musings of Soundwalk Collective are all appearing
After extraordinary sets last year, the heavyweight returnees include Ricardo Villalobos, Helena Hauff,Ben UFO, Optimo, Hunee, Seth Troxler, Jane Fitz, Pearson Sound, Andrew Weatherall, Joy Orbison, Powder, Midland and Call Super, whilst debut appearances are lined up for Four Tet, Bruce,DJ Stingray and Biosphere amongst many others, as Houghton‘s lineup extends to include even more of the most influential figures in electronic music.
Jensen Interceptor is one of Australia’s finest electro exports and Mark Ernestus’ Ngadda Rhythm Force is an unmissable live band prospect from the hugely influential techno producer. There are also sets from Carl Finlow as Silicon Scally, Vancouver protege D. Tiffany, Floating Points and uniquely Jerry Dammers of The Specials. Palms Trax showcases his deep-digging gems, Calibre and dBridgeoffer up their unique strain of thunderous bass music and Gerd Janson will be showcasing his eclectic genre spanning commitment to the scene. Harvey Sutherland, Flanger, DMX Krew, Radioactive Man and acclaimed composer Ricardo Romaneiro all deliver live sets unconfined by genre, with Juju & Jordash uniting with Move D to become Magic Mountain High for a welcome live return.
From its early inception back in 2007, Field Day has evolved across two days, heightened its levels of production, expanded its culinary and extra-curricular activities, yet always remained true to its core values – impeccably curated music at the heart of everything it does is. Continuing this ethos Field Day are honoured to announce PJ Harvey for a London exclusive in 2016 on Sunday the 12th June.
Since her first album Dry – a record Kurt Cobain considered one of the 20 greatest albums ever written – PJ Harvey has received worldwide acclaim for her unique, restless artistic vision. The recipient of multiple awards, she is the only artist to have won the Mercury Music prize twice, first with the platinum selling Stories From The City: Stories From The Sea in 2000, then over a decade on with 2011's Let England Shake.
2015 has found PJ Harvey breaking more new ground, releasing her first volume of poetry and writing and recording her as-yet-untitled 9th studio album in front of live audiences inside an architectural installation at Somerset House.
Awarded an MBE for services to music in 2013, her headline slot will be a Field Day exclusive and be the first UK live, full band show since she played at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011.
FIELD DAY 2016 – Saturday
Elsewhere at their decade celebrations, Field Day Saturday will see long time friend of the festival Four Tet play a key slot on the Eat Your Own Ears Main Stage."One of the UK's most dedicated club DJs, capable of holding a room in sweaty excelsis for eight hours without pause." He's restlessly dedicated his life to creating other-worldly club music, with his timeless productions sounding like they've been beamed from another dimension.
All-conquering grime superstar Skepta graces Victoria Park with his presence as he continues to bring grime kicking and screaming into 2016. A new album imminent with a reportedly all star cast of collaborators, his ascendancy continues at pace. Get set to get Shutdown.
Led by the enigmatic frontman Bradford Fox, Deerhunter bring their gloriously shape-shifting genres and sounds, vacillating from post-punk to pop, auspiciously under the all-encompassing umbrella of indie-rock.
Floating Points has won over crowds around the world with his strictly vinyl club sessions, spanning, house, techno, soul and disco, steadily climbing the ranks of the globes most impressive DJ's. Floating Points will bring his enchanting full band show to Field Day Saturday, for a mesmerising performance filled with warm electro weaves and delicate euphoria.
Mercury Prize nominated and this year's rising star SOAK will also appear on Saturday, along with a further line-up which veers into corners as diverse as Cass McCombs blending rock, folk, psychedelic, punk, and alt country, plus Yorkston Thorne Khan, which encompasses the mighty Scottish folk nobility of James Yorkston.
Founded in 1970, the six piece Senegalese Afro-Cuban, Son, Wolof and Pachanga band Orchestra Baobab, are hailed as one of Africa's great iconic bands, producing more hits in less than a decade than other bands in a lifetime. Elsewhere, Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band will bring their mix of traditional Thai sound with echoes of folk-rock, blues and dub to a Field Day stage.
Renowned for their beautifully blissed out sound, London duo Mount Kimbie come to Field Day on the Saturday and will be joining DJ Koze who was recently selected to mix the 50th edition of !K7's seminal DJ Kicks series. Also up on the Saturday is Motor City Drum Ensemble – a much in demand artist who over the the past few years he's cemented his reputation as one of the top ranking record pioneers making Resident Advisor's Top 20 DJs last year.
One of the biggest names in the German electronic music scene and part of the Robert Johnson family, Roman Flügel is also on Saturday's line-up. A chameleon visiting many styles from ambient to house, techno, electro and leftfield. Special Request, the rugged alias for house and techno stalwart Paul Woolford is inspired by the unruly conventions of UK pirate radio stations, with productions span from murky house through darkside techno to chaotic eye-of-the-storm hardcore/jungle tear-outs. Also joining Saturday's bill will be the dynamic house duo Dusky, who in just three years have asserted themselves as leaders of the UK underground.
Live electronic acts come in the form of Holly Herndon, Kink and Red Axes. Holly Herndon brings her unique blend of glitching, bewitching electronics and choral voices to her sonic performance. Recent album Platform, co-released on 4AD and the peerless RVNG Intl has seen another step forward in her production and gained her further plaudits far and wide.
Hailing from Sofia, Bulgaria, Kink's an enigma in many different forms and will perform one of his much-lauded live sets at Field Day. Tel-Aviv producers Dori Sadovnik and Niv Arzi have been performing together for a long time, first as post-punk band Red Cotton. It's with their current Red Axes incarnation that they've struck gold, touching on stripped back slow mo techno.
Ghanaian musician Ata Kak, was the first ever post on The Awesome Tapes from Africa blog which spawned the hugely influential label. Obaa Sima has gone on to transcend genres and appeared in an unbelievable array of DJ's sets since. Ata Kak comes to the UK to play Field Day for what will be his first time out of Ghana. Special.
Performing new live music for the first time, Wild Nothing, the American five piece indie rock/dream pop band from Virginia, will bring their shimmery, synth-washed indie pop recordings to Field Day Saturday. While Trevor Powers' a.k.a Youth Lagoon, will provide the Festival goers with an insight into his ever mind expanding and varied productions.
Producer, DJ and software developer Avalon Emerson and electronic music producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mura Masa also join for the Saturday, along with Dean Blunt, an artist renowned for consistently delivering compelling and unpredictable performances and the terrifyingly gifted Meilyr Jones.
FIELD DAY 2016 – Sunday
On Sunday, hailing from Buchanan, but now ensconced in Iceland, singer, song-writer and honesty purveyor John Grant joins the bill alongside PJ Harvey. His third solo studio album, 2015's Grey Tickles, Black Pressure featured several guests such as singers Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl and Amanda Palmer. In 2014 John Grant was nominated for Best International Male Solo Artist at the BRITS and appeared on UK TV show, Later with Jools Holland in early October this year, accompanied on stage by a band including several backing singers and special guest Budgie.
Also on Field Day Sunday, Baltimore dream-pop duo and masters of the lullaby, Beach House are known for creating music which is dark, dreamy, and alluringly hypnotic. Since their formation in 2005, Beach House have charmed indie music enthusiasts across the blogosphere with their languid songcraft, and the eerie warmth of "Apple Orchard" landed on Pitchfork's Infinite Mixtape MP3 series in August 2006.
Swedish psych-rockers and master of the on-stage costume, GOAT will bring their unique sound to the main stage. The indie-informed and highly electronic adept Junior Boys, are back with a much lauded new album this year including a synth cover of Bobby Caldwell's 'What You Won't Do For Love'.
Elsewhere on Sunday's cohesive yet eclectic line-up, Glaswegian DJ royalty duo Optimo will be representing. JD Twitch of Optimo's Autonomous Africa, Optimo and Optimo Trax labels responsible for some of the most incredibly diverse releases of recent time. Former Sonic Youth frontman will also bring The Thurston Moore Band to the Sunday Field Day crowd.
BBC 6Music resident, and member of the best-selling duo Everything But The Girl, Ben Watt will play with his band featuring Bernard Butler, whilst Molly Nilsson's synth-pop also comes to the fore. Plus many more to be announced complete another classic Field Day Sunday.
Our own king of the ones & twos Rob da Bank says: “The Port is one of our finest achievements at Bestival, with some pretty stiff competition from all the other inventive constructions that have gone down over the last 12 years. A massive ship seemingly anchored into the grass at Robin Hill complete with smoking funnels, rusty portholes and all topped off with a crazy crew of nautical nutters dancing day and night in laser beam ecstasy.
“I cannot wait to see what Skrillex will pull out the bag for a Sunday finale. Sonny hasn’t been to Bestival for four years so a lot has changed for all of us, and I think The Port is gonna be very special that night. Especially because, as anyone who’s seen Mark Ronson DJ knows, they’re in for a massive treat, too – a sublime Sunday night double-header, even if I do say so myself. I love Annie Mac’s back to back extravaganza – great concept and some amazing talent, and our Friday techno and disco explosion will kick it all off nicely. All aboard for another insane party at The Port!”
Making his return to Bestival, we are absolutely ecstatic to be able to announce the mighty Skrillex will be ramping up the late night action on Sunday. A trail blazer of electronic dance music, he’s a six-time Grammy award winner, and a global icon, so you can guarantee when he drops the magic, it’s gonna go off. Fierce beats and rib-smashing bass ahoy!
He might know a thing or two about ruling the pop charts but Mark Ronson has got fat beats flowing through his veins. A true master with a pair of turntables, his sets are consistently devastating, spanking dancefloors into submission worldwide. Add in a touch of HMS Bestival’s own special magic and you’re on course for some truly euphoric last night shenanigans. Not to be missed.
With Annie Mac taking the reins on Saturday showcasing a series of very special back to back rinses, and Seth Troxler large and in charge on Friday, we really could keep you dancing all weekend long. And we just might, with sets from Four Tet, Tale of Us, Guy Gerber, Jackmaster, David Rodigan MBE, Hannah Wants, Mistajam, Erol Alkan, Andrew Weatherall, Greg Wilson, Toddla T, High Contrast and London Elektricity.
We’ll also have the very welcome return of Croydon’s finest, Benga, plus Special Request, Horse Meat Disco, Monki, Mele, Wookie, Slimzee, Etherwood, Fred V & Grafix, Dynamite MC, The Heatwave, Kiwi, Low Steppa, Logan Sama, Mella Dee and Flava D.
It’s not just a dance stage, it’s a life changing experience. Make sure you get yourself to The Port this September for a blissful summer of love.
Love Saves The Day are delighted to announce their line-up for 2015. Taking center stage as Saturday's headliner will be the soulful South Londoner and 'Wildest Moments' singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. Tale Of Us, the Berlin-based musical duo who are currently re-writing the rule-book for deeply moving, emotional electronic music will also be present, whilst Fabric resident Craig Richards takes over the Futureboogie stage, alongside Brighton deep house producer Leon Vynehall, the exceptional German duo Âme, and Maxxi Soundsytem, known for his classic house vocals and catchy grooves.
Other names on the bill for Saturday include London duo Gorgon City, fresh off the back of recent hits 'Ready For Your Love' and 'Here For You', plus Hannah Wants, a lady who has taken to the forefront of the hard-hitting bass house scene, with recent hit 'Rhymes' alongside Chris Lorenzo. Also joining the Wide Eyes stage will be Tourist, the producer who made waves with his remake of HAIM's 'The Wire' and Bristol based house and bass production duo GotSome.
Love Saves The Day also welcomes ManMakeMusic label owner George Fitzgerald to the Second Stage, alongside the hugely popular Newcastle-based Patrick Topping. Elsewhere festival goers will be able to catch Bristol's very own Julio Bashmore, 'Heart On Fire' singer Indiana and Crazy P, an electronic group renowned for using slinky underground disco, deep electronic throbs, shimmering pop moments. Bristol based club night-turned-label Just Jack will also be hosting their very own stage on Saturday, showcasing Dyed Soundroom, Soundstream, K15 and recent signings Will Martin and John Barera.
Other names on Saturday's bill include: Artwork, Bodhi, Christophe, Disciples, Felix Dickinson, Kidnap Kid, Lapsley, Matt 'Jam' Lamont, Rae Morris, Session Victim, Shanti Celeste, Sly One, Tayo, TCTS, Vaults, Waifs & Strays, Work It and Woz.
Sunday 24th May…
Day two of the Festival welcomes New York rapper, singer and songwriter Azealia Banks, who catapulted to fame following her universally popular 2012 hit '212'. Also gracing Sunday's main stage will be American recording artist and one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing Grandmaster Flash, as well as the gorgeous R&B vocals and chilly, metallic production of Kelela.
The CRACK Stage will host an impressive array of dance music heavyweights including the diversely eclectic Four Tet, Phantasy label owner and BBC's Radio 6 Mix Resident Erol Alkanand renowned vinyl specialist Floating Points. Daniel Avery will also bring his mind-bending, psychedelic sounds to the stage, alongside the extremely talented Ghost Culture.
Rapper and grime artist Skepta will be present on day two of the festival, alongside drum & bass and jungle legend Shy FX. Bristolian Redlight will bring his mixture of house, breakbeats and dubstep to the Trap stage, also joined by the multi-award winning garage DJ EZ and the Black Butter crew's My Nu Leng.
Other names on Sunday's bill include: Babyhead, Barely Legal, Champion, Dark Sky, Dazee, Dismantle, Dr. Meaker, Hodge, Joker, Jus Now, Kiko Bun, Klose One, Loyle Carner, New York Transit Authority, Newham Generals, Pinch, Rat King, Stormzy, Typesun and Wiley.
Amsterdam becomes the centre of the global dance music scene for five days showcasing over 2000 international artists
With just three weeks to go, the preparations are in full swing for the nineteenth edition of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), the world's biggest club festival and leading conference for electronic music. Today the organization has finalized the already impressive festival line-up with the addition of new names. The five-day ADE Festival, which takes place from 15 to 19 October, will showcase a record number of 2,224 national and international artists from 57 countries.
More than 400 journalists, 5000 conference delegates and an expected 350,000 festival visitors are set to travel from all over the world to the city of Amsterdam, as the ADE, an initiative of Buma, puts the international spotlight on Amsterdam for five full days.
Unique locations across every part of the city The ADE Festival offers a hugely varied program, taking place across 85 of the cities most diverse locations. From traditional clubs and music venues like Melkweg, Studio 80, Paradiso, Trouw and Escape, to post-industrial sheds in the NDSM shipyard and the Westergasterrein, as well as rather more unusual venues like the Concertgebouw, the Compagnietheater and the Amsterdam Arena, alongside newly incorporated venues like the Volkshotel and the Tolhuistuin, the ADE Festival is truly the biggest club festival in world.
New acts revealed today: Anja Schneider (DE), Antal (NL), Armin van Buuren (NL), Bassjackers (NL), Ben Klock (DE), Ben UFO (GB), Black Coffee (ZA), Buraka Som Sistema (PT), Carl Craig (US), Chuckie (NL), Dash Berlin (NL), Detroit Swindle (NL), DJ Harvey (GB), DJ Jazzy Jeff (US), DVS1 (US), Falco Benz (NL), FKA Twigs (GB), Floating Points (GB), Four Tet (GB), François K (FR), GAIA (NL), Goldfish (ZA), Heidi (DE), Hieroglyphic Being (US), Hunee (DE), Interstellar Funk (NL), Jackmaster (GB), Jamie Jones (GB), Job Jobse (NL), John Dahlbäck (US), Jon Hopkins (GB), Joy Orbison (GB), Julio Bashmore (GB), Kevin Saunderson (US), Knarsetand (NL), Legowelt (NL), Magda (Poland), Mano Le Tough (IE), Marcel Dettmann (DE), Martin Garrix (NL), Martyn (NL), Mathew Jonson (CA), Matthew Dear (US), Max Cooper (GB), Michel de Hey (NL), Mike Mago (NL), Mind Against (IT), MR Probz (NL), Osunlade (US), Outbreak (AU), Paul Oakenfold (GB), Pete Tong (GB), Prosumer (GB), Robert Hood (US), Ron Morelli (US), Ron Trent (US), Secret Cinema (NL), Seth Troxler (US), Seven Davis Jr (US), Skream (GB), Soul Clap (US), Steve Rachmad (NL), Subp Yao (NL), Surgeon (GB), Talaboman (ES & SE), Tale Of Us (IT), Tama Sumo (DE), The Prophet (NL), tINI (DE), Tommie Sunshine (US), Tommy, Four Seven (DE), Traxx (US), Tripeo (NL), Voices From The Lake (IT), Wildstylez (NL), William Kouam Djoko (NL), Young Marco (NL)
These acts join a total of 2,224 acts performing at this years event, including: A Made Up Sound (NL), Adam Beyer (SE), Adana Twins (DE), Afrojack (NL), Alan Fitzpatrick (GB), Alex Bau (DE), Andy Moor (GB), Axel Boman (SE), Ben Sims (GB), Benny Rodrigues (NL), Black Asteroid (US), Black Sun Empire (NL), Blacknecks (GB), Blawan (GB), Bugge Wesseltoft (NO), Butch (DE), Camo & Krooked (AT), Catz 'N Dogz (PL), Chase & Status (GB), Chris Liebing (DE), Christian Smith (SE), Danny Daze (US), Dave Clarke (GB), David August (DE), Davide Squillace (IT), De Sluwe Vos (NL), Deep Dish (US), Derrick May (US), DJ Koze (DE), DJ Pierre (US), DJ Rush (US), DJ Stingray 313 (US), DJ W!LD (FR), Dollkraut (NL), Dominik Eulberg (DE), Dubfire (US), DVS1 (US), Eats Everything (GB), Extrawelt (DE), Funkinevil (Kyle Hall & Funkineven) (US & GB), Gaiser (US), Gary Beck (GB), Green Velvet (US), Gregor Tresher (DE), Gui Boratto (BR), Guti (AR), Guy Gerber (IL), H.O.S.H. (DE), Hardwell (NL), Henrik Schwarz (DE), Hot Since 82 (GB), Joey Beltram (US), John Digweed (GB), Joris Voorn (NL), Joseph Capriati (IT), Julian Jeweil (FR), Karenn (GB), Karotte (DE), KiNK (BG), Kollektiv Turmstrasse (DE), Kölsch (DK), Kryder (GB), Laurent Garnier (FR), Loco Dice (DE), Lunice (CA), Maceo Plex (US), Maetrik (US), Marcel Vogel (NL), Marcellus Pittman (US), Martin Buttrich (DE), Matador (IE), Max Graef (AU), Maya Jane Coles (GB), Michael Mayer (DE), Monika Kruse (DE), Mount Kimbie (GB), Nic Fanciulli (GB), Nicky Romero (NL), Nicole Moudaber (GB), Nina Kraviz (RU), Noisia (NL), Nuno dos Santos (NL), Oscar Mulero (ES), Pan-Pot (DE), Pleasurekraft (US), Popof (FR), Rebekah (GB), Recondite (DE), Ricardo Villalobos (CL), Robag Wruhme (DE), Rødhåd (DE), Rustie (GB), Sasha (GB), Scuba (GB), Shadow Child (GB), Solomun (DE), Speedy J (NL), Stefano Noferini (IT), Stephan Bodzin (DE), Super8 & Tab (FI), Ten Walls (LT), The Magician (BE), Tom Trago (NL), Truss (GB), Zoot Woman (GB) and many more.
The full list of confirmed acts can be found at www.a-d-e.nl
The world renown Barcelona International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art otherwise known as Sonar add fifty new artists to its already amazing lineup.
These are the artists joining the Sónar 2014 line-up: CHIC feat. Nile Rodgers, Röyksopp & Robyn, DESPACIO (James Murphy + 2manydjs), Lykke Li, Neneh Cherry, James Murphy, 2manydjs, Boys Noize, Trentemøller, Loco Dice, Todd Terje, Kid Koala's Vinyl Vaudeville, Audion, Spoek Mathambo, DJ Snake, Four Tet DJ set, BFlecha, Dâm-Funk, Future Brown, Brodinski, Forest Swords, WhoMadeWho, 2020Vision presents Debukas, Paul Woolford and Ralph Lawson, FM Belfast, Kaytranada, Matthew Dear, Camo & Krooked, Machine Variation, Daniel Miller, Henry Saiz, Daito Manabe, Unsound presents Robert Piotrowicz and Oren Ambarchi with Sinfonietta Cracovia, Chris Madak aka Bee Mask, Hucci, Tarek Atoui, Roll The Dice, Sibot, Professor Angel Sound, Sinjin Hawke, Astroboyz, Koreless, T.Williams, Throwing Snow, Emufucka, Louis Baker, Trancemicsoul, Suzanne Kraft, De La Montagne, Leo Aldrey, Harald Björk, Rudi Zygadlo, Jolly Mare, and Love Cult.
Check here the complete list of artists confirmed so far
Sónar 2014 has finalised its main line-up with 50 new artists, headed by the legendary Chic, with Nile Rodgers at the helm. The festival will also present performances by several Nordic artists with their finger very much on the pulse, including Neneh Cherry, Lykke Li (both presenting new albums at Sónar), the Röyksopp + Robyn duo, Todd Terje and Trentemøller, as well as immersive digital experiences byAudion and Daito Manabe and visionary artists such as Dâm-Funk, Kid Koala, Forest Swords, Henry Saiz and Oren Ambarchi, who will be performing with Sinfonietta Cracovia in a joint collaboration between Sónar and Unsound Festival in Poland.
An unprecedented music listening experience: six hours playing vinyl, all three days of Sónar by Day
One of this year’s highlights is DESPACIO powered by McIntosh, a new concept of a listening experience that brings together James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem / DFA) and 2manydjs to focus their finely honed skills on partygoers’ experience through a meticulously chosen selection of music and spectacular-quality high-fidelity sound. On all three days of Sónar by Day, James Murphy and 2manydjs will be playing vinyl records from their own collections for six hours (from 3.30 pm to 9.30 pm) in a specially designed space featuring a circle of seven speaker stacks as part of a one-of-a-kind 50,000 W sound system. Since space is limited, admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
A live history of dance music
Chic and Nile Rogers need no introduction. Universally acclaimed as one of the greatest dance bands of all time, with such immortal hits as “Le Freak” and “Good Times”, their popularity recently went through the roof when their leader, Nile Rodgers, worked on Daft Punk’s new album—not to mention their interplanetary success with “Get Lucky” and collaborations with Disclosure and Tensnake. Their legendary Sonar 2006 concert was one of that year’s highlights and this year’s performance has all the signs of being equally stunning.
Nordic excellence
After the huge success of Sonar Reykjavik and Sonar Stockholm in February, the Nordic scene will continue its onward roll in Barcelona with the likes of Swedish Neneh Cherry (who’s back with a new show and new album, produced by Four Tet, in collaboration with RocketNumberNine), Lykke Li (also presenting a new album) and Robyn, who’s teamed up with Norwegian duo Röyksopp and also appears on a track on Neneh Cherry’s album. Sonar will also be rolling out the red carpet for the Norwegian king of space disco Todd Terje (with a new LP coming out in April) and popular Danish musician Trentemøller, who’ll be performing songs from his recent album “Lost” with a complete band of musicians on stage.
Immersive experiences and avant-garde sound
Always eager to keep up with the latest technological innovations in audiovisual creation and performance, Sonar will be presenting shows that are total immersive experiences, fashioned out of complex languages embracing art, sound and technology. One striking example will be Audion’s performance, and highly acclaimed Japanese creative technologist Daito Manabe will give a live interactive concert combining video mapping and contemporary dance. In addition, US artist Matthew Dear will present his techno project with a powerful show designed by the creators of ISAM (Amon Tobin) in which an A-shaped mechanism responds to live audio impulses created by the artist.
Avant-garde languages are always at the fore at Sonar and this year is no exception. Forest Swords will be revealing their perfect fusion of atavistic dub, ancestral folk and filmic guitar lines in the spirit of Ennio Morricone. Taking risks and searching for new concepts are the aims of the new partnership between Sonar and Unsound Festival in Poland, which will take the shape of two concerts for music connoisseurs: Oren Ambarchi and Sinfonietta Cracovia’s clash between synthetic and classic; and intense, microscopic electronica by Robert Piotrowicz, who regularly works with Kevin Drumm and Ambarchi himself.
Groove in their DNA
Funk and hip hop are in the DNA of three iconoclastic artists who will be at Sonar by Day: Kid Koala returns with a new show, Vinyl Vaudeville 2.0, which features turntable mischief and revamps classic genres of black music (funk, blues, jazz) in a contemporary cabaret format; Dâm-Funk will be bringing vintage synthesisers and drum machines to thrill partygoers with their sizzling retro-futurist boogie-funk; and Spoek Mathambo will be at the helm of Fantasma, a supergroup of South African musicians who fuse the country’s house and psychedelic traditions into a powerful, vibrant sound.
Names from the Spanish scene
Sonar by Day welcomes two of the leading lights on the current Spanish scene. Madrid-based Henry Saizwill premiere a new live show in which he will play songs from his latest album on the Natura Sonoris label with a wide range of acoustic instruments. And Galician Belén Vidal, aka BFlecha, will do the same with some of the many gems on “Beta”, an album that forges a new path for synth pop and electronic R&B sung in Spanish.
Having performed to sold out crowds all over Europe, Melt! goers will have yet another chance to see Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington a.k.a. Darkside live. Four Tet will make a welcome return to the City of Iron to bring us the latest tunes from his 2013 release, ‘Beautiful Rewind’ and the UK band, Bombay Bicycle Club, will celebrate their Melt! debut raising the indie quota with their guitar-laden sound. In 2013, SBTRKT got behind the decks in Ferropolis. This year, festivalgoers can see him live on stage with brand-new material. Clean Bandit, who have been topping charts all over since the release of their hit single, ‘Rather Be’, will also be on hand get party revellers in the mood with their charismatic electro pop tunes.
Performances and sets by DVS1, George Fitzgerald, John Grant, Ja, Panik, John Talabot (DJ-Set), Jungle, Markus Kavka, Kid Simius (live), Of Montreal, Pantha du Prince (live), Planningtorock, Pretty Lights, S O H N, Son Lux, Tale of Us, Tourist, WhoMadeWho and Wolf Alice have also been confirmed.
Sónar Barcelona 2014 presents Massive Attacks new show as well as Richie Hawtins Plastikman making a return to Spain with an exclusive performance of his Objekt live concept.
Massive Attack have chosen Sónar Barcelona to present a brand new show which will move a step further their ongoing audio visual exploration of agitation propaganda and technology.
Massive Attack will play Sonar 10 years after their previous performance and following the acclaimed series of groundbreaking and extraordinary shows designed and staged by Robert Del Naja and film maker Adam Curtis in Manchester, Duisberg and New York. For this new Massive Attack show Robert will again co-design, creating a compelling collision of music, art and political discourse.
Massive Attack (a worldwide reference for electronica) was founded in 1988 by Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Their debut album 'Blue Lines' contained the single 'Unfinished Sympathy', one of the 10 best songs in music history, according to a survey by The Guardian. Following their first release were albums: 'Protection', 'Mezzanine', '100th Window' and 'Heligoland' as well as numerous singles and countless remixes making up one the most personal repertoires in experimental pop music over the last 25 years. Plastikman at Sonar by Day and Richie Hawtin’s Close show at Sonar by Night Sonar 2014 will present both sides of Richie Hawtin's musical character over two days: from his own new recordings and live show Objekt as Plastikman at Sonar By Day, to his new standpoint on modern day performing as Richie Hawtin with Close in the main hall of Sonar By Night
Richie Hawtin, the globally recognised key figure of electronica, will update his recording alias Plastikman. Richie Hawtin's Plastikman will make a return to Sonar with the exclusive European performance of his developing 'Objekt' live concept – debuted at the Guggenheim in New York last month. Hawtin and his team created an entire new audio and visual experience for the Guggenheim – inspired by the room he was asked to perform in. Plastikman will return to Sonar in 2014 with the new music, visuals and a special variation on the obelisk that his team created for the landmark art event.
On a different day at Sonar by Night, Hawtin will headline with his new performance concept, Close. The new show is designed to bring audiences closer to the performance of a modern day electronic artist with the assistance of highly-advanced cameras and intimate lighting. Hawtin will give full transparency to the improvisation and technological manipulation in how he plays all which helps set him apart from the traditional definition of a DJ. Leading lights in contemporary electronica The first batch of confirmed artists also includes purist bastions of electronica like Four Tet; James Holden (Border Community head honcho), with a unique staging of his stunning album "The Inheritors"; Jon Hopkins will perform live his techno album "Immunity" (heralded as electronic release of the year); Oneohtrix Point Never aka Daniel Lopatin, one of the most amazing artists to appear on the experimental scene in recent years and who will present his new audiovisual show; and Matmos, creators of an extremely elaborate IDM, who will convert the Sonar stage into their own private experimental laboratory.
Sonar 2014 will also enjoy incredible shows from Bonobo, who will present his new kaleidoscopic electronica album "The North Borders" with one of his spectacular live shows; Woodkid, the French multidisciplinary artist enjoying a meteoric rise in recent months, a natural creator incorporating design, advertising, video and music; and Moderat, an alliance of Berlin’s electronic scene’s foremost representatives (Modeselektor + Apparat) presenting their new album 'II'.
Dance music, implicit in its multiple forms, will feature in the hands ofCaribou, the Canadian musician and mathematician Dan Snaith, who has chosen Sonar to present one of his limited shows before the release of his next album; Gesaffelstein artist name for Parisian musician Mike Levy, will present on stage 'Aleph', his acclaimed debut album, and I am Legion, the band formed by British hip hop group Foreign Beggars and Dutch dubstep trioNoisia.
There will be no shortage of talented newcomers like Evian Christ, the youthful dj and producer for label Tri Angle, who is making some of the most futuristic beats for Kanye West and Matthew Barney;Jessy Lanza, the Canadian signed to prestigious label Hyperdub, who will present her celebrated and atmospheric debut album "Pull My Hair back"; Copeland, the female element of enigmatic and unpredictable duo Hype Williams will present her as yet unreleased new work; Majical Cloudz, the pop art duo based in Montreal; the festival’s up and coming artists like Happa, aka Samir Alikhanizadeh, whose music at the tender age of 16 already stands out as the most exciting and brutal techno around today;Nisennenmondai, Japanese instrumental power trio; or Clipping., the Californian rap noise trio…
Some of the national artists performing at next year’s festival will beBalago, the experimental post-electronica and synthetic kraut group; Downliners Sekt, the Catalan-French duo who will present a brand new album and live show; Desert, dream pop’s best kept secret; and Pau Roca, one of the national scene’s most prominent house djs.
Unknown marries live shows from platinum selling credible artists such as Mercury Music prize nominees Django Django and Brit nominated Jessie Ware, the young duo conquering the horizon Disclosure meet those from underground contemporaries and persistent innovators Four Tet, Actress, Innervisions idol Henrik Schwarz and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, following recent awards from BBC and Time Out for his 2012 album.
Attendees will stumble across mysterious and bespoke design projects interweaved with the most forward-thinking new music combining an abundance of live acts, band performances and traditional DJ sets. Unknown has invited DJs with a wealth of house music history such as Kerri Chandler and 2012’s most prominent star, Daniel Avery and his mentor, Erol Alkan, who remains one of the most admired DJs of our time. Patrons of the burgeoning UK bass and nu-house music scene SBTRKT, Jamie XX, Julio Bashmore, Floating Points and Joy Orbison illuminate the latest rumblings from the underground electronic music quarry.
Unknown has invited Glaswegian duo Optimo to come armed with their eclectic bag of tricks, the skills of dexterous wizardsJames Holden and DJ Koze plus house maestro Michael Mayer, whose captivating artist album last year on his own Kompakt label set him firmly back in the spotlight. Those chasing dreamy soundscapes and classic sounds will be nourished with Todd Terje, Prins Thomas and Tim Sweeney. With over forty artists from all musical persuasions in the first wave of artists on the bill, Unknown looks set to be an event beyond all proportions.
In addition to the artists, brand partners creating diverse onsite activity at Unknown include longstanding club champions Bugged Out and secretsundaze, flagship imprints including Erol Alkan’s Phantasy, Michael Mayer’s Kompakt, Dixon and Ame with Innervisions and Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels as they reach a decade of releases and Leeds Mono Cult as well as Jukebox and Unit 44.
Set in a stunning purpose-built location in North Croatia, Unknown is set to be unlike any other events in the region, offering cutting-edge music alongside engaging production details courtesy of Mad Ferret productions resulting in a truly unforgettable experience. Early Bird tickets are now on-sale at £99 from www.unknowncroatia.com
The combined forces of these promoting giants have been responsible for the UK's biggest and most infamous dance music event, The Warehouse Project, London's coolest urban festival, Field Day and one of Croatia's earliest and most talked about events, Hideout, which recently sold out in a record time of under 2 months in its only its third year. Their partnership together for Unknown has been formed with the aim of creating an experience not yet achieved by any other events in Croatia. Providing live music and special performances throughout the day and night as well as exclusive performances in unique locations alongside an assortment of surprises, Unknown dares to step into bold new territory with this new project.
Tom Baker of Field Day says of the collaboration,“I’m really thrilled to be working with Hideout and The Warehouse Project on a brand new event that combines brilliant live bands alongside some of the best and cutting edge DJs in the world, in a setting of glorious sunshine, clear blue skies and wonderful beaches!! What could be better!"
Unknown will be situated in the picturesque town of Rovinj in Northern Croatia, where rolling hills and crystal waters surmount the high-end purpose built Amarin resort. The site is a model setting to host a dream event with secluded forest areas, strung hammocks and secret stages, delivering a wonderland of adventure for the entire week.
Unknown accommodation will be available on Tuesday 19th February with an array of options. The resort includes camping facilities amidst an enchanted forest and forest lodges that overlook the beautiful Adriatic Sea. Two, three and four-star hotel rooms and apartments will also be available just moments from a magnificent Blue Flag beach offering beautiful views of Rovinj’s famous old town. The Unknown site is intimate and facilitated with everything those in attendance could possibly need on their doorstep.
The resort opens from the evening of Sunday 8th September, with the event beginning on Monday 9th September with daytime activities and pre-parties and headline artists performances from 10th. Croatia has experienced an influx of events catered to Europeans through recent years, in which time Hideout has secured a strong place on the horizon. It’s easy to see why it appeals for return trips with guaranteed good weather, stunning outdoor music locations and laidback vibes. Unknown delivers on all these levels and more so promises to be the ultimate way to see out the end of the summer for Croatia in 2013.
NB All accommodation is contained on site and that event tickets are only valid with an accommodation booking.
PROGRAMME
LIVE Actress / Disclosure / Django Django / Four Tet / Henrik Schwarz / Jessie Ware / Lindstrom / Moderat / Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
DJ Ame / Cyril Hahn / Damian Lazarus / Daniel Avery / Daniel Baldelli / Dixon / DJ Koze / Erol Alkan / Floating Points / Francesca Lombardo / Geddes / Giles Smith / James Holden / James Priestley / Jamie XX / Joy Orbison / Julio Bashmore / Kerri Chandler / Michael Mayer / Optimo / Prins Thomas / Richy Ahmed / Scuba / SBTRKT / Subb-an / Tim Sweeney / Todd Terje
