Kids in Glass Houses

18 news acts for Hard Rock Calling 2012

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Black Stone Cherry will jet in fresh from their US tour to join the Friday 13 July bill. Also confirmed for this year’s rock spectacular are Welsh rockers Kids in Glass Houses, Skindred, combining reggae and dancehall with searing thrash and punk, and indie rockers Life In Film.

Black Stone Cherry

Saturday 14 July sees Scotland’s Amy MacDonald return to Hard Rock Calling. She shot to fame in 2007 with the release of This Is The Life, an album which sold over three million copies. Following a storming performance at this year’s Coachella, Dawes have been added to the bill, as well as the acclaimed savior of blues, Gary Clark Jr, South Carolina’s NEEDTOBREATHE, rockers The Night and American singer/songwriter Jonathan Wilson.

Christina Perri, American songstress and ‘Jar of Hearts’ hitmaker, is back on UK shores and joins the Sunday 15 July lineup. She has recently been on tour with James Blunt and her album lovestrongdebuted in UK Top Ten. Following their 2010 reformation, internationally renowned Scottish rockers Big Country founding members Bruce Watson, Tony Butler and Mark Brzezick will play their first Hard Rock Calling.

Other exciting Sunday 15 July additions include BRIT-nominated indie band Guillemots, progressive bluegrass band Punch Brothers and virtuoso on the pedal steel guitar, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, who were chosen by none other than Eric Clapton to join him on tour. US acoustic country/folk singer songwriter Robert Ellis and London born musician Marlon Roudetten and Marcus Foster also join the bill.

This year Hard Rock gave fans a chance to have a say in who plays on the Hard Rock Calling 2012 main stage through the Hard Rock Rising global battle of the bands competition. A competition like no other, Hard Rock Rising had more than 12,000 band participants from 86 HardRock Cafe cities across the globe, more than 275,000 fan votes cast and celebrity judges including Hard Rock Calling 2012 performers Steven Van Zandt of the E-Street Band and Fyfe Dangerfield ofGuillemots. The Hard Rock Rising winner will be given the opportunity of a lifetime – a spot on the bill with rock icons at one of the world’s most anticipated music festivals.  Visit www.hardrock.com for winner announcements.

Committed to supporting music and emerging artists around the globe, Hard Rock International hosted more than 17,000 live music events worldwide in 2011.  The brand continues its dedication to live music and support of up-and-coming artists in 2012 with the Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands, providing a forum for today’s hottest new talent.  

"The Hard Rock Rising competition is a great opportunity for bands to be seen and heard – you get to end up playing on the same bill as Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band for a start!, said Fyfe Dangerfield And it's great that it's international – a band from pretty much anywhere in the world could win this. I'm really looking forward to watching the winners play their slot at Hard Rock Calling, whoever they may end up being!"

Complimenting a star-packed main stage will be the Hard Rock Rising stage. New to this year’s festival, the Hard Rock Rising stage showcases Hard Rock International’s connection to the new music scene and commitment to new bands. To bring fans the hottest new artists, Hard Rock again tapped into veteran rockers Van Zandt from The E-Street Band and Dangerfield of Guillemots, who will each curate the Hard Rock Rising stage for a day of the festival.

“It’s great to play a role in giving new artists valuable new exposure and the experience of a lifetime at Hard RockCalling.” said Steven Van Zandt. “As someone who has played the festival before, I know there’s no stage like it!”

Hard Rock Calling takes place 13-15 July 2012. The 2011 shows saw over 150,000 music fans flock to Hyde Park for an unforgettable weekend of live music.

Download Festival adds Refused, Kids in Glass Houses and more!

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The mighty Download Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with one of its biggest and best line-ups to date. Set to show crowds the shape of punk to come, Swedish hardcore punk band Refused will make their exclusive UK festival appearance at Download Festival. Earlier this year, the band announced their long awaited reunion; this is one come back show not to be missed! Additionally, hardcore punk rockers,Gallows, return to Donington for its 10th year with their new line-up, (including front man Wade McNeil, former Alexisonfire) and a new EP.

Refused

Dennis Lyxzén of Refused: “We´re very excited to have been given the chance by the people at Download to play the festival and meet our UK fans for the first time in 15 or so years. We played an unannounced show in Stockholm Friday night, it went great and we and can´t wait to bring this show to all the people that have been waiting for the last 15 years to see us.”

Giving Donington ‘what they want’, Kids in Glass Houses will return to Download festival following the success of their third studio album ‘Gold Blood’, released last year. Alternative Brit rockers Lower than Atlantis also join the bill for what’s set to be the ultimate 10th birthday celebration. Bringing the hardcore pop punk, American natives Four Year Strong are joining the line up with last year’s tour supporters nu metal Brits, Don Broco.

Hailing from across the pond, electronic producer Porter Robinson has also been added; storming onto the dubstep scene, he joins the lineup alongside Riverside rapper T. Mills. Other new additions include the likes of theatrical rock troupe, Fearless Vampire Killers, female fronted Kobra & The Lotus, German power metallers, Edguy and American blues rock band, Rival Sons, fresh of their UK support tour with Black Stone cherry. Sheffield superstars Black Spiders also return to Donington, following their Download debut in 2009.

A limited number of Day and Weekend tickets for Download 2012 are on sale now and available fromwww.downloadfestival.co.uk

Download RIP ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased viawww.livenationexperience.co.uk or by phoning 0207 009 3484.

The Temper Trap, Kids In Glass Houses and more added to Liverpool Sound City lineup

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Australian guitar band The Temper Trap have recently expanded to a five piece, ensuring a much bigger and more rounded sound for their second album ‘The Temper Trap’, which is released in May.  The release of their first album propelled them to international acclaim and their much anticipated return will see celebrated frontman Dougy Mandagi back in the north west for a must see show.

Temper Trap
Kids In Glass House’s infectious, hook laden rock has ensured a wildly devoted and rapturous young following and their huge riffs and choruses has led to widespread mainstream success.  This hot and sweaty show will be a Sound Cityhighlight.  Of a more gentle leaning is Irish singer songwriter, James Vincent McMorrow whose captivating songs sound both fresh and as if they’ve been in your head forever.  His live shows are simply spellbinding and James will be playing tracks from his debut album ‘Extracts From A Conversation’ as well as premiering new material.
 
One of the most talked about artists of the past 12 months, Django Django’s recently released debut album has more than justified the hype.  Their ultra modern strain of psychadelia has marked them out as a very special band indeed and attendance at this show is a must!  Canadian Tim Hecker plays a rare UK show at Sound City.  A favourite of Pitchfork and Wired magazine,
Tim’s cathedral electronic music explores the intersection of noise, dissonance and melody, mixing sub bass and static to mesmerizing effect.
 
One of Liverpool’s favourite acts, Space, have reformed and will be reminding everyone why they spent the mid nineties singing along to such distinctive anthems as ‘Female Of The Species’, ‘Neighbourhood’, ‘Avenging Angels’ and ‘The Ballad Of Tom Jones’.  Another act that have always refused to conform are The Wedding Present who have spent the last 25 years making bittersweet, breathtakingly honest, love songs that are immersed in whirlwind guitars.  Something of a national treasure, David Gedge will be performing tracks with the band from classic albums such as ‘George Best’, ‘Seahorses’, ‘Bizarro’ alongside more recent material.
 
Lower Than Atlantis have graduated from their early post melodic, hardcore to embrace a much grungier sound and have developed in one of the countries best live rock acts whilst Domino Records singer songwriter Eugene McGuinness will perform his angsty, carefree, hormone fuelled tracks that captivate audiences. 
 
Other acts confirmed to play at Liverpool Sound City include The Big Sleep, Willis Earl Beal, Thunderbird Gerard, Still Corners, Mugstar, Stealing Sheep, Stephen Langstaff, Sissy & The Blisters, The Kill Van Kulls, Electric Guest, White Arrows, The Night, Lulu James, EJ, Said The Whale, Don Broco, Futures, Dan Croll, Capac and Ex Easter Island Head.
 
Liverpool Sound City is much acclaimed for working with partner countries to identify the best of their emerging talent and provide a platform for exposure in the UK and 2012 sees some fantastic acts landing at John Lennon airport to perform in this historic music city.  New Zealand bring Pikachunes, Princess Chelsea and Midnight Youth to Merseyside whilst Australia are represented by Step Panther, Millions, Inland Sea, Ben Salter, Bonfire Nights, Oliver Tank, Wim, Jackson Firebird, The Bowers and Sietta.  Canadian acts are Jordan Cook, Kestrels, Ben Caplan and Slow Down Moasses whilst Denmark and Italy complete the international flavour with Strangers On A Train and The Second Grace respectively.
 
Further announcements will be made shortly about the Sound City convention, Expo and UK Music Student Awards, all parts of this multi faceted 3 day international music, media and technology event.  Liverpool Sound City continues to focus on the future, intent on bringing the best new music, film, art and more from all over the world to Liverpool. 
 
Last week’s inaugural New York Sound City was a resounding success, marking a significant move forward in Sound City’s international events calendar.  Established as a pre curser to SXSW, New York Sound City sold out a week in advance and was attended by a number of exceptional music industry talents – many of whom made rare appearances. 
 
The night time gig at Webster Hall featured a guest appearance from Jetlag, the new band of Andy Rourke from The Smiths, as well as performances from Paula I Karol, Tyburn Saints and the surely soon to be huge Dutch Uncles, whose irresistible shimmery songs captivated the audience. 
 
The date of New York Sound City 2013 will be Monday, March 11th, 2013.
 
Liverpool Sound City tickets are on sale at the following prices.
 
Sound City Live Festival Wristband – £30 – Price rise Monday April 2nd at midday
Sound City Delegate Pass – £120 – Price rise Monday April 2nd at midday

Full lineup for Live Fest announced

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Acts on the star-packed bill include mighty urban and hip-hop headliners N-DUBZ, R&B star TINCHY STRYDER, Urban Music Award-winning London based 

tinchy stryder

collective ROLL DEEP, grime sensation TEMPA T and  D’n’B massive DAN LE SAC Vs SCROOBIUS PIP. As well as DJ sets frompost hardcore rockers FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, alternative rock quintet KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES andindie rock act GUILLEMOTS.
 
Other acts confirmed are PEGASUS BRIDGE, British indie five-piece MISSING ANDY, PARADISE POINT, SATURDAY NIGHT GYM CLUB and MY ELECTRIK. Tickets for the event are priced at an early bird cost of just £25 and can be purchased from xxxxxx.
Programming will be spread over five venues within the famous London O2, from the glamorous Proud2 to Union Square, Inc Club, IndigoO2 and ASBaG, Live Fest has a huge variety of music genres to suit any tastes – so whether you’re into urban beats or rock, pop and hardcore, this is the festival for you!
 
With a range of stages and an out-of-this-world chill out space, festival goers can dance away into the early hours, or relax with a massage from the Famous Ibiza Angels whilst catching up on all the best acoustic sets – the possibilities at Live Fest are endless!
As if this wasn’t enough, the IndigO2 hosts the Grand National Finals of the Live and Unsigned competition as part of this massive indoor festival. All the best unsigned acts from across the UK will take to the stage in a bid to be crowned the best Live and Unsigned Act of 2011 To find out more about Live and Unsigned visit www.liveandunsigned.uk.com.

Live Fest’s Intergalactic Alien, Bob said: “This is going to a massive festival and a great day out. Headliners N-Dubz are sure set to blow the crowd away and alongside them we’ve got a great line up of top acts, we can’t wait to bring it on in July and rock the O2!”