As if the acts from Friday night didn't leave us excited about the rest of the weekend at Strawberry Fields, Saturday nights music was host to a few hidden gems of talent.
After being approached by the lead singer of These Mortal Cities asking if we could go and take some photos of them playing in the big top stage, we headed down in the afternoon to see what they had in store. Playing under the BBC introducing recommendations, we had high hopes that these were going to be something special, and we were right. The further into their set they got, more people began to fill the tent; dedicating one song to a little girl who was dancing around to their songs. Having a pop feel to their music, reminding me of a young one direction, these guys really got the crowd going, and seemed like genuinely nice people. I have high hopes for them in the future.
Later on came Lucy Rose on the main stage, the act performing prior to headliners 'The Enemy'. Sitting gracefully on a stool with her guitar, dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and jeans, she reminded me of an up and coming Taylor Swift; she was certainly a different to the other acts that had been performing throughout the afternoon. Her voice was incredible, with an acoustic chilled out feel, she really captured the audience and the crowds began to flock around her, enticed by her presence on the stage.
To follow Lucy were headliners The Enemy. Running 20 minutes late, the crowd was still in good spirit, and it escaped most people's attention that they were yet to appear. It was only one security guard I heard who seemed disappointed in them keeping the crowd waiting. But they appeared, a huge projection of 'The Enemy' filled the background of the stage, and the smoke began to create a rocky atmosphere. Not saying anything to the fans, they went straight into their set, probably aware they were running behind schedule. Their set set included 'Gimme the Sign' and 'Away from Here', to which the crowds were going crazy and a mosh pit began to form. Overall their performance was outstanding.
I spoke to a group of people afterwards about what they saw and they said 'They were amazing, definitely worth coming for!'. Lets see what Sunday has to offer now after incredible performances over the last 2 days.
The place was getting dark, and as the crowd began to gather round the main stage, eagerly awaiting jaguar skills, what earlier looked like a reasonably empty festival scene soon became a place of chanting and cheering, excited people running to get a spot at the front of the stage ready for the headliners to begin.
As the video game style booth set got wheeled onto the stage, the crowd began to go crazy as the wait for Jaguar Skills was almost over, and the night was about to kick off. The chanting began, people began stamping their feet and clapping their hands; he enters the stage, arms in the air, face covered with a black Balaclava, his opening line 'put your mother fucking hands up'. The party had started.
His set list included some chart toppers, including Kanye West Niggas in Paris, love me again and rhythm is a dancer. About half way through he shouted to the audience 'this is an illegal party'. People began screaming, drinks were sent flying towards the stage and people got on others shoulders and began singing along with the next song 'woo woo that's the sound of the police.' The choice to have Jaguar Skills headlining the Friday definitely got everyone ready for what was in store for the rest of the weekend, and with their outstanding performance, the crowd loved the show they put on,begging for another song at the end of the set.
Set to be one the many highlights of Unknown Croatia, the first wave of boat parties have now been announced, featuring an amazing series of collaborations between promoters, labels and DJs. Setting sail daily during the week, the boat parties will be a truly intimate experience with big name artists taking to the decks as revelers party out in the open water. Respected electronic labels and promoters renowned for putting on the best nights will ensure that each boat party hits the water with a line-up of leading and emerging DJs, all ready to provide the soundtrack for the ultimate summer setting.
Taking the helm for the maiden voyage will be Nicola Bear, Tom Grainger and The Straight Up DJs, while that evening will see The Sonic Emporium and The Last Waltz delivering an elcectic mix of house and techno. Festival-goers are invited to board the 20 Years of Kompakt boat party as Michael Mayer and DJ Koze celebrate the legendary record label with a night of German electronica. Phantasy fans will be delighted as the London label will be hosting a boat with head honcho Erol Alkan alongside Daniel Avery and Justin Robertson. Jackmaster is joined by fellow Numbers' founder Spencer for Tweak-a-holic, which faces fierce competition when Jamie xx, Four Tet and Floating Points head out into to water with Wax:On. AME and Dixon will be out in full force as they curate their own boat party with the pair's Innervisions label. With a serious passion for cutting edge, electronic dance music Bugged Out round off the week in true style with Julio Bashmore and Paul Woolford, while John Talabot, Pional and Marc Pinol climb on board for the Hivern boat party. Boat party tickets are available here.
Unknown is the brand new event from the creative minds behind Hideout Festival in Croatia, The Warehouse Project Manchester and Field Day London. Delivering eclectic and cutting-edge live and DJ performances, the debut collaboration promises to be both inspiring and diverse with a line-up that includes The Horrors, Jessie Ware, TEED, Jagwar Ma, Lulu James, Disclosure, Ame, Jamie XX, Richie Hawtin, SBTRKT and many more.
The simple booking system at unknowncroatia.com can facilitate purchases of all accommodation and tickets at the debut Unknown event. This includes many options from camping to five star luxury apartments available on the inclusive site in Rovinj, Croatia, on the serene and undiscovered Adriatic coastline that will soon host a special and memorable week of musical adventures for Unknown.
BOAT PARTIES HOSTED BY: 20 Years Of Kompakt / Beats In Space / Bugged Out / Ene & Esp / Hivern / Innervisions / Phantasy Boat / Tweak-A-Holic / Wax:On
BOAT PARTY DJ SETS FROM: Ame / Chida / Daniel Avery / Dixon / DJ Kent aka The Blackwoods / DJ Koze / Erol Alkan / Floating Points / Four Tet / Jackmaster / Jaime xx / John Talabot / Julio Bashmore / Justin Robertson / Love Fingers / Michael Mayer / Optimo / Paul Woolford / Pional / Spencer / Tim Sweeney
PROGRAMME LIVE: Clean Bandit / Disclosure / Django Django / Dutch Uncles / East India Youth / Factory Floor / Four Tet / Henrik Schwarz / Jagwar Ma / Jessie Ware / John Talabot / Jon Hopkins / Lindstrom / London Grammar / Lulu James / Moderat / The Horrors / Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
DJ: Ame / Craig Richards / Cyril Hahn / Daniel Avery / Daniele Baldelli / Death on the Balcony / Dixon / DJ Koze / Erol Alkan / FCL / Floating Points / Geddes / George Fitzgerald / Giles Smith / Jackmaster / James Holden / James Priestley / Jamie XX / Joy Orbison / Julio Bashmore / Justin Robertson / Kerri Chandler / Last Magpie / Maceo Plex / Man Power / Mark E / Mediate / Michael Mayer / Nicola Bear / Nina Kraviz / Oneman / Optimo / Paul Woolford / PBR Streetgang / Prins Thomas / Richy Ahmed / Richie Hawtin / Ryan Elliot / SBTRKT / Scuba / Subb-an / Tale of Us / The Sonic Emporium / Tiga / Tim Sweeney / Todd Terje / Trevor Jackson / Waze & Odyssey
Bad Passion Project / Bill Brewster / Chida / Coyote / Domenic Capello & Harri / Hardway Brothers / Eskimo Twins / Joe Hart / Last Waltz / Lock Tavern DJs / Lovefingers / Mike Jones / People Get Real / Renato / Scott Fraser / Shacklewell Arms DJs / Timothy J Fairplay / The Backwoods AKA DJ Kent / Toby Tobias / Tom Grainger / Youandewan
The sixth annual Camp Bestival came to a close this weekend, and married with ideal weather, a fantastic array of food stalls, and a friendly vibe, the musical line-up far exceeded expectations.
The action kicked off on the Castle Stage on Friday with the Jaipur Brass Band playing their infectious traditional Indian music among a splash of colour, followed by the impressive Kate Bush imitator Fake Bush.
The main stage action really picked up with a string of top performances; The Correspondents, Camp Bestival favourites, whipped the crowds up with their zany mix of hip-hop, drum 'n' bass and funk; The Farm took the whole field back to 1990 with a set including 'Stepping Stone' and the anthemic 'All Together Now'; and Irish rock royalty Ash played a fantastic career spanning set of hits including the wide-eyed innocence of early breakthrough 'Girl From Mars', 'Shining Light' and the all-out stomper 'Orpheus'.
Getting out of the welcome sun, we headed to the Big Top, and caught Max Romeo, late replacement for Toots & The Maytals, mid set. A raucous crowd lapped up the Reggae legends set, and the roof nearly came off for 'I Chase The Devil'.
Staying in the Big Top, London Grammar, the first of the weekend's true up-and-coming new bands, took to the stage, and the three-piece's beautiful and moody set was one of the highlights of the festival. Hannah Reid's vocals reminiscent of Florence Welch, and a musical undercurrent with hints of The XX and Massive Attack, their impending album is now a must buy.
Veering away from music for a while we stayed to watch John Cooper Clarke, and while the legendary Punk Rock Poet was in fine form, his set was slow to begin, blighted by a bleed of sound from the Bollywood Dance Tent – a disturbance which blighted many of the acts in the Big Top. Friday's headliner was guitar icon Richard Hawley, fresh from having headlined Bridport's Electric Palace the night previous. We went back to the main stage with muted expectations, and it made what followed even more special. Hawley's languid and soulful vocals, and sublime guitar, made for a low energy but fully engaging set, with 'Tonight The Streets Are Ours' a real festival moment.
On the way back to the tents we stopped off for a late night treat in the form of the dark and humorous Filthy Boy, the young group show a sound and style beyond their teenage years, and single 'Waiting on the Doorstep' was a particular stand-out.
Saturday, as usually is the case, had the strongest line-up. The day began with kids' hero Mr Tumble delighting the packed main stage field, followed by the Horrible Histories show. Using the kids entertainment as an excuse to explore the other entertainment and food on offer, we took in some of the extreme sports in the Freesports Park; walked through the Dingly Dell; cleared our heads with fresh coconut water; and proceeded to eat brunch at the incredible Young British Foodies. The tent was a popular stop for meals at any time of day, offering everything from smoothies and waffles, to sushi and venison burgers.
Saturday's musical offerings kicked off with american songstress Lissie, whose bluesy LA rock was the perfect accompaniment to the rapidly rising sun. Next up was one of the sets of the weekend. Gabrielle Aplin, who last year played the bandstand stage at Camp Bestival to around 100 people, has jumped into the public eye following a Christmas advert hit, and subsequent number 2 album. The 20-year-olds main stage set included a breath-taking cover of 'The Power of Love', as well as hit singles 'Panic Cord', 'Home' and brilliant cover of the Fleetwood Mac favourite 'Go Your Own Way'.
Camp Bestival favourites The Cuban Brothers were next up, mixing hilarious quips from frontman Miguelito with high energy latin-flavoured party funk. The rapidly growing Castle Stage crowd were at once laughing hysterically and dancing madly! Spinning his wheels of steel, Grandmaster Flash took the generation-bridging crowds hip-hop, jazz, rock and more. The church silence allowed for a break from the searing heat, and on the way back to the tent from Grandmaster Flash, I managed to catch the last few songs from country blues newcomer Valerie June. The Tennessee native performed some of the fantastic roots-inspired tracks from her brilliant debut album 'Pushin' Against a Stone'.
Returning to the main stage, Camp Bestival's 'special guest' Mark Owen mixed songs from this new album 'The Art of Doing Nothing' with Take That classics, including what has become his signature tune 'Shine'. Surely a highlight for many of the mums in the field! Heading to the Big Top for the last time on Saturday, Clean Bandit produced a set of set of unique dance music, incorporating huge club beats with classical string parts. The Cambridge quartet had the crowd eating up every track, and seem destined for big things.
Closing off the main stage on Saturday, Kid Creole & The Coconuts return to the Camp Bestival stage for a 30s and 40s inspired party set, channelling the spirit of Cab Calloway, and leading into main headliner Levellers. The festival favourites produced a set of high-energy folk-rock, with 'Beautiful Day' a soundtrack anthem for a sun-drenched Saturday.
The Castle Stage kicked off with cider swilling old boys The Wurzels, and was followed by the shanty-singing Skinny Lister, who joined the crowd in a drink and a good dance. Sunday afternoon really got going and went back to the 80s with Nik Kershaw, playing hits including 'The Riddle', 'I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me', and 'I Am The One and Only', the hit Kershaw wrote for Chesney Hawkes. Heaven 17 followed Kershaw, performing a rapturously received set kicking off with '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang' and also featuring 'Penthouse and Pavement', and huge hit 'Temptation'.
Camp Bestival favourites Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip return for their first performance for three years in the Big Top next. Their unique combination of Pip's spoken word/rap/poetry and Le Sac's bass and beats went down a storm, although the set was slightly marred by the Bollywood bass once more. Before closing act Labrinth, we stayed after Dan Le Sac v Scroobius Pip for comedy headliner Alan Davies, and support from Ian Stone. Stone's near-the-knuckle repertoire was well received, and Davies' hilarious parental anecdotes were the perfect material for 'family-friendly' Camp Bestival.
The finale for the 2013 event began on the Castle Stage with Labrinth, – Sunday's musical headliner – who delivered a surprisingly good set featuring singles 'Earthquake', 'Beneath You're Beautiful' and a cover of Tinie Tempah's 'Pass Out' (a track Labrinth collaborated on). The Castle Field was at full capacity at this point, awaiting the always popular firework spectacular, and the show didn't disappoint. Son Et Lumiere's show, projecting a wonderful animation based on the festival's 'Around The World' theme, was brilliantly interspersed with a pyro display to match any other.
The Summer Festival Guide caught up with Mitch from Karybdis before their performance at this years Bloodstock. See what they had to say about festivals, and what they have in store for the crowd on the New Blood Stage.
SFG: What was the first thing you did this morning? Karybdis: Kissed my girlfriend!
SFG: What will be the last thing you do tonight? Karybdis: Have a shower
SFG: What item do you most regularly put on your festival rider? Karybdis: Water!! Cold water. If we get a rider at all that is.
SFG: What is the strangest thing you have seen at a festival? Karybdis: A woman with pink hair on pink stilts walking around clutching an enormous bag of weed chatting to a police officer.
SFG: What is your pre-performance ritual? Karybdis: Stretches, warm-ups, and we all cross swords and recite the pledge of allegiance.
SFG: What has been your favourite festival of the year so far? Karybdis: Tech fest was a lot of fun, but I think Bloodstock will be the best!
SFG: What gig are you most looking forward to next? Karybdis: Bloodstock baby!
SFG: What would be your dream place to play a gig? Karybdis: Sydney opera house
SFG: Who would you love to tour with? Karybdis: Me personally? LOG. Chris Adler is the reason I started playing metal 5 years ago.
SFG: To those that don't really know you, sum up the band and what it represents in one sentence Karybdis: A mixture of melo-death, metalcore and groove metal, with big epic choruses and black dahlia style vocals.
SFG: How did you come up with the name Karybdis? Karybdis: Thinking about amazing stories – Homers 'Odyssey' came to mind.
SFG: What surprises are the crowd in for this year at Bloodstock? Karybdis: If we told your they wouldn't be surprises!
SFG: When can we expect the next album and what can you tell the fans about it? Karybdis: We have just completed a new single, which sounds incredible. We are in a writing stage at the moment, and we are surprising ourselves with the stuff we are writing! We are still shopping around for studios and producers, but once that is decided it won't be long!!
Be sure to catch Karybdis at Bloodstock 2013 on Friday at 4.00pm performing on the New Blood Stage.
We caught up with Betreaus before their performance at this years Bloodstock where they are performing on the Sophie Lancaster Stage. Check out what they had to say about festivals, what the fans can expect at Bloodstock and more!
SFG: What was the first thing you did this morning? Betreaus: Set my alarm to snooze.
SFG: What will be the last thing you do tonight? Betreaus: Finish prepping for Bloodstock!
SFG: What item do you most regularly put on your festival rider? Betreaus: A stripper, but we never get one.
SFG: What is the strangest thing you have seen at a festival? Betreaus: Our roadie nearly cutting his ear off trying to squeeze his head under a fence.
SFG: What is your pre-performance ritual? Betreaus: Trying to order a stripper.
SFG: What has been your favourite festival of the year so far? Betreaus: Techfest.
SFG: What gig are you most looking forward to next? Betreaus: The lineup for Euroblast 10 looks pretty damn tasty,
SFG: What would be your dream place to play a gig? Betreaus: Wembley Stadium.
SFG: Who would you love to tour with? Betreaus: Gojira.
SFG: To those that don't really know you, sum up the band and what it represents in one sentence Betreaus: We're a young british metal band, writing the music that we want to.
SFG: How did it feel to win the BOA 'Metal to the Masses' comp? Betreaus: It felt like all of our hard work up to that point had paid off, amazing!
SFG: What can the fans at Bloodstock look forward to for your performance on the Sophie Lancaster Stage? Betreaus: New material; heavy, atmospheric and progressive.
SFG: What is coming next for Betraeus? Betreaus: Finishing and releasing our debut full length album! Watch this space…
The biggest ever Tennent’s Vital just got bigger… With one week to go until tens of thousands of music fans descend on Boucher Road Playing Fields for three days of incredible live music, Tennent’s Lager and MCD are thrilled to reveal that Northern Irish legends The Undertones, the hugely in-demand rapper/songwriter/producer sensation Naughty Boy and Dublin rockers The Minutes will complete the Tennent’s Vital 2013 line-up. Organisers have also announced that the gates will open at 4.30pm each day over 14th – 16th August.
The three acts announced today complete an ultra-impressive bill bursting with the hottest acts on the planet. Tennent’s Vital 2013 kicks off on Wednesday 14th August, when Kings of Leon, The Vaccines, The Undertones and The Minutes take to the stage on the opening day. Snow Patrolplay a massive homecoming show (their only European date this summer) when they headline Day 2 of the festival, which also features Jazon Mraz, Kodaline and Foy Vance, with Avicii, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental, Naughty Boy and Tommy Trash continuing the party on Day 3.
Iconic punk/New Wave legends The Undertones are sure to receive a rapturous reception when they play Day 1 of Tennent’s Vital. The Derry band reformed in 1999 to the delight of music fans across the globe, winning over a new generation of fans with classics from their seminal back catalogue such as Teenage Kicks and Here Comes The Summer. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the release of their seminal debut single Teenage Kicks, and fans can look forward to hearing all the hits in Belfast next week.
After spending years penning and producing hits for the likes of Rihanna, Wiley, Professor Green and Chipmunk, Naughty Boy (aka producer Shahid Khan) deservedly emerged into the spotlight in his own right with the smash hit Wonder feat. Emeli Sandé. Its chart-topping follow-up La La La is currently dominating the charts as the tune of the summer, and has well and truly cemented his status as one of the hottest new rapper/producer stars around. Having co-written and produced Emeli Sandé’s record-breaking, million-selling Our Version of Events, the unstoppable pair team up once again on his hotly anticipated forthcoming single Lifted, with the Scottish songstress also lending vocals to his debut album HotelCabana, which also features a guest spot from fellow Tennent’s Vital act Tinie Tempah.
Dublin rockers The Minutes complete the line-up. Channelling raucous, high voltage garage rock ‘n’ roll with elements of the blues and gospel, they went down an absolute storm at Tennent’s Vital last year and will make a welcome return to Belfast this summer when they play Day 1 of the festival.
The countdown to the biggest ever Tennent’s Vital continues tonight at The Limelight in Belfast at the second of two official Tennent’s Vital warm-up parties. Fans can register for tickets for the warm up parties on facebook.
The Ibiza Rocks brand is pushing the boundaries once more with the launch of Ibiza Rocks the Snow this winter. In collaboration with specialist winter sports operator, Ski France, this new niche European ski operation is focused on the UK youth ski and snowboard market, for those with a strong interest in music. Starting with 3 x 7 night holidays in Winter 2013/14, Rocks is off to the super cool slopes of Meribel, France for its very first winter adventure.
Holidaymakers will get to live the Rocks lifestyle for 7 days and 7 nights in this premier ski resort as Ibiza Rocks takes the party to the piste, bringing the coolest new live acts and DJ’s along for the ride. As well as the signature Ibiza Rocks live gig and W.A.R! event during the week, there will also be daily après ski events hosted by the UK and Ibiza’s top clubbing brands, street parties, pool parties, terrace parties, ice parties and much more. 7 nights to ski by day and party by night plus an expert host team to help guests live and breathe the Rocks experience. With a choice of quality accommodation options at great value (hotel / apartments / catered chalets), this is the perfect holiday for first time skiers as well as seasoned pro’s who also want to party.
Right in the centre of the Three Valleys in the largest ski area in Europe, Meribel’s slopes are perfect for skiers and boarders of all levels. For non-skiers, the resort has plenty to do during the daytime with tobogganing, snowmobiles, husky dog rides and an ice skating rink. Hugely popular with UK skiers and boarders, Meribel is a stunning Alpine town with an intimate village feel. Where it really comes into its own is with its legendary après ski and nightlife. Super cool bars and clubs make this a winter party wonderland. Mix this up with the sounds of Ibiza and travellers are set for a new and unforgettable Rocks holiday experience.
Andy McKay, CEO, Ibiza Rocks Group said: “Ibiza Rocks is a groundbreaking group and this is another first. As a youth lifestyle focused travel company, we are uniquely positioned to bring music centric holidays into the winter market and to bring the world famous Rocks atmosphere to the heart of the Alps. Ibiza Rocks is not just an event or a holiday, it’s a whole lifestyle and we can’t wait to take the spirit of Ibiza Rocks from the poolside to the piste this winter!”
Louisa van Vloten, MD, Ski France said: “Ski France is really excited to be part of this new venture with Ibiza Rocks, which we hope will bring a new generation to the mountains and reinvent the traditional ski package. This will redefine après ski. It’s about time something new came along and we’re proud to be part of Ibiza Rocks the Snow. Méribel is going to rock”
THE DATES: WEEK 1 (14—21 DEC ‘13), WEEK 2 (8—15 FEB ‘14), WEEK 3 (29 MAR—04 APR ‘14)
THE OFFER: Flights, transfers, accommodation and all the parties from only £399pp (ski pass not included). Strictly limited places and low deposit of £50 until 30/09/13.
FOR MORE INFO & TO BOOK VISIT WWW.IBIZAROCKSTHESNOW.COM
Having sold out of the 5000 tickets that were on sale for this years Standon Calling, we were pretty excited about seeing what this small little festival based in Hertfordshire had to offer.
It was the first time since its inception that Standon Calling has sold out, and it had good reason to! The lineup was no short of spectacular with Bastille, Digitialism, De La Soul, Band of Skulls, DJ Yoda and more performing across the stages over the weekend.
On top of that, this years theme was “Running from the Circus” and there was a number of circus based activities taking place through the different arenas. The wonderful trapeze school provided a number of “ohhhs”, “ahhhs”, “woohooos” and other reactions from the crowd as the punters took their hand at all sorts of acrobatics on the learning Trapeze structure.
Walking around the grounds we could see that a number of people made the effort to dress up in their favourite circus acts. There were plenty of face painted kids running around, lots of shiny and tight lycra pants and a other circus costumes.
Being quite a small festival, it was no effort walking around to check everything out. There was plenty of food and drink selection for everyone. This year Standon Calling implemented a cash less transaction scheme whereby each festival goer was given a wristband on entry which was then topped up via Cash and used to purchase food and drinks. Personally I thought this was a good system, it saved having to go through wallets for money and it seemed to make the process of buying things quite streamlined. At the end of your weekend a cash refund was given for any remaining money.
There is a huge family friendly tag associated to Standon Calling and the kids had plenty to keep them entertained. A swimming pool, arts and crafts and children dedicated area’s like “The Little Den” made sure that there was something for everyone!
Musically, there is plenty to see. De La Soul closed out the main stage for this year with a smashing performance. Having being slightly delayed due to some sounds issues, Kelvin, David and Vincent aka De La Soul came out full of energy to a huge crowd which had descended to the main area to catch the hip hop legends. Getting the crowd involved by asking the audience “Who wants to hear some hip hop” and ripping straight into their massive back catalogue of tunes such as “Take it off“, “Oooh“, “Me Myself and I“, “Stakes is High” and more, they had the crowd waving their hands in the air and bouncing about during the entirety of their set.
One of the most memorable parts of De La Soul’s set was when they requested that everyone (and I mean everyone) put one hand up in the air. They even had all the photographers and security waving hands up and down whilst they videoed the reaction from their phones on the stage. Having seen them years ago, De La Soul were a pleasure to watch again bringing to a close what was quite a spectacular year for Standon Calling.
Earlier on in the day, we checked out London Grammar whom I had never seen live before and was really impressed. Hannah Reid has amazing vocals and managed to pack out the Big Top with the crowds running in to catch this new band perform hits from their debut EP ‘Metal & Dust‘. London Grammar were ecstatic to see just how many people were in the tent, even mentioning very young kids which were up on the shoulders of parents watching.
Alunageorge also took to the Big Top stage to show why they are in so much demand this year after their massive hit ‘Attracting Flies’ smashed the charts around the world. Having been nominated for the Brit Awards, this musical duo had the crowd shuffling their feet to their electronic infused sound.
Gentlemen’s Dub Club, Chloe Howl, London Afrobeat Collective and Rotten Hill Gang also performed on Sunday to a crowd which had witnessed a number of great performances over the weekend.
As small festivals in the UK go, Standon Calling has to be one of the best festivals we have ever been to. Everything from the music, to the facilities, and the organisation of the event was spot on. It has a little something for everyone and still has that independent festival vibe running through it that just makes it something more special.
Check out more photos from Standon Calling 2013 here
We managed to pull Hex from States of Panic out of the studio for a few moments to talk to him about their upcoming show at Bloodstock, festivals and their new album!
SFG: What was the first thing you did this morning? Hex: Opened my eyes…… To find myself still in the studio.
SFG: What will be the last thing you do tonight? Hex: Close my eyes, and fall asleep in the studio
SFG: What's the first thing you put on your festival rider? Hex: For me, definitely a can of Monster energy! It is essential for gig days….and most other days….if I'm being perfectly honest, every day. I think I might have a problem!
SFG: What is the strangest thing you have seen at a festival? Hex: I saw a group of about 6 people all wearing pikachu onsies at download, at first I was fairly weirded out by it but then remembered I was at download and it didn't seem so strange any more.
SFG: Do you have a pre-performance ritual, if so what is it? Hex: Apart from tanking up on Energy drinks and general gear preparation we have a warm that we do. We kick everyone out the dressing room and put on Andrew WK's Party Hard then run on the spot for the verses and Jump during the choruses. Sounds ridiculous when you explain it to someone but it is great for getting the heart rate up before the show.
SFG: What has been your favourite festival of the year so far? Hex: The only one I've been to so far was Download so I'd definitely have to say Download!
SFG: What gig are you most looking forward to next? Hex: After Bloodstock we have a lot of really exciting gigs lined up but I think the one I'm most excited for is Trashfest over in Finland in October!
SFG: Where would be your dream place to play a gig? Hex: That's a tricky one, if you mean in terms of venue I'd say a underground tunnel quite like the video for Slither by Velvet Revolver purely for the video footage. In terms of geographical location there are a million places I'd love to go, I want to play everywhere!
SFG: Who would you love to tour with? Hex: Would love to tour with a band like Escape the Fate or Dead by April. They are two of my favourite bands and it would just be cool to share a stage with them.
SFG: Having played a festival before, what if the main difference between this festival and others you have performed at? Hex: I'm not sure but I'm excited to find out! I think the crowd will be different to download but will hopefully respond well to the onslaught of chaos we're about to unleash upon them!
SFG: What surprises are the crowd in for this year at Bloodstock? Hex: I think we will be a surprise ourselves as we are quite different from the rest of the line up in a lot of ways. I think there will be a few people getting a bit of a fright. Hopefully the good kind!
SFG: When can we expect the debut album and what can you tell the fans about it? Hex: We are currently in the process of smoothing out all the songs ready to send to the producer which should be happening over the next week or so but the next step is for us to release a music video for our second single. I can't give away too much yet but the song is sounding huge and the ideas are going to be epic!
SFG: To those that don't really know you, sum up the band and what it represents in one sentence. Hex: We are the alpha and the omega.
Photo courtesy of Dom Bower Photography
Merely tipping their hat to monsters of rock past, States of Panic combine old-school, modern metal, electronics and synth, twisting their sound into something fresh and new.
Their aggressive, high-octane crowd assault exudes a raw authenticity that channels the self-destructive spirits of the New York Dolls, spiked by the anti-establishment rebellion of Rage Against the Machine.
States of Panic provide a soundtrack for a generation disillusioned by plastic politicians and unemployment, reflecting the pent-up angst and restlessness of a youth sick of war, seedy statesmanship, lack of prospects and lack of hope. A troubled band for troubled times.
But despite the dystopian themes and subject matter behind the band, the music is anthemic and energetic, encouraging fans to be aware of social injustices, the importance of self-worth and to realise the power that we possess collectively.
Are you ONE OF US?
States of Panic are:
Johnny Gunn – Vocals Rusty Gill – Lead guitar Hex – Bass Dagan – Rhythm guitar Hammy – Drums
