Chilly Gonzales, Van Dyke Parks and more added to Latitude 2012 lineup

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Joining fellow pianists Lang Lang and Rufus Wainright on the Latitude bill is larger than life musical personaChilly Gonzales who will appear in the Film & Music Arena. The Grammy-nominated, classically trained Canadian is not your average pop star. He’s a bone-fide jazz virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, MC and producer who regularly collaborates with the likes of Peaches, Feist and Drake – Chilly is a musician who is impossible to pigeon-hole! Moving on from his early hip hop and electronic albums, 2004 saw the release of his highly praised entirely instrumental album, Solo Piano, and the much anticipated follow up, Solo Piano II, is due out later this summer. Having personally requested to play Latitude this year due to its well deserved reputation as a highlight of the UK festival season, Chilly will be treating audiences to one of his famously comical and musically astonishing live performances…we can’t wait! Van Dyke Parks and Britten Sinfonia will be performing a special show to coincide with the long-awaited reissue of three of Van Dyke Parks' most visionary albums. Performing a career-retrospective set featuring full orchestral accompaniment from Britten Sinfonia, if you don’t know Van Dyke Parks, now is the chance to immerse yourself in a uniquely eclectic and daring landscape. Parks may be best known for penning the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ legendary sixties masterpiece Smile; more recently his arrangements helped shape Joanna Newsom’s epic album Ys. But the true riches of Parks’ talent lie in his first three solo albums, Song Cycle (1968), Discover America (1972) andClang Of The Yankee Reaper (1975).

Staying with the Film & Music Arena Mark Lamarr is presenting his God’s Jukebox, Latitude favourite, hosting a selection of the finest artists from the worlds of Soul, Ska, Reggae, Country, Gospel and Rap. The first of four fabulous additions to the God’s Jukebox bill is none other than Wanda Jackson, the Queen of Rockabilly. Having performed on the Obelisk Arena in 2011, Latitude is delighted and honoured to welcome Wanda back to a more intimate setting. With a career spanning over 50 years, which has seen her collaborate with everyone from Elvis Presley to Jack White, audiences are in for a magical time with an absolute legend. Also performing on the God’s Jukebox bill is Los Angeles singer Gizzelle whose stunning voice recalls 50’s blues, 60’s soul and rhythm and blues; London rocksteady crew The Delegators, who are known for their electrifying live shows; and perennial party starters Big Boss Man will be on hand to get crowds moving with their beguiling blend of soul jazz, boogaloo and sixties grooves. Latitude headliner Paul Weller is a massive fan and with that stamp of approval, expect nothing less than a funky good time.

Stalwarts of the leftfield electronic scene Demdike Stare will also take to the stage in this arena. The duo are known for combining experimental techno, drone and ambient and a range of unusual samples, audiences are in for a sensory onslaught!

Experimental English rockers Sweet Billy Pilgrim will be also be making a welcome debut in the arena tinkering about somewhere between the earthy and the ethereal. Fusing folk, jazz and rock the Mercury Music Prize nominees will be scraping strings and making magical melodies for all to hear.

Yet more exciting music additions have been made to the eclectic Latitude line-up across the site.  Appearing on the Obelisk Arena will be Irishman Mick Flannery whose softly-sung gravelly tones have earned him awards at the US Songwriting Competition in Nashville, as well as a platinum-selling album. Additions to the i Arenawill be the UK’s answer to Arcade Fire, seven-piece instrumental alchemists Revere, heralded as one of the country’s best live acts, expect a set full of rousing chamber-pop and epic live visuals. California girls Deap Vally bonded over their mutual love of the blues and rock n roll, and their set at Latitude is highly anticipated following a series of wild live shows in their native LA. London’s hottest new band Splashh have garnered praise across the board for their lo-fi magic, and recent single All I Wanna Do just might be the soundtrack of the summer. Hot off the back of a support slot touring with Latitude headliner Bon Iver is folk trio The Staves –three sisters from Watford whose gorgeous songs feature sublime vocal harmonies. Twin Shadow will be performing at Latitude the same weekend his sophomore LP Confess is released on 4AD. Blending nostalgia and pop with a refreshingly modern sound, it’s on the stage that he really shines. Prepare to be blown away. Finally Gross Magic, the alter-ego of spectral newcomer, Sam McGarrigle, whose static-drenched pop has earned comparisons to Ariel Pink and Perfume Genius will be appearing on The Lake Stage.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will once again give festival-goers the chance to hear from creative talent from the worlds of film and television. On Friday 13 July, the Film & Music Arena will play host to cast and crew from the hit Olympic-themed mockumentary series Twenty Twelve. Also on the Friday, BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Abi Morgan (White Girl, Shame, The Iron Lady) will discuss her career with Edith Bowman in the Literary Salon. On Saturday 14 July, cast and crew from Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meatwill share their favourite moments from the first series of the popular show. On Sunday 15 July, BAFTA presents a screening of Ill Manors, a British urban musical written and directed by Ben Drew (aka rapper Plan B). Innovative short films, including this year’s BAFTA award-winning shorts will screen throughout the festival.

In the first theatre collaboration between Sadler’s Wells, Kneehigh and Theatre Royal Stratford East, extracts from new British Bollywood musical Wah! Wah! Girls! will be performed on the stunning The Waterfront Stage.Set in present day East London, the show tells a story of love against the odds, with music that combines Bollywood hits with contemporary pop-influenced songs. Also joining the Sadler's Wells line-up is French hip-hop dance crew Serial Stepperz, who showcase house dance, a newer hip-hop dance style, devised from the dance floor and born out of club culture. The popular Graduate Fashion Show is all set to return to Latitude’s waterfront and this year it will be hosted by the ultimate “party boy” Jamie Laing from E4’s Made In Chelsea,with models provided by Storm model management this is one event for all you fashionistas. Mike Viry, one of the main dancers in Street Dance 2 has also been added to the Flash Mob set to ignite on Latitude’s floating stage.

In the Theatre Arena The Gate is proud to present 29 year old Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour's utterly original play White Rabbit Red Rabbit, in association with Volcano (Canada), Necessary Angel Theatre Company and Aurora Nova Productions. Each new performance of this drama is performed unrehearsed by a single actor, making it a thrilling and unrepeatable experience*. 

Joining the line-up for Latitude’s Literary Arena is legendary performance artist, Penny Arcade. From her beginnings as a teenage superstar for Andy Warhol’s Factory to her groundbreaking 1990’s solo work and latter day reinvention as preserver of the Lower East Side’s oral history, Arcade’s career has seen her push practically every barrier in existence. At Latitude she will present a revival of Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore! the hit show which is equal parts erotic go-go dancing and political provocation. The Royal Shakespeare Companyis coming to Latitude to present what promises to be an unmissable debate, the question will be raised,Theatre: A Place for Protest?  Should theatre be a more political art form? Or is the theatricality of the Church a better forum to reflect the new forms of dissent? Austerity vs. Radicalism: can the two ever work together? Join internationally-acclaimed and RSC Playwright in Residence Mark Ravenhill and former Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral Dr Giles Fraser for a lively debate about all things protest…Meanwhile artist, polymath and genius Leonardo Da Vinci will feature in the Literary Arena as cardiothoracic surgeon Francis Wells will take an in-depth look at his Anatomical drawings. Staying with a medical theme, research charity The Wellcome Trustwill present curator and author of the Wellcome Trust’s exhibition Marius Kwint, who will discuss the exhibition and book Brains; The Mind As Matter in conversation with Hannah McGill. McGill was the Edinburgh international film festival’s artistic director until 2010, as well as a critical writer for publications including the Glasgow Herald, Scotsman and Guardian and a published writer of short fiction and drama.

Journalist and broadcaster, John McCarthy, Britain's longest-held hostage in Lebanon during the country’s civil war, returns to the subject of the Middle East with a discussion of his new book You Can’t Hide The Sun: A Journey Through Israel And Palestine. Chris Thorpe, a founding member of Unlimited Theatre and part of the performance company Third Angel, will bring to his show Inventory to Latitude, a story about the chain of circumstances that led to his house burning down. It's a true story that follows the thoughts and lives of some of the people involved in those events. And after-hours, joining the line-up for Robin Ince’s Late Night Revolution will be satirical musicians Jonny & The Baptists. Intelligent Life and Psychologies magazine will host a discussion regarding the impact of Facebook, raising the question “Is Facebook doing more harm than good?” Karl James will be coming to Latitude’s seventh edition, having been to all past six festivals, to interview the author Tim Lott in the Literary Arena. As director of The Dialogue Project most of Karl’s time is spent helping people think together, negotiating and facilitating conversations when the stakes are high. 

In the Comedy Arena Perrier Award-winning Irish stand-up comedian David O'Doherty will be keeping crowds amused with his new stand-up comedy show Seize The David O'Doherty. Flying the flag for new talent The Chortle Student Comedy Award will also be dropping by at Latitude’s Comedy Arena. This prestigious award has provided a stepping stone to success for The Inbetweeners' Simon Bird and Friday Night Dinner's Tom Rosenthal. For Latitude eight fresh-faced student comics will be slugging it out to take home a £2,500 prize.

The Film & Music Arena will be screening Don’t Think, a concert film of dance legends The Chemical Brothers’ latest album of the same name. Shot on one night of the Chemical Brothers' headlining set at last year's Fuji rock festival in Niigata, Japan, The Guardian called it "one of the best films about dance music ever made."Legendary director of Glastonbury and The Great Rock And Roll Swindle, Julien Temple, brings his time-travelling voyage to the heart of his hometown London: The Modern Babylon, an epic time-travelling voyage to the heart of his hometown. From musicians, writers and artists to dangerous thinkers, political radicals and above all ordinary people, this is the story of London's immigrants, its bohemians and how together they changed the city forever. The London Short Film Festival will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in January 2013. Here's a chance to see three short film gems from the last festival, Friend Request Pending, Long Distance Information and Disappoint You.

Chris Shepherd is a BAFTA nominated director who blends live action with animation to examine the humorously dark side of life. He's worked on funny shows such as Big Train and Nathan Barley while directing award winners such as Dad's Dead, Bad Night For The Blues and his collaboration with David Shrigley Who I Am And What I Want. For Latitude Chris will be presenting and showing some short films.  East End Film Festival will present El Último Elvis, a film about a delusional Elvis impersonator in Buenos Aires, who sacrifices happiness with his wife and daughter in his unstoppable quest for fame plus an introduction from the Director. Rounding off the weekend’s festivities will be Chinese Elvis, winner of the Weakest Link Elvis special!  Star of AOL adverts!  He's Chinese!  He's Elvis! He's Chinese Elvis!

Latitude’s 2012 theme of Pagan To Occupy will come to unforgettable life in the Pagan Parade as it snakes from The Faraway Forest to the Lake, honouring the Sun God. Created for Latitude by theatre company Les Enfants Terribles, it will abound in fire, flesh and freaks as a tongue-speaking minister leads the way, culminating in the ritual burning of the Wicker-Man upon the lake.  Get dressed up (or down) and join the parade – bare your soul and your flesh and show you believe! Latitude’s exploration of magic and spiritual worlds will also continue with Silver Sisters and the Silver Threads of Home, The Spirit, The Sorceress and The Soul: three unique women dedicated to answering questions about the greater meaning of life. Revellers at the Saturday night Hoedown in will also be in for a treat from the history of the Wild West, as the privileged task of decorating The Faraway Forest has been awarded to none other than the latter day alter ego of Annie ‘Get Your Gun’ Oakley Phoebe Ann Moses. Searching for Boudica is the story of the renegade warrior queen Boudica and her defiance in the face of the Roman oppressors has captured the public imagination for two thousand years. Her refusal to be bullied by the decadent ruling class made her a folk heroine in her own time, could she now be a symbol of hope in ours? An audio exploration in The Faraway Forest presented by Art Assembly. 

Stylist David Hawkins will be creating one-off stunning couture designs especially for Latitude which will be displayed eerily around the trees in the forest inspired by modern day media witch hunting. Artitude is a collective of artists with a wide range of creative skills. The two founding members are Georgia Wisbey and Claire Gendler, both have experience using wide ranging skills and materials and have worked in many different corners of the creative world. With a passion for Art, expression and education they will be sculpting a Goddess out of willow with the help of festival goers, awaiting Latitude’s devotion.

Take a voyage into the imagination with Dave Arthur who will tell stories of mythical folklore for all ages in perfect setting of The Outdoor Theatre. The modern Renaissance man will be telling tales of the magical world of giants, heroes, heroines, fabulous animals, magical artefacts, witches, goblins, creation myths, modern urban legends, Jack Tales, balladry and music. Swing Patrol Tea Dance will get revellers strutting their stuff with Lindy Hop and the like.

After theatrical performances have ended for the day the party continues in The Outdoor Theatre with The Ceilidh Liberation Front who present The Revolution for the Hoedown. Breaking down ceilidh conventions, the CLF will be bringing their wildest of subverted dances and party tunes to fling you across the dance floor, into the bar and back on your feet again. Expect carnival recklessness and festival shamelessness. Featuring musicians, the CLF combines music dance and a good old sprinkling of theatricals to bring this unique experience to the world. Ceilidh music as you've never heard (or seen) it before. DJ Cowboy Mouth and DJ Danni Rock who will be featuring as part of the Country Fayre to keep the frivolities flowing long into the evening. Also appearing will be Sun Of Cash capturing the spirit and sound of the young Johnny Cash when he recorded for “Sun Records” in Memphis – hence the name. The band first got together in 2008 to play at a friend’s wedding, and the response was so positive that they decided to keep it going.

The Literary Salon welcomes Radio 4, join them in the Literary Salon where you can be part of the audience in the recording of BBC Audio Drama North’s new comedy thriller A Little Bit of Latitude. This will be followed by a question and answer session with the writer, cast and crew. Described by The Observer as ‘an outstanding documentary”, Working With Pinter directed by Harry Burton was made for Channel 4 and is an intimate portrait of Nobel Prize-winning British dramatist Harold Pinter, in which Pinter discusses his life and art with Henry Woolf, his oldest friend and collaborator. Torycore will be appearing in the Literary Salon, providing festival goers with an interesting combination of politics and death metal.   Inspired by a chance meeting with one of the pioneers of Death Metal, this new piece involves a live and loud band, a pounding nihilistic muddy blurring uncoordinated brutal subverbal deathgrowl and George Osborne’s budget speech 2012. A music beyond protest: Torycore. Do you believe there are no new classic books? Do you think the best sex is literary? Join Emerald Street and Stylist to talk it out in the Literary Salon who will be teaming up with Emma B’s Table Talks to host an evening in the Literary Salon on Thursday. The evening will feature a mix of established and up-and-coming speakers from the literary world plus member of the Stylist and Emerald Street teams. Emerald Street and Stylist love a good debate, so they’re delighted to be involved. Join them for a verbal knees up. Talks start at 8pm.

The latest additions to the line-up for Pandora’s Playground will see comedy performance and theatre art segue into a perfect combination for fun times. The brand new graduates of Circus Space, one of Europe’s leading centres of circus education, will present a spectacular demonstration of their newly-honed skills, with juggling, tumbling and trapeze a-plenty. Further mayhem will come from The Bureau of Silly Ideas, who will bring the inspired madness and controlled chaos they create in the UK’s public spaces to Latitude. In the Steampunk world of Clockwork Watch Victorian values collide with anachronistic technology in an immersive story and participatory experience. The narrative is played out across two graphic novels, interactive promenade theatre and live action role-play.

Over in the Lavish Lounge added to BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction will be bringing a selection of artists for your enjoyment. On Friday invoking the spirit of Ornette Coleman, Bristol-based outfit Get the Blessing prove that jazz-rock is no longer a dirty word, Kazakh-born contemporary classical violinist Aisha Orazbayeva performs music for violin and tape including works by Steve Reich, Iannis Xenakis and her own collaboration with composer Peter Zinovieff; and Congolese rapper Baloji presents his unique hi-energy blend of hip hop and soukous. Saturday features Trio Tekke from Cyprus, who fuse traditional rebetika with reggae into a raw style they call reggetika; from the Appalachians of West Virginia via Brooklyn, Black Twig Pickers with their take on the old-time string tradition; and Sam Lee of London’s Magpie Nest collective brings his six-piece band to perform his own highly imaginative interpretations of English folksong. On Sunday there will be a rare solo set from Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier; other performers to be announced and we conclude with AU, a virtuosic avant-pop duo from Portland Oregon and recent signing to the Leaf Label.

Larmer Tree Festival announces full music line-up!

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New additions to music line-up:

Yes Sir Boss with very special guest • Sarah Savoy & The Francadians • Chavo • Shivering Blaze – a tribute to Jackie Leven • Tom Hingley • Police Dog Hogan • Melodica, Melody & Me • Maia •

The Camberwell Krakeb Club • Silkadelic • Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers • Beth Porter & The Availables • Bookshop Band • Achilles • Saturday Sun • Tom James • The ASBO Disco •

The Uplifter’s Reggae Sessions • DJ Heinz

Larmer Tree Festival is ecstatic to announce its full eclectic music line-up complete with some brilliant international superstars and fantastic home grown talent.  Plus, ensuring the festival keeps its family friendly focus, there’s also a fun-filled programme of shows, workshops and activities for all ages.

Joining headliners Paloma Faith, Amadou & Mariam, Jools Holland, Levellers and Roots Manuva are some great recently confirmed acts.  They are: Yes Sir Boss with very special guest, Sarah Savoy & The Francadians, Chavo, Shivering Blaze – a tribute to Jackie Leven, Tom Hingley, Police Dog Hogan, Melodica, Melody & Me, Maia, The Camberwell Krakeb Club, Silkadelic, Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers, Beth Porter & The Availables, Bookshop Band, Achilles, Saturday Sun, Tom James, The ASBO Disco, The Uplifter’s Reggae Sessions and DJ Heinz.

Founder and Co-Director of Larmer Tree Festival James Shepard said:  “We always work hard to achieve a great balance between well known, popular artists and up and coming talent on the brink of stardom – this year is no exception, we’ve got a superb line-up.”

Complementing the music line-up, there is a lot more entertainment to keep all ages amused.  As one of the most family friendly summer festivals with 11 acres of magical gardens to explore, there’s a dedicated children’s area with lots of shows and activities as well as a YouthZone for 11-17 year olds. Highlights of the kids’ programme include Emmy Award winningFarmer Jason with his lively music show, a finger-fiddling Origami Puppet Workshop followed by Hinged Theatre’s showVasalisa and the Peacock (created especially for Larmer Tree), and new Sticky Fingers Drop-In Sessions. Plus, making a stop in their fabulous red car will be Ratty, Mole and Mr Toad!

The YouthZone offers the older kids a dedicated space to chill, make friends and find their creative side. Highlights from the YouthZone programme include a beatbox theatre workshop, didgeridoo class, environmental art, Larmer Tree Treasure Hunt, open jamming sessions, songwriting, street dance and a whole host of other exciting activities!

Plus, a firm favourite among regular Larmer Tree Festival goers is the Carnival Procession on Sunday afternoon. This year’s theme is ‘The United Colours of Larmer Tree’ – people can join 500 festival-goers in an explosion of culture, colour, sound and movement to parade around the gardens.

For more information on what’s going on, line-up news and to book tickets visit www.larmertreefestival.co.uk.

MUSIC LINE-UP SO FAR:

Paloma Faith • Amadou & Mariam • Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra with special guest Roland Gift •Levellers • Roots Manuva • Imagined Village • Caravan Palace • Fatoumata Diawara • Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends •Edward II • Punch Brothers • The Correspondents • GIVERS • Vintage Trouble • Raghu Dixit • Akala • Dub Pistols • Yes Sir Boss with very special guest • Shlomo • Dizraeli and The Small Gods • Red Sky July • Sarah Savoy & The Francadians •Otis Gibbs • Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo • RSVP • Swing Zazou • Trio Tekke • Revere • Gabrielle Aplin • The Legendary DJ Derek • Smerins Anti-Social Club • Jason Ringenberg • Cahalen Morrison & Eli West • Urban Folk Quartet •The Miserable Rich • O'Hooley & Tidow • The Wave Pictures • DJ Pete Lawrence • The Regular Joes • The Joker & the Thief• Piney Gir • Chavo • Shivering Blaze • Tom Hingley • Crowns • Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou • Bard • Rachel Sermanni • Owl in the Sun • Catherine Burke Band • DJ Nick Hollywood • Police Dog Hogan • JP Cooper • Churchfitters • Keston Cobblers Club • Melodica, Melody & Me •  Maia •  The Camberwell Krakeb Club • Silkadelic • Andrea Soler • Thomas Ford • Alex Roberts • Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers • Vid Warren • By The Rivers • Michael Wookey • The Lasting Days • Boat to Row • Beth Porter & The Availables • Bookshop Band • Achilles • Fearne • Ali Warren • Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs• Mother Ukers • New Volunteer • The Wishbones • Pip Mountjoy • Morning Rush • Pachango • Peace, Love & Gloves • Saturday Sun • Tom James •  The Spitfire Sisters • The ASBO Disco • DJ Smerin & friends •  The Uplifter’s Reggae Sessions • DJ Heinz • Still Moving DJs

COMEDY LINE-UP:

Tim Minchin • Greg Davies • Milton Jones • Stephen K Amos • The Horne Section • Terry Alderton • Zoe Lyons • Alun Cochrane • Carl Donnelly • Roisin Conaty • Tom Deacon • Marcel Lucont • Naz Osmanoglu • Jimmy McGhie • Tom Craine • Paul McCaffrey • Daniel Simonsen • Comedy Club 4 Kids

Festival Republic Stage lineup announced for Reading & Leeds Festivals

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SLEIGH BELLS, FEEDER & YOUNG GUNS, THE VIEW and a very special closing DJ set from BASSNECTAR are our headliners.     They will join FUTUREHEADS (playing an a capella & acoustic set) and THE SUBWAYS alongside over thirty other acts who have secured a slot on this coveted stage with psychedelia courtesy of the likes of S.C.U.M. and TOY, classic songwriters like BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH and LUCY ROSE and rock sensibilities from LOWER THAN ATLANTISand DON BROCO amongst many more.

Cornwall folk-punks quartet CROWNS have also been added as the opening act on the Lock Up Stage on Friday in Leeds and Sunday in Reading.

Many more names are still to be announced including the full line-up for the BBC Introducing Stage and the Alternative Stage. 

THIS YEAR’S HEADLINERS

Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival

Formed in 2008 whilst residing in Brooklyn, SLEIGH BELLS – duo Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss emerged from 2009’s CMJ Festival with rhythmic pop songs that combine overdriven guitar riffs and sugary female vocal melodies. Rapidly becoming favourites of the critics on both sides of the Atlantic, they released their debut album ‘Treats’ in 2010 and earlier this year the follow up ‘Reign Of Terror’. 2012 has seen the pair air the new album live to further acclaim and this summer’s showing as headliners on the Festival Republic Stage will doubtless be one of the performances of the weekend.

www.reighofterror.tv

2011 saw the return of THE SUBWAYS with the release of their third album ‘Money And Celebrity’, a sell-out UK tour and two Radio 1 A-listed singles which were seemingly never far  from the airwaves. This explosive three-piece from Welwyn Garden City crashed onto the UK rock scene in 2005, and have over time forged a formidable live presence melding the melodic pop/punk immediacy of their earlier material with the highly energetic, rock power of their second album ‘All Or Nothing’.  ‘Money And Celebrity’ is an amalgam of them both and has seen the band compile a comprehensive live CV across Europe.

www.thesubways.net

Forming in 2009 having met at a Comet Gain show, VERONICA FALLS’ pop orientated, reverb-kissed-tunes arrive via their collective mid-80’s influences but see the quartet add their own poppy slant that aligns them with contemporaries such as Vivian Girls . With a couple of EP’s under their arm the band  went on to record their debut album – the end result sounding like a perfect blend of eighties meets noughties melodic pop. The self- titled album hit the shelves last year and saw them reach new dizzying heights of recognition.

www.veronicafalls.com

BASTILLE is the musical guise of singer/songwriter and producer Dan Smith. Having produced music and videos in his bedroom for a few years his profile began to grow via word of mouth following a makeshift video that accrued upwards of 300,00 views.  Bastille – a vehicle for his different musical worlds, full of songs with danceable rhythms and beautiful soaring vocals encased in harmonies and bleeps was born . Live, he is joined by three other members who together produce a unique and spine tingling performance which to date has resulted in sell out shows across the UK.

www.bastillebastille.com

Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival

Hot on the heels of the amazing reaction to their recent album, ‘Generation Freakshow’, FEEDER will be one of the Festival Republic Stage headliners.  Clearly rising towards a new career peak, 2012 is shaping up to be a big year for the band.  Having already sold out UK tours in January and April, the response to the new songs has been overwhelming and has seen the ‘Borders’ video clock up over 500,000 views on YouTube.  In their career, which spans over two decades, the band have racked up over 25 hit singles, sold in excess of five million records, and released a double platinum singles collection.

www.Feederweb.com

High Wycombe quintet YOUNG GUNS have been making a name for themselves with a rigorous touring schedule in 2012.  Last year they performed their largest headline show to date, an evening at the 2000 capacity Forum in London’s Kentish Town, and in doing so marked themselves out as ones to watch.  With new album ‘Bones’ hitting the UK Top 20 in February, fans at the Festival Republic Stage are sure to be in for a treat come August.

www.weareyoungguns.com

Watford rockers, and recent Island Records signings, LOWER THAN ATLANTIS will be giving fans a very special preview of their new album (due October) when they visit Reading & Leeds Festival in August.  Having made one hell of an impression on their sold-out headline tour earlier this year, expect an electric, chaotic, and passionate set of songs from one of the UK’s best rock acts.

www.lowerthanatlantis.tumblr.com

BASSNECTAR (DJ set) is the brainchild of Lorin Ashton, who creates a musical experience that is sure to engulf the senses.  Festival goers can expect a show which fuses the familiar with the strange and the classic with the cutting edge.  Spanning the spectrum of sonic styles, the artist draws inspiration from every genre imaginable and supplies a combination of basslines and hypnotic soundscapes.  This very special DJ set will see out the night in style on this year’s Festival Republic Stage.

www.bassnectar.net

Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival

There are few bands guaranteed to get a crowd jumping as much THE VIEW.  Since the band leapt into the charts at No. 1 with their debut album ‘Hats Off To The Buskers’, the Dundee group have taken their upbeat, indie rock-pop around the world gathering fans along the way.  With new album ‘Cheeky For A Reason’ due this summer, described by vocalist Kyle Falconer as “its Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ done by The Clash”, expect a lively end to the day in this tent.

www.theviewareonfire.com

Barry Hyde (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dave (drums, vocals), Ross Millard (guitar, vocals) and Jaff (bass, vocals) have established theFUTUREHEADS as one of Britain’s most thrilling and durable bands with four albums over the last eight years.   This year however they decided to do something totally different, throw away all their instruments and make their latest release ‘Rant’ just using their four vocals.  A brave and inspired move, it is this very special a capella and acoustic show they bring to Reading & Leeds Festival.

www.thefutureheads.co.uk

When BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH released his debut album ‘Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm’ last summer he was hailed as a “serious new talent” by the Sunday Times.  Inspired by the likes of Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire and Sigur Ros he seems himself as simply, unpretentiously, as a singer-songwriter.    We see him as one of the finest new British artists around.

www.benjaminfrancisleftwich.com

KING CHARLES’ critically acclaimed debut album ‘LoveBlood’ has been hailed as a unique piece of work, which has seen the glam-folk star rise from the underground folk world and into the mainstream. It’s an extraordinary record that draws down influences from Afro-beat, rock and roll, glam, folk, hip-hop and country.   This one-off artist is guaranteed to put on a spectacular show.

kingcharles–music.com

King Charles

Friday 24th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25th August at Leeds Festival

Sweden’s NIKI & THE DOVE, a duo who having played their part in previous musical outfits emerged in 2010 and following a release on the Moshi Moshi label began to pick up plaudits in bloggers world. The electronic pairing continued to see the media clamour and with a further release saw them play on the NME Emerge tour alongside Wolf Gang and S.C.U.M.  Earlier this year saw a nomination for the prestigious BBC Sound of 2012 before they releasing their debut album ‘Instinct’.   In search of  the perfect pop song? Catch this beguiling couple and that quest could well be over…

www.nikiandthedove.com

Formed last year, ZULU WINTER to date have only played a handful of UK shows.  Tipped in both print and over the UK airwaves,  the five-piece have recently returned from a debut run of shows in the US including  an appearance at this year’s SXSW, have released  an acclaimed debut album ‘Language’.   The Pitchfork endorsed debut single ‘Let’s Move Back To Front’/ ‘Never Leave’ and the Zane Lowe’s approved follow up ‘We Should Be Swimming’ have now notched up  in excess of 400,000 plays on youtube to date.  Feted as one of the guitar bands to watch out for this year, get a glimpse close up in the intimacy of the Festival Republic Stage.

www.zuluwinter.com

Having lent her not inconsiderable vocal talents to Bombay Cycle Club on their two albums, LUCY ROSE has also recorded in her own right and is currently working on her debut longplayer with three long-term fellow musicians since her arrival in London, having moved from Warwickshire. Vogue magazine stated that she is “one of indie music’s breakout stars of 2012”, with her videos reaching an increasing fanbase.  With songs and sentiments that warm the heart and upcoming live appearances both here and in the US she is definitely one to watch.

www.lucyrosemusic.com

Lucy Rose

ALT-J came together whilst studying at Leeds University and following some healthy airplay for the track ‘Breezeblocks’ last year, were on most of this years ‘lists’ having managed to create an uncontrived element of mystique with their own brand of patient, sophisticated, intricate music. Hard to pin down musically this four-piece have just released their debut album ‘An Awesome Wave’  which veers from psychedelic avant pop to skeletal folktronica and trades in the band’s ability to conjure up understated beauty one minute and epic oddities the next.  Catch them early…

www.facebook.com/altj.band

With a well-received debut album ‘Rise Ye Sunken Ships’ under their belt,  Brooklyn’s WE ARE AUGUSTINES have propelled themselves into the spotlight with a series of heart-warming shows here in the UK along with  tracks that have been aired on Radio 1, BBC 6 Music  and XFM.   The band’s catalogue of songs is borne of their collective personal background and their formative years and despite the shattered dreams and extinguished guiding lights along their way, the trio have survived and this is only the start.

www.weareaugustines.com

Seen by many as the latter day pioneers of the Nashville rock scene , brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall aka JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD have built  a reputation for stripping rock music down to its basic.  Delivering mind-bending live shows with a work ethic that practically defines D.I.Y., be it their simple but compelling videos to their self-produced and critically acclaimed albums, EP’s and singles.    As Spin stated … “post-adolescent bros dig into the sweet spot between punk and hard rock.”   Whilst Thetripwire succinctly hailed thus; “Jake and Jamin hail from Nashville but share psychedelic mayhem wherever they roam.”

www.jeffbrotherhood.blogspot.co.uk

For London four-piece SAVAGES the intention was to create a sound, indestructible and musically solid, written for the stage, designed with enough nuances to provide a wide range of motions. The songs aim to remind us that human beings haven’t evolved so much, that music can still be straight to the point, efficient and exciting.  For a band with so few shows under their belt, they have certainly created a stir and one well worth witnessing as they make their festival debut.

www.facebook.com/savagestheband

With an imminent support slot with The Hives confirmed in the US, LA’s FIDLAR pre-empt their sortie to the UK with an appearance at this year’s Lollapalooza in the company of Black Keys, Black Sabbath et al before making the crossing for their debut this side of the Atlantic. “The tracks sizzle with aggression and bargain-price fidelity of the SoCal punk tradition though their catchy hooks have more in common with Social Distortion and Wavves than Black Flag,” exclaimed MTV. See for yourself and be swayed…

www.fidlarla.com

Despite only having existed for mere months South East London’s THE PALMA VIOLETS have certainly caught the right ears. The band have played a series of secret shows in their own neck of the woods and much has been made of those special nights. They’ve released even fewer tracks and information is scarce bar the fact they have recently signed to Rough Trade Records which, if past history counts for anything, will see a lot of fuss made of  this four-piece  in the right quarters.

www.tumblir.com/tagged/palma-violets

Carrying the weight of the luminance and spacey textures from their earlier EP’s Atlanta’s O’BROTHER have grown into sounds of scorching heaviness and punctuated melodic interruptions that act as puzzles in-between the groaning feedback of ‘Garden Window’ – last year’s debut full length album. With a seemingly relentless touring schedule, this year has seen the band accompany The Hives and the like of Thrice in the US – the Festival Republic Stage welcomes the five-piece as they make their festival debut.

www.beneathyourgardenwindow.com

Saturday 25th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26th August at Leeds Festival

Taylor Jardine, Jordan Eckes, Mike Ferri, Rob Chianelli and Cameron Hurley are WE ARE THE IN CROWD.  Hailing from New York, the band are riding high off the release of 2011’s debut album ‘Best Intentions’.   Expect everything from pop-punk frenzies to more thought-provoking slow burners; this band really has something for everyone. They know they have a lot to prove in 2012, and that’s exactly what they thrive on. 

www.wearetheincrowd.com

Nottingham five-piece DOG IS DEAD are a band that have built up the old-fashioned way, honing their thrillingly energetic live show across the UK.  They released their debut ‘Glockenspiel Song’ back in the Summer of 2010, and have now signed to Atlantic Records and released two singles (‘Hands Down’ and ‘Two Devils’) that garnered key fans at Radio 1, NME and The Guardian.  They have toured the UK in the past year including key support dates with good friends, Bombay Bicycle Club, and now begin their ascent to Reading & Leeds Festival. 

www.dogisdead.co.uk

If you haven’t heard of folk-rock singer JAKE BUGG yet, you certainly will soon.  Armed with a sensational vocal, he cites his influences as Donovan, Don Mclean, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.  With his lyrics it’s hard to believe this young singer-songwriter from Nottingham is producing music way beyond his years.  With time on his side, who knows how far Jake Bugg can go.

www.jakebugg.com

With their debut album scheduled for an August release, DON BROCO look set to emerge as the bright, brute new force in British rock – and beyond.  The four-piece will be the first act to release an album on the newly formed ‘Search & Destroy Records’, a joint venture between Sony Music and Raw Power Management.  The bands crossover appeal has spread via word of mouth amongst fans online, and with their penchant for catchy melodies and big choruses, these Festival Republic Stage shows will be one of the many highlights of the weekend.

www.facebook.com/donbroco

2012 is shaping up to be a big year for OBERHOFER.  The debut by this fast-rising talent, entitled ‘Time Capsules II’, is a bold and exciting statement, recorded in Brooklyn late last year with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite.  Emotion is what drives the psychedelic, catchy pop-rock tunes, crafted by the effervescent Brad Oberhofer.   Drawing on influences ranging from Brian Wilson to Descartes, the 21 year old is fixated on the idea of making philosophically minded, energetic melodies that just make people smile.

www.facebook.com/oberhoferjamz

New Orleans bred, LA based THE KNUX are brothers Kentrell ‘Krispy’ Lindsey and Alvin ‘Joey’ Lindsey.  A band who blur the lines between rap and rock, their sound was showcased on last year’s ‘Eraser’ album.  The crossover appeal seems natural given their influences include The Rolling Stones, Nas, Wu-Tang, The Stooges, The Clash, Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix.  Expect an intense set from this hotly tipped duo.

www.theknux.com

After signing to French label Kitsunẽ in 2011, CITIZENS! have been making noises in all the right places.  The end of last year saw the band support The Rapture and more recently they played the Electric Ballroom in London as part of the NME’s run of Awards show gigs.  The band’s debut album, ‘Here We Are’, was produced by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, and was released to critical acclaim last month.  The resulting 11 tracks prove to be an example of what Citizens! do best – classic pop subversion at its most cunning.

www.citizenscitizens.com

After releasing a couple of low-key singles in the latter half of 2011, THEME PARK kicked off 2012 with their first release on Transgressive Records, ‘Two Hours’.  With an album to follow later in the year, they’re already picking up strong radio support, notably from Huw Stephens, Nick Grimshaw, Zane Lowe, John Kennedy and Lauren Laverne.  Described by the press as “a band destined for big things” we’d suggest getting down the front early for these sets.   

www.themeparkband.com

THE MINUTES are a three-piece rock band from Dublin, becoming one of the city's must see live acts having toured extensively both at home and further afield. Last year saw the release of their debut album 'Marcata' and had the likes of Kerrang! and The Guardian salivating at the brilliance of their live shows – which conjure up images of Dr Feelgood meeting The White Stripes, hit the Festival Republic Stage early and get a glimpse of what the hyperbole is all about.

WWW.theminutes.com

BLOOD OR WHISKEY describe their sound as “demented Irish trad kicked in the balls by punk rock”.  Hailing from Kildare and Dublin in Ireland, the band have released three albums and an EP to date, ‘Blood or Whiskey’, ‘No Time To Explain’, ‘Cashed Out On Culture’ and ‘Live and Learn’.  Having toured all over England, Europe, America and Japan, the jaunts have seen them play with many artists including Manu Chao, The Pogues, Flogging Molly and Rancid.

www.bloodorwhiskey.ie

Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival

Sisters Colette and Hannah Thurlow make up 2.54 who have been gaining fans from both the public and critics alike since they posted their own recordings on MySpace in 2010.  The Irish sisters, who were raised in Bristol and now live in London, have seen their sound described as “a little bit grunge, a little bit shoegaze, with bursts of heavy riffing and the odd psychedelic meander”.   Their recently released eponymous debut album has only raised expectations higher, not to be missed.

www.twofiftyfour.net

With the release of debut album ‘Again Into Eyes’ S.C.U.M. saw their elevation from cult hipsters to respected musicians.  It was an iron-clad collection of dizzying, synth-heavy fare, rattling with reverb, smouldering rock, an undeniable classic in-the-making.   They have won over the cynics with their own brand of psychedelic punk and will be sure to do the same to the crowds at Reading & Leeds Festival.

www.scum1968.com

ALBERTA CROSS are Petter Ericson Stakee (vocals/guitar) and Terry Wolfers (bass), a Swede and a Londoner with Brooklyn as their home.  The success of their acclaimed 2009 debut, ‘Broken Side Of Time’, saw the band tour the world; criss-crossing America more times than they’d care to count, earning the patronage of bands like Them Crooked Vultures, Oasis and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, with whom they toured.   A new album ‘Songs of Patience’ is due later this year and this will be the first chance to hear the new songs live in the UK.

www.albertacross.net

Formed while at school in Copenhagen aged only 12, ICEAGE mix punk, post-punk, goth and hardcore as if they invented it. Now still only in their late teens, they released their debut album ‘New Brigade’ last year.   Their shows are notoriously physical, sometimes aggressive, often destructive and always fun. You may get pushed around but you’ll have great time.

http://www.iceagecopenhagen.blogspot.co.uk/

Hailing from Brisbane in Australia, DZ DEATHRAYS have just released their debut album ‘Bloodstreams’ filled with riff-laden scuzzy tunes with thrashing drums, party noise and some seriously laid back grooves.    Describing themselves as thrash pop, they recently came to the UK for some properly sweaty shows where one magazine said the band were “plugged into the oldest of rock and roll mainstays: lust, aggression, hate.”  Sounds good!

www.myspace.com/dzdeathrays

Having only released their debut single last year, London five-piece TOY quickly picked up accolades from the press and public alike.   Their gloriously kaleidoscopic post-punk sound of psychedelia mixed with krautrock has stood them apart from other new bands and having recently toured with friends The Horrors their live shows have been praised as intense and energising.  With their debut album due later this year they are definitely one not to miss.

www.toy-band.com

NME described DEAP VALLY as "Think a hippie Karen O fronting Black Sabbath and you're somewhere in the caustic, blues-riffing ballpark as these Los Angelinos. A hollerin', howlin', hellraising duo”.  Sounds good to us!   The duo, Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards, break blues down to its simplest, most fundamental form: beat, melody, and meaning, while their scorching live shows are fast becoming the stuff of legend.

www.facebook.com/deapvally    

Dubliners THE CAST OF CHEERS play a ballsy post-punk racket that they describe as "like the end of the world and dancing”.  Their debut album ‘Chariot’ was described as a “raucous assault of angular riffs and insistent vocals, it's what Death From Above 1979 might sound like if they were trapped in a lift with Battles and Foals”.    New album ‘Goose’ won more fans last year, danceable repetition fights with heavy rock drums, big bass sounds and intricate guitar work, you will be dancing!

www.myspace.com/thecastofcheers

From Spain come L.A., the brainchild of Albert Lluis Segura who has played in many bands over the years before finding his new sound with release of the six track EP ‘SLNT FLM’ earlier this year.  Described as “six songs full of harmonies and dusty guitars, with a burnt tyre on Mediterranean roads flavour, songs that are earthy wood, like guitars…songs that are the sea and the sand of the isle of Mallorca but also the heat of amp valves”.    Don’t miss this exciting opening act.

http://laoficial.com

ADDITION TO LOCK UP STAGE

Sunday 26th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24th August at Leeds Festival

CROWNS, a quartet from Cornwall have forged a formidable live reputation since their inception in 2010. Part inspired by traditional Cornish songs they bring their shanty-esque rabble rousing folk punk racket to this year's Lock-Up Stage and if their recent tour with the like-minded Sharks are anything to go by then they are certainly ones to watch.

www.crownsband.com

Rockness 2012 Review by Dan Wheatley

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Friday

So after nearly an 8 hour drive and 420 miles added to the clock, we arrived at a rather pleasant Rockness. The torrential rain of Midlands which had turned Download into a wash out was not present here with the weather being slightly overcast. After finding a space to pitch the tent it was time to make the way into the arenas.

The first couple of hours stayed placid with the Mystery Jets on the main stage slowly building the crowd for the headliners later on, whilst in the GoldenVoice Arena, Wretch 32 with his Grime & Rap hyped up everyone listening for an hour of madness. Golden Boy Ed Sheeran totally stole the show again in the GoldenVoice Arena, packing it out within seconds of starting his very interactive performance, getting everyone to join in and even take over with singing.

The Redbull sound stage playing underground sounds of Drum & Bass and Dubstep, Redbull also had a cocktail bar giving out complementary drinks to Artists and Friends such as Rockberry, Rumbull which of course all contained Redbull.

Mumford and Sons where the last act on the main stage for the evening, drawing a mass of festival goers and played just into the start of Friday night/Saturday morning.

RockNess

Sub Club Sound system stayed open till gone 3am with the likes of Hudson Mahawke & Eats Everything providing entertainment for the hardcore party people.

Saturday

Saturday morning started with rain, rain and more rain keeping many people in their tents as long as possible before heading over to the arenas, Miraculously 12 O’clock came and rain stopped for the second day of festival festivities.

The early morning stayed quite with the smaller acts taking to the various stages and tents providing a more chilled out atmosphere.

The first big act of the day was Darren Foreman known better as Beardyman. Looking like an employee directly from a call centre he entertained and at times confused the crowd with his beatboxing skills and with the use of a new looping setup he created an entire DJ set just from his voice.

For the second time around (previously at PlayFest) I was able to see the renowned Pigeon defectives, again full of energy from the second they appeared on stage with Matt Bowman nearly losing the microphone on several occasions through swinging the microphone a little too hard.

17 year old Hugo Pierre Leclercq, known by his stage name Madeon also played in the GoldenVoice, His unique twist on Electro and Pop music took allot of people by surprise along with his appearance, looking allot younger than 17.

DeadMau5 or also being talked about by some festival goers as “Dead Mau Five” was defiantly worth the entire day waiting for. He appeared on stage a few minutes before his set, unknown to everyone he was inside a crate that burst open with him inside. Unusually he started without his iconic mau5 head piece on and quickly put this on after a quick hello and wave to everyone.

He set as always was spectacular with lots of visuals including his 900+ full LED mouse head, a very heavy bass which when standing close made it hard to breathe.

RockNess

Sunday

Sunday morning started with news that The View who I managed to miss yesterday would be playing once again, Due to a massive turnout at the small tent (think 10 deep around the outside) their set had to be postponed due to health and safety.

Jakwob kicked off the dance music in the GoldenVoice tent, known for his remixing of mainstream artists such as Ellie Golding and combines elements of Dubstep, electro, ghetto-tech and breakbeat into these. Even though they only had a small crowd they provided lots of noise and used the entire tent to dance.

The Cuban bothers, who I would say where the most unique act of the weekend, played a mix of Soul, Funk and Disco, also throwing in allot of Comedy and Sensational dancing, they really looked like they were having fun and entertaining the crowd too they ended their show by stripping down to “thongs” and playing a musical rocky homage.

Later in the evening a private helicopter landed at the festival which many of the press and reporters thought was Biffy Clyro which in fact turned out to be Knife Party.  Founded by 2 members of the electronic rock band Pendulum, Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen they packed out the tent before even starting the set, There upbeat mash up of Dubstep & electro styles whipped up everyone into a frenzy with a sea of hands moving in time with the music being the only thing visible in the red glow of the lights.

NME’s and Q’s best live Band, Biffy Clyro provided the finale to weekend of music at Rockness, with an impressive stage setup of huge hanging mirrors, Co2 cannons and pyrotechnics provided a high to end on and showed everyone present to why they are the best live band in the world!

RockNess

Click here to view photos from Friday at RockNess

Click here to view photos from Saturday at RockNess

Click here to view photos from Sunday at RockNess

Review by Dan Wheatley

 

Download Festival 2012 – Sunday Review

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As the now decidedly smelly arena fills up with people for the final day of Download, the welcome sight of SUNSHINE nearly brings a tear to the tired moshers eye. Yes it’s true, there’s a little bit of sun and a little bit is clearly enough as we can already see a couple of lobster-coloured faces and it’s only been about half an hour.

A welcome snarl sees DevilDriver’s pit-carnage churning out limp bodies, and August Burns Red do their very best to see that no-one is left un-moshed whilst smashing out popular ‘Back Burner’. NYC metalheads Anthrax are thrash-tastic over on the main stage with a massive crowd going wild to ‘Fight ‘em till you can’t’ and ‘I am the Law’, but in the jam-packed Pepsi Max stage German power-metallers Edguy are giving it all the passion they can muster and a loud, melodic ‘King of Fools’ sees Edguy fans come out grinning all over.

Black Label Society’s mainstage set is heart-thumpingly loud, with the wailing fret-wankery of Zakk Wylde (who comes to the fore wearing a giant Indian headdress) who plays through a gratuitous 10 minute guitar solo and a host of hair-windmilling songs. They’re good solid metal and you can’t fail to enjoy it. Lamb of God draw a similar sized crowd who are already creating a cattle-rodeo-like circle pit before the band even reach the stage. Their guitars are a little bit lost in the wind but the rolling drums are clear as frontman Randy Blythe shrieks “You might be from England but you’re all just a bunch of fuckin’ REDNECKS!” and they drop into ‘Redneck’. The circle pit might have now become some sort of messy conga line, but everyone seems to be having a great time.

Megadeth must be pleased at their ability to still entice the ladies out of their bras, but then again it might just be because the sun is out and the cameras are on. I’m sure those ladies mum’s are going to be awful proud when they see the highlights!  The melodic guitar duets and chants of ‘MEG-A-DETH’ are piercingly loud around the arena and fans go absolutely mental for Guitar-Hero favourite, ‘Symphony of Destruction’.

Soundgarden’s return to English soil was heralded by many when the announcement came, but to be honest they come off a little stale. They’re the Bjork of metal. You know that it’s clever but it’s all a bit too experimental to be something you really enjoy romping in a field to. ‘Black Hole Sun’ goes down a treat as expected, but there’s a tinge of boredom to the rest of the set. On the second stage Dropkick Murphys are nothing of the sort. Despite some pretty shoddy sound at the beginning they punk the hell out of ‘The Irish Rover’ and ‘Take ‘em Down’, sparking jigs galore and more than a few catastrophic attempts at leprechaun style heel clicks. The incredibly drunk and incredibly Irish man in front of us was having the time of his life, as he bellowed along to ‘Sunday Hardcore Matinee’.

The main event, the big one – Black Sabbath at Download, loud and proud. These guys MADE metal, and seeing them live is something you could never forget. They might be sans-Ward in the drums department, but Tony Clufetos is a great replacement choice and Sabbath open their Sunday reign with dark namesake ‘Black Sabbath’. A veritable hit-parade (how could it not be?) of tracks such as ‘Snowblind’, ‘War Pigs’ and ‘Fairies Wear Boots’ keep the party going, and Tony Iommi “The real Iron Man” according to Ozzy, absolutely demolishes the guitar solos in ‘Iron Man’ and closer ‘Paranoid’. Ozzy is as mad as ever, legging it around stage like a man half his age and half his lifetime drug and alcohol intake. He’s nuts but we love him. Though you couldn’t say that they were at their musical peak anymore, there’s something ethereal about a Black Sabbath show. You know you’re witnessing something great that will stay with you forever, and those guys still rock harder than most of the bands in this world, so we salute them.

Download may be over for another year, but this 10 year anniversary sure is a memorable one. Hideous weather, controversial bookings, arena issues and camping equipment casualties, whatever else you remember this year’s festival for – the moshing good time you had should be top of the list.

Kendall Calling sells out for 7th year running

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Tickets were snapped up for this year’s show quicker than ever before, with lucky ticket holders set to enjoy headline performances from some of the UK's biggest names including Dizzee Rascal, James, Maximo Park, and many more.

Organisers Ben Robinson and Andy Smith say: "We're overwhelmed by the continued support for Kendal Calling. We can't wait to be back in the fields for our 7th sell-out year. Plus there's so much more to be announced for festival goers to enjoy. It's going to be the best year yet!"

Spanning 16 stages and areas, Kendal Calling Festival is located in one of the most picturesque locations in the UK and attracts audiences from across the country. Over the past 7 years the festival has gone from strength to strength, garnering a strong reputation for quality while inviting imaginative artists aboard and sealing Kendal Calling as a pioneer in the festival field. Each year Kendal Calling deliver a high quality festival that serves up the best in music, art, comedy, dance, sculpture and family friendly facilities.

This year’s fancy dress theme will be the fantastical ‘comic books and fairy tales‘, with revelers set to don carnival creations inspired by characters across the ages! Prepare for visions of Wolverine, the Hulk, Cat Woman and Avengers set to rise up over the Kendal Calling hills!

As the festival production team are gearing up for this year's show, those without a ticket are urged to look ahead to 2013 as details of tickets for next year's event are set to be announced towards the end of the year.

More artist additions will be announced next week, with a pile of fantastic new acts set to take to the Calling Out stage! Kendal Calling are still to announce full line ups for Houseparty, Soapbox and the brand new Forest Stage so watch this space.

Kendal Calling HQ are preparing a feast for lucky ticket holders; a unique extravaganza that sets itself apart in the stunning rolling hills near Penrith; the countdown is on for Kendal Calling 2012!

Download Festival 2012 – Saturday Review

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After a drier night, the arena is looking decidedly less slippy (good) but quite a lot stickier (gross) and the feeling of being sucked into the depths of hell pervades ones’ thoughts if you stand still for any length of time. A dusting of woodchip and a dumping of hay around site has matted most areas into a lumpy farmyard but hey, it’s a little less perilous than yesterday so we’re not complaining.

Norwegian deathpunk glamsters Turbonegro, wake up the second stage sleepyheads with enigmatic newbie Tony Sylvester emerging in a sparkly Union flag cape and regal crown for a roaring ‘All my friends are Dead’. Over on the main stage Steel Panther steal the hearts of the ladies in the crowd with their 80’s rock personas and hip-thrusting action. The arena is rammed with lookalikes in bouffant wigs and zebra print lycra, screaming along to the likes of ‘Asian Hooker’ and ‘Supersonic Sex Machine’. It’s kitsch, it’s corny, but it’s all good humour and behind the filthily funny lyrics they are actually a fairly talented bunch.

However, it’s the stand out comedy-meets-rock performance of Tenacious D that gains the real respect of the crowd, even if you don’t much favour Jack Black, you’ve got to admire their story telling ability and straight up phallus-worship (in the form of a giant blow up cock and balls, made out to be the head of a colossal firey phoenix – in reference to their new album ‘Rize of the Fenix’). Fan favourites ‘Fuck Her Gently’ and ‘Kickapoo’ are mere warm-ups to the arena-wide exultation of band epic ‘Tribute’ and a chorus of “Nay, we are but men… ROCK”, as the D put it – they “made love to our ear-canals” and gave us “eargasms”. Jack Black declares Download was on their list, the “Last one before the world explodes” referring to the Mayan calendar ending in December and Tenacious D leave the stage to a confetti ejacuation emanating from the head of the ‘phoenix’.

Biffy Clyro

Skindred’s second stage set is met with unfortunate sound problems – largely due to the wind, but once gold-suited Benji Webbe exploded into heavy ‘Doom Riff’ any fears of a failure were well and truly gone, and their skit of ‘All the single ladies’ (with proper bogling) was extremely giggle-worthy. Wild crowd love for ‘Game Over’ and ‘Trouble’ as well as ‘Nobody’ see the band going mental and it’s tshirts off for the Newport Helicopter during ‘Warning’. If you were anywhere else in the world – you were missing out. Even the security guards at the side of the stage had their phones out videoing the mania.

Biffy Clyro go off with thousands of dedicated fans, and the return of Killswitch Engage provides raw power with ‘Life to Lifeless’ (circle pits galore) and an extremely memorable cover of Dio’s ‘Holy Diver’. Main stage monsters Metallica are greeted by an arena FULL, front to back, side to side, of sardine-canned-fans. What it must feel like to look across that sort of a crowd one can only guess, but ripping into an intro set including ‘Master of Puppets’ and ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’ – they prove why they’re such a Download stalwart and deserve to top the bill. The reverence of The Black Album is felt like shivers down the spine of the collective crowd as the band begin to play it in reverse order, and an epic singalong (and lighter swaying) for ‘Nothing Else Matters’ may well have been heard by low-flying planes. Following up with the likes of ‘Battery’ and ‘Seek and Destroy’, Metallica detonate well before the pyrotechnics do. This is their 7th Donington performance, and despite some dodgy sound at the back – it’s one you’ll tell your kids about, for all the right reasons.

Download Festival 2012 – Friday Review

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Once upon a time there was muddy swamp seated in the backwaters of the Bayou… oh wait a second, sorry, scratch that… it’s Drownload Festival 2012!

For early birds in the campsite on Wednesday, crowing over their favourable release from the workplace, it may have seemed like a rock-filled dream… until Thursday. The heavens opened and smite was heaped from on high with almost constant downpour from the get-up. Campsites quickly turned into duck ponds with many having to evacuate tents in favour of sleeping in the car or even leaving the festival entirely, and going to the portaloos was practically a mud-slalom event worthy of the Olympics. Welfare tents overrun with various ailments and incidents, fallen victims staggering about like bilge-monsters from the deep, and forlorn looking metallers with sodden dreadlocks were the scenes of Thursday and Friday morning.

But wait, this is Britain and these are The British. This nation was practically built on the ability to keep calm and carry on, or in the average Download goer’s case – get wasted and rock on. However, spirits aren’t exactly lifted with a two hour pushback for the arena opening, forcing some bands off the bill entirely and others to play later slots, as well as having ‘cleverly’ closed off nearly every available motorway junction to the event, creating great backlog for folks trying to get into the site. Those caught in the hours long traffic included Swedish rock legends Europe, presumably doing the final countdown to missing their slot completely. As sludge-ridden fans waited for the absent band a huge karaoke Final Countdown was paid in homage.

It is the warm/violent embrace of a circle pit that welcomes the first mainstage band Fear Factory (due to Cancer Bats and Rise to Remain being shimmied around) who proceed to rip through to closing favourite ‘Replica’ with gusto and Fat Mike of NOFX brings a little comedy to the mix whilst they roll out the likes of ‘Dinosaurs Will Die’ and ‘Perfect Government’. Billy Talent invite Cancer Bats on stage for a collaborative effort on ‘Hail Destroyer’ and over on the Jägermeister acoustic stage Skindred’s Benji Webbe is showing off his Michael Jackson dance moves and singing whole songs in ‘little kid crying’ style… just for the craic. Oh and he forgot the words for Doom Riff. Call it a warm up for tomorrow.

Machine Head’s explosive performance was foretold by reports of their not-so-secret Ten Ton Hammer gig in London earlier in the week but there’s something utterly great about seeing a band thrash it out in the open like wild things and the huge sweaty mosh pits tell a tale of a ruddy good show. ‘Imperium’ is received in exactly the manner it’s intended – a war anthem with the cry of thousands of fans going berserk.

Machine Head

Controversial dnb booking Chase & Status are hands down a triumph, the thumping basslines of ‘Eastern Jam’ and ‘Hypest Hype’ can not only be heard, but felt all around the arena, and Nightwish’s ‘Amaranth’ on the Encore stage is completely overshadowed by the London duo’s ‘Pieces’. The rest of Nightwish’s set though pretty, is largely uninspiring. Sure ‘Last of the Wilds’ is a beautifully haunting piece, but vocalist Anette Olzon doesn’t stack up to axed band member Tarja Turunen’s operatic style in old tracks ‘Wish I had an Angel’ and ‘Nemo’. It’s not that she’s bad, it’s just that if you already own the albums – it’s a bit disappointing. The pyrotechnics and Tuomas’ giant Phantom-esque pipe organ is interesting but they just don’t have the spark that their Tarja fronted Download appearance in 2005 did.

Encore headliner Slash wails like no-one else on earth and the second stage arena is awash with shred-fans for GnR song ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ and Velvet Revolver’s ‘Slither’. Friday’s mainstage headliner The Prodigy finally get underway 30 minutes late, opening with ‘World’s On Fire’ and enough decibels to reanimate the dead. Super hits ‘Breathe’ and newest album tracks ‘Thunder’ and ‘Omen’ are instant fodder for rave hungry revellers, but classic ‘Firestarter’ is the body-thrashing anthem everyone has been waiting for. ‘Smack my bitch up’, ‘Diesel Power’ and ‘Take me to the Hospital’ are as firey as expected and The Prodigy go out with an almighty bang. That’s one flame the rain couldn’t dampen.

Review by Anna Hyams

Download Festival 2012 – Sunday – Black Sabbath Review

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Better late than never, sunshine graces the Download Arena as the stage screens go black in anticipation of the Godfathers of metal, Black Sabbath, headlining and closing out the 10 year anniversary of the festival.

An intro video of highlights is played, shamelessly thin on clips of Bill Ward who is not  performing with the band tonight due to a public online spat over 'contractual issues'. It is Ozzy's tour drummer Tony Clufetos who is to take his place.

As the skies begin to darken, the maniacal signature laughter of Ozzy Osbourne can be heard behind a black curtain across the stage, which is lifted to reveal the band with huge screens featuring a flaming backdrop of the Black Sabbath logo, straight into namesake track 'Black Sabbath'.

Whilst Ozzy appears to have an abundance of energy, playing harmonica and careering about during 'The Wizard' there is a zombie-like quality to his movements these days, which is sort of disturbing, yet sort of endearing and as the band launch into 'Snowblind' Ozzy's sweat beaded brow and crazy eyes are projected on screen whilst he screams for everyone to jump.

Ozzy's second-puberty voice is crackling as he gets more excited and screams "I can't fucking hear you" repeatedly, and the stage goes black once more for the air-raid sirens of the iconic 'War Pigs'. Thousands yelling out the lyrics "Generals gathered in their masses" is a spine-tingling thing to witness and Black Sabbath absolutely blast it out. Despite Iommi's public battle with illness he is shredding as hard as ever with Geezer Butler providing the signature Sabbath rhythm to the sound.

A massive Tony Clufetos fuck-you-BW drum solo makes the crowd roar as they drop into 'Iron Man' after Ozzy laments on Iommi being "The real Iron Man" and then into 'Fairies Wear Boots'. Ozzy gets down on his knees and praises the crowd, and the band encore with the inevitable 'Paranoid' and a bombardment of fireworks for a sensational finish. You might be forgiven for saying Ozzy's voice isn't quite there anymore, or that it wasn't the fast-paced go-nuts finisher of a festival, but, this is original metal, in the original home of metal, with the Prince of Darkness. It's metal cubed, and everyone loved it.

Download Festival 2012 – Saturday – Metallica Review

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After a brief glimpse of sunshine and a compacting of mud, the Download site seems to be in much better spirits as the main stage is set for the return of Metallica to it's hallowed ground. As Download veterans they pretty well have the home-team advantage with anything they play, but this year sees Metallica revisit their 'do a whole album' idea (having performed Master of Puppets in its entirety at Download 2006) with a complete run through of The Black Album. Backwards.

As the sky darkens and the arena fills up with expectant fans, Metallica arrive with all the collected-calm you'd expect of rock legends, and hammer out some taster tracks to the tune of 'Master of Puppets' and 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' with the accompaniment of thousands of voices from the crowd. Despite the fact that Metallica are clearly absolutely smashing it, taking a walk around the arena shows a very different picture. Go ever so slightly up the hill from the sound desk and suddenly you're in Metalli-karaoke land. The sound is so low and tinny you could be forgiven for thinking Download were using ipod speakers down there, and a lot of people are upset – made ever more apparent as song by song, irked fans get up and leave. Hetfield's shouts of "Are you with us Download?" are unfortunately met with cries of "We can't fucking hear you". Is it to do with the fact that the speaker stacks were lowered because of windy conditions? Did they have to turn it down because of the other stages? Given that The Prodigy's set last night was clear as bell around the whole site, it would seem something is amiss.

Metallica

As Metallica take a breather, a making-of video is screened about The Black Album, lamenting the incredible 300 tour dates the band made when it came out and various other insane statistics (as well as a lot of very bouffant mullets, both from fans AND the band) and Metallica begin the album with gusto, from 'The Struggle Within' and backwards through The Black Album from there. It's 'Nothing Else Matters' that really takes the prize for most-crooned though, a sea of lighter flames ripples toward the stage where Hetfield's face, eyes closed, is plastered onto a giant back screen.

With crowd-pleasers 'Wherever I may roam', 'The Unforgiven' and monster smash hit 'Enter Sandman' Metallica close out The Black Album in style, with ear-busting fireworks and a thank you to the Download family. The inevitable encore is a scorcher, 'Battery' is followed by 'One' complete with fireworks used to project wartime missiles and 'Seek and Destroy' which is accompanied by huge black blow up beach-balls thrown into the thrashing crowd, as huge fireworks fired from the top of the stage crown the performance. Metallica were undeniably spectacular and clearly a Download favourite, it's just a shame that not everyone got to experience them at their epic, amazing best.