Tennents Lager announce T Break stage lineup

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Today the line-up of acts that will play the T Break Stage’s landmark 20th year is revealed:
 
AmatrArt
Apache Darling
Catholic Action
Be Charlotte
Crash Club
Dead Man Fall
Ded Rabbit
DIVIDES
Gerry Cinnamon
Other Humans
Our Future Glory
Schnarff Schnarff
Spring Break
The Claramassa
The Van T's
Tijuana Bibles
 
Tennent’s Lager have been proudly supporting Scotland’s grassroots music scene through T Break for 20 memorable years, providing the country’s freshest unsigned talent with the chance to showcase their material to fans, musicians and music industry insiders alike on the biggest platform for unsigned artists at T in the Park – the T Break Stage.
 
Throughout T Break’s 20-year rock and roll history the T Break Stage has seen a huge wealth of talent coming through the ranks, with bands such as Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol, Twin Atlantic and The View all playing the legendary stage.  Each year the T Break line-up – curated by a judging panel of 15 of Scotland’s most respected and influential music industry experts – reflects exactly what’s going on in Scotland’s grassroots music scene at that time, and this year is no exception.

Boomtown Fair announce themes for all nine districts

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Most festivals are content with having one theme to stick to throughout the event, but not BoomTown; with nine completely different districts making up this bonkers fantasyland of ultimate escapism, all fancy-dress bases are covered! From the backstreet barbers in the Wild West to the glamourous ladies-who-lunch of Mayfair Avenue, there’s a whole plethora of characters just waiting to take up residence in one of the unique areas of the city. BoomTown, taking place over 13th – 16th August at the Matterley Estate nr. Winchester, has already announced all 500 plus acts performing this year, including Stephen Marley, Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello, Matisyahu, Barrington Levy, Squarepusher, Noisia, Spor, John Butler Trio, Less Than Jake, Infected Mushroom and hundreds more across nearly every conceivable genre, the details for each of the city’s districts can now be unveiled, along with all the madcap and bizarre venues to be found within them.

With so many districts, streets, venues and sideshows to take in, the ever creative powerhouse of BoomTown Fair have launched their very own news channel, BTN, to deliver short, snappy news bulletins outlining each of the districts and all the wonders that can be found within! The full playlist of district videos can be found here.

Starting off with the lawless Wild West, this dusty district first opened its saloon doors in Chapter 6 and since then has doubled in size and expanded with even more unsavoury characters roaming the streets just waiting to corrupt any who choose to visit! With many venues to discover including The Wrong Side of the Tracks railway station; Madame Electrifie’s General Store a hive of Western wonders alongside some of the most rip-roaring fiddle playing in all the prairies! The Gold Rush mine has been re-opened as a saloon by a wild bunch of thirsty thrill seekers rivalling Shot Gun Willies as the districts’ premier watering hole. The Lawless Halls of Justice have spruced up the old Courthouse with an all-star line-up of auditory outlaws keeping everything in order. Visitors to the unruly bad-lands of the Wild West are welcome to run amuck among the disorderly streets and try to make their name…

Barrio Loco, a passionate playground filled with technicolour and a true zest for life! This is the home BoomTown’s Glorious Leader as well as many an action packed venue including, Circo Bassline with their Caba-rave; the Happy Slap El Espectaculo Esqueleto and Samedia Shebeen. Visitors are advised against taking a wrong turn and ending up in Breaking Boomtown Lab. For a spot of reinvention head to La Belleza Muerto; those of a sporting disposition may feel brave enough to hunt down a worthy adversary in the interactive gaming zone of Dissosia Casa de Balanceo Loco or throw the biggest shapes in the ring at The Dance Off!

Back up the hill from Barrio Loco lies the all the prosperity of Mayfair Avenue, join the 1 percent-ers in their tax free haven or try to swindle them out of their fortune. Revel in these golden streets where the stakes are high and the fun is serious! With establishments such as Charlie Browns Casino and Barwhere one can win or lose big; interactive decadence of the Park Hotel boasting cocktails, room service, gaming tables and music shows; festival entertainment elite, the Bearded Kittens’ very own Opera House and The Fitzslones’ mansion party in Funkington Manor. There are plenty of sideshows to entertain including Copper Feel Cabaret and the Candy Trash Beauty Boutique.  The Slapbox is there for ultimate image capturing or glide around in style at BUMP Roller Disco.

The OldTown pirate port tempts passers-by into its cobbled back streets and bawdy taverns for a weekend of raucous revelry and clandestine celebration! As the first place for many settlers, OldTown provides a range of amenities to keep transient visitors occupied; The Job Centre will be on hand to find gainful employment for all new arrivals within the city, sending citizens off to work within other establishments at the fair, prepare for the new employment opportunities with Jack The Clippers barbers. Grandmas Living Room offers homely comforts along with the more communal space of Peoples Front Room. There is also Rimski’s, a loveable dive filled with live music enthusiasts. Or for something totally different go visit Wayne and Wanda’s grounded cruise ship for the ultimate lip-synching experience!  Offering straight up redemption is the Dank Parish’s ‘Church of The Sturdy Virgin’. The miscreants out there should watch out for the Boomtown Bobbies who will be ensuring law and order are obeyed at all times!

Moving down the hill to the area of DownTown is home to ChinaTown, the colourful mecca of the digital new age where gaming is all the rage, with a sound track of Ska Punk. Pop into Alan’s Happy Ending Cinema to experience another dimension in 4D entertainment. Hang out with Mr Hung for t-shirt printing with a difference or lose yourself (and your savings) in the Lucky Cat Musement Arcade. Bend some circuits with So Fun Tek and play live 3D Mario inDubtendo. There’s also a totally 21st century gaming experience available with Digital Funfair and the mash-up make over at The Freak Boutique punk parlour!

The seedy underbelly of DSTRKT 5 houses some of dodgiest dives in town and the Leisure Centre, Asbo Disco and the Old School Garage are all returning with their much famed antics and outright mayhem, along with other interactive venues such as the Spaceport, Jungle Syndicate and Amental.For those brave enough to cross this galactic border there is a whole other worldly realm of delights to be explored in this pan dimensional district. There is mind, body and soul modification at The Body Shop, a regrettable new face from Downtown Tattoos, a questionable evening in the Red Rash inn, a mighty good wash down from the 24hr garage girls or selling your soul to We Buy Gold in a desperate attempt to escape the DSTRKT!

TrenchTown is more of an ideology than a physical district. Spread throughout the city, the residents of TrenchTown have their common bond, not over boundaries and buildings, tbut through a shared love for reggae, roots and dub culture. The Lion’s Den has risen up and ascended the hill to a previously untouched area of the city. Tangled Roots has also packed up their stacks and relocated the full on celebration of soundsystem and dub culture to a woodland clearing close to the suburbs of Mayfair where Unit 137 and Lion Pulse will once again be battling out the soundclashes for all that stomp in it! Keeping TrenchTown grounded is the Hidden Woods, one of BoomTown’s most beloved spots this natural roots location houses tree-topped walkways, sandy spots with sun-splashed clearings, wooden huts hosting the ultimate reggae experience.

The place of the fair where freedom is at its truest, where the residents rule the streets and no-one is in charge, KidzTown! This year all of KidzTown are off on one almighty tropical island hideaway! This fantastical space for all the family, which is for the kids by the kids, will see the seaside resort take influence from the Tropics with colourful shirts, grass skirts, straw hats and inflatable animals galore! This creative reality lets the mischievous munchkins of BoomTown do exactly what they want to, with fair grounds, pizzas, puppets, hand crafted chill out areas, soft play, workshops, gigantic brain wave shows, interactive comedy and lots more…

Just across the track from KidzTown is Whistlers Green, a crossroads of creativity where participation is everything!  There are lots of things to try and do here from; trapeze to black smith workshops, cider making to spoon carving or a relaxing message or dip in one of the hot tubs. Go astray in the Lost Horizons sauna and hidden gardens or tend to your soul in The Healing Place, featuring the wishing tree, mother and child space, daily morning yoga classes & a range of healing therapies including Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Deep Tissue and Thai massage. The calming confines of Whistlers Greenprovides a relaxing environment to soak up the sublime array of tranquil tunes at the beautiful Floating Lotus stage. Relax in the many gardens and chill out zones with a cup of Chai or head to the Hobgoblin Ale Garden for a refreshing draft

The Big Feastival add The Feeling, Sophie Ellis Bextor and more

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The Big Feastival 2015 is on track to create its best music line-up to date, securing chart-topping artists and some of the hottest new acts in music.

Original indie-rockers, The Feeling have been confirmed for the main stage, and the crowd can also expect a special guest appearance from songstress Sophie Ellis-Bextor, as she will be joining the band on stage for an unforgettable music moment.

Fellow indie singer-songwriter, Badly Drawn Boy has also been confirmed today and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Festivalgoers will be in for a treat on the Friday night of the event as synthpop legends, Heaven 17, known for their good-time anthem ‘Temptation’ are also announced.  These acts join headliners Groove Armada (DJ set), Dizzee Rascal and Paloma Faith in what is shaping up to be the greatest Big Feastival music line-up to date.

The Big Feastival has also announced a plethora of rising stars as it champions the very best in new music.  Joining established acts on the main stage will be breakthrough artist, Rae Morris, a soulful singer-songwriter whose debut album Unguarded hit the top ten. London quartet Flyte have been selling out venues in the capital with their infectious sound and are sure to impress the Big Feastivalaudience. Irish pop duo Hudson Taylor will also make a welcome debut at the event with their Simon and Garfunkel-like melodies. Rounding up the latest additions of fresh new music at Big Feastival is rockabilly siblings, Ruen Brothers, who will be bringing their guitar-twanging, drum bashing sound to the main stage.

The Main Stage music line-up so far is as follows:

Friday 28: Groove Armada (DJ Set), Cuban Brothers, Norman Jay M.B.E, Heaven 17, Flyte

Saturday 29: Dizzee Rascal, Example & DJ Wire, Ella Eyre, Grandmaster Flash, Hudson Taylor, Duke

Sunday 30: Paloma Faith, The Feeling ft Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Roots Manuva, Maxi Jazz, Rae Morris, Badly Drawn Boy, Ruen Brothers

Other musical treats at The Big Feastival 2015 will come from a jam-packed Udder Stage which makes a welcome return and features Jake Isaac, Booka Brass Band, Rive, Object Object, Grace Savage, Pocket Club, Folk Idol offering visitors the chance to don beards and play covers of folk songs, as well as City Shanty Band who will entertain the crowds with traditional sea shanties. By night, the tent will transform into a Silent Disco for visitors to enjoy.

Top chefs and the best in children’s entertainment will also make up this year’s Big Feastival. This chef programme includes Raymond Blanc, Monica Galetti, Nathan Outlaw, Ashley Palmer-Watts, Mark Hix, Gizzi Erskine, The Fabulous Baker Brothers Tom & Henry Herbert and Gennaro Contaldo.  There will also be a brand new Healthy Living Zone starring Deliciously Ella plus other healthy trendsetters as well as family entertainment from the likes of CBeebies Justin Fletcher, Peppa Pig, Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park and The Little Dudes’ Den.

Brownstock Festival add new artists to 2015 lineup

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Beardyman, aka Danny Foreman, leads the charge for the latest additions to Brownstock Festival. UK Beatbox Champion in 2006 and 2007, Beardyman offers up a cocktail of drum n’ bass, dubstep and breakbeat in his sets using his mimic vocal chords and an array of tech. Considered one of the most innovative beatboxers, not just in the UK but beyond, Beardyman has torn up stages across Europe and has wowed crowds at festivals, his own shows and Edinburgh Fringe.
 
T Williams’ musical career began at just 17 years old when he began to make waves in the grime and bass world, fast forward to the present day and Williams has undergone something of a reinvention through his new found love of house music. Williams’ rejuvenated sound saw him named as one the ‘DJ Stars of 2012’ in TimeOut magazine. Tieks, the pop/house crossover producer and musician broke through in 2014 with single ‘Sing That Song’, influenced as much by film as he is by music, Tieks brings a cinematic sound to the Brownstock.
 
PBR Streetgang have remixed the likes of Lana Del Ray and held a residency at Ibiza’s club-Mecca We Love at Space, next up – Brownstock. Their disco/house set promises to be a jewel in the festival’s crown this July.
 
Also added to proceedings are Ten Story, Pied Piper and Kokiri, plus Essex’s own DJ Cable and Dream McClean. 
 
With headliners Basement Jaxx, Example and DJ Fresh, plus sets from Sub Focus, Lethal Bizzle, Bondax and many more Brownstock promises a ‘hands in the air’, celebratory weekend of the finest pop, dance and urban sounds this July. Tickets are on sale now at the awesomely value for money prince of £79 and can be purchased via Brownstock.co.uk.

V Festival expand their comedy lineup for 2015

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V Festival, sponsored by Virgin Media, today adds a raft of established and emerging comedy acts to The Glee Club Comedy Tentline-up. Joining headliners Frankie Boyle and Russell Kane, award-winning comedian Matt Richardson, ‘An Irishman Abroad’ starJarlath Regan, Suzi Ruffell, Tom Deacon, Luisa Omielanand Paul McCaffrey will be taking to the stage.

 

British stand-up comedians Kevin McCarthy and Mark Olver will keep the tent roaring with laughter between acts as the official MCs, introducing the world-class line-up. Further additions to the bill include Simon King, Andrew O’Neill, Jen Brister, Gareth Richards,Marlon Davis, Prince Abdi, Danny McLoughlin, Craig Murray and Andy Robinson.

 

Seann Walsh, Shappi Khorsandi, Nick Helm and Gary Delaney are also headlining during the festival weekend.

 

Matt Richardson said: “Last year my V Festival sets were two of my favourites of the year and I’m really excited to be going back and hopefully seeing some new faces. It’s great that comedy is such a huge part of the line-up, I love performing at festivals and I can’t wait to get on stage for the 20th anniversary of V!”

 

Making her second appearance at V Festival Suzi Ruffell said: “It’s an honour to be joining a tent crammed full of the finest comedy talent around. As a comedian, you’re usually on your own when on the road, so I’m looking forward to getting together with the rest of the line-up and watching them on stage too!”

 

V Festival’s 20th anniversary weekend will take placeon the 22nd and 23rd August, at Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire.

 

V Festival 2015 tickets are available to purchase online now atwww.vfestival.com, where the announced line-up can also be found.

Lost Village 2015 Review

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Buried in the Lincolnshire countryside, 5,000 party-goers descend upon the idyllic woodland setting of Lost Village festival. Taking place over the May bank-holiday weekend in an “ancient abandoned village”, the festival’s motto is to “join the tribe”. Set up by Moda’s Jaymo & Andy George – who later play a sparkling set on Saturday afternoon – the location is perfect for the acts performing; eclectic electronica from Die Vogel and Four Tet, crowd-pleasing sets from Ben Pearce and Annie Mac, and heavier techno-based sounds from Tale of Us, Jasper James and Gardens of God.

Aside from one shower, the usually temperamental English weather holds up, offering sun throughout the whole weekend – Summer Festival Guide even returns home with a tan! Transport-wise, there is a free shuttle bus; impressive for a first-time festival. SFG meets people who have travelled up from the Midlands, London, and one electronic music lover who has travelled four hours from Brighton.

Set behind a lakeside family campsite, it’s like a whole other realm. Attracting a multitude of types of people; when setting up camp, one middle-aged man sporting a Blasé Boys Club t-shirt is drinking with those who could be his children. Everyone who SFG meets is friendly and really here for the music.

Reasonably priced Vodka and cokes begin to flow throughout Grandmaster Flash’s charismatic old-school set, declaring the festival open on Friday evening at Basecamp. Though licensing requires music to finish at midnight each night, back in camp there’s no sign of sleeping until the early hours.

[Special mention to Diamond Dogs, who provided the best post-drinking cure with their Chilli Cheese Dogs and Tater Tots]

It’s Saturday morning, the sun is shining through the campsite and anticipation is high to see Lost Village’s main stages; the Abandoned Chapel, Forgotten Cabin and The Ruins, each with impeccable sound-systems and impressive set-design. At midday, Citizenn opens the Cabin with a groove-laden house set before Jackmaster’s housemate Jasper James – a personal highlight – delivers hard-hitting tech-house, and as one Villager suggests, “its 3 in the morning vibes at 1 in the afternoon”, another gushing, “I feel like I’m in Berghain!”

 

Later, Erol Alkan delivers an acidic electro set like a true professional, looking suave in a leather jacket, before Denmark’s Kolsch plays what everyone wants to hear; Huxley’s ‘I Want You’ and Adesse Versions’ ‘Pride’ make much-appreciated appearances as well as his own euphoric piano-led ‘Cassiopeia’. Over at The Ruins, Lost Village’s mud-filled main stage, Dusky’s ‘Yoohoo’ is blasting through the industrial-sized speakers to the packed crowd as one partyer holds up an LED lit ‘TUNE’ sign. Back at the Cabin, Four Tet closes the first night in magical, enchanted fashion; his Martyn-collaboration ‘Glassbeadgames’ becoming a highlight as the vibrant strobes light up the darkness.

Come Sunday morning, Ejeca’s defying the traditional day of rest, delivering tech-house at the Abandoned Chapel, as one guy dressed like Fryar Tuck with a massive tribal stick urges the crowd on. Theo Kottis, Moda Black’s newest signing, continues on a similar vibe at the Cabin as glittered faces – old and young – tribal hennas and selfie sticks are visible at every turn, watching the darkly uplifting set; Guy Gerber’s remix of Art Department’s ‘Catch You By Surprise’ really goes off.

Tourist attracts a massive crowd to the ruins, performing with synth pads and keyboards; Pretend, Trust In You and I Can’t Keep Up translate effortlessly in Lost Village’s mud-covered main stage The Ruins.  With a massive ‘U’ behind him, the co-writer to Sam Smith’s ‘Stay With Me’ introduces Anywhere, a new track from his debut album, appropriately titled ‘U’.

“How great is this festival?” asks William Phillips aka Tourist. It’s a statement which becomes heavily echoed over the course of the first ever Lost Village. Considering this is its debut year, Lost Village has the potential to rival the likes of Secret Garden Party in the not so distant future.

Later, after stumbling across a fake marriage – Lost Village has a plethora of spooky actors waiting at every turn – Tale Of Us deliver an intense techno set as the Forgotten Cabin’s strobes light up one of the weekend’s biggest audiences.

Jackmaster, sporting a ‘We Love Detroit’ t-shirt, follows, playing a typically eclectic set of house, techno and everything in between. Meanwhile, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs aka Orlando Higginbottom seems on a completely different trip in The Ruins; dropping drum & bass and jungle tracks, it’s a refreshing break from the weekend’s house/techno sound, before Annie Mac closes out the first ever Lost Village with on-point house tracks.

Over the course of the weekend, SFG have brushed shoulders – and taken selfies with – Annie Mac, Richy Ahmed and Tourist. It’s not often that such big names are within arms length walking through the woodland setting.

Post-festival, Lost Village’s founders Jaymo & Andy George have commented: “We never in our wildest dreams expected it to go this well! The crowd were 10/10, every stage was constantly busy, all the artists who played have said amazingly positive things and all those little elements we planned came together just how we hoped. The feedback we’ve been getting since has been unreal… we can’t wait to start planning the next one now.”

2016s Lost Village couldn’t roll around any quicker!

 

Slam Dunk 2015 Wolverhampton Review

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Saturday 23rd May seen the start of the bank holiday weekend, with a three day traveling circus thats known as Slam Dunk Festival bringing its fun and lively antics across Leeds, Hertfordshire and Wolverhampton. We went along to Wolverhampton to see what the Slam Dunk team had inshore for us this year. This year it housed seven stages, each of which held a collaboration of six to seven different bands of similar musical output. It was a surreal experience to walk no more than a few metres and be kicked in the face with a completely different genre of music and with Slam Dunk ever expanding this year provided us with a pick of 53 bands to see.

Trash Boat
After winning the fresh blood competition against 9 other bands they opened up the Kerrang! Fresh Blood stage at the festival. The band were highly anticipated and had a pretty big turn-out especially for that time of day. They performed well and put the crowd in a fantastic mood for the rest of the day.

PVRIS
had the room at full capacity nearly twenty minutes before their set, Lynn Gunn kick started the Civic Hall’s atmosphere by opening with the debut single St Patrik. The trio from Lowell, Massachusetts blew the roof off with a six song setlist, completing it with a rendition of ‘My House’ featuring You Me At Six front man Josh Franceschi. Lynn Gunn being the Iconic front woman that she is wooed the crowd and it was a huge turnout for the band which was well received by all. Seriously this band are taking over!.

Neck Deep
The infamous Neck Deep have recently had a lot of hype after news broke out that their new studio album ‘Life’s Not Out To Get You’ to due to be released soon. So with that in mind we were excited to see what these boys from Wales would have to offer. After the lads had attended the Kerrang! signing tent they proceeded to play a 35 minute set at Slam Dunk’s main stage, featuring songs from their first EP Rain in July. They also played hits from their first studio album and more recently their brand new single ‘Can’t Kick Up The Roots’ which went down a treat. The pop-punk five piece didn’t stop there and busted out the classic ‘A Part Of Me ‘ which left most of us teary eyed.

Zebrahead
Now surprisingly this band had the best sound of the day it was mostly clean and raw, which we would considered this band to be, it was such an unexpected highlight of our day. Stewards had to stop letting people in as the Desperados stage was at full capacity and it’s no wonder, they were so tight for such a large band. Amazing clean vocals, arguably the sharpest sound of the day.

While She Sleeps
The Sheffield five piece smashed out a nine song setlist,  which was well doctored if we might add for SlamDunk. Hardcore Sleeps fans were around, displaying flags of honour and affection which for a band that has had very few years, they have gained an army of loyal fans. After releasing their latest album Brainwashed, While She Sleeps have become an ever expanding name, not too big to emphasize their egos as they stuck around the festival to meet the fans.

Bury Tomorrow
After seeing front man Dani and Davyd knocking around merch tables meeting the fans, then playing an extensive DJ set on Uprawr stage, we were ecstatic to see what the very special guests BURY TOMORROW had to throw at us at 5pm on the Monster Energy Stage. As soon as they erupted out on stage there were massive circle pits from the get go this being said the band never have and never will settle for anything less. Their set consisted of mostly new material,playing half of their new album ‘RUNES’ as well as classic tracks from previous albums.

Don Broco
After witnessing the huge line for the meet and greet this was a  highly anticipated band to see. After such a hype and with them being on the main stage Don Broco didn't live up to my expectation and were the most disappointing band of the day. Overly confident lead singer "Rob Damiani"  kept the crowd waiting well into what would have been their 45 minute set. They attracted a boisterous crowd which proved to be to many members of the audience being problematic as it aggravated and distressed what should have been a fairly calm slot of the day. Overall a poor performance.

Mellincolin
have just released their latest album "True Brew" which is there first bit of material in over seven years. The four piece from Örebro, Sweden played a set consisting of mainly new material but didn’t fail to deliver absolute classics from their earlier discography "Penguins and Polarbears" with them warming the crowd up to end with arguably the one song everyone came to see "NO CIGAR"  a classic most people will remember from the days of playing old school Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. Not only did they entertain with their music but their on stage humour kept the fans in a bright mood. 10/10 for performance.

Architects 
were without a doubt one of the most hyped up bands of the day to check out and it’s with no surprise with them Headlining the Monster Energy Stage. They played a set combined with old classics such as "Early Grave" and "Follow The Water" amongst a vast collection of their new material from their latest album "Lost Together Lost Forever". Vocalist Sam Carter was insanely grateful for the sheer amount of people that turned up to see their set as it was a  slot clash with surrey boys You Me At Six. Always promoting a good message Architects stomped home probably the heaviest set of the day.

You Me At Six
After their performance at Hatfield having to be delayed due to an injured fan, they ended Slam Dunk’s three day weekend with a bang. Stomping out old classics from their first studio album ‘Take Off Your Colours’.  Surprisingly the material, which is nearly seven years old got an amazing welcome as they opened with "The Truth Is A Terrible Thing" immediately followed by "Save It For The Bedroom". Josh Franceschi’s five piece galore seemed to take the commitment of headlining the whole festival as something on the chin and boy did they deliver. 

We caught up with a few fans who gave their appraisals in a few short words

Heather Thomson

“IT WAS RAD! Being As An Ocean were surprisingly my favourite pick of the litter. It was my first hard-core festival and it seems like I’ll be coming again next year. It was pretty cool to have loads of my favourite bands playing within a few metres of each other, my legs hurt now but it was so worth it!”

 

Josh English 

“Gloriously sunny drunk fun, big d and the kids table were f***ing fantastic and While She Sleeps smashed it as always, they never let you down just a lot of likeminded nice people all in one place, a proper friendly atmosphere.”

 

Leanda Skragg 

“Possibly the best line up I’ve ever seen at the festival. Was an absolutely sick day and I wasn’t disappointed with a single band I saw.”

Overall to sum up SLAMDUNK 2015, it was incredible and such a surreal experience. You could meet almost anyone you wanted throughout the day without having to queue for the meet and greets, it seemed the bands just like knocking around to meet fans and even catch other bands sets. The crowd to band relationships were intimate.

There was a huge variety of food and drink and very happy and helpful members of staff to serve it. There were plenty of offers from sponsors such as Desperados and Impericon giving away free goodies. The general atmosphere however was average. Maybe it’s due to the long weekend or the poor weather.

Due to the layout of the venue some of the stages would sound leak from one into the other, you'd be stood in the middle of the Monster Stage and still hear Impericon. The whole sound quality of the festival was below average, too much bass and echo for the size of the venues. It left little room for melodic instruments which had an adverse effect on everyone's performance. Despite this, the crowd seemed happy and the bands even happier.

Overall a good day and we highly recommend it, 2 thumbs up!

Arcticle By Ashley Beresford

Photographs from Sophie Jones

Reading and Leeds Festival add more acts to their lineup for 2015

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With a huge bill topped by festival headliners Metallica, Mumford & Sons and The Libertines plus a supporting cast of some of the world’s biggest names in music including Kendrick Lamar, Alt J and Bring Me The Horizon, the already bursting Reading & Leeds Festival lineup is now bolstered by even more incredible names.

MAIN STAGE

With the Main Stage lineup already providing a huge number of must-see acts across this summer’s bank holiday weekend,Mariachi El Bronx return to the prestigious opening slot to bring festival crowds their signature brand of traditional mariachi and feel good pop for a set that is sure to bring the sunshine. The LA punks, The Bronx, will also play The Lock up Stage.

NME/BBC RADIO 1 STAGE

Taking the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage on the Friday at Reading and Saturday at Leeds, The Struts will be making their R&L debut this year; treating crowds to their potent mix of indie and glam rock as found on last years ‘Everybody Wants’ LP. Having played support to The Rolling Stones last year, they are truly a world-class rock act.

Since forming in 2009 Chicago, Illinois natives Twin Peaks have continued to build on the buzz surrounding their furious brand of garage punk. Heading for Reading on the Saturday and Sunday at Leeds, theirs is a set not to be missed. 

To say that British songwriter and producer Shura has a bright future ahead of her would be a complete understatement. With standout headline shows under her belt and armed with tracks like the smooth electro-pop of recent Radio 1 championed single ‘2Shy’, expect huge crowds on Sunday at Reading and Friday at Leeds. 

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE

Dance music enthusiasts can once again rejoice as the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage once again brings only the finest acts from across the world together under one roof.

Joining this year’s lineup are Australian hitmaker Hayden James, German deep-house wizard Ferdinand Weber, a very special live set from DJ Fresh, Irish favourites Riptide Movement, live electronic duo Maribou State, pop starlet Petite Meller and The Six. 

THE LOCK UP/PIT STAGE

A host of exciting new names have been announced for The Lock Up/Pit stage, including The Bronx and Progressive metal legends Baroness. Japanese noise-mongers Bo Ningen will bring their visceral, undeniably unique sound to a mid-afternoon slot on Friday Reading / Saturday Leeds. Earlier in the day the gloriously destructive God Damn will be proving why so much hype has surrounded them in recent months. Vant will also be opening proceedings with Skinny Lister.Elsewhere throughout the weekend, No Devotion and As It Is join a mammoth lineup on Saturday Reading / Sunday Leeds, further proving why The Lock Up / Pit Stage is one of the festival’s most exciting, diverse areas on site.

FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE

The Festival Republic Stage remains the area of the festivals with a focus on both emerging and established alternative talent. Having appeared on the BBC Sound of 2015 longlist earlier this year, Sunset Sons‘ fresh brand of beachside indie has built a huge fan base who will no doubt pack out the tent Friday Reading / Saturday Leeds. Scottish synth-poppersNeon Waltz play Saturday Reading / Sunday Leeds having drawn critical acclaim from blogs around the world whilst Spring King fuse visceral indie with modern pop charm.

Seether and The Last Internationale complete the current announcement, rounding off an incredible stage lineup that features the best alternative talent the world has to offer.

BBC 1XTRA STAGE

Further proving the vital place of Hip Hop and Urban music at R&L, more names have also been added to the hugely popular BBC 1XTRA Stage. Bringing together 80’s pop hooks with a 60’s aesthetic, Brighton’s Remi Miles will open the stage Saturday Reading / Sunday Leeds.

Fresh after collaborating with Jamie XX, unlikely rap hero Young Thug will also be making a rare appearance Friday Leeds / Saturday Reading, bringing a barrage of hits that prove impossible not to shout along to.

Sibling production / DJ duo Star.One also join the lineup, perfectly encapsulating the diverse and groundbreaking nature of both the BBC 1xtra Stage, and Reading and Leeds as a whole.

Love Saves the Day Review 2015

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The Bristolian two day event kicked off to a sunny start, bringing in flocks of hipsters from far and wide to Eastville Park. Saturday was a sell-out with queues of up to two hours to get into the festival site and huge lines for both the bar and toilets too. Despite the lack of amenities the curation of the festival was really well done, with all tents hosting an array of sounds for all tastes. With lots of Bristol performers, caterers and exhibitors, Love Saves the day 2015 definitely seemed a joyous celebration of the cool and diverse city.

Established as one of the best and biggest selling electronic acts, Groove Armada was one of the most legendary names to perform at Love Saves the Day this year. The relaxed and chilled vibes of daytime main stage instantly filled into a crowd of avid fans eagerly awaiting the electronic music duo. At the first kick drum the crowd went wild, kicking off the party atmosphere at main stage. Playing samples of 'I see you baby' the duo quickly move on delivering to a sea of raised arms and shoulder riders. Towards the end, the crowds attention began to slant just before teasing us with the legendary party anthem 'Superstylin' then kicking into it in full at the end just in time for sunset.

Cloud 9 presented by Apex proved to be tent for the party atmosphere hosting the likes of Tourist and Gorgon City. Tourist- a Grammy winning artist is certainly grabbing the musics lovers attention and 2015 has been a good year for him. As well as an excellent musician, he proved himself as a phenomenal DJ for Saturday Love Saves the Day. At no point did the crowds attention seem to stray. Gorgon City also provided a high finish to a night for the house/ garage fans.

The London singer/songwriter Jessie Ware, turned out to be a wonderful wind down a predominantly DJ and dance night. With some technical difficulties at the beginning Jessie Ware smoothly brushes it over by greeting the crowd. Her soulful and flawless voice eased us into sways of utter blissful happiness. Right before the end of the set Ware announces to 'slow dance with person you are standing next to' to which we complied singing the heart stopping 'Wildest Moments'. With the stage lights now turned off and heading back through the cold, the atmosphere of sheer satisfaction was upon the crowds face as you could hear passers-by singing Jessie Ware lyrics.

Saturday’s sunshine and atmosphere was the perfect way to really kick off the festival season and although the prior weather reports suggested otherwise, Sunday’s proceedings started in much the same way. Again, queues for the bars and toilets were a slight annoyance, even though tickets were still available on the door but it was nowhere near as bad as the first day. Perhaps the fewer people seeing the entire festival through were really making the most of the penultimate bank holiday before Christmas!

Giant illuminated signs outside the festival gates informed Sunday’s crowd that it was ‘party time’, and if any of the stages at Love Saves the Day lived up to this promise, it was the ‘Shambarber’ stage. Tucked away in the corner of the site, sheltered from the wind by the Paradiso tent and a slightly quieter bar ;) – this place was alive with festival spirit. It was a suntrap, with Dirtytalk and Jethro Binns providing the perfect accompaniment of feel-good house tunes making it really difficult to leave.

After a day outside, it was time to get some shade inside the paradise stage – one of the festival’s two larger tents. Floating Points’ stepped out, accompanied by a familiar face in Kieran Hebden (Four Tet), who must have been getting into the zone for his set later in the night. Floating Points’ impressed with yet another feel-good festival set – something he can be relied on. Whilst scatterings of electro-funk and disco took the premise, it was his own record ‘Nuits Sonores’ which really stood out as being something special.

After this a set by Daniel Avery which was again a lot of fun (although a little tamer than the last time I saw him at Manchester’s Soup Kitchen) it was the turn of Four Tet to take to the stage once again. Four Tet is an artist in the true sense of the word and once again he sculpted the perfect set to close the festival for the Paridiso tent’s crowd. He threw out tunes from every corner of the world, with samplings of African music seamlessly transitioned into deep electronic soundscapes. He treated our ears to some of his own tracks, with the reaction of the crowd to the haunting ‘Angel Echoes’ standing out as a highlight to the whole festival.

The time had come to get ready to round off a really memorable weekend and it was down to Harlem’s own Azealia Banks to close it out in style. Whilst Miss Bank$ has been known for a number of high profile arguments with other certain celebrities in the past, at love saves the day she let her music (and dancing) do the talking. Donning her sparkly purple jacket and white high tops and joined by her backing dancers, she covered and owned every inch of the stage. Singing and rapping along to songs which ducked and dived between hip-hop and popular dance in style, she brought her A-game from in the opening song of ‘Idle Delilah’, continuing to impress through to her arguably most famous track in ‘212’. There was no grand exit from Azealia – a simple ‘Thank you Bristol’ and she was gone.  

Liverpool Sound City Review 2015

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There's something counter-intuitive about standing in a tent when it's daylight & the sun is shining.* Ady Suleiman doesn't seem to mind. Hoodie sleeves pushed up on his forearms, he's tasked with opening the Cargo stage for Sound City 2015 & taking a suitably serious approach. It’s a small but merry crowd, one couple dancing drunkenly to 'So Lost'. Amy Winehouse fans will like Suleiman's soulful ska & straight talking. "I wonder what your body looks like." The tent grooves into the weekend.

*Behind the clouds, we assume. It's a grey day, sure, but better than many. 

The Kraken tent cheers six-strong folk act The Sound Poets. Out on the North stage, Delta Rae looks frighteningly cold. It's gusty on the docks, at ground level even. I want to dip the band in hot chocolate & wonder briefly if the Tim Peaks Diner would oblige.

London act Vaults is understated but by no means underdone. Frontwoman Blythe Pepino is unmissable in traffic light red, eyeliner streaming (intentionally, we hope). She is barefoot singing ‘Poison’ & moving from the heart. New single ‘Cry No More’ is a tricky thing, sad & hopeful. Ethereal, electronic, I hear Massive Attack & get those same goodly emotional vibes. The bass at the Atlantic is something else. I spend several minutes watching the stage skirting shudder to the beat.

The Lytics have the Cavern under command, four bright voices in unison. It’s only when the stage empties that I catch sight of one of their number’s leg in a cast. How on earth did he manage all that bouncing? Carnival Youth is perfectly sentimental with numbers like ‘Never Have Enough’ & ‘Brown Eyes & All The Rest’. Before taking the mic, the drummer warns the next is a quiet song. “So yeah, you probably won’t hear anything.” Cute.

Back at North (getting the nautical theme now?), a Jack Sparrow lookalike has one leg up in the air, posed like a plucky pigeon as he strikes the synth.

Spector thrashes out 2012’s Chevy Thunder on the main stage. Lead singer Fred Macpherson has been growing his hair since I saw him last but is no less officious in trademark business attire. New single ‘All The Sad Young Men’ is affecting. “I don’t wanna make love, I don’t want to make plans. I don’t want anyone to want to hold my hand.” It’s a great set, easily as good as later acts Everything Everything & fellow Londoners The Vaccines.

All We Are reign supreme on day two, ‘Keep Me Alive’ an understandable hit. ‘Utmost Good’ is just that, delicious summer listening and even better live. After an obligatory stop at Dogtown & a healthy bout of VIP boat envy, we’re back at base for Dutch Uncles & Duncan Wallis’ enthused vibrato. There’s a video game quality to their sound that I love, playful & rhythmic always.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra is another highlight & way more appealing to this reviewer than headliners The Flaming Lips, though without aid of flashy props. I bet Lonelady kills it too but as happens at a festival, we’re caught up enjoying & miss her completely. 

Bill Ryder-Jones is a discovery, at ease playing very personal tunes to the festival’s biggest stage. Moon King deserves a mention for their undersubscribed set at the Baltic, one of the new venue’s more exciting spaces. C.A.R. looks happy sipping Fosters in the sun & it’s ultimately refreshing to get a band all smiles.

Boys club The Raglans are raucous on the Cargo stage & give the audience an epic drumming break to close their set. Things get rowdier as the festival draws to a close, The Cribs not helping matters with older, better known material like ‘I’m a Realist’ & ‘Men’s Needs ’ stirring up the crowd. Security high-fives the first crowdsurfer to reach the front of the stage but I’m wondering if the joke is a little old the tenth & twelfth time. It’s great to watch, the hippies, mods & rockers, the hatted & bespectacled, all joining in the swell.

It’s hard to determine the ebbs & flows, the tarmac of the main stage emptying & filling in parts ahead of a hotly anticipated set from Belle and Sebastian. I’ll admit new album ‘Girls In Peacetime Want to Dance’ was my first encounter of the hugely popular indie outfit from Scotland, but I’m determined to explore their back catalogue after tonight’s showing.

I’m not sold on the new format. What made Sound City great in previous years was that it wasn’t one single identifiable & homogenous thing. It inhabited the cafes & bars of Liverpool’s cooler quarters & to that end, was supremely easy to access & enjoy. The docklands setting should be a win & there is more than enough music on offer, but I’m missing those laidback communal spaces that can make the in-between moments the best in a weekend (not counting the dodgem cars – they’re ace).

Let’s give it a year & see what’s what on the docks in 2016.