We are excited to announce that some of the biggest electonic music artists will join this years Tennents Vital.
David Guetta will headline this year’s Tennent’s Vital on bank holiday weekend Sunday 24th August. He’ll be joined by fellow dance music icon Steve Angello. Bringing the atmosphere of some of the world’s biggest superclubs to Boucher Road Playing Fields, Tennent’s Vital fans are in for an unforgettable night of electronic music over the August bank holiday weekend.
Having recently headlined Ultra Music Festival in Miami, as well as securing a coveted new residency in Las Vegas, 2014 is already shaping up to be a landmark year for the prolific David Guetta. With numerous Top 10 singles, over 40 million fans on Facebook and 1 million UK sales of Titanium under his belt, he recently performed on the Great Wall of China and won the first ever Billboard award for Top EDM Artist. He scored another top ten hit with his recent single Shot Me Down, and with his 6th studio album due for release at the end of August, Tennent’s Vitalfans can expect to enjoy the freshest new dance anthems on Sunday 24th August.
A pioneer of the Stockholm underground turned icon of the global dance music scene, Steve Angello will also feature on the bill. From the billboard charts to the club floor, Angello is firmly at the top of his game having taken the reigns at famous stages across the globe. He boasts annual residencies for Ibiza’s most prestigious night spots, and recently joined BBC Radio 1’s impressive Residency line-up.
Featuring Bestival regulars Reggae Roast, Tayo and jim8track as residents throughout the weekend, withReggaerobics every day to awaken your inner lion, the Roots Reggae stage kicks off big on Thursday night with Radio 1’s Toddla T making good with the rockers and heavy beats man Dub Phizix dropping the drum n bass, plus there will be bassline pressure from Prince Fatty and Ashley Beedle on a Yardism tip.
Friday’s soundsystem controllers spreading musical sunshine via the medium of bass include erstwhile Rebel MC,Congo Natty Ft. Congo Dubz & Tenor Fly, original skanking rave dons SL2 and the incomparable Trojan Sound System. Plus there will be outlandish live antics from Uzimon, and sublime versions from Unit 137’s Ghost Writerz.
Nice Up run ting on Saturday, getting scientific with Jus Now’s sub-heavy carribean rhythms, 1Xtra’s Robbo Ranxand his dancehall waist-winders, the legendary Rodney P getting lyrical, bassbin botherer Mr Benn, Nice Up’s ownShepdog, mash-up soundman Jstar, and Dub Mafia’s Eva Lazarus. Plus there will be beat-polymath Wrongtom, up-tempo irieness from Turntable Dubbers, dapper dan Count Skylarkin, and authentic reggae power sound fromWreck It Up Crew.
And the Reggae Roots stage is gonna be large and in charge on Sunday, with the mighty Jah Shaka’s uncompromising high energy riddims capping a day that will see digital don Mad Professor at the controls, a live set from the explosive Natty and Poland’s dancefloor warriors, Dreadsquad supplying the goodness. There will also be live sets from hook-laden, bass heavy beatmiesters Rebel Control, progressive Ska types and Isle of Wight locals The Ohmz, and London based duo Subculture Sage, plus we’ll have an appearance from supreme selector Kaptin Is Dead.
This years Wireless Festival continues to add to its already impressive music bill as DJ Cassidy. Kiesza, Jacob Banks, Krept & Konan, Mack Wilds and M.O all join the incredible lineup. The Wireless Festival now boasts a line up which includes 6 of the acts in this weeks UK Top 20 singles chart.
Headlined by Kanye West, Drake, Bruno Mars and Outkast, this years Wireless Festival also takes place in both London and Birmingham for the very first time.
With tickets fast selling out, get yours now to witness one of the best festivals the UK has to offer.
Gottwood Festival returns for its fifth edition this June, and has just announced the return of its popular DJ competition, offering a place on the lineup and a podcast in the Gottwood Presents series to one very lucky winner.
An intimate gathering soundtracked by some of the most innovative musicians in electronic music, this wholly independent, intimate boutique festival has caught the imagination of many, and now looks ahead to the summer, when the forest spectacular will be transformed into a psychedelic jungle for one mind-blowing weekend.
DJ Competition Having launched in 2012, Gottwood Festival’s annual DJ competition has become a platform for emerging talent to demonstrate their skills in the hope of appearing on stage in the woods. Trailblazing UK garage duo Eton Messy, intricate live act Atlas and modernist producer Sonus are a few of the past participants to win a slot.
Up for grabs are prime sets over the weekend, where you can see your name billed alongside the underground’s most impressive names, including Crazy P Soundsystem, GerdJanson, MargaretDygas, Calibre, MaribouState, MaxCooper, MoKolours, PBRStreetgang, Prosumer,SessionVictim, StephanBodzin, TaleofUs and more. First prize winner will get a peak-time slot at the festival, and will also receive a host of Gottwood and Gottwax goodies, plus a Gottwood Presents Podcast series. Two runners-up will win a set at the festival, plus a ticket for themselves and friends.
To enter: Each aspiring entrant is asked to craft a 45-90 minute mix that makes a real impression Think out of the box; eclectic stand-out mixes stand more chance of being shortlisted Applications must be submitted via a downloadable streaming link (Soundcloud/Mixcloud, etc) to [email protected] by 12pm on Monday May 12 All applicants must be UK-based
The Gottwood team will select their favourite 10 mixes from the submissions. Top 10 decided, the mixes will be entered into a Facebook poll from Friday May 16 to Friday May 23, where the public will be invited to cast their vote. Good luck!
It was impossible not to notice the depth of people standing around outside the two quite frankly enormous tour buses parked in the venue of Bedford Esquires, as I arrived to interview and review the quartet band LACEY, who are with America's Patent Pending, and People on Vacations spring break tour.
The atmosphere was exceptionally charged for a Sunday night event, and the small but fabulous venues floor soon started reverberating with the sounds of some truly talented guitar playing.
Lacey's lead vocalist Grazz makes the crowd welcome with easy banter, and the set opens to a cracking start with Won’t be the last time, and Hometown, which is featured on their current EP Outlaws.
Effortlessly charming and clearly exceptionally talented, the band make full use of the small stage, with crystal clear lyrics and exquisite timing, clearly comfortable that under the lights and in front of the crowd is where they belong
A fan hitches up her skirt to show me the tattoo of the 4 fresh faced Nottingham Lacey boys, forever etched onto her skin and I can’t help but feel like their loyal and ever growing fan base are equally aware that they are witnessing the beginnings of something that potentially is about to become very big indeed.
Lacey don’t fit comfortably into one genre, the music is clearly very important and although alternative or pop/ rock would probably be the safest description, they demand a wider audience than the description allows. A few songs in and I found myself slightly in awe wondering how long it will be until I hear the news that they are headlining somewhere phenomenal.
Throughout the set the boys take the opportunity to thank Patent Pending and People on Vacation for having them of the UK tour. It’s clearly a beautiful combination of talent and when Joe Ragosta, the lead vocalist for Patent Pending, joins them on stage its clear to see the bond between them all.
From above the stage I watch the band close their short set with the single Reach Out from their upcoming Album. I’m balancing precariously trying to take a photograph from above, but my body doesn’t want to stay still to the music. The beats are enchanting and the vocals come easily, they really don’t have to try too hard to be good, its obvious that its a natural position for them. With a final farewell the crowd shows huge appreciation for the band, one fan so keen to acknowledge their obvious sex appeal that she throws her bra onto the stage. The bands influences may well be the Long Island music scene but they stand tall in a class of their own, and if I was able to I would take the next few days off and bask in the energy of their tour whilst listening to the sound of magic in the making.
The Ep Outlaws is on sale now. Lacey official Uk is the best place to be able to listen to Lacey and you can listen to a free download of Laceys single from the album via this link : https://soundcloud.com/laceyofficialuk/reach-out/s-esoz8
Prior to the show I had the opportunity to put some questions to the boys about their band, the tour and future plans.
Where did the band name Lacey originate from?
(Grazz) We all grew up listening to a band called Brand New from Long Island whose lead vocalist is called Jesse Lacey so we guess it was a nod of acknowledgement in that direction.
Whats the bands history/ Where did you all meet?
(Grazz Pete and Josh )We all moved the Nottingham together for University and have placed together as Lacey for 3 years. Three of us went to the same school and other band names include Nevertheless and Erica Black.
Has anything happened on the tour that really stands out?
(Grazz and Josh ) During the Manchester gig Josh nearly killed Joe Ragosta from Patent Pending. When Joe came on to sing the bring to one of our tracks Josh spun around with his guitar and accidentally impailed him with his guitar.
What have you been listening to in your cars recently?
(Josh) We have had the new You Me at Six Album; Cavalier Youth album playing a lot, also Manchester based The1975. (Pete) We have also been listening to Mallory Knox and still listen to bands such as Taking Back Sunday.
Did you learn your instruments as kids?
(Pete, laughing) Myself and Grazz grew up together as kids and we actually decided that we wanted to be in a band before we could play anything. So we decided that one of us would buy as guitar and the other one would buy a bass and we used to write songs and play whilst we were still learning.
Do you write all your own music and lyrics?
(Pete) Yeah always, from day one. Josh will come with a guitar riff and we will all just play around with it.
(Josh) We have a structure that just works, Grazz writes all the lyrics and we kind of work backwards in the sense that that’s the last thing we do. It just kind of builds layer by layer. We have always been really adamant that the music is really melodic and not just a repeat of the same few chords.
The artwork on your EP is quite unusual where did it come from?
(Grazz) Dave designed it as he is also a graphic designer so I shall let him explain
(Dave ) The EP is called outlaw because of Nottinghams connections with robin hood. There is a very old Latin Law that defines an outlaw as someone one who wears a wolfs head, hence thats where the wolf came from for the artwork.
Whats the plan for the next 12 months?
(Grazz / Pete) Albums next, we are beck into the studio in early June to finish working on the album, the teaser which is called Reach out is a teaser from the Album which was available as a download from the 21st April. Its probably a good indication of what the album is going to be like, bigger and more atmospheric. We hope to play further tours at the back end of the year to do our own shows and gig as much as possible.
This years newest festival OnBlackheath announces another batch of artists that will perform over the weekend of the 13th and 14th September which include chart topping
soul sensation Aloe Blacc, hip-hop electro Young Fathers and Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard performing a DJ set. Plus a very special guest announcement will be
coming soon. Irish rockabilly queen Imelda May, festival favourites Levellers, indie rockers Athlete and hotly tipped Brit folk rockers Slow Club have been added to the bill and joining Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls on the Sunday.
We are extatic to inform you that the infamous Libertines will reform at this years British Summer Time Hyde Park. Pete, Carl, John and Gary make a long awaited return to the stage, playing their first full live shows since 2010. Joined by the cream of UK talent, this is the Best of British Summer Time.
Forming at the turn of the century, The Libertines have become one of the most influential and important bands of their generation. Leading the charge with Pete Doherty and Carl Barat as song writing partners, their on stage chemistry and intense live performances have enthralled fans and critics alike since their debut album ‘Up The Bracket’ in 2002. Following this with their second LP in 2004, ‘The Libertines’ shot straight to #1, catapulting them into the mainstream. Disbanding soon after that release, they went their separate ways for six years, cementing their almost mythical status.
Preceding them on The Great Oak Stage, The Pogues are London’s Irish punk folk heroes. Formed in the heart of the English capital in Kings Cross, they mixed punk sensibility with traditional Irish instruments and poetic, often funny lyrics scoring seminal hits ‘Dirty Old Town’ and the alternative Christmas fable ‘Fairytale of New York.’ With frontman Shane MacGowan rejoining with his bandmates in 2001, their influence on the likes of The Libertines is writ large.
Spiritualized are one of the most enigmatic British bands of the past 20 years, formed after the breakup of frontman Jason Pierce's groundbreaking former group Spacemen 3. With minimalist music building into hypnotic, orchestrated masterpieces, Hyde Park will enjoy a rare chance to bathe in their waves of sound in an outdoor setting.
Signing to renowned electronic dance label Warp Records in 2004, Maximo Park have been producing exciting indie guitar music for the past decade and show no signs of slowing down. Fronted by enigmatic Paul Smith, they’re blazed a trail with their debut ‘A Certain Trigger’ which was nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2005. Now signed to V2 Records, Maximo Park will be showcasing their latest album ‘Too Much Information,’ released in February.
The next generation of British talent is well represented on the bill. Voted NME’s Best New Band, 2014 has been an incredible year for London’s Wolf Alice. Joining us at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park, this lovechild of folk and grunge are leading the way for an indie revival in British music.
And Birmingham-based Swim Deep have welcomed ‘shoe gaze’ back to British pop music. Another championed by the NME on this year’s Awards Tour, dates at Brixton Academy especially established them as welcome leaders for a new decade of guitar bands.
At Hyde Park in the glow of an Albion summer, The Libertines will play their largest ever headline show at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park on 5th July, with further Best of British support from: The Enemy,Reverend and The Makers, I Am Kloot, The View, Darlia, The Rifles, Cuckoolander, Brownbear, Raglans, The Twang…..
The Summer Festival Guide brings you the hottest news straight outta Sundown Festival HQ who have announced this morning that grammy award winning artist Pusha T and Jess Glynee will join this years lineup.
US Rap star Pusha T has been confirmed to perform the main stage on Saturday, 30 August, while Jess Glynne will join the Sunday line-up
As one half of hip hop duo Clipse, and a solo star in his own right, two-time Grammy Award winner – for 2003’s Like I Love You with Justin Timberlake and 2013’s Mercy with Kanye West, Big Sean and 2 Chainz – Pusha T has scored numerous hits in both the US singles and album chart and has worked with everyone from Pharrell to Kanye West.
Fresh on the back of two #1 hit singles as a featured artist, on Rather Be with Clean Bandit – who are also performing Sundown’s Sunday – and My Love with Route 94, Jess Glynne’s star is rising fast, with big things expected of her this year, a spot on the Sundown line-up included
Whether Jess will team-up with Clean Bandit to perform Rather Be together at Sundown has not yet been revealed
Sundown Festival, recently featured in BBC Three’s Festivals, Sex & Suspicious Parents special episodes, now boasts a main stage line-up of Chase & Status, Tinie Tempah, Zane Lowe, Katy B, Foxes and Pusha T on the Saturday, with Ellie Goulding, John Newman, Clean Bandit, Neon Jungle, Ella Eyre and Jess Glynne on the Sunday, with more to be announced in the coming weeks and months
Elsewhere, Sundown’s dance Stage 2 will be hosted by House specialists Defected Records on the Saturday night, with DJs MK, Breach, Sam Divine and Shadow Child announced so far, while drum and bass label RAM Records take over for the Sunday, with Andy C, Wilkinson, Calyx & Teebee and Delta Heavy now confirmed
Following phenomenal growth for a festival, Sundown Festival 2014 tickets are in high demand after Sundown festivalites grew from 15,000 at the 2011 event to 38,000 in 2013, when all camping tickets sold-out months before the festival kicked off. More than 80% of camping tickets available for this year’s event have already sold
Scottish indie rockers Frightened Rabbit are back by popular demand to headline 2000trees Festival, describing it as “one of the best small festivals in Britain.” The band took centre stage at the award-winning Gloucestershire event in 2011 and since then have gone on to wider critically-acclaimed success.
Blood Red Shoes are also set to perform, along with America’s Trash Talk, EMPIRE, Gorgeous George, Sam ‘Get Cape’ Duckworth (solo), Little Matador, Delta Sleep, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion, Thrill Collins, Eugene Quell, The Common Tongues, I, the Lion and Wild Cat Strike.
Scott Hutchison, lead singer of Frightened Rabbit, said: “We are so excited to be returning to 2000trees this year. It was such a memorable show for us last time, the crowd was in fine voice and it was clear that everyone was there for the music. We hope for more of the same this summer – it truly is one of the best small festivals in Britain.”
Also set to play at Upcote Farm this July are Band of Skulls, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Public Service Broadcasting, The Bronx, Jamie Lenman, The Blackout, Wolf Alice, Kids In Glass Houses, Tall Ships, Cerebral Ballzy, and many many more.
2000trees organiser Andy Rea said Frightened Rabbit are a hugely popular choice and tickets are selling fast.
“When we ask fans which acts they love, a great many names are suggested, which shows they know and love new and underground music as much as we do – and one of the most popular requests is always for Frightened Rabbit to return to 2000trees, so we’re delighted to make that happen,” he said.
“The last time they performed the crowd reaction was immense and since then they have gone on to bigger things, so to have them back at 2000trees is a bit of a coup and we can’t wait to see them perform live at Upcote Farm.”
We are excited here at Summer Festival Guide HQ to bring you the phase 2 lineup for this years SW4 which adds the likes of Pete Tong, John Digweed, Madeon and more to its already massive lineup.
As one of the hottest electronic dance music producers to emerge in recent years, Madeon brings his live show to SW4 for the first time on Sunday 24th August. Aged just 19, Madeon has already had huge success with the singles 'Icarus', 'Finale' and 'The City', all pioneered by Radio 1's Pete Tong, Annie Mac and Zane Lowe before becoming firm favourites on thestation's playlist. His astonishing talent has also been showcased at many of the world’s biggest festivals, cementing his position amongst electronic music’s biggest players.
John Digweed returns to South West Four this summer for the tenth consecutive year and his exclusive London festival performance. John’s philosophy embodies South West Four, whilst his ingenuity, dedication and all round ability to destroy dancefloors is why he is always welcomed him back to Clapham Common with open arms. Having headlined in 2009and hosted Bedrock arenas at SW4 in 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013, John takes to our mammoth 7,000 capacity indoor stage on Sunday 24th August, ably joined by many of the leading names in underground house and techno.
Pete Tong: the world’s undisputed ambassador for electronic music. It’s quite a title, but one that is whole heartily deserved. Having been broadcasting on BBC Radio 1 since 1991, he has become widely acclaimed across the world as the tastemaker for dance music. Pete has an astounding flair to break new talent; he’s helped kick start the careers of hundreds of artists, giving them the infamous ‘Pete Tong Push’. Now in 2014, with a global touring schedule to make your eyes water, not to mention single, remix and compilation releases abound, Pete has never been more important. A real favourite at the festival, we welcome him back to South West Four’s main stage for another essential performance!
Representing one of the most mouth-watering back-to-back sessions of 2014, South West Four is delighted to exclusively present Bicep going head to head with Simian Mobile Disco. Playing SW4 for the first time, Bicep are the new kids on the block. Through their amalgamation of house, funk, disco and techno, the duo have formed a completely unique yetobscure approach and understanding of electronic music. Evident through their energetic and unpredictable soundtracks, self-curated label and club night ‘Feel My Bicep’, a monthly show on Rinse FM plus further releases on AUS Music, Love Fever and KMS Records, the Bicep boys have established themselves as one of house music’s most sought-after acts. They will team up with the unmistakeable duo of James Ford and Jas Shaw aka Simian Mobile Disco to form one of the tastiest DJ battles SW4 has ever seen. With their collaboration‘Sacrifice’ marking a pivotal point in 2013, Bicep and Simian Mobile Disco arrive for this mouth-watering battle of the beats as two of dance music’s most intriguing forces. We guarantee that this exclusive pairing will leave you begging for more.
Since the release of his artistically brilliant album ‘1977’ on Kompakt last June, the electronic world has been in admiration of one of its fastest rising stars, Kölsch. Following superb recent performances at the Bugged Out Weekender and Snowbombing, plus his inaugural headline UK tour, the Dane has set himself up to become one of 2014’s most exciting artists. Fittingly described as romantic techno, Kölsch’s melodic anthems have gained a vast amount of support from the world’s leading talent. Having kicked off the year in fine form by launching BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix Future Stars series, it’s clear that 2014 is the year of Kölsch.
Another artist that will join us at South West Four for the first time in 2014 is Shadow Child. Fully revelling in the limelight thanks to his recent onslaught of bass-heavy house joints that have raised the roof the world over, his meteoric riseto prominence stems from his 2012 debut in ‘String Thing’ through DirtyBird records. He has subsequently gone onto release tracks on Apollo Music and Moda Black and in the process has earned mass support from label owners as well as the likes of Eats Everything, Annie Mac and Pete Tong. In 2014Shadow Child released his debut album‘Collected’, which fully showcases the breadth of his talent including hit originals to stunning remixes of the likes of London Grammar andAluna George. We cannot wait to see Shadow Childset SW4 alight with his stunning blend of pounding house beats.
As two of drum and bass’ greatest exports, SW4 Sunday will see the unmistakeable Marcus Intalex go head-to-head with Special Request for the very first time. Representing thesoulful side of drum and bass sounds, Marcus has honed his craft with residencies at both Fabric London and Soul:ution Manchester as well as heading up his Soul:Rlabel. Having earned his reputation as drum and bass’ leading tastemaker, this unmissable battle promises to shake Clapham Common to its core. Inspired by the unruly conventions of UK pirate radio stations, Special Request captures the raw energy and diversity of the illegal airwaves that have been an immeasurable influence as his alter-ego Paul Woolford. After storming through the scene in 2013 with a mix of vinyl-only and limited edition releases including ‘Lolita’ and ‘Alone’, this uncompromising contest of heavy-hitting 160 BPM beats, promises to be remembered for years to come.
As one of the UK club music's most restless innovators, Boddika makes his SW4 debut on Sunday 24th August. Whether it’s his terrific solo productions, incredible collaborationswith Joy Orbsion and Pearson Sound, as one half of the highly respected Instra:mental, or one third of Autonomic, Boddika’s hardcore techno workouts are a joy to behold. With notable releases such as ‘Soul What’, ‘Acid Jackson’ and ‘Steam’, the past few years have been non-stop for the Nonplus label head and we're very excited to be welcoming him toClapham Common.
Hailing from Miami, Danny Daze has championed his sound in recent years after uniquely fusing together elements of Detroit techno with Italian disco to make him one of the world’s most interesting underground talents. Making his long-awaited SW4 debut in 2014, Danny has seen his profile grow ten-fold over the past twelve months by consistently delivering on the finest imprints of today including Saved, Hot Creations, Dirtybird, Future Classic and long-term friend Maceo Plex’sEllum. With non-stop tours across the world, Danny’s technical prowess allows him to take musical risks that make him one of the most exciting acts to make the trip to South London on Sunday 24th August.
