Isle of Wight 2013 Review

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After last years terrible weather this year was set to be different, lets face it… It had to be. A couple of heavy nights of rain meant the campsites started to get soggy and the ground was starting to churn. Fortunately for campers, the areas mostly plagued by damp and muddy environments had temporary road surfaces and plenty of hay to soak but moisture in the ground.

Despite broken and mud-logged trolleys, multiple trips to the car and a little huffing and puffing, we finally managed to get the tent set up and consulted the IOW Festival app to find out where to get our kicks (though, as expected this did indeed rinse the phone battery…). A welcome sunny afternoon broke out so we decided to head into the dance tent… inside… er, well regardless of the lack of sun indoors the lineup had more than enough clout for us to forsake the fresh air. With the likes of Ms Dynamite, GrandMaster Flash and A-Trax pumping out the hits (although Ms Dynamite was extraordinarily late, people were queuing to get in for her set) to a tent full of writhing bodies and beat-matching strobe lights, the old school mixes really went down a treat. Elsewhere, pint-sized popster Ellie Goulding belted out the chart-toppers with a crowd-a-oke of ‘Your Song’ and Delilah’s set started out with a microphone malfunction but eventually settled into a decent set.

Ellie GouldingA-TraxDeliah

Firday headliners The Stone Roses where coming hot off London shows in Finsbury park and showed no sign of slowing down as they headed onto stage to the beat of ‘Stoned Love’.  Ian Brown in his bright yellow jacket got the crowd singing the massive hits ‘Waterfall’ and ‘Made of Stone’.  It was the perfect end of a long and tiring but exciting first day at the Isle of Wight Festival.

Saturday saw strong winds tipping the balance of fun to annoyance, with tents and bins taking off like the Poppins all over the place, but at least it wasn’t raining. After a quick trip to the festival supermarket (brilliant idea thank you IOW organisers), we set off into the arena for The Killers. Crowd-pleasers ‘Mr Brightside’ and ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’ went down a storm, with one enthusiastic bod even holding a lit flare out in the crowd. Confetti cannons with red and yellow ticker tape covered wild fans as they screamed for more, closing out with super-anthem ‘When We Were Young’ this was an exceptional show.

After heading to the Eco-Charge for a phone-bump (or a Kinetic bicycle charge if we were feeling fresher on Sunday) and another dousing of rain alongside periods of actual sunburn, we caught the Bedlam Take Over in the BT Infinite Tent where the likes of Zane Lowe, Andy C and SubFocus were absolutely lighting up the night with massive hits and huge helpings of chest pounding bass to a bursting-at-the-seams arena.

Closing out this years festival on the main stage was the hugely popular Bon Jovi.  As the sun began to fall on the majestic Isle of Wight, Jon Bon Jovi took the crowd on a whirlwind journey through the extensive back catalogue and tracks from their new album including ‘Thats What the Water Made Me’, sing-a-long favourite, ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ and more!  The crowd interaction was impossible to miss and it displayed the continued popularity of the band in the UK.  Saving the best for last was number one hit ‘Living On a Prayer’ which has the entire main stage audience in full vocal swing.  Accompanied by a massive fireworks displayed it brought to the end another fantastic weekend at the Isle of Wight Festival.

Check out the Isle of Wight Festival 2013 photos here

Download Festival 2013 – Iron Maiden Review

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If you weren't previously assured of Iron Maiden's God status in the world of metal, there's absolutely no denying it now. Saturday night at Download, we're standing in a soggy field, shoulder to shoulder, shivering in anticipation… as a Spitfire – yes, a SPITFIRE, soars up from behind the main stage. As the metal horns are thrust up to the sky, the aircraft banks and continues the flyby over a stunned crowd, and the band burst on stage for 'Moonchild'. Now THAT's an entrance.

Their ice-berg styled gangways make for Bruce's personal runway as he races about during 'Can I Play With Madness', wearing a sparkly clockwork-covered tailcoat. It's definitely a step up from the swamp-thing outfit we witnessed last time. Despite a bit of wavering sound, 'The Prisoner' (complete with a clip from the 1967 tv series) warmed up for the arena-shaking '2 Minutes To Midnight', with extreme crowd participation.

The driving wind in the first half of the set was  fairly irritating, and probably worse behind the sound tent, definitely nowhere near as unfortunate as befallen by Metallica in 2012 – but did pick up for 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers' and 'The Trooper' with Bruce donning his traditional red 'Light Brigade' uniform and giant Union Flag. Bruce jokes "Welcome to Monsters of Rock '88" to which the five guys standing next to us yell "We were there!!" and certainly, Maiden are a band that people come back time and time again for. Giggling "…back then we couldn't blow things up, or use fire… Or a Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire…" Bruce thanks RAF Coningsby for the loan, and takes a swig of signature Trooper Beer.

'The Number of The Beast' (with giant fire canons and a flame-eyed Beast) and 'Run To The Hills' (including frontier Eddie wielding a sword at band-members) are screamed at deafening levels by the crowd around us… Ok ok, it was us too… and a giant grimacing Eddie looming over the stage is revealed for 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son'.

After a huge instrumental and some well-timed fireworks, the iconic refrain of 'Fear of the Dark' is played out to a chorus of 'woooaaahhh-ing' fans. Yes it's traditional, Yes we've seen it before. Does it mean that hearing ninety thousand people locked in song with a single string of notes is any less impressive? No. Nothing makes your breath catch like looking back at the sea of lighters waving in the dark, it's the stuff ambitions are forged from, and as Bruce drops "a little anxious, in Donington Park" the young lad in front of us turns to his mum and says "This is the best thing I've ever heard" it brings me right back to the time I first saw Maiden.

An enormous Eddie holding a writhing heart-type-beast for 'Iron Maiden' has his head lit on fire before the band depart for a short break for the encore, where we finally get to hear 'Aces High', 'The Evil That Men Do' and 'Running Free', though Bruce was less 'running-free' than 'skipping-like-a-spring-lamb-free'…

The band thank everyone for a great night, and having tantalised us with the announcement of an O2 show later in the year, it's clear they're leaving everyone on a high. As the glassy eyes of people who've just witnessed something special, turn toward the exits, we are happily singing along with 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life', as only British festival-goers – who've spent two days being sunburnt and rained on, can truly appreciate. Iron Maiden were everything they should be and more, gaining a whole new generation of fans in one night.

Iron Maiden

Download Festival 2013 Friday Review

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After a confused (yet bloody typical) day of showers, blazing sunshine, bare bodies, full waterproofs and teeth-chattering cold, the rain abated for the start of my choice of headliner – Zippo Encore stage's American rock'n'roll heroes, Black Stone Cherry.

As self-proclaimed Download Darlings, this is a fourth return but their first go at a headline slot here at Donington, as requested by the forum-going public. It's a proper Cinderella story, despite not having a new album out or any tours planned (prerequisites for booking festival slots generally) BSC are here on the back of some serious fan-fare. Hailing from the not-so-deep south (read: Kentucky) these good country boys are Lynyrd Skynyrd with better riffs, and less blue-collar/redneck jokes.

With three already stellar albums greedily devoured by UK fans over the last few years, it was inevitable that the bustling arena was going to be a good testing ground for new material and a fun soundboard for old, and as BSC drop right into 'Maybe Someday' the crowd yells right along as if the main stage (and Slipknot) don't even exist. The apt refrain "But for now I've got to rock and roll" sets the tone for the rest of the set, with fan favourite 'Blind Man' and brand-spanking-new (seriously, this is it's first ever outing from the studio) 'Me and Mary Jane' which is an immediate ear-worm.

The unfortunate opening line of 'Rain Wizard' "Here comes the rain" does indeed seem to open the heavens, but a heartfelt 'Things My Father Said', with the crowd singing the entire first verse back to homesick frontman Chris Robertson, who is for the first time away from his baby son, brings a tear to his eye.

'White Trash Millionaire' and 'Soul Creek' go down a storm, almost literally as by now it is widdling it down most ungraciously. Drummer John Fred Young's unruly mane is flapping wildly as he smashes about in a manner not unlike Animal of The Muppets, but his quick solo is a reminder that he's a technical whizz as well as a solid rock beat, and Robertson tells us how they may be four guys from Kentucky, but the heart of this band is in the UK, because "nowhere else in the world would people stand for an hour in the pissing rain to see [them]". No-one had the heart to tell him standing in the pissing rain is practically a national passtime of ours, but we certainly appreciated the compliment.

After a raucous 'Blame it on the Boom Boom', they close out with first album hit 'Lonely Train' and leave the crowd yelling for more. As the stage lights die, the sound of Slipknot on the main stage floods back into our ears but they could have been a million miles away during Black Stone Cherry's extraordinary set.

Good music with a good view. RockNess day 3 review.

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Waking up and starting off Sunday at RockNess like many others – with a handful of after sun. Although, looking around most people could probably do with a few paracetamol and a pint of water.

Fatherson, a Scottish Alt Rock band kicked everything off on the main stage with a slightly smaller but committed crowd. Soothing vocals from Ross Leighton causing girls in the front row to fan girl (actual fanning movements of the hand were seen and squealing was heard). My personal attention was split between the music and the beards but the music eventually prevailed. If you’re interested, their music can be heard via their Bandcamp page here (without the distractions of well groomed beards) http://fathersonuk.bandcamp.com/album/fatherson my personal favourite is “43”but for a more upbeat feel give “Hometown” a listen.

Having been nominated for the BBC’s “sound of 2012” poll and her debut album awarded “iTunes Album of The Year 2012”, Lianne La Havas has been very busy since she came on to the commercial music scene in 2011, and it’s no wonder why. Lianne has such a captivating, gentle voice she was able to tame a tent full of rowdy drunken Scots. When performing she seems to loose herself in the lyrics which only draws the crowd in more. With thought provoking lyrics, spine tingling vocals and a quirky wardrobe, Lianne La Havas is definitely one to keep your eye on this year.

Walking in to the tent Ben Howard was playing in, I was positive I had walked in to a tent of hyperventilating One Direction fans. Filled to the brim of teary eyed, fidgeting females of all ages, actions that were magnified when he came on stage. Ben Howard had a haunting stage set up, hiding amongst shadows on stage, showing everyone he can hold a show with his voice alone and doesn’t need a fancy light show or backing dancers.

Coming out of the tent of Ben Howard and wandering around the main arena the crowd has almost tripled in size since Friday and I have a rough idea as to why. I’ve seen Madness live before and they put on a better show to artists to half their age and yes, there is the whole “experience over age” argument but WHERE do they get their energy from? They know exactly how to please a crowd, using the whole stage, not only interacting with the crowd but interacting with one another for the crowds amusement. They definitely haven’t lost anything over the years (they even still have hairlines to be proud of!). The perfect band for a sunny day at a festival, providing sing along opportunities with their hits such as “Our House” and “Baggy Trousers” suitable for all ages present at the festival, Madness were a joy to photograph and watch live.

It’s now where I get rather emotional and start to evaluate my life choices. At the age of 19 and only a mere month younger than me Madeon took to the stage, blew everyone away while mixing AND controlling his own light show. Having played at major music festivals in New York, California and Miami, playing at Radio 1’s Big Weekend AND supporting Swedish House Mafia, I feel like I need to get off my bum and join him in world domination. Now don’t think because of his age you should expect less from his live sets than other DJ’s on the scene at the moment, if anything, he’s exceeding a lot of them.

Plan B @ Rockness

The headlining act and final act of Sunday was Plan B, someone I wouldn’t personally go see live in concert but someone I definitely would pay money to see again. The soulful voice you hear on his songs is just as good as live but sang with so much more character. Plan B put so much energy in to his performance, shifting his voice from soft and soothing to painfully aggressive, he brings something to his live music which I haven’t seen in any of the other acts over the weekend. I was so surprised with this live performance, nothing was half hearted, the band, vocals, lights, the entire energy of the show has definitely left an impression on me. Plan B unquestionably finished RockNess 2013 with a bang.

Buy your tickets for RockNess 2014 now and don’t miss out on the most beautiful festival in the world.

Check out the Rockness 2013 Sunday photos here

Secret Garden Party music additions and more!

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Following Bank Holiday’s sold out Sunday Papers Live (pictured), The Secret Garden Party is pleased to announce a superb line up of comedy and talks for this summer’s forthcomingSecret Forum/ Sunday Papers Live; funny, provocative, engaging….

Secret Forum unveils comedy and speakers line-up…..

Comedy takes over the reins on Thursday with upcoming stand–up stars such as Justin Moorhouse (Phoenix Nights, Looking for Eric), Radio 1’s Tom Deacon, Joel Dommott (Skins,Russell Howard), Joey Page (Buzzcocks), plus hilarious sketches from Late Night Gimp Fight; Dick Biscuit: Private Eye – a one-man double act, and all mc’d by world record holder,MC Tim FitzHigham (BBC’s Superhumans), with music from The Mad Cows.

Friday sees Sanderson Jones’ Comedy Sale -The world’s only 100% hand sold comedy show. Sanderson Jones’ personal interactive approach has taken the Edinburgh festival by storm, and rocked out the Sydney Opera House with a sold out show. He’ll be recruiting people in-person for a high-octane interactive Friday night ubershow.

Talks and Speakers..

If we could eradicate all recreational drugs overnight, should we?

This inaugural Deep Banter Assembly will host a stellar panel featuring ex-Government Drugs Czar, Professor David Nutt (Imperial College, London), Jamie Catto (One Giant Leap, founding member of Faithless), Mike Powers (author – Drugs 2.0) and Rachel Seifert (documentary film maker – Cocaine Unwrapped).

Dave will be exploring neuro-psycho pharmacology, Jamie will be chatting about the evolution of consciousness, Mike will delve into the mind-boggling juggernaut of global distribution and Rachel will remind us all of the inhumanly high cost of production in its current form. The point of this discussion is to raise the level of conversation around this critical global issue, avoiding outdated debate traps, in typically interactive and spontaneous SGP style.

Arts and Expression Theme – ‘Superstition’ 

To explore this year’s art & expression theme Secret Forum reached out to some world authorities on the supernatural, the inexplicable, and the irrational; and struck gold.

Bruce Hood – infamous experimental psychologist; Jonathan Cainer – Daily Mail Astrologer; Chloe Rhodes – author, journalist; chair – Chris French – British Humanist Association. 

David Icke – as previously announced, will present a talk in his own inimitable style

How to Act

An experimental interactive Town Hall meeting, where we bring together figures from the coalface of UK Activism for an apathy-smashing discussion on how to change the world. To include: Ed Howker & Shiv Malik. authors of the Jilted Generation; Trenton Oldfield – arrested for interrupting the Boat Race;  Sophia Al–Maria – artist, writer, film-maker; David Babbs of 38 Degrees, plus more TBA.

And… 

Ramita Navai, Danni Paffard – one of the key organisers of UKUncut, MoveYourMoney; Leila Dean –  Greenpeace, most notorious for throwing green custard overPeter Mandelson;Cat Hobbs – runs We Own It, a new online anti-privatisation campaign; Ann Pettifog; David Babbs – 38 Degrees. More to be announced….

Fine Dining Gatsby-style at Soul Fire Restaurant….

Set in an oak framed canvas hall, with white linens, bread ovens, chandeliers and table service, Soul Fire is the calm before the storm…

Doors open at ten each morning for Brunch; the hall is packed until two pm – Bloody Marys, Eggs any style, table service and piano music sotto voce.

At 6pm it’s time for the evening dining extravaganza –  finest attire is encouraged, whether it be superman costume or Gatsby gowns. The team of very lovely waitresses and waiters attend to your every desire. Three courses and a fine wine list. Anexperience recommended for all Gardeners heading into the night. For Sunday,the traditions of the roast are on offer. Soul Fire uses the finest produce for this.

Head Chef Charlie Nicoll weaves his magic on a daily basis at the much-celebrated Moro restaurant onExmouth Market, having recently left a position running private dining for Sothebys. To celebrate our fifth anniversary this year we will be bringing in some very special chefs to join in the fun…Details to be announced soon. 

The incredible team of Bombas& Parr will be creating their exotic summer flavoured cocktail desserts.

Please book online for à La Carte and Roast sittings HERE.

Soho Theatre takeover at Black Cat Bar

Wander off the beaten track where the air thickens like a plot, and join a world of mystery and opulent splendour – with cocktails sweeter than sin, delectableconcoctions, divine delights, The Master and The Margarita, and secret alchemy with Lounge Bohemia. These will certainly be nights to remember…. or perhaps forget…

The infamous Soho Theatre curates the surreal Friday revelry. Other wild spectacles, music and performances include Temper Temper, The Little Theatre Of Dolls, Needless Alley Collective's Cabaret Outre and the illustrious Miss Behave…
 

Pop-Up Parties……….

Across the site this year there will again be a wealth of perfectly formed pop-up parties.

In a smoky room at the back of a dark bar with glittering lights writhes a Sweaty Lingerie Party. With protagonists decked out in lace, latex, sweat and smiles. They move to the music as more people dance into their midst. 

At the Virgin Baptism spritely young SGP virgins will be crowd-surfed by sparkly veterans into the lake. Those young virgins arriving on Thursday will be embroiled in a Pagan Celebration in the Badger Woods as their initiation into the ways of the Garden.

The Bad Luck Ball  will be a place of lone magpies, of walking under ladders, of new shoes on the table, umbrellas held aloft indoors, andsome of the cream-of-the-DJ-crop making you move. 

The Eclipse Party will pop the cherry of the new lake on Saturday afternoon. Fabulous fifties, swimsuits and polka dots. Actualreal-life synchronized swimmers will perform for your viewing pleasure. 

The Apocalypso is an art-car-boat-bar. With tropicaltunes whistling though her sails, she is filled to the gunnels with rare and spirited cocktails and crewed by future pirates.

Elsewhere the Wonderland Collective are teaming up with Bristol’s own Happy Daze for a dazzling glitter-filled party. White Mischief will be throwing one of their extraordinary vaudeville affairs somewhere on site whilst Rebel Bingo are bringing their brand of bingo debauchery for a secret session. Disco Knights will be laying down the beats with the Gypsy Disco crew, Fleet Macwood will be going their own way and wanting to be with you everywhere somewhere on site.

Frightened Rabbit and The Minutes added to Longitude lineup

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With just over a month to go until the most anticipated festival of the summer, Longitude today announce the additions of Frightened Rabbit and The Minutes to the line up.

Frightened Rabbit have spent 10 years finely tuning their sound to become one of the most immersive indie acts on the circuit. In February the band released their critically acclaimed fourth album Pedestrian Verse which has been described already as one of the albums of the year.

Dublin power trio in excelsis The Minutes are renowned for their powerhouse live shows. Averaging over 100 shows per year, 2012 saw them slaying crowds from Russia to Texas and all points in between. The band take a break from recording their second album to bring their distinctive brand of rock to Longitude.

TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend tickets (Fri, Sat, Sun) are priced €149.50 inclusive of booking fee

Day tickets are priced €54.50 inclusive of booking fee

Children 4 and under accompanied by a parent may attend free

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketmaster.ie

Subject to license

**Please note: There is no camping available at this festival**

Friday 19th July

Saturday 20th July

Sunday 21st July

Phoenix

Vampire Weekend

Kraftwerk (3D Concert)

Foals

Villagers

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Django Django

Paul Kalkbrenner

Hot Chip

Jake Bugg

The Maccabees

Mark Lanegan

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Local Natives

SBTRKT (DJ set)

Jessie Ware

Kodaline

Frightened Rabbit

AlunaGeorge

Trentemoller

Flume

Tom Odell

Laura Mvula

Japandroids

The Cast of Cheers

Gold Panda

London Grammar

MMoths

Mo

S O H N

Rhye

Young Wonder

Drenge

Petite Noir

Blue Hawaii

The Minutes

Vondelpark

Hudson Taylor

Half Moon Run

Matt Corby

Le Galaxie

Milo Greene

Dutch Uncles

Tribes

East India Youth

Stealing Sheep

Wolf Alice

Kool Thing

Marcus Foster

Mikhael Paskalev

Leaders of Men

Soak

Funeral Suits

 

White Collar Boy

Ofei

 

 

Bastille to headline Leopallooza 2013

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Leopallooza, one of The Guardian’s ‘Best Boutique Festivals’ and winner of ‘South West Festival of 2012’-  Cornish Guardian / Clean Slate Music (readers & critics poll) returns this Summer with three hard-hitting headliners. The chart topping BASTILLE….”Addictive melodies, humble lyrics and a cohesive sound, Bastille are a band where the buzz words couldn't be truer.” – DigitalSpy.com; Party-starters MAN LIKE ME…. “Man Like Me are entertainers… (they) play music to drink lager to, and they do it in a way where even the most prudish hipster can't help but join in.” – 405.com and the recently confirmed soul singer JACOB BANKS, fresh from both his showcase on Later…with Jools Holland and his support tour with Emeli Sandé.

Bastille

The headliners join a lovingly hand-picked, eclectic mix of the very best emerging talent, including: SWISS LIPS, THE SKINTS, BLUE ROSE CODE, JETTA, WET NUNS, FINDLAY, ELIZA & THE BEAR, BEBE BLACK, STRAIGHT LINES AND KEZIA…with plenty more acts to be announced. 

Leopallooza also welcomes Special Guest, Mixmag Editor Nick Decosemo who will be curating acts/DJS in The Treeline: House of Electronic Arts & Dance. There are also many more exciting additions to the Leopallooza weekend yet to be announced.

Leopallooza is also now confirmed as the ONLY UK STOP on the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour, as we host the inaugural ‘JACK GEAR INVITATIONAL’ FMB event, which will see some of the best freestyle mountain bike riders in the world descend on Bude, to ride our challenging custom-built track set within the festival grounds.

INFO:

Leopallooza is held at: The Wyldes, Lower Exe Farm, Nr Bude, Cornwall, EX22 6UX.

Click here for Map/Directions

TICKETS:

Standard, Family, Sunday & VIP tickets are now available from:

Official website: www.leopallooza.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leopallooza

Or in person from No.9 shop in Bude, North Cornwall

** FREE CAMPING & PARKING INCLUDED! NO HIDDEN CHARGES! **

Standon Calling add London Grammar, Lucy Rose and more!

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Folk songstress Lucy Rose has today been announced for Standon Calling, which takes place in Hertfordshire 2nd – 4th August. The London-based artist and Bombay Bicycle Club collaborator is set to mesmerize festivalgoers with her beautiful vocals and emotive songwriting. Also joining the line-up are London Grammar who, since the release of their internet debut ‘Hey Now’ at the end of last year, have continued to impress with follow up releases and a Disclosure collaboration currently all over the airwaves. They are sure to do the same when they take to the stage this summer.
Across the festival, organisers have also added Chlöe Howl to the line-up, she’ll be telling it like it is with her sparky brand of electro-pop. Local girl Mary Epworth, whose mix of folk and psychedelic has music critics swooning will be a home turf highlight for the festival. Other additions to Standon Calling include Dizraeli & The Small Gods, Dancing Years, Lazy Habits ft Baby Sol and Lips Choir.

Standon Calling is excited to reveal three exiting new collaborations on the Lordship Stage on the lawns of Standon Lordship manor house. The Crypt Sessions, Loose and Folkstock Arts Foundation will all be handpicking a select lineup of exciting acts to come and wow crowds at the Hertfordshire festival.
 
Lucy Rose heads The Crypt Sessions’ line-up followed by Guardian New Band of the Day, Sivu and Annie Mac’s folk-favourite Emily & The Woods. Also on the bill will be Thomas J Speight, The Title Sequence, Lowpines, Gibson Bull, Aley Lenz and Matthew Neal. The Crypt Sessions' online video channel have been bringing stripped back, intimate performances from music’s finest into our homes for over three years and are now set to do the same on the Lordship stage.

Lucy Rose

Leading European Americana and Roots label Loose invite Folk-rockers Danny & The Champions Of The World to the Lordship Stage with further performances from Treetop Flyers, the guitar wielding married duo Trevor Moss and Hannah-Lou, The Rockingbirds, solo singer-songwriter Peter Bruntnell, The Dreaming Spires and Case Hardin.

Open’er Festival confirms Everything Everything, Mount Kimbie and more!

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The line-up for this year's Open’er Festival is ever expanding as more outstanding major acts confirm for 2013’s edition.
 
Some amazing worldwide reowned acts join the Open'er bill today alongside a shining array of some of Poland's freshest and biggest selling music talent. Here they are…
 
Everything Everything

Can pop queen Beyoncé meet the avant-garde Arvo Part and twisted Mr Bungle on one record? Yes, if we're talking Everything Everything. Their second release "Arc" only confirmed that the Manchester band is among the most interesting ones on current UK scene. Combining an intelligent approach to art-rock with seeking their own interpretation of music, based on beat and the pulse

Everything Everything

 
Mount Kimbie
Mount Kimbie are two producers – Dominic Maker and Kai Campos – who discovered their style in late dubstep, a hushed sound famous from the albums by The xx and James Blake. Their music is minimalist, with many omissions, yet also danceable beats and pulsating bass. They debuted in 2010 with a well-received LP "Crooks & Lover”, which featured their most popular song to date: "Carbonated"
 
The National

You really thought Open’er 2013 could happen without The National? Only a few European dates (often headlining), and among them one at our festival, makes us proud and happy to welcome Matt Berninger's band to Open'er Main Stage again. The timing is perfect – for a few weeks, we've been enjoying the brand new, 6th studio album from the American band. "Trouble Will Find Me" is a full-on follow-up to "High Violet", both in terms in chronology and music and lyrics
Savages
 The all-female post-punk quartet Savages formed in early 2012, and released their debut single "Flying To Berlin" exactly a year ago. This was enough for the girls to surface the blogosphere and join trend-setting parties like New York's CMJ Maraton. Savages didn't take long to get signed (to Matador Records) or to record a debut album – "Silence Yourself" was released early in May  
 
Palma Violets
Often compared to The Libertines, Palma Violets rose to fame thanks to the path set out by Arctic Monkeys. Their internet popularity is the fruit of videos, depicting their chaotic, ultra-energetic concerts and social media. The grassroots success was soon backed up with big musical media – Palma Violets were listed in BBC Sound of 2013
 
Rykarda Parasol
A singer who swapped opera singing for rock music ten years ago, playing it in a dark manner, not unlike Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. She recorded her new, third album in her native San Francisco
 
Pianohooligan
Pianohooligan is the wild spirit of Polish jazz. A regular to international festivals. Real name Piotr Orzechowski, he experiments with his looks, but most of all with his music. Last year saw the release of his album "Experiment: Penderecki”, featuring works inspired by the distinguished Polish maestro
 
Stroon
Stroon is a Slovakian electronic music producer, who feels most comfortable in post-dubstep. He usually collaborates with different groups and projects
 
Plum
Two weeks ago, Plum played a great show at Barcelona's Primavera Sound. We could see with our own eyes how the crowd grew and grew with each minute, quickly turning from concentration to wild dancing
 
Fuka Lata
 Fuka Lata were another Polish highlight of Primavera Sound. The Warsaw duo performs psychedelic synth pop, easy to love for all retro music fans
 
Kim Nowak
Kim Nowak seemed to be a one-off side project for Waglewski brothers, usually working with their hip-hop projects. Lucklilly, they became a full-time group, who followed their great debut with an even better, darker release "Wilk"
 
Vienio (Profil Pokoleń)
Kapitan Nemo, Tomek Lipiński, Dezerter and Kodym (Apteka) are all guests invited by Vienio, the co-founder member of Molesta, rapper and journalist, to collaborate on his new solo album"Profil Pokoleń”. The release is a result of Vienio's meetings with musicians that shook the Polish scene in the 1980s
 
Łąki Łan
As this year's Open'er key visual is a grass ball, we absolutely had to inscribe Łąki Łan into it, especially when the gents have proven more than once that the Gdynia airport is their natural habitat
 
Ballady i Romanse/Igor Boxx
The Open'er audience had a chance to see both Ballady i Romanse and Igor Boxx of Skalpel on Open'er stages. This year, the musicians will meet in the same time and place, although with a very different repertoire
 
Sorry Boys
"The Sun", the first premiere song from Sorry Boys in two years, shows a new direction in their sound. You can hear hints of Bat For Lashes, Niki & The Dove, or even Kate Bus
 
hipiersoniK
A new project on the Polish scene, yet very successful both locally and abroad (they toured the UK with Hawkwind). hipiersoniK are inspired by cyber-punk culture, both in their music and lyrics
 
Semantik Punk
Semantik punk is a new name of Moja Adrenalina. The change of name came with the breakthrough album "abcdefghijklmnoprstuwxyz". It was produced by Rick Robinson, who was behind the decks while recording legendary albums by Sepultura and Slipknot
 
L.U.C & Motion Trio
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Parklife Weekender 2013 Review

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The lead-up to this year’s Parklife Weekender came with much trepidation, and not just over what to wear (high-waisted and dangerously short shorts, “obvs”). The move to Heaton Park from a venue much nearer Manchester’s festival-ready student population was a curious one, no doubt intended to minimise disruption to the regular flow of the city.

Officially the event was a success, but I wonder who else left frustrated by some fundamental oversights. Happy or naïve, we arrive at the park mid-afternoon on a picture perfect Saturday. Ambling amid flowered fields and deliciously shady groves, you can’t shake the feeling of summer – least of all when it’s shaking you; a heavy bassline through the trees.

We miss Aussie boys The Temper Trap, on too early. It’s the same story for Alunageorge. You’d be annoyed if you forked out for a programme since the printed set-times have changed. There’s probably a good explanation, and en masse no one seems bothered, but it’s a blow for fans negotiating  crowds in pursuit of their favourite acts.

Jessie Ware lends her sexy breed of soul to the main stage, dedicating ‘Sweet Talk’ to the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson: “Sir Alex, I love you!” she coos. People groove along to the summery track but conversations carry on. Over at Sounds of the Near Future (for the uninitiated, that’s another stage name), Baauer throws a towel over his head to soak up the sweat. Or shut out the lights. He’s allowed since he nails his set.

Despite massive headliners, the draw card of the new venue is a host of carnival attractions that have sprung up for the weekend. The ferris wheel, log flume and bungee jump are daunting, and at £20 a pop are out of this reporter’s meagre budget. We’re suckered in by the dodgem cars instead, & at only £4 the saving warrants another trip to the bar. A shout out here to all the bartenders we encountered, and not just in the lush VIP section. In absence of the friendly volunteers of say Glastonbury, they acted as a much-needed, vibrant face of the festival.

Londoners Gorgeous George make for an irreverent change in pace. Playing the smallest stage in the festival, we figure this is Parklife’s equivalent of the reggae tent. You know, the spot people seem to end up when everything else is winding down. It’s surprising and fresh. The very look of the band cuts through the day’s niggling sameness. The lead singer has that proper cockney edge, sporting an unlikely Adidas jumper.

Ever seen a trumpeter in skinny jeans? That’s not a euphemism either. Just, well, have you? It’s all very fun. The frontman asks that any booze (or worse) that wants sharing be passed to the front. When we leave we wish we’d stayed, or left much earlier. Getting out is a shambles. We’re told to follow the crowd and the rest is guess work. Fearing more of this, I’m less enthusiastic come round two on Sunday.

We race to catch festival royalty Mark Ronson in some kind of DJ battle with equally big-time A-Trak. A note to festival organisers – please, pick a name for each stage and stick with it? Sure, it’s a stand-alone festival on both days. Yes, you’ll be raking it in with sponsors. But it’s sunny, and we’re drinking. Don’t be difficult.

Under the Big Top, British duo Simian Mobile Disco are making something of a comeback. Theirs is an energetic, rhythmic set, competing against the alluring bass of the nearby Red Bull sponsored DJs. Yet again, we’re stuck at the edge of a tent trying desperately to be involved. We keep at it for a while, then allow ourselves a break to sit with burgers in the fading sun.

Everything Everything is sadly undersubscribed, possibly due to competition over at the Warehouse Project tent. I’ve seen them before, and as the action seems elsewhere we move on quickly. It’s not their fault. It’s TEED for the win you see, and after throwing ourselves about to ‘Household Goods’ we’re satisfied with the weekend’s efforts.

I won’t go running back to Parklife next year, but with a little bit of love and the right attitude it could certainly be more.

Check out the Parklife 2013 photos here.