NME Award Winners 2011 announced

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My Chemical Romance have been crowned this year’s biggest winners at the Shockwaves NME Awards, picking up two awards, for Best International Band (supported by T4) and Best Video(supported by NMETV) for ‘Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)’.  The New Jersey alt. rockers opened the star-studded ceremony – hosted by Angelos Epithemiou at O2 Academy Brixton – with a bang before returning to the stage to collect their reader-voted honours.
The music calendar’s most credible awards saw NME readers casting over three and a half million votes during the second stage of voting. Muse beat off stiff competition from Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro to land the prestigious Best British Band Award (supported by Shockwaves), adding yet another accolade in an impressive four-year run of triumphs at the Shockwaves NME Awards.
Singer-songwriter (and NME Cool List number one for 2010) Laura Marling accepted the award forBest Solo Artist. Outshining the likes of Kanye West in one of the year’s most hotly contested categories, Marling caps an incredible year in which her acclaimed second album ‘I Speak Because I Can’ has cemented her reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting acts.  Biffy Clyro, who jetted in from the United States – where they are currently touring – to attend the event, displaced perennial winners Muse to claim the coveted Best Live Band (supported by Carling).  
Hurts, who performed their world-wide hit ‘Wonderful Life’ accompanied by a gothic-style dance troupe, were awarded Best New Band (supported by Boxfresh) – joining a long line of distinguished winners including Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons and MGMT.  
Arcade Fire – who were unable to attend the awards – accepted the Best Album Award for their hugely powerful third album ‘The Suburbs’ via a jazz-inspired pre-recorded message.  Oxford quintet Foals secured the illustrious Best Track Award (supported by NME Radio) for ‘Spanish Sahara’, seeing off Cee-Lo Green, Gorillaz, Janelle Monae and Mark Ronson in the process.
With winners covering the musical gamut, the NME audience’s eclectic tastes also saw gongs awarded to Professor Green whose ‘Jungle’ single picked up Best Dancefloor Filler; Glastonbury, which won Best Festival for the third year in a row; and Channel 4’s Skins which was awarded theBest TV Show for the first time. The Naked and Famous were this year’s recipients of the Philip Hall Radar Award, named in honour of the late Manic Street Preachers manager to celebrate new talent and chosen by the NME editorial team. And Crystal Castles, who recently headlined the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour, accepted the John Peel Award For Innovation, presented by last year’s host Jarvis Cocker and his co-host Alexa Chung.
PJ Harvey performed tracks from her recently released ‘Let England Shake’ album after being presented with the Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution To Music award. And the highest honour of the evening, the Godlike Genius accolade, was awarded to Dave Grohl who fronted the Foo Fighters to close another incredible Shockwaves NME Awards night with a jubilant full set, including  classics and songs from their much anticipated forthcoming album, ‘Wasting Light’.
NME editor Krissi Murison says: “With over 3.5 million votes cast in the second stage of voting, music fans have proved they are as passionate as ever – and their taste in music is as eclectic as ever! Not only is the international rock scene in great shape but a wide spread of genres are represented by our winners tonight. It’s great to see My Chemical Romance lead the way scooping two awards. And with Muse, Biffy Clyro, Laura Marling, Professor Green, Hurts and Arcade Fire amongst others all coming out top in their nominated categories, 2011 is set to be a great year for music.”   
Awards not presented on the night saw Justin Bieber score an unwelcome double, winning both theLeast Stylish and Worst Album categories, with fellow US teen idols the Jonas Brothers votedWorst Band.  The public vote also awarded Matt Bellamy the Hottest Man accolade, named The Kills’ Alison Mosshart as Hottest Woman and named Brandon Flowers winner of the Most Stylishaward (supported by Shockwaves). This year’s Hero is Lady Gaga while coalition government leaderDavid Cameron pipped his deputy Nick Clegg to the post to claim the Villain prize.  Inceptionpicked up Best Film, Klaxons ‘Surfing The Void’ took the prize for Best Album Artwork, Hayley Williams (Paramore) won Best Blog, John Lydon claimed Best Book for Mr Rotten’s Scrapbookand RockNess gained Best Small Festival.
Music fans can catch all the highlights from the Shockwaves NME Awards 2011 hosted by Alexa Chung on Channel 4 on Saturday night at 11.20pm with T4 showing coverage of the awards earlier in the day at 11.25am.
The Awards In Full:
Best British Band (supported by Shockwaves)
Muse

Best International Band (supported by T4)
My Chemical Romance

Best Solo Artist 
Laura Marling

Best Live Band (supported by Carling) 
Biffy Clyro

Best New Band (supported by Boxfresh)
Hurts

Best Album
Arcade Fire ‘The Suburbs’

Best Track (supported by NME Radio)
Foals ‘Spanish Sahara’

Best Video (supported by NME TV)
My Chemical Romance ‘Na Na Na’ (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)

Best Festival
Glastonbury

Best Dancefloor Filler 
Professor Green ‘Jungle’

Best TV Show
Skins

Categories awarded by NME
Philip Hall Radar Award – The Naked & Famous
Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution To Music – PJ Harvey
John Peel Award For Innovation – Crystal Castles
Godlike Genius – Dave Grohl

Other Categories 
Best Film – Inception
Hero – Lady Gaga
Villain – David Cameron
Most Stylish – Brandon Flowers (supported by Shockwaves)
Least Stylish – Justin Bieber
Worst Album – Justin Bieber ‘My World 2.0’
Worst Band – Jonas Brothers
Hottest Man – Matt Bellamy
Hottest Woman – Alison Mosshart (The Kills)
Best Album Artwork – Klaxons ‘Surfing The Void’
Best Blog – Hayley Williams (Paramore)
Best Book – John Lydon Mr Rotten’s Scrapbook
Best Small Festival – RockNess

Rockness 2011 lineup additions

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Friday:
KASABIAN / Two Door Cinema Club / 
Groove Armada presents Red Light / DJ Shadow
Mark Ronson DJ set / Annie Mac / Erol Alkan / Zane Lowe / Brother
 
Saturday:
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS / The Cribs / Frightened Rabbit / Magnetic Man / Example / Howard Marks
 
Sunday:
PAOLO NUTINI / Glasvegas / The Wombats / We Are Scientists / Lissie / Katy B / Boys Noize / Simian Mobile Disco / Fake Blood LIVE / DJ Yoda / 
Rob da Bank / Optimo / The Cuban Brothers
ROCKNESS – the most beautiful festival in the world - today reveals the stunning list of acts lined up for this summer’s monster party. 

Joining the mighty KASABIAN, who headline the Main Stage on the FRIDAY is Northern Ireland’s music-mad trio and band of the moment who garnered critical acclaim across media and fans alike in 2010,TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB.  With a plethora of sparkling tunes their set is guaranteed to have one and all singing and dancing.

Next up, in a very special treat, the masters of reinvention GROOVE ARMADA bring a brand new and exciting performance concept to the glorious backdrop of Loch Ness.  First, there was the Grammy nominated Black Light; then there was the live energy of White Light.  Now 2011 brings GROOVE ARMADA PRESENTS RED LIGHT. As a Live band they were legendary.  The RED LIGHT shows open a new chapter and accompany a series of dance-floor EPs to be released throughout the summer.  A 4 deck, multi F-X, audio visual DJ experience.  Rooted in the warehouse.  Delivered stadium style.

In terms of influence, stature and sheer quality of output DJ SHADOW is one of the most important and respected artists in experimental hip hop. Vital and vibrant, the news that the Californian master of the turntables, whose collaborations include Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Mike D of The Beastie Boys, is heading to RockNess is sure to generate widespread excitement.  Promising to summon dancing feet to the floor is RockNess favourite and Grammy Award winner MARK RONSON who returns with his magnificent record collection for a dazzling deck spinning extravaganza.

BBC Radio 1’s ANNIE MAC whose annual RockNess shindig is becoming as legendary as Nessie returns in 2011 and is joined by electro super producer & DJ EROL ALKAN.  Radio 1’s brilliantly exuberant ZANE LOWE is also back to deliver his amour for the biggest and best genre spanning tunes likely to be heard all weekend. Rounding off Friday’s music proposition, until it’s time for more tasty treats to be revealed, are the band described by the NME as “The brightest guitar hopes of 2011”, BROTHER.

Joining SATURDAY Main Stage headliners THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, is one of the country’s biggest cult indie bands THE CRIBS. With stinging guitars, jabbing hooks and catch-laden anthems, fans should prepare for an electrifying performance.  Armed with an abundance of shimmering tunes, the downright fantastic FRIGHTENED RABBIT – creators of such glorious swirling anthems that deserve to reverberate the length of the Great Glen are also announced.

Ripping up the Saturday of RockNess 2011 with their ground breaking LIVE show are dubstep pioneers, ground-breakers, scene-changers and move-makers MAGNETIC MAN.  Expect an arresting frisson of big bass beats from Artwork, Benga and Skream as they unleash their colossal show at ‘Ness that has been pushing the boundaries of electronic LIVE performances across the UK.

With a certified gold selling album ‘Won’t Go Quietly’, a host of killer festival performances in the UK and Europe, a sell-out UK tour and gold sales of this year’s summer anthem ‘Kickstarts’, EXAMPLE is well and truly on a roll and is set to blow things up at RockNess. Topping off Saturday for now, a legend who needs no introduction and was described by the Daily Mail as ‘the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time’, HOWARD MARKS is back! Once again swapping rolling for spinning as he steps up to the decks and takes us on a rich musical nirvana. 

Staying true to the eclectic RockNess music policy, SUNDAY’S Main Stage headliner and Scotland’s finest, PAOLO NUTINI, is joined by Scotland’s outstanding GLASVEGAS whose iconic sound and powerful, uplifting anthems looks set to be a major highlight of RockNess 2011.  The first single from the new album, ‘Euphoria, Take My Hand’ was Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record’ on BBC Radio 1 and the hugely anticipated second album “EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \” is already being hailed as a modern day masterpiece.  GLASVEGAS at RockNess…prepare for another epic moment in Scottish festival history!

The unashamedly cheery THE WOMBATS with their dark yet exuberant and infectious alt pop will be the ideal soundtrack for RockNess as the monster party heads into day three.  Keeping the good times rolling thereon in are the brilliant US indie rockers WE ARE SCIENTISTS. And after absolutely blowing the proverbial roof off in 2010 the incredible BOYS NOIZE makes a welcome return to satisfy even the most addicted-to-electro fiends.

Representing the ladies, first up is the sublime LISSIE who has been praised far and wide for her incredible natural talent by the music industry’s mightiest star makers. Joining LISSIE is a female force firmly on a trajectory to the top, the indomitable KATY B.  Expect a set that sits high and pretty whilst thrusting a wicked rhythm somewhere between dubstep and grime.  KATY B has been taking the dubstep scene by storm, collaborating with the biggest names, including just-announced MAGNETIC MAN, and promises to get even bigger through 2011!

Set to shake off any Sunday weariness is the electronic duo SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO – guaranteed without question to be one of this year’s most compelling LIVE sonic treats. Also coming at the RockNess crowd LIVE is one of the most talked-about remixers and producers on the electro scene,FAKE BLOOD who is ready to generate a kinetically-charged atmosphere!  Expect to lose yourself in this LIVE performance where the beats will be dropped so hard your knees will-a-wobble as you head to the next awesome RockNess performance!

Capturing the imaginations of the RockNess masses with his keenly-defined sense of humour is one of Britain’s most admired original club DJs and AV pioneer DJ YODA who along with BBC Radio 1’s ROB DA BANK will be “playing the best in left field, right field and any bloomin’ field we can lay our hands on.” 

And RockNess simply wouldn’t be complete without THE CUBAN BROTHERS. Sunday slumber? Not on their watch!  Finally, cue trumpet fanfare, Glasgow’s purveyors of all things big, brilliant and electronic,OPTIMO, will be delivering a feast of superlative sounds to excite your ears, and shake things up with no genre, no dogma, just music they love and want to share. 

Festival Director, Jim King said, “We are really happy to be announcing these amazing and exciting new acts that will be appearing at the festival. There are quality bands and DJs from all genres of music and this is just the start with many more acts still to be announced. “

RockNess 2011 takes place 10-12 June, 2011 in the village of Dores, close to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.  

Exclusive coverage of this year’s festival will be available on BBC ALBA and the BBC iPlayer
TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Student offer - £145 weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.
General offer – £149 weekend camping/non camping
General offer – £159 weekend camping/non camping weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.

Download Festival 2011 add 21 new bands!

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def leppard download festival 2011Def Leppard are a global rock phenomenon with hit singles spanning an incredible three decades such as Animal, Love Bites, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Lets Get Rocked andWhen Love And Hate Collide.

Their fourth studio album Hysteria (1987) spent an amazing 101 weeks at Number One in the UK charts, also going 12 times Platinum in the US, cementing them as one of the biggest selling rock bands of all time.

A further 20 artists have also been confirmed to lift the proverbial roof off at this year’s Download incuding Sheffield hell raisers Bring Me The Horizon, Grammy nominated Disturbed, blues metallers Down and Chicago alt-rockers Madina Lake.

Fresh from their US tour, Black Stone Cherry have also been added to the Download Festival line up, joined by London political punk rockers The King Blues, American pop-punks Bowling For Soup, folk-punk singer-songwriter Frank Turner, Californian hardcore thrashers Trash Talk and the ‘battle metal brilliance’ of Finland’s Turisas.

Continuing the eclectic rock and metal vibe of the Download Festival, this year’s bill welcomes Guns ‘N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist Duff McKagan’s Loaded, high voltage glam-rock from Twisted Sister and multi-million selling Cheap Trick.

And finally, set to have the crowds head-banging in the mosh pits across the weekend, American metalcore band All That Remains join the bill, along with Northampton metallers Sacred Mother Tongue, the hotly tipped metalcore of Asking Alexandria, Christian rock act The Devil Wears Prada, new kids on the block Straight Line Stitch, Midlands rockers Jameson Raid and Japanese self confessed devil worshippers Ghost.

deadmau5 set to rock Victoria Park 11 June 2011

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L.E.D Presents
deadmau5 Live
Victoria Park – London
Saturday 11th June 2011
Early Bird Tickets On Sale 9am Friday 25th February 2011

deadmau5 returns to the UK this year for an exclusive live outdoor show to be held at London’s Victoria Park on Saturday 11th June .

The Canadian dance titan has chosen the UK to stage this very special event which will be his first ever headline outdoor show and English Festival Exclusive, featuring first class never before seen production. deadmau5 Live at Victoria Park follows an outstanding year for the super producer, which climaxed with a 17000 capacity sell out show at London’s Earls Court in December and saw him become the first ever electronic artiste to headline the legendary venue.

Dancefloor icon, deadmau5 has now become a stadium selling artist in his own right. His multi award winning albums have seen him achieve that rare balance, appealing to both the clubbing cognoscenti and musical masses.

An array of other electronic artistes will be joining deadmau5 and announced over the coming weeks for further info and updates go to www.ledfestival.net/deadmau5 / www.deadmau5.com.

Early Bird tickets go on sale 9am Friday 25th February priced at £39+BF, and will be available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk / Tel: 08444 775 775 (24HR)

Opening Times:
1:00pm – 10:45pm
Last Admittance into the event – 9.30pm

 

Pulp added to Exit Festival 2011 lineup

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The rest of the lineup announced so far is as follows:

Arcade Fire, Pulp, Portishead, Underworld, Grinderman, Beirut, Hadouken!, Fedde Le Grande, Tiga, James Zabiela, Joris Voorn, Gramophonedzie. More to be announced soon.
  
If that isn’t enough EXIT 2011 plays host to a variety of 400 performances on 20 stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels – a walk through the mystical fortress is like a trip through a magical wonderland.  Music ranges from rock, dance, indie, Latino, reggae, electronica, chill out and regional music, so there is no better festival in the world that brings you so much value and so much variety! EXIT is still the coolest, most adventurous and best value for money festival experience in Europe for the discerning festival goer. Offering more entertainment, easier and cheaper travel options, stunning weather and an atmosphere unlike any other festival, ensure it’s on your list of things to do 2011!
 
TICKETS:
EXIT & eTickets.to continue to deliver the best value festival ticket around, with pre event ticket redemption and fast entry through their own entrance.  Buy tickets from; www.etickets.to/exit  
First release tickets are limited so buy now to avoid paying more than you have to!
First Release – 4 day festival ticket – £89 + b/f 
Second Release – 4 day festival ticket  – £105 + b/f 
Camping ticket – £25 + b/f

Deer Shed Festival lineup additions

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With music across three stages on the middle day of the festival, I Am Kloot will be preceded on Saturday by kick-ass audio adventurists The Go! Team. Having recently released their third album and currently on tour across the UK, the sextet with a sharp line in catchy and commanding three minute sonic masterpieces will have the Deer Shed crowd jumping.
 
Joining them on the Obelisk Stage bill will be the critically acclaimed and Ivor Novello nominated The Leisure Society. Soon to release their eagerly anticipated second album, their beautiful soundscapes have garnered a loyal fanbase including Guy Garvey who named their single ‘The Last of the Melting Snow’ his favourite song of 2009.
 
The third band to be announced for the main stage today is Erland and The Carnival. The folk-rock supergroup of multi-instrumentalist Simon Tong (The Verve, The Good, The Bad And The Queen), David Nock (The Orb, The Cult, The Fireman) and Orcadian singer Erland Cooper, their collection of swirling tracks and curious re-workings combine to produce a truly unique sound.
 
The In The Dock Stage line-up is almost complete and has shaped up to be chock-full of must-see artists in 2011. Headlined by the captivating Caitlin Rose, this Nashville native has been declared the future of country music thanks to her maverick, unadulterated talent. Admiral Fallow have created quite a stir in their homeland Scotland and are set to unleash their debut album of folk-tinged rock, ‘Boots Met My Face’, next month.
 
Woozy Americana with a distinctly English folk sensibility comes to Deer Shed courtesy of Matthew and The Atlas alongside cinematic indie from the North East-based, and recently signed to Bella Union band, Lanterns on The Lake. Glaswegian band Laki Mera and their gloriously atmospheric clash of sinister electronica and fragile folk beauty will play the In The Dock stage on Saturday before joining their Just Music label mates in the Big Top on Sunday.
 
Deer Shed offers three diverse days to keep festival-goers of all ages happy. On Friday an evening of cabaret in the Big Top eases the audience into the weekend before Saturday’s programme of the best in contemporary music. Sunday is the Deer Shed Festival ‘long goodbye’ – chilled music, coffee, newspapers, organised kids sports, nature trails and a morning market and the Just Music Café will be taking care of the chilled music element in the Big Top. Just Music is an independently spirited label which is home to some of the very best cutting edge electronica, acoustic, ambient and down tempo artists. Bringing their Just Music Café concept to North Yorkshire for the first time, artists Laki Mera, Echaskech and Digitonal will be performing live plus DJ sets by Mach V and Echaskech and all music accompanied by top notch visuals. The perfect soundtrack to a day of relaxation Deer Shed style before packing up the tent and heading home.
 
Tickets available now through www.deershedfestival.com/tickets

DJ Shadow joins The Great Escape lineup

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On the 13th May, Shadow will provide a unique insight into his work to date, and explain how the Shadowsphere was both conceived and realised. From his record-breaking debut album ‘Endtroducing…..’ via the first UNKLE record, the Quannum Projects label, the ‘4-Track Era’ project and his involvement in the ‘DJ Hero’ franchise, Shadow will step out of the sphere to lift the lid on his inspirational career.

Sufjan Stevens headlines The Dome on Saturday 14th May – again a co-promotion with The Brighton Festival. Hailing from Detroit, Sufjan’s beautiful lo-fi, alt-folk pop has been the soundtrack of the summer for many in recent years. His seminal and critically acclaimed album of 2005, Illinois, and its standout track Chicago put Sufjan firmly on the map, finding him fans across the UK. Earlier this year and to much acclaim Sufjan took his new production out on tour throughout the US. The hyper coloured, visual elements solidified the futuristic feel of 2010’s ‘THE AGE OF ADZ’. You will be in store for a real audio-visual treat.

As previously announced Friendly Fires are also headliners at the Dome with their sparkling modern pop which has ignited many dancefloors and dominated radiowaves with both their albums of off-kilter, pulsating electronica.

Full line up so far:

Friendly Fires ** DJ Shadow**, Sufjan Stevens ** (Dome Shows), Katy B, Warpaint, The Joy Formidable, Villagers, Twin Shadow, Marnie Stern, Alela Diane, Max Richter, Hauschka, Little Dragon, Smoke FairiesD/R/U/G/S, Brother, Becoming Real, Trophy Wife, PVT, Dutch Uncles, Tribes, SBTRKT, The Heartbreaks, Spark, Nedry, Worriedaboutsatan, Big Deal, Matthew and The Atlas, The Soft Moon, Teeth, Ghostpoet, Marques Toliver, Worship, Tripwires, Dustin O’Halloran, Lucy Swann, Visions of Trees, Seams, Marcus Foster, Ben Howard, The Holidays, The Jezabels, Said the Whale, Team Me, Bonjay, Deep Sea Arcade, Seekae, The Mountains and the Trees, Winter Gloves, DZ Deathrays, Woodhands, Heathers, The Bonfires, Paper Crows, Dan Parsons, NLF3, Brasstronaut, gable
with many more to be announce soon…

TICKETING INFO:
3 DAY GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL TICKET-EARLYBIRD: £45
3 DAY FESTIVAL TICKET + SINGLE DOME SHOW TICKET: £51
DOME SHOWS TOP UPS (FOR 3 DAY FESTIVAL TICKET HOLDERS ONLY): £6
STARTING PRICE FOR SINGLE DOME SHOW: £15

Tickets for DJ Shadow and Sujfan Stevens go on sale through www.escapegreat.com this Thursday at 9am. Please note top up tickets for Sufjan Stevens are limited so be quick. 

Underworld to headline SW4 2011 Saturday

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underworld sw4 2011Karl Hyde and Rick Smith aka Underworld are the undisputed heavyweights of the electronic world. Famed for their spine-tingling techno/rock fusion, their sound has been widely acclaimed in both commercial and underground domains for over 20 years. ‘Born Slippy’ smashed both, the perfect marriage of house, techno, drum & bass and pop. Those chords forming arguably the greatest dance track ever, it was included in the film Trainspotting and sold over 750 000 copies in the process. Such epic crossovers have been a sturdy platform for success, having released six monstrous albums – including the best selling ‘Oblivion With Bells On’ and the most recent ‘Barking.’
 
Into the live arena and rocking stadium sized crowds is second nature having headlined the likes of the Glastonbury, Glade and the legendary Love Parade. Not to mention last year’s sell out concerts in London, Manchester and Glasgow. In the process these broke new ground with stunning visuals and incredible sound engineering. No superlative can do justice to undoubtedly one of the most influential acts of the past three decades. With the duo snapped up to soundtrack Danny Boyle’s recent production of ‘Frankenstein’ at the National Theatre what more proof do you need?
 
Jetting into the capital for a huge homecoming fresh from headlining Ultra, Sonar and Exit, we’re delighted to finally welcome Underworld – rounding off their festival season in true style. Do not miss it!
 
London is our town and we love to play in front of a home crowd. SW4 is going to be amazing this year and we can’t wait to play there. It’s a party in the sun for London’s night people. See you there”. Karl Hyde (Underworld)
 
TICKETS: Saturday tickets go on General Sale at 9am on Friday 25th February. Sunday and weekend tickets already on sale from http://www.southwestfour.com/Tickets.aspx
 

Sonar 2011 adds 11 new artists

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mia sonar 2011M.I.A., a key figure in the collision of styles that characterises the beginning of this century, arrives at Sónar revved up and ready to go with her explosive live show and her recent mixtape, “Vicki Leekx”. Her shows in Barcelona and Galicia will be the only ones in Spain this year.
 
Die Antwoord have made an enormous impact fromdie antwoord sonar 2011 their native South Africa with a ground-breaking image, blown-up light shows and a musical style that takes on dirty rap, naïf pop and even eurobeat.
 
Australia’s Cut Copy have taken a major step forward towards a privileged position placing them halfway between cult status and international success, thanks to their contemporary synth pop.
 
Boys Noize are able to move masses with their acid techno, which they will be presenting at Sónar with a powerful audiovisual show prepared especially for the occasion.
 
And while we’re on the subject of shaking up the dancefloor, there is no one better than Buraka Som Sistema, who return with their vibrant live show based on kuduro and broken beats that pours out pure adrenalin.

New additions to Sónar Barcelona

The figure of Shackleton, a cult producer if ever there was one, looms larger every day thanks to his highly personal sound, which is dark, hypnotic and astonishingly profound.
Nicolas Jaar is set to become one of the names/men of the year: incredibly young and extremely talented, his slow, sexy and somewhat sad house, (listen to his debut album “Space Is Only Noise”) is already one of the sounds of the year.
 
Germany’s Paul Kalkbrenner is one of the most popular DJs in the world right now, although he has known for over 20 years what it means to handle a dancefloor with over 20,000 people gagging to dance.
 
Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton formed the legendary Global Communication, a cornerstone of nineties ambient thanks to their masterpiece of the genre, the album “76:14”, which they will be performing live, showing that their ideas are still applicable today.
 
Pritchard will also feature with Africa Hitech (this time round with Steve Spacek), with their excellent appropriation of tribal rhythms that blast them into a future that is just around the corner.
 
America’s Steve Aoki has taken a major step forward towards the big leagues, dominating the dancefloor with effectiveness and forcefulness, and working with Armand van Helden on the explosive “Brrap!”.
 
Sónar Barcelona Artists :: Underworld, M.I.A., Magnetic Man, Steve Reich + bcn216 + Synergy Vocals, Die Antwoord, Cut Copy, Paul Kalkbrenner, Boys Noize, Buraka Som Sistema, Shackleton,Nicolas Jaar, Africa Hitech, Global Communication, A-Trak,Atmosphere, Salem, Hype Williams, Little Dragon, Tyondai Braxton, Mary Anne Hobbs, Steve Aoki… 

Sónar Galicia Artists :: Underworld, M.I.A., Magnetic Man, Die Antwoord, Cut Copy, Boys Noize, Salem, Buraka Som Sistema…

Dot To Dot Festival unveils first acts

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Dot To Dot Event Organiser Anton Lockwood Commented: ‘2011 is shaping up to be the best Dot To Dot ever. We’re really excited to have the UK’s most stylish avant-garde electronic pop act Hurts headlining the festival. And, this is just the tip of the iceberg as we have many more fantastic established and up and coming acts from around the world still to be announced.’

Headlining this year’s Dot to Dot are Hurts. The Manchester duo had a fantastic 2010 with their debut album, ‘Happiness’, going Gold, peaking at number four in the Official UK charts as well as selling out their headline UK tour. The synth-pop act have won a number of high profile fans after coming fourth in the BBC Sound of 2010 poll from the NME to Scissor Sisters who they supported on tour last year.

The Naked and Famous are also set to delight Dot to Dot audiences in 2011. The New Zealanders will play the event off the back of a huge British, European and American tour which is showcasing their ‘Passive Me, Aggressive You’ album. Impressive Nashville Teddy Boy-rockers, Mona, are confirmed for the 3-day, 3-city event. With their guitar layered tracks, lead singer Nick Brown has even declared they will be “bigger than Bono” which sets a standard for their future ambitions.

Stepping up the tempo and also highlighting the diversity of artists Dot to Dot attracts will be Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Under the tutorledge of Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard on the Greco-Roman label, it should be an opportunity to hear some of his hotly anticipated album material which is due out later this year. UK singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is also taking the stage in all three cities, as are New Zealand’s finest, The Phoenix Foundation, showcasing tracks from their acclaimed ‘Buffalo’ album   while Darwin Deez is playing an exclusive set on the Manchester leg.

With a deserved reputation as the festival that showcases the freshest bands around, Dot To Dot will be announcing even more boundary pushing acts in the near future, who will join the ranks of Friendly Fires, Ladyhawke, The Temper Trap, Patrick Wolf, Mystery Jets, Ellie Goulding, The Hold Steady, The XX, 65daysofstatic, Annie Mac, Kissy Sell Out, Little Boots,Marina And The Diamonds, Mumford & Sons, Klaxons, Gallows, Spiritualized, Late Of The Pier, Los Capmpesinos!, Laura Marling, British Sea Power, Foals, Jakwob, Egyptian Hip Hop, Santogold, Glasvegas, Kano, Erol Alkan, Frank Turner…and many more who have all previously made early career appearances at Dot To Dot Festival.

Tickets are now on sale priced:

Bristol: £25
Nottingham: £25
Manchester £20
(all ticket prices subject to booking fees)
Visit www.dottodotfestival.co.uk for all ticket info.