Reading and Leeds Festival add more names to the lineup

With even more artists yet to be announced across the NME/Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Dance, Lock Up/Rock, Festival Republic, BBC Radio 1Xtra Alternative and BBC Introducing Stages, the line-up just keeps getting bigger and better for 2013!

NEW NAMES ADDED TO THE MAIN STAGE

Already announced on the Main Stage are UK festival exclusive headliners Green DayEminem, and Biffy Clyro, plus UK festival exclusive performances from Fall Out BoySystem Of A Down andDeftonesNine Inch Nails will return to Reading & Leeds for the first time since 2007 to perform a 2013 UK exclusive show.

Also playing the Main Stage are legends of UK drum and bass, Chase and Status, bringing a world-class live show to Reading & Leeds and Frank Turner, who returns to play the Festivals which “hold a special place in his heart” for the seventh consecutive year; his set will be a triumphant showstopper.

Frank Turner

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The Main Stage will welcome the unique musical stylings of quintessentially British band Skindred, whose blend of heavy metal, dub, reggae and drum ‘n’ bass, or ‘ragga metal’, has landed them legions of fans and numerous awards.

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British punkrock band Lower Than Atlantis will be returning to the Festivals on the Main Stage after an incredible set on the Festival Republic Stage last year. Expect to hear the crowd singing along to hits from their entire catalogue, including current album ‘Changing Tune’.

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Joining the line-up are New York punk band We Are The In Crowd, currently touring the UK and Europe with their latest album ‘Best Intentions’, as well as Southampton based five-piece Bury Tomorrow who will be offering their unique blend of melodic metalcore and bringing songs from their anticipated second album ‘The Union of Crowns’.

NME/RADIO 1 STAGE LINE-UP EXPANDS

The NME/Radio 1 Stage gets even hotter with new names joining headliners SkrillexAlt-J and Phoenix, plus others already announced including Jake BuggImagine DragonsMajor Lazer,A$AP Rocky and Haim.

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Joining the line-up will be Scottish five-piece Frightened Rabbit, armed with songs from their critically acclaimed Top 10 album ‘Pedestrian Verse’, the band’s arena-rock arrangements promise a thrilling live show. Hedonistic punks FIDLAR, whose melodic twists and turns have earned them plaudits from critics on both sides of the Atlantic also take to the stage.

Tipped by the likes of Radio 1 and MTV, Dublin-based Kodaline will be making their Reading & Leeds debut. The alternative rock quartet will be playing the best from their new album ‘In A Perfect World’ and more.

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North London band Tribes are revered as breathing life back into guitar music. The band’s second album ‘Wish To Scream’ is out in May, preceded by the single ‘Dancehall’ on 20th May, which follows the instant anthem of first single ‘How The Other Half Live’. Released just 11 months after their well-received debut album ‘Baby’, the Festival crowds will see them flying the flag for British Indie.

Hotly tipped as ones to watch on the 'BBC Sound of 2013’ list, experimental electronic duo AlunaGeorge will be proving exactly why they’ve been enjoying chart success this year, with their unique brand of sensual vocals and pop sensibilities.

alunageorge

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE ADDS A WHOLE HOST OF ARTISTS

Headliners Sub Focus LiveMagnetic Man and Knife Party, plusBaauer and Iggy Azalea, will be joined by a raft of amazing artists on the newly expanded three day BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage.

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British electro-pop comes courtesy of Fenech-Soler, signed to Warner Records and championed by Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Greg James, the four-piece have received attention from a legion of music bloggers. They will be joined on the line-up by Radio 1 DJ and drum‘n’bass multi-award winner Friction, for the heaviest bass on the Dance Stage. Also confirmed are London based collective Clean Bandit who work with a variety of vocalists to create their eccentric brand of electronica.

London electronic outfit Is Tropical rose to success after the release of their ‘Native To’ album, which also won ‘Best Animation Video’ and ‘Best Indie Rock Video’ at the UK Music Video Awards. Also joining will be Lancaster duo Bondax with their blend of garage-inspired electronica championed by the likes of Annie Mac and gaining increasing popularity in the blogosphere and LA polymath Robert DeLong, whose unique mash-up of indie and electronica has earned him nominations as a 2013 ‘Artist to Watch’ for MTV US, Billboard and Vibe Magazine.

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Trendsetting DJ, Fool's Gold label head and turntablist A-Trak graces the Dance Stage with a wealth of critical acclaim behind him. Performing at the Grammy’s, sharing a Billboard cover with Diplo and Skrillex and winning a ‘DMC World DJ Championship’ when he was just 15, his performance is sure to be an unforgettable one. Also added is one of the hottest commodities in dance music right now, dubstep heavyweight, Flux Pavillion.

A Trak

Bristol DJ Redlight has been a staple in club culture for many years, mixing and taking on bass music from dubstep to drum ‘n’ bass and even grime, and it is with pleasure that he joins the Dance Stage this year. Searching out talent from across the hemisphere, Sydney-based duo Jagwar Ma will be acclimatising to the British festival season and warming up the crowds in the Dance Stage. Fresh from supporting The xx, and headlining the NME Awards show, they are gearing up to bring their brand of psychedelic electronica and sunshine bass lines to festival goers. 

Also confirmed is rockabilly inspired Willy Moon, hailing from New Zealand, now based in London, Moon promises a mix of hip-hop and 50’s inspired dance music, plus there will be fantasy-laden electro from the former Mellowdrone frontman Big Black Delta and mysterious soulful R ‘n’ B from Night Works.

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Confirmed for this day is LA Moombahton Dillon Francis fusing the genres of reggaeton, moombahton and house music for a truly thrilling bass explosion, fresh from collaborating with Major Lazer, a slew of sell out shows and riotous praise, he will be offering up the best of his distinctive basslines and wobbles. 90’s garage and pop inspired electronica comes courtesy of futuristic pop princess Charli XCX.

Joining them will be drum‘n’bass titans Fred V & Grafix as they gear up for a set that promises bone thudding bass and the best in contemporary and classic drum ‘n’ bass, plus high-octane dance music from Jacob Plant ft. Majestic.

THE LINE-UP FOR THE LOCK UP STAGE GROWS

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The Lock Up Stage this year welcomes Alkaline Trio as headliners for this day. The renowned Illinois punk band will be playing the best of their music, from the punk beginnings of their first albums to the more pop-punk offerings seen on their most recent album ‘My Shame Is True’. Promising to excite their legions of fans, expect an electrifying atmosphere and more than a little bit of moshing.

Joining the Stage will be Australian punk rock/psychobilly band The Living End and Californian metaphoric rock group RX Bandits. For a ferocious dose of post hardcore stylings, catch legendary special guests, New York four-piece Quicksand, one of the most influential bands of their genre in the early to mid-90’s.

Also on the bill are Exeter based rock n rollers The Computers who are about to embark on their highly anticipated UK tour, warming up for our festival crowd!

New York punk rockers Cerebral Ballzy return to Reading & Leeds Festivals after an amazing set on the Festival Republic Stage in 2011; the 80’s punk-inspired skater boys are sure to deliver a memorable live show for the Lock Up crowds.

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Joining Tomahawk on this day will be legendary New York hardcore band Sick Of It All with a punk offering, and for a heavy dose of volume, Reading & Leeds favourites, LA hardcore punk band The Bronx will be on hand. Legendary British ska/punk band King Prawn are back after a 10 year hiatus. The band will bring their unique blend of reggae and hardcore to the Festivals for an unforgettable show.

FIRST NAMES FOR THE NEW ROCK STAGE ANNOUNCED

With the expanded Dance line-up covering three whole days, Reading & Leeds are adding a Rock Stage day to each site, with the first names just announced.

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Enter Shikari unveil..Shikari Sound System. At this year's Reading & Leeds Festivals, Shikari Sound System will make its world debut headlining the Rock Stage.

Shikari Sound System is the electronic alter-ego of the British band Enter Shikari, famous for blurring the lines between musical genres across three (thus far) UK chart Top 5 albums since they hit the wider public consciousness in 2006. Having DJ’d and produced in various side projects over the years they finally decided to fully elope with live dance music, and so was born the Shikari Sound System.

For further explanation, let's hear it from the horse's mouth: "Expect re-worked Enter Shikari tracks along with classic remixes and new surprises. Expect eerie live electronics and tent-peg-dislodging baselines. Expect a tour through many dance tempos and electronic genres that have been a constant inspiration to our band's sound. Combining both live instruments and percussion with dub-plate wizardry, this is one for the skankers, the steppers, the movers and the shakers."

Enter Shikari have a deep history with the Reading & Leeds Festivals – attending as teenagers, and having played the festival five times in the past seven years – and so embraced the opportunity to return once again, albeit in 'disguise'. The band's latest single, a 1min16sec blast of a track, has this week been added to the BBC Radio 1 playlist.

Described as "one of the best British bands of the last decade" by Zane Lowe, Welsh hardcore band Funeral For A Friend will also be playing the Rock Stage this year. The award-winning band are veterans of rock performances, playing alongside Guns N’ Roses, supporting Linkin Park and countless others for over a decade. Hardcore Punk band Gallows return to Reading & Leeds for their seventh consecutive year, bringing their electric live show and guaranteed carnage to the Rock Stage, plus Northern Irish band And So I Watch You From Afar will be playing following on from their recently sold out UK shows and release of their critically acclaimed album.

Japanese metalcore band Crossfaith will be bringing their blend of industrial metal and electronica from Osaka to Reading & Leeds’ very own Rock Stage, as well as alternative rockers Arcane Roots, the three-piece from Surrey are influenced by progressive, experimental and pop-tinged rock which can be heard in their music. For a dose of hard rock, don’t miss British four-piece Heaven’s Basement who have gone from strength to strength since they formed over four years ago and have played alongside the likes of Papa Roach and Black Stone Cherry.

FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE WELCOMES NEW ADDITIONS

The Festival Republic Stage showcases the hottest upcoming bands as well as established names, with the first bands for 2013 already confirmed including The StrypesThe 1975Temples and Swim Deep, Reading & Leeds can now announce many more artists.

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Crystal Fighters take to the headline position with their distinctive mix of acoustic guitar and percussive electronica, as the celebrated British/Spanish dance outfit gear up to release their new album ‘Cave Rave’, with current single ‘You & I’ featured as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record this week.  

Glasgow's Chvrches come fresh from a stellar run at SXSW that saw them collect the festival's inauguaral Grulke Prize for ‘Best International Newcomers’. The prize is just the latest in an ever-increasing list of plaudits for a band championed by Pitchfork and NME, and who came fifth in the BBC ‘Sound of 2013’. Their accessible yet ambitious synth angles, pitched somewhere between Robyn and The Knife, mean Chvrches are equally at home atop the Hypemachine blog chart as supporting Depeche Mode in European arenas.

US alternative rock outfit Surfer Blood join the line-up, the band have been gaining momentum since their appearance on ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’ back in January. Kate Nash is back, after a hiatus, with her new punk direction. Her musical stylings have taken a shift in direction this year with the release of her feminist punk-influenced album ‘Girl Talk’ and recent sold out tour. Also confirmed is soulful Scandinavian electronica courtesy of Karen Marie Ørsted, or MØ. Her sultry vocals have been likened to Grimes and Lou Rhodes and have made her a critics’ favourite.

New York duo MS MR are set to capitalize on their ‘No. 1 on Hype Machine’ status and are tipped to be the first superstars of Chill Wave.  This boy/girl duo's singles caused a huge buzz on all the coolest music blogs last year and their debut album ‘Secondhand Rapture’ is set for release in May.

For a dose of Canadian indie, Half Moon Run will be performing for the first time at the festival, after a period opening for Mumford and Sons, the band has been slowly creeping on the radar of Indie fans. The stage also sees talent from Mancunian newcomer Findlay, whose stylish mix of glam-blues vocals and pop production have put her firmly on the critics’ radar this year and Oxford four-piece MMX, who have been hotly tipped after their debut release ‘Cold World’ last year, will be first on.

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Headlining the Festival Republic stage this year is one of Britain's most enigmatic bands, British Sea Power.  It's been 10 years since their debut album; expect to hear old favourites as well as tracks from recently released masterpiece ‘Machineries of Joy’.  Their sweeping, epic, angular guitar pop has established British Sea Power as a classic alternative act and this headline set will be a euphoric affair.

Post-folk funk groover Lucy Rose made her name as a vocalist in Bombay Bicycle Club before branching out on her own. The singer-songwriter from Warwickshire will be returning to the Festivals after a show-stopping full band set last year and now in receipt of a critically acclaimed debut album ‘Like I Used To’, Lucy will bring her haunting vocal talents to the Festival Republic Stage.

Lucy Rose

Reading & Leeds are thrilled to announce Tim Burgess, it’s been 10 years since the lead singer of The Charlatans released a solo album, and his blend of Northern soul and Americana will be one of many highlights across the weekend. The Charlatans previously headlined Reading & Leeds in 1999, the first year that Leeds Festival ever took place.

Tampa, Florida trio Merchandise have transcended the punk and hardcore scene and now carry a more thrilling post-punk menace taking their cue from early 90's alternative acts such as Dinosaur JR and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Fuzzy four-piece London based psychedelic band Splashh have been steadily building momentum since last year with rave reviews from The Guardian, NME and a slew of underground blogs. Also on the line-up is punky blues-rock from Drenge, a duo from the Peak District who serve up catchy percussive guitar songs, NY punk garage rockers SKATERS with their unique pop-punk offerings and Belgian pop/rock band Balthazar who have received international acclaim after winning ‘Best Album’ at the Music Industry awards last year with ‘Rats’.

Also added are British folk/rock band To Kill A King who will be playing their unique brand of folk melodies and melancholic indie.

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Headlining the Festival Republic Stage this day are five-piece Indie rockers Spector who have enjoyed rave reviews from the likes of NME, The Guardian and Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, and have gone on to achieve mammoth musical success since their performance at the Reading & Leeds BBC Introducing Stage back in 2011. They return to top the Festival Republic Stage bill with their synth laden guitar riffs and contagious tracks including ‘Chevy Thunder’ for fans to sing-along to.

Ferocious English/American rock band Pure Love, featuring former Gallows frontman Frank Carter and ex-The Hope Conspiracy guitarist Jim Carroll, will perform and expect guitar shredding from UK garage rock The Jim Jones Revue, as they play their distorted blend of bluesy rock. Responsible for one of the year’s most talked-about guitar albums, Parquet Courts will be joining the Festival Republic Stage. The New York punk rockers are hailed for their witty brand of super sharp lyrics and fresh indie sonics and will be bringing the energy to Reading & Leeds this summer.

Excitingly, punk rock garage outfit California X will be making their debut UK performance at the Festivals, English synth-pop outfit Chapel Club return with their distinctive moody indie electronica and US indie electronica duo twenty one pilots join the growing bill. The Family Rain's full on live shows are high octane affairs and these three siblings’ unique brand of hip-hop inspired, dirty blues infused rock 'n' roll has marked them out a band to watch in 2013.

 

Erykah Badu, Hercules & Love Affair and more for Exit Festival 2012

First up on the Main Stage is Erykah Badu, the undisputed queen of R'n'B and Neosoul, who will performon Saturday, 14th July. A four-time Grammy winner, this inspiring American singer defined the pages of Soul music history with her outstanding voice, atypical styling and hits which include Love Of My Life, On & On, Bag Lady, Window Seat, Tyrone and Honey, and many more. From her debut, Baduizm, released in 1997, godine, to the latest album named New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) from 2010, her musical opus has been woven through with African beats, American Blues, Jazz, and Funk.

Erykah Badu

Also on the Main Stage will be New York-based band Hercules & Love Affair who will perform on Friday 13th July. A musical project led by DJ Andy Butler is a perfect combination of disco, nu-disco and house sound. With hits such as Blind and You Belong, which featured Antony Hegarty, the leader of Antony & The Johnsons, as well as the exotic Nomi Ruiz, they have enchanted the masses. After an extremely successful debut album, released in 2008, Andrew Butler returned last year with an album named Blue Songs, carrying out his original idea of rotating cast of performers and musicians. Therefore, current members of the band include DJ Kim Ann Foxman Aerea Negrot, Shaun Wright and Mark Pistel. Polish your shoes to the maximum, these indie heroes have prepared a spectacular disco experience!

On Friday 13th July the Fusion Stage welcomes the hot British five-piece actCitizens! Their talent was first recognized by Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos, who is producing their debut album, Here We Are, due for release through Kitsuné on, 28th May 2012. Implementing key elements of a good pop song, melodic vocals and music which will make your shoes dance themselves out, Citizens! have firmed their place in the music world with singles such as True Romance and Reptile. Bravely treading the untrodden paths of the genre, alone against the world, they claim not to be as serious as we could expect. Since “pop is not a dirty word“, as they often proclaim about their aesthetics in music, the only thing left is to believe them and have fun during their set!

18 news acts for Hard Rock Calling 2012

Black Stone Cherry will jet in fresh from their US tour to join the Friday 13 July bill. Also confirmed for this year’s rock spectacular are Welsh rockers Kids in Glass HousesSkindred, combining reggae and dancehall with searing thrash and punk, and indie rockers Life In Film.

Black Stone Cherry

Saturday 14 July sees Scotland’s Amy MacDonald return to Hard Rock Calling. She shot to fame in 2007 with the release of This Is The Life, an album which sold over three million copies. Following a storming performance at this year’s Coachella, Dawes have been added to the bill, as well as the acclaimed savior of blues, Gary Clark Jr, South Carolina’s NEEDTOBREATHE, rockers The Night and American singer/songwriter Jonathan Wilson.

Christina Perri, American songstress and ‘Jar of Hearts’ hitmaker, is back on UK shores and joins the Sunday 15 July lineup. She has recently been on tour with James Blunt and her album lovestrongdebuted in UK Top Ten. Following their 2010 reformation, internationally renowned Scottish rockers Big Country founding members Bruce Watson, Tony Butler and Mark Brzezick will play their first Hard Rock Calling.

Other exciting Sunday 15 July additions include BRIT-nominated indie band Guillemots, progressive bluegrass band Punch Brothers and virtuoso on the pedal steel guitar, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, who were chosen by none other than Eric Clapton to join him on tour. US acoustic country/folk singer songwriter Robert Ellis and London born musician Marlon Roudetten and Marcus Foster also join the bill.

This year Hard Rock gave fans a chance to have a say in who plays on the Hard Rock Calling 2012 main stage through the Hard Rock Rising global battle of the bands competition. A competition like no other, Hard Rock Rising had more than 12,000 band participants from 86 HardRock Cafe cities across the globe, more than 275,000 fan votes cast and celebrity judges including Hard Rock Calling 2012 performers Steven Van Zandt of the E-Street Band and Fyfe Dangerfield ofGuillemots. The Hard Rock Rising winner will be given the opportunity of a lifetime – a spot on the bill with rock icons at one of the world’s most anticipated music festivals.  Visit www.hardrock.com for winner announcements.

Committed to supporting music and emerging artists around the globe, Hard Rock International hosted more than 17,000 live music events worldwide in 2011.  The brand continues its dedication to live music and support of up-and-coming artists in 2012 with the Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands, providing a forum for today’s hottest new talent.  

"The Hard Rock Rising competition is a great opportunity for bands to be seen and heard – you get to end up playing on the same bill as Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band for a start!, said Fyfe Dangerfield And it's great that it's international – a band from pretty much anywhere in the world could win this. I'm really looking forward to watching the winners play their slot at Hard Rock Calling, whoever they may end up being!"

Complimenting a star-packed main stage will be the Hard Rock Rising stage. New to this year’s festival, the Hard Rock Rising stage showcases Hard Rock International’s connection to the new music scene and commitment to new bands. To bring fans the hottest new artists, Hard Rock again tapped into veteran rockers Van Zandt from The E-Street Band and Dangerfield of Guillemots, who will each curate the Hard Rock Rising stage for a day of the festival.

“It’s great to play a role in giving new artists valuable new exposure and the experience of a lifetime at Hard RockCalling.” said Steven Van Zandt. “As someone who has played the festival before, I know there’s no stage like it!”

Hard Rock Calling takes place 13-15 July 2012. The 2011 shows saw over 150,000 music fans flock to Hyde Park for an unforgettable weekend of live music.

Blingley Music Live update

Regardless of the temperamental summer weather, you’re going to have to dig out your Ray Bans to get your peepers round the glittering line-up of acts heading to Bingley Music Live this summer – from reggae-metal, blistering alt-rock and indie to bubblegum pop, Motown soul, grime and chart-topping dubstep.
 
This all-embracing attitude to great music is what makes Bingley Music Live so unique. Where else are you going to find SKINDRED and ELIZA DOOLITTLE on the same bill? Answers on a postcard, please…
 
So let’s see. Who’ve we got? First and foremost, there are the headliners. New York funk-rockers FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS will top the FREE Friday night bill. Saturday night sees Geordie art-rockers MAXIMO PARK apply some pressure, and the mighty CHASE AND STATUS will bring the weekend to an explosive close.
 
Dishing out the beats over the weekend will be rising grime star DOT ROTTEN and collaborator RUSSO, British hip-hop heroes STEREO MCs, Example’s Unorthodox pal WRETCH 32 and Brighton’s wild style hip-pop guitar-rockers THE GO! TEAM.
Then there’s the sun-kissed pop of ELIZA DOOLITTLE, young soul sensation DIONNE BROMFIELD and the psychedelic pop-rock delights of ALICE GOLD.
 
Plugging in and rocking out will be YOUNG GUNS and SKINDRED, and  FEEDER, THE CORAL, ATHLETE, MYSTERY JETS, THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND, and JON FRATELLI will provide the indie hits.
 
Scooby Snacks? Connected? Wires? Buck Rogers? Dreaming Of You? Skinny Genes? Going Missing? Warning? Time? Whoever helps you get your groove on, there’s going to be a huge sing-along festival moment in there for everyone.
 
Over the last four years, music legends like THE BUZZCOCKS, HAPPY MONDAYS, JAMES, and PUBLIC IMAGE LTD and upcoming new artists and some of today’s hottest acts like EDITORS, THE BLACKOUT, EXAMPLE, THE FUTUREHEADS and KASSIDY have played to crowds of around 15,000 each day at Bingley Music Live.
 
We dare you to find a festival which focuses as much on family-friendliness and value for money as it does on the great acts to grace its stage. Bingley Music Live is about getting together and having a great time before the summer calls it quits once again.
 
Weekend tickets are available from HMV stores around Yorkshire, Crash and Jumbo in Leeds, Attick in York, Leeds Visitor Centre and TICs around Yorkshire, and online at www.seetickets.com, priced £35 (plus booking fee).  For more information, visit www.bingleymusiclive.com
Bingley Music Live