Two Door Cinema Club

The XX, Two Door Cinema Club, Justice and more for Bestival 2012

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EXCLUSIVES:
The xx / Sigur Rós

NEW LINE UP ADDITIONS:
LIVE: Justice / Two Door Cinema Club / Hot Chip / Soulwax / Nero / Emeli Sandé / Orbital / Warpaint / De La Soul / Major Lazer / Sister Sledge / The Horrors / Spiritualized /
Kevin Saunderson feat. Inner City Live / Gary Numan / Michael Kiwanuka / Azealia Banks /
Sub Focus / Gallows / Doom / Earth Wind & Fire Experience Feat Al Mckay / Rizzle Kicks /
The Cuban Brothers / Buraka Som Sistema / Bellowhead / Little Dragon / Gold Panda 
Adam Ant & The Good The Mad and The Lovely Posse / Lianne La Havas /
King Khan And The Shrines / Delilah / Friends / Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs / First Aid Kit / King Krule / Ane Brun / Chas & Dave / Dub Pistols / The Japanese Popstars / Charli XCX /
Jaipur Kawa Brass Band / Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard / Slagsmålsklubben / Field Music /
Jaipur Kawa Circus / Jinja Safari / Church of Love & Ruin / Frankie Rose / Milagres /
Three Bonzos and a Piano / Liz Green / Gabrielle Aplin / Prince Fatty / Fiction / 2:54 / Turbowolf / This Is The Kit / Ghost Outfit / Patterns / Young British Artists / Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo / To Kill A King / L.A. Salami / Laurel Collective / ahab / Gecko / Heathward / Model Society /
Sky Sphere / Blackhouse Crow… Plus many more still to be announced

DJ SETS FROM ROB DA BANK AND FRIENDS:
2manydjs / Annie Mac Presents / Four Tet + Caribou (b2b DJ) /
2 Bears / David Rodigan MBE presents RAM JAM /
Dirtybird showcase feat. Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin & Eats Everything / François Kevorkian / DJ Yoda / Maya Jane Coles / Scuba / LTJ Bukem / Plastician / Greg Wilson / Scratch Perverts / Giles Smith & James Priestley (secretsundaze) / Oneman b2b Jackmaster / Camo & Krooked /
Jaguar Skills & His Amazing Friends / Mosca / Ben UFO / PBR Streetgang / DJ Shepdog /
Shellac Collective / DJ Charge… Plus many more still to be announced

PLUS OUR NEW PREMIUM CAMPING AREA:
The Wild Copse

We’ve already announced 12 brand new things that will tickle your fancy, our Wildlife theme, the mighty Orbital as the closing act for the Big Top and Rob da Bank tweeted a few choice tasters but now the time has come to unveil an array of fantastic acts that will be coming to Robin Hill Country Park to rock Bestival 2012. With a pair of electrifying exclusives and a cavalcade of incredible bands and DJs, we really want it to be September already and we still aren’t announcing any of the main stage headliners! You’re going to have to wait at least a week for the first of those!

Rob da Bank says: ‘So, here we are then! Announcing Bestival again – and another bumper selection of acts from across the musical world and styles. The xx at Bestival two years ago is in my top three Besti performances ever so I’m delighted they're hitting the main stage in 2012 and I’ve finally landed Sigur Rós, one of my all-time fave festival acts. From Justice to Azealia Banks, Spiritualized to Sister Sledge, I hope there’s something for everyone and still three headliners to unveil shortly!'’

Jamie XXIn 2010, just after winning the Mercury Prize for their debut album, The xx, played a victory set in our Big Top that has gone down in Bestival lore as one our most beautiful moments ever, so we are exceptionally excited to be welcoming them back for as a UK festival exclusive in 2012. With new material on the horizon we can’t wait to see what ethereal treats they have in store for us.

Icelandic post-rock behemoth Sigur Rós are also set to make a UK festival exclusive appearance with us on the Isle of Wight. Lead singer Jónsi was behind another of Bestival 2010s undoubted highlights but we’ve been waiting a long time to be able to announce that the full band, in all its majesty, will be joining us and we can’t tell you just how excited we are to have them on board.

As well as those tantalising mouth-watering exclusives we’ve got a colossal first wave of acts to tell you about, including Gallic dance dons Justice, who told us: “To tell you the truth, we wanted to kick off the new tour at Bestival last year but we finally thought we wouldn't be ready (and we weren't) and decided to take more time to get prepared. Now we're ready, it's gonna be a big surprise for us, we played there in 2005 and 2006 which we believe were Bestival early years (and ours too, think it's the first time we ever played a festival, actually) and we heard since that Bestival has become THE festival to play in the UK, so we're definitely excited and have no idea what to expect as everything will probably be a bit different from 2006”.

Two Door Cinema ClubWe’re already fit to burst but still there’s so many more brilliant bands to tell you about like Northern Ireland’s finest Two Door Cinema Club, Bestival veterans and firm crowd favourites Hot Chip, sharp suited electro purveyors Soulwax, dubstep duo Nero, Scottish soul siren Emeli Sandé, rave deities Orbital, LA artrockers Warpaint, daisy-age hip-hop kings De La Soul, first ministers of bass Major Lazer, utter legends Sister Sledge, handsome pop chameleons The Horrors, towering wig-out merchants Spiritualized, Detroit techno overlord Kevin Saunderson feat. Inner City Live, electro-rock pioneer Gary Numan, BBC Sound of 2012 winner Michael Kiwanuka, NME Cool List topper Azealia Banks, drum n basser Sub Focus, the adrenalin charged Gallows, mythological rhyme master Doom, disco groove powerhouse Earth Wind & Fire Experience Feat Al Mckay, the irrepressible Rizzle Kicks, the one and only Cuban Brothers, Kuduro dons Buraka Som Sistema, fine folksters Bellowhead, the sublime Little Dragon, laconic looperGold Panda, and 80s pop-god Adam Ant with The Good The Mad and The Lovely Posse.

Other acts getting on the ferry for Bestival 2012 include the hotly tipped Lianne La Havas, wild psychedelic soul sensations King Khan And The Shrines, neo-dubstep songstress Delilah, insouciant Brooklynites Friends, harmonious beatmeister Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, folk troubadours First Aid Kit, darkwaver King Krule acoustic chanteuse Ane Brun, knees-up governors Chas & Dave, DJ Magazine’s Best of British Best Live Act Dub Pistols, Robert Smith collaborators The Japanese Popstars, pop upstart Charli XCX, the magical Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, anti-folk dude Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard , the mesmerising Slagsmålsklubben, madcap mackems Field Music and the Jaipur Kawa Circus.

Plus there will be live performances from Jinja Safari, Church of Love & Ruin, Frankie Rose, Milagres,
Three Bonzos and a Piano, Liz Green, Gabrielle Aplin, Prince Fatty, Fiction, 2:54, Turbowolf, This Is The Kit, Ghost Outfit, Patterns, Young British Artists, Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, To Kill A King, L.A. Salami, Laurel Collective, ahab, Gecko, Heathward, Model Society Sky Sphere, Blackhouse Crow, plus many more still to be announced.

Jaguar SkillsWith a jam-packed live line-up taking shape, we also have an exquisite litany of turntable botherers that will be Bestival-bound including Soulwax alter-egos 2manydjs, the incredible Annie Mac Presents, the august Four Tet and the exalted Caribou who will be throwing down the platters back to back for your pleasure. There will also be hirsute pursuits from 2 Bears, reggae guru David Rodigan MBEpresenting RAM JAM, the Dirtybird showcase featuring the enviable talents of Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin & Eats Everything, house music forefather François Kevorkian, deck destroyer DJ Yoda, deep and techy up-and-comer Maya Jane Coles , underground techno genius Scuba, DnB original LTJ Bukem, grime superstar Plastician, ertwhile Hacienda resident Greg Wilson, turntable messiahs Scratch Perverts, and secretsundaze top boys Giles Smith & James Priestley. Plus there will be sets from Oneman b2b Jackmaster, Camo & Krooked, Jaguar Skills & His Amazing Friends, Mosca, Ben UFO, PBR Streetgang, DJ Shepdog, Shellac Collective, DJ Charge and many more still to be announced.

Another brand new thing for this year’s Bestival is our new Premium camping area, nestled between a beautiful wooded forest we’re calling the Wild Copse. We know that sometimes festival camping can get busy and maybe a little rambunctious so we thought many of you would like the opportunity for a little more space, and some top-notch facilities.

The Wild Copse will have its own car park when you arrive and then it’s just a short walk to where you can pitch your tent in an area that will be limited to a set number of ticket-holders.

Included in the area for use by those with tickets only will be high-end toilets and showers. Boutique camping is next door and you’ll share great food and seating area, a lovely chill-out bar serving until late, a pampering area and it will be close to the new healing area; the Soul Park and the new expanded and amazing Arcadia Field featuring Mechanical Cabaret.

The Wild Copse is around a 20-minute walk to the main stage with plenty to see on the way. For those who could use a lift to rest and recuperate or get back to their tent to pick up some knitwear for the evening, there’s an option to grab a shuttle service. This will run 24 hours a day. We’ve planned for this to run every five minutes but predict that demand will be high at peak times of course so it may be quicker to walk back and enjoy all the festival has to offer.

With all this 2012 craziness going on it would be easy to forget what an ace time we had in 2011 with The Cure, Bjork, PJ Harvey, Primal Scream and loads more so we’re very pleased indeed that loads of you didn’t forget because we’ve been shortlisted for Best Small Festival at the NME Awards. All we need now is just a bit more support so if you can spare a few minutes to head over tohttp://www.nme.com/awards and vote for us (it’s number 22 out of 26) we’d be most honoured!

We’ve still got all of our main stage headliners to announce, the first one is coming your way in about a week so keep your eyes onwww.bestival.net, our Facebook and Rob da Bank’s Twitter for all the latest action.

Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks 2012

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How do you fancy a line-up of bands and DJs that stretches across four months? Well, that’s exactly what you’ll get here – Ed Sheeran starts the party on 5th June (Mallorca) and 6th June (Ibiza), whilst Two Door Cinema Club are playing the closing parties on 18th and 19th September. In between you can expect regular gigs, silent discos and clubbing trips. Here’s all you need to know about the 2012 festival for both venues:

  • Ed SheeranEd Sheeran is the man of the moment. Riding high on the success of multiple BRIT Awards nominations and hit singles including ‘The A-Team’ and ‘Lego House’, he’s heading to the Balearics to kick things off for us. Mixing grime, indie, acoustic and rap, you’d be hard-pushed to put him in just one music category, so expect the crowds to be massive.
  • Activities to look forward to are the weekly silent discos, daily pool parties and the use of the Xbox Social Room, where you can try out the hottest new games.
  • This year festival-goers have been treated to double the amount of events, with big-name DJs playing every weekend in addition to the weekly gigs.
  • During the summer months you can expect an average of 11 hours of sunshine per day – perfect weather for sunbathing, exploring the islands or trying out some water sports. If you’re in Ibiza then why not check out the hippy shopping scene, or chill out in the Can Marca Caves? On Majorca Island you can visit the Nemo Submarine, hit the trendy bars of Palma or go horse riding in the hills. Don’t forget to take your camera!
  • The full list of acts hasn’t been announced, but you can guarantee there will be something to everyone’s taste. In 2011 we had Tinie Tempah, Biffy Clyro and Example, whilst Pendulum and The Kooks have played in previous years. Basically you won’t be disappointed with the eclectic mix of talent here!
  • You don’t have to camp. Forget your tent and don’t worry about using dodgy loos in fields, because this festival takes place within the grounds of its very own hotel. Guests have full access to the regular events, and those who stay on gig nights will get their tickets included in the price of their stay. If you book a Stage View Studio room then you won’t even have to leave your accommodation to see the bands, getting your own private party.
  • If you want to save even more money, go for the cheaper Mallorca Rocks Hostal package – you’ll be just 500m from the main hotel, with full access to the pools and other facilities, and you won’t miss out on tickets for the events. What’s more, you can also book Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks flights at the same time and have your entire festival holiday sorted in a few simple clicks.
  • Want to try some of the local clubs and attractions when you’re there? Just ask your Hotel or Hostal Hosts, who can organise discounted entry to clubs such as BCM in Magaluf, as well as waterpark tickets.
  • Two Door Cinema Club, who are closing the festivals, have said: “It’s going to be a fun show. We’ve spoken to other artists who have performed there and it’s supposed to be a crazy party!” We’ll take their word for it.

Now you’ve got all the details, it’s time to start the countdown to summer – let the festival season begin.

 

Ibiza & Mallorca Rocks Opening & Closing Parties announced

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Ibiza Rocks is once again lining up an ‘A Team’ of talent to take over the Balearics with Ed Sheeranconfirmed to headline the opening parties of Mallorca Rocks (05 June) and Ibiza Rocks (06 June). Two Door Cinema Club will take pride of place for the closing parties in Mallorca (18 Sept) andIbiza (19 Sept) to complete the 16 week-long, sun-drenched series of outdoor summer gigs crammed with outstanding talent.

Ed Sheeran is one of the biggest music sensations of the year. The critically acclaimed Suffolk singer-songwriter dominated the airwaves for months with massive hit ‘The A Team’, which quickly became the highest-selling and highest-charting debut single of 2011 and then went straight to the top of the charts with the release of his debut album ‘+’, which achieved double-platinum status in just 3 months. With influences ranging from Jay-Z to Damien Rice, Sheeran’s genre-defying blend of acoustic pop, folk, grime and hip-hop has earned him major awards recognition and a huge following.  Fans are set to be out in full force when Ed Sheeran brings his biggest hits and best new material to the Balearics for the hugely anticipated Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks opening parties on Tuesday 05 & Wednesday 06 June respectively.

Since releasing their debut album ‘Tourist History’ in March 2010, Northern Irish trio Two Door Cinema Club have rapidly become one of the biggest new success stories across the globe. After selling out headline tours in the UK, US, Europe, Australia, Asia, Japan and South America, playing two successive sold out shows at Shepherds Bush Empire, selling out Brixton Academy in just a few hours, absolutely smashing the festival circuit with stand-out sets all summer and earning themselves headliner status of the forthcoming NME Awards Tour, the band have deservedly earned both a devoted word-of-mouth live following and huge critical acclaim.  Two Door Cinema Club headline the closing parties of Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks on Tuesday 18 September and Wednesday 19 September respectively.

Kevin Baird, Two Door Cinema Club, said: “We're very excited to be playing Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks next year! We've never performed over on the sunshine isle so it's going to be a fun show. We've spoken to other artists who have performed there in the past and it's supposed to be a crazy party! Looking forward to it."

Shane Murray, Ibiza Rocks promoter, said: “We're really excited and exceptionally proud to bring Ed Sheeran and Two Door Cinema Club to make their live debuts on the Rocks stages.  It’s a real coup to bring such in demand artists to the Balearics – we've set the bar pretty high for the rest of the summer!  Exciting, new music for the festival generation is what Rocks is all about and these exclusive shows are a perfect way to Open and Close. With 16 weeks and 32 gigs – our biggest season of live music under the stars awaits.”

The Ibiza Rocks brand consistently boasts a bill crammed with the biggest international artists and breakthrough talent live under the Balearic stars and offers a choice of quality accommodation options in Mallorca and Ibiza at exceptional value.  It’s no wonder Ibiza Rocks is THE most popular international festival destination for the UK youth market and the brand’s destination concept hotels continue to attract a new generation of music lovers to Mallorca and Ibiza for the holiday, and gig of a lifetime.

Summer 2012 will see 32 ‘Rocks’ gigs across 16 consecutive weeks.  Mallorca Rocks every Tuesday from 05 June – 18 September.  Ibiza Rocks every Wednesday from 06 June to 19 September.

Tickets and hotel packages available now at www.ibizarocks.com and www.mallorcarocks.com (Gig Tickets priced from £28.50 plus booking fee)

*Special Opening & Closing Party Short Breaks from €104 (approx. £89) per person (see: Notes to Editors for full list of options and prices).

 

Parklife Weekender 2011 Review

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From Piccadilly station, across the city centre, and over to Fallowfield, a buzz of anticipation spread across town, as Manchester geared up for the return of Parklife Festival. Only in its second year, Parklife has a growing reputation for a party that you won’t soon forget. If waking up in a soggy sleeping bag isn’t your style, then this urban festival offers the best of both worlds; a weekend crammed with great music, without the pain of figuring out how to set up a tent. Relatively small, with only seven venues over two days, Parklife does all it can to pack as much as possible into that short time.  From the relentless beats of the Chibuku tent on Saturday, to the best sounds coming out of Manchester in the Now Wave venue on Sunday, not to mention, the massive acts lighting up the main stage; Parklife may look small, but it’s one big weekend.

Parklife

Following the crowds pouring into the park on Saturday afternoon, we were welcomed by Everything Everything, giving it their all up on the main stage, to an already pumped up crowd.  As we explored the rest of the park, walking past the Chibuku tent, whose heavy bass already had the place packed out, we came across the secret garden; fabric art installations by Donna Jevens and the Elephant collective, as well as bath tubs to sit in and watch as spoken word acts, and buskers perform on their own stage.  This slightly surreal, dreamscape installation was alive with people enjoying a rest from the unyielding party that continued on just around the corner. If that wasn’t already enough to spark our curiosity, past the spoken word, circus acts and tunnels of love, we came across the Truly Treemendous Treehouse Stage, which housed silent disco DJ’s in a tree, as well as a dance floor and some giant vegetable seating for everyone else to enjoy.

Back to the main stage, and Beardyman had replaced Everything Everything, enchanting crowds with his almost unbelievable beat boxing skills, cross over to the Now Wave tent to catch Jamie XX start off his set, and as the audience throw themselves into the rhythms, it was hard to believe that it was only six o’clock. Katy B’s clear vocals cut across the park, and drew the crowd back to watch her perform tracks like Broken Record and Perfect Stranger, with a completely different feel to her recorded work.  Live band, coupled with a small brass section gave the set a more soulful feel than her latest album allowed for.  

Katy B

With the sun setting over the festival main stage, and the carnival atmosphere continuing, before we knew it, debut festival headliners Two Door Cinema Club, began their electrifying set.  Playing tracks from their album, Tourist History, as well as new materiel with an infectious beat, they left the crowd screaming for more. As the throng poured out of the park and into numerous after parties, we were left to wonder, how could tomorrow top a night like this?

Day two broke with the sun rising over the city, but soon gave way to a more traditional UK festival climate. The rain transformed green grass pathways into mud planes, and we rejoiced as mudslides and wrestling commenced and the multitude turned from an array of colour to slimy brown. It was inevitable really, and nothing was going to get in the way of a great line up for day two.

In the Juicy tent, rammed all the way to the entrance, one of our Parklife highlights was Riot Jazz, a ten piece brass band, who pumped out a combination of punchy jazz, hip-hop, and funk beats, in true style.  Making it impossible for anyone to be standing still, as tune after high energy tune blasted out in ecstasy before the rain drenched audience. The energy was astounding and just as we thought the crowd couldn’t dance any longer Broke n English took over to prove us wrong. Torn between staying to watch the set, and catching Labrinth’s debut festival appearance, we pulled ourselves away to head to the main stage, but before making it there, we crossed paths with a samba band and crowds dancing behind them. 

Parklife

The rain had stopped, but the mud was rising with Labrinth’s opening song to his first ever festival crowd. And after a bass heavy set from Skream & Benga, two thirds of legendary magnetic man, the air was heavy with anticipation as the crowds waited expectantly for day two main stage headliners, Chase & Status.  With pounding rhythms, and heavy bass, soaring melodies, and awesome visuals, not one person was standing still as the main stage lit up for the final act of the year. And though sweat poured down their mud caked faces, the audience were swept away by a performance that kept getting better. Before leaving we popped into Now Wave to find a crowd of dancers falling in love with the crushed harmonies, and catchy melodies of Mystery Jets. And as our tired legs left Platt Field Park for the final time, we couldn’t help but think that Parklife, will only keep getting better.

Parklife