RockNess line-up expands even more

RockNess line-up expands with more live acts and DJs confirmed for the Scottish festival

The countdown to this year’s RockNess is on and festival organisers today have announced yet even more fresh and exciting talent, plus an absolute blinder of an electro treat, to the already heaving-with-quality line up.

As one of the biggest names in techno, it is impossible to love the genre and not be familiar with the name JEFF MILLS. And if there wasn’t a word like “Wizard” to describe him it would be necessary to invent one. A founding member of the noted Detroit techno collective Underground Resistance, along with “Mad” Mike Banks and Robert “Noise” Hood, as well as past resident of New York’s legendary Limelight, signed artist on Berlin’s acclaimed Tresor label and creator of Chicago’s Axis Recordings, plus countless other groundbreaking achievements of note, JEFF MILLS is revered as a demi-God by electro purists the world over.

Now in a very special appearance, an absolute must for techno connoisseurs, RockNess is thoroughly delighted to announce the maestro will join the exceptional line up of this year’s SUB CLUB SOUND SYSTEM 25 Years celebrations. Expect an unforgettable set as JEFF MILLS, under the moniker of ‘The Wizard’, whips up a storm of unparalleled ferocious intensity playing a set of funk, soul and extremely rare early electro classics.

Inspired at the outset by the likes of Nirvana, Mudhoney and The Pixies, Irish rock group ASH have notched up five studio albums (and a mini album) and countless top 40 hits. ‘Girl From Mars’, ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘Burn Baby Burn’… ASH make great pop songs. Heralded as the ultimate singles band, the 3-piece turned their back on the traditional route of recording an album every couple of years and set up their own studio and label, Atomic Heart Records. This newfound freedom enabled the band to record and release songs at will. Thus was born the A-Z Series – a collection of 26 songs released fortnightly for an entire year. 2011 saw Charlotte Hatherley return to join the band for a one-off tour to much acclaim. 2012 sees the 20th anniversary of ASH with an appropriate celebration stop off at Dores.

RockNess favourite ROB DA BANK is Highlands-bound again this year too, back to thrill as always no doubt with a big heaving box of stupendously tasty audio delights. ROB DA BANK’s shows are a colourful corner of the musical universe where you're as likely to stumble into stripped down techno as you are woozy weird folk, bootleg covers, brand new dubstep to oddball electronic so expect the unexpected!

The rise of Yorkshire indie rockers THE PIGEON DETECTIVES is one based on strength of tunes - launched with hit drenched debut Wait For Me, and a relentless approach to touring. Feted by the likes of Steve Lamacq and Jo Wiley, three albums in and with a fourth scheduled for an autumn 2012 release, the platinum selling five piece are set to bring their sound of sculpting guitars and scudding choruses to the festival following a highly successful European tour.

ERRORS is a four piece band from Glasgow with a unique take on dance music. Signed to the brilliant Mogwai’s Rock Action label, they have to date released a series of singles, EPs and their debut album “It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever” and these releases have brought them acclaim across the board from MTV, Zane Lowe and Vic Galloway along with sessions at Maida Vale for Mary Anne Hobbs, Rob Da Bank and Huw Stephens, magazines such as NME, Dazed and Confused and Rock Sound as well as tours and live dates with bands as varied as Underworld, Franz Ferdinand, Explosions In The Sky, Gary Numan and Mogwai. NME has hailed them as “one of the most interesting bands in the country”. Don’t miss ERRORS at RockNess this June.

SOUND OF GUNS return to RockNess once again with their sure-fire power and raw energy. Hailing from Liverpool, SOUND OF GUNS have blazed a trail since they formed in 2008 cementing their deserved reputation for delivering searing rock with their second album, Angels and Enemies picking up support  from Zane Low and Xfm along the way.

THE CORRESPONDENTS take a large helping a swing, jazz, cha-cha-cha and much more from the history of music and add a large helping of fat drum and bass and electro beats to create something that’s unique in the current musical landscape. And with frontman Mr Bruce’s high voltage performance depicting the trials and errors of love, lust and loss they have consistently destroyed crowds on the festival circuit marking them out as a must see act.

A plethora of exciting new breakthrough talent is announced for the line up too. Young Scottish singer songwriter NINA NESBITT has been generating much interest after being spotted by ED SHEERAN and Example (both of whom she subsequently supported on tour). With comparisons to Laura Marling and Kate Nash, check out her set to see just why all the fuss.

Former Groove Armada collaborator Becky Jones AKA SAINT SAVIOUR has a captivating vocal style that has seen her compared to Kate Bush and Sinead O’Connor. Having recently toured with Hurts, she has her debut album ‘Union’ due for release a fortnight after her appearance at RockNess.

ALL THE YOUNG are Britrock revivalists whose sounds ooze the feel good factor of classic 90s indie. Mixing brains and brawn the band have come to smash 2012 into a brave new frontier of indie rock n roll, honing their craft with a series of support slots for the likes of Morrissey, Kaiser Chiefs, The Courteneers, The Wombats, Hard-Fi and The Pigeon Detectives.

Brooklyn rapper THEOPHILUS LONDON built his reputation with a series of must-have mixtapes making him one of the biggest buzz acts on the planet.  His debut album Timez Are Weird These Days was critically acclaimed when it was released last summer and Theophilus is sure to rock the crowds with his take an alternative hip-hop.

Commenting on these latest announcements, Festival Director Jim King said: “We're delighted with this announcement. Jeff Mills closing his stage on the Sunday night is going to be something special”

TICKETS:
Friday day ticket - £59 / £85 (VIP)
Saturday and Sunday day tickets - £64 / £85 (VIP)

3 day weekend camping - £159

3 day weekend non camping - £149

3 day weekend camping / non camping student ticket - £145

3 day VIP weekend camping ticket - £209

3 day VIP weekend non camping ticket - £199

3 day Disabled weekend camping - £79.50 – please email access@aeglive.co.uk

3 day Disabled weekend non camping - £74.50 - please email access@aeglive.co.uk

The RockNess Express - £225

Additional travel packages available.


OFFICIAL WEBSITE, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

WWW.ROCKNESS.CO.UK
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OfficialRockNess

Article posted by Musicmafia

Read More

Play Fest Announce Saturday and Sunday Final Line Ups

Sub Focus, DJ EZ and Gypsy Hill on Saturday and Sunday!

Friday 1^st – Sunday 3^rd June

Eccles Hall Estate, Nr. Norwich, Norfolk.

www.playfest.co.uk

Shortlisted for Best New Festival 2011

4,000 people / 6 Stages  

“Play Fest is a great new soulful festival in a wonderful site... It’s a new star on the festival circuit.” – The Futureheads

The countdown is now on and with just over one month to go until all the fun and frivolities of the festival kicks off, Play Fest just keeps on giving and treating playmates to the best line up possible! Just added to the bill are UK Garage legend and Kiss FM stalwart DJ EZ on Saturday, and drum’n’bass supremeo Sub Focus on Sunday. The latest additions join an already full to bursting bill of acts that include Ash, The Pigeon Detectives, Reverend and the Makers, Roots Manuva, The Correspondents, Shy FX, Zinc, Toddla T, and Jaymo and Andy George.  This means the full line ups for Saturday and Sunday have now been revealed, so it’s nearly time to don the Play-suits, dust off the wellies and get on down to Play Fest!

Kick starting Saturday night in the POW! Dance Arena, is a DJ widely considered to be one of UK Garage’s greatest talents, DJ EZ! Honing his craft on London’s pirate radio stations in the early 90s, DJ EZ rose to prominence in the late 1990’s when he was offered a permanent show on Kiss 100. Over the years, DJ EZ has hosted a variety of different radio shows, mixed a bucket load of Pure Garage compilation albums that have sold over 1.7 million copies, and won a sack full of accolades and awards; including ‘Best Radio Show’, ‘Best Old Skool DJ’ and ‘Best DJ’ at the People’s Choice Awards. Play Fest revellers will be taken on a trip through the archives of UK Garage by one the best tour guides there is!

Sunday in the POW! Dance Arena welcomes even more shining lights of the electronic scene and Play Fest can now reveal that supporting Toddla T at the top of the bill for Sunday night will be Sub Focus. Having been on the scene for nearly a decade, Sub Focus is somewhat of a boy wonder of drum’n’bass. He became one of the leading practitioners within only two years of his emergence whilst his debut single ‘X-Ray’ was awarded Single of the Week on Zane Lowe’s Radio One show. In 2010 he produced the track "Kickstarts" for British singer/rapper Example, which peaked at number three on the U.K. singles chart, and last year he signed a deal with Mercury and has a new album due for release at the end of 2012. With so many strings to his bow and a sack full of heavy tunes to delight the party animals out there, Play Fest are ecstatic to have such a D’n’B heavyweight overseeing the run up to the final hours of this year’s festival!

Other additions to the Sunday POW! Dance Arena include: the musical knowledge and surefire selections of Numbers co-founder Spencer, the contrasting styles of Foamo and Bondax, while Oli D.A.B and Robin will be on hand with their particular breed of house. Rounding off the bill will be hometown hero Joshua Roberts and the techno and house vibes of Josh 2084 and BoaBoa and Fazhands.

Over in the Asylum Stage additions include the mega brass extravaganza of Gypsy Hill and Norwich home-grown reggae talent Jah Head, with Murphys Lore on Sunday and Saturday welcomes Kodeta and Woodland Creatures to the lunatic bill of the Asylum Stage!

A limited number of tickets are still on sale via the Play Fest website: www.playfest.co.uk

Article posted by Musicmafia

Read More

Play Fest Announce First Pinch of Acts

Play Fest Festival Announce First Pinch of Acts 2012

Ash

The Pigeon Detectives / Reverend and the Makers

The Big Pink / Spector / Ria Ritchie / Tripwires /

The Correspondents / Tellison / Jim Lockey / Juan Zelada plus more...

Friday 1^st – Sunday 3^rd June

Eccles Hall Estate, Nr. Norwich, Norfolk.

www.playfest.co.uk

**Early Bird Tickets Offer Ends TOMORROW! (29/02/12) – Only £65! **

Shortlisted for Best New Festival 2011

3,500 people / 6 Stages  

“Play Fest is a great new soulful festival in a wonderful site... It’s a new star on the festival circuit.” – The Futureheads

Play Fest have been tucked away in their play pen over the winter months plotting and planning a killer line up to ensure the second instalment of the genre sweeping festival gets a big thumbs up from the ‘Play Mates’! We can now reveal the first trickle of acts for the Main Stage on Saturday night will be a trio of indie treats in the form of Ash, The Pigeon Detectives and Reverend and the Makers. With only ONE DAY to go until the Early Birds offer ends, now is the time to take advantage of the sale and get involved in this truly epic Playground!

Play Fest’s Saturday night headliner, Ash first landed in the UK indie music scene amidst the mid 90s Brit pop explosion with their indie anthem ‘Girl from Mars’. As one of the leading forces within this era Ash outlasted many of their counterparts and have continued wowing crowds and gaining fans through tours, gigs and festivals ever since. With other mega hits such as ‘Shining Light’, the riff-tastic ‘Burn Baby Burn’ and 8 million albums sold worldwide, Ash are firmly placed in the indie hall of fame! Play Fest have their air guitars at the ready for some awesome faux strumming action!

Accompanying Ash on the Main Stage for Saturday night are The Pigeon Detectives, well versed with festival crowds having appeared at reading and Leeds, T in the Park and Oxegen these Yorkshire lads will bring their solid indie tune-age to the Play Fest Main stage and get the crowd fully in the mood for a darn good dose of guitar based brilliance!

Also on the bill for the Saturday evening are Reverend and the Makers. Coming into prominence with their top 10 hit ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ in 2007 the band has enjoyed a solid degree of commercial and critical success. Having supported the likes of Oasis, and more recently Noel Gallagher on his solo tours, Reverend and the Makers are back this year with their brand new album ‘@Reverend_Makers’ where the Play Fest squadron will be amongst the first to sample the new delights!

Other acts confirmed across the weekend so far include: The Big Pink , Spector , Ria Ritchie, Tripwires  for the Main Stage. Whilst over on The Big Top stage there will be an array of local bands amongst some big players including the exuberant and energetic The Correspondents, Tellison, Jim Lockey and Juan Zelada; and local representation from Solko, Lee Vann and Dumbfoundus.

This is just a small sample of all the joys to come, watch this space for updates on the headliners, dance tent, cabaret and general line up news...

Early Bird tickets are available via the Play Fest website for the uber bargain price of £65, grab them now as the offer ends TOMORROW 29^th Feb - www.playfest.co.uk

LINE UP SO FAR:

Main Stage:

Ash / Reverend and The Makers / The Pigeon Detectives / The Big Pink / Spector / Ria Ritchie / Tripwires  

Big Top:

The Correspondents / Tellison / Jim Lockey / Juan Zelada / Solko / Lee Vann / Dumbfoundus

ADDITIONAL INFO:

TICKETS

Early Bird Full Weekend Camping - £65

Full Weekend Camping - £80

Student Player ticket - Weekend camping with FREE travel from UEA, Cambridge University & Ipswich College - £80 – LIMITED AVAILABILITY

2 Part Payment Pass – Available from 1^st March until 31^st March. £40 paid in March and second payment later. – Limited Availability

Day Tickets - £35

Car Park - £2.50 per vehicle per day, £5.00 weekend

Children – 1 child 12 or under free per supervising adult / £40 full weekend / £20 day ticket

TIMES AND DATES:

STAGE TIMES:

Main Stage: 12:30pm - 11:30pm

Big Top: 12:00 noon - 10:30pm

Dance Stage & Asylum Stage: 12:00 noon - 01:00am

Tipi Tent: 11am - 01:00am

CAMPING

The campsite opens at 4pm on Friday 1st June 2012, and must be vacated by 2pm Monday 4th June 2012.  The campsite provides toilets and the option to use showers.  

Read More

The Best of Ash released and Tour announced

 ‘The Best of Ash’ to be released on October 17th

Special CD / DVD features the previously unseen ‘Teenage Wildlife’, an infamous tour documentary narrated by Ewan McGregor

Charlotte Hatherley rejoins the band for a special series of ‘Free All Angels’ shows

Ash celebrate a career that has encompassed two #1 albums and eighteen Top 40 hits with the release of ‘The Best of Ash’ on October 17^th on Rhino Records UK.

‘The Best of Ash’ documents the band’s biggest hits and most loved songs to date. Opening with their breakthrough hit ‘Girl From Mars’, the album also includes such defining Ash songs as the Ivor Novello-winning single ‘Shining Light’, their highest charting single ‘Goldfinger’, the enduringly popular ‘Burn Baby Burn’ and live staple ‘Kung Fu’.

In addition to the hits – which also include ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘A Life Less Ordinary’ and ‘Orpheus’ – ‘The Best of Ash’ also presents three of the band’s less discovered gems with the progressive title track from the band’s 2007 album ‘Twilight of the Innocents’ and two songs (‘Arcadia’ and ‘Return of White Rabbit’) from their groundbreaking A-Z singles series. The album is completed with a brand new recording of ‘Jack Names The Planets’ which originally featured on their debut EP ‘Trailer’.

In addition, a special CD / DVD format of the album will feature the first ever release of the previously unseen tour documentary ‘Teenage Wildlife’. Entirely self-funded, it depicts the band’s rise from local school heroes to the all-conquering band that topped the charts with their debut album ‘1977’. Yet underneath the surface of the band’s success, we see the three young musicians struggling to adapt to their new-found fame and the insane workload that a global tour of a hit album necessitates. Narrated by Ewan McGregor to a brilliantly acerbic script by the late Stephen Wells, ‘Teenage Wildlife’ shows the highs, lows and debauchery of the band’s initial breakthrough.

“It was hard for me to watch it for a while as we were going through complete nervous breakdowns trying to deal with it all as we were so young,” says vocalist/guitarist Tim Wheeler. “But it’s a really cool document of that whole time especially as it was a lot harder to make documentaries on the road back then and there was a lot of craziness.”

In addition, it features all of the band’s music videos on DVD for the very first time, including the rampaging energy of the cheerleader and basketball ‘Burn Baby Burn’ video and the Hammer & Tongs-directed video for ‘A Life Less Ordinary’.

A STEREO collaboration between Ash (left channel) and We Are Scientists (right channel) of "Washington Parks" available now to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. http://bobertmanning.blogspot.com

Formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland by Wheeler, Mark Hamilton (bass) and Rick McMurray (drums), Ash released their first studio album ‘1977’ and were then joined by Charlotte Hatherley (guitar) for a further 3 studio albums ‘Nu-Clear Sounds’, ‘Free All Angels’ and ‘Meltdown’. Charlotte left the band in 2006 and the band went on to record and release ‘Twilight of the Innocents’ before launching the innovative A-Z series which saw the band release a single every fortnight for a year. Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack has joined the band on stage since 2010.

Ash will be playing some special live shows to mark the release of the album and Charlotte will be performing with the band once more for the UK tour. The shows will include the four piece playing the seminal “Free All Angels” Album in its entirety and a “Best Of” set.

‘The Best of Ash’ tracklisting:

                                                             1. Girl From Mars                                                   

2. Kung Fu

3. Angel Interceptor

4. Goldfinger

5. Oh Yeah

6. A Life Less Ordinary

7. Wild Surf

8. Shining Light

9. Burn Baby Burn

10. Walking Barefoot

11. Sometimes

12. Clones

13. Orpheus

14. Star-Crossed

15. You Can't Have It All

16. Twilight Of The Innocents

17. Return Of White Rabbit

18. Arcadia

19. Jack Names The Planets (2011 re-recording)

‘Free All Angels’ tour dates:

20/10/11 – Birmingham HMV Institute

21/10/11 – Bristol O₂ Academy

22/10/11 – Glasgow O₂ ABC

23/10/11 – Manchester Ritz

25/10/11 – London HMV Forum

www.ash-official.com                          www.facebook.com/ash

Read More