Bestival announces even more acts - Skepta, Wiley and The Chuckle Brothers

Bestival announces even more acts - Skepta, Wiley and The Chuckle Brothers

With over 25 stages, revolutionary soundsystems, zombie love-ins, psychedelic woodland adventures, 24-hour free haircuts, and a host of dazzling new attractions, Bestival’s Summer of Love is already looking pretty damn fit. But as ever, we want to get everyone we love involved, including this rather sultry bunch of musical marvels that will have you rockin’ Robin Hill all weekend long this September 10-13.

Love commando Rob da Bank says: “I’m well excited with this new batch of acts we’re announcing tonight. With so many identikit festivals about with similar acts and bills I’m proud that 12 years on we don’t go with the flow. If the indie amazingness of Drenge isn’t your bag then grimy faceslaps from Skepta and Wiley might be, and if you’re insane and don’t like the legendary junglist brilliance of Roni Size and his live Reprazent show then perhaps, just perhaps, you’ll be singing ‘to me, to you, to me, to you’ whilst dancing in a pair of ill-fitting tropical shorts to the Chuckle Brothers. No matter what, there’s plenty more fish in the sea to come, as our Summer of Love really starts to heat up. See you down the front.”

Bringing on the love with big fat beats, we’ll have main stage appearances from grime pioneer Wiley, who completely smashed it as our secret guest in 2012, plus the unstoppable skank machine, Dub Pistols.

Dub Pistols legend Barry Ashworth commented: “The Highlight of the year for us will always be playing Bestival, this year we are back on the main stage, it doesn't get bigger than that, and if that’s not enough you can always catch me spinning tracks and drinking in the Sunday Best Cardboard Record Shop! There’s only one Bestival!”

Not quite true, Barry, there are two Bestivals, but we know what you mean! Big love to all our Canadian brethren! More Isle of Wight-based Bestival main stage action will come from cool chanteuse Gabrielle Aplin, sing-along faves Dodgy, and the Isle of Wight’s own Xockha and Yrslf.

Old blue, Bestival’s beloved Big Top will be playing host to some mighty sounds this summer, too, including the much requested return of Joseph Junior Adenuga AKA Skepta and an absolute must-see live set from drum n bass hero Roni Size and Reprazent. We’ll also have recently expanded noiseniks Drenge, our favourite scratch master DJ Yoda Presents: Breakfast of Champions, with his brand new hip-hop band busting up the Big Top live, and then the man himself will be taking on Bollywood for a typically special DJ set, and we’ll have one of the coolest bands ever to grace a festival, Sunday Best favourites, the utterly incomparable Kitty Daisy and Lewis.

Commenting on their latest Bestival appearance, Kitty Daisy and Lewis uttered as one: “We’re so excited to be coming to Bestival again this year, we always have a great time. Sunday Best know how to throw a festival!”

The Big Top will also welcome a high-voltage rock assault from Dinosaur Pile-Up, plus sets from Kero Kero Bonito, Lloyd Yates, Seafret and - we’re not sure it’s possible to express quite how excited we are about this - The Chuckle Brothers! Yes, it’ll be history in the making with be-mulleted slapstick to me, to you. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

As if all that wasn’t enough to get you all giddy with joy, he was one of the smash hits acts that started our summer in finest style at Common People, so we’re extremely pleased that turntable ninja, Jaguar Skills, will be joining us to destroy the dancefloor at The Port.

Digital Love: www.Bestival.net/ Facebook /  Twitter /  Tumblr

#Bestival15 / #SummerofLove

BESTIVAL TICKET LINKS & INFORMATION:

www.ticketline.co.uk/bestival-tickets / 0844 888 4410

Radkey on October Tour with Drenge

This October sees the welcome return of Radkey, a trio of brothers from Missouri, mid-west America who crashed into the UK for the first time in July earlier this year with a noise that couldn’t be ignored. With their debut ‘Cat and Mouse’ EP (championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe) plus incendiary live sets at the Download Festival and in the capital, this adrenalized punk band instantly made a big impression. October 14th sees the release of their second EP entitled ‘Devil Fruit’ and the band are excited to announce their first full UK tour, kicking off October 1st with rocking duo Drenge (also brothers!), plus a headline slot at the Black Heart in Camden on October 17th before winding up with a support to Pure Love on the 19th.

The ‘Devil Fruit’ EP was recorded in Kansas City with Joel Nanos at Element Studios and then fully realised, mixed and mastered by Rory Attwell (best known for recording/engineering/mixing the debut albums by Palma Violets and The Vaccines, as well creating a fine racket with the Test Icicles, Kasms and Warm Brains) and features four tracks of stomping, anthemic strutting punk n’roll that is part Ramones energy part Danzig croon and part Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster noise.

Lead track ‘Romance Dawn’ starts slow and brooding, before accelerating and exploding into life – a rush of energy and chanted vocals, with a melodic hook that worms its way into your brain and stays there. ‘Little Man’ is next and the three brothers use it as a chance to tell their mother’s father what they think of him. “He was an all round bad father and grandfather,” admits bassist Isaiah Radke. ”He never showed one shred of support.”

The remaining two tracks ‘Start Freaking Out’ (“A song about cutting loose and not worrying about what people think about you,” explains Isaiah) and ‘Overwhelmed’ (“About a guy that's been through so much that he suddenly doesn't care anymore,”) resonate with power, adrenalin, attitude and hooks and with these four songs, Radkey have seriously cranked up a gear.

Radkey are Dee Radke – guitar/vocals. He is into learning to read and write Japanese, watching anime and enjoys books by Stephen King, Michael Crichton and Edgar Rice Burroughs. He hates milk and not only because of his lactose intolerance. It’s the kind of hate that comes from deep down inside, the kind of hatred you would hold towards someone that has wronged you in an unmentionable way. He does have a soft spot in his heart for cheese though.

Isaiah Radke – bass/vocals: Isaiah is the middle brother and watches a shit ton of movie. Some of his favourite directors include Guy Ritchie, Robert Rodriguez and Wes Anderson. Please don’t mention X-Men 3 around Isaiah because it may cause a rant that will make you wish you had never been born. He reads comic books, manga and fiction by J.R.R Tolkien, George R.R. Martin and C.S. Lewis. He plays all kinds of video games including first person shooters, RPG’s and no he does not play Angry Birds “phone games don¹t fucking count.”

Solomon Radke – drums: The drummer and youngest brother has burned hundreds of hours playing Halo, Mario 64 and several other video games. He loves the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs and doesn¹t care what anyone says about it. He can’t get enough spicy food and he can be found putting sriracha chili sauce on and in just about anything. Comic books and anime are high on his list as well as the movies of Edgar Wright. He hates flying insects with stingers, but he loves beef jerky.

Radkey also like music.

Catch them on tour throughout October at the following dates and prepare yourself for something VERY explosive:

October Tour Supporting Drenge

1st       Brudnell Social Club, Leeds             
2nd                  Brickyard, Carlisle   
3rd                    The Cluny, Newcastle
4th                    King Tuts, Glasgow                         
5th                    Non Zero's, Dundee                         
7th      East Village Arts Club, Liverpool                
8th     Cavern, Exeter                                              
9th                    Green Door Store, Brighton
11th          Sound and Vision Festival, Norwich  
12th          Bodega Social Club, Nottingham    
14th                  Portland Arms, Cambridge
15th                  Roadhouse, Manchester      
16th             Sugarmill, Stoke                               
17th       Blackheart, Camden   Headline Show
18th                  SWN Festival, Cardiff  Festival
19th       Billingsgate Market, London Supporting Pure Love


Find them at:
www.radkey.net
www.facebook.com/radkeyband
www.twitter.com/RadkeyRock

Review - Kendal Calling Festival 2013

This weekend saw our annual pilgrimidge to Kendal Calling for a weekend of fun and frolics in the beautiful surrounding of the Lake District. The sun was beating down on a dusty site when we arrived (unfortunately late on missing Public Enemy!) But we did manage to catch the headline set by Basement Jaxx.

With a strong latino feel to the set the group waste no time in getting the party started with a head-dress wearing native American dancing around soon joined by trumpets and a glorious latin guitar player strumming out the tunes whilst powerful vocals emminated from the 2 female singers.

Going through their gauntlet of hits including the crowd jumping Where's your head at?, Rendezvous and Red Alert and a glorious acapella version of Romeo they sure got Kendal Calling off to a flying start.

With the welcome introduction of the Cinema tent to Kendal Calling we decided to rest our weary head watching some "Temple of Doom" whilst ushers wandered the tent selling ice creams and popcorn. A surreal incident, but one that works well with the festival and was long over-due

Saturday brought us a wholly indie feel to the main stage kicking off, first thing with The Tea Street Band fresh from a mini tour of Australia, the band took to the stage and waking the sleeping masses from their pits to the glorious sounds of Push the feeling on (an album that was possible due to pledge music) and Disco Lights this was a glorious debut on the main stage. Also on the Saturday so the attempt for the world record of most Supermen in one place. The record was 566 previously but Kendal smashed it with a whopping 867 super people in one place at one time!

Ash took to the stage just as the heavens started to open. This (at this point) didn't waver the crowd who sang along to classics such as Girl from Mars and walking barefoot. They did have a little dig at the crowd though saying that they had played T in the Park in the past and that they were "a little more livlier than you"

Ending gloriously on Burn Baby Burn.

The rain didnt stop the crowds coming out for I am Kloot and headliners The Charlatans though and much dancing and mud kicking was in effect during both sets.

After 14 hours of non stop rain, it looked like Sunday was going to be as grey and wet as Saturday ended for us this year at Kendal Calling, but that didn't seem to damper too many peoples spirits and once they had wrung out their tents and in some cases everything inside it, popped  their wellies back on, the sun was eventually peeping through the breaking up clouds and gave us a few rays of hope that the final day of Kendal Calling was going to be a sunny one. Taking a wander into the site and up to the Tim Peaks Diner for a much needed coffee we were summoned to the main stage by what can only be described as a rapture of drums and screeching guitar. This was the sound of Drenge, two brothers from Derbyshire who, between the two of them make enough noise to awaken the dead. Loud,intense,brash and dark is their style and they warranted the crowd that had gathered to witness this.

Taking a wander over to Chai Wallah's to rest my ears after Drenge, The Intermission project had gathered quite a crowd. With their smooth guitar playing and vocals from Jim Rubaduka and their laid back style this was the much needed cure for all the rain and mud and madness the weekend had thrown at us.

So the sun was out in all it's glory and and shining down on all of us, so where better to chill out on our last day but the Woodlands stage where Cry Baby Aeroplanes, a young four piece band were about to blast the cobwebs of us with a rock set full of guitar riffs and angst ridden lyrics . With a sound reminiscent of early Rage Against The Machine, especially "Machine" a riotous  raw little number, which could have sealed the deal for supporting Twisted Wheel this year and "The New Sound" a more subtle rock number that shows a more mature sound from these young, extremely talented lads. I definitely want to catch these guys again asap.

We decided to have a wander around and let the sounds coming from the different stages guide us instead of relying on the programs.....I always love doing this as I've always found you find little gems of music on your way...Cry Baby Aeroplanes being a prime example of this, as was a very happy, very bouncy Prince Fatty in the Haunted House Party....I think the spooks and spectres had been sent on vacation for the weekend, and there wasnt even a skeleton in a closet, although it did have the worlds funkiest six year old giving it his best dance moves!!

Anyway back to Prince Fatty, who brought a bit of reggae and dub session and unfortunately the obligatory i pad to record it all. With a great rapport with the crowd, he had them bouncing along quite happily to his sunny set and you could feel the warm glow of happiness radiate from the within.

 Next up for us was the very quiet Riot Jazz stage where yet another little gem was hidden away. Flame haired, bi lingual Netherlands born Flavia, a solo artist and her first time playing in the UK. Flavia changes her vocals from sultry old style 20's jazz to folk fuelled bierkeller sing a long style and loves to sing about love, death and vegetables, especially green veg!!! With crystal clear vocals and the quirkiest sense of humour when it comes to lyrics, especially about spinach in your teeth and the problems with a newly grown moustache you hate on you partner,  throw in kazoo playing and accordion playing sing a longs were you could have a Steiner in one hand while swaying as one and who could forget "Children's Menu", a very very witty take on kids and their little "expectations" and fraught parents having to deal with this.

Pretty soon, we were at the end of Kendal Calling 2013 and after watching a stonking blues/rock set by Sea Sick Steve, on the main stage and even serenaded a young lady from the crowd and managed to keep the heavens closed while on stage, unfortunately Sunday nights headliners Primal Scream, were not so lucky but didnt let the rain deter their energy and enthusiasm for being here. With new songs from new album, "More Light" including "the aptly called "2013" and old classics like "Rocks" and  "Moving On Up" they did justice to the closing of Kendal Calling for 2013 and proved why Bobby Gillespie and co have such staying power even in lots and lots of rain!!

So once again, its time to say goodbye to yet another successful year at what has to be my favourite festival and all thats left to say is "SEE YOU IN THE FIELDS IN 2014"

Sound City announce special Noah and the Whale show plus more

www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

Sound City is thrilled to confirm an incredible array of exciting new names for the UK’s first festival of the year.  Famed for showcasing the most exciting acts in the world right now, Sound City is a thrilling three day rock n’ rollercoaster and a first opportunity to catch the globes most boundary pushing artists in one place before they hit the summer festival circuit.  Last year saw Mercury Music Prize winners Alt-J, Jake Bugg and Django Django perform before the bands released critically and commercially acclaimed albums later in the year and previous performances have included early shows from Florence and the Machine, The Maccabees and Ed Sheeran.  Sound City is a snapshot of everything that is vital in music right now.

Noah and the Whale are used to playing huge venues but will play a much more intimate show in Liverpool at the Anglican Cathedral, the perfect setting for a much fuller sound that belies their more folksy beginnings.  The band release their fourth album ‘Heart Of Nowhere’ in May and will showcase tracks from it at this very special show.

Band of the moment, Everything Everything recently released their second album ‘Arc’ to widespread critical acclaim and their art-funk stylings are not to be missed.  Melody’s Echo Chamber’s kaleidoscopic fusion of psych rock and warm hypnotic pop is a thing of great beauty whilst the futuristic indie pop of New Yorker Darwin Deez and crystalline leftfield pop of Manchester based Dutch Uncles will also be two hot Sound City shows.  Delphic’s debut album heralded a reappraisal of dance influenced rock music and paved the way for the current crossover success of the genre and their second album ‘Collections’ sees them heading into even more adventurous territory.  The experimental drone of Oneohtrix Point Never and noisily drenched voodoo pop of local band Stealing Sheep will take music matters in a much more avant garde direction.

Punky blues rock from the Peak District comes courtesy of Drenge, a band being tipped by everyone to watch out for in 2103 whilst blog queens Pins showcase why the North West contines to produce the UK’s most exciting music.  Savages are another girl band whose post-punk is rapturous, passionate and intriguing.  Wave Machines second album ‘Pollen’ was a masterpiece that met with huge critical acclaim and their homecoming show at Sound City will show why they are one of the best bands the city has produced.

Also newly announced today are: Alessi’s Ark, Jetta, Bipolar Sunshine, Loom, Deep Sea Arcade, Blackeye, Skaters, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Wolf People, Splashh,  Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs, Lulu James, Arcane Roots, Still Corners, Luls, Hands, Wild Smiles, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam, Mikill Pane, Bebe Black, Jacob Banks, Bo Ningen, Big Deal, Night Engine, Mind Enterprises, Golden Fable, Likely Lads.

Having previously announced acts such as Dexys, The Walkmen, Enter Shikari, Reverend and the Makers, AlunaGeorge, Thee Oh Sees, Mount Kimbie, Future Of The Left, King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Darkstar, Toy and more, Sound City underlines its commitment to showcasing the world most exciting new talent, up close and personal.

Sound City also boasts an acclaimed convention giving attendees the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the music and entertainment industry.  Giving a keynote speech for 2013 will be Andrew Loog Oldham, former PR man for The Beatles and manager of the Rolling Stones and Sound City will also present Set In Stone a photo exhibition of the history of the Stone Roses by Ian Tilton who has documented the band at every stage of their career from the initial hectic gigs and TV performances to their reformation in 2011.  Many of these images have never been seen before.

A big focus in 2013 will be to provide key insights in the workings of a band and Murph from The Wombats and his manager Simon Bobbet will talk about the unique relationship between and band and its manager.  Enter Shikari In Focus will speak to the key people around the hardest working band in Britain and Tracey Thorn will discuss a career which has spanned 30 years in the music industry.

‘Social Media Hellraiser’ Jon Morter was behind the Rage Against The X Factor campaign and worked on the fight to save BBC 6 Music.  He has worked on campaigns for artists such as Nirvana, Sex Pistols and the recent Number 1 album for the Rolling Stones and was instrumental in the success of the recent Christmas Number 1 with the Justice Collective in aid of the Hillsborough families.  His panel will highlight the potency of social media.

Many more panel, speakers and guest will be announced for the convention shortly.

LINE UP TO DATE
Noah and the Whale / The Walkmen / Dexys / Everything Everything / Enter Shikari / Thee Oh Sees / Darwin Deez / Delphic / Mount Kimbie /
Reverend and the Makers / AlunaGeorge / Dutch Uncles / King Krule / Oneohtrix Point Never / Future Of The Left / Toy / Wave Machines / Egyptian Hip Hop / Stealing Sheep / Drenge / Savages / Melody’s Echo Chamber / Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Ian Prowse & Amsterdam / Darkstar / Outfit / Swim Deep / Alessi’s Ark / The 1975 / PINS / Wolf People / Theme Park / Jetta / Hawk eyes / Bipolar Sunshine / Loom / Deep Sea / Arcade / The Family Rain / Blackeye / Skaters / Splashh / Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs / Dan Croll / Soley / Lulu James / Arcane Roots / Still Corners / Luls / Hands / Wild Smiles / Mikill Pane / Bebe Black / Jacob Banks / Murkage / Bo Ningen / Big Deal / Amateur Best / Night Engine / Fossil Collective / Marmozets / Hacktivist / Brolin / Mind Enterprises / Golden Fable / Neck Deep / Likely Lads





Website and ticket link: http://www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liverpoolsoundcity
Twitter: @SoundCity