Benicassim Headliners Announced: Prodigy, Portishead, Florence, Noel Gallagher

Benicassim Headliners Announced: Prodigy, Portishead, Florence, Noel Gallagher 

FIB 2015 proudly announce the first confirmations for this year’s festival: Headliners THE PRODIGY, FLORENCE + THE MACHINE, PORTISHEAD and LOS PLANETAS Plus NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS, BASTILLE, PUBLIC ENEMY, CRYSTAL FIGHTERS, CLEAN BANDIT and MØ

We are delighted to announce the first names for FIB Benicàssim Festival 2015, just the first taste of a new era for the festival now in its third decade.

We are thrilled to welcome a wide range of artists, from the powerful electronica of The Prodigy, the ethereal effervescence of Florence + the Machine, the sensuality of Portishead, the rock of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, the hip hop power of Public Enemy, the life affirming music of Crystal Fighters, Bastille and Clean Bandit… Just the start for a bill that will entertain, move and thrill everyone in Benicàssim this July.

Festival Director, Melvin Benn, said:

“FIB. The international festival that started the concept of international festivals enters its 3rd decade and what a wonderful feeling it is for me to be part of it.

The third decade represents the real start for me and, as well as a stellar line up of Main and Second Stage acts we are announcing today -The Prodigy - among them, I'm also very keen to highlight the new areas of the festival we are developing this year, Trenchtown and Bearded Kitten. New and fresh ideas and areas to reset the bar for Spanish festivals in the same way the Moran brothers did in 1995. The FIB 2015 Benicàssim Festival is the future…” 

THE PRODIGY Who hasn’t surrendered themselves to hits like ‘Voodoo People’, ‘Firestarter’, ‘Breathe’ or ‘Smack my Bitch Up’? With big tunes, screeching sounds, demented frequencies and brazen lyrics The Prodigy have won a reputation as one of the greatest live bands in the world.

Big beat, electro punk, rave or breakbeat: whatever you call it, their sound is a punch that burns the dancefloor and that’s made to be heard at full volume. Returning with a new album ‘The Day Is My Enemy’, we are delighted to announce them as headliners for Benicàssim 2015. 

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE We are thrilled to welcome Florence + The Machine to headline at Benicàssim 2015, an exclusive show in Spain and a chance to see this amazing artist at the height of her powers.

Her debut record, the widely-acclaimed ‘Lungs’ led to her winning the Critics’ Choice and Best British Album awards at the Brits in 2009 and 2010, then further cementing her reputation with the release of the outstanding ‘Ceremonials’ in 2011. With an eagerly anticipated new album in 2015, we can’t wait for Florence to bring her machine to the Main stage this summer. 

PORTISHEAD Hypnotic, melancholic, sometimes dark, the music of Portishead is like a magnet. ‘Dummy’, ‘Portishead’ and ‘Third’ are three towering albums that climb to the stars, dive under the skin and lock into your senses. The songs on their albums keep growing thanks to their extraordinarily ability to get inside your head as if they were whirlpools of sound and when charismatic Beth Gibbons starts to sing and one melody follows another, the magic arrives.

These Bristolians have developed a musical universe that solely belongs to them and their headline show at Benicàssim 2O15 will be something very special. 

LOS PLANETAS Los Planetas are undoubtedly one of the biggest and most important Spanish acts of recent years, and one we are very much looking forward to seeing where they belong, at the Main stage.

With a career that has run parallel to that of the festival, they represent the initial steps of the Spanish indie scene in the 90’s and its growth towards the healthy and popular scene today. They have managed to keep their cult status and at the same time be a commercial success: reaching wider audiences without losing the risk and the edge of their music, recently experimenting with their roots and mixing flamenco influences with their trademark psychedelic indie-pop sound. 

NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS

The second album from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, ‘Chasing Yesterday’ is due out on March 2 and finds the multi award winning artist in a clear state of evolution. The new record marks a new chapter and sound for the band, being the first album to be produced as well as written by Noel. It features a much broader array of instrumentation than ever before; drawing from a range of disparate influences - from west coast rock to classic rock’n’roll and even some space jazz (!) These new tracks along with all the favourites from their debut album, as well as a few classic Oasis tracks, are sure to sweep everyone away when Noel plays the Main Stage at FIB 2015. 

BASTILLE London four-piece Bastille will return to the festival with great new material from their catalogue of hook-filled pop. 

PUBLIC ENEMY Legendry act Public Enemy add hip hop attitude and hard-hitting social criticism to the festival bill. 

CRYSTAL FIGHTERS A band with a magical winning formula, Crystal Fighters will bring their live show to Benicàssim 2015. 

CLEAN BANDIT Clean Bandit combine electronica with a strong pop sensibility to create music to dance to. 

MØ Mø’s music hits your body and soul with songs such as ‘Pilgrim’, ‘Don’t Wanna Dance’ and ‘Never Wanna Know’. 

MANY MORE ACTS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED… 

TICKETS:

All tickets are available at: www.fiberfib.com

Also available from Ticketmaster.

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"

Kendal Calling Festival announces over 85 new artists including Public Enemy

Kendal Calling is proud to announce legendary and controversial American Hip-Hop group Public Enemy will be touching down in the fields for a rare UK festival appearance. With Chuck D’s forcefully enlightening rhymes, and the chaotic, comic of Flavor Flav’s cuts (not to mention his oversized clocks!) this is simply not to be missed.

Also flying the flag for the US in the festivals latest line-up additions is Steven Gene Wold, commonly known as Seasick Steve. Born in Oakland, California and now in his seventies, Steve has been singing the blues and playing guitar since the age of eight. Steve began playing music for a living in the early 1960s, in bands and as a solo musician, but it was not until he played on Later… with Jools Holland on New Year’s Eve in 2006 that he made his breakthrough in the UK.

Johnny Marr formed The Smiths in 1982 when he was just 18 and they went onto become one of the most important bands in the history of music and Johnny Marr one of the greatest guitarists the UK has ever produced. Post The Smiths, Marr has spent his time playing guitar in a succession of great acts such as The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse and The Cribs bringing a shimmering majesty to their recordings and live shows and finally released his debut solo album The Messenger which has been met with huge critical acclaim.

The D.O.T is a collaboration between Mike Skinner (The Streets) and Rob Harvey (the Music), the relationship was formed when Mike and Rob’s former bands would cross paths on the touring circuit and solidified when Mike asked Rob to accompany him on the final Streets tour. Mike and Rob soon then put in some studio time and revealed in the freedom to make music for it’s own sake. With no need to conform to a specific style, or satisfy a record label’s scheduling demands, there gradually evolved the sound you hear now in their second album Diary (out 6^th May). As well as The D.O.T set the critically acclaimed urban poet laureate and The Streets frontman Mike Skinner returns to the fields for a very special DJ set in the Glow Dance Tent.

The Woodland area returns for it’s second year but this time round it will feature the cream of the regional crop with rising stars from Morecambe The Heartbreaks, Preston’sTechniques, Kendal band The Feud, Lake District starlet Fiona Clayton plus many more of the regions hidden gems to discover.

More acts across all 12 stages are to be announced as well as attractions, the Real Ale Festival, Comedy, spoken word & arts, Ladybird children’s area and much more over the next few months – all for only £115!

Calling Out stage is brought to you in conjunction with Gigwise on Friday 26th and DIY on Saturday 27th.

Friday: Theme Park, The Lightening Seeds Acoustic, The 1975, Nina Nesbitt, Waylayers, Champs

Gigwise is the UK's No.1 music news website, packed with the latest goings on from the world of music plus interviews, photos, reviews and big exclusive from the world's biggest artists. gigwise.com

Saturday: British Sea Power, London Grammar, Sons and Lovers, Silhouette, Sweet Baboo, Peter and Kerry, Fiona Clayton, Grammotones, All We Are

DIY covers the best in new and alternative music through it's free monthly print magazine, weekly digital publication and long standing website, thisisfakediy.co.uk

To keep up to date with all Kendal Calling news including general ticket sale and line-up news sign up to the newsletter on the website, become a fan on Facebook and follow on twitter @KendalCalling

See you in the fields!

Weekend tickets: £115

Ticket link: / www.kendalcalling.com / www.ticketline.co.uk