Paul Weller,Wilko Johnson,Soul II Soul and Earl Sweatshirt join T in the Park 2014
T in the Park festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager are thrilled to announce that some of the most influential and iconic names in British music and some of the most hotly tipped new acts around have been added to the line-up for this summer’s festival, which will take place in Balado over 11th – 13th July. The legendary Paul Weller, hugely influential Wilko Johnson (who Weller has cited as his own musical hero) and seminal soul group Soul II Soul have joined the bill, alongside Earl Sweatshirt, Wilkinson, Charli XCX, King Charles, Darlia, The LaFontaines, The Amazing Snakeheads, Becky Hill, Jess Glynne, The Minutes, Hudson Taylor, Neon Jungle, Lonely the Brave, Dolomite Minor and Little Matador.
Paul Weller is a true icon. From The Jam, through to the Style Council, to his hugely acclaimed solo material, he has been a towering figure in British music for decades. Revered by generations of music fans, The Modfather has an illustrious history with T in the Park, having headlined the festival’s second year (1995) as well as the first ever T in the Park to be held in Balado in 1997. He played a now legendary duet with Noel Gallagher in 2001, after Noel – who was visiting T in the Park as a guest - joined him on stage for an impromptu acoustic set of The Jam classics which has gone down in T in the Park history. Making a long-awaited return for the first time in 8 years, he’s sure to receive a rapturous response.
One of Weller’s own musical heroes – the legendary Wilko Johnson – has also been added to the T in the Park bill. Weller famously said of the former Dr Feelgood guitarist (and one time member of Ian Dury and The Blockheads): “Wilko may not be as famous as some other guitarists, but he's right up there. And there are a lot of people who'll say the same. I can hear Wilko in lots of places. It's some legacy." Johnson and Dr Feelgood have been credited as one of the founding influences of the English punk movement, and have counted Weller, John Lydon, Joe Strummer and The Stranglers as fans. He recently appeared in HBO’s Game of Thrones as mute executioner Ilyn Payne, and this year has seen him team up with The Who’s Roger Daltrey on the highly acclaimed joint album Going Back Home.
Starting life as a sound system at Covent Garden’s Africa Centre, Soul II Soul made a huge impact in the late 1980s with their original, fresh, and infectious soul sound. Hits such as Keep On Movin' and the Grammy-winning Back To Life made them household names all over the world, and to date they’ve sold over 10 million albums in over 35 countries worldwide. Their T in the Park appearance forms part of the seminal group’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Soul II Soul frontman Jazzie B said: "Looking forward to having a cup of T in the Park!"
Some of the hottest breakthrough acts and most exciting new artists around have also been added to the T in the Park bill. The prodigal son and youngest member of Los Angeles hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, Earl Sweatshirt is a hugely talented performer in his own right. The young lyricist’s latest album Doris wowed critics and tastemakers alike, with Clash Magazine hailing it as their album of 2013. An explosive performer, he’s sure to make a big impression on his T in the Park solo debut.
Hotly tipped and hugely in-demand drum and bass and electronica producer Wilkinson has remixed everyone from Chase and Status, Example, Nero, Professor Green, Wiley to Jakwob, and is definitely one to watch at this year’s festival.
Becky Hill featured on Wilkinson’s drum and bass top ten hit Afterglow and on T in the Park act Rudimental’s track Powerless, and is currently working on her debut album with Two Inch Punch, Karma Kid and MNEK.
Jess Glynne’s richly evocative vocals have featured on two of the biggest hits of the year so far - fellow T in the Park act Clean Bandit’s no.1 classical-dance smash Rather Be (the highest selling January No.1 since 1996 with sales in the UK alone of over 600,000) and Route 94’s house-flavoured chart topper My Love. Her own sound is a distinguished mix of hip hop, soul and pop, and her hotly anticipated debut album is due out later this year.
With a plethora of emotive dark pop songs, Charli XCX’s moody-yet-catchy synth pop has been described by some as "neon goth." She featured on and co-wrote Icona Pop’s huge hit I Love It, and releases her third studio album, the follow up to last year’s True Romance, this summer.
West London singer-songwriter King Charles became the first ever Brit to win the prestigious International Songwriting Competition in Nashville for his song Love Lust, after he impressed judges Tom Waits, Jeff Beck, Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis with his vibrant folk-pop sound.
Widely tipped as one of the UK’s most exciting new rock bands, Darlia are sure to go down a storm with their grunge-influenced anthems.
Combining hip-hop, rock and pop into one genre mash-up of brilliant noise, The LaFontaines made a huge impression when they played the BBC Introducing Stage at last year’s festival. The band have supported the likes of fellow T in the Park acts Example and Twin Atlantic, and are currently growing their international fanbase with gigs in New York as part of Scotland Week ahead of the release of their new single Under the Storm.
Hailing from Glasgow, The Amazing Snakeheads are renowned for their exhilarating live performances and energy, and will showcase material from their debut album Amphetamine Ballads.
Dublin's finest rock 'n' roll renegades The Minutes return with their brand new album Live Well, Change Often next month, after wowing audiences at SXSW and at shows with Foo Fighters and Kings of Leon.
Hudson Taylor have amassed a huge underground following for their captivating folk-pop songs, after their YouTube videos topped three million views. They’ve supported Jake Bugg, and played two sets in one day at the Rolling Stones’ show in Hyde Park.
Neon Jungle will add a touch of sparkle with their kaleidoscopic, multi-faceted pop – as seen on first single Trouble and follow-up hit Braveheart, which peaked at no.4 in the UK singles charts.
Lonely The Brave have been hailed “simply phenomenal” by Kerrang!, with Rock Sound tipping them to become “the biggest band on the planet.” Their powerful and majestic epic rock is sure to get the crowd going this July.
Southampton's Dolomite Minor serve up sleazy, raw rock’n’roll, laced with sweaty, head banging riffs. Dublin-based alt-rock quintet Little Matador were founded by Snow Patrol’s Nathan Connolly - they release their self-titled debut album later this month, and are due to support T in the Park headliners Biffy Clyro in Ireland this summer.
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