Rob da Bank launches Independent Charts Podcast

BBC Radio 1 broadcaster Rob da Bank has laubched a brand new, free, monthly podcast based around the UK’s Official Independent Charts.

Content will include guest appearances from iconic independent label bosses for interviews and song picks, live acoustic performances from the latest indie acts, profiling the best interesting new music as well as a monthly round up of the Official Independent Charts (as compiled by the Official Charts Company), highlighting key new entries and interesting stats.

Confirmed for the first instalment are music producer and Mute Records founder, Daniel Miller, an exclusive performance from British beatbox extraordinaire, Beardyman. Plus a live acoustic performance by the incredible Connan Mockasin, who is signed to Erol Alkan’s label.

The podcasts is available from www.theofficialindependentcharts.com with the first one available on Tuesday 15th February.  The podcast will be partnered exclusively by The Guardian and supported through their twitter feed, as well as being supported by Music Week, which publishes the Official Independent Charts every week.

Video content from the performances and interviews will also appear alongside the main podcast. The show plans to go fortnightly within six months.

Rob da Bank, who also founded and runs his own independent label, Sunday Best Recordings and the Bestival family of festivals, has pioneered the project with his manager Ben Turner, who felt there was an opportunity to shine a light on this valuable content and property owned by OCC.

It has been produced by Karen P and the team at Folded Wing, to bring focus back to the Official Independent Chart.  The free podcast will be a celebration of the indie sector’s vital part in the UK music industry.

Rob da Bank, said: “Looking back over the last 30 years of the Independent Chart makes me very nearly weep with how much good music I’ve lived through… and the most fantastic part is that it’s still going, we’ve all just forgotten it’s there, so I’m very proud to be drawing attention back to what I’ve always passionately believed in – independent music made by independent musicians for an independent label! Long live the Independent Chart!”

Official Charts Company Managing Director Martin Talbot commented: “More than 30 years after their launch, the Official Independent Charts remain the barometer of success for the smallest and most creative labels in the UK – and this new podcast is a fantastic way of highlighting the big new artists who feature in them every week. As a leader of independent festivals and one of Radio One’s most cutting edge DJs, Rob da Bank is the perfect face (and voice) for this.”

Julian Wall, BPI Director Independent Member Services, said: “The indie chart has always been an influential showcase for alternative and non mainstream music and the podcast is a great vehicle to carry it.”

About the Official Charts Company
The Official Charts Company is a joint venture between record labels’ body the BPI and ERA, the Entertainment Retailers Association. The OCC is responsible for the commissioning, marketing, distribution and management of the UK’s industry standard music and video charts and is endorsed by the BVA (British Video Association). The Official Charts Company compiles its charts from sales information gathered across all key distribution (or entertainment) channels including all major high street retail chains, independent stores, supermarkets, mail order internet retailers and digital music service providers. This market research sample equates to 99% of the total UK Singles market; 98% of the total UK Albums market and 90% of the total UK DVD market.

Arcade Fire headline Exit Music Festival 2011

Launched 12 years ago as a student initiated protest against the communist Milosevic regime, Exit has proved that music is a universal language that can connect and bring people together to make the world a better place. Exit continues to evolve and bring like minded people together and although it gets bigger each year, the sentiment and unique vibe remains the same.

The first acts to be announced for Exit 2011 include Canadian art-rock outfit and music festival favourites Arcade Fire, who will be bringing their exceptional live show to Exit’s Main Stage. With three critically acclaimed albums under their belt, the most recent ‘The Suburbs‘ reaching #1 in seven territories including the UK and USA, they are as incredible live as they are enchanting, with multi-instrumentalist band members exchanging instruments throughout their performance. This is sure to be very unique and memorable performance set amongst the majestic walls of the Fortress.

Gearing up to take to the decks in the legendary Dance Arena for 2011 are; Canadian DJ and producer extraordinaire Tiga, head honcho of Turbo Recordings and a master behind the decks, get set to be wowed by his trademark injection of edgy electronic sounds and grooves. Also performing on the arena is Exit favourite – James Zabiela, who can forget his legendary 2006 closing set performance with an impromptu appearance from Goldie on the mic.

Proving to be one of James’ best sets of his life to date and one of Exit’s also, he has assured us that he will be doing yet another set of the spectacular! Local hero Gramophonedzie, another one of Serbia’s finest exports (the first being electricity) had an international #1 dance hit with ‘Why Don’t You‘ this summer and will throwing down some pure house tunes exhilarating his devoted fans.

The Dance Arena is renowned for being the best on the planet – by DJs and public alike – and the experience of dancing with 20,000 people as the sun rises over the fortress walls is truly mind blowing! 2011 is set to be another year of unadulterated electronic music of the highest calibre and these names are a taster of what’s to come.

Along the pebbled streets of the Fortress, new-rave band Hadouken!, will take to the Fusion stage, thrilling their fans with a dynamic performance that they are notorious for. Smashing the charts and the stages they perform on, with similarities to The Prodigy, Hadouken! are set to prove their worth with ease and great might!

Exit 2011 plays host to over 400 performances on 20 stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels – a walk through the mystical fortress is like a trip through a magical wonderland. Music ranges from rock, dance, indie, Latino, reggae, electronica, chill out and regional music, so there is no better festival in the world that brings you so much value and so much variety!

2011 will also see pre & post Exit events happening in the city of Novi Sad and Belgrade, so festival goers can spend longer in Serbia experiencing the warmth of the Serbian people whilst having fun and seeing new sights and cities. It’s an adventure and festival in one!

Exit Festival 2011 Tickets
The First Release tickets are still cheaper than any UK festival at only £89+booking fee but there is a capped number of them. Once the first release are all sold out, from then on Second Release ticket price will rise to £105.

Early Bird Tickets – All early bird tickets at last year’s prices are now sold out!
First Release – 4 day festival ticket – £89 + booking fee
Second Release – 4 day festival ticket – £105 + booking fee
Camping ticket – £25 + booking fee

You can buy Exit Festival 2011 tickets from www.etickets.to/exit

The Exit Music Festival is one of the most highly regarded festivals in Europe, being nominated for ‘Best Overseas Festival’ in the UK Festival Awards for the past 4 years, winning the coveted title in 2007 and runner up in 2010. In addition Exit has also been nominated for ‘Best Major Festival’ in European Festival Awards for 2 years running and has been shortlisted in the ‘Artists Favourite Festival’ Category.

See pictures from Exit 2010.

Exit Festival Travel & Accomodation
Getting to Exit has never been easier, faster and cheaper! Exit Trip is the Official Travel and accommodation for Exit Festival with the lowest price guaranteed! Offering huge discounts on direct flights, accommodation and local transfers in one package, look no further than here www.exittrip.org

New Year Travel and Accommodation offer:
Offer available until the Serbian New Year – 14th of January.

Return direct flight + local transport + Exit hostel accommodation + New Year’s present . Only £299 pp (+ service charge)

The Playground @ 93 Feet East

The Playground presents its party night at 93 Feet East on Saturday 25th September, promising music for all tastes from 7pm until 1am.

IS TROPICAL DJ The critically acclaimed Electronica band from London will grace the decks with the very best of the Electro/Indie scene.

BABE SHADOW In a scene dominated by the musings of shoegazers and twittering electronics Tom Cawte, David Thornley, Mark Thorne and Sam Nadel strive to use no special effects and rely solely on their lovelorn, tropical sounding guitars and syncopated percussion.  After being nominated as NME Breakthrough Band of the Week and Miss Florence Welsh (Florence & The Machine) included as one of their Top fans you definitely won’t be disappointed.
“Babeshadow have been brightening up my pre-tour rituals with their open-hearted calypso-style beautiful pop songs.  Their jackets are also pretty smashing.”  Florence & The Machine.

ICE BLACK BIRDS This extraordinary Brighton-based band produce a unique sound that will guarantee you will be running to the dancefloor.  Drawing influence from 60s and 70s rock ‘n’ roll and a somewhat Bluesy essense, they have received much acclaim and have been tipped as the band to watch out for in 2010 by Radio 1’s Huw Stephens.
“Like the Doors if they’d swapped taking acid in the desert for writing coherent rock songs. From Brighton, this band has the anthemic chops to be serious contenders.”  NME.

BOP SOCIAL Bop Social are an indie-electro pop 5-piece consisting of Bessel, Jonny, Tom, Colin and Piers from South London.  Their fresh take on the electro/alt.indie style blossoms into big songs and a sound that has been described as a ‘grittier version of Snow Patrol’.  The fierce rocking structures and sparky synth has lead to a successful release of their Debut EP and multiple radio play, including BBC Radio 6 with Tom Robinson.
“File under big anthemic electro indie AND lots of fun!”

WAYLAYERS London-based foursome Harry Lee, Alan Bryant, Jon Genet and James Bewley formed in the Summer of 2009, and with an EP already under their belt, this electronic-indie band are now ready to blaze the stage with their incredible musical musings that will leave you astonished and mesmerized, yearning for more.

VILLA COLA London based band, has hit the ground running. This threesome comprised of Ranya Dubé, Paul Bateman and Alex Watson have created an original, catchy sound, that will hook you from the moment you press play. Majorly influenced by the 80s, punk and rock n’ roll genres, Villa Cola has managed to fuse these sounds together creating music with deep punk roots, rock n’ roll vocal stylings and hard hitting synth beats.
“Startlingly Brilliant!”  NME

JEUCE Famed for the electrifying reworks and remixes of the popular musical stylings of Daft Punk and Mr Fogg, the tantalizing talents of London-based Dub DJs JEUCE will be joined by DJ OONEA and VISCIOUS CIRCLE to bring you a dedicated night of Dubstep and Dancing.

THE PLAYGROUND
presents:
Friday 25/09/10
Time: 7pm – 1am
£6 Advance £7 On the Door
www.ticketground.co.uk
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane London E1 6QL

Room 1:

IS TROPICAL DJ
BABE SHADOW
ICE BLACK BIRDS
BOP SOCIAL
WAYLAYERS
VILLA COLA

Room 2:

JEUCE
DJ OONEA
VICIOUS CIRCLE (ANDREW)

The Big Chill Festival 2010 official partner - viagogo

The Big Chill has come a long way since 1994 when Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin organised a series of parties at the Union Chapel in north London. The following it began life as an outdoor festival with an event in the Black Mountains of Wales.  The Big Chill Festival has also been held at other venues around the UK including Lulworth Castle in Dorset and Larmer Tree Gardens.

In 2009 ChillFest Limited went into liquidation after poor ticket sales and was bought out by Festival Republic, the organisers of Latitude, Leeds and Reading Music Festivals.

The Big Chill Festival 2010 takes place between Thursday 5th and Sunday 8th August at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Malvern Hills, Herefordshire.

This year’s main stage (Deer Park Stage) headliners are Massive Attack, M.I.A. and Lily Allen with some top quality support including Thom Yorke, Roots Manuva, Paloma Faith, Magic Numbers, Newton Faulkner and personally favourites Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions.

The smaller Revellers’ Stage has some great acts too – Kruder & Dorfmeister, Layo & Bushwacka, Mr Scruff, Easy Star All-Stars as well as Kelis, Plan B, Tinie Tempah and Roy Ayers, among others.

Other personal highlights of interest appearing at one of the other 10 stages, tents or areas include The Hundred In The Hand, Liars, Caribou and London Elektricity.

Furthermore, there will be plenty of DJ sets including the likes of from Andrew Weatherall, Don Letts, Tom Middleton and Greg Wilson; and Peter Hook & Howard Marks, Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls & voice of The Simpsons) and Paul Morley discussing Michael Jackson in the Words In Motion Tent.

viagogo is an official partner of The Big Chill Festival.

The Big Chill Festival Tickets
As well as making it easy and simple to buy or sell The Big Chill Festival tickets, viagogo ensure their safe and prompt delivery with online tracking. Every Big Chill Festival transaction is 100% guaranteed to be safe and secure.

viagogo is your online ticket exchange for all UK concert tickets.

The Playground presents a night of electro, alternative and indie music

The Playground presents a night of electronic, alternative and indie music @ 93 Feet East, east London on Saturday 31st July 2010.

Room 1:
La Shark
Fiction
Pope Joan
Lighthouses
Twelve Clay Feet

Room 2:
DJ Mason
Les Gillettes (Kitsune)

DJ Mason
DJ Mason is the stage name for Dutch music producer duo Iason Chronis and Coen Berrier.  After their track, Exceeder topping at number one on the UK Dance Chart in 2007 they have been touring the world and ripping-up the music scene with their Breakbeat-Electro stylings.

Les Gillettes
With a ‘raving’ alter-ego in place, the Swedish-born, London-based techno DJ Les Gillettes has come from the Indie Clubs of Helsinki all over the ‘Hip n Hot’ cities of Europe ready to grace the stage behind her decks with more of her Beastly beats and ‘Devil-dancing’ style that we know and love.

La Shark
Hailing from New Cross, South London the band-of-five consider their sound to be influenced from the music of the Bee Bop era, sort of ‘Plastic Pop’ with a bit of ‘..early 20th century pornography thrown in to add that spark..’ Whatever it is that appeals to you, you won’t be left disappointed.

“La Shark offer great beats, quirky lyrics, pretty harmonies, pandemonic circus-clown percussion and overall weirdness… makes for addictive listening.”  Time Out

Fiction
Having only been together a year the New Wave/ Post Punk sound of this London-based foursome have already graced the stages of the Offset Festival and the Huw Stephens-curate Swn Festival, as well as recording live sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and Radio Diesel.  “..Fiction hit the rhythmic, Post Punk nail on the head on so many levels.  Fact!”  Loud & Quiet

Pope Joan
Pope Joan have clearly established themselves as part of the new wave of exciting and experimental British art-pop, with a sound that has been described a being somewhere within the realms of Les Savy Fav and early-era XTC along with the sonic spectrum of TV on the Radio, which has already played along-side the likes of New Young Pony Club, Shy Child and Danananankroyd to name but a few. “A colourful explosion of post punk adorned, effects laden guitar lines, quirky synth noises, elasticated bass lines and creative drum patterns topped off with an undeniable pop sheen.” Artrocker

“Brighton boys Pope Joan are a fantastic and quirky proposition indeed.” 
NME

Lighthouses
Delpic vs. Death From Above or Hot Chip vs. Daft Punk?!  East London’s Joe Boyle and Richard Williams make-up this Electro-Indie two piece, having formed from a curiosity and interest in fusing Dance with Rock music and have created such clash of sounds that the only way to describe their music is by cross-comparison.

Twelve Clay Feet
The Cambridge-based foursome have already showcased their Indie-Rock stylings along-side the likes of the Editors, Hard Fi and The Little Flames, and after having toured the country on the Radio 1 backed Transit Tour and making it to the Final of The Music League 2010 competition, the stage is set in anticipation for their urgent, beautiful and soulful musings.

The Playground presents
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane London E1 6QL
Saturday 31st July 2010

Time: 7pm – 1am
£5 advance £7 door
tickets from www.ticketground.co.uk

T in the Park has three main stages and a dance tent; and there are great headline acts booked for them all to offer something for every music taste.

Main Stage
Main Stage headliners for this year’s T in the Park are Muse, Eminem and Kasabian. While Muse and Kasabian are regular UK music festival favourites, this will be Eminem’s first UK music festival headlining show and follows the success of Jay-Z’s controversial Glastonbury headline show in 2008.

Muse headline Friday night with support coming from the likes of trance dance favourites Faithless, Paloma Faith and The Big Pink. On Saturday, Eminem will headline the main stage with performances throughout the day from the likes of Stereophonics, Paolo Nutini, Vampire Weekend and the ever popular Proclaimers.  While on Sunday, Kasabian headline the main stage for the first time and receive great support from Jay-Z, Biffy Clyro and Dizzee Rascal among others.  What a climatic high that will be!

Radio 1 / NME Stage
Headline acts on the much coveted Radio 1 / NME Stage are The Black Eyed Peas, The Prodigy and Madness.  On Friday Black Eyed Peas will be supported by Florence & the Machine, Jamie T and The Temper Trap, with more to be confirmed.  On Saturday, T in the Park festival favourites, The Prodigy will no doubt out-strobe and out-stare everyone else and get support from the likes of 30 Seconds to Mars, The Courteeners, The Black Keys and Shed Seven.  While on Sunday, the festival will no doubt be in a party mood when Madness headline with support from Groove Armada, The Cribs, Baby Shambles, among others.

Dance Tent
This year the dance tent acts will have to compete with rappers Jay-Z and Eminem among others playing on the main stages on Saturday and Sunday.  But with Plastikman, Four Tet and Tricky all playing a live sets and a great line-up of A-list DJ’s including Carl Cox, Sven Vath, Erol Alkan, Dubfire, Adam Beyer, Greg Wilson and Andrew Weatherall among others playing anything and everything from techno to dub, the only problem will be how punters will manage to seee all their favourite acts!

T in the Park will be held at Balado in Kinross-shire between Friday 9th and Sunday 11th July.

T in the Park Tickets
At viagogo, every T in the Park transaction is 100% guaranteed to be safe and secure. As well as making it easy and simple to buy or sell T in the Park tickets, viagogo ensure their safe and prompt delivery with online tracking. Every T in the Park ticket transaction is supported by our customer service team which can be contacted by phone and e-mail.

viagogo is your online ticket exchange for concert tickets, sports tickets and theatre tickets.

Levi's® Onestowatch® Plans Anoher Great Escape

Following two incredibly successful years at The Great Escape, Levi’s® OnesToWatch® returns to the Brighton Festival this May with another line-up of live and acoustic bands, DJ’s, a secret show, and some not so-secret after parties.

Once again Levi’s® takeover the entire Audio nightclub for the three days, bringing some of the best up and coming acts to their stage. Levi’s® will host a series of afternoon terrace parties with super-cool French four-piece Kid Bombardos, electro-poppers Fortune and Canadian indie-kids Young Rival, who’ll be rocking the party in the summer sun. You’ll need special wristbands for entry to these sessions and these will be available exclusively at The Levi’s® Store in Brighton’s Churchill Square, every day from 9th – 15th May. Also watch out for Levi’s® one-off secret gig that you won’t want to miss…

Evenings will be a not-to-miss affair with some the industry’s top talents performing to a packed out house. Thursday’s headliner will be British art-rock powerhouse These New Puritans with support from hot dance-floor property that is Fenech Soler, and Icelandic duo Feldberg.

On Friday Vancouver Garage Rock band Japandroids lead the way with a little help from west Londoners Goldhawks, and self proclaimed ‘mad studio scientists’ North Atlantic Oscillation.

Summer Camp top the bill with their dreamy summer anthems on the Saturday, supported perfectly by the retro pop sounds of Frankie & The Heartstrings, and the psychedelic art-pop of Djanjo Django.

As the night draws in, Audio will play host to three Levi’s® After Parties which will featuring Alex Metric from Radio 1’s In New DJ’s We Trust, Primary One and Joe and Will Ask who will be supplying the soundtrack to the evenings proceedings.

The Levi’s® OnesToWatch® at The Great Escape Festival 2010 confirmed line-up:

Thursday 13th May
Levi’s® Kid Bombardos – Afternoon terrace set with Levi’s® 5.01
Levi’s® Feldberg
Levi’s® Fenech Soler
Levi’s® These New Puritans
Levi’s® After Party: TBC & TBC

Friday 14th May
Levi’s® Fortune – Afternoon terrace set with Levi’s® 5.01
Levi’s® North Atlantic Oscillation
Levi’s® Goldhawks
Levi’s® Japandroids
Levi’s® After Party: Alex Metric (Radio 1) & Primary One

Saturday 15th May
Levi’s® Young Rival – Afternoon terrace set with Levi’s® 5.01
Levi’s® Django Django -
Levi’s® Frankie and the Heartstrings
Levi’s® OnesToWatch® Summer Camp
Levi’s® After Party: TBC & Joe and Will Ask

Audio, Brighton, 10 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TL

These New Puritans
A British Art-Rock outfit from Southend-on-Sea, These New Puritans are influenced equally by hip-hop, synth pop, alt rock and classical music.  Their live show often includes a variety of instruments and sounds, from bassoon to taiko drums.  The band first came to prominence through series of high profile live appearances alongside the likes of The Kills and Klaxons, and their 2008 debut album, Beat Pyramid which was hailed by the music press.  Latest album Hidden incorporates elements of dancehall, electronica and pop, with songs that set them well apart from their guitar contemporaries.

Japandroids
Japandroids (AKA Jpndrds) is a two-piece band from Vancouver, Canada, conceived in 2006 as a creative outlet for the post-teenage angst of Brian King and David Prowse. Originally intended to be a trio, the boys decided to forgo the logistical nightmare of having a ‘lead singer’ and do it themselves. As a consequence, Japandroids are 1 guitar, 1 set of drums, and 2 vocalizers.  They call it garage rock.  They don’t care what you call it, as long as it’s not minimal. Japandroids are maximal – a two-piece band trying to sound like a five piece.

Summer Camp (Headline)
Started almost by accident as a clandestine musical project by Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley (their first ever track was a haunting, fuzzed out take on The Flamingos’ “I Only Have Eyes For You”), Summer Camp create the kind of utterly mesmeric, sepia-toned dream pop which seems predestined to form the perfect soundtrack to first kisses and adolescent crushes; romance and yearning. The melancholic “Ghost Train”, for instance, sounds not unlike girl groups from the 60’s wrapped in a warm blanket of lo-fi gauze and dusted lightly with pure pop sugar, while the cinematic “Montgomery Avenue 1984”, like a snippet from a classic film, manages to evoke an entire universe of love and longing in its brief running time. Their single, out on Moshi Moshi this month, signals the arrival of a new and most unusual talent in the pop firmament, while also serving as an utterly spellbinding introduction to the slanted and enchanted world of Summer Camp.

Fenech Soler
Fenech-Soler are hot dancefloor property right now, having recently collaborated on Groove Armada’s remarkable Paper Romance and remixed the latest Marina & The Diamonds single Hollywood into a club and blog sensation.  New single Stop And Stare, released on Moda Music on 19th April, once again taps the band’s gift for radio-friendly hooks and peak time floor filling.
Originally conceived as a studio project by brothers Ben and Ross Duffy, with child hood friend Dan Soler – whiling away the hours of a sleepy existence in provincial Cambridgeshire – the trio combined with drummer and studio partner Andrew Lindsay to create an unlikely production powerhouse and a formidable live act. Brewing their own brand of fantasy pop, they were first spotted by French dance don Alan Braxe, who released debut single The Cult Of Romance on his Vulture label last summer. Introduced to London via Paris, the band have picked up plays from Pete Tong, Kissy Sell Out, Eddie Temple Morris, and Annie Mac, Zane Lowe and daytime Radio 1.

Goldhawks
Named after the street where brothers Bobby and Jack Cook grew up, west London five-piece Goldhawks are a band with ambition, clearly demonstrated by the sheer depth and breadth of front-man Bobby’s vocal range and charisma. A new band that have already got fans blogging like crazy about their semi-legendary live shows that are more like revivalist meetings than gigs, their debut single Running Away features giant opening guitar riffs, and Bobby breathing fire and brimstone, swaying to the beat, tearing the songs from his soul.

Frankie & The Heartstrings
Produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, Florence & The Machine), Frankie & The Heartstrings’ new 7” single Tender & I Want You Back (released on Popsex in April) is a recording of pure retro-pop class.  Currently working on their debut album, due for release at the end of the summer, the band have racked up performances at the NME Award show, Radio 1’s In Music We Trust and support slots with fellow North-Easteners The Futureheads.

Feldberg
Featuring the bluesy, soulful sound of vocalist Rosa Birgitta Isfeld, Icelandic duo Feldberg create music, which is a combination of electronic, acoustic, folk and percussion elements, whilst maintaining a pop sensibility.  The track Dreaming from their forthcoming album Don’t be a Stranger will be featured on the much-coveted 2010 Kitsune Maison compilation set.

North Atlantic Oscillation
Often compared to the likes of Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd and Sigur Ros, Edinburgh-based three piece North Atlantic Oscillation cite influences that range from Blur, to Orbital and Chick Corea, melding timeless rock moves with sequencing, and the latest laptop technology.  An ever-evolving entity, mad studio scientists who prefer to conduct their sound experiments on stage, NAO have shared stages with the likes of Explosions In The Sky, Everything Everything, Stardeath and White Dwarfs. Debut album ‘Grappling Hooks’ is a subtle yet powerful kaleidoscope of purring electronics, atmospheric layers and hook-laden melodies – out now on Kscope.

Django Django
Django Django are a four piece that met at Art School in Edinburgh, they sport a unique sound, almost impossible to put into words, perhaps best described as Psychedelic Art pop focusing on cadence and mixing live instrumentation with electronic sounds.  Buzzed by the music press, this band is gaining a strong following thanks to their great live show.

Kid Bombardos
Their average age may only be 19, but this four piece; hailing from Bordeaux in France have already made their mark on the uber-cool French music scene.  Comprising of three brothers – Thomas, Vincent and Simon Martinelli, along with childhood friend David Loridan, the band have appeared at a number of festivals including Le Printemps de Bourges, Garorock, Francofolies of La Rochelle, and Garden Nef Party in Angoulême. Influenced by New York rock acts such as The Strokes, the candor of British pop, and Velvet Underground, the band have opened for the likes of Hushpuppies and Vampire Weekend.

Fortune
Picked and mixed from a variety of genres, from classic pop to electro and disco, Fortune write dance-floor-ready youth-anthems, which still manage to retain a ferocious rock dynamic.

Young Rival
Canadian indie-rockers Young Rival describe their sound as combining the subtlety of The Zombies with the brashness of Arctic Monkeys, and have toured with the likes of Tokyo Police Club and Born Ruffians.

melt festival

The unique Melt! Festival is held is held on the Ferropolis peninsula in Germany, set against a breathtaking backdrop of five huge hulking coal mining diggers that tower into the sky, creating  spectacular night time imagery.

A true industrial rave experience is guaranteed for the thousands of visitors to the festival which marks its 13th edition in 2010.

And once again there are some massive acts lined up for Melt!, none more so than the legendary trip hoppers Massive Attack who will surely have the diggers vibrating to the heavy bass of their Bristol based sound.

The XX may not be the noisiest of indie bands with their soft vocals and sparse music, but they do provide a perfect fit for the unique backdrop of the Melt! festival.

Booka Shade in contrast to The XX promise plenty of physical action and sweat on stage when they present their latest album More!.

Kings of Convenience, Goldfrapp and Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke have recently been added to a top line up for Melt, there will be plenty of top indie artists performing at this years festival including The Shout Out Louds, Yeasayer, Jamie T, Midlake, Delphic, Friendly Fires, Johnossi, Health and The Big Pink. The Dirty Projectors will make their only appearnce in Germany this year at the Melt! Festival.

The Melt! Selector stage is complete: Modeselektor feat. Bonaparte live (Visuals: Pfadfinderei), Jamie XX, Black Rose (Jesse Rose & Henrik Schwarz live), Martyn vs. Kode 9, Mala, Jackmaster and Skate will present new stuff.

The full line up to date is:

1000 Robota | A-Trak | Matias Aguayo & Band | Ellen Allien | An Horse | Ata | The Big Pink | Black Rose (Henrik Schwarz & Jesse Rose live)  | Blood Red Shoes | Booka Shade | Bonaparte  | Boris | Bratze | Chromeo | Carl Craig feat. Mike Banks | Chris Cunningham | Clues | Crookers | Danger | Darwin Deez |  Delphic | Marcel Dettmann | Dirty Projectors | dOP | Douster | Edu K | Egotronic | Fake Blood | Fred Falke live | Marcel Fengler | Roman Flügel | Foals | Four Tet | Frittenbude | Friendly Fires | Sascha Funke | Get Well Soon | Goldfrapp | Daniel Haaksman | Health | Hemmann & Kaden live | Hercules And Love Affair  | Holy Ghost | Nick Höppner | Hurts | Ja, Panik | Jackmaster | Jamie T | Jamie XX | Jamaica | Johnossi  | Markus Kavka | Kele | Kings Of Convenience | Ben Klock | Oliver Koletzki | Kode 9 vs. Martyn | Monika Kruse | Jamie Lidell |  Lindstrøm & Christabelle | Mala | Massive Attack | Midlake | Miike Snow Modeselektor feat. Bonaparte live | ND Baumecker | Norman Nodge | Pantha Du Prince | Ewan Pearson  | DJ Pete | Popof live | Post War Years | Prosumer | Riton | Saalschutz | Schlachthofbronx | DJ Shadow | Shed live | Shout Out Louds | Sinden | Skate | Steffi | Die Sterne | Tama Sumo | Tiefschwarz  | Tommie Sunshine |  Matthias Tanzmann | Tobias Thomas | Tiga | Tocotronic | Martina Topley Bird | Two Door Cinema Club | The Very Best | Ricardo Villalobos | Joris Voorn live | Wareika | WhoMadeWho | Yeasayer | The XX

Having unofficially opened the festival in previous years, Melt have this year invited the Audiolith Crew to officiallly open proceedings this year.

Saalschutz, Egotronic, Bratze, Frittenbude and, of course, the DJs of the Hamburg cult label are going to take over the Melt! Klub on 15th of July. The capacity for the pre-party is limited to 3,000 people, so there will be a charge of  5,- Euro (including fees) for entrance.

Part of that fee will be donated to local social projects. Tickets are only available as etickets via www.meltfestival.de/tickets. A part of  the revenues will be donated to a concert, organized by the anti-fascist movement, in memory of Alberto Adriano, who was killed by neo nazis,  to be held on June 12th in Dessau.

industrial rave

MELT FESTIVAL
FERROPOLIS, GERMANY
16th – 18th July 2010

Tickets
3-day ticket valid for Friday, Saturday and Sunday:
EUR 94 zzgl. plus pre-sale fee and EUR 5 garbage deposit

2-day ticket valid for Friday and Saturday:
EUR 74 zzgl. plus pre-sale fee and EUR 5 garbage deposit

The ticket price includes camping and parking (from Thursday 15th July 01:00pm until Monday, 19th July 03:00pm).

Tickets are available from the Melt Festival English page.

the playground presents..

The Playground at London’s Scala and 93 Feet East is promising some rare events during April and May, starting with a return to the ‘live’ stage for electronic pioneer Gary Numan who will be performing for the first time in years, ahead of a busy schedule of festival dates.

Numan will be playing at The Playground at London’ s Scala on April 13th as a warm up for his appearance at the Coachella Festival in California and other dates along the West Coast in La and San Francisco.

Seemingly as popular as ever, Numan recently broke all records at the BBC when 1.3 million viewers watched his collaboration with Little Boots for BBC 6Music via the interactive ”red button”.

Numan will feature at The Playground at 93 Feet East on May 8th when he will headline alongside Ade Fenton in an eclectic alternative East London night out that runs until 4am.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Larry Tee and Punx Soundcheck to name but a few, will be supporting Numan and Fenton in a party that will spread throughout all 3 rooms within 93 Feet East, for what is sure to be an epic event.

Between the two Gary Numan appearances, on April 24th The Playground presents yet another night of epic proportions at 93 Feet East, featuring Django Django-Dj, These Monsters, Kong and Turbowolf, who will be ably supported by a cast of upcoming bands Bull See Red, Subsource (single launch) and Jumping Ships, plus much more.

Tickets for Gary Numan performance at The Scala in London on April 13th are available from ticketground.

Information for The Playground @ 93 Feet East events:
Gary Numan & Ade Fenton
Saturday 8/05/10
Time: 7pm – 4am
£ 10 advance £12 door
Free drink on entry
Tickets from www.ticketground.co.uk
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane London E1 6QL

Django Django & These Monsters
Saturday 24/04/10
Time: 7pm – 1am
£ 6 advance £7 door
tickets from www.ticketground.co.uk
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane London E1 6QL

West Coast album artwork, by Junk Culture

West Coast by Junk Culture will be released on 22 March on Illegal Art

Illegal Art is a backstreet home for Okapi, Tank Girl, Steinski and The Bran Flakes, creators of spray-painted soundscapes and gritty, sampled pleasures. A perfect fit then for Junk Culture, the label’s newest inhabitant.

Deepak Mantena has spent almost a decade operating under the Junk Culture banner, capturing sonic snapshots on a budget, hand-held recorder and melding them into synapse-searing collages. On his debut ep, West Coast, Mantena mixes old-skool hip-hop beats, found sounds from the streets of America or TV commercials and snatches of songs by artists including Animal Collective, Aphex Twin and Patti LaBelle.

The result is a compact lysergic lullaby, flitting between fast-paced flashbacks and brief passages of respite. Mantena says he is more interested in evoking certain moods or feelings than perfecting fidelity and on opening track, West Coast, you can hear why.

Beats brake and accelerate under a late-night, neon glow as the pre-dawn fallout from underground clubs stumble with a swagger. Unfathomable signposts flash by, all pointing to the inevitable comedown on a beguiling road to nowhere. And the AM station tunes in and out to the spectral sounds of Jazzmatazz and DJ Shadow.

Containing nine tracks and clocking in at 17 minutes, the West Coast ride is all too brief. But it’s a journey well worth taking. The album’s longer compositions give you just enough time to take in the brain-waved vistas while the off-road short cuts in between offer freeze-frame glimpses; lasting for just 28 seconds, the squelching sidewalk strut of Watson’s Glassy Stare shakes a leg in the direction of the fractured pastures frequented by ambient-techno artist The Field.

The thought of a night with Junk Culture in a small, sweaty, projection-lit club is a tantalising one, with staccato beats breaking in front of strobe-lit faces. However, in living room isolation, chose your moment carefully; this west coast trip is best experienced with the promise of a DIY, dusk-slung adventure on the horizon.

Junk Culture has just finished a US tour. No further live dates published at the moment.

Fore more information visit www.myspace.com/nojunkculture