Latitude Festival 2010

The Latitude Festival celebrates it’s fifth year in 2010, taking place at Henham Park Estate in Suffolk between the 15th and 18th of July. Headliners for this years dates have now been announced and look set to follow the example of past years in making this Latitude Festival another not to be missed.

Making appearances on the main Obelisk Arena will be 2009 Brit Award Winner Florence and The Machine headline the proceedings on Friday night.

Legendary Scottish band Belle & Sebastian, who have not played live together since 2006 will be making a more than welcome return to the stage on Saturday night.

And topping the bill on Sunday will be the literate New York quartet Vampire Weekend, whose own breed of intelligent collegiate pop has now reached mainstream success.

The headliners will be supported by a more than able cast including Luke Steele’s incredible live show in the form of  Empire of the Sun on Friday, Brighton’s own The Maccabees will support on Saturday and the spell binding musical brilliance of Rodrigo y Gabriella will bring some culture to the proceedings on Sunday night.

On The Word Arena headliners are The National, The xx, and Grizzly Bear with support coming from Charlotte Gainsbourg and The Horrors.

The Lake Stage will be curated by Huw Stephens who will be introducing his freshest tips for stardom, while the Sunrise Stage provides the place to hear tomorrows stars today.

There will also be a massive line up of Comedy and Theatre taking place at Latitude in the Arts Arenas.

The Method Actors photo: Curtis Knapp

This is Still It by The Method Actors will be released on 22 March on Acute Records.

The next time an Oscar-loving luddite regales you with tales of deprivation and loss; all suffered in the name of art and a gold-tinged Kinder Egg toy, pop on This is Still It and relive a time when method actors didn’t pretend. Varney and Gamble may sound like a couple of second-rate chancers but together they raised a strobe-lit, spasmodic riot, with just guitars, drums and vocal chords; deprived of more band members than most and fuelled by the post-teen volcanoes of unrequited loss.

This is Still It showcases the duo’s early recordings, from 1980-1981. If you’re already a fan then this release is, by all accounts, a must; containing early ep material as well as a chunk of their debut long-player Little Figures.

If, like me, you’re new to The Method Actors, then you’ll need some gristle to add to your anti-Oscar bones.

CBGBs may be the classic, new wave, celluloid snap-shot but the breakers quickly hit further south, in Athens, Georgia. The Method Actors emerged alongside The B52s in a scene that eventually spawned REM. Throughout this compilation there are echoes of love-shacked yelps and howls, and the scratched, discordant guitar-tones of the B52s’ Ricky Wilson. But the opening track on This is Still It takes the red carpet all the way back to CBGBs. Do the Method froths and spits with the same head-rush drive and excitement of Television’s See No Evil. And on Commotion Varney’s vocals veer towards the controlled panic usually voiced by David Byrne.

The roll call of potential bastard cousins from across the Atlantic is also impressive. Bleeding is infused with the sparse, sonic suffocation of Joy Division and the whole album trembles with a knock-kneed funk that would make the Gang of Four seek anti-Blyton back-up. Yet somewhere lurks the pop aesthetic that underpinned many a buzzcocked classic. It goes back further.

It could be argued that The Method Actors have studied Beefheart and visited both the playful (Rang-A-Tang) and exotic, discordant landscapes (Pigeons) imagined by Can. There are even hints of the exasperated, angry shouts of Eugene McDaniels.

The key, however, to not pretending is an element of madness and The Method Actors have the periodic table covered. Like Pavement’s Spiral Stairs, Varney is two notes short of a conventional solo, operating – on voice and guitar – in a scale and fluxuating register that would render most musicians unrecordable.

And the hulk of David Gamble is a Dr Bruce Banner-man on drums, who has finally learnt to channel his aggression into a perpetual driving cavalcade of percussion; snare and toms snap and bellow as cymbals crash with measured abandon. For times when the emotions are frayed and all that will do is a dose of nervous tension…well, this
is still it.

For more information visit www.myspace.com/methodactors

Frank Turner

Frank Turner’s dream of reaching mainstream popularity continues to grow with the announcement that due to popular demand he will be performing at the O2 Brixton Academy on December 12th this year.

This news is announced following Turner having sold out his gig at London’s Roundhouse venue two months in advance. The Roundhouse show takes place as the finale of his current UK tour, on March 24th.

The Brixton show will be his largest headline gig so far and an incredible achievement considering his humble beginnings of playing tiny venues, house parties, pubs, car parks and anywhere else that would have him – only a few years ago. Testament if ever there was need for one, that Frank Turner has turned underground cult status into a mainstream success story.

To coincide with his March tour Turner will release a live version of the track Long Live The Queen, recorded at his Shepherds Bush Empire show in October last year. The single will be available as a digital download and a limited edition 7″ vinyl, from March 22nd.

A DVD/CD Take To The Road will also be available from March 22nd, featuring the entire Shepherds Bush gig as well as his performance in the more intimate surroundings of the Union Chapel last Christmas. The DVD also includes promo videos, diaries, photos and interviews. The bonus CD features the audio from Shepherds Bush.

Following the tour Turner will release the beautiful single Isabel on April 12th, the third track to be released from the Top 40 album Poetry Of The Deed. All Frank Turner recordings are available through Xtra Mile Recordings.

HEADLINE UK TOUR
MARCH
15 Northumbria Uni, Newcastle
16 Edinburgh Picture House
17 Manchester Academy
18 Leeds 02 Academy
19 Bristol 02 Academy SOLD OUT
21 Birmingham O2 Academy
22 Norwich Waterfront
23 Portsmouth Pyramids
24 London Roundhouse SOLD OUT
**EXTRA DATE ADDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND**
DECEMBER
12 LONDON O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON

For our international readers Frank Turner is currently supporting Flogging Molly on their huge arena tour in the USA and having recently sold out solo shows in Toronto, Montreal and LA – the international plot continues to grow with a confirmed set at Coachella Festival in April, dates on the Revival Tour in Australia, gigs in Hong Kong and a slot at the famous Calgary Folk Festival in July.

For further information visit the Frank Turner MySpace, or Xtra Mile Recordings.

dark passenger

Isa & The Filthy Tongues have built up a cult following with their dark underground sound and arty lyrics, a theme that is carried forward on their latest album Dark Passenger, only this collection of songs by their own standards is set to reach a wider more mainstream audience, being more accessible and melodic than earlier offerings.

Isa, aka as Stacey Chavis from Portland Oregon, provides beautiful vocals on the opening track Jim’s Killer, smothered deep in the mix of some wonderful jangling slightly distorted guitar the track enticed me to sit and listen to what The Filthy Tongues had to offer.

Isa and former Goodbye Mr McKenzie leader Martin Metcalfe share lead and backing vocal duties throughout the album allowing the band to showcase a pretty varied selection of their song writing skills.

Last years single New Born Killers is a particular stand out track, taken from the Richard Jobson film of the same name, the track was championed by many of BBC6 and Radio 2 deejays upon it’s release. The video for this track was also directed by Jobson and the result can be seen below.

Comparisons with early Echo and The Bunnymen have, and will continue to be observed and nowhere is this more evident than on the brilliant track Moon Is A Goon.  This is of course no bad thing, but the band have so much more to offer, as can be experienced throughout this album.

Producing wonderfully melodic though dark indie pop tunes through to the raw energy of punk rock, Isa & The Filthy Tongues excel at every opportunity.

Dark Passenger closes with the beautiful song From The Treetops, a gentle duet featuring both Isa and Metcalfe, a track that takes you into the chill out zone following an epic journey through the album.

Dark Passenger is released on Neon Tetra Records on March 22nd and comes highly recommended.

Isa & The Filthy Tongues – New Town Killers

NME describe the Dark Passenger as  ‘Epic guitar of classic Bunnymen tempered by scuzzy Scottish scrapiness and charged boy-girl vocals, it’s sure to fire you up.’

For more information visit Isa & The Filthy Tongues MySpace.

The deeply personal track The Only Exception is an acoustic ballad that gives the listener a glimpse into what was going on inside the head of singer Hayley Williams, over the last two years.

Hayley admits that it was a scary thought advertising such personal thoughts to the rest of the world as a 21 year old, but says;

“Now that it’s all said and on paper I’m not as insecure about [these lyrics] because I think these songs (on the album) form a full story that people are going to be able to connect with.”  The Only Exception touches on how her parents’ relationship has influenced the way she deals with, and thinks about, love.

The Only Exception video features Hayley’s father and is directed by long time Paramore collaborator Brandon Chesbro.

Paramore – The Only Exception

After a sell out UK tour which culminated at Wembley Arena on Dec 19th, the band are currently on a tour of Japan and Australia.  Paramore are reported to be coming back to Europe this summer for various festivals.  Exact dates to be announced.

local natives

Los Angeles’ finest, Local Natives release the latest track from their critically acclaimed album Gorilla Manor this week. Airplanes is already a much loved and firm concert favourite, an unforgettable swirling, soaring song and is released on Infectious Records this week.

The single will further enhance the Local Natives growing reputation for quality song writing that has earned them glowing tributes in recent months following the release of the debut album Gorilla Manor.

Local Natives are coming towards the end of a string of dates in the UK and can be caught at the following venues over the next few days:

March 4th   Manchester, Club Academy

March 5th   Glasgow, King Tuts

March 6th   Newcastle, Academy O2

Local Natives have just announced a further UK gig at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, which will take place on June 15th, promising London a taste of their unique blend of hazy Southern Californian melodies and tightly formed harmonies.

Local Natives – Airplanes

For further information visit the Local Natives MySpace page.

enter shikari

The Best Live Band of 2009 according to a readers poll in Rock Sounds, Enter Shikari have released their latest single Thumper, taken from the album Tribalism which was released last week.

Tribalism includes two brand new tracks, Thumper and the titular Tribalism, along with a smattering of B sides, remixes and live tracks serving as companion to the bands last studio release in 2009, Common Dreads.

As well as the standard release there will be a very limited special edition box set which includes the Tribalism CD, Live at Rock City CD, t-shirt, poster, sticker and two button badges. This box set will be available from the bands own webstore only at www.entersikari.com.

The full track listing for the album Tribalism is as follows:

1; Tribalism
2; Thumper
3; All Eyes On The Saint
4; We Can Breathe In Space
5; Insomnia (Live @ Brixton ‘07)
6; Juggernauts – Nero remix
7; No Sleep Tonight – Qemists remix
8; Wall – High Contrast remix
9; No Sleep Tonight – Mistabishi remix
10; Juggernauts – Blue Bear remix
11; No Sleep Tonight – Rout remix
12; No Sleep Tonight – Lights Go Blue remix
13; Havoc A (Live ‘09)
14; Labyrinth (Live ‘09)
15; Hectic (Live ‘09)

Enter Shikari – Thumper – video

Dreadzone - New Album & UK Tour

Dreadzone have announced thy will be releasing their new album Eye On The Horizon on 26th April 26th 2010.

The new album sees Dreadzone continue to create great dub dance pop music, a style that has helped them to become celebrated as one of the UK’s original dance music pioneers , with a style that has since spawned many sub genres.

MCing and reggae vocals partner the mix of live guitars, electronic beats and dub bass to perfection. The album features iconic samples (notably, the legendary theme from Long Good Friday on Gangster, a spoken word piece from Woody Guthrie and Dennis Brown’s Greensleeves classic Whip Them Jah on American Dread) all of which compliment the bass and beat heavy Dreadzone style perfectly.

The Dreadzone story began with Alan McGee‘s Creation Records and their first groundbreaking album 360, continuing with major waves their seminal 1995 album Second Light picking up support from John Peel (who included the album in his top ten favourite albums of all time).

The top 20 hit from that album Little Britain has since gone on to acquire classic status. Five critically acclaimed albums later they are set to remind people why the Dreadzone sound is still very much a part of the musical landscape of this country.

The core members Greg Dread, original bassmaster Leo Williams, the unmistakable MC Spee, legendary Studio One vocalist Earl 16 alongside Chris Compton on guitar and Chris Oldfield on technology make up the new line up.

Dreadzone’s influence extends not only out into the current scene as one of the pioneers of dub based music in this country, but rewinding to back in the day as the rhythm section of Big Audio Dynamite in the 1980’s. Their roots are embedded in the history of West London sound clash and with a drum and bass partnership of 25 years this year Leo and Greg are still rolling strong and rocking the nation with their distinctive rhythms.

“A welcome return from the defenders of bass! Dreadzone are back with their new album ‘Eye on the Horizon’ and as usual they draw fast and shoot straight to the heart of the matter: music to move your mind and your feet”
Don Letts

Dreadzone – Eye On The Horizon track listing

1.TOMORROW NEVER COMES
2.FOR A REASON
3.CHANGES
4.AMERICAN DREAD
5.BEYOND A ROCK
6. GANGSTER
7. YEAH MAN
8.MY FACE
9. WALK TALL
10. JUST LET GO

Dreadzone UK Tour Dates

To promote the new album, Dreadzone will be playing a short UK Tour.

Fri 19 March
FOLKESTONE Quarterhouse

Sat 20 March
READING Plug n Play Studios

Fri 26 March
SOUTHAMPTON The Joiners

Sat 27 March
HITCHIN Club 85

Fri 16 April
YORK The Duchess

Thurs 22 April
SALISBURY Arts Centre

Fri 23 April
STROUD Subscription Rooms

Wed 28th April
LONDON Cargo

Fri 14 May
PONTARDAWE Arts Centre

Sat 15 May
WOLVERHAMPTON Wolves Little Civic

Sun 16 May
DERBYSHIRE Bearded Theory Festival

Thurs 20 May
TUNBRIDGE WELLS The Forum

Fri 21 May
LUTON Hat Factory

Sat 22 May
MANCHESTER Academy 3

Fri 4 June
BRIGHTON Komedia

Sun 6 June
CHELTENHAM Wychwood Festival

High Places vs. Mankind

Following on from a successful debut album (self-titled) and working off the back of a lovely single (‘I Was Born’), High Places are most likely hoping to churn back up some of the cult acclaim they receive from time to time and turn into alternative mainstays. With the style they had on their self-titled debut – a sort of tropical mish-mash of metallic clangs, trebly vocals and looped drums – they would be rightful possessors of such a tag, so there’s a lot riding on this second main release.

Whilst the same sort of processes are there on High Places vs. Mankind – looped found sounds, reverberating drum loops and lilting vocal– their sound has undoubtedly changed. Gone are the tropical, meandering dreamlike compositions present all throughout the debut, and in its place is a much icier sound, reflected in some of the subject matter – addiction and death, for instance.  Elsewhere there are more distinguishable guitar lines than before.

Mary Pearson’s vocals have grown to sound more like Karin Dreijer’s or Beach House’s Victoria Legrand’s, such as on ‘On Giving Up’, with an icy repetition of ‘Tonight is going to be the night’ making something expectant sound like the final words of a murderer planning to take revenge on an ex-lover.

The tracks don’t sound as wonderfully cluttered as they previously did, either. Where, on High Places, they worked like clashing neon patchworks, High Places vs. Mankind works like a sparsely painted canvas, and songs like ‘She’s A Wild Horse’ or ‘Canada’ demonstrate this point

Yet it is precisely this ability to create songs that sound like whole pieces of art – like a collage whereby elements recur and give a theme underpinned by intermittent points of interest –that makes High Places so fantastic. The songs are never rushing to get to an end or a swelling chorus, but just kind of ‘are’, like a minimal or dub release just ‘is’.

They may have relocated from Hawaii to Moscow with regards to their sound, but High Places vs. Mankind is still recognisable as High Places, and for that, we can only be thankful.

High Places vs. Mankind is released on Thrill Jockey on April 6th. Well worth it.

Here are details of the UK tour:
3-May-10                Brighton  –   Freebutt
4-May-10                London -  Cargo
5-May-10                Dublin -  Whelans
6-May-10                Glasgow  -  Nice & Sleazy
7-May-10                Sheffield   –   The Harley
8-May-10                Leeds  -  The Brudenell Social Club

And there’s a free MP3 here. Here is High Places’ MySpace page.

2000 Trees Festival

This summer, discover the very best in new British music as 2000trees Festival returns to Upcote Farm in Cheltenham on 16th – 17th July for a fourth year running.

Promoting the finest homegrown talent emerging from our very own vibrant music scene, 2000trees is the perfect place to unearth tomorrow’s stars today.

With an eclectic line-up that spans a varied mixture of musical genres, this intimate and friendly festival has become a haven for music fanatics everywhere; some of which have discovered their new favourite bands at the event.

Up and coming bands play alongside more established acts to create an inspiring, chilled out, fun festival of good music and great atmosphere.

In its short history 2000trees has established itself as one of the leading small festivals in the British summer calendar. Created by a group of friends in 2007, 2000trees was born out of frustration with the ever increasing corporate sponsorship and mass advertising nature of the larger traditional British festivals.

Disillusioned by extortionate ticket prices and over priced food and drink, this band of festival veterans vowed to take matters into their own hands and in true punk rock style set about developing the perfect antidote.

Set within the stunning countryside of the environmentally protected grounds of Upcote Farm, with award-winning green and ethical initiatives, means they have achieved just that.

And this year’s event is looking to be bigger and better than ever before.

Unveiling the first names on the bill – 2000trees is excited to announce the return of folk/punk hero Frank Turner who will be playing a headline set on the Friday night. Previously at 2000trees Frank has played memorable performances on the Leaf Lounge and Treehouse stages as well as an impromptu campsite set for a select lucky few – but this year’s headline show will be a monumental, fun-filled and raucous performance from one of the nation’s most electrifying performers.

Saturday’s line-up is also starting to take shape with the news that Sheffield’s finest experimental rock outfit 65daysofstatic will be bringing their mind-bending post-rock to 2000trees in what will no doubt be a mesmerizing performance.

With two full days featuring over 50 acts on three stages still to be confirmed, as well as the addition of comedy running during the day on the third stage, DJs, headphone disco and campfire sing-a-longs to keep the party spirit going till dawn, 2010 is shaping up to be the best year yet – with an extra day of music and fun for the first 500 people who purchase early entry passes for Thursday 15th July.

Over the past three years the festival has witnessed some incredible live performances, from The King Blues, who had practically the entire field dancing and singing in the rain at last year’s sold out event, with Fightstar and British Sea Power delivering crowning headline sets.

The previous years have seen unforgettable performances from Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster, Art Brut, Slow Club, Future Of The Left, Beans On Toast, The Duke Spirit, The Ghost of a Thousand, Danananaykroyd, These New Puritans, Red Light Company and Wild Beasts to name just a few.

2000trees Music Festival Tickets and Information

Tickets are now on general sale for just £50. And one lucky person will win a ‘golden ticket’ – which will include the chance to meet and announce the band of their choice on the main stage during the event.

Tickets and more information are available from www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk