Festival Fridays

This festival Friday it is of course the royal wedding.  A showcase of posh cunts and idiot celebritys all gathering together for us the plebs all over the world to watch.  I feel so priviliged. Anyway moving on from the dicks in stupid hats.  Its time for another Festival Friday check out the updates below...

Africa Oyé - Liverpool - 18th - 19th June
 Africa Oyé is the UK’s largest celebration of African music and culture which takes place annually in Liverpool.  Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre, the event has gone from strength-to-strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand.  Africa Oyé continues to grow - in 2010 the event attracted an audience of 40,000 over the weekend with the same expected to attend the 20th annual Africa Oyé Festival in 2011. Check the website.

Bestival - Isle Of Wight - 8th - 11th September

Rob da Bank's second festival of the summer taking place on the isle of wight right at the end of the season.  With over 15 stages scattered around the site not really one that can be summed up into a couple of sentences. Bestival has also announced it will be teaming up with Sky to be broadcast in 3d or as Rob da Bank put it,  'It’s amazing to be part of the world's first 3D TV festival extravaganza on Sky. Bestival in 3D will be a mind-blowing explosion of colour and multi-dimensional music and mayhem.  Check out the full lineup here...

Boomtown Fair - Secret Location (near London) - 11th - 14th August

Headliners include Gogol Bordello, Goldie Lookin' Chain and Toddla T. Check out the website..

Camp Bestival - Dorset - 28th - 31st July

"This year's Camp Bestival is going to be the best ever" according to creator Rob Da Bank.  Situated in a castle in Dorset with a lineup boasting names as varied as Blondie, techno pioneers Brandt Brauer Frick and world famous producer Mark Ronson as well as a host of comedians including the rapidly rising comedian Jack Whitehall. 

For more info and full lineup check the website

 
Creamfields - Cheshire -   27th - 28th August, Daresbury, Cheshire
LINE UP: The Chemical Brothers, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke, David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Magnetic Man.
Winning Best Dance Festival at both the 2009 & 2010 UK festival awards, Creamfields is the UK’s original and best two day dance fest. Creamfields is a global force, hosting events around the world and this annual event is the highlight of the UK calendar for dance music lovers. At the helm of international electronic music, Creamfields have over a decade of festivals under their belt and the UK show is firmly established as a 60,000 capacity two-day festival with camping. Located in the stunning rolling hills of Cheshire, Creamfields celebrates energetic and dynamic programming across diverse arenas.  Check the website

Dot to Dot Festival - Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham - 28th - 30th May

Spread over three cities and three days.  Dot to Dot is set to take over three of Britian's musical hubs; Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham, with a whole host of electronic indie pop. This week Dot to Dot have added the Guillemots and We Are Scientists to the bill. Check the full lineup etc on their website...

Glade Festival -  Secret Location - 10th - 12th June

The UK’s most forward-thinking electronic music event Glade Festival returns for 2011, revolutionised and stripped back to it’s shiny roots. Taking place at a brand new, as yet undisclosed, venue this year’s festival will feature a selection of the biggest names in cutting-edge electronic music. This years event sees the festival scaled down in terms numbers (strictly limited to 5000 capacity) BUT will feature the same attention to detail which saw the event voted Best Dance Festival 2008 at the UK Festival Awards.

This week Glade announces the addition of a whole host of new stages curated by the likes of; Mixcloud, Team Love, Beats and Bobs, Gouranga, manchester based Illuminaughty and a whole host of others.  There's also a load of competitions on the go so get on the website...  Check the website here... 

Gotwood Festival - Anglesey - 30th June - 3rd July
This week Gotwood set in an Anglesey forest have announced their counter movement against David Cameron's Big Society with "Twig Society" inviting you all to muck in to revitalise the festival experience.  Find out more, check out the full lineup which includes Jamie XX, a guy Gerald and more and get a ticket on their website here...

Honeyfest - Wiltshire - 16th April
Honeyfest is a collaboration between BBC 1 and the Big Lottery Fund. Honeyfest is part of the Barge Inn Community Project and is funded through Village SOS which has awarded villagers with a grant to take over their local pub and stage a mini-festival! As countless rural pubs close each year, this unique all-dayer is the first of its kind and sets out to help rejuvenate village life and never has the need for such events in rural areas been more pressing.    www.honeyfest.co.uk

Kendal Calling - Cumbria - 29th - 31st July

Our favourite lake district based festival has announced its lineup and got tickets on sale already.  Head over to the website to check who's playing and buy a ticket.

For last year's Example coverage of Kendal Calling check here..

Review  

Photos

Larmer Tree Festival - Salisbury - 13th - 17th July

Larmer Tree celebrates traditional folk music and world famous acts, a festival that delivers high quality with a buzzing atmosphere and eccentric antics. Experts in their field, Larmer Tree Festival has over 80 acts showcased on six stages, 150 free workshops, award winning international comedians, quirky and unique street theatre, an onsite night club and late night jam sessions; all located in one of the most beautiful festival sites in the country. Website

Limetree Festival   -  North Yorkshire - 26 - 28 August 2011

Yorkshire’s funkiest family friendly festival, Limetree in Grewelthorpe, will be able to welcome more festival goers than ever before in its fourth year to enjoy a line up of the best local, national and global jazz, soul, funk, dubstep and folk artists, bands and DJs.  The Limetree Festival site, in a natural conservation area deep in North Yorkshire, will double in size allowing more people to enjoy the vibrant yet relaxed and sociable atmosphere over the Bank Holiday weekend, Check the first lineup announcement on the website...

*NEW*  Melt! Festival - Ferropolis, Germany - 15th July - 17th July 

The line up for the 14th Melt Festival in Ferropolis, Germany is nearing completion.  With names like Richie Hawtin, José Gonzalez, Addison Groove, Brandt Brauer Frick, Paul Kalkbrenner, Katy B and much much more on the lineup you should probably go and book your flights... WEBSITE 

Nozstock Festival - Herefordshire - 29th - 30th July  EXAMPLE COVERAGE CONFIRMED

One of our favourite festivals last summer Nozstock is small but deadly. Set on a family farm in herefordshire this one strikes a nice balance between mash up raving and festival chilling.  Check the website ...

Nozstock Example Review

Nozstock Example Photos

Outside Inside - Reading - 9th - 30th July
The UK’s first ever pop up Festival, outside:inside, will embark on Reading this July, with a whole host of music, arts and festivities completely taking over an array of venues, outside spaces, closed commercial properties, churches and more!  With artists confirmed including Lee Scratch Perry, The Fall and DJ Derek, plus many more stunning artists to be announced reading looks set to go off.
Check the Website

*NEW*  Secret Garden Party - Cambridgeshire - 21st - 24th July

The Secret Garden Party is the UK’s most radically independent and inspiring Arts and Music festival described by Rockfeedback thus ... "There is no festival on Earth quite like Secret Garden Party"  The website gives a hint of what your in store for...

•NEW• Sonar Festival - Barcelona, Spain - 16th - 18th June

Sonar Festival taking place in the beatiful Spanish city of Barcelona has this week added 27 new names to its already breathtaking lineup. Dizzee Rascal, Four Tet and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem fame have all been thrown into the mix. Check out the Website...

Soundwave Festival - Croatia - 22nd - 24th July

The beautifully situated Soundwave Festival returns to its Croatian home this year for some tunes in the sun.  They've just confirmed Bonobo with a full live band as well as a host of boat parties, stages and a lineup spanning more genres than you could shake a stick at.  With a ticket and return flight for around £189 whats stopping you.  Check out the full lineup and more details here...

Here's what happened last year...

South West 4 - London -27th - 28th August.

With big promoter brands like Cocoon, Drumcode and We Love... curating the stages South West Fours on Clapham Common is shaping up to be the biggest and best one yet. . Check the website for updates...

Standon Calling - Hertfordshire - 12th -14th August.

Set in the stunning grounds of a 16th century manor house in Hertfordshire, this unique small festival is well renowned for punching way above its weight when it comes to headliners; over the past few years festival goers have been treated to the likes of The Liars, Etienne De Crecy, Buena Vista Social Club, and Florence and the Machine. Standon Calling has an onsite swimming pool complete with underwater discos, themed fancy dress and art - this year’s theme is Gods and Monsters and a nightclub in a cow shed with a 6am license!

Check the website out.

Shambala Festival - Secret Location - 25th - 28th August

Quietly confident Shambala keeps a lot under wraps.  The music is kept a secret with only a few clues in the curators of the stages and the location remains a secret until you've bought a ticket. Head over to the Website to find out more about this curious event.  They are also running a competition for your band to win a chance to play at Shambala more info also on the festival website ...

Stop Making Sense Festival - Croatia - 12th - 14th August
Nominated Best New European Festival in its inaugural year, Stop Making Sense is held on the full moon weekend in August. SMS brings all-night celebrations to the shores of Croatia’s beautiful Adriatic coast. Stop Making Sense is an international music festival with an irreverently independent vibe that showcases top quality dance music and live acts and internationally acclaimed DJ’s in the sunshine and under the stars. Check the lineup here...

 Urban Art Forms Festival - Austria - 16th - 18th June

Europe's leading visual audio event taking place in Vienna. Names like Paul Kalkbrenner, Fat Boy Slim and S.P.Y on the lineup looks set to be a big one as well as some of the worlds best visual artists projecting cool stuff onto everything in the festival.

WEBSITE 

Wickerman - Scotland -22nd - 23rd July

The biggest scottish festival is back for its tenth anniversary this summer with Utah Saints, Peo De Pitte and a whole host of acts.  Check out the lineup in full on the website...

WEBSITE .
 

Winter Sessions - Chamonix, France - 22th - 24th April

The Winter Sessions Weekender is a three day boutique festival taking place on and off the slopes of the Chamonix valley.  Headliner's include Skitz and Rodney P, Gentleman's Dub Club and Engine Earz.  For full lineup and more info check their website

Thats it for this week.  More festivals will be added next week plus updates on these ones.  Hope you're looking forward to it 'cos we are.

Hype Williams – band, not to be confused with 90’s Hip-Hop video mogul – are an evasive enigma, in that no one has actually asserted who they are. With several 7”s/LPs building a cult underground reputation the “duo” have finally released long awaited album, “One Nation”. Ironic as the ostensible “duo”, Denna Frances Glass and Dean Blunt reside from Russia, or maybe Estonia who knows, and London respectably.

Elusive interviews, in which cryptic rabbles elude questions, has only aroused suspicion, fueled curiosity and escalated assiduity, contributing to a formidable Internet “hype”, excuse the pun. But don’t judge the buzz on the tenuous, mysterious persona, or the Billboard winning, MTV honing alias, judge on the delivery of a unique and personable brand of warping Hip-Hop.

“One Nation” kicks off with “Ital”, a moody, surreal, almost apocalyptic tune, laced with drops of acid, warped cavernous chords and a troubled pitch shifted vocal loop. “Untitled” continues in the apocalyptic vain, ‘…everyone dies, and you will too', a solemn soliloquy in juxta to an upbeat, distorted beat. “William, Shotgun Sprayer”, clouds around a steal drum loop, airy bells and foggy R’n’B vocal, a melodic and deluging preface for one of the standout tracks, “Businessline”. A track that could have transgressed inspiration from any genre, or era, funk laden, mellow, vintage and fucking cool. Warping in and out of a haze, built up on an 808-drum pattern and fluid, bouncy chords, with a pre-faded, rustic and authentic groove, the track aptly sums the duo’s emerging innovative sound.

 “Warlord” ferments around a manifestation of hi-hats, while “Dragon Stout” and “Homegrown” should probably be one song, instead broken into 2, with the second half of the Minimal/Acid esc Hip-Hop changing tempo mid way through. Another highlight, “Your Girl Smells Chung When She Wears Dior”, samples

Cassie’s vocal from “Addiction”, ambiguously in tandem to raspy, vintage chords and a shuffling 2-step beat, creating a mellow and contagious interpretation of Ryan Leslie’s original. 

 “Unfaithful” reverberates a profound influence of House, with scuffling hats, and overtly synthesised horns creating an engrossing 2 minutes, that feels like it should have been dedicated 6. This reverberation is again apparent in “MITSUBUSHI” a deep immersion of placid strings in conjunction with bubbling kicks. “Jah” sounds like a band’s record; an improvised syncopation, that scats around a twisted vocal. Before “Break4Love” re-establishes the mellow equilibrium, with a deep copulation of smooth chords and a whimpering vocal loop. Setting up the climax of the record, “Untitled (And Your Batty Is So Round)”, alone this tune is weird, however in cohesion to the record as a whole and the eccentricity of the duo it makes sense.

The album has a homemade, natural and authentic feel to it, coupled with vintage instrumentation and sometimes-excessive tape delay, ultimately resulting in a profoundly cool record. Echoing influence as much from slouchy Hip-Hop, as from acoustic guitar, 90’s R’n’B and even 80’s pop music the duo have strained a playful, sincere and identifiably immersive brand of music. Behind the silly titles and evasive interviews there is a unique playfulness, and why should playfulness be objectionable? As Blunt put it himself  “The best art has humour in it. You can’t take yourself too seriously.” A view mirrored by Seth Troxler, in an interview with the Burlington Project, “Don’t take your self too seriously!” and they are both right.

“One Nation” provides perfect listening for late night’s, long journeys and spliff heavy jams. An eccentric electronic music album, with defining moments of urban escapism - “Businessline”, “Your Girl…”- that would appease fans across spectrums.  8/10

Festival Fridays

There was no Festival Friday last week because it accidentaly turned into do no work and get drunk all day in the sun Friday.  We're just living our lives. Im sorry!!!  The festivals are getting nearer and we've got double the upates this week since there wasn't any last week.  As well as some new additions to the list.  So check it out Festival Friday number 3...

Africa Oyé - Liverpool - 18th - 19th June
 Africa Oyé is the UK’s largest celebration of African music and culture which takes place annually in Liverpool.  Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre, the event has gone from strength-to-strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand.  Africa Oyé continues to grow - in 2010 the event attracted an audience of 40,000 over the weekend with the same expected to attend the 20th annual Africa Oyé Festival in 2011. Check the website.

Bestival - Isle Of Wight - 8th - 11th September

Rob da Bank's second festival of the summer taking place on the isle of wight right at the end of the season.  With over 15 stages scattered around the site not really one that can be summed up into a couple of sentences. Bestival has also announced it will be teaming up with Sky to be broadcast in 3d or as Rob da Bank put it,  'It’s amazing to be part of the world's first 3D TV festival extravaganza on Sky. Bestival in 3D will be a mind-blowing explosion of colour and multi-dimensional music and mayhem.  Check out the full lineup here...

Boomtown Fair - Secret Location (near London) - 11th - 14th August

Headliners include Gogol Bordello, Goldie Lookin' Chain and Toddla T. Check out the website..

Camp Bestival - Dorset - 28th - 31st July

"This year's Camp Bestival is going to be the best ever" according to creator Rob Da Bank.  Situated in a castle in Dorset with a lineup boasting names as varied as Blondie, techno pioneers Brandt Brauer Frick and world famous producer Mark Ronson as well as a host of comedians including the rapidly rising comedian Jack Whitehall. 

For more info and full lineup check the website

 
Creamfields - Cheshire -   27th - 28th August, Daresbury, Cheshire
LINE UP: The Chemical Brothers, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke, David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Magnetic Man.
Winning Best Dance Festival at both the 2009 & 2010 UK festival awards, Creamfields is the UK’s original and best two day dance fest. Creamfields is a global force, hosting events around the world and this annual event is the highlight of the UK calendar for dance music lovers. At the helm of international electronic music, Creamfields have over a decade of festivals under their belt and the UK show is firmly established as a 60,000 capacity two-day festival with camping. Located in the stunning rolling hills of Cheshire, Creamfields celebrates energetic and dynamic programming across diverse arenas.  Check the website

Dot to Dot Festival - Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham - 28th - 30th May

Spread over three cities and three days.  Dot to Dot is set to take over three of Britian's musical hubs; Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham, with a whole host of electronic indie pop. This week Dot to Dot have added the Guillemots and We Are Scientists to the bill. Check the full lineup etc on their website...

Glade Festival -  Secret Location - 10th - 12th June

The UK’s most forward-thinking electronic music event Glade Festival returns for 2011, revolutionised and stripped back to it’s shiny roots. Taking place at a brand new, as yet undisclosed, venue this year’s festival will feature a selection of the biggest names in cutting-edge electronic music. This years event sees the festival scaled down in terms numbers (strictly limited to 5000 capacity) BUT will feature the same attention to detail which saw the event voted Best Dance Festival 2008 at the UK Festival Awards.

This week Glade announces the addition of a whole host of new stages curated by the likes of; Mixcloud, Team Love, Beats and Bobs, Gouranga, manchester based Illuminaughty and a whole host of others.  There's also a load of competitions on the go so get on the website...  Check the website here... 

Gotwood Festival - Anglesey - 30th June - 3rd July
This week Gotwood set in an Anglesey forest have announced their counter movement against David Cameron's Big Society with "Twig Society" inviting you all to muck in to revitalise the festival experience.  Find out more, check out the full lineup which includes Jamie XX, a guy Gerald and more and get a ticket on their website here...

Honeyfest - Wiltshire - 16th April
Honeyfest is a collaboration between BBC 1 and the Big Lottery Fund. Honeyfest is part of the Barge Inn Community Project and is funded through Village SOS which has awarded villagers with a grant to take over their local pub and stage a mini-festival! As countless rural pubs close each year, this unique all-dayer is the first of its kind and sets out to help rejuvenate village life and never has the need for such events in rural areas been more pressing.    www.honeyfest.co.uk

Kendal Calling - Cumbria - 29th - 31st July

Our favourite lake district based festival has announced its lineup and got tickets on sale already.  Head over to the website to check who's playing and buy a ticket.

For last year's Example coverage of Kendal Calling check here..

Review  

Photos

Larmer Tree Festival - Salisbury - 13th - 17th July

Larmer Tree celebrates traditional folk music and world famous acts, a festival that delivers high quality with a buzzing atmosphere and eccentric antics. Experts in their field, Larmer Tree Festival has over 80 acts showcased on six stages, 150 free workshops, award winning international comedians, quirky and unique street theatre, an onsite night club and late night jam sessions; all located in one of the most beautiful festival sites in the country. Website

Limetree Festival   -  North Yorkshire - 26 - 28 August 2011

Yorkshire’s funkiest family friendly festival, Limetree in Grewelthorpe, will be able to welcome more festival goers than ever before in its fourth year to enjoy a line up of the best local, national and global jazz, soul, funk, dubstep and folk artists, bands and DJs.  The Limetree Festival site, in a natural conservation area deep in North Yorkshire, will double in size allowing more people to enjoy the vibrant yet relaxed and sociable atmosphere over the Bank Holiday weekend, Check the first lineup announcement on the website...

*NEW*  Melt! Festival - Ferropolis, Germany - 15th July - 17th July 

The line up for the 14th Melt Festival in Ferropolis, Germany is nearing completion.  With names like Richie Hawtin, José Gonzalez, Addison Groove, Brandt Brauer Frick, Paul Kalkbrenner, Katy B and much much more on the lineup you should probably go and book your flights... WEBSITE 

Nozstock Festival - Herefordshire - 29th - 30th July  EXAMPLE COVERAGE CONFIRMED

One of our favourite festivals last summer Nozstock is small but deadly. Set on a family farm in herefordshire this one strikes a nice balance between mash up raving and festival chilling.  Check the website ...

Nozstock Example Review

Nozstock Example Photos

Outside Inside - Reading - 9th - 30th July
The UK’s first ever pop up Festival, outside:inside, will embark on Reading this July, with a whole host of music, arts and festivities completely taking over an array of venues, outside spaces, closed commercial properties, churches and more!  With artists confirmed including Lee Scratch Perry, The Fall and DJ Derek, plus many more stunning artists to be announced reading looks set to go off.
Check the Website

*NEW*  Secret Garden Party - Cambridgeshire - 21st - 24th July

The Secret Garden Party is the UK’s most radically independent and inspiring Arts and Music festival described by Rockfeedback thus ... "There is no festival on Earth quite like Secret Garden Party"  The website gives a hint of what your in store for...

•NEW• Sonar Festival - Barcelona, Spain - 16th - 18th June

Sonar Festival taking place in the beatiful Spanish city of Barcelona has this week added 27 new names to its already breathtaking lineup. Dizzee Rascal, Four Tet and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem fame have all been thrown into the mix. Check out the Website...

Soundwave Festival - Croatia - 22nd - 24th July

The beautifully situated Soundwave Festival returns to its Croatian home this year for some tunes in the sun.  They've just confirmed Bonobo with a full live band as well as a host of boat parties, stages and a lineup spanning more genres than you could shake a stick at.  With a ticket and return flight for around £189 whats stopping you.  Check out the full lineup and more details here...

Here's what happened last year...

*NEW * South West 4 - London -27th - 28th August.

With big promoter brands like Cocoon, Drumcode and We Love... curating the stages South West Fours on Clapham Common is shaping up to be the biggest and best one yet. Full Lineup yet to be announced. Check the website for updates...

Standon Calling - Hertfordshire - 12th -14th August.

Set in the stunning grounds of a 16th century manor house in Hertfordshire, this unique small festival is well renowned for punching way above its weight when it comes to headliners; over the past few years festival goers have been treated to the likes of The Liars, Etienne De Crecy, Buena Vista Social Club, and Florence and the Machine. Standon Calling has an onsite swimming pool complete with underwater discos, themed fancy dress and art - this year’s theme is Gods and Monsters and a nightclub in a cow shed with a 6am license!

Check the website out.

*NEW*  Shambala Festival - Secret Location - 25th - 28th August

Quietly confident Shambala keeps a lot under wraps.  The music is kept a secret with only a few clues in the curators of the stages and the location remains a secret until you've bought a ticket. Head over to the Website to find out more about this curious event.  They are also running a competition for your band to win a chance to play at Shambala more info also on the festival website ...

Stop Making Sense Festival - Croatia - 12th - 14th August
Nominated Best New European Festival in its inaugural year, Stop Making Sense is held on the full moon weekend in August. SMS brings all-night celebrations to the shores of Croatia’s beautiful Adriatic coast. Stop Making Sense is an international music festival with an irreverently independent vibe that showcases top quality dance music and live acts and internationally acclaimed DJ’s in the sunshine and under the stars. Check the lineup here...

Winter Sessions - Chamonix, France - 22th - 24th April

The Winter Sessions Weekender is a three day boutique festival taking place on and off the slopes of the Chamonix valley.  Headliner's include Skitz and Rodney P, Gentleman's Dub Club and Engine Earz.  For full lineup and more info check their website

Thats it for this week.  More festivals will be added next week plus updates on these ones.  Hope you're looking forward to it 'cos we are.

Here's the first bit of our coverage of the fifth Bloc Weekend at Butlins Minehead last month...

Friday

As a complete Bloc Virgin I was keen to get down to Butlins Minehead and have a jolly good go at catching as many of the acts as possible, the line-up being pretty damn serious, a mixture of long standing giants of Electronic Music and trailblazing new artists all out to smash the pants off this little holiday camp.  Bloc was split into several arenas, primarily there is the Centre:Bloc, Tec: Bloc, Red: Bloc, Jack:Bloc and the visually spectacular and technologically mind-boggling Ableton RFID Dome. 

Each area had a particular curator organising exactly what heaviness happened and where, so it was first off to the Tec:Bloc organised by Bristols' Subloaded, a night originally set up via Dubstep Goliath Pinch and it was indeed him I caught first demonstrating exactly what they're all about, no secret this is basically weighty pounding Sub Bass and drums over the equally impressive Funktion One system. 

Mala then took over the reigns to keep the rhythms on the Dubstep vibe, proving his renowned mixing abilities to whip up a chest-crushing beast of a set and this only being at 9.30 in the pm!  Missing some of this to catch Ikonika over in the Red:Bloc missioning through a set impeded by a power cut she held it down supremely, dropping a veritable medley of tunes from across the genres and tempos to great effect.  

After a small break back at the chalet for some badly needed sustenance and a cheeky White Russian it was a return to the Tec:Bloc to witness Untold's masterful construction of a cracking set, taking in his own unique brand of messed up house, electro  and 2 step beats.  Reports of Ramadanman absolutely killing it over in Red were tempting but I felt compelled to check Shackleton out back in the Tec:Bloc to practically taste the grimey, atmospheric percussive dealings over the ridiculous system backed up by some quality images from the flashing screens behind.

 Anyone who's caught his recent Fabric 55 mix will have been familiar with the set that was played and yet this being an original live reconstruction in line with the performances he's put on in the past and really is great to witness in a club atmosphere, plenty of heads on the dancefloor taking it in enthusiastically, some proper zoned out on some deep meditative type shizzle, it really can be that involving.  To summarise Friday then: Dope:Bloc!

Saturday was all about an early evening Red:Bloc visit to catch the Mary Anne Hobbs' curated demonstration of where cutting edge bass music is at right now with L-Vis 1990 playing what appeared to be a semi-live set, fiddling with an array of curious Technology up on the stage and waking out some hefty tunes, the recent Pearson sound's 'Deep inside' edit particularly standing out for me but many other quality tracks dropped obviously as well as that.  

Addison Groove continued the onslaught of pumped up tunage, taking things in a fairly jukey direction, his first track, a mad remix of a classic soul tune 'Jimmy Mack' showed exactly where he was headed with his set and plenty of peeps were in the mood to get down to the jacked up electric funk that followed.

Having missed the headliners on the Friday I wasn't going to be repeating this on the Saturday and a plan of such cunning had to be devised in order to make sure we'd be down the front for Aphex.  To be fair, all the cunningness was really consisted of getting into that main arena several hours before and the bonus of that was we caught the nutty performance of Dopplereffekt.  This guy's antics consisted of wearing a mask and standing side on to the audience, his hands flickering at mad speeds over some bizarre contraptions while the images from behind and on the screens to the left of the stage emitted random old science reels and the like.  

Four Tet was up next, performing a live ableton set and starting out with the immense ultra-beautiful 'Angel Echoes and launching into plenty of funking 4/4 and laying down the perfect build up to where Aphex was going to take us for the main spectacle.   Understandably, the crowd was a maximum capacity for Richard D James and more than willing to lap up the kaleidoscopic range of tunes he then took us through. 

Building from a more abstract laid back intro, killer tunes dropped to the best effect included the totemic 'Work them' from Ramadanman, Jam city's 'Ecstasy Refix', killer Techno beast 'Twenty Nine' from Mark Broom and then stormed into some mad tempos for some jungle-related mashup.  Some may see the insane levels reached tempo-wise as too much but you can see the logic with which the set was made up, the images also mirroring this self-destructive theme of basically pushing things into near oblivion.  Pretty damn intense.

To climb down from such heady heights it was quite a good idea then after this musical depravity to seek refuge in the heady rhythms slapped out in the Jak:Bloc and the Resident Advisor curated acts that went through way into the early morning light.  A highlight here was checking Legowelt for a well aimed set containing much chicago house and the like, just what you want at that time and executed with admirable precision.

Sunday then, was a much calmer affair, plenty of time for anyone who hadn't yet tried the wonders that Butlins has to offer and no, I'm not being entirely sarcastic here, you would have to be a stone cold humourless cat not to enjoy sitting in an oversized deck chair or attempting the crazy golf while under the influence, rendering a somewhat irritating game entirely impossible or perhaps that's just my own little problem. 

Either way, after a brief visit to the fancy dress competition to witness some admirable costumes but also suffer intentionally awful music, it was quickly onto check in at the Centre:Bloc for the rest of the night.  Matthew Dear paved the way in entertaining fashion for the epic set Laurent Garnier (and friends) then bestowed upon us.  This was the way to see Bloc out, a gentle drift out on a sea of House music.  Live versions of the 'The man with the Red Face' and other classics was there for the chins in the crowd but overall it was a dope way to see the party out, culminating in a veritable feast of lasers and glitter.  

With so much to choose from here I can testify this is a festival well worth getting to next year, the choice of acts meant if you missed someone sick the chances are it's because you were at something else equally dope and I'm just throwing in the highlights I caught.  Plenty of peeps will have had completely differing experiences but generally will have some a variety of electronic music rarely found elsewhere and rivalling huge contemporary festivals such as Sonar. At 5 years old Bloc. Is gathering pace at a frightening speed, their brand of deep, but not exclusive dance music is a very welcome constant in todays scene.

Anyone interested in the tunes mentioned here I'm just dropping a few links for good measure:

Mark Broom – Twenty Nine (Black mix)

Ramadanman – Work Them

Addison Groove – Footcrab part 3/Footcrab Stomp 

Hardive – Deep inside (Pearson Sound remix)

Jacques Greene – (Baby I don't know) What you want

Four Tet – Angel echoes











 

Black Atlantic continues to bring the best in electronic music to London. Modeselektor have already brought their unique brand of monkey mischief to Melt Festival, Bloc Weekend and a few other choice parties across the globe but Saturday 30th April sees Modeselektion hit London for the first time, with a heavyweight line-up of Modeselektor, Mala, Siriusmo, Doc Daneeka, Benjamin Damage and Patchwork Pirates in effect this one promises to be a big one.

The event is taking place in a secret warehouse location somewhere.  Keep locked to the "Black Atlantic" twitter and facebook groups for updates...

MODESELEKTION - LONDON

 MODESELEKTOR (DJ)
(Monkey Town / 50 Weapons / BPitch)

MALA
 (DMZ, Deep Medi)

SIRIUSMO
 (Monkey Town)

DOC DANEEKA & BENJAMIN DAMAGE
(Ten Thousand Yen / 50 Weapons / Ramp)

PATCHWORK PIRATES
(Earnest Endeavours)

  SATURDAY 30TH APRIL
10PM – 6AM / £15 ADVANCE

TICKETS HERE:
http://blackatlantic.ticketabc.com/promoter/blackatlantic

Alex browning is a director.

He has won awards including Rare Rising Star 2010  (Arts & Media) at the House of Commons and, an Arts Award at the Black Youth Achievements and was runner-up for an o2 media award and has recently been listed in the Courvoisier TheFuture500, an exclusive members network of the country's brightest creative talent.



Here is his directorial debut in music video, Dune 'Golden Snake'. Dune a Manchester based trip-hop/indie band are students at the University of Manchester. Alex has recently directed a music video for Oye, an American Hip-Hop artist and directed the 3rd camera unit on Giggs 'Monsta man'.

www.alexbrowning.tv

Lost&Found Festival 

presents Anticx Asylum at Contact Theatre April 8th.  Come to Contact and show your support for Manchester's newest and exitingest event, Lost & Found Festival! To celebrate Lost & Found Festival, Anticx Asylum has unearthed some of Manchester’s greatest young performers for an open-mic bonaza at Contact  Help them raise funds to make Lost & Found Festival as brilliant as possible.

APRIL 8th 7pm £3

Book your tickets via: 0161 274 0600 / Contact-theatre.org

Festival Fridays Number 25th March

So it's spring time and in about two weeks time it will be time to don your shorts, pick up your strongbow, spark up your disposable BBQ's and head down to the raasklaat park (not necessarily in that order).  Another part of summer, which I think is very closely linked with our great park drinking weather based alcoholism culture, is of course the music festival.  Around this time as a magazine we get bombarded with news announcements from a whole host of festivals each week.  So we thought we would condense this into one easy to read weekly / fortnightly (we'll see how we get on) update.  So here it is Festival Friday number 3…

Africa Oyé - Liverpool - 18th - 19th June
 Africa Oyé is the UK’s largest celebration of African music and culture which takes place annually in Liverpool.  Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre, the event has gone from strength-to-strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand.  Africa Oyé continues to grow - in 2010 the event attracted an audience of 40,000 over the weekend with the same expected to attend the 20th annual Africa Oyé Festival in 2011. Check the website.

Bestival - Isle Of Wight - 8th - 11th September

Rob da Bank's second festival of the summer taking place on the isle of wight right at the end of the season.  With over 15 stages scattered around the site not really one that can be summed up into a couple of sentences.  Check out the full lineup here...

Boomtown Fair - Secret Location (near London) - 11th - 14th August

Headliners include Gogol Bordello, Goldie Lookin' Chain and Toddla T. Check out the website..

Camp Bestival - Dorset - 28th - 31st July

"This year's Camp Bestival is going to be the best ever" according to creator Rob Da Bank.  Situated in a castle in Dorset with a lineup boasting names as varied as Blondie, techno pioneers Brandt Brauer Frick and world famous producer Mark Ronson as well as a host of comedians including the rapidly rising comedian Jack Whitehall. 

For more info and full lineup check the website

 
Creamfields - Cheshire -   27th - 28th August, Daresbury, Cheshire
LINE UP: The Chemical Brothers, Tiesto, Paul Van Dyke, David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Magnetic Man.
Winning Best Dance Festival at both the 2009 & 2010 UK festival awards, Creamfields is the UK’s original and best two day dance fest. Creamfields is a global force, hosting events around the world and this annual event is the highlight of the UK calendar for dance music lovers. At the helm of international electronic music, Creamfields have over a decade of festivals under their belt and the UK show is firmly established as a 60,000 capacity two-day festival with camping. Located in the stunning rolling hills of Cheshire, Creamfields celebrates energetic and dynamic programming across diverse arenas.  Check the website

Dot to Dot Festival - Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham - 28th - 30th May

Spread over three cities and three days.  Dot to Dot is set to take over three of Britian's musical hubs; Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham, with a whole host of electronic indie pop. This week Dot to Dot have added the Guillemots and We Are Scientists to the bill. Check the full lineup etc on their website...

Glade Festival -  Secret Location - 10th - 12th June

The UK’s most forward-thinking electronic music event Glade Festival returns for 2011, revolutionised and stripped back to it’s shiny roots. Taking place at a brand new, as yet undisclosed, venue this year’s festival will feature a selection of the biggest names in cutting-edge electronic music. This years event sees the festival scaled down in terms numbers (strictly limited to 5000 capacity) BUT will feature the same attention to detail which saw the event voted Best Dance Festival 2008 at the UK Festival Awards. Check the website here...

Gotwood Festival - Anglesey - 30th June - 3rd July
This week Gotwood set in an Anglesey forest have announced their counter movement against David Cameron's Big Society with "Twig Society" inviting you all to muck in to revitalise the festival experience.  Find out more, check out the full lineup which includes Jamie XX, a guy Gerald and more and get a ticket on their website here...

Honeyfest - Wiltshire - 16th April
Honeyfest is a collaboration between BBC 1 and the Big Lottery Fund. Honeyfest is part of the Barge Inn Community Project and is funded through Village SOS which has awarded villagers with a grant to take over their local pub and stage a mini-festival! As countless rural pubs close each year, this unique all-dayer is the first of its kind and sets out to help rejuvenate village life and never has the need for such events in rural areas been more pressing.    www.honeyfest.co.uk

Kendal Calling - Cumbria - 29th - 31st July

Our favourite lake district based festival has announced its lineup and got tickets on sale already.  Head over to the website to check who's playing and buy a ticket.

For last year's Example coverage of Kendal Calling check here..

Review  

Photos

Larmer Tree Festival - Salisbury - 13th - 17th July

Larmer Tree celebrates traditional folk music and world famous acts, a festival that delivers high quality with a buzzing atmosphere and eccentric antics. Experts in their field, Larmer Tree Festival has over 80 acts showcased on six stages, 150 free workshops, award winning international comedians, quirky and unique street theatre, an onsite night club and late night jam sessions; all located in one of the most beautiful festival sites in the country. Website

Limetree Festival   -  North Yorkshire - 26 - 28 August 2011

Yorkshire’s funkiest family friendly festival, Limetree in Grewelthorpe, will be able to welcome more festival goers than ever before in its fourth year to enjoy a line up of the best local, national and global jazz, soul, funk, dubstep and folk artists, bands and DJs.  The Limetree Festival site, in a natural conservation area deep in North Yorkshire, will double in size allowing more people to enjoy the vibrant yet relaxed and sociable atmosphere over the Bank Holiday weekend, Check the first lineup announcement on the website...

Nozstock Festival - Herefordshire - 29th - 30th July  EXAMPLE COVERAGE CONFIRMED

One of our favourite festivals last summer Nozstock is small but deadly. Set on a family farm in herefordshire this one strikes a nice balance between mash up raving and festival chilling.  Check the website ...

Nozstock Example Review

Nozstock Example Photos

Outside Inside - Reading - 9th - 30th July
The UK’s first ever pop up Festival, outside:inside, will embark on Reading this July, with a whole host of music, arts and festivities completely taking over an array of venues, outside spaces, closed commercial properties, churches and more!  With artists confirmed including Lee Scratch Perry, The Fall and DJ Derek, plus many more stunning artists to be announced reading looks set to go off.
Check the Website

Soundwave Festival - Croatia - 22nd - 24th July

The beautifully situated Soundwave Festival returns to its Croatian home this year for some tunes in the sun.  They've just confirmed Bonobo with a full live band as well as a host of boat parties, stages and a lineup spanning more genres than you could shake a stick at.  With a ticket and return flight for around £189 whats stopping you.  Check out the full lineup and more details here...

Here's what happened last year...

Standon Calling - Hertfordshire - 12th -14th August.

Set in the stunning grounds of a 16th century manor house in Hertfordshire, this unique small festival is well renowned for punching way above its weight when it comes to headliners; over the past few years festival goers have been treated to the likes of The Liars, Etienne De Crecy, Buena Vista Social Club, and Florence and the Machine. Standon Calling has an onsite swimming pool complete with underwater discos, themed fancy dress and art - this year’s theme is Gods and Monsters and a nightclub in a cow shed with a 6am license!

Check the website out.

Stop Making Sense Festival - Croatia - 12th - 14th August
Nominated Best New European Festival in its inaugural year, Stop Making Sense is held on the full moon weekend in August. SMS brings all-night celebrations to the shores of Croatia’s beautiful Adriatic coast. Stop Making Sense is an international music festival with an irreverently independent vibe that showcases top quality dance music and live acts and internationally acclaimed DJ’s in the sunshine and under the stars. Check the lineup here...

Winter Sessions - Chamonix, France - 22th - 24th April

The Winter Sessions Weekender is a three day boutique festival taking place on and off the slopes of the Chamonix valley.  Headliner's include Skitz and Rodney P, Gentleman's Dub Club and Engine Earz.  For full lineup and more info check their website

Thats it for this week.  More festivals will be added next week plus updates on these ones.  Hope you're looking forward to it 'cos we are.

Next wednesday Estate Recordings and Example Media are taking over Noho in the Northern Quarter of Manchester to celebrate the release of Skittles single "Tip-I-Cal-ly".  Entry is free but places are limited.  To be on the guestlist all you have to do is email your name to invite@oneguycalledskittles.com.  See you there.   (click flyer for facebook event)