May 2010

EXAMPLEIn association with

WirelessLondon, July 2-4

Once again a rap heavyweight is topping the bill at this summer’s Wireless festival. Jay-Z will close proceedings on the final night of festivities, in the hope that he can re-certify hip hop’s place on the UK festival circuit. His comrade Kanye West provided a calamitous performance in the same slot last year, as he angered festival goers with a sub-par exhibition of egotistical prowess. Yet the “Jigga-Man” is unlikely to fall foul of similar disappointment with his emphatic and enthralling exhibitions that have already amazed festival crowds at the likes of glastonbury and Summer Jam in the U.S.

Keeping with the american theme, Pink has surprisingly been announced as the opening night headliner. Her credentials for filling such a slot seem rather ambiguous, unless we have underestimated the number of people who actually buy her records. The gossip, Mr Hudson and Lily allen are the only artists so far flying the British flag but it is inevitable that amongst the ferris wheels and picnic areas of London’s Hyde Park, more will be announced shortly. (TF)

Bands: Jay-Z, LcD Soundsystem, Pink

wirelessfestival.co.uk

Lounge On The FarmCanterbury, July 9-11

a FeeL-gOOD, relaxed atmosphere and a main stage set in a massive cow shed are the two things to dominate Lounge On The Farm. They even look out for the little guys, with the ‘you say they play’ competition aimed at recruiting local Kent bands to a billing on their own separate stage. You may need to be an indie connoisseur to pick out a deal of the names on the roster, but with small gems like Summer camp, gold Panda, Slow club and Tom Waits’ top songstress Jesca Hoop featuring there, emerging talent isn’t absent. (DW)

Bands: Tunng, Beardyman, DJ Yoda

loungeonthefarm.co.uk

Larmer Tree FestivalSalisbury, July 14-18

BeTween This jazz and blues hootenanny and end Of The Road festival, it’s clear that the folk of Larmer Tree are determined not to get loud. in all likelihood, it is disagreeable for the peacocks. With attendees and birdlife free to roam beautiful grounds in tranquillity, this is a haven for all those seeking a blissfully peaceful festival and an eclectic, cerebral line-up of musicians. And at five days long, you could almost choose to convalesce here. Just don’t leave your tent open and breadcrumbs in the porch, or your wake-up call will involve a feathered neighbour. (DW)

Bands: Jools Holland, newton Faulkner, Tunng

larmertreefestival.co.uk

LatitudeSuffolkJuly 15- 18

imBueD wiTh the tranquility of Suffolk’s enchanting woodlands, Latitude is not so much an arts festival as it is a bohemian retreat for all ages. Over three days students, families and well-mannered pipe smoking pensioners can indulge themselves in an array of high arts, with ballet and theatrical exhibits preceding breakfast, poetry readings and orchestral performances on the river by

sunset. civilised and reserved, the crowds are more content with sipping on Pimms and gently nodding with approval than dancing uncontrollably and hurling bottles of urine.

Musically, past line-ups have been something of a mismatch, aiming to please attendees with such a vast age range. Selection has been based more on nostalgia than cutting-edge relevance. That appears to be changing in the new decade, with headliners Florence + The machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend already confirmed to add additional vibrancy and sophistication to what will likely be another unforgettable affair. (TF)

Bands: The national, The xx, Grizzly Bear

latitudefestival.co.uk

JULY

The summer starts here:It’s that time of year again when we gear up for another summer of musical fun and frolics. This issue we continue our

look at the pick of this year’s festival action in the UK...

Compiled and edited by Dylan Williams

Contributors: Dylan Williams, David Biddle, Chris Marks,

Jonathan Hopkins, Laura Snapes, James Thornhill

LCD Soundsystem

GladeWinchester, July 15-18

Since the music festival business has proliferated far beyond the hippie cul-de-sacs your parents got high at, there are specialities for those who are filled with trepidation at the mention of ‘guitar bands’. For one, try Glade, featuring everything dance and electro. Alright, tricky’s backing band might have guitars, but you can be sure they’ll be plugged in and turned up pretty high.

having blossomed from a Glastonbury stage into its own fare, Glade is still an underground contender in the dance world next to the likes of Creamfields and GlobalGathering. With the aim of ridding tents in favour of open air partying, the festival is a refreshing place to test the fortitude of your eardrums and your endurance for raving. So when your Dad talks about his tinnitus and that time he smoked some pot, try to tone down the recollection of your time spent in front of the sound systems of Glade. (DW)

Bands: Orbital, Simian Mobile Disco, tricky

gladefestival.com

LoveboxVictoria Park, London, July 16-18

thiS iS Groove Armada’s party, so expect something sassy. the dance kingpins have done a fine job keeping the roster broad, with hip hop, new wave, R&B and rock covered just between the headliners alone. Lovebox is extending the foray across three days for the first time, but there’s no camping, so call dibs on your friend’s futon or get a hostel booked and be prepared to battle for the exit with the 50,000 revellers leaving each night. It’s just a shame you’ll have to ditch that last beer before getting on the tube. (DW)

Bands: Dizzee Rascal, Roxy Music, Mark Ronson, Grace Jones, hot chip

lovebox.net

WOMADWiltshire, July 23-25

WhILe the ‘world music’ tag has a tendency to put off some festival goers, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) has a remarkable ability to defy stereotypes

and preconceptions. instead of tokenism or patronising of other cultures it brings out some of the best, most eclectic, and interesting acts from around the globe. Recent years have seen line-ups including everyone from Lee Scratch Perry to Peter Gabriel on the main stages and smaller stages have featured everything from beatbox workshops to dubstep. WOMAD also has a great atmosphere; crime rates are extremely low and the site is extremely relaxing (the Arboretum is a near silent area of woodland next to the arena and is amazing for those needing to wind down). the nightlife, though, is still relatively lively (although nothing on the scale of larger, more commercial rivals), with drinks slightly cheaper than most festivals and fewer crowds. Great for getting away from it all. (DB)

Bands: to be announced (this Friday)

womad.org/festivals/charlton-park

Secret Garden PartyCambridgeshire July 22-25

With ORGAniSeRS underscoring the importance of partying and insisting Gardeners (i.e. attendees) indulge in the fanciful yearly theme, SGP lays a stronger claim to a clear niche than most festivals. 2009 saw the festival goers split between the hedonistic and the serene (Babylon vs. eden), with the lakeside divided to reflect the nature of each area. this year the take is ‘Fact or Fiction’, with plenty of scope for bizarre and reality-blurring events and décor. in all the revelry, music may seem like an afterthought, but the festival is pulling big names, with the sensory feast of the Gorillaz Sound System aptly headlining. the untamed participation and wildly creative atmosphere are still at the forefront of SGP though, so don’t be surprised to see body painted festival organisers streaking past you on their way for a skinny dip. (DW)

Bands: Gorillaz Sound System, Marina & the Diamonds, Mercury Rev

secretgardenparty.com/2010/

Truck SteventonJuly 23-25

We have a bit of a love affair with truck Festival. A trip to hill Farm usually gets all

doe-eyed and weak at the knees, it is pretty lovely. they also do some pretty fine things in the way of line-ups: this year joining headliners Mew and teenage Fanclub are Blood Red Shoes, Fucked Up, Los campesinos!, Darwin Deez, Future of the Left, Stornoway, Good Shoes and egyptian hip hop (to name a few). Sounds good doesn’t it. Get down to hill Farm, get served booze by a vicar in drag, eat lovely food from the local Rotary club and watch bands in a barn – wonderful!

Bands: teenage Fanclub, Darwin Deez, Los campesinos!, Good Shoes

thisistruck.com

IndietracksButterley, Derbyshire23-25 July

AS InDIe-PoP fans indietracks is our ‘happy place’, the place we go to when we need to feel at home. A place full of cardigans, jangly guitars, hand-claps and mis-timed vocal harmonies – a place where pop music has a soul. Did we also mention you get to ride on steam-trains? Well you do, and watch bands on them!

this year Butterley in Derbyshire will be hit by a gathering of indie-types who will watch

headliners the Pains of Being Pure At heart alongside indie legends the Primitives and the Pooh Sticks. the rest of the bill sees Allo’ Darlin, Ballboy, Veronica Falls, the Smittens, Foxes!, internet Forever and White town (who in ‘Your Woman’ are responsible for one of the best pop singles of the 90s) and many more.

Quality indie, plus steam-trains to us equals a lovely time.

Bands: the Pains of Being Pure of heart, Veronica Falls, the Smittens, Ballboy, the Pooh Sticks, White town

indietracks.co.uk

Hard Rock CallingHyde Park, LondonJuly 25-27

heADLIneD By beasts of several, separate musical epochs, hard Rock calling is in no shortage of household names. though the multitude of business offshoots of the hard Rock empire dubiously live up to the raw gutsy vision their name implies (Mandy Moore videos air in their restaurants!), the festivals branch have never suffered from such questionable respectability, with all the biggest rock relics on board. Since he arguably created hard rock with

Tinchy Stryder

Hot Chip

‘Helter Skelter’, Paul McCartney’s slot is as appropriate as it is a crowd puller, so don’t delay in buying your tickets if you have a propensity for aching with Beatlesmania and want to beat the rest of the capital flocking for Hyde Park. (DW)

Bands: Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam

hardrockcalling.co.uk

WickermanDumfriesJuly 30-31

A More intimate alternative festival for Scotland than T in the Park or rockNess, Wickerman has attracted attention for its authentic atmosphere, with everything overseen by the ever-present edifice of straw and twig. ocean Colour Scene and the Undertones are among those gracing the Scottish pastures this year. And yes, the effigy will burn; hopefully to sign off on the weekend rather than to complete the ritual human sacrifice of an inspecting bobby. (DW)

Bands: ocean Colour Scene, The Futureheads, The Saw Doctors

thewickermanfestival.co.uk

Global GatheringStratford-upon-AvonJuly 30-31

THoUgH THey operate in Lord knows how many time zones, it is likely readers will be most interested in globalgathering’s Midlands electronic extravaganza. Now a decade old, the organisers have had plenty of time to streamline the outdoor dance experience. No flights are scheduled to leave Long Marston Airfield that weekend, but helping festival goers reach transcendence are old timers Faithless, sprightly city slicker Dizzee rascal and the cut and paste whirlpool of 2manydjs. (DW)

Bands: Faithless, Dizzee rascal, 2manydjs

globalgathering.com

SonisphereKnebworth, July 30 - August 1

WiTH A network of festivals sprawling across europe and with the considerable weighty backing of Metallica (who aren’t playing the UK festival this year), Sonisphere has a serious claim to dethrone Download as the top major festival for metal-heads and hardcore rockers. Long hair, goatees and black t-shirts with wolf motifs aren’t mandatory, but will be pretty prevalent. Less so are musicians of gentle demeanours. Hoping to survive cutting their chops against the big league axe-slingers like Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper are Fightstar; Charlie’s post-Busted hard rock band. We’re rooting for them, but we aren’t hopeful. (DW)

Bands: rammstein, Placebo, Slayer, Mötley Crüe

sonispherefestivals.com

Camp BestivalDorset July 30 - August 1

THiS iS something of a stunted relative of Bestival, hoping to capture some run-off from the isle of Wight festival’s successful formula. For all intents and purposes it’s aimed at the family market, with the line-up split between Dad rockers like Billy Bragg and Madness, and radio one staples for the youths represented by Calvin Harris, Friendly Fires et al. But with the parents wheeling the kids off to the distractions of the garden area, students shouldn’t have to worry about reservedly lying low when the festival gets boisterous. (DW)

Bands: Madness, Friendly Fires, The Human League, Calvin Harris

campbestival.co.uk

RebellionBlackpoolAugust 5-9

iF yoU like your chords structured in threes and played fast and with vitriol – then rebellion is your musical pilgrimage destination. Blackpool’s grim sea-side setting is the perfect backdrop for this punk weekender, that has a line-up that reads like a who’s who of the genre.Undisputed punk legends head up the

headline slots with proto-punk trailblazers the New york Dolls, ’77 originals Stiff Little Fingers and US hardcore legends Bad religion, whilst modern favourites Fucked Up and gallows represent the new guard.The rest of the line-up boasts some serious

classic punk heavyweights in 999, The rezillos, Discharge, TV Smith (who plays the music of the Adverts), the Varukers and Chelsea.Are you feeling lucky punk? With this year’s

rebellion line-up you most certainly should be – you simply won’t find a better punk line-up anywhere else.

Bands: Stiff Little Fingers, Bad religion, New york Dolls, gallows, Fucked Up

rebellionfestivals.com

iN AN unprecedented move, BLooDSToCK oPeN Air this year celebrate their 10th anniversary by ensuring anyone who purchases a ticket to the event will be automatically given the chance to win a beast of a prize - as heavy as it is metal.

A brand new ToyoTA Aygo 1.0 VVT-i - crammed full of goodies including music, merchandise, a Black BC riCH WArBeAST gUiTAr, and a plethora of other mouth-watering prizes – to be given to one lucky winner at the end of the hottest weekend in the metal calendar. What’s more, one runner-up will receive a BC riCH guitar, 2 x ViP Weekend Tickets to BoA 2011 plus a goody bag full of Bloodstock and band merchandise.

bloodstock.uk.com

ONE LUCKY BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL GOER WILL WIN A BRAND NEW CAR AND LOADS OF GOODIES TO THE VALUE OF £10,000!!!

AUGUST

Dizzee Rascal

Example

Eliot John Greave, whose pseudonym ‘Example’ came from his initials E.G (the

common abbreviation for Example) has had quite a year.

Moving on from his debut studio album What We Made - which was created on a backbone of cover songs incorporating his rapping, Won’t Go Quietly sees him finding his own voice.

The success of this transformation is evident - having already achieved vast commercially popular hits with ‘Watch the Sun Come Up’ and ‘Won’t Go Quietly’, which reached third and the top spot respectively.

‘Kickstarts’, single number four of the expected five releases from the album, a summery number is due out in June alongside the album release. I quizzed Example on whether he

thought the new single would follow the sucess of the first three releases?

“It’s certainly looking that way, but I don’t think the charts are the most important thing. The most important thing for me is to headline festivals and have a number one album, and if I get some chart hits along the way then that will certainly help. Obviously I am always happy for hit singles to happen but I am writing songs with festivals in mind rather than the charts in mind.”

The rise in his popularity could be argued due to his switch in music genre, bravely leaving his established hip-hop style behind to explore what he coins ‘dysfunctional electro pop’.

“I became bored of hip hop. I was completely fed up of it and it just was not inspiring me at all - not in the UK or America. I’ve always been into artists such as The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx and Daft Punk. When I used to rap using beats I only used to receive low key hip-hop samples, but now I am receiving stuff from artists like Chase and Status and Calvin Harris. It’s not really a case of wanting to be electro pop but I must admit that I am more interested in being a singer than I am to being a rapper now.”

Many have questioned Example’s motives in switching genres at a time when electro-pop is riding on a new wave of success in the clubs and in the charts, but being questioned on his musical influences he shows he has an overall love of music that would suggest a need to diversify.

“When I was younger I was inspired

by a lot of Motown and soul music as well as Michael Jackson, The Kinks, Rolling Stones and David Bowie. As I grew older and got into hip hop I started getting into more things such as Slick Rick and Snoop Dogg”.

Example’s electro pop change has attracted attention and respect from some top established names in the genre, proving how naturally he has managed to break into the scene.

“My wish list in collaborations was pretty much to get Chase and Status, Sub Focus and Calvin Harris and I was lucky enough to get them all on the album. There are some people that I would love to get in the future from other genres like Kanye West and Pharrell, but then again I don’t think that if I came up with anything with them that it wouldn’t sound as

British or original as anything I already have on the album, which is important to me. I’m a big fan of Blur, Damon Albarn and Gorillaz, so Damon would be another one I’d be interested in.”

It is not just the recording side of being an artist that Example takes a keen interest in, it is also the creation of his own music videos. During his years as a student in 2000 at the Royal Holloway University in London, he studied Film Directing. Despite ultimately taking a different route and developing a career in music as a result of his extracurricular activity of Garage MC’ing, Example still uses the skills gained from his course constructively within his career.

“I choose the directors myself, I meet the directors, a lot of the ideas in the videos come from me. I’m not taking anything away from the directors but I have more involvement than your usual artist. I like to attend the editing and the grading if I can.”

Example’s music videos of the past have also traditionally included comedic elements, depicting ironic situations in relation to the lyrics of his songs. In 2008, he took part in a stand up comedy project as part of BBC2’s Culture Show.

“I only got a feel for it twice but I was nervous both times. I can’t compare it to music, as I have done that countless times, maybe with more experience those nerves would go away, but people often get mislead by the comedy thing. Music is my passion.”

Currently on tour, the opportunity to gauge the reaction to his new unheard material is great. As an artist who has had a long term reputation of highly rated live performances, I asked Example what made his gigs so highly acclaimed.

“Relentless energy. It is not all style and substance. I don’t think it has to be that you get all dressed up in your best clothes and make up, wearing sunglasses or a leather jacket. I just come out a bit sweaty in t-shirt and jeans and it is more like a rock and roll gig! Were currently doing five new songs out of fourteen, and to be honest ‘Kickstarts’ is going off just as much as ‘Wont Go Quietly’ so that’s a really good sign.”

It was whilst on tour last week however that he had to watch on in agony as his beloved Fulham FC lost in the final of the Uefa Europa League, losing 2-1 in extra time to Spanish team Athletico Madrid.

“It was pretty heartbreaking, I had to be on stage in Swansea straight after the game. Most of my fans were all watching the game getting behind Fulham. I don’t know whether Roy Hodgson will stay next season, there’s talk of him taking over at Liverpool, and other rumours of him taking over from Capello at England so we’ll have to wait and see. I’d like him to stay but if he does go I would totally understand.”

During the TV Coverage of the game, fellow Fulham fan Lily Allen was spotted in the crowd crying in the dying minutes as Fulham headed for defeat.

In 2006, marking his arrival on the music scene, Example’s first single was one called ‘Vile’ in response to her single ‘Smile’. As someone who has a history of not pulling her punches, I asked Example what her reaction was at the time.

“I think she liked it. She said on Radio 1 that she liked it, anyway. I’ve been on tour with her since and she’s good fun, we have had a few nights out and stuff.”

Not looking to slow down, after his series of live gigs up and down the country which end in the middle of June, Example is then going straight on to perform in festivals everywhere throughout the summer. Festival’s he is appearing at include: Beach Break Live, Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Oxegen Festival, T in the Park, V Festival, Glastonbury and Bestival amongst many others.

“I don’t really get fazed by the size of these gigs. I just walk on stage and that’s me, I am an entertainer. The more the better - I just like performing in general. I’m looking forward to Bestival and Glastonbury, but really if you put me in front of a crowd with a big audience that’s when I come alive - through the music.”

Taking a second to look into the future, Example discussed his long term hopes and ambitions.

“I’d like a number one album and I’d like to headline Glastonbury. But generally I just want to travel the world and take my music all over the world. We are already getting great feedback in France and Spain, Italy, Australia and Japan so if I can travel the world and build on that success, I’ll be more than happy.”

“I don’t really get fazed by the size of these gigs. I just walk on stage and that’s me, I am an entertainer. The more the better - I just like performing in general. I’m looking forward to Bestival and Glastonbury, but really if you put me in front of a crowd with a big audience that’s when I come alive - through the music.”

Currently on the road for an extensive promotional tour throughout the country, Robert Dalling caught up with London born rapper Example to talk about the forthcoming album Won’t Go Quietly, his musical influences, hopes for the future... and his beloved Fulham FC.

Find more interviews online at

thenationalstudent.co.uk

Not even expatriation amongst soft Parisian cafés can diminish the Bronxian swagger

of Mike Ladd, as his frank style and combative new album Bedford Park demonstrate. The record is a homecoming in several senses of the word; finally capping the trilogy of albums in the Infesticons project which the MC and producer started a decade ago, and the title references Ladd’s old neighbourhood in the Bronx where he returned for its recording.

When asked about how he ended up under the radar in France, and why it’s taken so long to conclude the Infesticons saga, his reply is pointed: “Wife. I’ve been being a French Bill Cosby, building a family, learning how to be an expat, a good husband and a dad for two awesome kids. That also meant taking a lot of jobs to pay bills.”

Ladd’s long-running project revolves around the concept of two warring hip-hop crews- the Infesticons and the Majesticons- who represent the battle between credibility and commerciality. Ladd’s first effort portrayed the former: hardy underground saviours of the Bronx, or “regular cats like you and me” in his words. He then (convincingly) tried his hand at a slick mainstream hip-hop counter in the guise of the Majesticons with 2003’s Beauty Party, an album inundated with smooth party vibes. As the cover art of Bedford Park depicts, the story resumes with the Infesticons marching band emerging from an isolated bunker (miniature figures

carrying a banner with the slogan ‘Fu*k the Majesticons’) to find the war fought and no-one remembering what the fuss was about.

It seems Ladd’s renewed commitment to the underground is comprehensive, with the MC collecting his crew (which has included Roots Manuva and Saul Williams) about him according to

the values he’s set: “Everyone on this record is there because they a dedicated to the cause, deep. They are down to tour; down to be down from beginning to end. I have always worked with friends- I have never worked with anyone just ‘cuz they had a name. Not even for Majesticons. They were all good peoples first. This is the extreme core of that group”.

Furthermore, Ladd isn’t issuing Bedford Park on CD and is jaded about online sales. “Whenever I walk around cities in the US or UK, all the CD stores are closed but all the vinyl shops that I have been going to since the 80’s are still open. They aren’t rich but they are still selling vinyl. As for getting it online for free: yup you can, go ahead and download it with the

rest. If things get tight I’ll come and rob your house, and when you wake up and find me in your living room, you’ll be like “oh, right, fair enough, thanks for the music, go ahead, take the TV” and everybody leaves happy (until I try and sell the TV)”

When pushed for insight into the future format of music, Ladd’s reply is even more blasé: “In 2068, in ‘The Great Book of Music’ there will be a footnote on recorded music in the 20th century mentioning that for about 80 years people were required to “actually pay for recorded music!”. In about five to 10 years you will be able to walk into a ‘lifestyle salon’ where you will get a full package of music, film and random facts implanted in your brain, along with the outfit that is part of that week’s subscription package. As content providers for that service, we- the musicians- will get a small fee from GoogleZONSoftSonyStyles Inc.”

Despite his animosity towards the state of the industry, Ladd has huge enthusiasm for the release of Bedford Park, having played to his strengths to produce a gritty, brawling record with little thought for detractors: “It is ridiculously good. If you have ever heard someone trying to do rugged soul music (in a broad sense) but it never sounded right, this will answer why. It needs to stay low-fi and dirty. Easy on the compression, keep it raw.”

With Ladd comfortably self-assured and the Infesticons project finally back in the mire of the underground, it’s clear that’s right where they belong.

As they emerge into post-war fallout, Dylan Williams talks to the Infesticons about their new release....INFESTICONS

Summer SundaeLeicesterAugust 13-15

Originally backed by 6Music, Summer Sundae is understandably steeped in indie heritage. Hipster trends die hard, and this year’s festival has a trove ready for the alternative fan, including a stage presented by the music geek stronghold drowned in Sound. Housed partially in the halls of de Montfort hall, with the rest of the stages running into the grounds, there’s an awful lot of room for a romp around with ebullient acts like Mumford & Sons or Frightened rabbit. That is, if you don’t plan on going exclusively to see Tinchy Stryder, who has surprisingly snuck in as a headliner with his brand of princely grime. (dW)

Bands: Tinchy Stryder, The Futureheads, The go! Team

summersundae.com

Bloodstock Open AirCatton Hall, DerbyshireAugust 13-15

iT iS safe to say that bloodstock Open air is a festival for real metal fans put together by real metal fans. eschewing fads and trends (and the mainstream) to offer three days of serious heavy f’ing metal in the derbyshire countryside.

Metal legends Twisted Sister and Heaven and Hell (featuring members of black Sabbath) join the likes of cannibal corpse, evile, Fear Factory, children of bodom and devin Townsend for a weekend of ear-shattering, pure metal. Warm up those neck muscles for sustained head-banging action.

Bands: Twisted Sister, Heaven and Hell, cannibal corpse, evile

bloodstock.uk.com/

Green ManBrecon Beacons, August 20-22

Squirreled aWay in the depths of the brecon beacons, green Man could well be one of the most beautiful festivals britain has to offer. it’s a right old charmer - the lazy mountains sloping behind the main stage are straight out of a dylan Thomas poem, the people are lovely and the atmosphere’s family-

friendly without it turning into bourgeois kiddie camping hell. The line-up’s looking brilliant this year too - Joanna newsom, beirut and The Flaming lips have all been announced. We’ve just one warning to heed though - if you’re not a fan of troubadours and fey dames wielding acoustic guitars, this ain’t the festival for you as there’s a herd of them around every glade. (lS)

Bands: The Flaming lips, billy bragg, Field Music, Fionn regan

thegreenmanfestival.co.uk

London Electronic DanceVictoria Park, London, August 27-28

a cOMpacT fest catering to electro and dance, led has a short list of bands signed up, but with almost all of the roster being close to household names (well, in the household of a music geek at least) quality over quantity is strongly emphasised. if ten big names for the £70 admission doesn’t seem wonderfully economical in itself, bear in mind that there aren’t clashes to worry about so you can see every minute of sets by annie Mac, Soulwax, goldfrapp, aphex Twin and more.

Bands: aphex Twin, Friendly Fires, goldfrapp, calvin Harris, audio bullys

ledfestival.net

BestivalIsle of Wight, September 9-12

JuST a short ferry ride to the isle of Wight away, bestival promises once again to be a veritable cabinet of curiosities of a festival. Those making the trip this year can expect

to witness The Flaming lips’ mind-blowing live spectacle (seemingly in their spiritual dwelling), the effortlessly hip stylings of lcd Soundsystem and Swedish electronic witch Fever ray, all sitting comfortably alongside such pioneers as glam rock godfathers roxy Music, scouse post-punkers echo & The bunnymen and disco veterans chic, guaranteed to bring the good Times. The beautiful eccentricities (including rolf Harris and the literally-named Vegetable Orchestra) appearing across the myriad stages are sure to be mirrored in the punters’ garbs, given this year’s enthusiastically adopted ‘fantasy’ fancy dress theme. if the big names appeal, there are doubtlessly countless hidden gems waiting to be discovered lower down on the eclectic lineup, such is the passion that goes into the curation of this bash by rob da bank and his team. (Mg)

Bands: Hot chip, The xx, Jonsi, The prodigy

bestival.net

End Of The RoadSalisburySeptember 10-12

“bOuTique FeSTiVal” is a hell of a wanky term, but there’s something about the unexpected surprises and unique loveliness of end Of The road that’s makes it feel rather akin to rummaging in a box of treasures. Situated amidst a tangle of backlanes and Somerset hillocks in the stunning larmer Tree gardens, eOTr has gone from strength to strength over its short history. iron & Wine, Wilco and The low anthem are headlining its peacock-festooned main stage this year, and you can be sure to expect secret gigs in the enchanted Forest from those lower down the bill. (lS)

Bands: The new pornographers, phosphorescent, cymbals eat guitars

endoftheroadfestival.com

SEPTEMBER

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nOW in its 22 year, dour has developed a reputation for amazing line-ups. in 2010 the Belgian event definitely doesn’t disappoint.

bringing together a stunning array of artists from a wide range of genres there is something for everyone. Metal-legends Faith no More head up the rock billing joined by the likes of The Futureheads, errors, dum dum girls, Monotonix and Wild beasts.

Those looking for blips, beeps and beats can get their kicks checking out Simian Mobile disco, calvin Harris, benga, dJ Hype and atari Teenage riot.

urban music fans get de la Soul and anti pop consortium, and reggae fans can skank it up to the legendary lee Scratch perry. and this little lot really is just scratching the surface of the amount of quality acts playing at dour.

dourfestival.be/en/

bloodstock@thenationalstudent.co.uk

We have five pairs of tickets to one of Europe’s

best festivals to give away

Love them or hate them, there’s no stopping Rolo Tomassi. Their aural juggernaut has been laying waste to venues across the land and with ambitious new record Cosmology hitting the streets they continue to prove their chops as one of the UK’s most exciting rock groups.Remember that scene in Red Dwarf when Lister describes the perfect sandwich to Rimmer? None of the ingredients should work when joined together – but when they are they fuse into something awesome. Musically Rolo Tomassi are that sandwich – prog-rock time-signatures, crushing hardcore riffs, manic synth squelches and guttural screamed vocals! They disgust as many people as they excite.

Whilst losing none of their youthful exuberance, second album Cosmology displays a band who are refining their sound and becoming more musically ambitious.

James Spence explains, “I think we’ve got better as songwriters and better at structuring an album properly. Hysterics was a good learning curve in terms of how to write a full length but we’ve been able to build on that with Cosmology.”

Much has been made of the fact that

there is more singing on this record, which if anything only adds to the power of the music: the guttural screams offset by angelic vocals. Was this a conscious decision to sound less angry?

“Ha! There wasn’t really much forethought with the addition of the singing. I just think it suited what we’d written musically. We write the music first and the vocals are the last thing to be added.”

Cosmology is, as Spence puts it, definitely ‘the best release we’ve ever put out’ and a ‘great record’ one that is more progressive in ambition and more accomplished in musicianship. If the listener can move past the brutal nature of the aural onslaught they will find a band full of skill and ideas, Cosmology challenges you to delve deeper than the noise to find what is really going on.

Spence urges you to buy the record (and not nick it of that there internet) ‘because we’re broke and need your help!’ We urge you to make a purchase if you wish to own one of the most truly challenging rock records released this year.

Squaring up to preconceptions even further, in a surprise move the band enlisted producer Diplo to work on the album, an

‘I think we’ve got better as songwriters and better at structuring an album properly. Hysterics was a good learning curve in terms of how to write a full length but we’ve been able to build on that with Cosmology.’

ROLOTOMASSI

unlikely union of a top producer from the electronic music world and bunch hardcore mentalists.

How did this unlikely musical union come about? “He mentioned our name in an interview and we approached him about doing a remix for us. He said he wanted to work on a bigger project and asked us what we had in mind for our second record. At this point we had nothing written and hadn’t even really thought about it. But nevertheless, we all knew it was far too good an opportunity to pass up and began writing. Within four months we had the record written and we were on a plane to LA!”

“He presented a great working environment and brought in some fantastic people who helped make the record, notably the engineer, Ariel Rechtshaid who was brilliant.”

Regardless of how good the recorded output is, to get the best of Rolo Tomassi you need to see them live. Confusing, bemusing and slaying audiences for years they have developed a reputation for kicking-ass on stage. Holding their own with the likes of The Bronx, Gallows and Fucked Up in the past their recent headline tour saw them join forces with two of the most brutal bands on the circuit Throats and Trash Talk.

“It was brilliant. They’re two of my absolute favourite bands and the tour was an absolute pleasure. It was the longest tour we’ve done in a while and I don’t think we could have spent it in better company. All the band were varied and were learning from each other whilst having a good time, all the time. And Trash Talk are the most hardcore of hardcore bands onstage but offstage they’re sweethearts, and thoroughly hardworking.”

Catching them at their Nottingham date we were surprised by how much their live playing has progressed since we caught them for the first time at Truck Festival several years back and at last year’s Sonisphere festival, they get better with each tour.

This summer they are taking to the stage at numerous festivals including Slamdunk, Download, Tramlines, Rewired, Rock Herk and Offset and they are ‘still working out more plans too. Our aim is to be very, very busy.’

Inevitably the conversation turns away from music to the recent election. “We missed a lot of the run up to the election while we were in Europe and got back to the UK right after the Conservatives had tried their smear tactics on Nick Clegg. Now they’re forming a government together. It’s like an awful pantomime.”

Quizzed on what his own political policies would be, Spence has one suggestion. “I’d take a leaf out the Canadian governments book and offer grants to musicians who were worthy of it.”

Spence is well-known for his support of new music, back in 2005 starting the record label MayDay! to release the music his band and other bands he admired were releasing.

Having covered their recent musical endeavours we have to ask the important questions! So James, who would win in a fight: a dinosaur or a ninja? “Depends what dinosaur. Probably a dinosaur anyway.”

Rolo Tomassi have nothing to prove but continue to prove that they are a band who have much left to achieve. Spence leaves the conversation with the profound nugget of wisdom, “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”

With the release of Cosmology all you need to prepare for is to be blown-away – enough said!

by Chris Marks

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