Blossoms new single Getaway

Blossoms have revealed their brand new track ‘Getaway’ which is available online now. The new song was recorded at Parr St. Studios in Liverpool with James Skelly and Rich Turvey. The single is Blossoms at their most majestic yet bittersweet - a pop song for the ages. 'Getaway' will also be available on 10” vinyl, which will include B-sides of ‘On The Beach At Night’ and the band’s cover of ‘In2’ by WSTRN.

The five-piece band from Stockport started 2016 by coming No.4 in the BBC Sound Poll. The new single, ‘Getaway’, follows on from the bands impressive EP ‘At Most A Kiss’ which went straight to No.1 in the iTunes chart. The title track from the EP was on the A-List at 6 Music as well as the B-List at Radio 1 and Absolute radio and the daytime playlist at Radio X.

Blossoms have just completed their biggest ever UK tour which included sold out shows at London’s Scala and Manchester’s Albert Hall. The band will be performing at various festivals throughout the UK this summer including appearances at Glastonbury, T in the Park, Reading and Leeds, Parklife, Kendal Calling, Festival No.6 and more.

The band will be releasing a limited edition 7” of ‘You Pulled A Gun On Me’ for Record Store Day on April 16th with a live B side of‘Getting Away With It’ – originally written and recorded by Electronic (Johnny Marr, Bernard Summer & Neil Tennant).‘Getaway’ is available from the below:

iTunes http://po.st/BGiTpr

Spotify http://po.st/BGASpr

Hack Job - Debut EP released today on CBRG

Hack Job have released their debut 11-track release today on Charlie's Big Ray Gun records. 

Built from the legendary pillars of Southsea's finest hardcore scene Hack Job consists of Damo on guitar (Joythief / D:Roid), with the curmudgeonly screams of lead vocalist / bassist Alan (Whole In The Head / The Shorts) and super-fast-core drummer Jochen (The SLM / Black Anchor).

In a previous incarnations Damo and Jochen smashed our ears in with the gone but never forgotten Ed Wood and have been looking to put together a fast hardcore band to express what is left of their Violent Years for a while now. 

In Alan they couldn't have found a better conspirator, he grew up on 80’s stuff like Chaos UK and Disorder and all their musical influences meet in the middle somewhere between Grindcore, Powerviolence and Thrash with Punk leanings.

Check them out on Bandcamp here! 

Portsmouth Summer Show - Saturday 30th April - Sunday 1st May

After last year’s sell-out success, with over 15,000 visitors, this year Portsmouth Summer Show takes over King George V playing field for two dates - Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May.

The line up is fit to burst with household names with pop favourite Peter Andre headlining the Saturday. Headlining Sunday is the New York born and bred Fun lovin’ Criminals with their unique blend of hip-hop, rock, funk and blues. Check out our interview with Fast from The Fun Lovin' Criminals here to get in the mood:

Also performing are Britain’s Got Talent’s biggest dance crew Diversity, Boy band favourites Union J and 5ive, Scouting for Girls, The Hoosiers, Country-pop duo The Shires, Sam Bailey, Reggie N Bollie, Lucy Spraggan and Peter Andre. 

As well as the stellar music line up there are plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Watch cheer-leading displays, dance troupes and choirs in the Big Top by day and dance the night away to Hipshaker and Delight DJs by night. Visit the petting zoo, check out the Solent Renegades Classic Car display, get creative with the art wall or Aspex Gallery workshops and visit the onsite fairground.

Along with The Silver Beatles, Fleetingwood Mac, The Racketeers, Kojak’s Revenge, Rhythm of the 90s, Strumpet Town, The Devotions, and Southsea Alternative Choir Portsmouth Summer Show is a fantastic event for the whole family – make sure you’re part of it! 

Music kicks off on the Main Stage at 11.20, and it will be a cash only site:

• Standard Ticket £15
• 5-15yrs £5
• Under 5’s £1 

Buy online at www.portsmouthsummershow.co.uk  

Baby Metal Play Wembley Tonight - New Album Out Now

We caught BABYMETAL at Download Festival last year, they return to London to play Wembley tonight and have just released the new album METAL RESISTANCE here's the official trailer:

Great Escape - New Announcements

May 19th-21st - The Great Escape - Brighton

Featured Artists: Blossoms, Dilly Dally, Beasts, Muncie Girls, Idles, Glass, Milk Teeth

Beasts pictured above

2015 proved to be something of a seminal year for Stockport five-piece Blossoms who are hotly tipped for 2016. Canada's Dilly Dally hit our best of 2015 list for their heavy and melodic style. Exeter trio Muncie Girls, London's Vant and Tigercub head up our recommendations of acts to check out across this vastly diverse festival. 

The Great Escape, Europe’s biggest festival for new music today reveals another 100+ artists who will be joining its line-up and unparalleled array of international breakthrough acts. Over 3 days 19 – 21 May 2016, over 450 performers will transform the seaside town of Brighton into a hotbed of undiscovered talent and live music.

Blossoms / Muncie Girls / Glass pictured above

Artists revealed to perform include Barns Courtney whose unique blend of blues, rock and country perfectly accompany his gravelly tones, and London underground rock trio BEASTS, who will be storming the stage having been championed by Zane Lowe and Daniel P Carter. On the wave of his recent debut album ‘Luneworks’, MMOTHS ethereal electronic productions will captivate festival go-ers. MMOTHS says "I am very excited to be playing TGE, looking forward to presenting the new live show".

Making his second appearance at the festival is South London MC Loyle Carner, whose emphatic hip hop beats and intimate lyrics have been making waves in the UK rap scene. Effortlessly fusing funk, jazz and pop, soul songstress Izzy Bizu will also be making her return, as well as PMR Records latest recruit, producer SG Lewis who, following collaborations with JP Cooper and Dornik, will be bringing his laid back dance beats to Brighton.

On the other side, alternative Scottish duo Man of Moon will be bringing a fusion of space rock and haunting vocals to the mix, whilst Thomas Cohen will debut his forthcoming album ‘Bloom Forever’ seeped with melancholic tones and washed-out guitars.

Continuing the festivals’ ethos of discovery ‘The Late Escape’ will put a focus on the electronic and dance world and who better to team up with than Ninja Tunes who are bringing a heavy hitting line-up of artists including RnB producer and DJ Throwing Shade who said, ‘it’s so exciting to be performing at one of the best festivals for new and undiscovered music – especially in Brighton, one of my favourite cities!’, duo Max Graef & Glenn Astro who’ll be previewing their brand new album and bringing their scruffy disco-tinged house bangers and dusty downtempo excursions to the festival and Wolverhampton’s production duo Leatherette who’ll be fusing their unique mix of psychedelic electronics with Soul snippets and house beats. This night will be open to festival goers subject to capacity, a small allocation of tickets will also be sold separately to guarantee entry, separate tickets will cost £8 and will be available from Thursday at 9am.  

Event Manager Kevin Moore said; “It’s wonderful to be able to announce another 100 artists who will be taking part in The Great Escape 2016. We wanted to make sure this year’s line up was as exciting and as diverse as ever, championing emerging artists from as many genres as possible and I really do feel we’ve got something for every type of new music fan, no matter what you’re into. The addition of our Young Adult wristbands for those aged 16 – 17, along with our Late Escape programming has opened the festival to new attendees and fans. I can’t wait to see everyone in Brighton very soon.”

Check out the full listings here: http://greatescapefestival.com/line-up/

20 Cent Dreams EP release 28th April

Alternative Rock band 20 Cent Dreams are set to ratch it up a notch with their infectiously catchy new EP 'Generations'.

With catchy choruses and sing-along melodies in every song the band bring a pop rock vibe ... pop-punk to the core.

The young and ambitious Modern Rock three piece, originally formed in September of 2012, spent two years building up a local name in southern France. With their first EP released and countless shows played, the trio moved to London in October 2014 with the hope of building up a reputation in the UK, and now release their sophomore EP, “Generations” on April 28th. The band describe their music as a crossover between the currently thriving british rock scene and a more old school pop sensibility. With the catchy singalongs they are sure to be a summer favourite.

Vocalist/Guitarist Sam Threadgold speaks on the EP: "Above all I’d say that Generations is a step in the right direction for us. It sticks with the youthful experimentation we’ve always tried to have and it’s a lot more of a stamp on our identity as a band, and a much more confident and cohesive sound than we’ve had before. I’d undoubtedly claim that it’s the most honest we’ve ever sounded as a band, both musically and lyrically. It definitely represents us and where we are in our lives at the moment."

Here's a taster of their sound:

Bar Creeps - The Hour Between Dog And Wolf

The four piece are a brand new punk rock band, based out of London, with members from all over the world, each with their own illustrious back story.

BarCreeps will be releasing their debut single 'The Hour Between Dog And Wolf' on Friday 15th April on BCHR Records, and will be playing their first London show on April 23rd, at Camden Barfly, as part of a Camden Rocks Night.

For fans of: Lagwagon, Bad Religion, The Promise Ring, Fugazi

The band united over a love of record labels such as Fat Wreck, Epitaph, Touch and Go, Jade Tree and Dischord, while also observing the current fragmentation of music into ‘writer/programmer’ and ‘celebrity personality as singer’ and feeling that this process is syphoning the artistry out of culture. Music is becoming a series of algorithms and prosthetics. BarCreeps songs want to go against this trend and so are ‘about something’ while being presented anonymously (band faces will never appear in promotional materials, instead being represented by a generic ‘BarCreep’). Song topics include the impossibility of a ‘world view’ (The Hour Between Dog And Wolf), cyber-bullying (Troll), immigration (Calico) and American gun laws (Guns Out!) but without sacrificing melody or being inaccessible. 

Railgrind was formerly in a band called The Pipettes, wrote a global top ten hit (being kept off the number one spot in Japan only by J-Lo), toured the world with the likes of Amy Winehouse, The Beastie Boys and had a song covered by Mark Ronson. Bannister and Hendricks started the Hong Kong loft show scene and played a gig with Fugazi while in high school. Bannister has also put out two records in a past act, The Young Playthings, on DIY stalwart label Smalltown America (Jetplane Landing, And So I Watch You From Afar, USA Nails), Campari left his native Rome in 2015 where he’d been making a living in Italy’s premier Ramones tribute act while also playing in his own hardcore band, Cream Pie. Hendricks also promotes concerts, having put on ‘Refugee Rock’ last year, where the Wedding Present headlined a gig that helped raise over £3,000 for the immigrants in the Calais jungle. 

We Are Scientists - New Album / UK Tour

We Are Scientists, the un-killable indie rock duo who stepped into the spotlight in 2005, have announced a fifth studio LP and accompanying U.K. tour coming this spring. Following massive success with hits such as 'Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt' and 'After Hours' the band's new album Helter Szelter will come out on the 22nd April via 100% Records. The album retains the band's signature quirks, charm and humour, whilst delivering a poppier more melodically addictive sound than ever. Lead single 'Buckle' is available to stream now. 

Titled ‘Helter Seltzer’ the band recorded the album with pop princess Katy Perry’s keyboard player Max Hart, who also previously played keyboards for We Are Scientists. The results are ten new tracks that retain the band’s quirks, charms and humour but are poppier and more melodically addictive than ever before.

Singer Keith Murray had this to say: “I’m excited to bust these new songs out for the U.K. fans. I worry about them when we’re gone — many of them have a damn hard time taking care of themselves.” The band has been based in New York City since 2001. 

Bassist Chris Cain said, “It’s always great to get back in the venue, since playing music is fun. Of course, everything is fun — eating dinner, going to movies, operating a motor vehicle. It’s all great, but certainly music is right up there.” 

“Most of our videos start with some kind of longstanding desire that we’re aiming to fulfil,” says We Are Scientists’ singer Keith Murray. “And well, I’d always wanted to dump food all over Chris’s face. Not in an angry way. I just thought it would be fun, and man I was right”

You can check their track 'Buckle' here:

For ‘Helter Seltzer’ We Are Scientists asked their ex-keyboard player Max Hart to produce. Max had just finished a three-year stint as the keyboardist for international super-mega-person Katy Perry, choosing as his final gig Ms. Perry’s performance at the 2015 Super Bowl. Max rented a studio space in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighbourhood, outfitting it with gear he had accumulated over a decade of obsessive internet shopping. In early March, the team got to work and a direction quickly emerged - they would use the tones and trickery of radio pop and Max’s inside- out familiarity with hits like ‘Teenage Dream’ and ‘Firework’ and ‘Dark Horse’ to add a sweet sheen to the new crop of distinctively We Are Scientists songs. The recordings were shipped to mixer Chris Coady at Sunset Sound in L.A. who has quietly emerged in recent years as one of the finest mixers of glossy indie pop, with credits that include Future Islands, Beach House, and !!!. Finally, the music was passed through the deluxe mastering machine that are the ears of Greg Calbi (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Noel Gallagher, Perfume Genius) to add a coat of heft and sparkle, and in January of 2016, nearly a year after construction began, the album was pronounced complete.

"We've always made overtures toward being a pop band, but we've generally had the inclination to obscure those pop leanings in grit and chaos — to screw them up with fuzzed-out tones and raucous performances," says guitarist and vocalist Keith Murray. "It's made us really think about what our musical genre is. We're not punk — we're too interested in making our songs as pretty as possible. We're not straight-up rock — our tastes are too left-of-centre. We're not indie-rock — our heads aren't far enough up our own butts. So finally, after putting as much time into thinking about it as we're apt to — about ten minutes, over beers — we decided that our genre is 'Helter Seltzer.'"

"Declaring a new genre is obviously douchey as hell, though, and impossible to deliver with a straight face," adds bassist Chris Cain, "so we did the noble thing and just made ‘Helter Seltzer’ the album title. It's especially apt for us these days, though. The songs here are more effervescent than we've ever managed to deliver, but they've still maintained a measure of that ‘Helter Skelter’ element — no matter how fizzy and refreshing the tunes are, they've always got a bit of that seamy, scuzzy, 'cult on Spahn Ranch' vibe. “We therefore consider this album, as a vessel of both sweet pop tunes and seltzer outreach,” concludes Chris. “To be a work of undisguised philanthropy on our part."

‘Helter Seltzer’ track-list
1.Buckle
2. In My Head
3. Too Late
4. Hold On
5. We Need A Word
6. Want For Nothing
7. Classic Love
8. Waiting For You
9. Headlights
10. Forgiveness

Catch the band live at the following dates:
Sunday 24th April - Bristol - Bierkeller
Monday 25th April - Nottingham - Rescue Rooms
Tuesday 26th April - Newcastle - Riverside
Wednesday 27th April - Birmingham - Library (Institute)
Friday 29th April - Leicester - Handmade - Festival
Saturday 30th April - Leeds - Live At Leeds - Festival
Sunday 1st May - Glasgow - Live In Glasgow - Festival
Tuesday 3rd May - Manchester - Academy 2
Wednesday 4th May - London - KOKO
Thursday 5th May - Brighton - Concorde 2

DVD Release - The Rise And Fall Of Tower Records

ALL THINGS MUST PASS: THE RISE AND FALL OF TOWER RECORDS

RELEASED ON DVD FROM 6 MAY / DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FROM 9 MAY 2016

“Everybody in a record store is a little bit your friend for 20 minutes or so…” - Bruce Springsteen

This film documents the fascinating story of the rise and fall of record mecca Tower Records and legacy of its founder Russ Solomon. Features appearances from Dave Grohl, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Cornell and more.

Tower Records, one of the most loved retail brands in music history, will be brought back to prominence in brand new feature film, All Things Music Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records. Directed by Colin Hanks, the film documents the ill-fated trajectory of the Tower Records empire and will be available on DVD from 6 May and digital download from 9 May 2016.

Tower Records was founded in 1960 by Russell Solomon. From humble beginnings, it first opened its doors next to Solomon’s father’s pharmacy in Sacramento, California. Over the next 30 years Solomon and his team took Tower Records to unprecedented success with 200 stores across 30 countries in 5 continents. In 1999, Tower Records was at the height of its dizzying success, making $1 billion that year alone. In 2006, just seven years later, the company had filed for bankruptcy. All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records explores the epic rise and devastating demise of the rebellious Russ Solomon’s record empire.

The film features appearances from top industry figures and celebrity fans of Tower Reocrds, such as music legends Dave Grohl, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen who open up about their memories of Tower Records and why it meant so much, to so many. All Things Must Pass is unexpectedly emotional as the film explores the tremendous effect that Tower Records had on the lives of its employees and customers alike, and the void it left behind when it finally closed its doors.  

Colin Hanks commented, “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been able to tell the amazing story of Tower Records in my first film. As a music lover myself, it’s a story that I’m hugely passionate about, and being surrounded by Ross Solomon and his team, the Tower Records family who also have such enormous passion for the brand, really brought All Things Must Pass to life. Russ and his team built Tower Records into a global phenomenon, a true haven for music lovers, which left a void in the lives of so many when it closed down. All Things Must Pass is a true rollercoaster of life’s greatest highs and most unexpected lows and I hope audiences will be equally as moved when they watch it, as I was when making it.”   

All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records premiered in Los Angeles in October 2015 with an epic performance from Eagles of Death Metal live outside the famous Tower Records site on Sunset Blvd where they entertained over 800 fans and music lovers.

The DVD release features bonus footage including unseen deleted scenes from the film and further interviews with key figures. There’s also an insight into the fierce legal battle to preserve the original Tower Records location and a history of the store’s famous marketing murals, which lined Sunset Blvd.

All Things Must Pass is released on DVD from 6 May and  Digital Download from 9ay 2016

Placebo Announce 20th Anniversary Tour

So it's 20 years since Placebo's eponymous debut and they are back to celebrate promising a set list spanning their whole back catalogue. Brian Molko teased…

“Let's just say there will be songs in the set that I've sworn never to play again. I think it's time that we purposefully acknowledged what a lot of Placebo fans really want to hear. They've been very patient with us since we rarely play our most commercially successful material.  A 20 year anniversary tour seems like the right time to do so. That's our intention. This tour is very much for the fans and a chance for us to revisit a lot of our early material. So, if you want to see us play songs like 'Pure Morning’ and 'Nancy Boy’ which we haven't played in almost ten years and may not play again, then you'd better come along to these shows! We'll have some surprises in there too."

DEC 02 - UK. GLASGOW SSE HYDRO
DEC 03 - UK. LEEDS FIRST DIRECT ARENA
DEC 05 - UK. MANCHESTER ARENA
DEC 06 - UK. NOTTINGHAM MOTORPOINT ARENA
DEC 08 - UK. BIRMINGHAM BARCLAYCARD ARENA
DEC 10 - IRELAND. DUBLIN 3ARENA
DEC 12 - UK. NEWPORT CENTRE
DEC 14 - UK. BRIGHTON CENTRE
DEC 15 - UK. LONDON SSE WEMBLEY ARENA

THE WHO To Headline Isle Of Wight

Joining the likes of Queen + Adam Lambert, Faithless, Stereophonics and Iggy Pop, will be British rock icons, The Who - confirmed as headlining Saturday night on their 4th appearance at the festival with their Hits 50! show.  

Also confirmed today is Richard Ashcroft as special guest performing the same night. 

Click the pic below to check out our full 2016 festival guide!

2016 FESTIVAL GUIDE

Helen Love - New Album 'Smash Hits'

HELEN LOVE Announce Details Of New Album ‘Smash Hits’ Released 20th May 2016

After twenty one singles, three EPs and seven albums, legendary Welsh indie bubble-gum-punksHELEN LOVE reveal details of their long-awaited eighth studio album. Titled ‘Smash Hits’, the record will be released via exquisite Summer Sunburst Super Kay 12” and CD on 20th May 2016 via Oxford, UK based independent label Alcopop! Records in all sorts of spectacular bundle formats – including glitter tee shirts and tattoos.

You can get a taster of the new album right now with a free download of 'First Girl From Wales in New York' right here: 

Love rarely play live, but have recently headlined Indietracks music festival and played Primavera in Barcelona, announcing two special dates in London and Newport in support of the new record (see below for details) with another couple of surprises up their sleeve.

Whether it’s celebrating the iconic star of the first wave of punk on the X-Ray-Spex-venerating rainbow-trash of ‘Thank You Polystyrene’ or fulfilling a more dark tinged, pulsing disco epic with the like of synth-driven 'Spaceboy', with the release of ‘Smash Hits’, Helen Love look set to continue their iconic cult appeal. Beloved of true independent music champions for years, generations of fans have finally discovered what it’s like to not be alone in the world; that there are other people out there who truly understand punk.

A seminal band and bona fide indie pop legends, they have an indie label track history that reads like a discography of the record collection you’ve always wanted - including the likes of Damaged Goods, Che, Wurlitzer Jukebox, Invicta Hi Fi, Sympathy For The Record Industry, Elefant and now Alcopop! The band have numbered the likes of John Peel, Steve Lamacq (who labelled them Welsh indie terrorists” and made almost all of Helen's singles record of the week on his Radio One evening session show), Dave Gorman, Mark Radcliffe, Phil Jupitus, Everett True and Tim Wheeler (ASH) as fans.

What's more, Joey Ramone himself – who was mercurial in terms of the band evolution - personally invited them to play in New York and sing with him on the Mr Punchy track from his last solo album before dueting with Helen on a special version of her classic ‘PunkBoy’. Indeed, Love stayed with Joey Ramone when he flew the band out to play a show in Greenwich Village, where they hung out eating sushi and playing video games - which was probably the best thing that’s ever happened in the indie pop world. Ever.

Much loved and supported throughout the years by John Peel - with an impressive 3 top 10 entries in John Peels Festive Fifty (1996/97/98) - their 1997 Peel Session is still a personal and fan highlight for the band, as was the summer afternoon on which Peel, after playing ‘Does Your Heart Go Boom’ said with a sardonic laugh: "That's HELEN LOVE...the sarcastic bastards".

‘Smash Hits’ is released on 20thMay 2016 via Alcopop! Records

Playing a couple of live shows:

April 24th - The Lexington, London
June 3rd - Le Pub, Newport
 
‘Smash Hits’ tracklisting:

1.) First Girl From Wales In New York
2.) We’ve Got A Formula One Team
3.) Thank You Polystyrene
4.) You Can’t Beat A Boy Who Loves The Ramones
5.) Mario Kart Grand Prix
6.) Spaceboy!
7.) Yes We’re In A Band That We Love
8.) Long Live The Modern Lovers
9.) Sheila B. Devotion
10.) No Hit Radio
11.) Belle Of St. Mark
12.) Stardust and Glitter 

MASSIVE ATTACK CONFIRMED FOR BST HYDE PARK

On Friday, July 1st, 2016 MASSIVE ATTACK are Live with Young Fathers - Plus Patti Smith ... TV on The Radio, Warpaint and Ghostpoet.
 
Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park #BSTHydePark @BSTHydePark 

 Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park today announces Massive Attack, who will be joined on Friday 1st July by very special guests Patti Smith, TV On The Radio, Warpaint and Ghostpoet - with additional acts announced soon. 

Massive Attack recently released the Ritual Spririt EP and completed a sold out tour of the UK and Europe. The show will see the band bring a new and provocative audio-visual live show to Hyde Park, designed by Robert Del Naja and longtime visual collaborators United Visual Artists. 
 
Joining Massive Attack will be the legendary singer-songwriter, poet, writer and activist Patti Smith. One of the most influential figures to come out of the late 70’s New York scene the ‘Punk Poet Laureate’ was presented Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2005 and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame two years later. Last year saw the 40th anniversary of her seminal album ‘Horses’, which is often cited as one of the best albums of all time. Her second memoir ‘M Train’ the follow up to the awards winning ‘Just Kids’ was released at the end of last year. 

Mercury Prize winning Young Fathers are familiar to Massive Attack fans, the Edinburgh trio has supported the band on their recent European tour and will be joining them on stage at Hyde Park. First formed in 2008 the band came to prominence in 2014 when they won the Mercury Prize for their debut album ‘Dead’, their follow up ‘White Men Are Black Men Too’ was released in 2015 to universal critical acclaim. 
 
TV on The Radio, one of the leaders of Brooklyn’s indie renaissance, is set to make their Hyde Park debut this summer. Hailed by the BBC as “one of the most compelling American rock and roll stories of the modern age”, the band will thrill with their distinct blend of propulsive art-rock and raw soul. TV on The Radio blasted back into prominence in 2014 with their fifth album Seeds, helmed by the band’s visionary producer and guitarist David Sitek.  

Warpaint are a 4-piece band from California and their unique brand of intricate guitar lines, hypnotic vocals and driving post punk rhythms combine to create a truly unique sound. Since the release of their most recent album in 2014, they have been touring and exploring their own projects including a recently released solo album from the band’s bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg. Currently, the band is finishing up a new album which should come out later this year, and if we’re lucky, they will give Hyde Park a taste of it.  

PHOTO CREDIT: ANDY KEILEN

Following his emergence and the Mercury-nominated debut Peanut Butter & Melancholy Jam in 2011, London-based Ghostpoet has marked his own path. Propelled by the sonic illuminations of his third, and once again Mercury-nominated album, 2015’s Shedding Skin – it is an ambitious journey canvassing widespread praise that saw The Times hailing, “its blend of artistic vision, tales of everyday struggle and a broad, atmospheric sound…”.

James King, Senior Vice President, AEG Live comments: “With an incredible archive of music that has stood the test of time and inspired so many, Massive Attack are still providing a heartbeat for the World. 
More than that, their music and live performances form a message that makes us stop, think and evaluate when we are so often encouraged not to. With powerful beats, orchestral arrangements, beautiful melodies by incredible vocalists, inspired video art - it’s hard to think of a more important moment for the World to listen to Massive Attack than right now. 
The band's production has always been a shining light in live music and to see their video art across 900m2 of screen on the Great Oak Stage will be a truly breathtaking sight.” 
 
Daniel Mathieson, Head of Experiential Marketing and Partnerships for Barclaycard, said: “We’re excited that Massive Attack are bringing their amazing live performance to Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park this year, joining the impressive roll call of iconic bands already announced including Mumford & Sons, Florence and the Machine and Take That. It’s certainly going to be a memorable year, made even more special by the fact that we’re celebrating our 50th anniversary this summer. Barclaycard customers can get ahead of the rush for tickets to see Massive Attack with exclusive pre-sale access from 9am on the 7th of March.”  
 
Alun Mainwaring, Head of Events at The Royal Parks, said: “The line-up for 2016 just keeps on getting better. Having a huge group like Massive Attack kick off this year’s event is a fitting start to what promises to be another unforgettable 10 days of entertainment at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park. The success of this event is so important to us as it raises vital funds which go back into conserving and enhancing this iconic park for all to enjoy.” 
 
Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park hits its fourth year in 2016, firmly established as the essential London summer event. 

THE KILLS - NEW ALBUM / TOUR

THE KILLS Announce new album 'Ash & Ice' plus UK London date on top of IOW Festival
March 01, 2016

Photo: Kenneth Capello

Jamie and Alison's 5th album 'Ash & Ice', set for release on June 3rd through Domino. They have also unveiled the video for their first single 'Doing It To Death'

Jamie & Alison play Village Underground on May 4th.  Alison says of 'Ash & Ice' - "One of the first songs that Jamie brought for the record was called 'Ash and Ice,' and we loved the title. He does that all the time -- he just starts with the title and he hasn’t written a word for the actual song. I guess he was sitting at some bar or some party or someone’s house, and it was just like people ashing into a glass of ice, in that disgusting thing that you just see all the time."

In Jamie's recollection - "I had a drink, and I just threw my cigarette in this glass of ice, and it was just as simple as that. It was like ash and ice, and I said I’ll just call it that. Which is kind of dull. I wish I’d come up with a better story, but that’s the truth of it. And I just like the connotation.  It just sort of sounded right, and I liked the idea of it being these two opposite souls. I liked it being the idea of someone with a joint in one hand and a drink in the other."

The Kills have unveiled details on their highly anticipated fifth album. Titled 'Ash & Ice', the album will be released June 3rd on Domino. Accompanying today’s announcement is the video for brand new single ‘Doing It To Death’, directed by Wendy Morgan (Janelle Monae, Laura Mvula) and shot in Los Angeles last month.

Over their almost decade-and-a-half career, The Kills have released four records. Each one a restless, reckless enigmatic art statement that bristled with tension, anxiety, sex, unstudied cool and winking ennui, yet not one of them sounded like the previous one. Ash & Ice is the follow up to 2011’s critically lauded Blood Pressures and was five years in the making in part due to Jamie Hince’s five hand surgeries, which resulted in him having to re-learn how to play guitar with a permanently damaged finger. 

Unlike earlier albums, which have largely been written and recorded at Key Club Studio in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the bulk of the recording for Ash & Ice took place in a rented house in LA and at the world famous Electric Lady Studios in NYC. The album was produced by Jamie Hince and co-produced by John O’Mahony (Metric, The Cribs), and mixed by Tom Elmhirst (Adele, Arcade Fire, Amy Winehouse) and Tchad Blake (Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys).

It was during Hince’s recuperation from surgery that he first started sketching out what would become the songs for the album. To shake up the writing process, Hince booked a solo trip on the infamous Trans-Siberian Express for inspiration while Alison Mosshart, now residing in Nashville, TN, wrote some of the most affecting, poetically candid lyrics that she ever has, painting word pictures that mine the dangerous terrain between romantic obsession, prophecy and tough love. Where previous albums had an air of detachment and emotional austerity, underpinned by an uneasy self-awareness and unexpressed anger, the 13 songs on Ash & Ice are more understated, less tempestuous and more affecting because of that, exposing the kind of push-pull you feel when you find yourself in a complicated but all-consuming relationship. Ash & Ice is The Kills at their emotionally charged, arresting best. Prepare to be slayed.

As if you need any introduction to their epic sound, here are a couple of their classics to whet your appetite for the upcoming live dates:

The album details come with additional tour dates, including a London show at Village Underground on May 4th. New shows go on sale this coming Friday 4th March. 

The Kills Tour Dates

March 16 Mexico City, MX - House of Vans 50th Anniversary 

March 17 Austin, TX - Culture Collide/StubHub Showcase (SXSW)

March 18 Austin, TX - Spotify House (SXSW)

April 7 Nashville, TN - Exit/In (Sold Out)

April 8 Louisville, KY - Headliner’s Music Hall

April 9 Columbus, OH - CD 102.5 Day (Sold Out)

April 11 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer

April 12 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw (Sold Out)

April 13 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw (Sold Out)

April 15 Indio, CA – Coachella (Sold Out)

April 18 Los Angeles, CA - Mayan Theatre

April 19 Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory

April 22 Indio, CA - Coachella (Sold Out)

May 1 Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg

May 3 Paris, FR - La Cigale

May 4 London, UK - Village Underground

May 13 Atlanta, GA - Shaky Knees Festival

May 14 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

May 19 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club

May 21 Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall

May 22 Detroit, MI - St Andrew’s Hall

May 23 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre

May 25 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue

May 26 Kansas City, KS - Midland Theatre

May 27 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre

May 28 Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot

May 31 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom

June 1 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo

June 2 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater

June 4 San Francisco, CA - Fox Theater

June 9 - 12 Newport, UK - Isle of Wight Festival

July 6 Kiev, Ukraine - U-Park Festival

July 9 Moscow, Russia - Park Live Festival

August 6 Katowice, Poland - Off Festival

Ash & Ice is available to pre-order now on 2xLP, CD, and digital download.

Pre-order: The Kills / Dom Mart / iTunes

Ash & Ice Tracklist
01. Doing It To Death
02. Heart Of A Dog
03. Hard Habit To Break
04. Bitter Fruit
05. Days Of Why And How
06. Let It Drop
07. Hum For Your Buzz
08. Siberian Nights
09. That Love
10. Impossible Tracks
11. Black Tar
12. Echo Home
13. Whirling Eye

Rockaway Beach - New Announcement Today ... SUEDE

7 - 9 October 2016 | Butlin's, Bognor Regis, UK

Rockaway Beach is a boutique indoor music festival held over three days. Truly unique, this exciting UK festival focuses only on the best emerging, breakthrough and established alternative artists.

Joining already announced Saint Etienne, Killing Joke, Luna, Black Honey, Kagoule are new announcements today ... SUEDE!

Check out our selection of images from last year's festival which won our Boutique Festival of the Year award!

DEADMAU5 HEADLINER FOR BOARDMASTERS 2016 - Plus Loads More Acts Added!

FISTRAL BEACH / WATERGATE BAY, CORNWALL

WEDNESDAY 10 – SUNDAY 14 AUGUST 2016

www.boardmasters.co.uk

Pictured above: Blossoms / Kaiser Chiefs
#Boardmasters f: @Boardmasters i: @Boardmasters t: @Boardmasters81

As the sun rises at 7.20am on Fistral Beach, international electro megastar, Deadmau5 is confirmed as the second headline act for Boardmasters 2016. The Grammy-nominated DJ and producer will take to the main stage at Cornwall’s own surf and music festival for an electric set this summer as Boardmasters returns to the picture-perfect Cornish coastline once again for sun-drenched music and surf action. The festival runs from Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 August 2016, so grab your flip-flops and pack up your tent, we’ll see you by the beach! Tickets are on sale NOW via the website.

Deadmau5 has dominated the electronic dance music scene for the past decade, bringing his unique take on EDM to audiences around the world, with hits including ‘Ghosts ’n’ Stuff’ and‘I Remember’. Having won countless Beatport Awards and International Dance Music Awards over the years, he has this year been nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the Grammys. Deadmau5 has been teasing fans with snippets of his hotly anticipated new music since the start of the New Year and will undoubtedly put on a fully charged energetic set of heady, fist-pumping electro dance set to light up the incredible setting of Watergate Bay this summer.

Boardmasters has today also announced further acts to perform at year’s festival. Legendary rockers Primal Scream join the bill – with new album ‘Chaosmosis’ out later this year and lead single ‘Where The Light Gets In’ making waves in the charts, they’re sure to delight with a mix of hits both old and new.

Boardmasters continues to support the UK music scene, with new additions to the line-up comprising the best of British – ethereal electro duo Maribou State, COASTS whose self-titled debut album was released in January, one-to-watch Rat Boy who is about to embark on a UK tour, repping the South West is Eats Everything, techno giant Jackmaster and enjoying the success of their fifth album The Mystery Jets. They are joined by the sublime Lianne La Havaswho dropped her new track ‘Fairytale’ last week, brother/sister rockers The Magic Numbers, DJ Bodhi, Eli & Fur who are currently taking their sublime house music on a tour of North America, and Ibiza resident DJ Doorly. The UK contingent continues, as London electro duo Dusky, the soulful Rationale, deep house DJs Eton Messy, Brit rockers VANT, the melodic Blossoms and hotly tipped hip-hop group The Mouse Outfit also added to the line-up.

Completing the latest wave of acts is queen of house Heidi, DJ duo Detroit Swindle and Sweden’s own Jonas Rathsman.

Established in 1981, Boardmasters is a 5-day event situated across two stunning locations in Cornwall - the surfing mecca of the UK, Fistral Beach where Boardmasters famous International Surf Competitions take place and arguably the most stunning location in the country to watch live music, Watergate Bay. Last year saw Boardmasters welcome over 150,000 festival-goers across its two sites over the 5 days of the festival. Boardmasters operates a tiered ticket system with price bands for tickets changing over time. The sooner you buy, the cheaper it is! Book tickets via the website.

 BOARDMASTERS 2016 LINE-UP

Headline Acts

James Bay // Deadmau5

Joined by

Kaiser Chiefs // Primal Scream // Lianne La Havas // Craig David // Sigma

Wilkinson // Wolf Alice // Example & DJ Wire // Mystery Jets

Eats Everything // Jackmaster // Magic Numbers // Rat Boy

Blossoms // Bodhi // COASTS // Detroit Swindle // Doorly // Dusky // Eli & Fur

Eton Messy // Gabrielle Aplin // Heidi //Jack Savoretti // Jamie Lawson

Jonas Rathsman // Maribou State // MNEK // Nahko and Medicine for the People Rationale // The Mouse Outfit // VANT

 Plus one headliner and many more acts still to be announced

Click here for Boardmasters 2015 highlights video.

Ticket Information: Watergate Bay tickets on sale NOW

Boardmasters operates a tiered ticket system with price bands for tickets changing over time. The sooner you buy, the cheaper it is!

A set allocation of tickets is saved for each tier, which will close when the allocation of tickets is sold out.

Charger tickets available now (Charger ticket includes bus pass, parking, VIP camping, Beach Session gigs, After Parties, Boardmasters t-shirt and tote bag)

Click the link for tickets and info for 2016’s Boardmasters festival of music and surfing in Cornwall        Pictured above: Blossoms / Kaiser Chiefs
#Boardmasters f: @Boardmasters i: @Boardmasters t: @Boardmasters81

As the sun rises at 7.20am on Fistral Beach, international electro megastar, Deadmau5 is confirmed as the second headline act for Boardmasters 2016. The Grammy-nominated DJ and producer will take to the main stage at Cornwall’s own surf and music festival for an electric set this summer as Boardmasters returns to the picture-perfect Cornish coastline once again for sun-drenched music and surf action. The festival runs from Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 August 2016, so grab your flip-flops and pack up your tent, we’ll see you by the beach! Tickets are on sale NOW via the website.

Deadmau5 has dominated the electronic dance music scene for the past decade, bringing his unique take on EDM to audiences around the world, with hits including ‘Ghosts ’n’ Stuff’ and‘I Remember’. Having won countless Beatport Awards and International Dance Music Awards over the years, he has this year been nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the Grammys. Deadmau5 has been teasing fans with snippets of his hotly anticipated new music since the start of the New Year and will undoubtedly put on a fully charged energetic set of heady, fist-pumping electro dance set to light up the incredible setting of Watergate Bay this summer.

Boardmasters has today also announced further acts to perform at year’s festival. Legendary rockers Primal Scream join the bill – with new album ‘Chaosmosis’ out later this year and lead single ‘Where The Light Gets In’ making waves in the charts, they’re sure to delight with a mix of hits both old and new.

Boardmasters continues to support the UK music scene, with new additions to the line-up comprising the best of British – ethereal electro duo Maribou State, COASTS whose self-titled debut album was released in January, one-to-watch Rat Boy who is about to embark on a UK tour, repping the South West is Eats Everything, techno giant Jackmaster and enjoying the success of their fifth album The Mystery Jets. They are joined by the sublime Lianne La Havaswho dropped her new track ‘Fairytale’ last week, brother/sister rockers The Magic Numbers, DJ Bodhi, Eli & Fur who are currently taking their sublime house music on a tour of North America, and Ibiza resident DJ Doorly. The UK contingent continues, as London electro duo Dusky, the soulful Rationale, deep house DJs Eton Messy, Brit rockers VANT, the melodic Blossoms and hotly tipped hip-hop group The Mouse Outfit also added to the line-up.

Completing the latest wave of acts is queen of house Heidi, DJ duo Detroit Swindle and Sweden’s own Jonas Rathsman.

Established in 1981, Boardmasters is a 5-day event situated across two stunning locations in Cornwall - the surfing mecca of the UK, Fistral Beach where Boardmasters famous International Surf Competitions take place and arguably the most stunning location in the country to watch live music, Watergate Bay. Last year saw Boardmasters welcome over 150,000 festival-goers across its two sites over the 5 days of the festival. Boardmasters operates a tiered ticket system with price bands for tickets changing over time. The sooner you buy, the cheaper it is! Book tickets via the website.

 BOARDMASTERS 2016 LINE-UP

Headline Acts

James Bay // Deadmau5

Joined by

Kaiser Chiefs // Primal Scream // Lianne La Havas // Craig David // Sigma

Wilkinson // Wolf Alice // Example & DJ Wire // Mystery Jets

Eats Everything // Jackmaster // Magic Numbers // Rat Boy

Blossoms // Bodhi // COASTS // Detroit Swindle // Doorly // Dusky // Eli & Fur

Eton Messy // Gabrielle Aplin // Heidi //Jack Savoretti // Jamie Lawson

Jonas Rathsman // Maribou State // MNEK // Nahko and Medicine for the People Rationale // The Mouse Outfit // VANT

 Plus one headliner and many more acts still to be announced

Click here for Boardmasters 2015 highlights video.

Ticket Information: Watergate Bay tickets on sale NOW

Boardmasters operates a tiered ticket system with price bands for tickets changing over time. The sooner you buy, the cheaper it is!

A set allocation of tickets is saved for each tier, which will close when the allocation of tickets is sold out.

Charger tickets available now (Charger ticket includes bus pass, parking, VIP camping, Beach Session gigs, After Parties, Boardmasters t-shirt and tote bag)

Click the link for tickets and info for 2016’s Boardmasters festival of music and surfing in Cornwall