Tuesday 21 July 2009

Festibelly Presents 'Folk Off'



This year Festibelly presents 'Folk Off', a late night showdown of 5 of the best acoustic artists they can get their mitts on; all battling it out for the top spot of master of unplugged wizardry. Festibelly will pick 5 of the best artists to perform at the event on 29th August and the best will be voted by the fans plus 2 performers from this years line up.

So what's in it for you? The champ will receive £300 worth of music equipment vouchers courtesy of Festibelly buddies SUSO drinks and guaranteed a slot for Festibelly 2010!

To enter, just send a recording of your best acoustic performance (1 song as MP3) with relevant info and pics to: folkoff@festibelly.com

Deadline for all entrants is 3pm Sunday 16th August. The 5 finalists will be announced the following day, Monday 17th August.

Festibelly 2009 features musical performances from some of the most exciting talent to emerge from the indie, rock, pop, acoustic, and reggae scenes. After his astonishing 2008 performance, Festibelly welcome back 'folktronica' wizard James Yuill as headliner, as well as Rough Trade signings Micachu & The Shapes, grime pop upstarts Man Like Me, critically acclaimed ensemble Laurel Collective and future-romantic pop group ColouringIN. They are joined by London's favourite reggae partyReggae Roast who will be 'dubbing' it alongside live performances by Brother Culture and the heavyweight 9-piece brass band, Brass Roots.

More festival antics will be provided by local heroes The Operators, East London indie-outfit The Pepys, Tarrbaby, Jazica, RWD, Rob Cowen & The Dissidents and a fierce selection of DJs including Sombrero Sound System and Sunday Best's Fear of Theydon.

http://www.festibelly.com

Monday 20 July 2009

Snow Patrol - Late Night Tales



For the 22nd edition of the "excellent series of bespoke artist compilations - Uncut", Snow Patrol present the world with an impeccably selected and mixed Late Night Tales.

If you think you know Snow Patrol, think again. Of course, there's the band who are capable of outselling the Arctic Monkeys, getting numerous nominations for Brits, and monopolising the upper reaches the charts with alarming regularity with their superior song theory and balladeering.

This Snow Patrol have enjoyed platinum sales of their 'Eyes Open' album (in both UK and USA) and musical appearances on everything from Spiderman 3 to Grey's Anatomy. This Snow Patrol has toured with U2, performed at Live Earth and appeared on Saturday Night Live. It doesn't get much bigger than that.

There's also another Snow Patrol about which you may know little. The Snow Patrol that concerns us here are the musical aesthetes with fathom-deep record collections, the broad knowledge of the record obsessive and the deft selection skills of seasoned DJs. They are, of course, all of these things and a few more besides.

The Snow Patrol pair assigned with the task here, Tom Simpson and Gary Lightbody, know their way round their collections and are old hands at that grubby DJing caper. And it shows. The mix is bookended by a pair of beauties, beginning with the unusually ethereal 'Obseravtory Crest' by Captain Beefheart with its chiming guitars and Rhodes-drenched backing track. The end is signalled by John Martyn's 'Sweet Little Mystery' from the big man's 1980 LP 'Grace & Danger'. A fitting tribute for a fallen comrade.

But this is not a mix about DJ trickery. There are naturally some grooves in there (A Tribe Called Quest, DJ Food and Holy Ghost! all make appearances along the way), but really this is about song appreciation. The songs are groovy, natch, but it's the feeling that's important here whether we're falling in love with Jim Noir's daffy lyrics or wondering from which planet Arthur Russell may have landed.

And, as this is Late Night Tales, they always but always have something special for you in the comely form of a newly recorded cover version, this time their own homage to Antiopdean heroes INXS with 'New Sensation'. As Gary himself queries of their remake: "Why bother if you're just palely imitating the true form?"

Tracklisting:
1. Captain Beefheart - Observatory Crest
2. A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight
3. DJ Food - Dark Lady
4. King Biscuit Time - I Walk the Earth
5. Iain Archer - Canal Song
6. Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe
7. The Week That Was and Field Music - It's All Gone Quiet
8. Allen Toussaint - Last Train
9. Bobby Gentry - Fancy
10. Arthur Russell - That's Us/Wild Combination
11. Jim Noir - Eanie Meany
12. School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep
13. TV On the Radio - Family Tree
14. Holy Ghost! - Hold On
15. Super Furry Animals - Download
16. Snow Patrol - New Sensation (Exclusive Cover Version)
17. Miracle Fortress - Next Train
18. John Martyn - Sweet Little Mystery

http://www.latenighttales.co.uk

Seventy Entertainment Presents The Game @ Hammersmith Apollo 17:07:09





http://www.seventyentertainment.com

Thursday 2 July 2009

More News From The Big Chill



Festival update from the Big Chill...

Big Chill hero to open this year's festival

If there's one festival we feel inspired by, it's Woodstock. Forty years on, we are honoured that the creator of Woodstock Fest. 69, Michael Lang, is coming to The Big Chill. We'll be opening the Words In Motion tent on the Thursday evening and you'll be able to meet the man himself in a special Q&A session there. There will also be a chance for you to watch a 40th anniversary screening of the film, Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music.

Woodstock is seen as the perfect celebration of the 60's peace and love movement, an ideal which we hold dear and which has helped define the ethos of The Big Chill these past 15 years.


More line-up news

Yes indeed, this year's line-up just keeps on growing! We've still got a trick or two up our sleeves to come soon, but until then we're very proud to announce these additions to 2009's line-up;

Open Air Stage:
Tom Brousseau

The Castle Stage:
John Cooper Clarke
Shackleton exclusive UK festival live set
Suns of Arqa
The Field

The Coop:
Breakage

Big Chill Nights:
Last Mango In Paris
MC Barney
Ollie Mealing Close-up conjuror

The Sailor Jerry Rum Bar:
Adrian Sherwood & Moody Boyz (Tony Thorpe)
Bam Bam Sound
Biggabush
Cal Jader
Gaz's Rockin Blues
Keb Darge
Sofrito
Steve Barker

The Cocktail Bar:
Arthur Baker
Dan Marshall
DJ Format (DJ Set)
Dom Servini
Pete Fowler's Cosmic Jamboree feat. The Simonsound & Laura J Martin

Kid's Zone:
Mark Townsend

Sadly, we also have bad news. Unfortunately, both The Juan Maclean and Zombie Zombie are no longer able to perform at this year's festival. We're already hard at work on finding their replacements and we'll let you know who'll be filling their shoes as soon as possible.

You can view the full line-up to date here - www.bigchill.net/festival/info/line-up.

If you don't recognise a name or two, don't despair, just visit our Big Chill 2009 YouTube playlist and swot up - http://www.bigchill.net/news/2009/06/the-big-chill-2009-video-previews/


Questions, questions, questions...

Wondering how you're going to get to this year's Big Chill? Then wonder no more, as you can find lots of handy travel info - just click on the link below. The Lift-Share Forum is also back in business, so why not pick up a passenger (or hitch a lift) and you could save money, as well as make some new friends!

http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info/travel
http://forum.bigchill.net/index.php?showforum=20

Whether you're a seasoned Chiller, or a fresh faced newbie, there's nothing worse than finding yourself in a field miles from home, without your favourite teddy bear, or some other essential bit of camping kit. Believe us, we've learnt the hardway. To help you avoid any such disasters, please take a look at our Camping Checklist for advice on what to bring.

http://www.bigchill.net/news/2009/06/camping-checklist-2/

Got another festival question? Take a look through our Frequently Asked Questions to see if you can find the answer to what's troubling you... if you can't, get in touch.

http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info/faqs-0


I Spit On Your Rave - the undead website goes live

Our ghastly plan with Film4 and Warp Films continues to unfold with the launch of the official website. Get a feel for your inner zombie by watching Roadtrip, a short teaser to help get you thinking outside the grave.

http://www.ispitonyourrave.com/

As well as the mass zombie event on Thursday evening, there'll be loads of other ghoulish activities taking place, including an undead fashion show, a zombie battle of the bands, a zombie pet show and of course, a zombie rave, where you can get down with your dead-self. Entertaining fellow Big Chill zombies on the Thursday evening will be Toddla T, who has been confirmed as our first guest zombie... and there are more special guest zombies to be announced very soon!

We'll be sending out more detailed instructions for the undead hoards shortly, telling you everything you need to know, such as:

* Where to gather with your zombie brethren
* Inside info on which bits will be shooting where and when
* What the audio and visual cues will be
* How to move when you are dead
* And in which direction you should be shuffling

So, get your hideous make-up and get-up ready, reveal your inner zombie and arrive in costume. Surprise us and catch the eye of our undead cameras, as we'll be looking for zombies as they arrive at the box offices and will carry on throughout the weekend. Or until everyone's dead.


Calling all bands and budding musicians!

Fancy performing on the same bill as David Byrne, Orbital and Spiritualized? Want to get your band's photo taken by one of the world's most celebrated photographers? Then don't miss out on this great opportunity to win a photo-shoot with legendary photographer Rankin, festival tickets and a set in The Coop at this year's Big Chill. Simply visit www.myspace.com/rankinlive, add Rankin and The Big Chill Festival to your top 8 MySpace friends, then post a comment to RankinLive stating why you'd like to be photographed by Rankin and win a slot at The Big Chill festival (tip - make sure that you have your best tracks on your MySpace page as this is how you'll be judged). The winners will be announced shortly after 15th July on the RankinLive MySpace page.


Lock your radios in to 87.7fm for the festival

Knobs are frantically being tweaked and dials tuned as The Big Chill Radio crew prepare to straddle the airwaves for another 100+ hours of non-stop festival transmission. They'll be broadcasting on 87.7fm from the morning of Thursday 6th August, right through the weekend, so whatever you do, don't forget your radio! Tune in as you approach the festival site and let them guide you in with sweet, sweet music.


The Big Chill's Brum warm-up party

The Big Chill lands in the UK's second city on Friday 3rd July, for a warm-up party at the Hare & Hounds, featuring those AV Ninjas extraordinaire, Hexstatic. Book your tickets here - https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/buy_tickets/events/?id=10007578


Go ape at Eastnor!

Swing by the Monkey Shoulder Tree House Bar and laze around in the tree top surroundings of this chilled-out hideaway. Made from reclaimed whisky barrel timbers, the Monkey Shoulder Tree House is the perfect place to unwind, relax and enjoy an ice-cold Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt Scotch Whisky cocktail at this year's festival.

If you're the sporting type you can indulge in a little healthy competition, Monkey Shoulder style, playing original board games, like backgammon and snakes and ladders, which are carved into reconditioned whisky barrel table tops.

Contemporary whisky cocktails available will include Show Me The Monkey, the perfect summer cooler, combining Monkey Shoulder Whisky, Drambuie, apple juice and fresh mint, and the Monkey Mule, mixing Monkey Shoulder with fresh lime, sugar, syrup and ginger beer.


Tickets for The Big Chill 2009 are available now from Ticketline.

https://bigchill-secure.ticketline.co.uk/tickets/13230951/big-chill-2009/herefordshire-eastnor-castle/2009-08-07

Adult: £145

Student: £110

For full-time students only. Valid NUS or ISIC ID required at the box office - no other student ID accepted.

JSA: £110

Official documentation proving JSA entitlement must be produced at the box office.

Teen* (13 to 17 years old): £60

Kid* (12 and under - this includes babies and toddlers): £4

* Please note that all under 18 year olds must be accompanied to the festival by an adult. An adult cannot be responsible for more than 4 under 18 year olds each.

Sunday: £70

National Express are now selling a combined festival & travel ticket: £165


All of the above include camping and are subject to a booking fee

If you're feeling the pinch and would like to purchase tickets without paying a booking fee, then you can pay by sending a cheque to the address below:

The Big Chill Shop,
PO Box 58279,
London,
N1P 1EU

Please click below for further info on how to pay by cheque;

http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info

Modernaire



Modernaire are Chesty La Rue (vocals), Cruella de Mill (vocals), Oscar Wildstyle (music) and Ollie Austin (drums), a four piece from Manchester. Their sleek electro sound has been described by BBC Introducing as “a twisting beast capable of tempting and tormenting in equal measure...put simply, it’s intoxicatingly addictive stuff." New single ‘Faites Vos Jeux’ will be released in the UK on Roxour Recordings on the 29th June.

Shortly after forming in 2008, Modernaire’s reputation grew rapidly from local heroes to hot new things. Oscar Wildstyle describes the early days, "When we came to university in Manchester we just started making songs for fun in our bedrooms. I played a track I’d done on my laptop and we finished the song for it in about half an hour. We recorded it right there in the bedroom. As soon as we put some tracks up on our MySpace page, we started getting offered local gigs and then from around the country.”

Modernaire were personally invited by fellow Mancunians The Ting Tings to join them on their UK tour just as ‘That’s Not My Name’ hit No. 1. A run of profile shows supporting Friendly Fires, Metronomy, Who Made Who, The Whip and The Hot Puppies followed, leading to a spilt 7” release, supported by BBC Radio 1 and XFM, on the hip Brainlove Records label.

As accomplished producers, Modernaire have remixed Metronomy, Empire of the Sun (which went to no.03 in the Hype Machine chart), Daggers, The Hot Puppies and The Holloways, with remixes for WhoMadeWho and Love Grenades in the pipeline.

"Heavy-edged electro popsters" The Guardian
"Refreshingly original" The Independent
“Very good stuff...love the music” Rob Da Bank (Radio 1)
"Great pop music." John Hillcock (XFM London)
"Glacial Gameboy pop" Time Out

MP3 downloads at RCRD LBL.