Fessiewatch

Richie Hawtin announces his date with Sónar on Friday 19th

2009-05-05T09:15:00.002+01:00

Other additions to Sónar by Night include Rustie, Nacho Marco, Henry Saiz, Angel Molina and HD Substance.

Richie Hawtin’s traditional appointment at Sónar will take place on Friday night on the main stage, Sonarclub. Hawtin arrives at Sónar 2009 at an artistic zenith, fully consolidated as an international dance music benchmark.

The session by the Canadian dj and producer, an eagerly-awaited highlight every year by the Sónar audience, joins the list of artists focusing their work on the dancefloor, which also includes the British producer Rustie (one of the key figures in the new wave of the wonky genre in the urban rhythms area) and Spain’s Angel Molina, HD Substance (who will also be at SonarKids), Nacho Marco and Henry Saiz, who are all a guarantee of quality and precision on the decks.

Lost Prophets to play Reading & Leeds

2009-04-19T22:33:00.003+01:00

Lostprophets return with two very special intimate festival appearances giving fans an exclusive preview of their long awaited fourth album. The band will headline the NME/Radio 1 tent at the Reading & Leeds Festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 29th August at Leeds

and Sunday 30th at Reading. The band last toured the UK in 2007 and have been working flat out in the UK and US on their highly anticipated follow up to the number one album ‘Liberation Transmission’.

Vocalist Ian Watkins commented, “We’ve been dying to come back to the UK and play and when we realised the timing meant we could make it Reading & Leeds we jumped at the chance as it’s got the most amazing memories for us. We also thought, rather than playing on the main stage

we could get in the tent and see the whites of the eyes of the fans down the front, and get their first hand reaction to the new songs. It’ll be amazing.”

Festival Republic commented “We are immensely thrilled to welcome Lostprophets back to Reading and Leeds Festivals in a very special up-close setting. They have always been a huge hit with fans at both sites and have performed some legendary shows. Lostprophets and shows

like this are what Reading and Leeds are all about.”

The band join previously announced acts such as Kings of Leon, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, Eagles of Death Metal on this year’s line up with AFI, Gallows and The Gaslight Anthem supporting on the day plus many more acts to be announced

29th August LEEDS FESTIVAL www.leedsfestival.com

30th August READING FESTIVAL www.readingfestival.com

The Whitest Boy Alive

2009-04-18T09:58:00.002+01:00

Sitting in the office on a sunny Saturday morning we decided to start making a list of the bands we really want to check out live over the course of the year, so over the coming weeks expect an very eclectic list of musical geniuses to grace this blog. We kick off though with The Whitest Boy Alive.

After a couple of sold out gigs here in the UK they're moving their tour to Europe, promoting their latest album "rules". We love them so much that we're looking for an interview with them and as soon as we get it sorted we will bring it you uncut and and in all its recorded glory. For the time being we are enjoying "rules" and letting the northern European funk fill the room.

They are playing the TRÆNA Festival (alongside Rob Da Bank!) and as it's in a remote island in the Arctic Circle we're not sure that we're going to make it... but if you a fancy northern midnight sun adventure, pack your proper fessie mission shoes and get up there to check out this wicked band.

Link to The Whitest Boy Alive Myspace

Link to TRÆNA Festival site

Roskilde- An introduction

2009-04-17T13:33:00.010+01:00

AN INTERNATIONAL, INNOVATIVE AND BOUNDARY-PUSHING MUSIC FESTIVAL.
For the first time, this year the fessiewatch team will be descending on the Rosklide Festival in Denmark for a week of musical shenanigans which will put all of our Scandinavian loving team to the test. To introduce this festival to you guys we've collated a brief background blog, on future posts we will delve deeper into the lineup and what you can expect from a Northern European festival.
Each year Roskilde Festival attracts a massive audience from all over Europe, and today it is one of the biggest culture and music festivals in Europe. It is a modern, cutting-edge festival which is organised by a non-profit humanitarian organisation on the basis of approximately 25,000 volunteers. All profits from the festival are donated to national and international humanitarian charity and cultural purposes by The Roskilde Festival Charity Society.
Eight days of party and total experiences

Roskilde Festival presents a progressive music programme which offers memorable experiences and lots of surprises. Year after year, the largest international crowd in Europe is drawn to Roskilde because of a combination of this year’s greatest successes, the living legends and the best representatives of the many corners of musical expression.
Each year, about 175 bands play at seven stages during four days from Thursday to Sunday. The camping areas open on the Sunday prior to the festival with music at Pavilion Junior – the stage for upcoming acts – and a wealth of activities during the four days leading up to Thursday. Roskilde Festival is 4 days’ warm-up and 4 days’ music. This is a total of 8 days of partying. Roskilde Festival is a unique and all-encompassing experience where music, events and activities form a unity with the intense sense of community among an emphatic audience.
Music through the years

Roskilde Festival was established in 1971 and has since then presented acts such as Arctic Monkeys, Beastie Boys, Björk, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, The Chemical Brothers, Bob Dylan, Fatboy Slim, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Korn, Kraftwerk, Marilyn Manson, Bob Marley, Massive Attack, Metallica, New Order, Nirvana, Oasis, Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Scissor Sisters, The Streets, The Strokes, Talking Heads, Tool, U2, Underworld, Robbie Williams, Wu-Tang Clan, Roger Waters, Kanye West, The White Stripes and Brian Wilson.
Access to camping and parking is included in the ticket. Camping facilities include hot and cold showers, communal grills, food and drink stalls, shopping areas, cinema, street sports, skate ramp, free luggage storages and lots of activities and events.
Roskilde Festival takes place from 2 – 5 July, 2009.
View the 2009 Roskilde Poster

Photo Captions
In front of the Orange Stage
Photo: Jens Dige / Rockphoto

The festival's swimming lake
Photo: Nanna Kreutzmann / Rockphoto

Guest at camping area
Photo: Rasmus Weng Karlsen

Artificial skating rink
Photo: Ditte Valente / Rockphoto

Benicassim Festival 2009

2009-04-16T13:50:00.007+01:00

For the first time ever we'll be heading off to sunnier climes and reporting from Benicassim... expect loads of photos and interviews.. for the time being though check out some of the line-up so far.

The British bands Maxïmo Park and The Horrors head the latest list of new additions to the line-up. The former will be promoting ‘Quicken the Heart’ (2009), and the latter will be giving us a taste of the new trails they have been blazing with Geoff Barrow of Portishead on their soon-to-be-released album, ‘Primary Colours’. The New York-based band The Walkmen are also on board with their latest brilliant album, ‘You & Me’ (2008). The British band Elbow will also arrive with a new release in tow, ‘The Seldom Seen Kid (2008). And we will also be seeing the Canadian artist Peaches, the personification of punk; the Swedish indie singer Lykke Li and her stirring electropop vibe; the Japanese-American Steve Aoki, an outstanding DJ and producer who has remixed bands like The Killers and Duran Duran, to name a few; the more than recommendable The Mighty Stef, following in the path of greats like Costello, McGowan and Johnny Thunders; the sophisticated electronic sounds of Gui Boratto; our old Demo Project friends, Klaus & Kinski. and the winners of 2009, Ratolines.

Elbow
Gui Boratto
The Horrors
Klaus & Kinski
Lykke Li
Maxïmo Park
The Mighty Stef
Peaches
Ratolines
Steve Aoki
The Walkmen

Photo courtesy of: FIB Archive / David Herranz

Eddie Halliwell Presents ED-IT At Creamfields

2009-04-16T12:45:00.001+01:00

The Creamfields line up just got bigger with the addition of international superstar DJ Eddie Halliwell who showcases his new performance concept ED-IT at this years festival on Sunday 30th August Bank Holiday Weekend.

This English festival exclusive will see Eddie raise the benchmark with his production as he combines his technical wizardry with a full stage show that includes customised special effects and visual production in the Cream Arena. This is the ultimate DJ experience taking listeners on an aural journey, set to be one of the highlights of this year’s festival.

This will be the festival debut of his new concept ‘EDDIE HALLIWELL PRESENTS ED-IT’, a performance that allows him to manipulate, remix and re-edit tracks live on stage. Using pioneering technology that he has been involved in developing over the last couple of years, which allows him to produce a totally unique experience at each and every performance.

Eddie says: “Creamfields will offer the perfect setting for presenting ED-IT. The Cream crowd and immense atmosphere created in the Cream Arena will compliment it perfectly. ED-IT promises to offer something very different to what people are used to when seeing me play, its the ultimate DJ platform, allowing me to be more creative than ever with my sets, both musically and visually. I can’t wait to give ED-IT full fire at one of the best festivals in the world.”

EDIT is an exclusive DJ platform and will be showcased at select venues around the world. Look out for news of the next show on www.myebook.com/eddiehalliwell <http://www.myebook.com/eddiehalliwell>

LINE UP SO FAR:-

SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST ;

Tiёsto / Mylo Live / David Guetta / Luciano presents Æther Live / Laurent Garnier Live / John Digweed / Pete Tong / Sven Väth / Steve Angello / Axwell / Sebastian Ingrosso / Erol Alkan / Crookers / James Zabiela / Boys Noize / Friendly Fires Live / Hernan Cattaneo / Kissy Sell Out / Danny Howells / Andy C / Hype / High Contrast / Chase & Status / Mark Knight / Dirty South / Dave Spoon / Skream & Benga / Busy P vs DJ Feadz / Nick Warren / DJ Marky / Friction / Filthy Dukes / Funkagenda / MC Beardyman / NTYPE / Gareth Wyn / Kim Fai / Rich Reason / Ken Evil / MC Dynamite / IC3 / MC GQ / SP:MC / Tonn Piper / Mad Rush / Rage MC / Phil Faversham / Dean Rigg / Sarah Louise / Alan Hartley / Deeyana on Sax / Dean Oram on Percussion
+ More to be announced

SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST:

Basement Jaxx / Paul van Dyk / Dizzie Rascal / 2manydjs Live / Calvin Harris Live / Erick Morillo / Sasha / Ferry Corsten / Deadmau5 / Dubfire / Timo Maas / Annie Mac / Sander van Doorn / Judge Jules / Yousef / Tidy Boys / Delphic Live / Aeroplane / Dirty Vegas Live / Brodinski / Fake Blood / Yuksek Live / Toddla T / John O‘Callaghan / Showtek / Kutski / Dark by Design / Organ Donors / Mark EG / Rob Tissera / Bootek Live / Tidy DJ’s / Burn the Negative / Jack Beats / Jaymo & Andy George / Jordan Suckley / John Jones / Jim Breese / Carl Hanaghan / Andy Mac / Cassette Jam / Anthony Probyn / Lee Ellis / Anton Powers / Rob H / Lady V on Sax / Dean Oram on Percussion
+ More to be announced

www.creamfields.com

Blur - Hyde Park

2009-04-16T12:29:00.002+01:00

FULL LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR BLUR AT HYDE PARK INCLUDING: VAMPIRE WEEKEND, AMADOU & MARIAM, FOALS

Blur.co.uk has revealed the full line-up for Blur's shows at London's Hyde Park on July 2 and 3.

Special guests will come in the form of Vampire Weekend, Foals, Amadou and Mariam, Friendly Fires, Florence and the Machine, Deerhoof, Crystal Castles and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

Chris Morrison, Blur's manager is looking forward to the shows, "A brilliant collection of bands that have agreed to join us for these two shows in Hyde Park. It is really important to the band to get the right mix and now we're able to announce what we believe is an exceptional lineup."

On Thursday, Blur will be joined by: Foals, Crystal Castles, Friendly Fires and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

On Friday, Blur will be joined by: Vampire Weekend, Amadou and Mariam, Florence and the Machine and Deerhoof.

The July 3 show is sold out, however there are limited tickets available for the July 2 show, from www.livenation.co.uk.

The Big Chill 2009

2009-04-16T11:54:00.001+01:00

Fifteen years old, but fresher and more innovative than ever before, the pioneering festival returns with an unrivalled programme of music, comedy, art, spoken word, film – and a field full of zombies

Following on from a defining year in 2008, The Big Chill returns with a line-up packed to the rafters with some of the most credible names across culture and entertainment. Led by a musical triumvirate that features the iconic David Byrne, dance legends Basement Jaxx and the specially-reformed Orbital, this year’s festival will again be a multiart form celebration as rich as it is diverse.

Epic experimentalists Spiritualized will bring their stunning set to Eastnor, as will Adrian Sherwood’s Dub Syndicate, recently reunited electronic duo Lamb and Arizona-based rockers Calexico. A strong European dance contingent will include electronica acts Gablé and To Rococo Rot together with French psychedelics Gong.

There will also be festival homecomings Tom Middleton, the indispensable Norman Jay and through the weekend Mr Scruff’s Tea Party will be hijacking Big Chill Radio.

The Coop - a new tent for The Big Chill 2009 - will be hosted on Friday afternoon by Wonky Pop featuring indie-disco-dance hybrids Friendly Fires alongside Alphabeat DJs and a trio of up-and-coming talent in the shape of Magistrates, Marina & The Diamonds and Dan Black. Glaswegian stalwarts Sub Club will host the evening session with DJ sets from Slam, Optimo and Subculture.

London uber-cool trendsetters Horse Meat Disco will then share proceedings with fellow Saturday residents, bohemian internationalists Favela Chic, whose line-up will consist of Ska Cubano, Zombie Zombie and DJ Sandrinho.

With the gates opening at 10am on Thursday 6th August there will an extra full day of festival festivities to partake in - making The Big Chill 2009 a real Summer ‘staycation’.

That evening, courtesy of the BFI, the Mercury Award nominated British Sea Power will perform a UK festival exclusive on the Open Air Stage, as they re-score both the classic Man of Aran, as well as providing a soundtrack to scenes from Jacques Perrin's stunning documentary Winged Migration.