Reading Festival - Day Two

Indie rock king Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys...pic by Sidney Bernstein

EVEN from first thing in the morning, there is a sense of expectation and excitement in the air with the Arctic Monkeys waiting for us at the end of the day.

But that's still some time away. The day for RealSoundsOK starts with a touch of Tea Street Band in the Dance Tent before heading to Lonely The Brave on the NME stage.

Like Twin Atlantic yesterday, it's a tight little set that gears you up for a day of music without really getting you over-excited. I was, perhaps, put out by vocalist David Jakes taking up position at the rear of the stage by the drums rather than near the front. A band needs a leader, doesn't it?

My disappointment was not helped by a "quick" jaunt back to the car that took the best part of an hour and saw us miss Royal Blood. 

Lower Than Atlantis rocked it...pic by Joshua Halling

However, RealSoundsOK was back on site in time to catch Lower Than Atlantis deliver an absorbing set. Kicking off with If The World Was To End, they also performed favourites like (Motor)Way Of Life and Deadliest Catch alongside new tracks English Kids In America and Here We Go for the finale. Great stuff.

We saw some of The Hives as well as Foster The People and Imagine Dragons, none of whom managed to impress enough to make me want to see them again. And I'm gutted I made the decision to see some of these over Don Broco, whose performance - on replay - trumped them all. Sorry guys.

Another tough choice came later on as we decided against watching new kid on the block Jake Bugg (who earlier did a secret acoustic set on the BBC Introducing Stage) in favour of Bombay Bicycle Club. It was the right decision.

For me, Bugg's sound is not original. Too many of his tracks "sounds a bit like...". Bombay Bicycle Club sounded different - with a vibe and sense of fun from their indie rock that had been missing from too many of the bands today.

And, rightly, the NME tent was packed out for them - a cracking feat when the child prodigy was up against them on the Main stage.

The Hives...pic by Sidney Bernstein

Enthusiasm returned, it was over to the Main stage for the Arctic Monkeys. I've always been put out by the fact so many people tell me I have to like AM. And to spite them, I don't own any of their albums.

They are - however - purveyors of superb, British rock n roll music and in Alex Turner - who is slowly turning into The Fonz - they have one of the suavest frontmen in music today.

Starting with Do I Wanna Know?, the Sheffield lads performed a whopping 20-song set as they wound down their UK tour of their album AM.

Dancing Shoes, Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair, Crying Lightning, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, When The Sun Goes Down were all included in a triumphant performance before an encore of One For The Road, Snap Out Of It and R U Mine?

British indie rock music at its best. Smooth, cocky and sounding superb.

Blink-182 to headline Reading and Leeds 2014

BLINK-182 have been announced as the first main stage headliner at next year's Reading and Leeds Festivals.

The performance will be their only UK show and they will be joined on the bill by the likes of Jake Bugg, Disclosure, Metronomy, Of Mice & Men and I Am Legion.

Blink-182's Mark Hoppus said: "I’m stoked to play Reading & Leeds 2014. It’s our fourth time playing the festivals, and we’re very honoured. 

"The new year will see us in the studio preparing new music, getting ready to rock the fine people of the UK. Prepare for the fury."

The festival takes place over the 2014 August bank holiday weekend and for more information visit readingfestival.com or leedsfestival.com

La Roux, Miles Kane join Benicàssim bill

TWENTY new bands have been confirmed for Benicàssim 2013.

La Roux (above), Miles Kane, Everything Everything and Woodkid all join the line up along with the likes of Le Carousel, Childhood, Christian Smith and Chvrches, among others.

They join what is one of the strongest line ups in the Spanish festival's history with The Killers, Queens Of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Jake Bugg and the Hurts already confirmed.

  

FIB 2013 will be held in Benicàssim's concert venue on July 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st.

Paloma Faith and The Vaccines for Evolution Festival

EVOLUTION Festival returns to the North East of England this May bank holiday with another outstanding line-up featuring the most influential and exciting names in popular music right now.  

Paloma Faith and The Vaccines headline the event at the Quayside, Newcastle/Gateshead, on Sunday and Monday, May 26 and 27.

Other acts on the bill include Jake Bugg, Ellie Goulding, Bastille, Rudimental, Aluna George, The Strypes, Sub Focus and Modestep.

 

Tickets for the festival are just £29.50 for the day and £39.50 for the weekend.

Promoter Jim Mawdsley said: "We have been working damned hard over the last few months to put together the strongest, most varied line up yet! As usual we are proud to have such a strong mix of today's heavy weights and future stars. 

"The dance stage at Ballast Hills will be an even bigger draw this year and again we are producing all of this for the best value ticket in the UK Festival market. I for one can't wait!"

For more details on the festival visit http://www.evolutionfestival.co.uk or you can check out the full line up below...

 

Sunday 26th May

 

Spillers Wharf Stage

The Vaccines

Ellie Goulding

Rudimental Live

The Strypes

Arlissa

The Lake Poets

Rossi Noise

 

Ballast Hills Stage

Modestep Live

Lethal Bizzle

Loadstar

Delta Heavy

Dismantle

Decibel

Gentleman Jonny

 

Monday 27th May

 

Spillers Wharf Stage

Paloma Faith

Jake Bugg

Bastille

AlunaGeorge

Lulu James

Drenge

Eliza & The Bear

 

Ballast Hills Stage

Sub Focus Live

Mista Jam

Zinc

Bondax

Gorgon City

P Money

Chroma

Six new acts added to Reading and Leeds line up

SIX new acts have been confirmed for this year's Reading and Leeds Festival.

Radio 1's Zane Lowe was given the exclusive announcement of Biffy Clyro signing up as headliners for the festival - the only one the Scottish trio will play in the UK this year.

The band recently launched their double-album Opposites.

Festival organisers have also secured two major US bands with both System Of A Down and the newly reformed Fall Out Boy also added to the line up, along with Foals, Jake Bugg and Bring Me The Horizon.

They join a number of other artists confirmed for the festival on August 23-25 including headliner Eminem, Alt-J, Deftones, Boy Better Know and Sub Focus, with more acts yet to come.

Tickets are available from www.readingfestival.com or www.leedsfestival.com

Rolling Stones up for four NME awards

THE grandfathers of rock The Rolling Stones are up for four gongs at next month's NME Awards.

The band are up Best Live Band, Best Book, Music Moment of The Year and Best Music Film. 

Tame Impala, Haim and M.I.A. are also each up for four awards. Tame Impala gets a nod for Best International Band, Best Album, Best Track and Best Music Video. Haim, who won the BBC's sound of 2013 competition, are up for Best New Band, Best Track, Best Music Video, Best Twitter.

M.I.A. is up for Best Track, Best Music Video, Best Dancefloor Anthem and Best Twitter.

The Maccabees are up for three along with Arctic Monkeys and David Bowie, while Muse and Kasabian are also nominated.

The Maccabees, Biffy Clyro and The Cribs are battling for Best British Band and Best Live act. Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and The Vaccines also receive nods for Best British Band while Blur, Foals and The Rolling Stones are also up for Best Live act.  

Mercury-winning Alt J are up for best album, along with The Maccabees, The Vaccines, Jake Bugg and Tame Impala.

The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, February 27 at The Troxy in East London.