Dutch Acts coming to The Great Escape - Pip Blom, BEA1991, EUT, FATA BOOM, Lewsberg, Mauskovic Dance Band, Jarreau Vandal and Rina Mushonga
The Netherlands have been part of the Great Escape since the very start, and this year this Northwestern corner of Europe returns to Brighton with the latest crop of the country’s most prominent rising stars representing a variety of genres, from hip hop to 90s infused indie pop and art rock existentialism.
Recent addition to the Heavenly Recordings roster, Pip Blom leads the Dutch charge following their success on the BBC Music stage at last year’s Great Escape and recent performances at SXSW in Austin. Also part of the Dutch Impact SXSW selections, BEA1991 has already attracted critical attention from the likes of The Fader, Gorilla vs Bear and The Guardian with her special brand of louche sonic experimentalism and emotional raw vocals.
Last Januari Dutch EUT were most recommended by the media at ESNS 2019. This year, EUT are taking their youthful 90s flavoured post pop to Brighton. Describing themselves as “trippy electro hiphop lovebaby”, FATA BOOM is a collaborative project of two Dutch artists whose recent debut LP and flamboyant shows prompted comparisons to the likes of M.I.A., Die Antwoord and Gnucci.
Hailing from the port city of Rotterdam, Lewsberg’s nihilistic rock poetry is reminiscent of college rock tradition in the manner of Modern Lovers, Talking Heads and Velvet Underground. Their recent self-titled LP triumphed across the UK media, with top reviews from tastemakers like Gigwise and The Line of Best Fit. Finally but by no means least is the Mauskovic Dance Band, who effortlessly mix synthesisers Afro-Latin rhythms and slice guitar riffs to create a contemporary sound rich with cultural influence. The band have been gaining momentum with the launch of an EP coinciding with their performance at ESNS and have received praise from NTS, Worldwide FM and The Quietus.
Amsterdam-based producer Jarreau Vandal is part of independent music collective Soulection, known for his eclectic DJ sets and bangin’ edits of Rihanna’s “Work”, Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up.” and more recently sampling Kanye West’s “Sunday Service” on a new track with Denzel Curry. Jarreau has also featured in the likes of Noisey, Dummy, Clash, Highsnobiety, NTS and BBC 1 Xtra and has been confirmed to play at Sonar in Barcelona. Another artist releasing new material is London-based, Dutch-Zimbabwean pop innovator Rina Mushonga. Her recent album “In A Galaxy” has already received praise from Independent, The Times, Pitchfork, The Line Of Best Fit and weaves a glittering constellation of warped synths, Afropop rhythms and addictive, soul-lifting vocal harmonies.
The Dutch Impact Party will take place on Friday, May 10th from 12:00 - 16:00 in Komedia (Main). More info and set times coming soon.
Find out more about the bands below and if you’d like an interview or guestlist to the showcase please let us know.
The Dutch Music Export is a longstanding partner at The Great Escape festival, since year one the Dutch Impact party has been a highlight in the convention programme and Dutch artists have provided festival goers with many incredible and memorable performances from artists such as, Amber Arcades, Dope D.O.D, Jacco Gardner, Jameszoo and Klangstof,
This partnership is made possible by the coming together of Dutch Music Export, powered by Eurosonic Noorderslag, Dutch Performing Arts and Buma Cultuur, with the kind support by the embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.
Dutch Impact Website: https://dutch-impact.nl/festival/586b80bb4a151f90cbf8786b
About the artists
BEA1991
Independent artist and musical polymath BEA1991 has split her time between Amsterdam, London and NYC, experimenting with a variety of disciplines that have led to the release of two critically lauded EP’s as well as tours and close relationships with musical allies Blood Orange, Porches, Kirin J Callinan and Sega Bodega. She garnered a reputation for a powerful and emotive live experience, where she has additionally received attention for her experimental art exhibitions, all whilst recording her debut album.
Website: http://bea1991archive.tumblr.com/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6F93aFbWjhUtjRKXYmtr1Z
EUT
Bursting onto the independent music scene with a bold new attitude, Amsterdam’s EUT bring a fresh dose of energy to 1990s nostalgia. Drawing on influences from bands such as the Pixies, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blur, Weezer, Hole, Wilco and Beck, EUT met at art college in 2016 and haven’t looked back since. Fronted by charismatic whirlwind front woman Megan de Klerk, the band crafts beautifully written songs with captivating melodies, catchy pop hooks and immediate lyrics about youthfulness and growing up. The band started to make waves internationally after playing packed shows at the last editions of Reeperbahn Festival in Germany and Les Transmusicales in France. Their sparkling new indie-pop single ‘Supplies’ was picked up by BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunder’s as a ‘Next Wave’ track.
Website: https://www.thewordiseut.com/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/41doMenKZkgW8DUwH3WwV5
FATA BOOM
FATA BOOM is the unborn hip hop love-baby of two
Website: https://www.facebook.com/fataboom/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4GioeqLGgBkn9rRB12bor4
Jarreau Vandal (Live)
Jarreau Vandal is somewhat of a household name for those that have been binging on Soulection for the past few years. Be it Masego, IAMNOBODI or Monte Booker, the international network, friendships and collaborations Vandal has amassed through the collective have proven to be invaluable. However, his musical adventures pre-dating Soulection years are not as well known. Born in Maastricht, Vandal has been producing since the age of 16. Practice makes perfect, and, a decade later, the 26-year old is enjoying a cult following in Europe, North America and Asia.
Website: https://jarreauvandal.com/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6f96znq79wvlknKHHHhtTW?si=yYTLtEvHRt-TTUduAqc1Ag
Lewsberg
Rotterdam’s Lewsberg are a four-piece rock group named after writer and fellow Rotterdammer Robert Loesberg, famous for his dangerous novel Enige Defecten from 1974. Drawing inspiration from the counterculture and big-city cynicism of the 1960s and 1970s, Lewsberg released their self-titled debut LP in the Netherlands in 2018. Nine rudimentary and repetitive rock songs, full of a tough, nonchalant intensity. The English lyrics, delivered with a heavy Rotterdam accent, show a tendency towards existentialism and black humour. The album was re-released worldwide in January 2019.
Website: https://www.lewsberg.net/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/49q3PS0SzgbyvWDwZj7qg5
With each band member of varying heritage, the group draws inspiration from diverse genres: primarily Afro-
Website: https://mauskovicdanceband.bandcamp.com/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/49q3PS0SzgbyvWDwZj7qg5
Pip Blom
Indie-rock sensation Pip Blom already made quite a name for themselves in their short period of existence. They've played more than a hundred gigs rising from small pubs to the European festival circuit - as well as being asked by the likes of Surfer Blood, Franz Ferdinand and The Breeders to join them on their various European tours. The band’s energetic live show quickly pricked the ears of press and radio - with BBC 6 Music A-listing recent singles ‘I Think I’m In Love’ and ‘Pussycat’.
Website: https://www.pipblom.com/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zWJfH1TTmIqEi7EV35HGr
Rina Mushonga
“Man was made to hold his head erect in majesty and see the sky, to raise his eyes to the bright stars above,” the Roman poet Ovid wrote in 8AD, in his Latin literary epic Metamorphoses. You don’t need to tell this to Rina Mushonga. The London-based, Dutch-Zimbabwean pop innovator, whose new album In A Galaxy was
Website: http://rinamushonga.tumblr.com/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1GFkwGetxvXluztDxPShGo?si=L6qOgzyrRRSYvtxoDXi4iw
Contact:
Nikki McNeill or Anastasia Connor
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
conanastasia@gmail.com
NEVER PLAY WITH FYRE – DREAM FESTIVALS THAT GET EVERYTHING RIGHT
If recent viral disaster stories have taught us anything, it’s that festivals these days need to be more than an on-Fyre social media blitz and a hoodwinked media under the influencers.
No matter if you were watching the Fyre documentaries through your fingers in empathy, or enjoying a mainline hit of schadenfreude, it highlighted the colossal task of running any music weekender properly, in the age of insta-FOMO and rising standards.
Beyond the basics of good line-ups, quality food and a water supply that doesn’t rely on someone ‘taking one for the team’, music fans have become more savvy and discerning. We may laugh at viral pics of cheese sandwiches and disaster emergency tents at Fyre, but it’s not so many years since UK festivals evolved from grim weekenders in a field with a few burger vans and a comedy tent as the alternative entertainment.
But even as UK festivals have upped their game, an overseas weekender is still a rite of passage for the festival newbie, or a chance for a veteran to prove they haven’t seen it all.
We choose festivals these days the way we choose our holidays – as a more sophisticated quest for new cultural and social experiences.
Music tourism is hardly a new craze, but festivals are increasingly becoming a gateway to an extended break in a different country, blurring the lines between music, local history and culture, nightlife, sightseeing and gastronomic delights. Whether you’re down with a city break bustle, a beach time-out, an immersive music exploration or unique bucket list experiences, there’s a festival to suit.
From partying in a 5,000-year-old lava tunnel or a 17th century Balkan fortress, to lakeside gigs, beach raves or an urban dance marathon, here’s a selection of festivals run by teams with years of experience and excellence in the field. You know you won’t be signing up to an empty promise.
GLACIER RAVES AND SURREAL MIDNIGHT SUNSHINE AT ICELAND’S SECRET SOLSTICE FESTIVAL
Secret Solstice is all about unique experiences – the most obvious being the fact that the sun doesn’t set for the whole 96 hours, so get used to midnight pool parties in bright sunshine.
As well as an eclectic line-up of US, European and local acts, Iceland’s premiere music festival is a bucket list party in the capital Reykjavik during the magical summer solstice. The carbon-neutral festival prides itself on using Iceland’s stunning natural spaces and rugged landscape as a backdrop – while the main stage hosts many of the blockbuster acts, you can literally have an underground vibe, at exclusive raves in a glacier and a 5,000-year-old lava tunnel. Back above ground, catch DJ sets in naturally heated lagoons or at boat parties in the midnight sunshine – and marvel at glistening waterfalls, black sand beaches, caves and vast volcanic fields on special day trips.
Secret Solstice is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and 2019 is set to be its biggest edition yet.
Secret Solstice takes place from June 21-24.
See
Acts announced: Black Eyed Peas, Robert Plant and the Sensational Spaceshifters, Martin Garrix, Rita Ora, Patti Smith, Morcheeba, The Sugarhill Gang with Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio, Foreign Beggars, Pussy Riot, Kerri, Chandler, MK, Mr.G, Jeremy Underground, Boy Pablo, SMASH TV, ALXJ, Ari Árelíus, Árstíðir, Ása, Auður, BenSöl, Birgir Hákon, Birnir, Captain Syrup, Carla Rose, Chris Hirose, Clint Stewart, ClubDub, Dilivius Lenni, Doctor Victor, Exos, Floni, Grúska Babúska, Hatari, Högni, Ingi Bauer, Joey Christ , Johann Stone, JóiPé & Króli , KrBear Logi Pedro, Mike The Jacket, Monello, Nitin, Oktavdj, Pink Street Boys, Ragga Holm, Ricoshëi, Rokky, Séra Bjössi , Skaði, Sólstafir, Sprite Zero Klan, Sturla Atlas, Svala, The Vintage Caravan, Una Stef, Vibes, Vök, Vom
PARTY IN A 17th CENTURY FORTRESS OVERLOOKING THE DANUBE AT EXIT IN SERBIA
For four days every summer, the 17th century Petrovaradin Fortress opens its gates for EXIT – the award-winning music festival in Serbia’s second city, Novi Sad.
EXIT began in 2000 as a student protest fighting for political change, and over the years it’s grown into one of Europe’s biggest festivals, with [thousands] partying in the stunning citadel perched high on a cliff overlooking the River Danube. The positive activism remains in the air, and each year has a specific theme (it was ‘Freedom’ in 2018).
EXIT has possibly the most diverse line-up of any European festival, with 20 outdoor stages that feature everything from death metal to pop, indie, reggae and techno – among cobbled paths, courtyards, grass verges, ramparts and underground tunnels.
The Dance Arena is the festival’s energetic hub, with 20,000 raving in the fortress moat waiting for the awe-inspiring moment when the sun rises above the ancient walls. Many DJs say the Dance Arena is the greatest place in the world to play, and after Nina Kraviz closed EXIT 2018 with an extended set until 9am, she called it “one of the most special places on Earth”.
EXIT takes place from July 4-7.
See exitfest.org.
Acts announced: The Cure, Skepta, Amelie Lens, Boris Brejcha, Carl Cox, Charlotte De Witte, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Desiigner, Dj Snake, Greta Van Fleet, IAMDDB, Jeff Mills, Lost Frequencies, Maceo Plex, Paul Kalkbrenner, Peggy Gou, Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, Tom Walker, 65daysofstatic, Adriatique, Atheist Rap (30 Years), Bad Copy, Boston 168 Live, Dax J, Hazze, HIgh5, I Hate Models, Johannes Brecht Live, Krankšvester, Krešo Bengalka, Monika Kruse, Peter And The Test Tube Babies, Sajsi MC, Satori Live, Shdw & Obscure Shape, Sofi Tukker, Soilwork, Tarja, The Selecter, Van Gogh, VojkoV, Whitechapel, 30Zona, Akioki, Ana Rs, Arcturus, Asphalt Chant, Atlas Erotika, Bajko Felix, Bekfleš, Black Lotus, Black Serbs, Blend Mishkin, Bo Badu, Bokee, Booze & Glory, Bronze, Buntai, Bush Mad Squad, Butchaa, Cake Boys, Coeus, Das Ich, Deadly Hunta, DJ/Mc Killo Killo, DJ Danjahras, DJ Laki & DJ Rokam, DJ One, DJ Spery, DJ Verso, Dfndr, Dub Duba, Dunkelbunt, Elioh, Elon, Enforcer, Entombed A.D., Fam, Global Village People, Goran Kan, Grade 2, Grimegod, Herbal Queen, I.N.D.I.G.O, Ilija Djokovic, In Da Klub, Irie Scratch & Shorty P, Ital Vision, Jahmessenjah Sound System, Joma Maja, Kk Banda DJ’s, Kaoz, Katja Rubikova, Kawiar Mangueira, Kayda May, King Calypso, Klinac, Lawrence Klein B2b Forniva, Lil Yung, Little Shuja, Luka Brasi, Marcella, Marko Vuković, Martyrium, Miloš Vujović B2b Ranchatek, Mladen Tomić B2b Siniša Tamamović, Neki, Nevena Jeremić, New Wave, October Tide, Otvoreni Prelom, Palace, Pale Origins, PLYZ, Ponor, Runy, Siberian Meat Grinder, Scandal, Shi-cu, Shuba Ranks, Sid Data, Skadam, Soft 85, Sorriso, Stas, Steppa Style, Sur Austru, Thundersteel, Tommy T., Total Chaos, Traples, Trepaj Il Krepaj, Two Pauz, Vaske, Vatra, Vitamin X, Waggles, Yung Rosh, Zguubi Dan, Zimski + Many More Soon
A VOYAGE OF UNDERGROUND DISCOVERY AT OFF FESTIVAL IN POLAND
OFF is a unique boutique festival that values experimentation and diversity above everything else – with founder and organiser Artur Rojek’s hands-on vision an inspiration to ambitious promoters and dreamers worldwide.
OFF takes place in ‘Valley of Three Ponds’, Katowice – a beautiful green hideaway in the industrial Silesia region, with a huge choice of bars, restaurants and cultural centres to explore in the city close by.
OFF ignores popular trends in favour of an expertly curated programme of esteemed artists – with the festival bringing many acts to Poland for the first time. It was created in 2006 as a way for Rojek to indulge his “dreams and passion for sharing music”, even if that means a black metal band can play next to a techno DJ, a post-punk act, avant-garde noise-rock, hip-hop, jazz, post-rock and beyond.
From the greatest international underground heroes to essential forward-thinking Polish artists, OFF is an inspirational meeting of minds.
OFF Festival takes place from August 2-4.
See off-festival.pl.
Acts Announced: Foals, Suede, Stereo Lab, Aldous Harding, The Comet Is Coming, Superorganism, Electric Wizard, The Gaslamp Killer, Loyle Carner, OM, Zespół Pieśni i Tańca „Śląsk”, Octavian, Tirzah, Lebanon Hanover, Ammar 808, Boogarins, Wczasy, Entropia, Daughters, Durand Jones & The Indications, Dezerter
MUSIC, ART AND CULTURE CLASH AT THE DUTCH CAMPING PARADISE OF LOWLANDS
A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise is the Netherlands’ most prestigious music festival that’s been a rite of passage for the Dutch since 1993. It takes place in rural Biddinghuizen – only an hour away from Amsterdam, so there’s even a chance to add in a city break either side.
It’s a true music, arts and culture weekender, featuring the world’s biggest headliners on the circuit, as well as installations, theatre, comedy, film, debates and even science workshops.
Each of the 12 uniquely designed stages are covered so you can party rain or shine, and the iconic ‘Armadillo’ area is the festival’s power station, quirky bars, DJ booths and artisan restaurant areas that surpass regular festival food stalls.
The Dutch are world-renowned as expert festival organisers, and Lowlands is a perfect smooth operator, from the intuitive layout to the lack of queues for bars, food and bathrooms – with the best campsite facilities of all the big European festivals.
It’s a proper lost weekend too – Lowlands doesn’t do day tickets, so once you arrive on the Thursday you’re on a journey with your fellow happy campers until Sunday. This vibe was picked up by 2018 headliner Nile Rodgers, who posted: “Lowlands was fire! This was an amazing f-ing crowd! Truly insane, and that’s how we like it!”
Lowlands takes place from August 16-18, 2019.
See lowlands.nl.
Acts Announced: Tame Impala, Twenty One Pilots, A$AP Rocky,
PARTY ON THE STUNNING ADRIATIC COAST AT SEA DANCE IN MONTENEGRO
Sea Dance in Montenegro is an extension of the EXIT family – a gold standard guarantee in the festival world. Like EXIT, Sea Dance is also an
EXIT’s famous No Sleep Novi Sad stage is repackaged for Sea Dance, with over 100 performers shared around numerous other stages. Evan as a relatively new addition to the festival scene, Sea Dance already has a reputation for securing the biggest names in electronic music.
Montenegro was recently listed by Skyscanner as the number one cheap holiday destination, with mountain biking, hiking and watersports available for those with energy left after dancing all night to the world’s biggest DJs.
Sea Dance takes place from August 30 to September 1.
Seadancefestival.me.
Acts Announced: David Guetta, Robin Schulz, Ofenbach, + Many More Coming Soon
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ELECTRONIC MUSIC CULTURE AT THE AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT
Amsterdam is world famous as a hub for nightlife and electronic music, and every October it becomes the centre of the electronic music universe for five days during the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).
Some 400,000 people hit the Dutch capital every year for ADE, which features more than 2,500 international artists performing in over 100 of Amsterdam’s most iconic venues including Melkweg, Gashouder, Claire, Shelter, Paradiso, the NDSM Docklands and De School.
But it’s not simply a five-day rave – ADE offers an inspirational Eurosonic-style conference programme that covers all aspects of dance music culture and the industry. By day, across Amsterdam’s five main districts, there are dozens of seminars, workshops, exhibitions, artist interviews, feature and documentary screenings, DJ showcases and tech classes.
ADE is the ultimate festival for electronic music fans, who can even learn more about the culture between the parties.
Amsterdam Dance Event takes place from October 16 – 20
See amsterdam-dance-event.nl
Acts to be announced soon
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
OFF Festival Katowice 2019: Foals, Stereolab and Octavian join the lineup
Stereolab, representing Britain’s illustrious musical past, its equally excellent present in the form of Foals, and Octavian, its bright future. These are just a few of the acts joining the OFF Festival lineup today. Get ready for the usual eclectic range: everything from folk music to cosmic metal.
One of Britain’s premiere indie-rock acts, the missing link between the danceable post-punk energy of Talking Heads and Radiohead’s trippy melancholy sounds. After a four-year hiatus, Foals return as a four-piece with the excellent album Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 (and a follow-up coming in September; will they pull back the curtain in Katowice?), a perfect reflection of the anxious zeitgeist sweeping the United Kingdom and the world. But there’s a reason why frontman Yannis Philippakis and company have consistently reaped in nominations and prizes for UK’s best live band: strap in for one of the biggest concert events of the season!
When rumors of Stereolab’s return for series of live performances swept the globe in December, many of you wrote in to tell us that they just had to play at the OFF Festival. And we couldn’t agree more. This season, for the first time in a decade, Laetitia Sadier and Time Gane will take the stage side by side, and Katowice is on their itinerary. Founded in the 1990s, Stereolab made music that was ahead of their time. Adding an experimental twist to subtle beauty, Stereolab proved that playing pretty songs didn’t mean having to put away your ambition. Today, records like Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Dots and Loops are steadfast classics. They may not have achieved the success they deserved, but could anyone even imagine the borderlands of pop and alternative music today without the influence of Stereolab?
The OFF Festival has featured music legends with careers going back decades, but this is the first time a 66-year-old act has appeared in our lineup. And that’s not the only record. Founded in 1953 by Stanisław Hadyna and Elwira Kamińska, Śląsk (Polish for Silesia) is now an ensemble of over one hundred people, and comprises a choir, ballet company, and orchestra. It’s one of the most decorated Polish folk ensembles, and has visited 44 countries on five continents, giving over seven thousand performances for over 25 million audience members. It’s time to add the OFF Festival to that list. And since they’re performing in the Silesian capital of Katowice, look forward to an extra special repertoire.
He was only fourteen when his mother threw him out of the house. “You’re either going to be in prison or you’re going to be big,” she told him as she slammed the door. Octavian Oliver Godji, a French-born citizen of London from an Angolan family, spent the next few years on the streets, but he had a goal in mind: he wanted to make music. His fortunes turned when he landed a scholarship to study at the BRIT school, whose famous alumni include Adele and Amy Winehouse. Though he never graduated, his classmates helped him out on a few mixtapes that drew the attention of people in high places. Octavian has since won the BBC Music Sound of 2019 and is collaborating with the likes of Diplo and Mura Masa on his upcoming debut album, which is likely to be released ahead of the OFF Festival.
“I’m a big fan of science fiction. These things happen in my dreams. This project envisioned as a platform for understanding the modern world and its musical identity,” says Sofyann Ben Youssef, composer and musicologist, pianist and producer, explaining his motivation for creating Ammar 808. Sofyann took the traditional songs of the Maghreb and launched them into space with some help from his singer friends from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia—and the legendary Roland TR-808 drum machine. Anyone who turns down this invitation to an Arab-futurist party… No, let’s not go there. This is one invitation you can’t reject.
She’s “breathing new life into love songs” raved a recent Pitchfork profile, and it’s hard not to agree. Tirzah Mastin sings her songs without the characteristic passion of
“I’m still dancing today, I’m still singing today, but it’ll be over tomorrow / Gotta get up in the morning, gotta go to work.” This band would be the perfect closing act for the festival, but they’ll do fine any day at any time, because Bartłomiej Maczaluk and Jakub Żwirełło have an extraordinary knack for capturing the spirit of the moment, the bittersweet essence of life at the twilight of the second decade of the 21st century, which makes shameless use of 80s and 90s props (musical and otherwise). Zawody, the duo’s debut album, boasts retro nostalgia yet is somehow totally in the here and now. More importantly, though, it’s a collection of excellent songs that we’ll hear live.
The image of Dionysus that graces the cover of their latest album, Vacuum, might evoke thoughts of indulgent revelry, but the Oleśnica-based band Entropia isn’t asking you to dance: they’re drawing you into a destructive trance. This trippy, cosmic post-black metal can’t be compared to anything on the Polish music scene, but it’ll definitely be a hit with fans of krautrock and anyone who likes to get lost in the woods while tracking down Oranssi Pazuzu and Wolves in the Throne Room.
This year’s OFF Festival also features the previously announced acts: Suede, Neneh Cherry, Aldous Harding, Superorganism, Perfect Son, Electric Wizard, The Gaslamp Killer, The Comet is Coming, IC3PEAK, Daughters, Lotic: Endless Power, The Body, Dezerter gra "Underground Out of Poland", slowthai, Black Midi, Trio Jazzowe Marcina Maseckiego, OM, SAMA‘, Jakuzi, Phum Viphurit, Durand Jones & The Indications, Lebanon Hanover, Loyle Carnes, Emerald, Boogarins oraz Bamba Pana & Makaveli.
The 2019 OFF Festival Katowice will take
place August 2–4 at Three Pond Valley, its regular venue. Three-day passes are
now available at the OFF Shop for 330 PLN. This price lasts until April 7 or
until the second round of tickets is sold out! Campground tickets are also
available for 80 PLN.
EXIT Festival adds Skepta, IAMDDB and Desiigner along with 30+ regional hip-hop acts
After EXIT announced a string of top-notch guitar
bands from all generations ranging from The Cure to Greta Van Fleet and many
others coupled with some of the greatest DJs like Carl Cox, Amelie Lens and
dozens more, one of the world's leading festivals known for its musical
diversity just added a strong hip-hop gang of 30+ acts!
They are led by Skepta, UK's king of rhymes who is seen as not just the rapper but
an activist and the only MC who managed to popularize the London sound in United
States! His fans include Mick Jagger, Pharrell Williams, Drake, Naomi Campbell,
as well as A$AP Rocky, with whom he released the planetary hit “Praise the
Lord“! The phenomenal IAMDDB is also
coming from the British Isles, after being shortlisted by the BBC on their
acclaimed Sound of 2019 list, so it’s only natural that her trap-jazz bangers
"Shade", "Drippy" and "Kurr£ncy" are a mainstay on
the best hip-hop and R&B parties. In order to keep the Main Stage’s Sunday
finale in the spirit of hip-hop, EXIT will host the master of live performances
Desiigner, the creator of the decade’s
most viral hip-hop song, “Panda”, which reached the tops of the American charts
and has over a billion YouTube views to this day! This summer, EXIT will take
place at the spectacular 18th century Petrovaradin fortress, from July 4 to 7
and still discounted tickets can be found at exitfest.org.
EXIT Gang 2019 - Hip-Hop side of the festival: youtube.com/watch?v=r4FHq3XMxxU&feature=youtu.be
At a time when the music industry was turning its back on the street
phenomenon of “grime”, Skepta became
the best-known representative of the style that many call the new punk! It has
been more than a decade since Skepta made everyone go nuts with the famous
“Rolex Sweep” dance, after which came prestigious awards in the form of Mercury,
BRIT, BET, MOBO and NME trophies, as well as the influential GQ list of
best-dressed celebs. He was also featured on the cover of the famous mag last
year, alongside supermodel Naomi Campbell, while the two were rumored to be in
a relationship. Skepta is not afraid to take on burning social and political issues,
as well as the hot topic of racism, which is why many refer to him as more than
a rapper, but an activist. His rich biography lists colabs with names such as the
great Mick Jagger, while Drake went as far as tattooing the initials of
Skepta’s record label and collective “Boy Beter Know”. With the help of the
megaproducer Pharrell Williams, he published his monumental “Konnichiwa” album three
years ago, which consequently went gold in Britain and brought Skepta numerous accolades!
Hip-hop’s influential XXL magazine dubbed Desiigner one of the next big things in its “Freshman Class” list
for 2016, and lo and behold, he published his huge hit “Panda” just a few
months later, receiving the Billboard award for the best rap song, thus leaving
Migos in the dust with “Bad and Boujee”, as well as Rae Sremmurd with his
popular “Black Beatles” number! He was noticed by Kanye West who signed him to
his record label, G.O.O.D. music, with new record-breaking tracks following,
such as “Timmy Turner” and “Liife”, where he was joined by the trap legend
Gucci Mane. Recently, he sent his fans in a frenzy thanks to brand-new singles “Soul”
and “Earned It”!
Proof that Manchester is not just a city of Brit-pop comes in the form
of a young artist dubbed IAMDDB, short
for I Am Diana Debrito, who calls herself a “lovechild of trap and jazz”. This
fearless lady found herself at the third place of the BBC “Sound of 2018” list,
while her name was also listed on the acclaimed Forbes’ “30 under 30 Europe
2019” list.
This year, just as the name suggests, all genres will be thrown in the
mix on the Addiko Fusion stage, including hip-hop, thanks to the announced
arrival of the Balkans’ rap queen Sajsi
MC and the beloved rap-trio Bad Copy!
This “hip-hop festival within a festival” will carry on to Cockta Beats, the new hotspot for all hip-hop fans which will only
feature performers of this genre! The mind-blowing line-up is currently lead by
the biggest regional rap stars, Vojko V and Krešo Bengalka, popular regional bands
Atlas Erotika, Bekfleš, Buntai, Hazze, High5, I.N.D.I.G.O, Krankšvester and 30Zona, as well as new talents, such as Klinac and Elon, whose
star-studded career is more than guaranteed. The gang at the fortress will
further gather the most popular DJ collectives and mix masters, such as Vatra, Cake Boys, FAM, Irie Scratch & Shorty P, Bajko Felix, DJ Laki & DJ Rokam, Palace, Traples, Luka Brasi, PLYZ, New Wave, In Da Klub, trepaj il krepaj, Vaske, Yung Rosh,
Zimski and Lil
Yung.!
EXIT tickets are available at exitfest.org, and for those who wish to bundle
them with accomodation and local transfer, there are also packages starting at
€135. Default accommodation is the festival camp located on the city beach,
while hotels can be booked through EXIT's official tourist agency at exittrip.org.
EXIT Festival will be held 4-7 July 2019 at Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, while the always diverse line-up will include The Cure, Greta Van Fleet, Carl Cox, Skepta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, DJ Snake, Desiigner, Lost Frequencies, IAMDDB, Sofi Tukker, Tom Walker, Maceo Plex, Charlotte De Witte, Boris Brejcha, Peggy Gou, Jeff Mills, Amelie Lens, Dax J, Phil Anselmo & The Illegals, Tarja Turunen, 65daysofstatic, The Selecter, Peter & The Test Tube Babies, Whitechapel, Atheist Rap, Arcturus, Total Chaos and many more to come soon.
Contact
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
WESTWAY LAB 2019 - Guimarães, Portugal
Westway LAB, Portugal’s first showcase festival and professional music conference, will take place for the sixth consecutive year from 10th to 13th of April in Guimarães.
Founded in 2014 with a clear mission: to operate a cultural, social and economic transformation through music, crossing borders enabling the construction of sustainable internationalization of artists and professionals from Portugal. During the 4 day event, Guimarães becomes a music city, combining in an innovative way the realization of an event based with three dimensions: Process (artist residencies), Thought (PRO Conferences) and Product (showcases and headline concerts).
Since its inception Westway LAB has always had a strong sense of collaborating internationally and this year the event will realise this by presenting Canada as the spotlight country. On April 12th, the Canadian representation at the Westway LAB 2019 will be fueled by folk territory, which intersects with pop in compositions for female voices by singer-songwriters Sarah MacDougall and Megan Nash and the trio of boys The East Pointers. The music of the duo Les Deuxluxes will be more electrified and will make rock its strength, whereas the band Tribe Royal bases its music in the pop-rock.
On the same night, and similarly to last year, Westway LAB once again hosts the WHY Portugal Event, organized by the Portuguese music export office. From the pop built between guitars and synthesizers by Neev, to the traditional Fado Portuguese guitar of Marta Pereira da Costa, passing by the delicate indie sounds of Vaarwell.
Similarly, the European networks (ETEP and INES) in which the festival is integrated contribute decisively to the important architecture of relationships that are propagated by bringing cultural and economic value to this particular ecosystem. This is the case of the Dutch musician Jacco Gardner who brings to Westway LAB his latest album, "Somnium", in what will be the opening concert of the festival (10 April), as well as the Italian singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi, who promises a performance where the guitar will need little more company than its powerful voice (April 11).
With the Vila Flor Cultural Centre as a base of operations, the 6th edition of the event will once again be spread to various places in the city, through the city showcases that will transform Guimarães into a great stage, taken by artists and the public, who intertwine with magic from music. During the afternoon of Saturday, April 13, it will be possible to listen to the indie-pop of Mickey, a Slovak based in Austria, the American pop of Swedish influences Elin Namnieks or the indie-rock of Izzy and the Black Trees, of Poland, three projects that are part of the selection of the INES network for 2019. From Greece comes the multi-instrumentalist and composer Theodore. The national performance is well delivered to Holy Nothing, one of the most promising national bands, creating the frontier between electronic and post-rock, as well as guitarist Francisco Sales, singer Beatriz Nunes and rock-dirty quartet Smartini.
On the last night of the festival, the music spread by the CCVF in a great celebration. Through a general pass, for the value of 20 euros, it will be possible to attend the concerts of The Black Mamba, Tashi Wada Group feat. Julia Holter, Batida apresenta: The Almost Perfect DJ, Captain Boy, Mister Roland, Paraguaii and Whales. The first 150 passes also give exclusive access to the opening concert with Jacco Gardner.
According to Rui Torrinha, artistic director of the festival, "continuing to think about the cosmos from this unique place has made of Westway LAB a powerful world of possibilities on a human scale, in which the time and space generated have allowed us to recover the original meaning of the word ... quality. Not everything here can be said, so discover it and let yourself be discovered but do not miss out, because the spirit is of inclusion.”
Artist Line Up (A-Z)
Beatriz Nunes (PT), Captain Boy (PT), Elin Namnieks (SE), Francisco Sales (PT),Holy Nothing (PT), Izzy and the Black Trees (PL), Jacco Gardner (NL), João Pascoal, Happy Mess (PT), Julia Holter (US), Les Deuxluxes (CA), Marta Pereira da Costa (PT), Megan Nash (CA), Mickey (AT), Mister Roland (PT), Neev (PT), Paraguaii (PT), Sarah MacDougall (CA), Smartini (PT), Tashi Wada Group feat. Batida apresenta: The Almost Perfect DJ (PT), The Black Mamba (PT), The East Pointers (CA), Theodore (GR), Tribe Royal (CA), Vaarwell (PT), Violetta Zironi (IT), Whales (PT), Yosune (VE)
More info and tickets here: https://westwaylabfestival.com/
WESTWAY LAB - PRO Conference 2019
For the upcoming 6th edition of Westway LAB, Portugal’s first showcase festival & conference expands its three main conference streams, Westway PRO, INES Sessions and the WHY Portugal Event through the addition of a central Westway LAB Lounge, a permanent networking lounge open throughout the event, offering registered delegates a space dedicated to their formal & informal networking, besides the conferences, roundtables and panels. An environment that constitutes another step forward, as the LAB monicker does not apply exclusively to the Artist Residencies: Westway is also a LABoratory for new projects, new ideas, new partnerships and new horizons. From Westway LAB’s first edition, back in 2014, to the present, this has always been an intrinsic part of the Westway DNA.
As such, in addition to the above-mentioned three conference streams, the Westway PRO, INES PRO and WHY Portugal Event, the on-going partnership with AMAEI, the Portuguese Independent Music Trade Association brings to Guimarães a new European project, Europe in Synch: a Music Moves Europe preparatory action of “Training of Young Professionals”. It is also fitting in that the idea for the project was born at Westway LAB, precisely two years ago.
Furthermore, the partnership with the GDA Foundation also affirms, this year, the dedication of the GDA Foundation in utilizing technologies as tools for music circulation. The GDA panel will thus present us with two Portuguese home-grown platforms seeking new solutions to this age-old challenge: how to tour more. Finally, through a new partnership with Audiogest, the phonogram producers society, we are happy to feature a Portuguese Keynote speaker and “State of the Art of the Portuguese Industry” roundtable, as well as host not just the second edition of the WHY Portugal Event, run by Portugal’s export office for music, but also a meeting of EMEE - European Music Exporters Exchange, bringing 28 European Export Offices to Portugal.
Full conference programme and registrations here: https://www.eventbrite.pt/e/bilhetes-westway-lab-pro-music-conference-2019-50355372274
Contact
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpubicity.co.uk
Octave One to perform new AV show at Printworks London
Having recently debuted their new
Taking part in the Audio Visual Arts Festival and Conference the brothers with debut their new performance in the UK and also doing an exclusive audience Q&A.
More info on the event here: https://www.printworkslondon.co.uk/listings/ava-london-15-03-19/
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
DAVE CLARKE PRESENTS: WHIP IT WAVE – DOLLKRAUT BAND / COLDGEIST / JOB SIFRE E.A.
Dave Clarke returns to Melkweg for a special edition of his electro night. Whip It WAVE brings icy live performances and punk electronics to the intimate Upstairs.
Melkweg Upstairs
22:45 - 05:00
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/208333746697891/
Contact
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
ESNS to focus on Switzerland in 2020
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) highlights the very best emerging acts from a different country every year, showcasing the diversity of musical talent across Europe. In cooperation with Swiss Music Export, ESNS is proud to announce the focus on Switzerland at ESNS 2020.
Jean Zuber of Swiss Music Export: “The Swiss music scene is thrilled to be the focus of ESNS 2020. For many years, Swiss acts have showcased in Groningen and quite a number of them started their international careers through ESNS and the ETEP programme.
Switzerland is not only home of a very active and creative artistic scene, it has the highest festival density in the world and a vivid independent record industry. Swiss Music Export will join forces with many music organisations in order to ensure a creative role for ESNS 2020. We can hardly remember a more creative and original era in Swiss music and we’re excited to showcase in Groningen next year.”
ESNS booker Robert Meijerink is proud to have Switzerland on board on its next edition. “Switzerland stands out for its cultural diversity with a very eclectic music scene which has been making waves over the past couple of years. Swiss acts can rely on a professional infrastructure when it comes to their live music venues and festivals. Besides this, key partners of ESNS such as Yourope and the European Broadcasting Union are based in Switzerland. A significant number of artists have been crossing European borders already. We can’t wait to get started with Swiss Music Export and their partners to work on ESNS 2020.”
Registrations for ESNS 2020, which takes place from January 15 - 18, 2020 are available from 12:00 hrs at a super early bird rate of €265 through our website.
Acts wishing to play ESNS 2020 will be able to submit an online application for a showcase at the festival from May 1 until September 1, 2019.
About ESNS
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is the key exchange for emerging European music talent, with a proven track record of helping to break new acts on the international music scene, with now well-known names such as Alice Merton, Alma, Altin Gün, Boy, Cari Cari, Dua Lipa, Mario Batkovic, Sigrid, Sophie Hunger and Zeal & Ardor over the past couple of years and from this year’s line-up: Black Midi, Flohio, Fontaines D.C., girl in red, L’impératice, Manon Meurt, Mavi Phoenix, Pip Blom, Reykjavíkurdætur, SONS and Tamino.
The conference side of the event attracts more than 4,000 entertainment industry professionals from all sections of the industry, including representatives of over 400 European festivals. Each year, ESNS stages more than 350 showcases all over the city of Groningen as well as offering a comprehensive and focused conference programme of around 150 panels and keynotes, alongside multiple networking opportunities.
Contact
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Music PR | Event PR | Festival PR
Suede to Headline OFF Festival
Suede, one of the most important guitar bands of the 90s, is coming to the OFF Festival on the heels of their excellent album The Blue Hour. They’re joined by the Masecki Jazz Trio, playing music from the Cold War soundtrack and more, and Polish punk legends Dezerter, performing their cult debut record. And get ready for more metal, soul, rap, synth-pop and the best in music today.
Suede
In chronological terms, Suede is a Britpop band, and it’s often lumped in with that genre, but the group’s ambitions and potential have always far exceeded the average capabilities of that mass mobilization. A more apt comparison would be to the work of David Bowie. Suede is nearly as versatile and boasts one of the most charismatic frontmen of our times, Brett Anderson. If songs like “Beautiful Ones,” “Trash” and “So Young” weren’t part of your soundtrack to the 90s, then it probably means you were too young. But Suede isn’t coming to the OFF Festival as part of some sentimental blast from the past. After all, their recent LP, The Blue Hour, full of breathtaking, wonderful songs recorded with producer Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, U2, Ride, and more), was one of the best albums of last year. Or maybe even the best.
Trio Jazzowe Marcina Maseckiego
Marcin Masecki has performed at the OFF Festival several times—with Paristetris, Profesjonalizm, Warszawska Orkiestra Rozrywkowa, and alongside Jacek Sienkiewicz—so we’ll spare you the list of adjectives. You know all how “phenomenal” and “versatile” he is. There’s no other pianist like him—and we don’t just mean in Poland. Marcin returns this year as the leader of a jazz trio that also features bassist Piotr Domagalski and drummer Jerzy Rogiewicz. What makes this project so interesting is that the avant-garde Masecki has long shied away from jazz—a great musical tradition that he’s finally ready to face up to. The set will feature tracks from the soundtrack of Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War.
Superorganism
Their first hit was titled “Everybody Wants to Be Famous”—achievement unlocked. That’s one challenge Superorganism can check off their list. This indie-pop sensation invaded last year’s festival lineups and released their debut LP on Domino. With musicians hailing from the U.K., Japan, Australia and New Zealand, the merry eight-piece ensemble is one of the most international and colorful projects on the scene today, and the band’s music is equally eclectic and original. If their day at the OFF Festival is a rainy one (not to jinx it!), head on over to the Superorganism show: it’s always sunny where they’re playing.
The Body
No One Deserves Happiness is the title of the shocking yet beautiful 2016 album from The Body, and also a phrase that aptly describes the atmosphere of their music. It’s completely devoid of light, happiness and breath; it’s a kingdom of despair. The Body’s discography has since accumulated a few new releases, some of which are collaborations with other bands (they’ve put out albums with Full of Hell, Uniform, Thou and Krieg, among others). If there’s one thing you need to know about The Body, it’s this: there’s no realm too extreme for Chip King and Lee Buford to venture into, and there’s no experiment that the duo wouldn’t dare try. The Body inhabits the fringes of the metal scene, but it’s hard to find the right category to describe the group’s music—unless “terrifyingly good” is a genre.
OM
Think quasi-religious raptures, plodding, meditative tempos, and a psychedelic sound, but underpinned by a somber, doom-metal drive. The Californian trio OM is tough to pigeonhole or place in any specific music scene, but the supergroup’s lineup tells you a lot about their potential. Their frontman is singer/bassist Al Cisneros, who also heads up stoner/doom legends Sleep, joined by Emil Amos (of the cult act Holy Sons) on drums and Tyler Trotter (Phantom Family Halo, Watter) on keyboards. Get ready for a hypnotizing ritual.
IC3PEAK
The world learned of IC3PEAK last year, when the band’s tour became the target of a crackdown by the FSB and other Russian state agencies. Shows were canceled or faced last-minute relocations to other—often informal—venues, while concert promoters received threats, and the band members themselves were arrested. Unfazed by these efforts, Nastya and Nick continued performing to equally fearless—and increasingly large—audiences. What makes IC3PEAK noteworthy, however, isn’t just their musical dissident status in Russia, but also their art, which combines dark witchhouse sounds with underground hip-hop and the melancholy melodies of the East. The two have described their music as audiovisual terror, and not without good reason: this isn’t just something you listen to (like their excellent new album Сказка), it’s also something you watch. In fact, their brilliant, controversial videos are what drew the ire of the Russian authorities in the first place.
slowthai
A comment under one of his YouTube videos says everything you need to know about this artist: “Nobody has lyrics that capture Britain’s lower class anxiety like slowthai. Dude is a low-key messiah.” No wonder that when slowthai burst onto the scene, he drew comparisons to Sleaford Mods, The Streets and the early years of grime. But the first band are old men with problems of their own, no one’s heard from The Streets in a while now, and grime has become a cash cow for the music industry. That’s why Tyron Frampton, a.k.a. slowthai, is the premiere rap voice of the British streets. And he does not have good news for you...
Durand Jones & The Indications
Do the likes of Marvin Gaye and Gil Scott Heron have worthy successors today? It’s a tough challenge and a high bar to clear, but one possible candidate is Durand Jones, who sings straight from the heart. Jones started out performing gospel in Louisiana, before moving on to the University of Indiana, where he assembled a few exquisitely sharp-eared musicians to form the Indications. Their debut album was hailed as the greatest hope of American soul, while their forthcoming album American Love Call, slated for releases in March, only upholds the title. “Move and groove” is Jones’ motto, and by the looks of it, everything’s on the right track.
Jakuzi
Fantezi Müzik, Jakuzi’s 2016 debut album (actually a re-release on City Slang a year later), introduced the world to the thriving Turkish underground scene. The band’s style combines catchy, sweeping choruses with post-punk angst, but with an individual, characteristic flavor that’s unique to Jakuzi. The upcoming album Hata Payı, scheduled for release in April, is said to follow that theme into the darkness. We can’t wait to find out what that means.
Emerald
You’ve seen and heard her at the OFF Festival before. Emerald Rose Lewis joined M.I.A. on stage last year as a DJ and hype woman. Her mixes are well know to audiences of Rinse FM, i.e. anyone who tries to stay abreast of the latest news from the London club scene. Emerald’s specialties include 2-step, UK Funk, house and garage.
This year’s OFF Festival also features the previously announced acts: Aldous Harding, Neneh Cherry, Daughters, The Gaslamp Killer, Electric Wizard, The Comet Is Coming, Perfect Son, Phum Viphurit, Black Midi, Boogarins and Lebanon Hanover, as well as Bamba Pana & Makaveli, Loyle Carner, Lotic: Endless Power and SAMA’.
The 2019 OFF Festival Katowice will take place August 2–4 at Three Pond Valley, its regular venue. Three-day passes are now available at the OFF Shop for 330 PLN. This price lasts until February 24 or until the first round of tickets is sold out! Campground tickets are also available for 80 PLN.
Festivals worth taking a flight for this summer
Whether it’s discovering new underground acts or indulging a travel buzz, music fans demand an extraordinary experience from festivals these days. A festival no longer means piling into a field for a weekend and accepting the meagre facilities on offer. More often it’s a wallet-friendly trip to a different European country, to combine music with local culture, nightlife, sightseeing and gastronomic delights. From partying in a 17th century Balkan fortress or an Icelandic glacier, to pool parties, beach raves or lakeside gigs, there’s something here for everyone. Make a music festival your holiday of a lifetime in 2019…
SEA STAR FESTIVAL - SUPERSTAR DJs AND MEDITERRANEAN POOL PARTIES IN CROATIA
May 24-25 | seastarfestival.com
Acts Announced: Sven Vath, Nina Kraviz,
Sea Star is another coastal dance extravaganza hatched by the experts behind EXIT, so it’s no surprise that it’s been nominated in the Best Medium Sized Festival category in this year’s European Festival Awards – less than two years after its first edition (it was also nominated for Best New Festival last year). Sea Star will return this year to the idyllic Stella Maris lagoon in Umag, Croatia on May 24 and 25, with special opening and closing parties on the 23rd and 26th. With over 70 artists on six stages, from local Balkan heroes to international superstars, Sea Star is an event with high production values in a stunning Mediterranean paradise. And if you need a time-out from dancing, Umag’s historical Baroque and Renaissance buildings and winding streets are a hive of quaint bars and restaurants. Still, it won’t be long before you’re drawn back to the lagoon with that 4/4 pulse nearby… Sea Star festival takes place from May 24-25, with an opening party on May 23 and a closing party on May 26.
SECRET SOLSTICE - GLACIER RAVES AND SURREAL MIDNIGHT SUNSHINE IN ICELAND
June 21-24 |
Acts announced: Black Eyed Peas, Robert Plant and the Sensational Spaceshifters, Martin Garrix, Rita Ora, Patti Smith, Morcheeba, The Sugarhill Gang with Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio, Foreign Beggars, Pussy Riot, Kerri, Chandler, MK, Mr.G, Jeremy Underground, Boy Pablo, SMASH TV and many more.
Secret Solstice is all about unique experiences – the most obvious being the fact that the sun doesn’t set for the whole 96 hours, so get used to midnight pool parties in bright sunshine. As well as an eclectic line-up of US, European and local acts, Iceland’s premiere music festival is a bucket list party in the capital Reykjavik during the magical summer solstice. The carbon-neutral festival prides itself on using Iceland’s stunning natural spaces and rugged landscape as a backdrop – while the main stage hosts many of the blockbuster acts, you can literally have an underground vibe, at exclusive raves in a glacier and a 5,000-year-old lava tunnel. Back above ground, catch DJ sets in naturally heated lagoons or at boat parties in the midnight sunshine – and marvel at glistening waterfalls, black sand beaches, caves and vast volcanic fields on special day trips. Secret Solstice is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and 2019 is set to be its biggest edition yet.
EXIT FESTIVAL - PARTY IN A 17th CENTURY FORTRESS OVERLOOKING THE DANUBE IN SERBIA
July 4-7 | exitfest.org
Acts announced: The Cure, Amelie Lens, Boris Brejcha, Carl Cox, Charlotte De Witte, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dj Snake, Greta Van Fleet, Jeff Mills, Lost Frequencies, Maceo Plex, Paul Kalkbrenner, Peggy Gou, Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, Tom Walker, 65daysofstatic, Adriatique, Boston 168 Live, Dax J and many more.
For four days every summer, the 17th century Petrovaradin Fortress opens its gates for EXIT – the award-winning music festival in Serbia’s second city, Novi Sad. EXIT began in 2000 as a student protest fighting for political change, and over the years it’s grown into one of Europe’s biggest festivals, with [thousands] partying in the stunning citadel perched high on a cliff overlooking the River Danube. The positive activism remains in the air, and each year has a specific theme (it was ‘Freedom’ in 2018). EXIT has possibly the most diverse line-up of any European festival, with 20 outdoor stages that feature everything from death metal to pop, indie, reggae and techno – among cobbled paths, courtyards, grass verges, ramparts and underground tunnels. The Dance Arena is the festival’s energetic hub, with 20,000 raving in the fortress moat waiting for the awe-inspiring moment when the sun rises above the ancient walls. Many DJs say the Dance Arena is the greatest place in the world to play, and after Nina Kraviz closed EXIT 2018 with an extended set until 9am, she called it “one of the most special places on Earth”.
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE – WHERE YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE WHEN NO ONE CAN SEE YOU
July 5 – 7 July | rabbitresort.nl
Acts Announced: Editors, Janelle Monáe, Underworld, Thom Yorke - Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, Foals, Vampire Weekend, De Staat, Balthazar, dEUS plays The Ideal Crash, Grace Jones, Robyn, The Roots, Ronnie Flex &
OFF FESTIVAL - A VOYAGE OF UNDERGROUND DISCOVERY IN POLAND
August 2-4 | off-festival.pl
Acts Announced: Suede, Neneh Cherry, Aldous Harding, Superorganism, Perfect Son, Electric Wizard, The Gaslamp Killer, IC3PEAK, Daughters, Lotic: Endless Power, Lotic: Endless Power, The Body, Dezerter
OFF is a unique boutique festival that values experimentation and diversity above everything else – with founder and organiser Artur Rojek’s hands-on vision an inspiration to ambitious promoters and dreamers worldwide. OFF takes place in ‘Valley of Three Ponds’, Katowice – a beautiful green hideaway in the industrial Silesia region, with a huge choice of bars, restaurants and cultural centres to explore in the city close by. OFF ignores popular trends in favour of an expertly curated programme of esteemed artists – with the festival bringing many acts to Poland for the first time. It was created in 2006 as a way for Rojek to indulge his “dreams and passion for sharing music”, even if that means a black metal band can play next to a techno DJ, a post-punk act, avant-garde noise-rock, hip-hop, jazz, post-rock and beyond. From the greatest international underground heroes to essential forward-thinking Polish artists, OFF is an inspirational meeting of minds.
LOWLANDS - MUSIC, ART AND CULTURE CLASH AT THE DUTCH CAMPING PARADISE
August 16-18 | lowlands.nl
Tame Impala, Twenty One Pilots, The Prodigy, A$AP Rocky | Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, The National, New Order, Royal Blood, Anne-Marie, Billie Eilish, Franz Ferdinand, Giorgio Moroder, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Jon Hopkins, Jorja Smith, Paul Kalkbrenner, Ronnie Flex & Deuxperience
Agoria (live), Antal, Denzel Curry, FKJ, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Helena Hauff, Honey Dijon, Hunee, JOJI, JUNGLE, Jungle by Night, Mall Grab, Marcel Dettmann, MY BABY, Parcels, The Streets, Thomas Azier, Weval, Willem, Ziggy Marley and many more.
A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise is the Netherlands’ most prestigious music festival that’s been a rite of passage for the Dutch since 1993. It takes place in rural Biddinghuizen – only an hour away from Amsterdam, so there’s even a chance to add in a city break either side. It’s a true music, arts and culture weekender, featuring the world’s biggest headliners on the circuit, as well as installations, theatre, comedy, film, debates and even science workshops. Each of the uniquely designed stages are covered so you can party rain or shine, and the iconic ‘Armadillo’ area is the festival’s power station, quirky bars, DJ booths and artisan restaurant areas that surpass regular festival food stalls. The Dutch are world-renowned as expert festival organisers, and Lowlands is a perfect smooth operator, from the intuitive layout to the lack of queues for bars, food and bathrooms – with the best campsite facilities of all the big European festivals. It’s a proper lost weekend too – Lowlands doesn’t do day tickets, so once you arrive on the Thursday you’re on a journey with your fellow happy campers until Sunday. This vibe was picked up by 2018 headliner Nile Rodgers, who posted: “Lowlands was fire! This was an amazing f-ing crowd! Truly insane, and that’s how we like it!”
SEA DANCE FESTIVAL - PARTY ON THE STUNNING ADRIATIC COAST IN MONTENEGRO
August 30– September 1| seadancefestival.me
August 30– September 1| seadancefestival.meSEA DANCE FESTIVAL - PARTY ON THE STUNNING ADRIATIC COAST IN MONTENEGRO
Sea Dance in Montenegro is an extension of the EXIT family – a gold standard guarantee in the festival world. Like EXIT, Sea Dance is also an award-winner, and was voted Best Medium Sized Festival at the European Festival Awards after its first edition in 2014. The festival bottles some of the magic of EXIT’s dance stages and transports it to the alluring golden sand beach of Budva on the Adriatic coast, with narrow medieval streets just a short walk away. EXIT’s famous No Sleep Novi Sad stage is repackaged for Sea Dance, with over 100 performers shared around numerous other stages. Evan as a relatively new addition to the festival scene, Sea Dance already has reputation for securing the biggest names in electronic music. Montenegro was recently listed by Skyscanner as the number one cheap holiday destination, with mountain biking, hiking and watersports available for those with energy left after dancing all night to the world’s biggest DJs.
AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT - IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ELECTRONIC MUSIC CULTURE
October 16 – 20 | amsterdam-dance-event.nl
Acts to be announced soon
Amsterdam is world famous as a hub for nightlife and electronic music, and every October it becomes the centre of the electronic music universe for five days during the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). Some 400,000 people hit the Dutch capital every year for ADE, which features more than 2,500 international artists performing in over 100 of Amsterdam’s most iconic venues including Melkweg, Gashouder, Claire, Shelter, Paradiso, the NDSM Docklands and De School. But it’s not simply a five-day rave – ADE offers an inspirational conference programme that covers all aspects of dance music culture and the industry. By day, across Amsterdam’s five main districts, there are dozens of seminars, workshops, exhibitions, artist interviews, feature and documentary screenings, DJ showcases and tech classes. Amsterdam Dance Event takes place over five days every October and is the ultimate festival for electronic music fans, who can even learn more about the culture between the parties.
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk