THE FESTIVAL BITE
Hello and welcome to the roundup of my top 10 UK Festival picks for 2019!
Yes, those mysterious pictures posted on the social media channels have been leading up to this! If you choose to head to any UK Festivals this year, I strongly recommend that it is to go and see this lot!
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Here are my picks!
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1. LET’S EAT GRANDMA
Always a contender for best name of any band on a line-up, Norwich experimental pop duo Let’s Eat Grandma are my number one act on this year’s fast-approaching festival horizon.
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Their first album, I, Gemini, released in 2016 ---- but the duo truly came into their own with the release of 2018’s I’m All Ears. It was my favourite album of last year and is just an absolute masterpiece.
From the bold and immense Hot Pink (produced by Faris Badwan and another of my faves, SOPHIE), to the CHVRCHES-esque, energetic synths of It’s Not Just Me, to the 11-Minute musical journey of Donnie Darko, this album doesn’t contain a single dull moment, and frankly, I cannot wait to see them on stage at Latitude.
This is a duo who don’t know the meaning of the “difficult second album”, and are an absolute must see this summer.
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Top songs to check out: Hot Pink, Falling Into Me, Donnie Darko.
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Festivals: British Summer Time, End of the Road, Larmer Tree, Latitude.
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2. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
These guys barely need an introduction, really.
The Manchester duo have been a force to reckon with in the realm of electronic music from their formation in the 80’s right up to the present day, still producing insanely high-quality albums considering they released their 10th studio album just this year.
Expect energy. Expect lasers. Expect bangers.
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Their third album, 2000’s Surrender is (IMHO) a strong contender for the greatest electronic/dance album of all time, showcasing some of their defining tracks, including the barnstorming Hey Boy Hey Girl, the mesmeric and beautiful The Sunshine Underground, as well as the frankly hypnotic Orange Wedge.
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Pretty much all their albums contain at least one song that many producers would consider their magnum opus had they made it, but for these two, hey, it’s just another one for the list. How they select their track list for a live show I do not know, as you could argue the case for them to play for about 4 hours.
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Top songs to check out: Galvanise, Hey Boy Hey Girl, Go.
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Festivals: Creamfields, Glastonbury
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3. RUN THE JEWELS
Even if you take nothing else away from this, just know that this is a rap duo that remixed an entire album to include cat sounds, titled Meow the Jewels.
That alone is surely worthy of attendance.
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The American hip-hop duo has released 3 albums since 2013, creatively titled Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2, Run the Jewels 3, with an upcoming album titled… I’ll let you figure that one out.
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If their album titles are lacking inspiration, their music is anything but. Their aggressive, high energy style has wowed fans (and me) and cemented their position as one of the most exciting hip-hop acts currently releasing.
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Their performance at All Points East Festival this summer is a UK Festival exclusive, and worth buying a ticket for these guys alone. I can only assume their shows would be mental.
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Top songs to check out: Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck), Nobody Speak (DJ Shadow), Lie, Cheat, Steal.
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Festivals: All Points East
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4. RINA SAWAYAMA
Born in Japan, based in London, Rina Sawayama is Pop singer/songwriter creating some of the freshest and most exciting pop music currently releasing. She’s also a model. This presumably packed schedule is probably why her set at this summer’s All Points East Festival is also a UK exclusive. Probably.
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Sawayama has been making music since she was in University, appearing in a hip-hop group called Lazy Lion which also featured Theo Ellis from Wolf Alice. Does it count as a supergroup if it happened before they were famous? Who knows?
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What we do know, however, is that Sawayama’s exciting and immaculately produced pop music suggest a phenomenally fun show is in store. Get yourself there.
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Top songs to check out: Afterlife, Cherry, Ordinary Superstar.
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Festivals: All Points East
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5. THE CHATS
Aussie pub rock at it’s finest. The Chats are just a bunch of lads, bored and broke in the scorching heat of Australia, making bangers to pass the time.
Their raw, unrefined energy and punchy and comical lyrics cement these guys as a must-see at this years Reading and Leeds festivals, as I’m sure the atmosphere is going to be absolutely nuts.
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This may not be the place to find pure artistic genius or virtuosity, but in terms of sheer fun and wild atmosphere, these are the guys you want to see.
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Top songs to check out: Smoko, Bus Money, Mum Stole My Darts
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Festivals: Reading and Leeds
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6: HELENA HAUFF
In stark contrast to the previous entry in this list, Helena Hauff’s music is anything but unrefined.
The German electro/techno producer’s music is meticulously crafted to create an incredible sound landscape, recording exclusively analog equipment and (somehow) usually using one take.
Her debut, 2015’s Discreet Desires is a masterpiece of electronic music, and also set the scene for the exciting and hard-edged sound that she would become known for.
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Move on to 2018, and Qualm, and there is no sign of Hauff slowing down. Qualm explodes into existence with the incredible Barrow Boot Boys, grabbing your attention and informing you that you are in for a wild ride, and the rest of the album delivers.
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For one of the most interesting and exciting electronic shows you’ll see for a long time, go check her out this summer.
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Top songs to check out: Barrow Boot Boys, Spur, Gift.
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Festivals: Creamfields, Parklife, Riverside.
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7: LOYLE CARNER
Such a lovely boy.
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Loyle Carner, with his stripped back, sensitive and confessional hip-hop music, has won fans across the country for his refreshing take on the genre. Carner’s lyrics float out of his mouth, a gentle breath of pure poetry, and his chilled out delivery make every song sound like he is talking to you, and only you, and it is this personal feel that makes his music so damn inviting.
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On stage, Carner exudes a quiet confidence, but maintains a strong connection with his audience and a vulnerability that allows a truly unique emotional bond to form throughout the crowd.
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On top of all that, he writes incredible songs, and his debut album, 2017’s Yesterday’s Gone is a hip-hop masterpiece.
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Top songs to check out: NO CD, Ain’t Nothing Changed, The Isle of Arran.
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Festivals: Glastonbury, Latitude, Lovebox, NASS, Parklife.
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8: UNDERWORLD
I mean, I’d go and see them if they just played a 2-hour mix of Born Slippy (Nuxx). One of the greatest techno songs of all time. But they’re anything but a one trick pony.
These guys have proved themselves time and time again with some incredible live shows at UK festivals in the last few years, packed with lasers and energy and fun. This is the show to get to if you want to dance and dance and dance again, and as a Latitude festival exclusive, your only chance to see them in the UK this summer. I’ll be there. You should to.
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Top songs to check out: Born Slippy (Nuxx), Jumbo, Two Months Off.
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Festivals: Latitude
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9: KERO KERO BONITO
Kero Kero Bonito are truly one of a kind. Their mission, in their own words, is to “challenge conformity in pop music”, which, unsurprisingly leads to the creation some truly left field pop, and you never know what to expect.
Except one thing, which is big, big tunes.
Their avant-garde approach to music has meant that they have easily avoided the repetitive and boring clichés that pop can so easily fall into, and instead have been constantly been creating fresh and exciting music. Their early work was inspired by J-pop, and their singer Sarah Midori Perry (stage name Sarah Bonito) is half Japanese, which helps their music to escape the confines of western pop music to create something truly spectacular. (She also sings in Japanese a lot, which is cool).
Their music is at times, what I like to call “batshit crazy”, and this makes them a truly exciting prospect to go and watch this summer. You definitely won’t see anything else like them.
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Top songs to check out: Graduation, Flamingo, Lipslap.
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Festivals: Electric Fields, Indietracks, Latitude, Parklife.
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10: THE BLACK MADONNA
The techno DJ, raised in Kentucky but now based in Chicago, The Black Madonna (real name Marea Stamper) has been described as “one of the worlds most exciting turntablists", and her residencies and reputation in the Chicago night scene suggest that this may be true.
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Clearly an accomplished DJ, and her solo work is also great, with disco-tinged techno cuts that are as atmospheric as they are fun.
It’s a peculiar kind of energy, and it really works.
This is late night dancing music, music to get lost in amongst the pulsing rhythms and intricate melodies, and just let it wash over you.
This is my shit.
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Top songs to check out: A Jealous Heart Never Rests, He Is The Voice I Hear, We Can Never Be Apart.
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Festivals: AVA, Creamfields, Field Day, Field Maneuvers
So, there we have it! The top 10 artists to go and see during this year’s festival season!
Hopefully you enjoyed my list, and I hope you endeavour to go and see at least one of them this summer, I promise you won’t regret it.
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Click the links below to buy tickets to all the festivals mentioned!:
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