Lightning Bolt

Jeepers. As gigs are coming up thick and fast this time of season and after talking a good talk about having a super-cool themed costume all at the ready, I wasn’t even prepared for ‘Release The Bats’. My memory has been mush since I got taken down by the killer-man-flu fever doing the rounds though it has to be said. Better act fast. I make a phone call to my friend James the evening before, pleading with him if I can borrow his gruesome Saw-esque Pig-mask to which he duly obliges. Result. Just need to pick it up now… Cutting it a little fine though… Continue Reading

Reykjavik’s Airwaves Festival is one of the biggest events on Iceland’s cultural calendar. A celebration of the country’s thriving scene and prolific musical output, Airwaves introduces local bands to an international audience whilst bringing a tantalising selection of cross-genre bands to Reykjavik from around the world.

Our guide Halli was a brave leader, stewarding us through Opal, Viking, Thule and Tópas; the local brews of choice. After mooching around a few warmup shows in downtown Reykjavik (including a memorable early blowout from noiseniks Dr Spock and a couple of folky numbers from Iceland’s current number one-selling artist Lay Lo), the Kimi Records party was the place to catch some of the best Icelandic bands on offer. Continue Reading

I listened to a lot of music at Airwaves, in some pretty extraordinary circumstances.

In a hired 4×4, cruising around a volcano on a flat lava plain, surrounded by sea and sky… driving over a long land bridge or through a seemingly endless tunnel… waking up in Reykjavik 101 with huge, rolling snow-capped cliffs at the bottom of the street… playing records in Kaffibarrinn, my new favourite bar in the world… or listening to my iPod while strolling down Laugavegur, my head buzzing with excitement and optimism.

This mix is made in response to all of that happy overload of stimuli and circumstance. It’s sprinkled with field recordings from Reykjavik and the Snæfellsjökull volcano - church bells ringing, the tide on the black sand beach, skimmed stones skittering over a frozen lagoon, and a harmony sung in the Songhellir singing cave all feature here too.

Click on the image below to download the podcast.

Look out for an in depth review of this years Airwaves Festival coming to TLOBF this weekend.

Click on the image to download the podcast

Aaaaaah my favourite day of the year. Halloween? Nope. Far, far more special than that. Yes, today is the day ATP announce the curators of their annual weekend festivals which will both take place at Butlins in Minehead. Looks like Camber Sands has finally being given the cheerio.

So who is curating? I bet you’ve all been guessing - my money was on Broken Social Scene (how good would that be??). It gives me great pleasure to announce that the lineups for ATP 2009 will be chosen by…….

[WEEKEND 1] ATP vs THE FANS STRIKE BACK!!!!! 

[WEEKEND 2] THE BREEDERS

Heeeeeeeell yes!

Ok, so this is what we know so far.

Weekend 1 will take place between 8th-10th May. Weekend 2 will be on 15th-17th May.

Acts already confirmed for The Breeders weekend are…. Bon Iver, The Breeders, Throwing Muses, Teenage Fanclub and Holy Fuck. (oh my god, I think I just wet myself).

Acts confirmed for ATP vs THE FANS are… (chosen by ATP) Devo, Sleep, Spiritualized and Grails. Now get this… there are some new rules that have been put in place this year.. ATP have decided to make things more interesting, NO BANDS that have ever played an ATP festival before will be allowed to be voted for. Wowzers. That is going to be one HELL of a great lineup. 

Can I go to both please?

More news as we get it.. But for now, read all the info you need on purchasing tickets etc from the ATP website. I’m off now to dance around the room like a crazy loon.

I <3 ATP.

The first of its kind in Scotland, the Hinterland Festival is a brand new two day event in the same vein as London’s Stag and Dagger, Camden Crawl and Concrete & Glass and the Great Escape in Brighton. Over the course of 30th April and 1st May 2009, Glasgow will open up its venues in order to host a plethora of exciting new bands and cutting edge artists. No line up has been announced as yet, but it is thought that 50% of the acts will be from Scotland and the Hinterland Committee will advise upon the event line-up.

The Hinterland Committee is made up of key music personalities and companies from around the UK.  Scottish committee members include Jim Gellatly (BBC Radio Scotland), Tam Coyle (Scottish DJ/promoter), Glasgow School of Art and Diverse Promotions – an independent Scottish based promotions company. Other committee members include Gigwise, 1965 Records (The View and Toddla T), Moshi Moshi records (Kate Nash, Late of the Pier and Hot Chip), This is Fake DIY, Rock-A-Rolla Magazine and A Badge of Friendship (independent music promoters). Continue Reading

Shellac’s Todd Trainer. The face of Halloween 2008.

You got your SCARY costumes ready yet then? No? Well you better act fast and get your thinking caps on because there is only a couple of days left until the mega ATP Release The Bats shows at Kentish Town Forum and Birmingham Custard Factory.. Yes, as well as a stellar lineup (Shellac / Les Savy Fav (London Dates Only) / Wooden Shjips / Pissed Jeans / Lightning Bolt + DJ Andy Weatherall) ATP also invite all Release The Bats ticketholders to dress up for Halloween, either as something traditionally spooky or as something to do with one of the bands. Like last year there will be Best Costume and Best Photo competitions, with prices including ATP Chalets, Polaroid PoGo Cameras and ATP goodies.

People wearing costumes should take a picture with either one of the roving photographers that will be at the venues or at the Release The Bats Photo Booth. The three best costumes on each night will win prizes including a PoGo. Images of the costumes will then go onto www.atpfestival.com/releasethebats where people will be able to vote on costumes from all three nights to find the overall chalet winner!

The best photo competition will be judged after the events through photos uploaded to Flickr at www.flickr.com/groups/releasethebats2008 and the best photo over all three nights as picked by a professional photographer will win the chalet!

There are STILL tickets available for both shows and are priced at £22.50 for London (30th October), and £18.50 for Birmingham (31st October).

Doors for all nights open at 6pm. For more information, full stage times and news updates on these shows see www.atpfestival.com.

TLOBF will be at the Kentish Town show…look out for a full review and loads of SPOOOOOKY pictures next week.

Ok, so we’re perhaps a bit late on letting people know about this. But, if you’re in Glasgow, take a strip to George square today and tomorrow for a musical event called Scotcampus Fresher’s Festival. There’s a number of bands and DJ’s playing including Taio Cruz, Attic Lights, Isosceles, the Down and Outs and Grace Emilys. The organisers are expecting around 10,000 students to come from all over Scotland for the event. Oh to be a student again…

For further information about the Scotcampus Freshers’ Festival, please visit

www.scotcampus.com or www.myspace.com/fresherfestival

The Acorn. All photographs by Ro Cemm.

Some time round about the start of the month, I heard a trailer on Radio 1 for Bestival which offhandedly described it as “the climax of the festival season”. And, you know, that seemed OK by me. End Of The Road may be a week later, but in its third year it’s got to be a hotly anticipated sellout that attracts a more than decent bill purely by word of mouth. The location, the clientele, the layout… it all seems just right somehow, and with the expanded, wide ranging and exotic food stalls and a few other cosmetic but helpful changes just made it all the better. Small, family friendly but not overtly so and with a few little surprises dotted around - the piano and library in the woods this year joined by a table tennis table and light-up dancefloor - it’s the sort of place you want to recommend to your like-minded friends. Not even a couple of deluges on Friday which left puddles and in time horrible sticky mud in crucial areas affected the general bonhomie. In fact, we were even treated to a double rainbow at one point. Continue Reading

The first bands and events have been announced for Cardiff’s annual Swn Festival. So far, the following bands are confirmed to play the event:

James Yuill, The Pipettes, Stephen Fretwell, The Chapman Family, Martin Carr, The Boy Least Likely To, Rolo Tomassi, Clinic, Tubelord, Dananananakroyd, Indian Jewlry, Volcano!, Agaskodo Televerek, The Lovely Eggs, Serefina Steer, Pete And The Pirates, The Big Pink, It Hugs Back, Jay Jay Pistolet, Peggy Sue, Skatar, Fanfarlo, The New Tea Party, Legowelt (DJ set), Heavenly Records DJs, Young Marble Giants, Genod Droog (last ever show), High Contrast, Goldie Lookin Chain, Euros Childs, Future Of The Left, Truckers Of Husk, Joy Formidable, Jamie And The Lionhearts, Gallops, Sweet Baboo, Duffraine, The Last Republic, Rod Thomas, Gwyneth Glyn, Threatmantics, Huw MM, The Afternoons, Fred Jones, Eilir Pierce, Llwyd, Danblagroyd, Picture Books In Winter, Zwolf, The Ash And The Oak, Butterflies With Beards, Friends Electric, Random Elbow Pain, Right Hand Left Hand, Little Eris, Radio Luxembourg, Lifting Gear Engineer, Pagan Wanderer Lu, Hemme Fatale, Wrightoid, Georgia Ruth Williams, Alex Dingley, Little My, The Muscle Club, Pixel H8, Seindorff, The School, JT Mouse, Valley Lines, Orcop, The Hidden Persuader, Frederick Stanley Star, Attack + Defend, Nia Morgan, Lindsey Leven, Acid Casuals (DJ set) and Dig! with B-Music DJs Carl Forecast and Huw Evans.

Other events confirmed for the festival are:

Swn Silent Disco, Swn Cinema, Scrabble Swnday,
Sleeveface Workshops and art exhibitions from Mark James, Llyr Pierce, Sleeveface and Clwb Ifor Bach’s 25th anniversary.

There will also be three days of music conferences, talks and workshops from 13th - 16th November and a launch party on Thursday 13th November.

Swn Festival 2008, Venues across Cardiff, 14th - 16th November 2008 (with opening night party on 13th November), Wristbands - £45 + booking fee.

Swn buses will operate throughout the festival, allowing wristband holders to get from venue to venue with ease. Swn Festival also gives free programmes and timetables to all.

Wristbands allow free entry to all events on a first come, first served basis. Each event at Swn will also be priced individually for cash payments on walk up, however priority will always be given to wristband holders. The opening party on 13th November will be for wristband holders only.

Swn Festival Website

Los Campesinos!

Verdant. It’s a nice word. One the best, actually. But like, oh I dunno, holocaust, it covers just a multitude of sins. In this case, the amount of water needed to maintain such lush greens. We arrive at Green Man in the sunshine and spirits are high. I used to come round here hill walking when I was a youth and a committed outdoor type. And now I have brought my kids to see the hills, the beards and, of course Super Furry Animals. But for me the real draw of the Black Mountains this weekend is Black Mountain. I have not seen them before (a decision that is shortly going to make it clear to me that I am quite dull-witted). Continue Reading

Lykke Li

More names have just been added to Concrete and Glass’ line up. The festival will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of October in venues around the very ‘cool’ and ‘hip’ Shoreditch. Lykke Li and Ox.eagle.lion.man have been added to the Thursday bill, and Friday will see the performance of Fujiya & Miyagi.

Tickets for the festival are available now with an exclusive 20% discount for students.

TLOBF will be there on the Thursday night, most probably holed up at Hoxton Bar & Grill taking in the majesty of Frightened Rabbit. Feel free to buy us drinks and peanuts.

Artists already confirmed are: Continue Reading

Perhaps our favourite festival here at TLOBF (except for ATP); The End Of The Road, held at the lusicous grounds of the Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset has sold out! The three day which features some especially amazing acts this year (see, The Acorn, Micah P Hinson, Bon Iver, Calexico and Wildbirds & Peacedrums) takes place 12th September - 14th September. If you really really want to go, but have missed out on tickets we would advise you not to get into a bidding war on eBay - where the tickets are being sold WAY above their face value. Instead, head on over to EOTR’s Facebook Group here where some jolly nice people have some available at face value or less.

For those of you who are going, we’ve been sent a nifty stage time list that you can view here and print out so you can plan your weekend in advance.

Incidentally, two lesser known, but equally awesome acts Woodpigeon and The Young Republic will be playing some London shows around the time of the festival. Dates are: Continue Reading

Our friends at ATP have given us an exclusive on the latest list of acts announced for this December’s Nightmare Before Christmas festival; Teenage Jesus and The Jerks, Boss Hog, Rahzel, Double Negative and Tweak Bird.

TEENAGE JESUS AND THE JERKS - first European show in 30 years, a ‘Re-Animation’ of the band featuring Lydia Lunch, original bass player Jim Sclavunos (Bad Seeds) on drum and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) on bass.
BOSS HOG - the return of this garage rock band fronted by Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion) and Cristina Martinez (Pussy Galore). Their first activity under this name for seven years.
RAHZEL - Legendary king of beatboxing, ex-member of The Roots and collaborator with Bjork, Mike Patton.

Tickets are selling fast with some chalet options totally SOLD OUT.
Chalets for 4, 5, 6 or 7 people ON SALE NOW!!

With around 40 bands set to play over the weekend, the line up so far looks like this, with many more acts yet to be announced:

Melvins / Isis / Mastodon / Butthole Surfers / The Damned / Fantômas perform The Director’s Cut / Squarepusher / Soulsavers feat. Mark Lanegan / Teenage Jesus & The Jerks / Boss Hog / Neil Hamburger / Dälek / Big Business / Black Heart Procession / Rahzel / Torche / Kill Me Tomorrow / J.G. Thirlwell’s Manorexia / The Dirtbombs / The Locust / Zu / Bohren & Der Club of Gore / Farmers Market / White Noise / Stockhausen’s KONTAKTE w/ Steinberg & Winant / MadLove / Tweak Bird / Double Negative Continue Reading

We have three pairs of weekend with camping tickets to give away to Hydro Connect Music Festival which takes place in the fairytale grounds of Inveraray Castle in Argyll from Friday 29th – Sunday 31st August.

Set against a backdrop of magical rolling hills, the glistening waters of Loch Fyne and the haunting charm of Inveraray Castle, the stunning festival site of Hydro Connect awaits this year’s most eclectic lineup. Taking to the stage will be Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Kasabian, Sigur Ros, Glasvegas, Manic Street Preachers, Goldfrapp, Grinderman, Sparks, The Roots, Elbow, Camera Obscura, Mercury Rev, Spiritualized Crystal Castles, Iglu and Hartly, Karl Bartos and many more.

Meanwhile, burlesque belles Club Noir and swing club Vegas! will keep the late night party atmosphere going until the wee small hours in the Unknown Pleasures tent and The Rest and be Thankful Spa will provide the perfect pampering experience. The Speakeasy Café once again champions a unique festival oasis in which acoustic performances, comedy and topical debates will be the order of the day and The Circuses and Bread Field will satisfy your greatest cravings - with a delicious local food menu including world famous Loch Fyne Oysters and venison burgers, plus drinks a plenty at the Whisky or Champagne Bars – or try out a locally brewed Fyne Ale.

2008 sees the festival team up with Scottish Hydro Electric, the UK’s leader in cleaner, greener renewable energy, the event has found a match made in green festival heaven – you can have fun in the knowledge the faeries aren’t getting kicked out of their trees!

All in all, an impressive location with a fantastic line up, locally produced food and an environmentally aware ethos, The perfect weekend to celebrate the end of the summer!

Check out www.connectmusicfestival.com to find out more.

I’m afriad this competition has now closed! Winners will be notified by email shortly!

Thanks for taking part!

If you are not lucky enough to win, tickets to Hydro Connect are available by logging onto www.connectmusicfestival.com or by calling Ticketmaster on 08444 999 990. Hydro Connect is a committed Carbon Neutral festival so we urge music fans to help our beautiful planet by traveling by coach. Bus tickets are on sale now and must be booked in advance from www.citylink.co.uk or by calling 08705 501 501. Ticket & travel packages can also be purchased together from Ticketmaster at point of ticket purchase.

For more information on Scottish Hydro Electric and to discover how to make your home or business greener by using cleaner, greener, renewable energy, log onto www.hydro.co.uk

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
* Competition is open to over 18’s only
* Prize is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash
* Promoter reserves the right to refuse entry

Iceland’s leading music festival, Iceland Airwaves, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and is coming to East London to give us a music extravaganza!

Featuring the following artisits: FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE / THE WHIP / THE TEENAGERS / METRONOMY/ THESE NEW PURITANS / PONEY PONEY / CAZALS/ AUTOKRATZ / CROOKERS / DAVID.E.SUGAR THE COCK N BULL KID / DEAD KIDS / JAMES YUILL / PNAU / MY TOYS LIKE ME / FAMILIIJEN / ROBOTS IN DISGUISE / WILD BEASTS / PACIFIC / JERRY BOUTHIER (KITSUNE) / VV BROWN / SAM ISAAC /

Plus more acts yet to be announced.

It’s taking place on Friday 19th September in Shoreditch, London, at a whole host of venues across the area including 93 Feet East, Cargo, Bar Music Hall, Vibe Bar, The Macbeth, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, Old Blue Last & Hearn St carpark.

You can get early bird tickets which cost a very reasonable £20 from www.ticketweb.co.uk.

For even more info, pop along to www.icelandairwaves.com.

The already impressive line-up for this years Get Loaded in the Park, taking place on Clapham Common this August Bank Holiday, has announced some more TLOBF Approved acts.

Joining the line-up of Iggy Pop, The Maccabees, Gossip and The Presets are Kid Harpoon (reviewed here), Metronomy and Midnight Juggernauts.

Full line-up below… tickets still available, though going very quickly…

GET LOADED MAIN STAGE
IGGY & THE STOOGES (Only UK Show on Sale)
SUPERGRASS
GOGOL BORDELLO
THE HIVES
THE HOLLOWAYS
PLASTIC LITTLE
TODDLA T

XFM STAGE
KATE NASH
REVEREND & THE MAKERS
THE MACCACBEES
WILEY
KID HARPOON
IPSO FACTO
VIOLENT PLAYGROUND
MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS

DANCE STAGE
GOSSIP
SOULWAX
THE PRESETS
MYLO (DJ Set)
BOYS NOIZE
METRONOMY
STREETLIFE DJS
UNIONDJS

FINGER LICKIN’ RECORDS 10TH ANNIVERSARY STAGE
PLUMP DJS
DJ YODA
KRAFTY KUTS
THE NEXTMEN
BEARDYMAN
UTAH SAINTS
A-SKILLZ
SOUL OF MAN
DRUM ATTIC TWINS

Phosphorescent - set to appear at this years La Route du Rock Festival

How are you fixed next week? Got much on? How about a trip to France?

You could win a pair of tickets for the La Route du Rock Festival PLUS ferry travel. Fancy it? Read on…

Yes, the 18th edition of the festival La Route du Rock will take place next week (14th, 15th and 16th of August) in Saint-Malo in Brittany, France. La Route du Rock is a three day event with a 25,000 capacity and features roughly 30 bands over its three stages. La Route du Rock is known for specialized and daring line-ups, harmoniously combining recognized artists and new talents who, each year, enable music lovers to discover contemporary musical creation whether pop, rock or electro.

Here are some of the acts who are appearing, talk about a TLOBF-centric lineup - it’s almost as if we curated it or something. COLD WAR KIDS, THE BREEDERS, TINDERSTICKS, THE WAR ON DRUGS, SIGUR RÓS, THE NOTWIST, WHY?, NO AGE, MENOMENA, FUCK BUTTONS, THE DODOS, MICAH P. HINSON, BOWERBIRDS, WINDSOR FOR THE DERBY, PHOSPHORESCENT…..Wowzers! Check out the full lineup here.

So - to be in with a chance of winning 1 pair of tickets WITH ferry travel provided by the kind folk of Condor Ferries just answer this simple as hell question.

WHICH ENGLISH CITY DO FESTIVAL HEADLINERS FOALS COME FROM?

Email your answers to thelineofbestfit@gmail.com

Subject header “OOH LA LA TLOBF!”

Please include your NAME, ADDRESS, CONTACT & TELEPHONE NUMBER.

Winners will be notified by email.

Competition closes Monday 11th August at 12pm.

Please note, this competition is only open to UK entrants only.

Good luck!

Ho-ho-motherfucking-ho. It may be baking hot outside, but the folks at ATP have one thing on their minds at the moment - and that’s Christmas. Yes, their annual ATP Nightmare Before Christmas shindig is shaping up very nicely indeed, with the fabulous Squarepusher and Butthole Surfers being the latest additions to the already fabulous bill. The event (curated by Mike Patton and The Melvins), will takes place at Butlins, Minehead between 5th-7th December and currently boasts the likes of The Dirtbombs (!), Isis and Torche.

Tickets include self catering accomodation and can be purchased here. For further info on the festival, how to get there and up to date additions to the lineup, visit the ATP site here.

The full lineup so far consists of:

CURATED BY MELVINS
KILL ME TOMORROW
BUTTHOLE SURFERS
MASTODON
MELVINS
ISIS
NEIL HAMBURGER
DALEK
BIG BUSINESS
THE DIRTBOMBS
THE BLACK HEART PROCESSION
TORCHE
J.G. THIRLWELL’S MANOREXIA

CURATED BY MIKE PATTON
FARMERS MARKET
BOHREN UND DER CLUB OF GORE
FANTOMAS PERFORMING THE DIRECTOR’S CUT
THE LOCUST
ZU
SQUAREPUSHER

Click below for some of our past ATP festival coverage.

Sigur Ros

Words: Alex Harvey and Charley Caines
Photographs: Danny North, Baptiste Pons, Rayos Centusoidos and Davide Ravani

After the trials and tribulations of Glastonbury 2007, I and seemingly half of blighty thought enough was enough of the shit English weather and decided to head for the sunnier climes of Spain and Benicassim for our annual festival experience.

Any thoughts surrounding a particularly bad hangover after a heavy night in Barcelona are put aside, as once at the campsite the serene beauty of the mountains bearing down on you and the relatively small town of Benicassim become apparent and just a hint of smugness washed over me. You can keep your rain, your mud and your Jay-Z nonsense, I’ve got a beach, 30+ degree heat, a water park, the picturesque mountains and ok…maybe the small matter of ants nest by my tent but you can’t have it all can you? Continue Reading

Franz Ferdinand

“More Than A Musical Festival.” Well, Suffolk’s premier festival likes to brand itself as such, and to its credit it’s true- the literary and comedic talent on offer is easily the equal of the bands on offer, and despite the focus of this review I did get the opportunity to sample some of its more unusual delights. But ultimately I was there for the music, and on this count Latitude (for the most part) didn’t disappoint.

First on were local heroes The Godwits, who failed to do Suffolk proud with their wet and uninspired indie balladry- much more impressive were London three piece The Joy Formidable, whose angular rock is backed up with an arresting energy that may secure them some mainstream success. Rosie and The Goldbug didn’t bode well with their self-consciously quirky, irritating electro pop but a talent for working a crowd really served them well and they managed to have half the audience dancing by the end. But the day belonged to hotly-tipped Edinburghers Broken Records, who commanded the beautiful Sunrise Arena with a performance that surely made a fan of all who witnessed it. Previously hamstrung by a nervy, static stage presence, a punishing touring schedule has seen them finally gain the confidence to give their excellent Arcade-Fire-meets-Beirut material the edge to make them an unmissable live proposition, and rollocking closer ‘A Good Reason’ stands out as one of the musical highlights of the whole weekend. Continue Reading