News

Grandmaster Flash, Hot Chip and Toddla T To Curate Rizla Events

• 28th Apr 2010

Rizla is back on the road with another musical feast for 2010 to make you dance, scream and have the time of your lives across the UK. Brand new to this year’s musical programme, Rizla is excited to have commissioned the talents of hip-hop legend Grandmaster Flash, current champions of electronica, Hot Chip and up-and-coming DJ, producer, remixer and Radio 1’s in New DJ’s We Trust presenter, Toddla T to shape Rizla’s activity for 2010.

This line up of past, present and future musical heroes will each curate their own individual day at Rockness and Lovebox, as well as getting into the Rizla van and giving the notorious Rizla Funktion-One Sound System a proper working-over.

The iconic Rizla Arena will be travelling to leading UK festivals Rockness and Lovebox. Rizla will then set sail on a paddle steamship in Glasgow and London, and finally will create four bespoke regional events across Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield. All events are set to be show-piece parties, building on Rizla’s already impeccable reputation as the place to go for great music and good times.

The legend that is Grandmaster Flash is one of the founding fathers of hip-hop. Starting his career spinning records at block parties in the South Bronx in the early 1970’s his popularity rocketed after the release of the seminal track, The Message, on Sugar Hill Records.

It has been said by many that “his pioneering mixing skills transformed the turntable into a true instrument'’ and his ability to get a crowd moving has made his DJ sets legendary the world over.

Flash was recently immortalised by his inclusion in the video game DJ Hero and has played to diverse crowds such as Super Bowl and the Queen Of England.

Hot Chip need no introduction, after forming in 2000 and releasing their debut album, Coming On Strong, in 2004 reaching the heady heights of Dance’s elite by being Grammy-nominated. With their 4th album, One Life Stand, under their belts they are soon to embark on a world tour.

With side projects such as The 2 Bears and deals with DFA Records, Hot Chip are simply one of the most inspiring bands on the planet!

Hot Chip have had lots of fun at the Rizla Arena in the past and had this to say about their experience ‘It’s really popular and has a great atmosphere’.

At only 23, Toddla T, the self-proclaimed lanky streak of gabbling enthusiasm, has already made major inroads in the music industry. With a residency at Fabric and his own radio show on Radio 1 as part of their In New DJs We Trust, Toddla T is seen as one of the British music's brightest new talents.

In a short space of time, Toddla has remixed the likes of Esser, Little Boots, Ladyhawke and Tricky and produced tracks alongside another curator, Joe Godard, from Hot Chip.

Toddla T had this to say about the Rizla Invisible Players ‘It was one of my favourite sets of last year with a wicked atmosphere, and the sound system is just crazy’.

He was equally excited about his fellow curators ‘Grandmaster Flash is a legend, no two ways about it, and mutual respect for Hot Chip… Mind-blowing!’

The 2010 Rizla programme kicks off in arguably the most scenically set festival in the world, Rockness, on the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland, on 11th – 13th June, then it’s down to Lovebox, in Victoria Park, London, on 16th -18th July for some inner city fun.

Next up, grab your water wings and sailors attire as we head off for a boat party down the River Clyde in Glasgow on 6th Aug, then the same paddle ship sets sail and ends up on the River Thames in London for another bespoke Rizla party on the 8th October.

Early October Rizla will be bringing some very special events to Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield. Watch this space for more details being released over the year.

Dates:
Rockness: 11th – 13th June
Lovebox: 16th – 18th July
Glasgow Boat Party – Fri 6th Aug
London Boat Party – Fri 8th Oct
Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bristol- Oct – Nov