News

Festival Republic Stage Line Up Announced For Leeds And Reading Festival

• 15th Jun 2010

The Festival Republic Stage is the place to see the headliners of tomorrow with the hottest up and coming names in music lined up for the Reading & Leeds Festival. This is the place Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and Muse first appeared and more recently Hot Chip, Florence + the Machine, Glasvegas, La Roux and Foals. This really is the place for anybody looking to be the first to spot the next wave of important artists. Headliners for 2010 are the irrepressible MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS, Irish heroes ASH and the acclaimed BRITISH SEA POWER.

On the NME/Radio 1 Stage Welsh trio THE JOY FORMIDABLE have been added to the line up after Miike Snow was sadly forced to pull out.

There are still lots more names to be announced including the full line up for the BBC Introducing Stage and the Alternative Stage.

The READING & LEEDS FESTIVAL is held on 27th – 29th August 2010 at Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds. Tickets for this event are now sold out.

FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE

Friday 27th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 29th August at Leeds Festival

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS’ sparkling pop sound burst onto the music scene in 2009 which was all the better for it. Her quirky, theatrical tunes and unique style and performance were a breath of fresh air. A top five album ‘The Family Jewels’ followed in 2010 with a sold out UK tour which both garnered fantastic reviews. This talented young singer is sure to be a festival highlight.

Leeds finest, THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND, make a welcome return to this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals following the release of their second album ‘Nobody’s Coming To Save You’ in February. Recorded in the Scottish countryside in a location that is beyond remote the four piece decided to crank up the distortion pedals. Expect soaring choruses, pummelling drums and rasping synths, a heady mix that is sure to turn the crowd into a frenzy.

BLOOD RED SHOES formed back in 2004 and Laura May Carter and Stephen Ansell started with a string of well received singles on several independent labels. The duo have attracted much praise for their incendiary live performances and the arrival of their debut album ‘Box Of Secrets’ in 2008 along with their follow up this year’s ‘Fire Like This’ has seen their reputation grow and they will undoubtedly be one of the highlights on the Festival Republic stage.

Anti-folk troubadour and famous American celebrity ADAM GREEN makes a welcome return to Reading and Leeds on the back of his new album 'Minor Love' ( Rough Trade Records.) Recorded with long time producer/friend Noah Georgeson, his sixth album showcases a tender side from the often arrogant and aspiringly bisexual singer.

Our must-see act of the weekend, LA all girl group WARPAINT bring desert dust grooves and haunting psychedelia for their only European festival shows of the summer and enjoy experimental indie pop from AVI BUFFALO. Neither Egyptian nor hip hop EGYPTIAN HIP HOP are subversive pop merchants from Manchester, PULLED APART BY HORSES were described by one magazine as “Brilliantly unpredictable smarty-pants art metal, hoarse hardcore” whilst the mysterious SUMMER CAMP bring glo-fi/chillwave to the festival. Californians FUNERAL PARTY make rock music you can dance your socks off to and HARLEM will be sure to make the crowd thrash out. Prior to them THE CHEEK will invigorate everybody with their infectious indie pop and openers GAGGLE – a 20-odd piece all girl sci-fi riot choir (!) are sure to wake up the sleepiest of festival goers.

Saturday 28th August at Reading Festival / Friday 27th August at Leeds Festival

What can you say that hasn’t already been written about ASH? A songbook full of hits, countless awards, plaudits aplenty and the intrepid trio are still here and back with the recent addition of Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack on guitar. The past year has seen the band unveil the ultimate singles collection with the unique A- Z series of singles – one every two weeks and the accompanying tour taking the band to all corners of the UK. Ash are festivals favourites at Reading and Leeds and their set is sure to have something for everyone.

When ATARI TEENAGE RIOT announced their reformation to play dates in 2010, fans rejoiced at the return of one of the most exciting bands of the 90’s. The Berlin band’s underground sound mixed electronica, rock and techno which combined with a striking image and high-voltage live show ensured they influenced countless artists in their wake.

Psychedelic rockers THE BLACK ANGELS came together in 2004. Hailing from Austin, they took their name from a Velvet Underground classic, ‘The Black Angel’s Death Song’. The band recently teamed up with UNKLE for the single ‘Natural Selection’ and lent ‘With You In My Head’ to the latest film in the Twilight series ‘Eclipse’. With the new album due for release in August, expect The Black Angels to deliver one of the performances of the weekend.

Dublin’s FIGHT LIKE APES bring their own brand of frenetic pop–punk eclecticism to this year’s festival whilst GIGGS, nominated on this year’s BBC Sound 2010 and newly signed to XL brings his well documented observations to the stage. “Indie rock with a side of calisthenics” can only mean DARWIN DEEZ, expect to be entertained! Quintet CHAPEL CLUB, exponents of poetic pop noir vie lyrically with Dublin’s highly regarded export VILLAGERS and their “literate pop songcraft” as described in the Guardian. New Yorkers ALBERTA CROSS bring forth their infectious riff-age whilst I BLAME COCO will entertain with heartfelt reggae–tinged songs. FREELANCE WHALES, probably heirs to the best band name at this year’s festival bring dreamlike pop while CHIEF’s music is made from smoky hooks and group singalongs. YUCK, with superlatives tucked under their arm and choruses of ‘the best new band’ ringing in their ears come on all wistful and love-lorn with their triumphal pop whilst THE CROOKES get things off to a great start with hints of winsome c86-ness.

Sunday 29th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 28th August at Leeds Festival

Since their inception at the onset of the 00’s, BRITISH SEA POWER have waved their own unique flag and bring their well documented elaborate settings to the live arena, the end result is always a show to remember. Renowned for their eccentricities, the band are currently working on the follow up to their Top Ten album ‘Do You Like Rock Music’ which will no doubt be as eagerly received by fans and critics alike.

CARIBOU is Canadian Dan Snaith, formerly known as Manitoba. Fusing electronica, psychedelia and breakbeats, Caribou has amassed an ever growing legion of fans worldwide since his debut in 2001. With the disco / dance inspired ‘Swim’ released earlier this year and a reputation for his electric live performances, where he often uses simultaneous drummers and synchronised visuals, big things are expected from this set.

Yorkshire stars ONE NIGHT ONLY enchanted us with their catchy guitar pop when they released their debut album ‘Started A Fire’. Frontman George Craig captured audience’s hearts and minds with his energetic and compelling live performances. Album number two is due in August and Reading & Leeds Festival will be the perfect showcase for it.

Seattle based quintet MINUS THE BEAR make indie rock that incorporates elements of ambience and sonic experimentation. Joining them are Australia’s TAME IMPALA whose leftfield, organic sounds made Pitchfork describe their debut album as “frequently dazzling”. Super producer Mark Ronson has been working on THE LIKE’s second alt. rock album, ‘Release Me’, while FREE ENERGY showed up on countless tip sheets at the onset of 2010. FOOLS GOLD aren’t some Stone Roses tribute act, but a Los Angeles based afro pop band who make an uplifting and inspirational sound. GENERAL FIASCO’s continual touring promoting debut album ‘Buildings’ have made them a formidable pop-rock band, while Liverpool’s SOUND OF GUNS mix anthemic power chords and riotous gang vocals. Fresh from touring with Hole, FOXY SHAZAM are a maniacal mix of pianos, guitars, howling vocals and rock n roll theatrics and GOLDHAWKS palette is a mix of vintage Americana and quintessentially British fare, think Ryan Adams, Springsteen, The Cure and you’re somewhere in the right ball park. Openers KASSIDY are a four piece from Scotland who bring four part harmonies and catchy melodies.