News

The Underage Festival Takes CTRL

• 30th Jun 2010

Topman CTRL is heading to the Underage Festival on Sunday 1st August, bringing a host of the hottest acts around with them to perform exclusively on the Topman CTRL Stage. Headlined by girl of the moment, Ellie Goulding, the impressive line-up also includes Chapel Club, Egyptian Hip Hop, Erik Hassle, Late of the Pier Sound System, Michchu & The Shapes, New Young Pony Club, Professor Green and Stornoway.

On top of performing to the legions of festival-goers, from 1st July artists will also be taking CTRL of link where they’ll reveal just what makes them tick….along with all manner of other exclusive news and gossip!

The Topman CTRL Stage at the Underage Festival comes hot on the heels of Channel 4 taking CTRL for an exclusive Student Tour, which saw presenters Nick Grimshaw, Alex Zane, Miquita Oliver, Rick Edwards and Matt Edmondson curate gigs across the country with acts including Yeasayer, The Futureheads and Miike Snow.

Over the past year, music fans have been taken on a monthly musical journey via link <link> , inside the minds of some of the most talked about artists to emerge into the music scene; from Gallows, Passion Pit and Ladyhawke to Filthy Dukes, Bombay Bicycle Club and Chew Lips all have bared their soul online. Now, Topman CTRL is set to hand over the keys to some of the incredible acts performing at one of the most innovative festivals the UK has to offer.

Combining the folk feel of Laura Marling with the pop sensibilities of Little Boots, Ellie Goulding’s music flits between genres, and follows her whims. Her songs have big choruses that lift you up and spin you round, but they are also off centre and sometimes haunting. Known for covering the likes of Bon Iver and Midlake during her live shows, her voice has a fragile, folky quality, which lends itself well to the ethereal pop tune she has created.

Chapel Club aren’t run of the mill; they have their own formula, one they arrived at by chance and which they want to remain something of a mystery in case they jinx it. They are a band best described not in relation to other band’s or musical precedents but in relation to the events, experiences and sentiments at the heart of their songs: sex, love, grief, frustration, pride, power, jealousy all mixed with heavy drama from the guitars, a rhythm section as tight as you like and melodic intricacies aplenty!

Two keyboards and an apple laptop form the basis of Egyptian Hip Hop’s foot-shifting, thigh-tapping, irritatingly contagious sound. Mixing moody synths and ringing guitars with infectious beats, the Manchester trio is youthful, passionate and destined for big things this year.

Erik Hassle is a Scandinavian songwriter specialising in power balladry; full of sweeping synths, chiming guitars and soulful lyrics, Erik Hassle has made a name for himself by exploring the fertile terrain between Sam Sparro and Frankmusik and creating some truly incredible songs in the process.

Hyperactive, synth laden ‘nu-rave’, Late of the Pier Sound System are renowned for their unique indie-come-dance sound. Rock guitar and heavy bass lines join sweeping computer generated synth lines, driven into an infectious frenzy by dancy drumbeats making the duo one of the most unique acts around.

Mica, aka Micachu & The Shapes creates quirky, multilayered pop songs, taking influences from grime, dub step, pop and classical music. Her music is truly forward thinking, using a battered old acoustic guitar with a drumstick under the strings and samples of vacuum cleaners, her ingenuity is scattered through all her tracks.

After the success of the critically acclaimed, Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album ‘Fantastic Playroom’ in 2007, ex Topman Controllers, New Young Pony Club headed into 2010, after 3 years away, with a brand new direction and a fresh sound loved by fans and critics alike.

Professor Green burst onto the music scene this year with the massive hit ‘Need You Tonight’, and is set to repeat that success with the highly anticipated ‘Just Be Good To Green’ featuring Lily Allen. Littering his lyrics with wry pop culture references, a sharp sense of humour and an honesty rarely found in rap music, Professor Green is one of the most exciting talents to emerge this year.

The delicate and highly nuanced songs of Stornoway are based on the interplay between impeccable harmonies, acoustic guitar and a skittering rhythm section. Brian Bridges’ passionate singing makes his case and a violin holds the line, wiry, visceral guitar parts ensure that Stornoway’s songs stay lodged in the brain.