News

Lily Allen Added To FIB Heineken Benicassim Festival

• 26th Apr 2010

Lily Allen and Ray Davies have been added to the FIB Heineken Benicassim Festival.

After two excellent albums, the short and intense career of composer, singer and T.V. presenter Lily Allen is still going strong. ‘Alright, Still’ (2006) and ‘It’s not Me, It’s You’ (2009) are those albums. The singles ‘LDN’ and ‘Smile’ preceded the eponymous first LP and were responsible for setting Lily Allen up as a pioneer for a new breed of British Pop Stars. Her legions of fans and the press continue to support her meteoric career.

Ray Davies has ensured his name will forever be synonymous with a golden period in British music that revolutionized the musical landscape forevermore thanks to a huge collection of classic songs and albums, both solo and with his legendary band The Kinks.

Sublime works like ‘You Really Got Me’ – probably the second most recognized riff after The Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’ have secured Davies bragging rights as one of the greatest songwriters of his (considerably talented) generation. ‘Something Else By The Kinks’ (1967), ‘The Village Green Preservation Society’ (1968) and ‘Arthur (Or The Decline and Fall of The British Empire)’ (1969), three master pieces were
published one after the other. His solo work, which started in 1985 with

‘Return to Waterloo’ and that includes moments such as ‘Working Man’s Café’ (2007) is also superb, a natural extension of his work with The Kinks.

The impact of the release of ‘Unknown Pleasures’, the debut album by seminal Manchester band Joy Division still reverberates with critics and fans alike, informing new generations eager to trace the music they love back to its roots. The ferocity of punk was infused with a tension and creeping sense of dread, creating an exceptionally syncopated and bitter album. Peter Hook will be performing ‘Unknown Pleasures’ at FIB Heineken Benicassim Festival 2010, one of the main players in this legendary story will be taking us back to Salford, recreating the magic of the album that changed the musical landscape forever.

To really take you back to those halcyon days in the North West, another piece of Manchester’s recent history will also be joining us at the Festival: The Haçienda Night featuring Graeme Park, DJ Pierre and Justin Robertson.

Charlotte Gainsbourg, the accomplished French actress and singer, is the daughter of legendary chanteur Serge Gainsbourg and his muse and wife Jane Birkin. She started her musical career in 1984, when she was barely 12 years old with her father, when they came together to sing the controversial ‘Lemon Incest’. Charlotte Gainsbourg has published three incredible albums under her own name since then, featuring a constantly evolving line up of incredibly talented collaborators. Starting with her father and more recently with other big names such as Air and Beck, who is her primary collaborator on her latest album, the beautiful and haunting ‘IRM’ (2009).

The mutual admiration held between James Mercer of The Shins and producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, DM & Jemini) has (luckily for us) given birth to the majestic pop of Broken Bells. Their recently released self-titled debut includes, among others, the superbly classy pop of ‘The High Road’.

Some electronic artist confirmations. We are pleased to announce this year we have: Timo Maas, Motor, The Japanese Popstars, Prins Thomas and Joris Voorn rocking the stage for your enjoyment.

Timo Maas´’Subtellite’ in his own words: “It’s our own kind of thing, between the chairs, not minimal, not techno, pretty unique I think. And very atmospheric. It’s very trippy. It’s not loop-based, it’s a story as my life is a story.”

‘Metal Machine’ (2009) is the most recent work by New York’s Motor. Metallic machine music, combining beats, techno and raw-power riffs!

Declan McLaughlin aka Decky Hedrock, Gary Curran and Gareth Donoghue are The Japanese Popstars. Hailing all the way from Derry (North Ireland) their debut album ‘We Just Are’ (2008) seduced the critics and the public alike.

The latest Jack L album 'Alexandria's Gone' celebrates the songs that inspired the characters in Anna McPartlin’s latest novel and is the perfect companion to the book. Jack is currently writing new material for his next album, which we will hopefully get a preview of this summer.

The Paris Riots were the winners of 2009’s ‘Road to Benicàssim’ competition, the contest organized by FIB Heineken and Supajam to find the next heroes of the blossoming British music scene. This year, they are returning to the Festival with a new repertoire of energetic pop-rock.

And about the Spanish bands, Love of Lesbian and Standstill head the new list of talented names of national bands and artists. Love of Lesbian return to the Festival with ‘1999, o como generar incendios de nieve con una lupa enfocada a la luna’ (2009), their last album. Standstill have just Published ‘adelante Bonaparte’ (2010) their 6th album. Three years of conscientious work separate this new album from ‘Viva la Guerra’ (2006) album which became responsible for boosting them up on the Spanish Independent music lists. Besides this, we have other acclaimed names such as: Bigott, El Hijo, Cuchillo, Parade, Cola Jet Set, Gentle Music Men and Cohete.

We’d also like to announce the addition of Chin Yi and Marcus Doo & The Secret Family, the winners of Proyecto Demo 10. Congratulations to them!