Shazamers' Blog

The San Miguel Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona has been a constant source of news this week. The organizers have launched Primavera TV, where a selection of past highlights will be shown online; beginning with Pavement’s acclaimed reunion tour from last year. A two-hour set that includes all our favourites and can be viewed in full for a two week period only. It will be shortly followed by sets of The Charlatans, Superchunk and local post-hardcore band Standstill, among others. Watch it here.

The first headliners for next year’s festival have also been announced, in what it looks like a mouth-watering bill for lovers of non mainstream music. Apart from being the first confirmed date so far for Pulp’s much heralded return, the line-up will also include such heavyweights as Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, The Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, The National, Mogwai, Suicide and two classic album performances likely to become some of 2011’s live sensations: John Cale playing his solo classic ‘Paris 1919’ with a band and an orchestra and Mercury Rev revisiting their career peak ‘Deserter’s Songs’. More additions to this fantastic bill are to be announced shortly.

For its 11th edition, Primavera sound is expanding over two more days – May the 25th and the 29th- to its earlier location at the city’s stunning attraction Poble Español; where a replica of a typical square from every Spanish region will make an unusual and picturesque setting for the gathering. The festival’s core three days, from May the 26th to May the 28th, will still be held at its current Forum Park location.

The San Miguel Primavera Sound 2011 will take place from May the 25th to the 29th. For more details and ticket info check the official website.

Roberto Gonzalez News animal collective, Festivals, mercury rev, pavement, primavera sound, Pulp

Tim at Green Man

This weekend saw the amazingly chilled Green Man Festival take place in leafy Wales and Shazam was lucky enough to catch up with Tim, lead singer from the fabulous Wave Machines for a little chat about festival life and punk.

I see you’re doing a lot of festivals this summer, are there any you’re particularly looking forward to?

Green Man has been getting talked about by loads of people, loads of friends and friends of friends (that’s how I measure a good festival). We have a big bunch of mates going and there are several birthdays and an engagement to celebrate – it promises to be a load of bawdy fun. Bestival is getting a lot of talk time too.

What can we expect from the set at green man?

A full-speed-ahead rendition of the album, well most of it, whatever our stage time will permit. I’ve been on holiday so am recharged and quite ridiculously eager to play again.

What’s the tent set up for you guys – or is it rock and roll hotels all the way?

Tents, tents and more tents. And a gazebo. You have to have a gazebo. We’re staying for the whole weekend so we’ll be making ourselves comfortable. We just got one of those grill things for making toast on your camping stove. Tasty.

If you could share a tent with anyone who would it be and why?

Is Lauren Laverne going? She’s an intelligent young lady.

What inspired the new single Punk Spirit?

Failure to come through with the threats issued in your internal monologue.

Who these days signifies the punk spirit ethos?

a.P.A.t.T. – a band from Liverpool. Check them out on myspace, but better than that, see them live. They are spectacular; they have little regard for their commercial well being. They are the real deal. Really.

Thanks for your time!

Ta

Hazel Savage Interviews Festivals, Interviews, Wave Machines

As the Festival season continues on, next weekend sees the return of The Big Chill Festival. Treading the line between boutique and behemoth the festival attracts huge acts, as well as a weird and wonderful crowd that make the weekend so special. With a capacity of 35,000 the festival has retained some of the intimacy that has made it so appealing since its inception in the mid nineties. Located in Hertfordshire’s Malvern Hills, The Big Chill offers a festival experience in a truly picturesque location. The site surrounds a deer park and those wishing to “take a moment” can relax next to the site’s lake.

The Big Chill always seems to pull some great headline acts out of the bag – and this year is no exception.  Former Talking Heads maverick David Byrne headlines Friday, while Saturday will have you reaching for those torch glasses when the newly reformed Orbital play. The weekend is capped off with a performnace from  Basement Jaxx, who may quite possibly be one of the best bands to see at a festival. The Jaxx will be debuting songs from their forthcoming album ‘Scars’ as well as dipping into their plentiful back catalogue.  

But as we know it’s not all about the headliners. Other highlights will come from Brighton indie eccentrics British Sea Power, Friendly Fires (fresh from their awesome Glastonbury set) and Spiritualized, who continue to be one of the most stunning bands to see live. Big Chill will also play host to some of the best DJ’s around, including the legendary Norman Jay MBE, Shazam favourite Greg Wilson and fresh from recording his new Fabric mix, Toddla T.

The Big Chill team always aims to set themselves apart with a lineup that encompasses the music, art, comedy, dance and film. Where else could you flip between the cosmic-disco of Lindstrøm, the weird and wonderful stand up of Noel Fielding and an art car boot sale?  For line up and ticket info, head to their website

Jon Davies Gigs/ Events, News Basement Jaxx, Big Chill, David Byrne, Festivals, Friendly Fires, Greg Wilson, Orbital

Download Festival

While other UK festivals clutter their line ups with effeminate, skinny jeaned indie-kids; Download Festival continues to supply the best in proper balls to the wall rock and roll. Now in its fifth year, Download Festival specialises in assembling the great and the good from the worlds of metal, alternative rock and hardcore. Past headliners have included icons such as Kiss, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath but 2009’s line up appears to trump all previous years as Download continues its policy of placing stadium filling rock mainstays against current hot properties of the rock scene. Highlights of this year’s event will see legends of US rock such as Whitesnake, ZZ Top, Mötley Crüe rub up against rub up against youngish up-starts such as The Prodigy, Pendulum and Dragonforce. Usually that would be enough to send most rockers weak at the knees but add to that Marilyn Manson and Nu-metal kings Limp Bizkit into the mix, both of which have sold out the 200,000 capacity Milton Keynes bowl on their own, and you can see why Download sold out in record time this year.

Highlights of the event will be broadcast on BBC Radio 1, fortunate for those wishing to rock-out but without a ticket. Just remember that circle pits, stage dives and crowd surfing are neither wise nor safe to attempt in your front room.

Download Festival : 12 June – 14 June, Donington Park

More info: http://downloadfestival.co.uk/lineup/index.aspx

Stephen Titmus Gigs/ Events, News Festivals