MAY 2017 ISSUE 48 // FREE
PWR BTTM
P R E S E N T S
10 | 05 | 17
04 | 06 | 17
C DUNCAN
AGNES OBEL
17 | 05 | 17
14 | 06 | 17
- BUSH HALL -
- COURTYARD THEATRE HOXTON
- ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL -
VOK
- ROUNDHOUSE -
EARL
17 | 05 | 17
FLYYING COLOURS - THE ISLINGTON -
29 | 07 | 17 - 30 | 07 | 17
INDIGO GIRLS
20 | 05 | 17
- ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL -
- THE LEXINGTON -
CONOR OBERST
JIM JONES & THE RIGHTEOUS MIND
18 | 08 | 17
- O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
23 | 05 | 17
THE DISTRICTS
12 | 09 | 17
- THE DOME, TUFNELL PARK -
23 | 05 | 17
STEVIE PARKER - SEBRIGHT ARMS BETHNAL GREEN
DISPATCH
- ELECTRIC BALLROOM T - 21 |LD T OU | 17 | 17 20 09OU SO|LD SO 09 22 | 09 | 17
SIGUR RÓS
25 | 05 | 17
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10 | 10 | 17
JOLIE HOLLAND + SAMANTHA PARTON
- UNION CHAPEL, ISLINGTON -
13 | 10 | 17
TOM WILLIAMS - THE LEXINGTON -
LAMB
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WELCOME Festivals, festivals, festivals. That’s where we're at this month. Standing on the precipice of what we refer to as 'festival season' but what is, in reality, the majority of the year’s months, working to stretch our definition of the unreliable English summer. That's not to be down on festivals, because you know, we really do love them and my God does this summer offer some exciting lineups, experiences and locations. We take a look at our favourites from London, the UK and further afield finding a little something for everyone (unless festivals just aren't your thing). Not only that but we have a pair of tickets to Field Day to give away. You just have to find the cat hidden in the magazine, take a photo and DM us on Instagram or Twitter with the photos. This year is gonna be wild. PWR BTM (interview, pg: 18)
STAFF ON REPEAT the tracks we can’t stop listening to this month JESS: EMA - Aryan Nation DAVE: Dangerdoom - Mad Nice LOKI: Blaenavon - Lonely Side DANNY: Perfume Genius - Go Ahead
G MA HE OF T * N E I PAIR TS D M IN A ICKE N I F W YT TO D DA L E FI
GEMMA: Lia Lia - Olymp JACK: Girlpool - It Gets More Blue RACHEL: Jay Som - Everybody Works just DM our Twitter or Insta with a pic of the page (@londoninstereo)
*
LiS 05
Royal Albert Hall presents
FEATURING THE ZOMBIES, LAURA MVULA, BILLY BRAGG AND MORE
MAY - JULY 2017 INCLUDING CONCERTS, TALKS AND SCREENINGS
royalalberthall.com/1967 Call: 020 7589 8212 /RoyalAlbertHall
@RoyalAlbertHall
CONTENTS 10
NEW SOUNDS
LONDON IN STEREO IS:
Miya Folick, Ayar & more 14
Editor: Jess Partridge jess@londoninstereo.co.uk
INTERVIEW
Gnučči
Deputy Editor: Dave Rowlinson dave@londoninstereo.co.uk
18 COVER STORY
Online Editor: Rachel Finn rachel@londoninstereo.co.uk
LiS meets PWR BTTM 24
Sub-Editor : Loki Lillistone loki@londoninstereo.co.uk
ON THE STEREO
Advertising sales@londoninstereo.co.uk
Five festival acts we can’t wait to see 29
2017 FESTIVAL SPECIAL
New Sounds Editor: Gemma Samways
Our guide to all our favourite festivals happening in London, the UK and Europe. 40
Staff Writers: Danny Wright, Jack Urwin Photography: PWR BTTM cover story: Phil Sharp (philsharp-photo.com)
ALBUM REVIEWS
Perfume Genius, Gorillaz, Slowdive, Fazerdaze, Aldous Harding & more 48
Contributors: Hassan Anderson, Merlin Jobst, Simone Scott Warren, Tim Hakki, Rachel Grace Almeida, Jake May, Lee Wakefield, Kate Solomon, Katie Thomas, Thomas Hannan, Rhian Daly, George O’Brien.
GIGS OF THE MONTH
Our pick of the best shows this May 52
FULL LISTINGS
GNUČČI
Your full guide to all the month’s gigs 71
(interview, pg: 14)
IN A DAY’S WORK
A day in the life of... a festival food vendor 73
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS londoninstereo.com @londoninstereo
by Dave Rowlinson LiS 07
COSIMA
JAPANDROIDS
THEME PARK
MAY 03 BUSSEY BUILDING PECKHAM
MAY 6 O2 SHEPHERDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BUSH EMPIRE
MAY 09 OSLO
STARLING
YUNA
ALMA
MAY 09 THE WAITING ROOM
MAY 16 KOKO
MAY 16 OSLO
SOPHIE HUNGER
BAD POP
SAN FERMIN
MAY 17 OMEARA
MAY 18 SEBRIGHT ARMS
MAY 22 VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
ASTRID S
INDIGO HUSK
MAY 23 SCALA
MAY 29 THE CAMDEN ASSEMBLY
CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON MAY 30 OMEARA
THE BEST IN NEW LIVE MUSIC L O
N
D
O
N
@LNSOURCE LIVENATION.CO.UK/SOURCE
NEW SOUNDS MIYA FOLICK
by Gemma Samways
Often, reality is far more fascinating than fiction. Consider the biography of L.A.-based singer-songwriter Miya Folick: raised a Buddhist, she moved to New York to study acting and musical theatre, before jacking in both, taking up guitar from scratch, and subsequently forming a band via Tinder and Instagram. Unorthodox as it is, Folick’s back-story looks positively predictable compared to her output to date, which she helpfully categorises as “post-genre”. On 2015’s Strange Darling EP, this unfettered approach resulted in an ambitious set of songs touching on acoustic alt-country, gothic blues and
ethereal folk. For her most recent singles she’s switched things up again. ‘God Is A Woman’ begins as a minimalist ballad before blossoming into a soaring, lighters-aloft torch song, meanwhile ‘Pet Body’ finds her declaring herself, “Just a brain with a pet body / Just a feeling in the room,” over jittery, surf-rock guitar and garage-y percussion. At this stage we have little to no clue in what context we’ll next hear Folick’s sublime, vibrato-flecked vocals, but we've heard rumours there's new material due imminently. And, going on her previous work, we’d be willing to stake big money on it being anything but pedestrian.
IN 10: NEW SOUNDS BY NEW ARTISTS ACES
STRANGER
KATIE VON SCHLEICHER PARANOIA
ACES
WELL$
NINAJIRACHI
WILMA ARCHER FT AMBER MARK
AMA LOU
LIA LIA
ADULT MOM
TICA DOUGLAS
ZOEE
ROSÉ
LIKE A HUNGER
OLYMP
DEATHS COME IN THREE
PURE LUCK
LOST MY HOME
FULL SCREEN
1-2-1
FOLLOW OUR NEW MUSIC PLAYLISTS ON LONDONINSTEREO.COM, EVERY WEEK
MIYA FOLICK
LISTEN TO: Pet Body
@MiyaFolick
AYAR
by Jess Partridge
Young exciting rappers of all kinds are coming from every corner of London at the moment, and soon enough East London rapper Ayar will be demanding your attention. Having released a string of striking singles that display a natural instinct for songwriting, with emotional and narrative based raps that sit next to classical and soul-inspired beats. Already getting attention from all the right places (Complex, Beat, SBTV) we'd put money on him being one of the next to burst through into the mainstream.
LISTEN TO: Rounds @artfromayar
@MiyaFolickMusic
/artfromayar
LiS 11
LAUREN FAITH
JONES
TUE 02 MAY
WED 03 TMAY LD OU
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THE WAITING ROOM
HOXTON HALL SO
SAT 20 MAY
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GNUČČI words: Hassan Anderson
“One of my favourite things to do is listen to music in cars. I actually tested my album out on a lot of taxi drivers. The best reaction was in Beirut where they got super into it and started joining in and beeping their horns. It’s moments like that with strangers that I really love.” Stockholm based rapper Gnučči has a wanderlust that cannot be quelled. Her debut album I’m Good, You’re Good, Let’s be Great embodies this as it involved recording with nine different producers across nine different countries, sometimes setting up ‘recording camps’ in various parts of the world. Talking to Gnučči aka Ana Rab over the phone, she tells me how this process came about: “I have always wanted to travel since I was a kid and recording seemed to be the perfect way. I set up these ‘Rab Rec Camps’, which is where I rent a house or
an apartment and then I invite producers over. I pay for the flight and ask them to share their valuable time. It’s so friendly. You wake up and take the time to get comfortable and get to know what each of you are like”, she explains. The results are as varied as you’d imagine but energy levels are always high and threaded together by Gnučči’s ‘power pussy rap’. From the smooth 8bit-pop of single ‘Ultimate Syndrome’ to the relentless swag of ‘Young Paula Abdul’, the album inverts subjects such as anxiety, self-doubt and defiant feminism into banging club tracks. It is perhaps Gnučči’s early displacement that led her to feel most at home in new territories. Growing up in Sweden after fleeing the former Yugoslavia at aged five with her mother, Gnučči explains she has always felt somewhat alien to her
LiS 14
Though Gnučči admits life on the road for someone as DIY as she is can be tough, she also has a trick or two up her sleeve. “I like to travel with pancake mix. Sometimes when you wake up in random places it’s nice to feel like you can have a luxurious breakfast. It’s also good to forget your adult problems by acting like a kid and eating pancakes”, she explains with an almost audible smile.
photo: Esteban Wautier
“My whole career is a homage to my childhood dreams really”.
surroundings “I thought we going on vacation when we fled Yugoslavia when I was a kid, which is a shout out to good parenting really,” she reasons. “I’ve always dreamed of travelling to new places growing up. My whole career is a homage to my childhood dreams really”. Since releasing her first EP in 2012, Gnučči has remained steadfastly DIY; running her own label, directing her own visuals and often tour managing when on the road. “I think it comes down to having my mother as a role model. She was a single mother that had to work multiple jobs to makes ends meet. She just worked because that’s what she had to do”. That being said Gnučči is quick to add “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without help though. I love collaborating but it’s beneficial to do it on your own terms”.
Any road stress is quickly dealt with during Gnučči’s live shows which allow her to get away from any mental anxiety by putting focus on the body “I like dealing with stuff by being physically active and loud. The way I see the body is that it’s nice to free it up, not think too much about how it looks and how it should look, but more about what it can do, and how it can make you feel.” Gnučči has a wholehearted zeal for playing live “I honestly believe that music sounds and looks better when it is live”, she enthuses, “I also like my music to be a surprise. Like, my favourite thing is seeing the reaction from people who haven’t heard me before”. With this in mind, expect to see Gnučči and her pancake mix at a venue near you soon. LiS
LiS 15
GNUČČI releases I'm Good You Good Let's be Great, April 28th. @GNUCCI_GNUCCI @gnucciofficial
COMMUNION PRESENTS
TICKETS FROM COMMUNIONMUSIC.CO.UK
PWR BTTM words: Danny Wright // photography: Phil Sharp
f you’ve been to a PWR BTTM show – or, more accurately, experienced a PWR BTTM show – you will know just how much fun they are. Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce turn gender politics into gloriously loud, infectiously positive rock; joyfully ripping through pop-punk songs about what it means to be young, queer and confused, wearing thrift store dresses and smears of makeup. At the heart of all this is the celebration of being yourself. Their shows are all about inclusiveness, a safe space where fans can dress in any way they want. Faces covered in glitter, drag, anything goes. “An exciting element of our live show is the looks that people come in,” says Liv. “I think the first time anyone did it was before Ugly Cherries was even out.” “I’ve recently become less inclined to call what I do drag and more personalising,” Ben adds. “It’s about wearing what makes me feel good.” Liv agrees. “I wear a dress and I wear crazy makeup and everything like that. But what the people in the audience do is dress up in a way that makes them feel cool. There’s just all kinds of ways that people express themselves at our shows, it’s really cool.” ‘Personalising’ seems a neat word to describe what’s at the heart of PWR BTTM’s unique allure. Their live shows are brilliant, glitter-soaked celebrations, the crowd a massive part of the experience.
And it all stems from the two mesmerising personalities on stage and their special connection. “I think if we’re having fun, the audience will have fun too,” says Liv. “Of course, we want the audience to have as much fun as possible but, ultimately, that happens through us enjoying ourselves as much as we do.” It’s the same for their songs. Liv and Ben’s willingness to share their own personal experiences has inspired the selfconfidence of their fans. Search the internet and comments like ‘‘This video has literally changed my life’ are not uncommon. Not that that’s the aim. “I’m glad when I hear people say if they’ve grown or felt better about themselves after listening to our music, that’s great. But I don’t think that’s the goal,” says Liv. “We write songs that contextualise the things that we’re going through,” agrees Ben. “The way other people relate to them is none of our business. It’s all up to them, and if they have a meaningful relationship with the songs we’re very thankful for that. We’re not like ‘PWR BTTM songs have to matter, they have to change their lives’ - we never set out to do that.” You can see why fans attach such meaning to their songs. They’re naked, almost diary-like entries about themselves (Liv even put their email address in ‘I Wanna Boi’). And their sophomore album, Pageant, sees them explore the emotional
Bean Wears: Cravat by Brooks Brothers, Jacket by Duffer of St. George, Trousers by Brooks Brothers. Liv Wears: Earring by Weekday, Top: Lindy Lou’s Boutique, Skirt by Phannatiq.
“We’re not like ‘PWR BTTM songs have to matter, they have to change their lives’ - we never set out to do that.” - Ben Hopkins LiS 19
growth they’ve gone through since the first record - though, like life, it’s still full of confusion and doubt. On one of the album’s central songs, ‘LOL’, Ben sings “I know that I am naïve, when you are queer, you are always 19.” “I think a lot of the record is about feeling too old to be young and too young to be old. And in a constant state of being curious about whether it will ever end, like with your relationships with other people and with yourself and with your body,” explains Ben. It’s clear songwriting helps them find out about themselves (“it has always taught me a little more about myself which is really fun BECAUSE I’M SUCH A NARCISSIST!” laughs Liv) but, as with many second albums, they needed to fight the urge to repeat themselves and remove all external pressure. “Our first record was such a surprise. I don’t think we ever thought that PWR BTTM would be playing to 600 people in London - that was never on our moodboard. And we’re obviously so grateful, but it all adds to the pressure.” “I caught myself for a while thinking ‘Oh well, I’ll do everything that worked on Ugly Cherries because that worked and I know it’ll work again’,” says Liv. “I had a song that was basically a sequel to ‘I Wanna Boi’ and I was
like ‘This is great, this will be the single, people will love it’ but by the time we were recording it I was so bored of that song. It felt so cold and calculated so we ended up cutting that. The ones that really excited me are the ones that felt like a surprise.”
“Our first record was such a surprise. I don’t think we ever thought that PWR BTTM would be playing to 600 people in London - that was never on our moodboard. - Liv Bruce And Pageant certainly sounds like a band pushing themselves and playing with more confidence. “For the first record we wrote this two-piece garage rock and for this second one all the songs were obviously written in that way but we’re more comfortable as musicians now so we got a bunch of our friends to come and do what they do and it helps in an awesome way on the record,” says Ben. There’s a palpable feeling that PWR BTTM are a band on the crest of something special, and even having their gear stolen - as happened in San Francisco last year - won’t
This page & cover: Ben: Earring by Weekday, Choker by Elastigear, Waistcoat by Tom Ford, Suit Jacket: vintage Yves Saint Laurent, Trousers by Brooks Brothers. Liv: Earring by Weekday, Top by Tramp In Disguise, Trousers: vintage Yves Saint Laurent.
Leotard by Weekday, Coat by Onar.
Earring by Weekday, Choker by Elastigear, Waistcoat by Tom Ford.
stop them. “There are some things that were super rare that couldn’t be replaced,” says Ben. But fans helped them raise money to buy new instruments within days. “That was great. We didn’t even take a day off, we didn’t even miss a show.” And it won’t stop for bigotry either - another of their shows was picketed in Jackson, Mississippi. “Those clowns. I don’t like to talk about that,” says Liv. “Because I’ve said everything that I think about it and I don’t want to spread their message more than I already did. I’m sorry to cut off that question.” But, I ask, did it make you realise how important it is to stand up to this kind of moronic prejudice? “I don’t think it made us realise how important what we do is,” says Ben. “I think it showed how important the job of the people who run the venue in Mississippi is.” “And the people who have to put up with that bullshit much more than we do,” agrees Liv. “If anything it made me realise how easy we have it living where we live. It can be tough being a visibly-queer, gender non-conforming person anywhere but we live in Brooklyn and compared to Jackson, Mississippi I count my
blessings. I met the kids who lived there and they didn’t seem surprised and I was like ‘Ohhh’.” Talk turns to Trump’s America. Is there a sense that things are going backwards? “What I really see the most of is resistance in my community and in my social circle, a lot of people who were very apathetic in the Obama years are now very politically aware,” says Liv. “I see is a lot of people trying to move forward and address the very real grievances of a lot of people.” So, I say, you’re looking on the positive side? “Looking for a positive side,” Liv corrects me, astutely. That is PWR BTTM: looking forward, celebrating individuality and doing it all with wry wit and covered in glitter. LiS Art Direction & Styling: Darkwah Kyei-Darkwah & Rachel Grace Almeida / Makeup: Shamirah Sairally / Hair: Louis Souvestre
LiS 21
PWR BTTM release Pageant May 12th via Big Scary Monsters LIVE: Koko, September 1st FESTIVALS: End Of The Road
@PWRBTTMBAND @PWRBTTM666
MAY 3rd
Group Therapy Comedy Club /
6th
Jehst / 9th
11th + 12th 17th
7th
10th
Girls & Boys: Soleima
8th
Hussain Manawer
Sounds Familiar Music Quiz
Jojo Mayer / Nerve /
21th
5th
Peggy’s Big Sunday /
Birthh /
Sigrid [sold out] /
23th
2017
~ LIV E ~
13th
18th
The Aussie BBQ /
CloseUp Festival: Ekkah + Kyko
Gospeloke /
22th
19th
Glass Caves
Gold Dust: Love Ssega
Pop Montreal: Mozart’s Sister + Pierre Kwenders 24th
Belako /
30th
Ary
~ LATE ~ every Friday
6th
13th
NIGHT CALL
THE DOCTOR’S ORDERS
KATE BOSS
Weekly
Exploring every year of the
A proper old school
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40+ year history of hip hop
discotheque
14th
27th
20th
THE VILLAGE THROWBACK BITESIZE Vibrant mix of
80s & 90s house
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Dates, times & tickets: w w w.hoxtonsquarebar.com
| HOXTONSQUAREBAR
28th
HIP HOP KARAOKE with Southern Hospitality
FOALS VERY SPECIAL GUEST
EOTR photo: Sonny Malhotra (@photosonny)
ON THE STEREO five festival acts we can’t wait to see AMA LOU
AMA LOU I feel like I've been waiting forever to shout properly about Ama Lou. We've only been blessed with a few tracks so far but each one increases my heart rate and quickens my breath the same way it did the first time I heard the likes of Lorde, Cosima and Perfume Genius. Her songs are arresting and unforgettable, and this is just the start. Finally getting to see her live is going to make this a very special Great Escape indeed. Jess Partridge Playing: Great Escape
There are a whole bunch of things to love about festivals let’s face it, a lot of the time they’re a holiday with your friends surrounded by music you love playing all day and all night. Just typing that has us looking forward to days spent on grassy slopes. gently dozing off hangovers to the gentle midafternoon bands, or bouncing between venues in one city or another with excited ‘where are you heading now?’ chat. Chief amongst the pleasures, though, is when the festivals get announced and you pour over the line-up and decide right-thereright-then that you’re going to this or that festival, sometimes based on just one artist. Here the LiS team pick five such acts.
CHANCE THE RAPPER (photo: Rebecca Hughes)
SOLANGE Last year’s A Seat At The Table cemented her place as one of the most important, politically-charged artists of this generation. With a hellish summer ahead and the prospect of several more years of this on both sides of the Atlantic, Solange’s only London performance this year promises to be an event of radical empowerment and deep cultural significance. Jack Urwin Festivals: Lovebox, Roskilde, Primavera Sound, We Love Green SOLANGE
CHANCE THE RAPPER When we finally caught Chance live, at Brixton Academy last year, it felt like a shot of much-needed positivity in a ruinous year. Genuinely one of the most joyful and celebratory shows I’ve ever seen, it cemented his place as one of the most special talents around. ‘Just imagine if he headlined a festival’ we marvelled on the way home, and looky here, if it ain’t gone and come true. Here’s the plan: see Chance, go to Rowan’s. Getting a bit tearful just thinking about it, to be honest. Dave Rowlinson
M.I.A
M.I.A
In light of the raging bin fire that is world politics, there could scarcely be a better time to hand the keys to Meltdown to a fearless Festivals: Wireless, Way Out West, polemicist with a truly global outlook. From Pukkelpop Giggs to Princess Nokia, M.I.A. has assembled a killer lineup, and her closing FRANK OCEAN performance promises to be a highlight. I’ve only recently found out that Frank Gemma Samways Ocean says he uses sales and streaming Festivals: Meltdown data to help him choose his next live appearances. Which means Swedes must be lapping up the magnificent Blonde. I always FRANK OCEAN knew they had great taste. We haven't seen him live since 2014 and watching the gently mesmerising twists and turns of his latest album play out live will be stunning. And, of course, when ‘Pyramids’ hits, it’s all going to go off. Danny Wright Playing: Lovebox, Way Out West, Primavera Sound, Northside LiS 25
SPLASHH WED 26 APR BUSSEY BUILDING
KELLY LEE OWENS WED 10 MAY THE PICKLE FACTORY
BECKIE MARGARET THURS 28 SEPT THE WAITING ROOM
GANGLY WED 26 APR OMEARA
KANE STRANG WED 17 MAY THE LEXINGTON
PALACE THURS 27 APR O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
HAZEL ENGLISH WED 24 MAY THE LEXINGTON
AIR TRAFFIC WED 4 OCT T D OU SCALA SOL MON 9 OCT ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL
HAND HABITS SAT 29 APR THE ISLINGTON THE BIG MOON TUES 2 MAY VILLAGE UNDERGROUND PLASTIC MERMAIDS WED 3 MAY THE PICKLE FACTORY ZOLA BLOOD WED 3 MAY ELECTROWERKZ SIVU MON 8 MAY ROSEMARY BRANCH THEATRE LITTLE CUB TUES 9 MAY THE LEXINGTON
GABRIELLA COHEN WED 24 MAY THE FORGE JW RIDLEY THURS 1 JUNE THE WAITING ROOM PERFUME GENIUS THURS 8 JUNE HEAVEN
DIET CIG WED 25 OCT MOTH CLUB IDER WED 25 & THURS 26 OCT ARCHSPACE YANN TIERSEN MON 30 OCT ROYAL ALBERT HALL
DEVENDRA BANHART WED 18 JULY HACKNEY EMPIRE
CHRISTIAN LOFFLER & MOHNA TUES 31 OCT VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
CAR SEAT HEADREST TUES 29 AUG O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
ANNA MEREDITH THURS 16 NOV OVAL SPACE
THIS IS THE KIT THURS 21 SEPT O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
PARALLELLINESPROMOTIONS.COM
23 MAY.
Kan Wakan
11 JUNE.
24 MAY.
Rich Mix
Oscar Jerome
20 JUNE.
26 MAY.
Scala
Baba Ali
18 JULY.
26 MAY.
Moth Club
Bing & Ruth
22 JULY.
27 MAY.
Dreamland, Margate
Swans
05 AUG.
Junun
The Victoria 01 MAY.
Los Campesinos! KOKO
02 MAY.
Meat Wave Birthdays 04 MAY.
Trudy & The Romance Shacklewell Arms 04 MAY.
William Basinski Round Chapel 10 MAY.
Puma Blue
Montague Arms 12 MAY.
Cosmo Sheldrake Moth Club 16 MAY.
Starcrawler
Thousand Island 17 MAY.
Oumou Sangare Village Underground 17 MAY.
Mauno
Shacklewell Arms
Upcoming London Shows
17 MAY.
Oui Love Birthdays 21 MAY.
Valaire Birthdays 22 MAY.
Bella Union 20
Archspace
Deep Throat Choir Meatbodies
The Nines
Slaves
LSO at St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Visions Festival
Roundhouse
East London
31 MAR.
Xylouris White OSLO
31 MAY.
!!! (Chk Chk Chk)
04 SEPT.
Courtney Marie Andrews Bush Hall
Oval Space
14 SEPT.
01 JUNE.
Henry Green
Swet Shop Boys Scala
The Lexington 14 SEPT.
Chastity Belt
01 JUNE.
Marika Hackman
The Garage
Heaven
29 SEPT.
04 JUNE.
By The Sea Festival
William Tyler
Dreamland, Margate
Omeara
17 OCT.
05 JUNE.
Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit
Julien Baker
Roundhouse
Bush Hall
18 OCT.
06 JUNE.
Crooked Colours
Minus The Bear
Pickle Factory
Scala
Julien Baker
PLUS Joan Of Arc
10 NOV.
Union Chapel
Pavo Pavo, Mammut & Will Stratton
OSLO
tickets and info at rockfeedback.com
YOUR GUIDE TO OUR FAVOURITE FESTIVALS HAPPENING ACROSS LONDON, THE UK AND EUROPE Here we go again, again. It hardly seems that any time has passed since we were sleeping our way back to London after End Of The Road had closed another glorious festival season for us, but May is upon us, so... What to do? Yeah, you’ve got to check those clash-finders and buy yet more phone chargers, because really where the hell have last year’s gone? First though, the all-important decision: which festivals are you going to? Do you have favourites you return to year-after-year? Is one artist enough to convince you to book flights to far-flung locations? Do you want to do a new festival every year? Are you a 3 days in the countryside, escaping the town type? Do you just want to run from venue to venue in a city where you can sleep in a real bed? Most likely, same as us here at London in Stereo, you’re happy wherever there’s music, a load of like-minded people and a chance to step outside the normal routine for the whirl that is festival time. Whatever you’re after, we’ve got you over the next few pages. LiS 29
Greenman photo: Giles Smith
FESTIVAL SPECIAL 2017
LONDON FESTIVALS 2017 VISIONS FESTIVAL Even if we weren’t media partners with Visions, we’d still be shouting loud about our favourite multi-venue one day festival. Every year the array of major league big hitters and eyecatching minor league rookies fill our hearts with joy. Eschewing archaic concerns like genre consistency, Visions just puts on the acts it loves, and happily a whole lot of other people agree, as four previous years of rammed venues and happy Hackney faces will attest. Plus, let’s not forget the all important star attraction: the dog show’s back! DR WHEN: AUGUST 5TH WHERE: VARIOUS HACKNEY VENUES ONLINE: @VisionsFestival // visionsfestival.com GO SEE: Liars, Frankie Cosmos, Helado Negro, Goat Girl
LOVEBOX
FIELD DAY Field Day has long been one of London’s best and most hip festivals and this year’s is especially crunk. Every year they book the perfect balance of seminal heritage acts, radio darlings, and bloggers’ delights for a romp in the heart of east London. The hoppy beer on offer is borderline psychedelic, the munch is sublime, and it takes place in that groovy liminal spot before the summer solstice ushers in the dog days and the ineffable charms of the Great British Summer. Back to one day this year too, so no more Monday morning pain/that awkward phone call to your boss. TH WHEN: JUNE 3RD. WHERE: VICTORIA PARK ONLINE: @fielddaylondon // fielddayfestivals.com
Lovebox is both a hugely renowned festival, GO SEE: Aphex Twin, Nicholas J aar, hosting the crème de la crème of British and Run The Jewels, Death Grips American slightly-left-of-pop music, whilst also endearing itself to the locals. The artists here are resolutely un-beige, vanilla-free, each oozing with a layer of ravey subversiveness. And, come on, Frank Ocean and Solange? That’s just ridiculous. After last year’s gloriously triumphant show from LCD Soundsystem, it’s heartening to see this festival veteran in such a rich vein of form right now. TH WHEN: JULY 14TH-15TH. WHERE: VICTORIA PARK ONLINE: @loveboxfestival // loveboxfestival.com GO SEE: Frank Ocean, Solange, Kano, Jamie xx
M.I.A.
CITADEL Citadel returns to Victoria Park this year, boasting its strongest lineup to date. Musical highlights include a UK festival exclusive from rock powerhouses Foals, a special appearance from new-folk royalty Laura Marling, as well as newcomers such as the Pharrell-endorsed Maggie Rogers and serial ones-to-watch Ardyn. Who says Sundays can't be fun? G O’B
MELTDOWN Every year, Meltdown invites one of the world's leading musicians to curate a line-up of their favourite artists, new and established. In the past, the likes of Josh Homme, Patti Smith, Morrissey and David Bowie have all been bestowed with the honour, and this year it's M.I.A.'s turn to take the helm. Her bill reflects her reputation as a revolutionary boundary breaker, with the likes of Swedish rapper Yung Lean and queer icon JD Samson all taking part. RD WHEN: JUNE 9TH-18TH WHERE: SOUTHBANK CENTRE ONLINE: @meltdownfest // southbankcentre.co.uk GO SEE: Princess Nokia, Young M.A., JD Samson, M.I.A.
WIRELESS The great, the good and the commercially viable of the hip hop world head to Finsbury Park for three days of Tim Westwood shouting things into a microphone. Meanwhile Nas will be overseeing upstarts like Rae Sremmurd and The Weeknd - and if nothing else, there’s a chance Travis Scott will fall down another hole. KS
WHEN: JULY 16TH. WHERE: VICTORIA PARK ONLINE: @CitadelFestival // citadelfestival.com GO SEE: Maggie Rogers, Sylvan Esso, Nadine Shah, Wild Beasts
AFROPUNK
DANNY BROWN
Last year saw the first London edition of New York and Paris festival Afropunk. A much needed addition to London’s summer festival calendar, bringing a beautifully progressive message and most of all - a genuinely exciting line-up. This year taking over the uniquely vast Printworks, there'll be even more space for food, shopping and, of course, dancing. JP WHEN: JULY 22ND-23RD WHERE: THE PRINTWORKS ONLINE: @afropunk // afropunkfest.com/london GO SEE: JME. Danny Brown, Little Simz, Nao
WHEN: JULY 7TH-9TH. WHERE: FINSBURY PARK ONLINE: @WirelessFest // wirelessfestival.co.uk GO SEE: Chance The Rapper, Skepta, Sean Paul, Stefflon Don
FRANK OCEAN LiS 31
UK FESTIVALS 2017 END OF THE ROAD If you wanted proof that the festival season saves its best until last, then savour every minute of Dorset's finest, End of The Road. It’s definitely the only festival where you can enjoy a Bloody Mary in a Woodland Library whilst a couple of peacocks give you sideways glances. Plus, there's always a killer mix of the finest folk, psyche, indiepop and Americana, and this year is no different. It's true, we've come to the End of The Road, and no, we can't let go. SSW WHEN: AUGUST 31ST-SEPTEMBER 3RD WHERE: LARMER TREE GARDENS, DORSET ONLINE: @EOTR // endoftheroadfestival.com GO SEE: Father John Misty, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Jens Lekman, Bill Callahan
photo: Sonny Malhotra
LOST VILLAGE
photo: Carolina Faruolo
GREAT ESCAPE If you do like to be beside the seaside and hunt down the best new music while you're at it, The Great Escape is a dream pairing. Now in its 11th year, it’s become renowned as the UK's answer to Austin’s SXSW. While you'll find fewer tacos and margaritas here, there's just as much music on offer, with the city’s venues taken over by rising artists and returning heroes previewing new tunes. This year's mammoth bill is an embarrassment of riches in both regards. And obviously, head along to our stage at Bleach on Thursday to hang with The Parrots, Froth, Kane Strang and more. RD WHEN: MAY 18TH-20TH. WHERE: BRIGHTON
Despite being relatively new on the festival ONLINE: @thegreatescape // greatescapefestival.com circuit, Lost Village knows nothing beats GO SEE: HMLTD, Avelino, Middle Kids, Jay Som secluded, forest-based partying, and drags pretty much every name in electronic music to the Lincolnshire countryside for a colossal celebration. While notorious titans such as Nina Kraviz and Bicep unleash anthem after anthem, it’s further down the bill that truly catches the eye: the likes of Mall Grab and Smerz ensuring that Lost Village will no doubt be unmissable once again. LW WHEN: AUGUST 24TH-27TH. WHERE: LINCOLNSHIRE ONLINE: @lostvillagefest // lostvillagefestival.com GO SEE: The Black Madonna, Loyle Carner, Fatima Yamaha, Denis Sulta
photo: Jenna Foxton
IN THE WOODS A secret line-up in a secret location is the anal festival-goer’s idea of hell - but if you can ever forgo the planning spreadsheets, do it for this sparkling dream of festival and join 1000 ‘revellers’ partying in a fairy-lit forest. Alt-J, Young Fathers and Kate Tempest have played in the past. Who you’ll see this year is anyone’s guess. KS WHEN: SEP 1ST-2ND WHERE: IT’S A SECRET... ONLINE: @InTheWoodsFest // inthewoodsfestival.co.uk
GREEN MAN South Wales’ blissful hideaway set amongst the rolling hills of the Brecon Beacons returns for its 15th anniversary – with a lineup almost as impressive as its views. Epitomising the family-friendly, community-spirited festival, Green Man is a truly beautiful place to spend a few nights away from the smog of the city. JM WHEN: AUG 17TH-20TH. WHERE: BRECON BEACONS, WALES ONLINE: @GreenManFest // greenman.net GO SEE: PJ Harvey, Daniel Johnston, The Big Moon, Aldous Harding
SEA CHANGE Drift Records are committed to making Totnes, Devon (where you'll find their excellent store) feel like a cultural hub, full of forward-thinking music. A multi-venue urban festival means they'll be taking over the town with one of the best lineups on the summer, plus it looks like there’s some really awesome pubs there, too. JP WHEN: AUGUST 25TH-26TH. WHERE: TOTNES ONLINE: @driftseachange // seachangefestival.co.uk GO SEE: Blanck Mass, Aldous Harding, Nadia Reid,Amber Arcades
FARR FESTIVAL A festival that champions Todd Terje as headliner is already a winner in our eyes but if you need a little more convincing, Farr present a meticulously-curated bill full of promise and intrigue. Spanning a multitude of genres in intimate surroundings, this woodland rave is more than worthy of your time. LW WHEN: JULY 13TH-15TH. WHERE: BYGRAVE WOODS, HERTFORDSHIRE. ONLINE: @FarrFestival // farrfestival.co.uk GO SEE: Jayda G, Helena Hauff, Avalon Emerson, Kornél Kovács
photo: Jay Bing LiS 33
FRANK OCEAN
EUROPEAN FESTIVALS 2017 BEST KEPT SECRET How many festivals can boast both a safari park and a stage set on a beach? You might only be able to venture into the former if you're an artist or snapped up the festival's super limited safari sleepover package, but the spirit of the surroundings infiltrates the animalthemed campsite. The line-up, too, is wild with some of the biggest names in music (Radiohead, Arcade Fire) rubbing shoulders with cult favourites (Girl Band, Mitski). Doesn't get much better than that. RD WHEN: JUNE 16TH-18TH WHERE: HILVARENBEEK, NL ONLINE: @bksfestival // bestkeptsecret.nl/en GO SEE: Arcade Fire, Run The Jewels, Whitney, Honeyblood
NOS PRIMAVERA SOUND
APPELSAP Over the last 15 years Appelsap has been busy growing from a street block party to the fully-fledged, groundbreaking festival it is now. This year features a bunch of London's finest talent (67, Dave we're especially excited about), and trail blazes with its forward-thinking programme of hip-hop, electronica, R&B and grime. There's no better surroundings for the uplifting atmosphere and feeling of celebration the festival promotes, with headliners like Kendrick Lemar and Skepta in the past, and with flights at such low prices, it should be a permanent fixture on your festival calendar. JP WHEN: AUG’ 12TH. WHERE: AMSTERDAM, NL
You can spend your time in a Barcelona car ONLINE: @AppelsapX // appelsap.net/festival park, and get a few more big hitters on the bill, GO SEE: 67, Dave, Lil Wayne, Fresku or you can head to Porto, miss out on some people playing London anyway and spend three days in idyllic surroundings. Easy choice, really. The Porto site is similar to EOTR or Green Man, but with a greater chance of sunshine. The whole experience feels easy, relaxed and blissfully festival-like. You’ll come home not needing another holiday and you’ll have seen Run The Jewels and Skepta. Winning. DR WHEN: JUNE 8TH-10TH. WHERE: PORTO, PORTUGAL ONLINE: Facebook: @nosprimaverasound // nosprimaverasound.com GO SEE: Flying Lotus, Grandaddy, Mitski, Metronomy
WAY OUT WEST
photo: Dan Medhurst
Go west, the Pet Shop Boys told us and who are we to argue when Way Out West Festival has such delights on offer. Gothenburg may be the location but it’s anything but goth; Lana, Frank and Chance top the bill while MØ’s super pop set and Danny Brown’s infectious grin will keep you entertained. KS WHEN: AUG 10TH-12TH WHERE: GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN ONLINE: @wayoutwestgbg // wayoutwest.se/en GO SEE: Danny Brown, MØ, Jens Lekman, The XX
DIMENSIONS On the first weekend of September, Croatia welcomes a hotbed of the world’s finest electronic artists. Year on year the Dimensions lineup showcases the best across the spectrum of house, techno, world, and everything in between. Artists on the rise play alongside international heavy hitters with a stunning backdrop and unparalleled sound. KT WHEN: AUGUST 30TH-SEPTEMBER 3RD. WHERE: FORT PUNTA CHRISTO, CROATIA ONLINE: @Dimensions_Fest // dimensionsfestival.com GO SEE: Dopplereffekt, Helena Hauff, London Modular Alliance, Sassy J
FLOW Helsinki. Home to the Angry Birds and also one of Europe’s best festival lineups. Head to this disused power plant to experience the full spectrum of emotion: feel some feelings with Lana Del Rey and Frank Ocean, have a dance with Flume and Moderat then get all arthouse with Aphex Twin and Jenny Hval. What a weekend. KS
WE LOVE GREEN In 2017 it feels kind of baffling that more festivals are not making bigger commitments to environmental concerns, so We Love Green’s whole eco ethos is to be totally admired. Still, it’d fall apart if it was a rubbish lineup and solar-panel lectures. No worries though, the bill is bursting with an eclectic array of our total faves. DR WHEN: JUNE 10TH-11TH. WHERE: PARIS, FRANCE ONLINE: @WeLoveGreen // welovegreen.fr/en GO SEE: A Tribe Called Quest, Perfume Genius, Abra, Solange
WHEN: AUG 11TH-13TH. WHERE: HELSINKI, FINLAND ONLINE: @flowfestival // flowfestival.com GO SEE: Lana Del Rey, Frank Ocean, Angel Olsen, Princess Nokia
FRANK OCEAN LiS 35
ALL THE BEST OF THE REST LONDON EASTERN ELECTRICS
BORDERLESS
WHEN: AUGUST 5TH WHERE: TBA ONLINE: @EElectrics // easternelectrics.com GO SEE: Carl Cox, Áme, Skream
WHEN: MAY 4TH-18TH WHERE: BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE ONLINE: @battersea_arts // bac.org.uk GO SEE: Jodie Abacus, Trim, Melt Yourself Down
RAW POWER FESTIVAL
AFRIRAMPO
WHEN: MAY 26TH-28TH WHERE: THE DOME & BOSTON MUSIC ROOM ONLINE: @rawpowerfest // babayagashut.com GO SEE: Faust, Loop, Afrirampo
JUNCTION 2 WHEN: JUNE 10TH WHERE: BOSTON MANOR PARK ONLINE: @junction_2 // junction2.london GO SEE: Daphni, Daniel Avery, Ben Klock
BUSHSTOCK
SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER
WHEN: JUNE 10TH WHERE: SHEPHERD’S BUSH, VARIOUS VENUES ONLINE: @BushstockFest // bushstock.co.uk GO SEE: Methyl Ethel, The Staves, Basia Bulat
WHEN: JUNE 10TH WHERE: FINSBURY PARK ONLINE: @southportwkndr // southportweekenderfestival.com GO SEE: Jazzie B, LTJ Bukem, Derek Carter
CEREMONY WHEN: SEPTEMBER 30TH WHERE: HAGGERSTON PARK, HACKNEY ONLINE: @ceremonyfest // ceremonyfestival.co.uk GO SEE: OG’z, Jammz, Capo Lee PINEGROVE
SHAKE THE HIGH ROAD
GREEN MAN’S COURTYARD
WHEN: MAY 27TH WHERE: LEYTONSTONE, VARIOUS VENUES ONLINE: @shakehighroad // shakethehighroad.co.uk GO SEE: Woman’s Hour, Dele Sosimi, Wyldest
WHEN: MAY 25TH-29TH WHERE: COURTYARD, KING’S CROSS ONLINE: @courtyardkingsx // courtyard2017.com GO SEE: Pinegrove, Dungen, The Proper Ornaments LiS 36
ALL THE BEST OF THE REST UK EUROPE LATITUDE
ØYA
WHEN: JULY 13TH-16TH WHERE: HENHAM PARK, SOUTHWOLD ONLINE: @LatitudeFest // latitudefestival.com GO SEE: The Radio Dept., Loyle Carner, Jorja Smith
WHEN: AUGUST 8TH-12TH WHERE: TØYENPARKEN, OSLO ONLINE: @oyafestival // oyafestivalen.no/en GO SEE: Angel Olsen, Danny Brown, Lana Del Ray
OUTLOOK WHEN: SEPTEMBER 7TH-10TH WHERE: FORT PUNTA CHRISTO, CROATIA ONLINE: @OutlookFestival // outlookfestival.com GO SEE: Dizzee Rascal, Giggs, Wiley
photo: Victor Frankowski
FARMFEST
PUKKELPOP
WHEN: JULY 28TH-29TH WHERE: GILCOMBE FARM, SOMERSET ONLINE: @Farmfestival // farmfestival.co.uk GO SEE: Shobaleader One, Dizraeli, Oliver Wilde
WHEN: AUGUST 16TH-19TH WHERE: HASSELT, BELGIUM ONLINE: @pukkelpop // pukkelpop.be GO SEE: Stormzy, Cypress Hill, Car Seat Headrest
ARCTANGENT
NOS ALIVE
WHEN: AUGUST 17TH-19TH WHERE: BRISTOL ONLINE: @ATGFestival // arctangent.co.uk GO SEE: Explosions In The Sky, Future Of The Left, Tricot
WHEN: JULY 6TH-8TH WHERE: LISBON, PORTUGAL ONLINE: @NOS_Alive // nosalive.com GO SEE: The Avalanches, The xx, Savages
SUPERSONIC WHEN: JUNE 16TH-18TH WHERE: BIRMINGHAM, VARIOUS VENUES ONLINE: @supersonicfest // supersonicfestival.com GO SEE: Princess Nokia, Pigsx7, Big Joanie
The xx (photo: Alasdair McLellan)
LOVE SAVES THE DAY
POP-KULTUR
WHEN: MAY 27TH-28TH WHERE: EASTVILLE PARK, BRISTOL ONLINE: @LSTDBristol // lovesavestheday.org GO SEE: Mura Masa, Mykki Blanco, NAO
WHEN: AUGUST 23RD-25TH WHERE: BERLIN ONLINE: @popkulturberlin // pop-kultur.berlin GO SEE: Anna Meredith, ABRA, Let’s Eat Grandma LiS 37
ALBUM REVIEWS RECORD OF THE MONTH PERFUME GENIUS NO SHAPE
Matador Records // May 5th
Perfume Genius is a musical project like no other. The first releases are famously intimate, and gentle enough to be sonically comforting, with a distinctive combination of soft vocals, slow-waltz guitars and delicate pianos. However, they also brim with enough hurt and hopelessness to occasionally be overwhelming. Then came 2014’s Too Bright, which was bigger in every sense, bringing more darkness, more marvellously dramatic self-expression through distorted electronic instrumentation, thunderous percussion, and a powerful voice nonetheless quivering with feeling. It may well once have been reasonable to check in on a friend whose Spotify activity showed them to be listening to any of these releases, perhaps by way of a text reading “u ok?”. But now comes No Shape, arriving at a time when its creator has apparently transcended delicacy and timidity altogether, and moved into a new realm; one of presence, of comfort with one’s discomfort, and form (or lack thereof), and transgressive place in the world. The beloved bones of the first releases – the subtle instrumentation, the tenderness, the sweet, lullaby-like melodies and rhythms – they have all survived, as has all the camp flair that made Perfume Genius so dizzying in the first place. Only now it’s more this latter element, and less sadness or pain, that seems to be at the forefront. At this point, the project looks and sounds only like itself, and it’s revelling in it.
photo: Inez & Vinoodh
Consequently, as a work, No Shape is fluid and self-empowered in that magical way that can make realised bodies appear to glow; it’s disjointed, and defiantly, obtusely dramatic, with discordant moments scattered throughout, usually atop or below delightfully textured percussion and warm, clunky bass. All of this makes for an album that is as endearing as it is totally captivating, neither quite human or alien from the first breath to the last – and it’s all contained within its first track, ‘Otherside’. Its soft piano introduction builds into a hum of gentle harmonies and perfect cadences, before bursting into harmonic, choral explosions, which are heard again on the following ‘Slip Away’. With these moments, it’s as though the red curtain is being flung wide to reveal not a stage, but the lights of the entire sparkling universe. Of course, what’s actually appearing in these bursts of sound and energy, as much as in all the tenderness surrounding them, is Mike Hadreas himself; the diminutive body and brilliant, irreverent mind behind one of the most captivating, empowering, deep-feeling, queerest musicians out there. Merlin Jobst STAND OUT TRACKS: Otherside, Slip Away, Wreath, Die 4 You. LIVE: Heaven, June 8th. @perfumegenius
@perfumegeniusofficial
SLOWDIVE
SLOWDIVE Dead Oceans // May 5th
1995’s Pygmalion cemented Slowdive’s reputation as genredefining pioneers, keeping the door open for the wonderfully unrelenting shoegaze movement in their abscence. Now, having reunited for live appearances in 2014, the Berkshire band are poised to release their first full-length in over two decades. With typically quiet confidence, the self-titled album feels as timeless as it does pace-setting, and will undoubtedly satisfy original and new fans alike, thanks to the gorgeous soundscapes which complement Neil Halstead’s effortless knack for songwriting throughout. From lead single ‘Star Roving’, a driving, festival-ready anthem, to its chilling, piano-led finale, which recalls Radiohead’s ‘Daydreaming’, the work is full of dreamy, escapism, yet wholly empowering, uplifting and joyous. And this is the band’s unique ability, an ability which seems to have not only endured, but matured beautifully in the 22-year hiatus. Slowdive are back and they remain the architects of flawless, shoegaze perfection. George O’Brien
HO99O9
FAZERDAZE
UNITED STATES OF HORROR You'd Have Powers May 5th
New Jersey duo Ho99o9's debut album begins with the voice of a child delivering what's intended to be a line from a dystopian parallel universe. Instead, it might as well describe the state of the universe right now: "I pledge allegiance to the burning flag of the United States Of Horror." Sonically, the record matches that nihilistic attitude; 17 tracks worthy of soundtracking the world being engulfed by nuclear mushroom clouds. "We don't take your shit," the pair roar on the stormy 'Knuckle Up', while 'Sub-Zero' is a blistering rampage of chugging punk, Eaddy and theOGM pounding their way through in a blaze of aggression. If this is the last thing we hear before civilisation implodes, at least we'll go out on a high. Rhian Daly
MORNINGSIDE Flying Nun May 5th
It feels apposite that the debut long player from New Zealand's best bedroom dream-pop band is released on the legendary indie label Flying Nun. Following on from their 2014's self titled EP, there's another outing for the sublime ‘Jennifer’, but here it's joined by nine other sun soaked gems from songwriter Amelia Murray. ‘Little Uneasy’ evokes The Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘1979’, but if it were played through a shoegaze effects pedal. Elsewhere there are faint hints of the Pixies and Au Revoir Simone, the former particularly on ‘Take It Slow’, and the latter courtesy of the retro synth sounds of ‘Shoulders’. But whilst it's fair to say that influences are relatively easy to pick out, the overall effect is a brilliantly lazy, hazy listen. Simone Scott Warren LiS 41
GORILLAZ // HUMANZ Parlophone // April 28th
They say animals always know first, but They are wrong. The popstars always know first. When Sufjan gently cooed “We’re all going to die” a couple of years back we mistook it for existential fait accompli, but Sufjy knew that the world was hurtling hard towards meltdown. Damon knew too, but instead of retreating into acoustic soothsaying, he took to the business of making the record we’ll play when red buttons get pressed and we dance precariously on freshly-exposed tectonic plates. So, here’s a thing: compared to The Good, The Bad & The Queen’s smoggy London gloom, the literal elephant songs of solo Damon or the just-being-Blur of Blur, Gorillaz have always felt the least-loved Albarn project. Technically brilliant, thrillingly versatile and boasting a brighter array of stars than any dumb cosmos ever cobbled together – but mostly winning minds not hearts. Will Humanz change that? Mate, Humanz could not give a damn about your rotten heart. It wants your feet. It wants your feet dancing hard in the best club on the planet. Check Kelela and Danny Brown warping pop music to their own inimitable design. Savour Popcaan’s slab of ominous dancehall (‘The sky’s falling, baby, Drop that ass ‘fore it crash’ is presumably not aimed at me). Relish yet another thumping De La Soul/Gorillaz coming-together. Relax momentarily for Damon’s pretty ‘Busted and Blue’, then gather your energy for ridiculous cheeseball closer ‘We Got The Power’, a song so uplifting it won’t really matter that it’s the last thing you’ll ever hear. Humanz is the sound of exhilarating apocalypse, and it’s a total blast. Dave Rowlinson
ALDOUS HARDING // PARTY 4AD // May 19th
It’s been two years since New Zealander Hannah “Aldous” Harding first bewitched listeners with the gothic folk on her eponymous debut. Time certainly hasn’t softened the singer-songwriter’s sharp perspective, for this follow-up is as every bit as quietly provocative and unapologetically intense. Harding’s decision to decamp from Lyttleton to Bristol to record with PJ Harvey-collaborator John Parish proves a particularly inspired move. Sticking to a sparse palette centred around finger-picked acoustic guitar and piano, together they preserve the intimacy that made Harding’s early work so engaging, while sporadically adding detail with the subtlest of embellishments, be that saxophone on ‘Imagining My Man’, Kate Bush-style backing vocals on ‘I’m So Sorry’ or the loose clack of percussion on ‘Blend’. Also significant is the preservation of space between notes, which helps cast eerie shadows across Harding’s brooding tales. If, lyrically, Party feels cryptic it’s because Harding seems focused on conveying emotion rather than constructing a neat narrative. She conjures imagery that’s often seductive, occasionally deeply sinister, and sometimes both simultaneously, as per the lullaby-like title track, where she coos contentedly, “He had me sit like a baby, I looked just 12 with my thumb in his mouth.” But most striking here is the versatility of Harding’s vocals, and whether showcasing a delicate vibrato worthy of Linda Perhacs or channelling a smoky, Billie Holiday-esque croon on ‘What if Birds Aren’t Singing, They’re Screaming’, Harding remains consistently spellbinding. Gemma Samways
(SANDY) ALEX G ROCKET
Domino // May 19th
STEVIE PARKER THE CURE
Virgin / EMI // May 19th
‘If she told you she loves you, I’d hunt her down and have my way....” goes a line from ‘Stay’, one of many heart-wrenching moments on Stevie Parker’s weighty debut album, The Cure. The Bristolian’s first effort catalogues with searing accuracy nearly every aspect of a love doomed to fail. “There’s nowhere to hide not even inside” she confesses on ‘This Ain’t Right’, which describes the world-shattering experience, not just of losing someone, but realising that you might be the person who is letting go. Though the prospect of 12 songs about romantic turmoil might seem overbearing, the album is kept afloat by Jimmy Hogarth’s dynamic production and Parker's vocal, which can jump from the flicker of a candle’s flame to the roar of a forest fire in the space of a breath. This, combined with Parker’s ability to precisely capture the various shades of a relationship breakdown, makes her debut a powerful one. Hassan Anderson
Since bursting onto Philly’s DIY scene, (Sandy) Alex G has been known to make a lot with a little. In his latest effort, Rocket, he takes a new route down music reminiscent of Americana and alt-country, all while keeping his staple minor guitars and dreamy landscapes at hand. However, what really stands out is the utter conflict that lives within this record – both musically and in direction. Its undeniably American quality opens a new window for interpretation lyrically, with songs about ambivalent relationships and turmoil, laden with Southern-sounding brass instruments, but the lack of cohesion throughout makes for a challenging listen. With Rocket, (Sandy) Alex G shows lyrical depth, versatility and musical progress like no other album he’s released – but whether that’s enough is up for debate. Rachel Grace Almeida
FOREST SWORDS COMPASSION
Ninja Tune // May 5th
Merseyside’s Forest Swords is back with his first full length since 2013’s Engravings. His latest output, Compassion, is a cinematic and heavily-textured tour de force that builds layer upon layer before picking parts away; pits dark against light, digital against acoustic and past against future with a smooth and sophisticated ease. Discordant strings accompany bells in ‘Panic’, woodwind reminiscent of bird song is driven by a marching bass drum in ‘Exalter’, and ‘Vandalism’ is a collision of dramatic percussion, an eerie werewolf vocal and ominous brass. An ode to the uncertainty in which we live our day to day, and the importance of curating your own light at the end of the tunnel, Forest Swords amasses complex layers of anxiety whilst retaining a sense of optimism throughout. Compassion is his own benevolent battle cry. Katie Thomas LiS 43
MAC DEMARCO
THIS OLD DOG Captured Tracks // May 5th
In the five years since Vernor Winfield McBriare Smith IV broke out as Mac Demarco on his blistering sophomore album 2, there’s been no shortage of work from the Canadian slacker. After critical darling Salad Days came 2015’s mini LP Another One and the instrumental Some Other Ones. These two latter attempts saw him dialling down the rock and roll urgency of his hooks in favour of an altogether more reflective sound. This Old Dog is the full-length culmination of Mac’s new song-writerly bent, and though it seems he’s put to bed his rabble rousing days, there’s enough beauty on here to class it alongside his very best. Mac channels his inner Paul McCartney throughout, making this his most listenable album yet. Tim Hakki
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS GOTHS
Merge Records // May 19th
The Mountain Goats' 16th record may be about goths, but it sounds nothing like goth. Eschewing guitars entirely, it resembles Lambchop’s FLOTUS or Destroyer’s Kaputt more closely than any of the records it lyrically nods to, but it does reveal that John Darnielle seems to know more about the plight of a middle aged Sisters of Mercy fan than any of his songwriting peers. Aside from the opener ‘Rain in Soho’ – which manages to quote both The Smiths and John’s gospel alongside overbearing piano-led doom – Goths is a wistful but breezy record that has the Goats at their most Later… With Jools friendly, despite consisting of songs called ‘Wear Black’ and ‘Stench of the Unburied’. They remain great, even if this ain’t quite their greatest. Thomas Hannan
EYEDRESS
MANILA ICE Lex Records // May 12th
As Manila Ice, the long-awaited debut album from multiinstrumentalist Eyedress progresses, it becomes very clear it’s a record that could have only been produced against its Filipino backdrop. Whether it’s the frantic urgency of ‘Separation Anxiety’ or the gorgeously wistful ‘Feel Like Giving Up’, each track radiates a stifling claustrophobia that represents offbeat bedroom pop at its darkest. Still, it’s a beautifully hazy listen, hitting its stride in latter stages due to a string of brilliant collaborations with Jasmine, Prefuse 73 and Low Leaf ramping up the experimentation on synth-drenched tracks like ‘Living Room’ and ‘Sticky Green Leaves’. Solo efforts like the dreamy ‘Big Shoes’ are perfectly listenable, but it’s when Eyedress brings his buddies on board that Manila Ice begins to explore more unchartered territory. Lee Wakefield
GIGS OF THE MONTH
Our pick of the best upcoming shows around London
O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
THE GOOD SHIP
JAPANDROIDS + DASHER
HOT COPS + SAD BLOOD + ICE COLD SLUSH + LADY POCKET
May 6th £17adv // @o2sbe
Shepherd’s Bush
May 4th £4adv // @thegoodshipnw6
Kilburn
O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON MARAVEYAS JAPANDROIDS
Angel
THE LEXINGTON
SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS
HAZEL ENGLISH
BETTI May 24th £8adv // @ServantJazz
May 15th £22adv // @O2Islington
Dalston Junction / Kingsland
May 24th £11adv // @thelexington
Angel
THE LOCK TAVERN SHOGUN + MONSTER FLORENCE May 10th FREE // @thelocktavern
Chalk Farm / Camden Town
THE DOME RAW POWER FEST: FAUST + LOOP + AFRIRAMPO + MANY MORE May 26th-28th £60adv // @DomeTufnellPark
Tuffnell Park
THE SHACKLEWELL ARMS GURR May 30th £7adv // @shacklewell Arms
BRIXTON WINDMILL MASS LINES + BROADBAY + GENDER ROLES + FLIRTING + ZILINSKI + BARYONS May 16th £6adv // @WindmillBrixton
HAZEL ENGLISH
Brixton
Dalston Junction / Kingsland
BOSTON MUSIC ROOM SAD13 May 25th £12adv // @BostonMusicRoom
Tuffnell Park
MOTH CLUB
THE WAITING ROOM
KRAUTWERK
HER'S
May 5th £15adv // @Moth_Club
May 31st £6 // @WaitingRoomN16
Hackney Central
HOXTON SQUARE BAR & KITCHEN
Dalston Junction / Kingsland
THE TOOTING TRAM & SOCIAL FAERS
BIRTHH + ECHOPARK + TWO WHITE CRANES May 9th £10adv // @HoxtonSquareBar
Old Street
May 25th FREE // @TootingTram
Tooting Broadway
PICKLE FACTORY
MONTAGUE ARMS
KELLY LEE OWENS
DASHER May 8th Queens Road Peckham / New Cross Gate FREE // @Montague_Arms
May 10th £7.50adv // @PickleFactoryE2
Bethnal Green/ Hoxton
KELLY LEE OWENS
THE 100 CLUB POP WILL EAT ITSELF May 26th £19adv // @100clubLondon
Tottenham Court Road
PAPER DRESS VINTAGE CRUSHED BEAKS + DENA + AMAROUN May 11th £7 // @paperdressed
THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB Hackney Central
BUSH HALL
Farringdon/ Old Street
O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
SEA PINKS May 29th £10adv // @Bushhallmusic
DAUDI MATSIKO May 26th £7.50adv // @slaughteredlam
Shepherd’s Bush SEA PINKS
BADBADNOTGOOD May 31st £18.50 // @O2ForumKTown
Kentish Town
OSLO ALMA + FRANK GAMBLE May 16th £8.50adv // @OsloHackney LiS 49
Hackney Central
wednesday 12 april | 7:00
thursday 27 april | 7:00
thursday 13 april | 7:30
thursday 27 april | 7:30
SWMRS
WEYES BLOOD
FRIDAY 14 April | 7:00
HANNAH LOU CLARK DREAM WIFE
friday 28 april | 7:30
CHURCH OF THE COSMIC HAPPYNESS saturday 29 april | 7:00 SKULL DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL FRIDAY 14 April | 7:00 friday 5 may | 7:00 CRAZY TOWN saturday 15 april | 6:00 SAYWECANFLY friday 5 may | 7:00 BLOOD RED THRONE saturday 15 April | 11:00 DIARY OF DREAMS saturday 6 may | 7:00 GIMME! GIMME! GIMME! (ABBA AFTER MIDNIGHT) PANIC ROOM Wednesday 19 April | 7:30
NICK HAKIM
thursday 20 April | 6:00
saturday 6 may | 7:00
FAYDEE
sunday 7 may | 7:00
HOLY REEFER (FEAT. BOSSK TRADE WIND thursday 11 May | 7:00 SLABDRAGGER & MORE) THE ONE HUNDRED Friday 21 April | 6:00 thursday 11 May | 7:00 NORDJEVEL SHAME Friday 21 April | 7:00 FRiday 12 may | 7:00 AURELIO VOLTAIRE HE IS LEGEND Saturday 22 april | 7:00 SAT 13 + SUN 14 may | 1:00 POSSESSION INCINERATION FEST saturday 22 april | 7:00 wednesday 17 may | 7:00 WHILE SHE SLEEPS HARLEY ‘CRO-MAGS’ sunday 23 april | 7:00 FLANAGAN WHILE SHE SLEEPS tuesday 25 April | 7:00
FRIDAY 19 may | 7:00
wednesday 26 april | 6:45
saturday 20 may | 3:00
SUMAC + OXBOW
INSIDE THE ROPES: STU BENNETT
IN DYNAMICS
FESTIVAL MUSICA ENE
FULL MAY LISTINGS Monday 1st May
Tuesday 2nd May
Wednesday 3rd May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Thursday 4th May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL MAY LISTINGS
Friday 5th May
Saturday 6th May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Sunday 7th May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL MAY LISTINGS Monday 8th May
Tuesday 9th May Wednesday 10th May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Thursday 11th May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL MAY LISTINGS
Friday 12th May
Saturday 13th May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Monday 15th May
Tuesday 16th May
Sunday 14th May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL MAY LISTINGS
Wednesday 17th May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Friday 19th May
Thursday 18th May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL MAY LISTINGS
Saturday 20th May
Sunday 21st May
Monday 22nd May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Tuesday 23rd May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL MAY LISTINGS
Wednesday 24th May
Thursday 25th May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo
Friday 26th May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
FULL MAY LISTINGS Saturday 27th May
Sunday 28th May
Monday 29th May
visit londoninstereo.com for all the latest listings, & to sign up to our Gigs Of The Week email
LONDON TICKETS: WeGotTickets.com/LondonInStereo Tuesday 30th May
Wednesday 31st May
WeGotTickets.com | Simple, honest ticketing
05—17
Lanzarote
MOTH Club Valette St London E8 Wednesday 3 May
EASTER Friday 5 May
HAROLD GROSSKOPF + EBERHARD KRANEMANN Friday 12 May
COSMO SHELDRAKE Wednesday 17 May
EKALI Shacklewell Arms 71 Shacklewell Lane London E8 Saturday 13 May
RENDEZ VOUS Thursday 18 May
THE SHIVAS Monday 29 May
RON GALLO Tuesday 30 May
GURR The Waiting Room 175 Stoke Newington High St N16 Thursday 4 May
WESLEY GONZALEZ
lanzaroteworks.com #lanzaroteworks
presents
Wednesday 10 May
MEADOWLARK Friday 12 May
COLT SILVERS Monday 29 May
SOVIET SOVIET The Lock Tavern 35 Chalk Farm Rd London NW1 Monday 1 May
CHAIN OF FLOWERS Friday 12 May
MNNQNS Friday 19 May
DEAD COAST Saturday 27 May
JUNIORE The Montague Arms 289 Queen’s Rd London SE14 Friday 5 May
GUERILLA POUBELLE Friday 12 May
HUDSON SCOTT Tuesday 23 May
THE MOLOCHS
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK ...by a festival food vendor Illustrations by Liyv (liyv.co) I wake up in a cold damp tent, a bottle of water to my side, sweating from the excessive clothes I wore to bed. I’ve not had enough sleep, my alarm’s been going off for 45 minutes and there’s a heavy-set man in a high-vis jacket bellowing my name... The summer is a blur to me, a roller coaster of highs and lows, trials and tribulations. The romantic notion of running a food truck at festivals is exactly that: a romantic idea and far from the actual truth. I’ll clamber from the tent, wash myself under a cold tap in my boxer shorts and brush my teeth with a bottle of water. Normally getting myself half covered in mud in the process! I’ll head to our stall and clear up the empty beer cans from the night before – drinking is often the only thing that gets you through a relentless 18-hour shift. Turn the gas on, unlock the fridge, get the urn boiling. I’ll make a coffee and count the stock, worrying about running out of bread. I always worry about running out of bread. Before you know it there’s a queue of people at the truck and the hatch is open. We always get slammed at breakfast! The next five hours are a relentless slog with repetitive calls of “need more onion, Gary” “chips” and so on... Some festivals we’re lucky and it quietens down a bit around 3pm. We’ll use this time to make some boozy drinks and send someone on a food run. Our currency at festivals is the great “swapsies”. You can swap for anything you might need: cocktails, beer, cigarettes, food, gas. The list is endless. While the guys do this I’m normally fretting about how much gas we’ve got left, how much cheese we've got, how much bread we've got and, of course, how much booze we’ve got.
I’ll place whatever orders I can for the next day and ask any traders if they’re going “off site” to pick up booze. Fellow traders at festivals become your family for those three months, we spend all our time together, party together, help each other out, lend each other stock, equipment, staff etc, etc. Before you know it there's a 20-strong queue out front and dinner time has hit. I’ll jump back in and help the guys through service, refuelling their drinks as I go, keeping those chips coming as if my life depended on it. We sell pallet-loads of chips to you festival revellers! The hours fly by and before we know it it’s 2am, we’ve got the stereo pumping, drunk customers are dancing out the front and sales are slowing down. We’ll normally try and close around 2am apart from at Glastonbury where we’re basically 24hrs for 5 days. The problem or benefit of working at festivals, depending on how you look at it, is the opportunity to always get distracted on your journey between workplace and bed! It’s all too easy to bump into another trader’s afterwork drinks and stay till 5am. That or finding yourself in a dark tent listening to banging techno till 7am. When I do finally get to my tent, it’s cold and sometimes wet, but always a pleasure to get in to! I wrap up warm and crash out..
LiS 71
PRESENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS by Dave Rowlinson Sometime in the 80s Peter Best turned to his Beatle pals and said “We should probably play ‘Yellow Submarine’ live more often.” Furiously, they turned on him and chucked him out the band. That’s why Zak Starkey became the Beatles’ drummer. Pop fact. Ten years later Art Garfunkel nervously mentioned to Paul Simonon that “the fans really like ‘You Can Call Me Al, Mate’, we should play it tonight.” Paul shrieked in his face “It’s not even your song, Art. It’s. Not. Even. Your. Song,” and that’s why Art’s hair looks how it does and why Chevy Chase is the drummer on Graceland. Again: pop fact. Another pop fact? Bands have exactly zero idea what their best songs are. Clue: it’s probably the ones that bought you your yachts and gold-plated tennis rackets. How we’ve got to 2017 and are still letting musicians choose the songs they want to play live blows my tiny mind. The sooner that acts with more than two albums agree that all set lists are decided by the fans prior to shows, the sooner all gigs will be a minimum of 88% better. No more ‘we’re gonna play the new album, then maybe some old stuff’. Your new album sucks. You suck. Stop sucking and play the hits. Obviously this’ll need to be weighted in favour of fans who were there from the start - you don’t want the come-latelies who only know the hits. You want the people who pretend not to like the hits but whose eyes light-up when that song from the Apple ad kicks in. Those are your purists. Those are the losers you can trust. You can trust me, friends. Thank the myriad deities then for festival season, for the time when your favourite band isn’t sure everyone’s there for them. Terrified of surrendering even a modicum of their opulent lifestyle, they check their Spotify pages and make a pact with the devil to play the top five tracks in return for a new cattle ranch. That’s why Radiohead are contractually obliged* to play ‘Creep’ six times during festival season. Thom and the others ones hate ‘Creep’, but there’s absolutely zero Amnesiac in that top five and rules are rules. As Yorkey starts pretending to be a weirdo we pretend to be nonplussed but our souls fizz because they’re playing a song which isn’t actually good at all but is A Hit. “This one’s from In Rainbows” he’ll then mumble which, of course, is code for ‘Beer? Beer? Beer? Beer? Beer’. Treasure these next few festival months of bands bending to our will and savour the hits. Come October I'll get a Slack group together so we can let Rihanna know in advance that yes, we will need to hear ‘Umbrella’, thank you very much. Dave Rowlinson is Deputy Editor at, erm, London In Stereo, and really wants The Flaming Lips to start playing ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’ again. On Twitter at @dave_rowlinson *possibly not a pop fact.
LiS 73
PRESENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK
PRESENTS
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT MYTICKET.CO.UK
S.J.M. CONCERTS PRESENTS
PLUS GUESTS
PLUS GUESTS
17 MAY / KOKO
19 MAY / O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
PLUS GUESTS
PLUS GUESTS
24 MAY / O2 BRIXTON ACADEMY
01 JUN / ELECTRIC BALLROOM
PLUS GUESTS MYSTERY JETS & IDLES
PLUS GUESTS METHYL ETHEL
SOLD SOLD 29 / 30 OUT JUN & 01 OUT JUL / ALEXANDRA PALACE
16 JUN / O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN
PLUS GUESTS
PLUS GUESTS
22 SEP / HEAVEN
05 OCT / KOKO
PLUS GUESTS
07 OCT / O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
0844 811 0051
PLUS GUESTS
15 NOV / O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN