Liverpool Sound City have announced its first acts for this years festival. They include THE WALKMEN / REVEREND AND THE MAKERS / TOY / EGYPTIAN HIP HOP / MURKAGE / CHAPEL CLUB / FOSSIL COLLECTIVE / THE 1975 / HAWK EYES / SWIM DEEP / THE FAMILY RAIN
Sound City returns to Liverpool in May showcasing the best in emerging and acclaimed talent from across the globe. Now officially the first new music festival in the UK cultural calendar, Sound City is the first opportunity to catch the world's most exciting new talent, up close and personal, in one place before they hit the summer festival circuit. Last year saw early performances from the likes of Mercury Music Prize winners Alt-J, Jake Bugg and Django Django before the bands released critically acclaimed albums later in the year. With over 350 bands appearing in over 25 venues across 3 days, the festival is an exhilarating snapshot of all that is vital in music right now. Sound City also boasts a renowned, 3 day international, music, media and technology conference and is focused on bringing the best new music, film, art and more to Liverpool for three days of cultural discovery.
The Walkmen are the New York band of their generation and have recently released their sixth studio album 'Heaven'. Making the best music of their career and playing their biggest venues to date, the band have made the transition from brash, messy beginnings to full blown maturity. This is a rare chance to see them in more intimate surroundings.
Sheffield's Reverend and the Makers bring their unique brand of rock, electro pop and funk and Sound City are thrilled to confirm a performance from Toy, one of the most exciting bands in the country. This psychedelic rock band delivered an exceptional eponymous debut album last year which received huge critical acclaim and this will be a packed and sweaty gig for the band.
Egyptian Hip Hop recently released their debut album 'Good Don't Sleep' a record full of wonky pop whilst Murkage's raw electronic sound is built from spending the nearly a decade putting on some of the best parties Manchester has ever seen. Part rap, part punk, part rave Murkage put on an incendiary live show. Chapel Club's post-punk is steeped in romance and brooding melancholia.
Acclaimed for showcasing the best in innovative new music and giving and platform to new talent Sound City are proud to present shows from Fossil Collective, a two-piece from Leeds who excel in exquisitely structured songs and glorious, rich harmonies and The 1975, all swinging hooks, lustful sleazy charm and glorious electronic indie pop. Emerging Leeds rock act, Hawk Eyes perform as do Midlands act Swim Deep who were in all the end of year 'One's To Watch' polls. The Family Rain are definitely a band to catch, three brothers who's fuzzed up blues guitar and scorched vocals have a distinctly late 60s feel.
The Sound City conference provides valuable insights into the entertainment industry and the first two Q and A's to be announced feature artists who have a wealth of experience to share with festival goers.
Tracey Thorn's music career spans three decades and takes in the defining genres of recent decades: post-punk, indie, pop, trip hop and dance. In the late 1970's, Tracey co-founded the Marine Girls, whose two albums became cult classics and then at university she met Ben Watt and formed Everything But The Girl. Her newly published autobiography, 'Bedsit Disco Queen' is an honest, moving, perceptive and funny memoir about a very special career and a fascinating era. She will be in-conversation with DJ / writer Dave Haslam
The Wombats have been Liverpool's biggest music export of the last decade, a band that achieved almost overnight success, had a platinum selling debut album and played to well over a million people in a non–stop, two year touring period including sell out, 10,000 capacity shows in their home town. This inevitably took its toll on the band and it took them some time to rediscover their mojo and make a new record. This Q and A is with lead singer and guitarist Murph and the bands manager Simon Bobbet who has been with them since the beginning. It offers a candid insight into the last decade and how the unique relationship between and band and its manager is crucial to ensure artists survive and thrive.
As part of Sound City film offer the festival is collaborating with the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology on the art of pop video, giving young film directors in the North West that chance to produce the next video for emerging local act Outfit. Full brief and details for the competition are available from www.fact.co.uk
Acclaimed for its bold and innovative programming and forward thinking conference, Liverpool Sound City is focused on the future, intent on bringing the best new music, film, art and more from all over the world to Liverpool.
Liverpool Sound City brings established acts to intimate venues and introduces you to tomorrow's headliners today. With hundreds more bands, pop culture initiatives and a conference programme to be unveiled, Liverpool Sound City is the UK's premier cultural happening.
MANY MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY
Published on 18 January 2013 by Ben Robinson
