Field Day is delighted to announce the next set of acts on the 2012 bill. Joining recent additions Mazzy Star, Grimes, Death Grips and Zomby are the legendary electronic duo Modeselektor.
Straight from the UK underground is Blawan, who is sure to set the Bugged Out! stage alight with his lucid electronic and heavily percussive productions; while Sweden’s finest new exponents of woozy, electro-pop, Korallreven, will in contrast be providing a heady mix of what Pitchfork termed, “space-disco-via-pastoral-ambient beauty”. Also confirmed are psychedelic art-pop four-piece Django Django who are set to release their debut self-titled album this month and classically-trained keytarist from Echo Park Julia Holter, who will be performing her witty, surreal and at times off-kilter songs with the minimal instrumentation and crystalline vocals style for which she’s fast becoming known.
Ever the musical chameleon, Devonté Hynes – formerly of Testicicles and Lightspeed Champion fame – will be appearing at Field Day as his latest incarnation, Blood Orange - a sexed up, groove infused chapter; Elsewhere, Glasgow-based artist, Koreless will be following in the footsteps of fellow progressive dubstep artists and Field Day alumni James Blake and Mount Kimbie, with his unique combination of two-step and take on 80s ambient in the vein of Talk Talk; while newcomer Kindness will be taking the sound of the 80s NYC disco scene and creating minimalist dance grooves like Ariel Pink or Washed Out before him.
After a decade of making music together, Brooklyn based experimental post-punk group Liars are still pushing boundaries exploring new sounds. Reminiscent of the late 70s/early 80s bands that added danceable rhythms to punk music, expect plenty of synthetic keypads and interspersed prearranged compositions along with angular yet melodic vocals. Also coming from Brooklyn are girl-fronted outfit Friends. The quintet's self-described "weird pop" and mid set instrument swapping have caused a stir in their native NYC, and with a place on the long-list of the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll, they are certainly making ripples over in the UK too.
DJ sets are being left in the safe hands of BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and ATP/Sterolab regular Justin Spear who is best known for his taking listeners on a journey through film soundtracks, cult, French pop and other obscure sounds on his slot University of Strange on BBC 6Music’s Freak Zone. Recently chosen by Andy Weatherall in Time Out’s Top DJ tips for 2012, Fabric resident and Bugged Out! and Durrr regular Daniel Avery (AKA stopmakingme) joins the burgeoning list of top DJs at Field Day this year with his mixture of mutant new wave, unwashed electro and pulsing techno.
Also confirmed to be taking part in Field Day 2012 are independent record label Double Denim, who will be presenting various acts across the day. Formed by Jack Thomas and Hari Ashurst at the end of summer 2010, Double Denim originally started as a blog whose aim was to unearth only the newest, undiscovered talent - an online pursuit that morphed into a much more rewarding physical one, with their first releases including tracks from an exciting and mysterious trio of Stay +, Outfit and Zulu Winter, three artists that are attracting praise from the likes of The Guardian, Pitchfork, Zane Lowe, NME, Huw Stephens, and many more. With the announcement of solo artist and comic Amateur Best for their tenth release, Double Denim looks set to continue their chameleon-like journey through the echo chamber of new music.
Entering into its sixth year, Field Day will be returning to Victoria Park with its unique formula of pioneering line up coupled with village fete mentality, all in the heart of east London. Due to the London 2012 Olympics, Field Day will now take place over the Diamond Jubilee June Bank Holiday weekend on Saturday 2nd June.
Hosted by forward-thinking promoters Eat Your Own Ears, Bugged Out!, Bleed and Lanzarote, Field Day is a festival that has become synonymous with imaginative and progressive bills and 2012 is certainly shaping up to be no exception to this rule.
Promoter Tom Baker of Eat Your Own Ears says: "I’m really excited about the line-up for Field Day 2012. It’s been something of a challenge after last year’s was so strong but with Franz Ferdinand closing the Eat Your Own Ears stage and with acts like Tortoise playing I’m hoping it will be just as good! As ever it’s hugely exciting to welcome acts from further afield; I’m particularly delighted to announce Afrocubism featuring Toumani and some incredible Cuban musicians – they’re going to blow people’s minds!"
As with years gone by, Field Day will be providing ample entertainment for those looking for respite from the music in the Village Mentality area on The Village Green. Expect traditional side stalls inspired by country pastimes and weird and wonderful fete games such as Blindfold Sweetcorn Husking Championship, Scone Throwing, Vegetable Discus and Human Wheelbarrow.
Published on 24 January 2012 by Ben Robinson
