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Preview: Community Festival 2018


One of our favourite London festies is back for another year this July in Finsbury Park. Organised by Festival Republic, Community Festival is a recently new venture but the all-day rock and indie festival has proved to be popular in its inaugural year and is back in 2018 for another rendezvous. 

This year's line-up features mighty headliners Two Door Cinema Club at the top of the line-up and they are certainly a band not to miss. Inspired by Foals and The Maccabees, the Irish trio will bring their bouncing alt-pop tunes to Finsbury Park this July and you bet the crowd will go wild for it.


The Vaccines will also make an appearance on the main stage, fresh off the back of releasing their impressive fourth album 'Combat Sports'. Recent years have seen band line-up changes and an experimentation with their sound but 'Combat Sports' sees them take it back to basics and just have fun being in a band. Expect heavy guitars, catchy hooks and breathless excitement when The Vaccines take to the stage. 

Having amassed a faithful fan base in recent years, indie giants Circa Waves are the go to band for frenzied live shows and a good time. Their debut album 'Young Chasers' and last year's follow up 'Different Creatures' offers a steady back catalogue of hits for the crowd to chant back at them. Don't miss out on catching them at this year's Community. 



As well as the strong main stage line-up, the festival has a second performance area called the N4 Stage. With an aim of showcasing new music and supporting upcoming artists, both stages bring together people who love creating and listening to new music and that's what the whole festival is about. 

This summer you can catch Ten Tonnes, real name Ethan Barnett, on the N4 Stage. The younger brother of chart topper George Ezra, Ethan has just as much talent and credibility as his elder sibling in his own right. With his name lingering on the lips of tastemakers for quite some time, Barnett is selling out shows all over the place. He has also previously worked with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and The Maccabees' Hugo White. Expect all-embracing anthems and heavy doses of charm when Ten Tonnes steps up to the stage this year.


Tickets are available for Community Festival 2018 now.

Words Lauren Wade

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PREMIERE: Pop newcomer LENN debuts with 'I Know How'


Bristol-based pop newcomer LENN spent her childhood like a lot of us, wishing she could sing, until puberty came along and granted that wish. Fast forward a few years or so and LENN is now releasing her debut single, 'I Know How'.

Following a short stint living in Brighton, LENN took her passion for music further after 'a stranger communicated an ambiguous prophecy and a series of seemingly foretold events unfolded, resulting in a move to Bristol.'

'I Know How' brims with sass and confidence in equal measures. LENN's powerful vocals do a lot of the leg work but the polished production and pulsing beats plucks attention too. 

In the same vein as Jessie Ware, LENN's melodies are modern and infectious and 'I Know How' provides a devilishly promising introduction to this exciting new talent.



Words Lauren Wade

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LIVE REVIEW // Peace @ O2 Brixton Academy 09.10.15

WITH it being the last tour before recording their eagerly-anticipated third album, Birmingham four-piece Peace pulled out all the stops when they swung by the iconic O2 Brixton Academy in London. 

 Opening with the massive tune that is 'O You' from their impressive second album, Peace took to the stage with a particular hint of force and charm reminiscent of Foals in their early days (and look at them now). The band's love for all things 80s and 90s is reflected in the lyrics as frontman Harry Koisser sings "The 80s were better, I have no doubt." This revivalism is a theme that not only runs throughout their hit albums, but though the whole gig itself. One look at the crowd, who looked as if they were attending Oasis' 1996 Knebworth gig, will tell you that. 

The set is a mixture of old stuff and tracks from their latest album 'Happy People'. Particular highlights include the slower-paced 'Someday' in which raw emotions are out in full force and the crowd sway back and forth as Koisser croons over the ballad. 

However, it's when the band dig out fan favourites 'California Daze' and 'Lovesick' that the roof of the iconic South London venue is fully raised. The band don't even need to sing the words as the lyrics to the track are sung back to them in all their glory anyway. 

 Peace choose to close the gig with the punchy thrills of 'World Pleasure' that did not disappoint. It's hard to deny that Peace are one of the best live bands around at the moment and seeing them live is an experience you will not forget and want to re-live over and over again. 
Time and time again Peace have proved that they're capable of achieving many different sounds to keep fans on their feet with excitement and anticipation for what's next. But that's part of the fun with this band, you never truly know what to expect from them as they're constantly pulling something new out of the bag to surprise fans with. It's clear to see that the buzz around the Birmingham band will only continue to grow in the years that are to follow and if rumours of their third album are correct, 2016 will certainly be an exciting year for fans old and new alike. 
Words Lauren Wade

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Arcade Fire cover Back to the Future song 'Back in Time'

Arcade Fire Cover Huey Lewis' Back to the Future Song As a band becoming well-known on an increasing basis for their frequent covers at gigs, Arcade Fire have done it once again, this time in Edmonton, Alberta on Monday night covering Huey Lewis and the News' 'Back in Time' as featured in 1985's 'Back to the Future'. 


Switching lead vocalist duties to Will Butler, they were handed over again to brother Win as the cover transitioned into the band's own hit 'Here Comes the Night Time'. Since the cover was performed, it has come to light that the song was performed in tribute to 'Back to the Future' star Michael J. Fox who was born in Edmonton. 

 Words Lauren Wade

Watch the cover below:





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Cheerleader

cheerleadersounds’s avatarDescribing themselves as "Hazy electro-pop" this quintet from Philadelphia have labelled themselves accurately. With influences ranging from the Beach Boys and Pixies to the likes of Otis Redding, Philly five-piece Cheerleader started making music in the bedroom of their band members but now they've taken things further afield with a series of impressive and captivating demos.
The crisp production on tracks such as 'Do What You Want' and 'New Daze' allows vocals to flutter and warming melodies to caress ears of listeners. The twinkling chorus on the latter track is rich and layered which aids the epically delicious nature of the tunes that they exist in.
Propelled by ambition, 2014 is set to be an exciting and formative year for Cheerleader. With a forthcoming slot at this year's annual SXSW held in Austin, Texas, the level of success facing Cheerleader could soon change this spring so keep an eye out for them.

Words Lauren Wade



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Temples 'Sun Structures'

Kettering neo-psychedelic four-piece Temples have been on the rise over the past year, now it's their time to unleash the full effect of their glittering, revamped psych vibes on a long-awaiting public. The revivalists debut 'Sun Structures' glitters in a blurred distortion that crawls under your skin, allowing Temples to euphorically take their sound to the next level.
Familiar and previous hits such as 'Colours To Life' and 'Shelter Song' make an appearance on this satisfyingly divine debut. The former being a hypnotic masterpiece that shimmies along as James Bagshaw's blissed out vocals injects dreamy additional layers. Elsewhere, the heavenly 'Mesmerise' is a moment in which Temples' modern rejuvenation of psych sounds comparable to material from The Horrors' 2011 album 'Skying'.
With a fondness for reverb and backwards guitar that serves them well, Temples have gone nuclear as proven by tracks such as 'The Golden Throne' and 'Move With The Season'. Their fondness and familiarity is one that elevates both tracks' retro sounds and has earned themselves a sizeable fanbase in the process.
Title-track 'Sun Structures' conjures a sound that achieves maximum intensity with an unwavering brilliance that drips in psychedelia. It is a psych-inflected gem with acid-soaked riffs - showing there is more to Temples than just mere hype and praise laid on thick by the likes of Oasis legend Noel Gallagher; they have elongated longevity.
Meanwhile, the psych strut of 'Sand Dance' doesn't quite reach Tame Impala standards but it comes reasonably close, Bagshaw's vocals also sound remarkably similar to T-Rex at times, giving the sound of the past a new lease of life. 'Sun Structures' proves itself to be one of the band's greatest moments to date and it is perfectly clear that psychedelia has re-flowered and produced this heavenly band, the finest of the fine with a debut that serves as a timely reminder of their rad nature. Expect more noise.

Words Lauren Wade

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Wolf Alice sign to Dirty Hit

London four-piece, Wolf Alice have been snapped up and signed by the remarkable Dirty Hit. The label are also responsible for the likes of Fossil Collective, Little Comets and The 1975. Fronted by Ellie Rowsell, the Camden-hailing foursome are set to release their highly-anticipated debut album on the label later this year.

A statement from the label read: "We're absolutely thrilled to announce we will be working with Wolf Alice in 2014. We're huge fans of the band and are very excited to be releasing their debut album through Dirty Hit."
You can catch Wolf Alice on their forthcoming UK tour this May:
01 - King Tut's, Glasgow
02 - Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool
03 - Live at Leeds, Leeds
04 - Sunday Live, Stockton
05 - Fruit, Hull
06 - Leadmill 2, Sheffield
07 - Think Tank, Newcastle
08 - The Duchess, York
12 - Institute Temple, Birmingham
13 - O2 Academy2, Oxford
14 - Portland Arms, Cambridge
15 - Esquires, Bedford
16 - Boileroom, Guildford
17 - Cookie Jar, Leicester
18 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
20 - The Haunt, Brighton
21 - 53 Degrees, Preston
22 - Sugarmill, Stoke
27 - Crauford Arms 2, Milton Keynes
28 - Scala, London

Words Lauren Wade



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Burning Beaches

London four-piece Burning Beaches are a group whose rock sleaze has already caught the attention of Noel Fielding and Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell, but now they're on their way to bigger and brighter things. Their tracks, that have been played on Absolute Radio, are wilder than anything we've heard before. Thought Drenge were hardcore? Think again.

Burning Beaches create sharp and violent blues-rock with a sinister twist and the bass is to die for. This grungy foursome don't do things by halves and there is more to them than merely hype so get yourself hooked and you'll never look back. Of course, their wonderful noise-encrusted sound shouldn't come as a surprise; hailing from the musical hotbed of Camden has some advantages, which are clearly at work here.
The abrasive roars of 'Sink Or Swim' leaves you wondering where this band have been all your life, whilst the injection of sleaze and venom on 'Marilyn' is an epic jam that keeps on giving and manages to tip them into the big leagues. Everything will now be measured against these early, formative releases - but we just know they will continue to get bigger and better with age. Need some more assurance of their feel-good vibes? The swelling riffs and throbbing guitar of 'Wo'man' will do it for you if nothing else. What are you waiting for? Get Burning Beaches in your life.

 Words Lauren Wade

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Bombay Bicycle Club 'Luna'

LunaLondon four-piece Bombay Bicycle Club are en route to following in the footsteps of Foals, whose third album 'Holy Fire' turned out to be a game-changer not just for themselves but for their fans too. Now, Crouch End's finest are back with the second single 'Luna' from their fourth album 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' in which they display bright, shimmering choruses of untold potential and sun-bleached beats that will undoubtedly set hearts a-flutter.
Bombay Bicycle Club’s avatarThey may be gearing up to take their sound to bigger stages this year, but Bombay Bicycle Club are a group who haven't forgotten their roots. Comparisons to 2011's 'A Different Kind of Fix' are still easily identifiable. Although, these masters of festival-friendly anthems mesh well the sounds of the past with those of the future.
With other tracks 'Carry Me' and 'It's Alright Now' from their forthcoming fourth album already out there, Bombay Bicycle Club are once again setting their own limits and refusing to compromise. 'Luna' is a swirling slice of what's to come when their new album drops and it might just be their greatest moment to date.

 Words Lauren Wade
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All We Are

All We Are’s avatarDescribing themselves as "Bee Gees on diazepam", Liverpool trio All We Are come complete with drowsy, sun-bleached melodies that survives on nothing but bare ambition. Having supported Everything Everything and Warpaint in the past, the group signed to Double Six/Domino take their influences from Metronomy, Outkast and Radiohead to name but a few.
Last year's debut from the northern three-piece 'Utmost Good' is the blueprint for All We Are's entire philosophy wrapped up in a sub-four minute track and we're buying into it. Already they have set seriously impressive standards to live up to after their quasi-psychedelic debut hit the airwaves but it's not enough; we want more from them.

 With occasional searching and yearning moments at the forefront of their sound, this taste of what to expect has got us seriously craving another hit of their intoxicating beats. Just like Warpaint, they swoon like the sound of love itself and we'll be keeping a close eye on them. Psychedelia has re-flowered and produced All We Are and for this we are thankful.

 Words Lauren Wade
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Best Friends

Hailing from Sheffield, garage surf-pop four-piece Best Friends have already marked themselves out for greatness in 2014. It appears the musical hotbed of Sheffield has spat out another fantastic home-grown talent in the form of this group, who are influenced by the likes of The Beach Boys, Black Lips, Phil Spector and The Ramones.  

Since their formation in early 2011, they have played shows across the country with Django Django and Cults. Now we're enjoying the fruits of their labour on a much wider scale, whilst expecting them to achieve nationwide success if they keep it up.
Asserting their hit potential from the opening bars of 'Happy Anniversary' which upon initial listening sounds similar to Peace's 'California Daze', Best Friends have set their own musical bar remarkably high. The clatter of sunshine-soaked melodies and fuzzy, reverb heavy guitars are illegally good and their tune 'Nosebleeds' is another that will get people talking.

'Nosebleeds' is also one that appears effortlessly chilled, whilst allowing the epic instrumentation to blow minds. Best Friends cause ripples of delights as pure magic unfolds and spreads across the surface with every new release.
With Best Friends there is plenty to celebrate; why not take a leaf out of their book and party hard to their tracks. We're buying into it and you should too.

Words Lauren Wade

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Drowners

Named after Suede's debut single, New York four-piece Drowners are set to grab 2014 by the balls with their unique sound that defies category. 
With tracks that swoon like the sound of love itself, New York's best kept secret are set to release their debut self-titled album later this month and what an album that will be.
Describing themselves as "melodic post-punk influenced guitar music", their lyrical inspiration can be sourced back to actual situations that have happened - comparable to an early Arctic Monkeys circa 2006. 
Whilst they sound undeniably huge and barely miss a beat, the four lads met at a bar and Drowners was born shortly after realising they have common ground in the form of music.
Since then, Drowners have gone on to support Arctic Monkeys during recent US tour dates. Word has finally spread across to the other side of the Atlantic and now us Brits are going gaga for the thrill of Drowners.
Drowners
Until their album release, we're a little short on material although 'Luv, Hold Me Down' and 'Long Hair' both provide excellent listening. They may be a pretty big deal in their own right, but tracks such as these sound as if a healthy dose of
The Smiths blended with The Strokes has been injected. This does not come as a surprise when you take into account their New York roots. Frontman Matt Hitt's all-time favourite band is The Smiths too. If you like what you hear, be sure to give them some love and expect more noise from Drowners throughout 2014.

Words Lauren Wade

 
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