Reading and Leeds 2013

You may have been enjoying the unexpected warm weather, Pimms and lemonade on hand while the bloke on the radio starts rattling off a bunch of bands that are playing in the middle of a field this summer.

But after Brand New’s untimely and soul-destroying cancellation of their European tour dates, including their appearance at Reading and Leeds this year, just who is worth dusting off the mud-coated wellys for?

Headliners
Biffy Clyro

Their sixth studio album Opposites split the critics after reaching great heights as ‘The biggest rock band in the world right now,’ to crashing back down with a host of lukewarm reviews (with The Independent even going as far as stating if there was a God, he would have pushed them off a cliff by now).

Whatever your opinion, they’ll at least bring a touch of Scottish chaos to the Main Stage.

Eminem

Better suited to Glastonbury or V Festival; Eminem surprised a few by popping up on top of the line-up this year.
Working with Doctor Dre on his eighth studio album, which remains untitled, it’s release date is expected for late 2013.

Love him or loathe him – he’s here now

Green Day

Fresh outta rehab, Billie Joe Armstrong will lead his North Californian trio out on to the Main Stage to remind the masses why they’re still knocking about.

 

Propping up the Main Stage

System of a Down 

How SOAD don’t top the bill this year is beyond me. A wonderful cocktail mix of thrash metal, alternative rock and the unbelievably talented Serj Tankian behind the microphone forms their unique sound.

Not to be missed.

Chase and Status 

Playing understudy to Eminem – the two piece set-up of Saul Mitton and Will Kennard will have a point to prove.

There was once a time when you couldn’t have a night out without hearing a few C+S tracks – their set will remind you why.

Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor’s gift to the world has earned the group worldwide recognisability.

Another one to ponder why they haven’t been granted top-spot, make sure you catch their rare UK appearance.

Frank Turner

The nation’s favourite acoustic guitar player returns to the festival he has played numerous times. Helped along the way by his backing band, The Sleepless Souls, expect the one-time punk artist to draw his usual large following.

Over on the Radio 1/NME Stage…

Haim

This all girl three piece has whipped the music industry into a storm after droning comparisons to Fleetwood Mac.

Catch their set to see if they’re worth the hype.

 

 

Wavves

A personal favourite of mine and an amateur musician’s inspiration.

Nathan Williams started out with a typically hectic schedule – two albums crammed into just a month. Yet due to his equipment rig consisting of a Tascam Cassette Recorder and cheap ‘Garage Band’ computer software, his entire catalogue consisted of songs recorded with every input rammed up to 10.

Yet instead of scramming the fuzzy, mangled material – he embraced the overdriven sound and became ‘Wavves.’ A class act not to be missed.

Jake Bugg

 

‘HE’S THE NEXT BOB DYLAN.’ The cheeky 19 year old draws a lot of praise after the unbelievable success of his debut album. Just how good can this teenager from Nottingham be? Pretty good to be honest.

 

 

 

Peace, Palma Violets and Partquet courts – This tri are backed by NME as the ‘Future of British Music’ and you won’t find a review here arguing against this.

Peace exploded onto the scene, gaining huge attention after releasing their first album ‘In Love’ last year. Since then they have been nominated for the BBC’s ‘Sound of 2013’ poll (along with Palma Violets,) had a top 100 single and performed on the NME Awards Tour 2013.

Similar hype surrounds Palma Violets after NME awarded ‘Song of the Year’ to debut single ‘Best of Friends’ and also handed them their ‘Best new Band’ award last year. Reported to have formed around a campfire at Reading Festival, what better reason to see them where it all began?Parquet Courts

Their debut album ‘Light up Gold’ has been described as ‘one of the best debut album’s you’ll hear all year.’ Check out their master class in the attitude of ‘It’s not about the songs, it’s the delivery.’ 

 

Lock up/Rock Stage

Enter Shikari Sound System 

The nation’s favourite music genre abusers are back to blow out your eardrums, but with a DJ set twist. Making their world debut as ESSS, they headline the Lock up stage.

It’ll be their sixth time at the festival in the last eight years, albeit this summer with a spicy new twist; ‘’Expect re-worked Enter Shikari tracks along with class remixes and new surprises.’’ Sounds tasty.

 

The Virginmarys
I wouldn’t close their feature without special mention for the band that started from my hometown. The Virginmarys have risen from slumming it out at pokey little pub gigs in Macclesfield to nationwide festivals at an alarming pace. Since playing Download Festival in 2010 they haven’t looked back. Embarking on numerous support tours for Eagles of Death Metal, Feeder, Ash and even Slash – with a headline tour slotted in the between. Debut album King of Conflict hit the shelves February this year.

Reading and Leeds Festival runs from 23-25 August and tickets are still on sale

The top 5 favourite albums that 2012 threw at us

2012 was a fantastic year for music as we saw The Rolling Stones embark on a 50^th anniversary tour, Dave Grohl and Krist Noveselic play together for the first time since their iconic frontman passed and the first music video to hit over 1 billion views on YouTube. Here’s Entertainment Yesterday’s pick of the best albums from the last 12 months.

It’s the prize they’re all after; Entertainment Yesterdays ‘Band of the Year’

Billy Talent – Dead Silence
When’s the best time to embark on a full UK tour I hear you ask? Immediately after releasing your forth and musical style defining album of course.

Dead Silence set the marker down as the 4 piece from Toronto set to the recording studio with the motivation of ‘Let’s just say what we think.’ It’s clear their music has taken a distinctive shift but regular harmonies, grungy bass lines and upbeat ‘bounce off the walls’ rhythms throughout ensured it to be a true success. A perfect 14 track example of how the punk band has evolved since its first rehearsal two decades ago, it had to make the list.

Recommended for the first listen: Viking Death March, Surprise Surprise, Man Alive!

Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour 
Whatever I can say about these lads will either a) not do them justice b) bore you or c) have been said a thousand times before.

True believers in ‘doing it your own way,’ you’d think creating your own musical genre would be enough for the post-hardcore band from St.Albans. But in 2012 they have gone from strength to strength; releasing A Flash Flood of Colour mid-January, they won ‘Best Act at Reading and Leeds Festival’ by user’s poll and have received numerous rewards such as The Independent Album of the Year and Best Album and Best Live Band by Kerrang! magazine. 2013 will unfortunately see them take a step back and ease up on the constant touring to ultimately work on new material, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to tell them to do anything differently.

Recommended for the first listen:  Warm Smile Do Not Make You Welcome Here, Hello Tyrannosaurus Meet Tyrannicide, Snakepit

Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten
Frontman Brian Fallon announced that the band’s next record will sound closer to their breakthrough record, The ’59 Sound, rather than widely criticised American Slang.

Hitting top spot on the UK Rock Albums Chart, Handwritten answered all the band’s critics and earned widespread praise. I’d love to meet the girl who inspired this one, as Brian really finds his voice to devastatingly effect. Intense and stripped of humour, if nothing else Brian is a hard romantic and exploits this to full effect in this award winning hit. It’s almost an offense to hear the record through anything but vinyl, just to hear the crackle of the needle, but I suppose Brian’s grainy lyric are an ample substitute.
Recommended for the first listen: 45, Handwritten, Howl

Jack White – Blunderbuss
2012 saw the brains, motivation and talent behind The White Stripes take the plunge on a solo project.

Jack White’s Blunderbuss peaked at top spot in the UK, US, Belgium, Canadian and Swiss as his new, distinctive blue lightning bolt became recognisable worldwide. The white Herring of garage rock Sixteen Saltines aside, Jack’s transition to a new genre is carried out so skilfully, you don’t notice how wonderfully odd Blunderbuss is until reaching the mid-way point of the album. A constant 45 minute struggle which perfectly represents Jack’s career; standing out from the crowd, completely different to what we expected, this is Jack at his most bizarre – and therefore at his best.
Recommended for the first listen: Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy, Freedom at 21, I’m Shakin’

The Menzingers – On the impossible past
You know that small handful of bands that make you want to kick the ceiling with both feet? Make sure to add The Menzingers to that list.

2012 marked the release date of their third (and most impressive) album On the Impossible Past, following their Mid 2011 signing to Epitaph Records. Founder Brett Gurewitz, guitarist of Bad Religion, said: ‘’These guys play the kind of pure punk rock that I grew up with. They are seriously talented songwriters and I’m happy to welcome them to the Epitagh family. I think the band is a great fit here.’’
The 42 minute duration allows for some curious punk experimentation with spoken word verse delivery and loud, bounce off the walls, awkward tempo tracks to keep you on your toes.
Recommended for the first listen: Good Things, The Obituaries, Ava House