Dot to Dot Festival: 5 Bands You Have To See

Dot to Dot Festival celebrates their 10th anniversary this year. The festival has been the home to some of musics (Independent and Popular) biggest artists including The 1975, Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg.

The one day festival begins in Manchester (22nd May), then moves to Bristol (23rd May) and ends in Nottingham (24th May). 

The lineup includes Swim Deep, Rae Morris, Fat White Family and many other small bands. You best have your running shoes on as the festival takes place across many different venues across the day. (Please note that some of the acts take place in venues that are for +18 only) 

Here are 5 Bands You Have To See At Dot to Dot:

1) Fat White Family 

If you have never witnessed the madness that is Fat White Family live, then you have never lived. Often known for crowd surfing, aggressive mosh pitting and brilliant live music, Fat White Family are one of THE best current bands to see live. Seeing them in a small venue is a god sent, allowing you to connect more with the utter madness that they create. It is hard to suggest a band that is similar to Fat White Family's live performances...think sex pistols but x10 more pure demonic anger a.k.a utter brilliance. 

2) Swim Deep

Who needs illegal highs when you can just watch Swim Deep perform for an hour? Following their newest single, Swim Deep join the lineup for Dot to Dot. Swim Deep bring along a magical, psychedelic vibe that make them one of the bands you have to see at the festival. Expect to see a sea of Dr Martens and floral shirts at this gig. 

3) The Wytches

After the success of their debut album 'Annabel Dream Reader', The Wytches are quickly becoming a very popular band. The band have a very mysterious sound, one you can't put your finger on. This band is a band you must see live in a small venue, just to soak up the brilliant guitar riffs and vocals from the band.

4)Nothing but Thieves 

Nothing but Thieves join Dot to Dot as a new band on the music scene. One of their most famous songs to date 'Ban All The Music' is a song that would get you shouting along to almost instantly. This band is a must for fans of Muse. 

5) The Watchmakers

The Manchester band sound a mixture between Temples and Oasis. A sound that you don't usually come across makes this band one to watch! You can catch them in the more smaller venues of the festival. Their psychedelic take on modern day rock and roll will get every person moving along to the brilliant sound they make. 

Dot to Dot Festival 22nd May - 24th May 

Tickets are still avaliable for just £27.50 at http://www.alt-tickets.co.uk/dot-to-dot-festival-tickets

http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/

Full Lineup is as follows:

Introducing...Paul Orwell

Paul Orwell

Bringing back the traditional 60's sounds, Paul Orwell is no ordinary modern day musician. For fans of Miles Kane and Temples, Paul projects himself into a music industry that is missing that sparkle of 60's magic (see The Kinks). With the quick fire interview get everything you need to know on the rising musician. 

How would you describe your music?

Sinister, Sixties, Moody Mod. 

Who have been your musical influences?

The Beatles (ofc), music from the British Invasion & rare Freakbeat gems

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

5 years older or Dead. 

Where do you stand on the vinyl/digital download argument?

All my release are vinyl only, unless it's free downloads.

Why should people buy your music?

Good question, I enjoy making it so good people should enjoy buying it. 

'Tell Me Tell Me' by Paul Orwell 

@PAULORWELLMUSIC

FLYYING COLOURS INTERVIEW

Australian alt rockers, FLYYING COLOURS, are set to release their newest EP. I grabbed a few questions from the band before they set off on their world tour about influences, the debut album and wether shoegaze is coming back into the musical scene.

What are your musical influences?

Aside from our obvious influences we all listen to anything and everything. When it comes to writing, creating guitar sounds, the way the records are mixed etc shoegaze is what I love most, which is probably why that is what comes out.

How would you sum up the new EP in 3 words?

coming, out, soon

and then everyone can work that out for us.

Why should people buy your new EP?

If people like it they should buy it if they want to. I particularly like the cover. It goes nicely with the first one also so if you own that one then you should probably get the new one.

Any big events happening this year?

At the moment we are looking forward to the new EP and our first tour of the UK/Europe in May, during which we are playing The Great Escape.

What is your opinions on the current music charts (is shoegaze slowly becoming more popular again)

I can’t really comment on the music charts as I know literally nothing about them, not to say I don't  like pop music though. Im glad shoegaze is becoming more popular if thats what is happening. I think its one of those things, when a style or something reaches a certain age it can reflected upon differently i.e something becomes retro/vintage cool etc. And its about that time when bands would play reunion shows and that kind of thing isn’t it? All that said from what I know and listen to there have been incredible bands making shoegaze music with dedicated fan bases since the original scene, so the music has always been around, and people have always been listening to it. I also think that at whatever point MBV released the follow-up to Loveless in the infamous 22 years that it took them to do so, the term shoegaze and all things associated would garner more attention. Either way it can only be a good thing, because the music is bloody awesome.

www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dq9wnpiiMUJs&h=RAQFvK0Ue&s=1

Festivals 2015: Go Local! Go North!

Festival season is fast approaching. Glastonbury, T in The Park, Reading and Leeds Festival all want you there. But why travel across the country (or down the M6 if you are lucky enough to live near one of these festivals) when you could be witnessing some of the best festival line ups just down the road. Not only are these 'little' festivals highly convenient, they are remotely cheaper than the price of some of the main festivals.


Not only is the North known for its major help in the music industry (see Oasis, The Stone Roses and The Beatles), the North have some of the best festival line ups this year.

Sound City 22nd May - 24th May

www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

Located at Liverpool Docklands, Sound City boosts some of the biggest bands in indie/rock music. With a headline slot from The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips and Belle and Sebastian, a ticket will set you back £65 for a three day wristband or £35 for a day wristband. The lineup also includes Peace, The Cribs, Spector and Everything Everything.

Parklife 6th - 7th June

www.parklife.uk.com

Heaton Park, home to Parklife Music Festival, is back this year with a lineup bigger and better than any before. The two day music festival features a headline slot Disclosure and Rudimental with many more acts including George Ezra, FKA Twigs and Mac Demarco taking to the stages across Heaton Park. This festival is more for those who like dance music, don't be expecting Liam Gallagher to come on stage (although Johnny Marr has appeared at the festival before). Tickets are limited and will set you back £89.50 for a weekend ticket or £54.50 for a day ticket. 

Live at Leeds 2nd May

www.liveatleeds.com

The festival makes a return with a strong lineup including Palma Violets, Spector and The Cribs. Live at Leeds Festival takes place across many different stages around Leeds (so get your running shoes on). A ticket will set you back a small £27.50 which seems a bargain when you think about how much you would pay to see just one of the main artists at the festival. 

Dot to Dot 22nd May

www.dottodotfestival.co.uk

The one day festival takes place across some of Manchester's best music venues. The venues include Night & Day Cafe, Soup Kitchen and Ruby Lounge. The 10th anniversary of the festival brings artists such as Saint Raymond, The Wytches and Swim Deep to the many different venues hosting the festival. Similar to Live at Leeds, you will need to get your running shoes on as the one day festival is spread out over 14 different venues. A ticket will cost you £27.50 which allows you access to 14 hours of brilliant live music. 

Top Ten Records Released for Record Store Day 2015

April 18th brings the yearly Record Store Day, when we celebrate independent record stores and have the chance to purchase limited edition records specially made just for that day!
 Last year saw the likes of Oasis and Jake Bugg release records that sold out in an instant.

Here are the Top Ten records up for grabs this Record Store Day 2015:

1)  Changes // David Bowie 
One of Bowie's finest records is being reissued this Record Store Day but not just on ordinary black vinyl. The record is being produced on a picture disc! What could be better than spinning a David Bowie record with his face on? I will leave you to answer that question

2) Songs From The Laundry Room // Foo Fighters 
A mixture of previously unreleased and cover songs from the early days of Foo Fighters are being released on 10" record. The songs were recorded at the Landry Room Studios in Seattle.

3) Pills, Thrills n' Bellaches // Happy Mondays
Celebrating its 25th birthday in November 2015, the third album from Happy Mondays is being reissued on coloured vinyl! The album features the hit 'Step On' which instantly puts you in a good mood and gets you doing your best Bez dancing. Everybody loves a good coloured vinyl but what colour will it be? My money is on pink.

4) I Feel You // Johnny Marr
Marr covers the Depeche Mode single for Record Store Day 2015. Will it be better than the original? You best buy it to find out

5) Never mind The Bollocks // The Sex Pistols
You can't beat the debut album from one of the best punk bands of all time. The album is being reissued on picture vinyl. Get ready to start smashing your room up to this limited edition record!

6) Step // Vampire Weekend 
This track is a tuff one to get your hands on. Being printed on white vinyl and only 500 being made will be hard to get your hands on but would definitely be worth the fight, I mean polite and relaxed queuing outside your local record store, to get your hands on.

7) Greek Tragedy // The Wombats
One of the newest singles from the Liverpool indie rockers is being released on 7". Will this have glitter imprinted on the record? I wish

8) Peace // Peace 
Peace are also releasing something special for RSD. But what could it be?

9) In The Heat of The Moment // Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 
The record will feature two remix of Noel G's newest hit. A fan of both remixes and Noel G, looks like Christmas came early for you then

10) Purple Haze // Jimi Hendrix 
You can't beat some Hendrix on RSD. The 1967 single is being reissued this Record Store Day. Go and release your inner Hendrix!


Record Store Day 2015 is April 18th
The main importance of RSD is not only treating yourself to these amazing limited edition works of musical amazingness but to also highlight the fact that record format isn't dead. Support your local record store! Go crazy! It's only once a year!!!

http://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/