Five reasons why Glastonbury will be colossal.

      

1. First and foremost, The Rolling Stones. Not only will it be an historic moment for the festival itself, but it will also be an important mark on The Rolling Stones extensive music career, and if anyone knows how to put an outstanding show on, it's Mick Jagger and co. The nostalgia of what some call 'the holy grail' of all festivals, will collide with the nostalgia of a national music treasure, who have contributed to British music and culture for half a century. Yes they're all pushing 70, and yes there were perhaps voids in the latter part of their career, with only a few dodgy singles to keep most vaguely interested but their new single 'Doom and Gloom' proves the partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards is still capable of producing something nothing less than iconic. I don't think the Pyramid Stage will witness a bigger crowd, than of what will be facing it on Saturday night. Rolling Stones fan or not, I don't think you'll ever be part of an atmosphere quite like it. It's THE ROLLING STONES, you shouldn't need my justification or clarification, they're essentially the founding fathers of great music and are responsible for influencing many great bands today, go and see them and prepare to be overwhelmed.

2. The bizarre, Shangri-la - Shangri-la is what separates Glastonbury from every other festival in the UK, it's wonderfully weird, extravagant and embraces the eccentric. I attended the festival in 2011 when the theme was the End of The World/Apocalypse, and this year it's The Afterlife where 'hell' collides with 'heaven'. Once the headliners finish they're sets on the other stages, this is the place to go. It's a difficult place for me to summarise, just as it's difficult to summarise 'Donnie Darko' (yeah it's that weird) but if you're a fanatic of the weird yet wonderful, you'll fit in just fine.
                                                           

3. The reckoning of Arctic Monkey's return.. 
When the four young and somewhat inexperienced Arctic Monkeys headlined back in 2007, just a year after 2006 when they're debut album 'Whatever People Say I am That's What I'm Not' was released it would be safe to say they did a great job with the material they had, but it wasn't quite phenomenal. Six years later, and they've released three more albums, toured all over the world, crafted their art with Josh Homme, teased us fans with singles such as 'R U Mine' to say they are now ready would be an understatement. They have the extensive material, they have the developed sound, they have the huge festival anthems. I think they're headlining slot has been somewhat overshadowed by The Rolling Stones announcement, but i'm certain their performance will illuminate and overcome that shadow. Unfortunately you may have to put up with the Dizzee Rascal set before, but i'm sure you know, Glastonbury likes to keep it diverse. I had to endure Paramore's set to see The Cure at reading, i'll make the same musical integrity sacrifice for one of the most talented band Britain has produced.

                                                 

4. Tame Impala. 
This. This is all you need.

5. The Atmosphere, The Nostalgia, The Festival itself.  As Justin Young from The Vaccines stated in an NME interview 'it's the holy grail of festivals' Now the only other festival i've been too apart from Glastonbury, is Reading and don't get me wrong it is also one of the great festivals in the UK, but to even attempt to compare it to Glastonbury would be a step too far. Now, Justin Young has been to a fair few festivals, so disregard my opinion but maybe consider his. No matter what band is on, there is always something for you and there is always something going on, whether you're into the Theatre & Circus, Comedy, great live music or even Stephen Fry and the Qi panel. The atmosphere is on a different level to anything i've experienced before. One thing that sticks in my mind was, whilst waiting for a band to come on at the pyramid stage, 'Hey Jude' was played by The Beatles, possibly the most anthemic song of all time, so try to imagine around 100,000 people singing along whilst the sun is setting, there's nothing more majestic. Glastonbury has history, it still has integrity which most corporate festivals have lost, and it also has the best cider on offer (seriously, go to one of the cider tents, they have every obscure and more original flavours you can think of) but with all of that to say, if you're going for the first time, rain or sun, dry or knee-deep in mud, you'll love every second of it.

                                                 

Florence - Which way will she go?

It would seem that after hearing this, a cover of Green Days 'Hitchin' a ride' that Florence may have redeemed her self (ish) for collaborating with Calvin Harris (the mark in any artist's career that they have sold out) As a huge fan of Florence, particularly in the early days where climbing the lighting rigs at Reading festival and jumping into pools fully clothed was the typical wild antics Florence got into, I wish this side of Florence would come out more often. What it does manage to highlight however, is the diversity in material that iconic voice can sing along too, going from glimpses of soul to punk. 

With the global success Florence has achieved after scoring two number 1 albums, and being welcomed into the states by a growing devoted fan base, it seems to me that Florence has now got the chance to go in whatever direction she wants now she has such a strong fan base firmly established. Dev Hynes (known to most as Lightspeed Champion) helped Florence break into the music world, and furthermore helped cultivate a more raw pop/punk sound that fans like myself, first fell in love with. Don't get me wrong, I admire the alternative Fleetwood Mac-like sound that she followed with Ceremonials, who couldn't? It's huge. I just feel like this is a sign that Florence should return back to her South London/Camden routes. I could go on forever justifying why Florence should go in this direction with the third album, but this cover of Green Day does exactly that. Florence fan or not, i'm sure most of you will enjoy. 

Babyshambles - Death or Glory?

Of course, it's not quite as momentous as the fantasy of a reunion of The Libertines but a band that has the blessing of Pete Doherty's aptitude for sophisticated yet brutal songwriting is always worth paying attention too. With Pete Doherty removing himself from the tabloid spotlight, focusing on writing and of course (we all hope) attempting to rehabilitate himself, fans are thirsty for some new material whether it's under the name of Babyshambles or The Libertines. It was revealed earlier this year that Doherty was working on new material that could potentially appear on a Babyshambles third record, however these hopes were recently undermined by Pete declaring that 'the future is uncertain' over disputes with management. Babyshambles are more than capable of progressing and continuing to establish themselves as a great British indie rock group, particularly when you look at how much progress in both sound and style was made between 'Down in Albion' and 'Shotter's Nation'. The band went from a shambolic, debauched punk sound with glimpses of immense lyrical talent to developing a more mature and sophisticated 60s sound likening them to The Kinks yet still managing to retain their British punk roots. There is no doubt that there is more than enough potential for a third album to deliver something nothing short of genius with the helping creative mind of Mr Doherty, but is the timing right for Babyshambles? Or should their legacy be left behind remaining intact. It's clear that the stability of the band is dubious, but let's be honest there is definitely a huge gap in the music industry waiting for Babyshambles to return. 

Reunion or not. Here is why Babyshambles made such a lasting impression - The record speaks for itself.  

Keaton Henson - Infectious, mysterious, and a recluse.

It never ceases to amaze me how much love and attention Keaton Henson has received over the past year or so, in spite of him repelling all media attention and any prospects of a full UK tour, but I guess that's what makes this great talent all the more endearing to the fellow music lovers out there. I, like most of his fans first encountered Keaton Henson through the first release of his debut single 'You Don't Know How Lucky You Are' which was greeted by the huge appraisal of Zane Lowe, and thus spread all over You Tube resulting in nearly 250,000 views. For an artist who refuses to do interviews, and only does the occasional one-off show in London, this in itself is something of a great achievement. I think what makes you fall in love with Keaton Henson, is his heartbreaking and introvert lyrics which exert an overwhelming sense of melancholy, guilt and nostalgia of past romances that most, if not all listeners can immediately relate too. Each song written on his debut album 'Dear' seems like it came from the pages of his diary, and with it being such a personal record it ironically manages to be applicable to the experiences of love that the listener has endured also. He manages to cultivate a sound that seems so powerful, yet at the same time delicate and mournful. He seems to pause throughout hard hitting, emotive lyrics in order to make the listener linger and reflect, making it the perfect soundtrack for some one going through heart break or loss.

In contrast to this delicate and fragile sound that Keaton Henson incorporates throughout his work, there are outbursts of a more lively sound, filled with distorted guitars and heavy drums which brings in the themes of anger, despair and outrage particularly in 'Kronos' in his second album 'Birthdays'. This magnifies how Keaton Henson is more than capable of just churning out mournful ballads, more over, it pushes the boundaries of what first seems like a folk inspired album. He manages to create something completely original and different from artists like Ben Howard, through his more intellectual and personal lyrics sang through such a delicate voice, which at times sounds like he is verging breaking point just recording the album in the walls within a studio in East London. It's extremely refreshing to see an artist like Keaton Henson possessing such talent for songwriting maintaining a humble perspective, and yet refusing to do press interviews and further more it breeds curiosity from the world of music.  It's clear that he writes with genuine intent and  passion for music, and is more than content with just recording his experiences for listeners to continue to enjoy.

If you haven't heard Keaton Henson and you're a fan of artists such as Bon Iver, then here's 'You Don't Know How Lucky You Are'  I guarantee his sound will become infectious and addictive for you, particularly if you're going through a rough time. Enjoy.

Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

If you're into MGMT or 'Pond' and for some obscure reason you haven't come across Tame Impala yet, well here you are. I don't think I need to write a review to magnify the psychedelic melodic genius these guys possess, the song and the video does that intently by itself.  No need to thank me. Enjoy.

Tribes - 'How the Other Half Live' A taste of the good things to come.

What a  reckoning year 2012 was for Tribes, with the release of their album 'Baby' followed by a huge UK tour, followed by a massive tour in the States, and then returning to their home loving crowds in the UK festivals. It would seem that their journey through the US managed to evoke the immense creativity behind Johnny and the rest of the band, leading them to take the decision to record in the legendary Sound City Studios which managed to produce albums such as 'Never Mind' and 'Suck it and See' thus creating the perfect environment for the four piece's rock band from Camden's second album to be recorded.  The studio is also where David Grohl filmed his upcoming 'Sound City' documentary, and so with Tribes recording under the same roof that has created so much groundbreaking musical history, it seems only rational that the product would be nothing less than brilliant and iconic.
What makes a band like Tribes so talented, almost in an effortless sense at what they do is the amount of touring, and grafting these guys do to craft there skill performing both live, as well as managing to capture the essence of their live performances into recording. They started off in Camden, the most ideal breeding ground for indie/punk bands like Tribes, and took their album 'Baby' around the world, to Japan, all across Europe, and of course made the obstinate task to break America. It hardly broke America, like Adele or (yes I am going to unfortunately mention these pop puppets) One Direction, but what it did manage to achieve was the sound that Tribes have been trying to create, and a sound that Tribes will be proud of.
Their new single 'How The Other Half Live' seems to incorporate their influences of The Rolling Stones, Primal Scream tinged with heavy sort of British Pixies vibe. The opening riff to their new single, immediately saying 'Yes, we've grown up' sets the bar high for Tribes' upcoming 2nd album 'Wait to Scream' . More importantly, it exploits how the band have progressed and found a more mature sound, moving away from the raw and scratchy sound of singles like 'We Were Children' The video to their new single en captures, all the elements of popular culture today, both the good and the bad. With a heavy feature of gospel undertones, heavy guitars, and Johnny Lloyd's exceptional rasping vocals, the new album looks set to be full of other immediate anthems which will inevitably induce mass sing-a-longs at the summer festivals this year. After hardly even being away, it's clear that this single raises the stakes and expectations for the 'Wish to Scream' album being one of the iconic sounds of 2013. Check it out here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7CAMTmyf9w

Palma Violets - The cure for the post break up Libertines hangover?

It would seem it's impossible to talk about new upcoming bands without drawing comparisons from bands of the past like the The Libertines who still manage to generate such nostalgia and excitement over music today. However, no comparison to the likes of Pete Doherty and Carl Barat seems more relevant and fitting to Sam Fryer and Chille Jesson, the two front men of Palma Violets. Before attending one of the highly anticipated NME Awards Tour gigs in Bristol of which Palma Violets appeared on the bill, I was like many others, undecided on where I stood with Palma Violets. As a huge fan of The Libertines I found the comparison ridiculous, as comparing a band who have been on the music scene for five minutes with just an EP to rely on, against a band who revitalized guitar music and inspired the likes of Arctic Monkeys, seemed some what ludicrous. Whilst waiting outside the Bristol o2 academy, everyone appeared to be most anticipating the performances of the upcoming band from Birmingham Peace and Miles Kane, but such anticipation for Palma Violets appeared to have been sidelined. Peace opened the night with a new single from their upcoming album 'In Love' which despite being a bold move for a band with such a limited back catalogue, managed to fulfill the expectations of every person in the room and set the bar high for the night. When Peace ended their set with 'Bloodshake' the love and devotion from the fans was firmly cemented, with the audience singing along to every word, and even members of the audience sacrificing their view of the stage, to crowd surf to the front in the hope to come in to closer proximity with the band. Peace delivered an impressive performance and set the standards high for the rest of the night, but still there was no one talking of Palma Violets, who were next on the bill.  However, everyone's mixed expectations were completely up ended once the four members of Palma Violets entered the stage, embracing the screams and applauds of a crowd which were unified by the energy Sam and Chille managed to exert within the room. Palma violets began their set with 'Rattlesnake Highway' from their new upcoming album '180' which managed to en capture  that raw and scratchy punk sound that many polished and clean bands like 'Swim Deep' seem to be missing.  Through out their set Sam and Chille would come close to colliding with each other, which seemed so reminiscent of the 'Carl n Pete' days. When the audience was presented with a familiar song they knew, 'Last of The Summer Wine' they responded with shouting the lyrics back at the four members with a sense of complete devotion and appraisal, thus suggesting, that they are definitely worth the hype and anticipation they have been receiving in the media. The pinnacle of their set was when they performed NME's number one track of the year 'Best of Friends' and with the performance they gave, they certainly lived up to that accolade. The whole crowd was jumping, and recklessly pushing each other around, embracing the post punk vibe that Palma Violets en capture. At the end of 'Best of Friends' Chille jumped into the audience of whom welcomed him in open sweaty arms, completely breaking down the barrier between the fans and the band. It was possibly the most sweaty and energetic gigs I have ever been too, and I think every member of that audience who witnessed that performance felt that Palma Violets had proved their point. It's hard to translate that live and energetic sound into recording, which is why I think most people have been undecided on the band, however Palma Violets appeared to stand out the most out of all of the acts playing that night. As soon as their set ended, the whole room was filled with echoes of their name and people were genuinely shocked at how good of a gig they managed to put on. When it comes to comparing Palma Violets to The Libertines, from the performance I saw, I don't think it is such an unfair comparison to make. It isn't just the chemistry between Sam and Chille which resembles the structure of The Libertines, it's the complete devotion and focus they have for what they're doing, a focus of which The Libertines lost. Only time will tell whether they can truly fulfill such a comparison.