FIVE ACTS PLAYING AT MUSIC FESTIVALS EVERYWHERE IN 2014 – Evening Standard, 28 Feb 2014

Better get the jester hat out of the loft now — festival season will be upon us before you know it. It’s the bands I feel sorry for. As the calendar grows across the world, it’s now possible to slog from one indistinguishable car park to another every weekend from Easter to autumn. I’ve seen them, wild-eyed in the backstage canteens, not knowing whether to practise saying “Thank you and goodnight!” in Polish or Croatian.

Today there are so many festivals and not so many bankable stars. That’s why promoters were so thankful for the recent return of The Stone Roses, half-hearted or not, over the past two years, and will be praying hard for Kasabian to get their next album finished in time for a major summer slot or three this year.

So when things start to heat up it will feel like certain bands are everywhere. For the most ubiquitous, it’s concrete proof that they’re having a great year, with a successful recent album prompting real mass demand. Here are 2014’s most unavoidable big acts, with plenty more festival line-ups still to be announced. If you get to the end of the summer having missed them, you’ve been spending too much time in the artisan cider yurt.

Arctic Monkeys

Band on the run: Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys (Picture: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty)

What’s that sound?

Hip-swivelling, devil-may-care rock ’n’ roll that just won’t go away, as singer Alex Turner noted at length in his recent Brit-winning speech. Five albums in, they’ve changed from awkward tykes to confident arena-fillers, with Turner channelling Elvis with a new bequiffed stage persona.

Who’s it for?

The world seems united with love for their latest album, AM, so everyone really, but lager-throwing footie louts will be much in attendance, especially at the band’s own all-dayers in Finsbury Park.

When’s the girlfriend-on-the-shoulders moment? The swaggering opening riff of last year’s hit, Do I Wanna Know?, would be as good a time as any to hoist her aloft.

Where can we see them?

Finsbury Park (May 23-34, arcticmonkeys.com);

T in the Park, Kinross (Jul 11-13, tinthepark.com);

Reading and Leeds (Aug 22-24, readingandleedsfestival.com)

How about abroad?

Rock Werchter, Belgium (July 3-6, rockwerchter.be)

What’s the alternative?

Ladrock favourites Kasabian are playing their own one-dayer in Leicester’s Victoria Park (June 21, kasabianlive.com)

 

Rudimental

What’s that sound? Dance, soul and drum and bass, a lively melting pot that has conquered the charts and made solo stars out of John Newman and Ella Eyre. With a changing selection of guest singers, there’s always something new to see at their ceaselessly energetic shows.

Who’s it for?

They’re from Hackney and have Dalston’s peace carnival mural on their album cover, so east Londoners ought to feel particularly keen on them.

When’s the girlfriend-on-the-shoulders moment?

The church organ and huge gear change in the chorus of Feel the Love is impossible to resist.

Where can we see them?

Parklife Weekender, Manchester (Jun 7-8, parklife.uk.com);

Isle of Wight (Jun 12-15, isleofwightfestival.com);

Wireless, Finsbury Park (Jul 4-6, wirelessfestival.co.uk);

T in the Park, Kinross (Jul 11-13, tinthepark.com)

How about abroad?

Exit, Serbia (July 10-13, exitfest.org)

What’s the alternative?

Newly solo singer Ella Eyre, the voice of their Brit-winning hit Waiting All Night, will be at Isle of Wight (Jun 12-15,isleofwightfestival.com) and Wireless, Finsbury Park (Jul 4-6,wirelessfestival.co.uk). Don’t be surprised if she pops up during Rudimental’s sets too.

Hackney’s finest: DJ Locksmith and Amir Amor of Rudimental (Picture: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)

Disclosure

What’s that sound?

Classy house beats with towering pop choruses from two brothers who have no right to be making music so accomplished so young. In the past year it’s felt like Guy and Howard Lawrence have been pop’s fulcrum, featuring other essential acts such as Jessie Ware, London Grammar and AlunaGeorge on their Mercury-nominated debut album, Settle.

Who’s it for?

Clubbers who find the overblown sound of current US-inspired dance music a little uncouth.

When’s the girlfriend-on-the-shoulders moment?

The immediately recognisable synth riff of White Noise invariably moves people all the way to the back.

Where can we see them?

Parklife Weekender, Manchester (Jun 7-8, parklife.uk.com);

T in the Park, Kinross (July 11-13, tinthepark.com);

Reading and Leeds (Aug 22-24, readingandleedsfestival.com);

Bestival, Isle of Wight (Sep 4-7, bestival.net)

How about abroad?

Longitude, Ireland (July 18-20, longitude.ie)

What’s the alternative?

Katy B will also be mingling dance and pop at Parklife, T in the Park and Isle of Wight and also Tramlines, Sheffield (Jul 25-27,tramlines.org.uk), Leicester Music Festival (Jul 25-26,leicestermusicfestival.co.uk) and Sundown, Norfolk (Aug 29-31,sundownfestival.co.uk)

Classy house beats: Disclosure

Kings of Leon

What’s that sound?

Deep-fried Southern rock of an increasingly polished nature, though there’s more variety than you might think across their six albums. If they can plod at times, they also rock joyously on early singles such as Molly’s Chambers and The Bucket.

Who’s it for?

Those who don’t care much for showmanship but relish Caleb Followill’s sandpapery voice, and people whose sex is on fire.

When’s the girlfriend-on-the-shoulders moment?

Duh — “YAW SEX IS AWN FAAAYAH!”

Where can we see them?

St James’ Park, Newcastle (May 31, kingsofleon.com);

Isle of Wight (June 12-15, isleofwightfestival.com);

Milton Keynes Bowl (June 22, kingsofleon.com)

How about abroad?

Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, Germany (Jun 5-9, rock-am-ring.com)

What’s the alternative?

Pearl Jam are also doing their own outdoor classic rock thing at Milton Keynes Bowl (Jul 11, pearljam.com)

Joyous rock: Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon (Picture: John Angelillo /LANDOV)

Laura Mvula

What’s that sound?

No guitars — Wurlitzer organ, trumpet, cello and two harps make a jazzy backdrop for a voice that has clear echoes of Nina Simone. Despite Brit and Mercury nominations she hasn’t yet become the chart fixture she deserves to be, but her album Sing to the Moon was recently certified gold almost a year after its release so she’s edging towards greater things. Multiple festival appearances should help.

Who’s it for?

Soul fans who think the big-selling sounds of Adele and Emeli Sandé are a shade beige and can cope with melodic songs that refuse to move in obvious directions.

When’s the girlfriend-on-the-shoulders moment?

You’re likely to get a chorus of tsk-ing if you try that at some of the classy jazz festivals she’s playing. Try stroking a goatee instead (your own, preferably).

Where can we see her?

Parklife Weekender, Manchester (Jun 7-8, parklife.uk.com);

Love Supreme, Glynde, Sussex (Jul 4-6,lovesupremefestival.com);

Brecon Jazz (Aug 7-10, breconjazz.com);

Bestival, Isle of Wight (Sep 4-7, bestival.net)

How about abroad?

Positivus, Latvia (Jul 18-20, positivusfestival.com)

What’s the alternative?

Another Nina Simone-type, pianist Benjamin Clementine, will be at End of the Road, Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset (Aug 29-31, endoftheroadfestival.com)

Soul star: Laura Mvula (Picture: Burak Cingi)