LONDINIUM
There’s no shortage of events going on this Bank Holiday weekend, but the pick of the bunch has undoubtedly got to be Londinium – a hugely ambitious gathering of 6 of London’s biggest bass music promoters all under one roof. Between them they’ve managed to acquire a list of talent that reads like a who’s who of bass, whether it’s the electro-wobble stylings of AC Slater and A1 Bassline, stripped-down 8 bar grime from Mad Decent’s Mumdance , or straight up dubstep with Plastician and Raffertie.
Stag & Dagger promoters Deadly Rhythm and Hyponik will not only both be participating, but actually going head to head in one room, with a line-up that includes the legendary MJ Cole, who will no doubt by riding high after the success of The Riddim EP (featuring the prophetically-titled “Volcano Riddim”), as well as Untold, Ikonika, and of course resident DJs from both camps. Meanwhile, Reecha will also be representing Dirty Canvas, the night he co-runs, as they take on Vagabondz in the second of the rooms, whilst Urban Nerds and Chew The Fat! complete the bill as the final 2 promoters. Tickets will be on sale at the door for £25, but there are still discounted tickets available here.
ONE WEEK LEFT TO ENTER OUR DJ COMPETITION!
This time last month we announced our DJ competition, in conjunction with Mixcloud.com, and we’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the response since then. Not only is the number of entries nearing triple-figures, but we’ve also been really impressed by the variety of genres and styles represented and the uniformly high quality throughout. If you haven’t entered yet, the good news is that there’s still a week to go – more than enough time to pick your tracks and get practising. We need hardly remind you of the prize – the chance to DJ at the London leg of Stag & Dagger, sharing a bill alongside the likes of Simian Mobile Disco, Dopplereffekt, Sinden, Cooly G, Oneman and more!
You can find all the information and view the entries so far on the Mixcloud competition page.
STAG & DAGGER CLOUDCAST #7
We’ve got a double-whammy of bass music for you today, with Bok Bok and Reecha representing the cutting-edge underground sounds that you can expect to hear at Hyponik’s stage at Stag & Dagger. Bok Bok is one half of Night Slugs, one of the hottest club nights around that has now translated its success into their own record label – you’ll find recent release “I.R.L” by Girl Unit in just about every DJ chart around right now, not to mention the clubs. All corners are covered in Bok Bok’s mix, with classic house music motifs from burgeoning talent like Mosca & Altered Natives displayed alongside the rough & ready 4/4 grime-funk stylings of 19 year-old protégé Lil Silva, as well as typically percussion-heavy productions from Brooklyn’s Kingdom and of course Bok Bok himself.
Far from being outdone, Reecha, curator of No Hats No Hoods and Dirty Canvas resident, digs deep to provide a mix of everything from classic Prince (seriously!), through to current Eglo darling Floating Points and Breach, with his soon-to-be club anthem “Fatherless”. It’s a mix that demonstrates exactly why Reecha has been such a mainstay in the London bass scene for so long now, helping advance the sound from its 2-step & 8 bar origins, to its current state as the cream of the UK underground.
These are two mixes that are both essential listening for all fans of low-end – just make sure you turn that sub-bass up! Listen here!
Catch both Bok Bok and Reecha at Hyponik’s stage at East Village on May 21st, alongside Sinden, Cooly G, Oneman and Brackles.
TIME OUT STAGE & COMPETITION ANNOUNCED!
This year our partners Time Out will be hosting Hoxton Bar & Kitchen at Stag & Dagger, London, along with promoters Adventures In The Beetroot Field and GETME!, and what a line-up they have in store for you! On the AITBF side of things, We Have Band and Brooklyn’s finest, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, will be headlining Room One, along with support from Primary 1, Gramme and Wild Palms. The GETME! stage will feature a whole host of upcoming talent, including producer Doc Daneeka, nu-dancehall artist Lady Chann, as well as GETME!’s own Lixo (the man behind Stag & Dagger Cloudcast #5).
To celebrate this incredible line-up, Time Out are giving away a staggering (buddum) 350 tickets to the London leg of the festival. The competition runs for just over 2 weeks, which gives you plenty of time to enter – all you have to do is sign up to the Time Out website (if you haven’t already), and then request a pair of tickets here:
TIME OUT COMPETITION TO WIN STAG & DAGGER TICKETS
Time Out are also presenting a great-looking night at East Village on Friday May 7th. Mash-up master DJ Yoda will be playing a special “‘London clubbing through the decades” 2-hour set, which is sure to span just about every genre under the sun. He’ll be joined by Greenmoney, a duo who’ve been taking the blogosphere by storm with their dancehall-tinged electro remixes for the likes of Twizzle, Cubic Zirconia and Boy 8-Bit. You’ll also have a chance to check out FACT magazine’s “one to watch”, Doc Daneeka, ahead of his appearance at Stag & Dagger – expect a youthful blend of funky and wonky house from him. They’ll be joined by CNTRST, SDUK, and Heavenly Jukebox DJs who round-off this stacked line-up. In typically generous fashion, tickets are only £7, so get yours here! Bargain.
TEAM GHOST RELEASE DEBUT EP “YOU NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG TO ME”
Team Ghost is the brainchild of Nicolas Fromageau, founding member of post-french touch duo M83. It was 6 years ago that Fromageau parted ways with the band, just before the release of their third album, yet even in 2007 when Team Ghost first came into existence, the project was overshadowed by Fromageau’s former band. That doesn’t look set to be the case for much longer though, as Fromageau, along with Christophe Guérin and ex-Gooom founder Jean-Philippe Talaga have created a record full of shimmering, dreamy multi-instrumental electronica that rivals any of M83’s best moments, only without the latter’s tendency to occasionally lapse into inaccessible white noise.
“You Never Did Anything Wrong To Me” is released this week through the Sonic Cathedral label, and is available both as a digital download and as a marbled 10-inch vinyl that is as aesthetically stunning as any picture-disc you’re ever likely to own. You can order both versions here.
If you want to get a preview of Team Ghost ahead of their performance at Stag & Dagger (they’ll be playing at Sonic Cathedral’s own stage at The Legion on May 21st), then be sure to check out this mix that they’ve made for our partners Vice.
CLOCK OPERA REMIXES MARINA & THE DIAMONDS
Chop-poppers extraordinaire Clock Opera just can’t stop giving. It was only just over a month ago when they let us put their fantastic reworking of The Phenomenal Handclap Band’s “Baby” up on the site, and now they’re back with their remix of Marina & The Diamonds’ “I Am Not A Robot”, that’s likely to end up high on many a list of the best remixes of the year (yes, I know… it’s only April – that’s how good it is).
In their interview with us a few weeks back, Clock Opera likened the appeal of making remixes to a “coconut shy where you smash up all the horrible plates and then make a tasty dinner on the ones you like”. A somewhat odd comparison, you might think, but the result in this case is definitely more Michelin Star than Come Dine With Me.
Download here: I Am Not A Robot (Clock Opera Remix)
ACTIVE CHILD TAKES US DOWN CURTIS LANE
Active Child is the Superman to Los Angeles songwriter Pat Grossi’s Clark Kent. That is, if Superman traded laser eyes for an uncanny knack of creating dreamy orchestral electro-pop. Think Wind in the Wires-era Patrick Wolf-style stripped-down beats & electro-synths, but with grandiose layered vocals on top, a one-man choir created from digital trickery. Oh, and harps. Don’t forget the harps. Imagine walking into a church that’s replaced its organ with a Moog synth, and you’re halfway there. Actually, that sounds about par for East London, so Active Child’s sure to be in his element at Stag & Dagger.
Active Child’s debut EP (previous releases were limited to cassette format!), Curtis Lane, is now up for pre-order at Merok Records and has good company in a catalogue that also includes CDs by Stag & Dagger 2010 artists Titus Andronicus and Comanechi. Pre-order the CD here ahead of its May 24th release, and check out Active Child’s official website here. Amen to that.
MAN OF ARAN
Next Tuesday, Stag & Dagger partners Branchage and The Quietus will be hosting an exclusive event at The Union Chapel, with noughties indie-rockers British Sea Power performing their soundtrack to the seminal 1930s documentary Man of Aran. The classic film documented the struggles of the Aran Islanders, battling the elements in the inhospitable Northern Atlantic off the Western coast of Ireland. British Sea Power have composed a score that evokes both the majesty and cruelty of this backdrop, and will be performing their soundtrack as well as an exclusive live acoustic set. There will also be support from singer-songwriter Rose Elinor Dougall.
Tickets can be ordered here, and there’s more information on the event’s Facebook page here.
STAG & DAGGER CLOUDCAST #6
Today it’s the turn of Club.The.Mammoth to bring you the latest mix in our series of exclusive Stag & Dagger Cloudcasts. It’s chock-full of indie-pop-rock goodness, including tracks from Islington Boys’ Club, Little Death, Swanton Bombs, La Shark, My Tiger My Timing, Fiction and FM Belfast, all of whom will be playing at the London leg of Stag & Dagger! On top of that there’s some quality disco and electronica courtesy of The Golden Filter, as well as 2 Door Cinema Club’s remix of everyone’s favourite French pop-import, Phoenix.
BREAKING ROCKS PRE-ALBUM LAUNCH
If their mix has got you in the mood for a dance, then you’ll be pleased to know that the Club.The.Mammoth boys, in association with Silverdoor Records, are presenting the Breaking Rocks pre-album launch at The Big Chill House tonight. Breaking Rocks is a download-only compilation album featuring tracks from the likes of My Tiger My Timing, Wild Palms, The Ruling Class, and many others. All proceeds from the album will go towards Jail Guitar Doors, an independent organisation which aims to provide instruments to those who are using music as a means of achieving rehabilitation of prison inmates. It’s all for a great cause, and with live sets from My Tiger My Timing and Islington Boys’ Club as well as lots of talented DJs behind the decks, you’re guaranteed quality music all night. It’s even free before 10pm, so there’s really no excuse not to go! Just in case you do miss out though, you’ll be able to catch both bands at Stag & Dagger London on May 21st.
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO TO HEADLINE LONDON
We are super-excited to announce that Simian Mobile Disco will be headlining the London leg of the festival, supported by Dopplereffekt. The electro-pioneers will be playing a DJ set at the Blogger’s Delight stage at Hearn Street Car Park, which, coupled with a rare opportunity to see legendary techno DJs Dopplereffekt, now looks set to be the focal point for dance music lovers and late night festival-goers alike!
