As summer continues to (slowly) flow in, so do fortunately music festivals ! Here is a fun and friendly festival that is worth having a look at !
Leefest is taking place on the beautiful rural location of Higham Hills Farms, Bromley, South East London and is happening on the 12-14th August.
Marked by the medley of artists it welcomes : famous acts such as British Sea Power, Fenech Soler, Young Knives, Foamo, DJ Fresh or The Whip just to name a few, it also gives the chance to young talented local acts to perform in front of an audience of 2000 people. Indeed, Leefest has carefully chosen 13 breakthrough acts out of 200 applicants, bringing you the very best of the next generation.
Leefest is also about more than just music, and offers a wide range of activities such as a graffiti performance, sculptures and installations, a campfire and a healing and massage area, as well as hosting the intriguing ‘Wonderland‘. For just 55 £ the weekend… I say it is definitely worth it.
To add to the fun, LeeFest, which has started six years ago as a back garden festival, is celebrating the growing number of portaloos by launching ‘VIPee‘ which will give guests the chance to bid for four festival tickets with all proceeds going to the Kids Company Charity. The winning bidder will earn the title of ‘VIPee‘ of Leefest 2011 and gain access to their very own red carpeted and treat-filled portaloo for the weekend !
As a non-profit music festival the organisers are dedicated to authenticity and supporting up and coming bands.What should be remembered about Leefest is their strong dedication to ethos and their approach to music. The festival is about the love of music, having fun, and giving opportunities to unsigned bands, and all that in a genuinely good and friendly spirit.
South East London mischief-makers Kick Up The Fire release their self-titled debut mini album on November 15th on You And Whose Army?Records.
Aditionally they have unveiled a video for ‘No Fun In London‘ directed and edited by talented NYC based filmmaker Alice Millar. The band needed some additional live shots so I stepped in to film some additional footage which I’m pleased made the final cut.
The band’s album launch party is set for the 18th of November. If you are in London go down and show your support
I’ve been following Kick Up The Fire ever since I heard the South London outfits early demos (and subsequently photographed them on a few occasions) so it was with some pride that I unwrapped the bands self titled mini album.
The boys have been perfecting these songs on the live stage for the past year and these songs showcase a band firing on all cylinders. This is an accurate snapshot of where the 4-piece stand today and special credit should go to Got Mics for the first class production.
Album opener ‘These Canvas Shoes‘ is an immediate burst of energy boasting soaring choruses and deceivingly straightforward verses built on an almighty guitar riff. Vocalists Kenny and Thom volley vocals assaults at each other over drummer Andrew‘s relentless attack. The whole track comes perilously close to collapsing under its own awesomeness… it doesn’t and instead races past the finishing line in Usain Bolt style.
Tracks ‘No Fun In London‘ and ‘Cocktails And Gold‘ are kindred spirits sounding like Franz Ferdinand after a large hit of performance enhancing drugs. Both offer more hooks than a regional angling club. The former is an observation of the capital’s darker side yet ultimately comes through as surprisingly upbeat whilst Cocktails is it’s angrier and judgmental older brother; catchy and danceable but packing one hell of a punch.
‘No Hotel Room‘ is the bands deceptive (anti) pop song and a change of pace and mood. A tale of a media hounded politician; the main line “he’s having bad sex, you like to talk about it, you’re having no sex maybe, you should go get your fix” is a stab at celebrity and tabloid culture.
‘The Never-Ever Ending Story‘ is a bass lead scorcher that returns to the high tempo previously set and owes a slight debt to Thursday with its guitar intricacies. Like the rest of the album it is packed with melodies, question/answer singing and a penchant for a gang vocal to beef up certain key messages. Still, if you scratch under the surface you’ll discover lyrics that are observationally astute and witty.
Nowhere is this more evident than on closer ‘Because Of You‘, the bands proverbial “slow one”. This is a tale of an apparent bitter breakup told over a stunning and captivating crescendo that never subsides. The lyric “go runaway, go join a bank, gonna count my debts while I get drunk” is so sharp it should come with a warning.
Kick Up The Fire‘s self-titled mini album is out in November on You And Whose Army? Records. The band are having an album launch party on the 18th of November. Show your support!
The mini album is catchy and full of potential and it would be a travesty if this band are still unsigned this time next year.
Following in the footsteps of The Libertines, Klaxons and the almighty Blur here come South East London’s latest exciting protégées, Kick Up The Fire. The Deptford quartet has not looked back since adding new guitarist Alan and changing name from Raid on the Arcade early this year.
This Friday (3rd of April) sees them showcase their ‘groove-based melodic rock’ in support of a Dirty Pretty Things DJ set at Lewisham’s famous Dirty South venue. This track is a taste of why a lot of people are getting excited about Kick Up The Fire at the moment. Get on your dancing shoes!
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As summer continues to (slowly) flow in, so do fortunately music festivals ! Here is a fun and friendly festival that is worth having a look at !
