Festival Season is Upon Us

Not long to go, peeps.

Which are your favourite festivals? What makes them special? Do you go for the music and the acts? Or do you go to be with your mates? To get sloshed and end up in a ditch? Or is it all of those things?

I want to know - please send me your thoughts either via Instagram or email - nicole@rockculture.net

If you’re a person who travels, which countries do you think pull off the best festivals and why?

Rockculture are particularly fond of Rock im Park and Rock Werchter. Both always have incredible line-ups and the hospitality is good. This year we’re also looking to attend some British festivals, like Lytham Festival, so watch this space.

The line ups for these festivals are insane - Babymetal, Dogstar, Green Day, Corey Taylor, Machine Head, While She Sleeps, Queens of the Stone Age - dude! that’s only Nuremberg! Werchter have Foo Fighters headlining and Lytham Festival have Madness, Rick Astley, James and Johnny Marr.

Here’s some photos from some of our faves from last year’s Rock im Park which was epic, to say the least.

Architects at RIP 2023

Turnstile @ RIP 2023

YONAKA @ RIP 2023

Hot Milk @ RIP 2023

FESTIVALS anyone?

Is it just me, or are there more festivals than ever before? At Rockculture we tend to stick to the ones we know. I think for the most part, the festivals are a nightmare for the artists. They only have super limited time to play and the technical side of things can be challenging. For the fans it is equally challenging because there’s a whole cult of festival goers who go just to enjoy the festival rather than the musical acts. The organisers, for the most part, make sure there’s enough to go around for both though.

Still. We are lined up to go to these festivals in 2019- Rock im Park and Rock Werchter.

Rock im Park 2019

Highlights on Friday must be Architects and Bring Me. The latter got so much hate from their old fanbase for their last album “amo”, which is a technical masterpiece and has raised their ballgame. They have been able to truly grow as artists and even the hardest metalhead’s guilty pleasure must be to rave to some of BMTH’s dance tunes. Both bands have incredible live sets and I am in awe of the Architects to return to the stage where Tom Searle performed his last concert.

Saturday….Saturday….Saturday. Another band who got a lot of hate for going in a more melodic direction is Slipknot. Cannot wait for the intellectual of all metalheads, Corey Taylor, to prove to the crowd in Nürnberg how Slipknot are alive and kicking, knee- and spine surgery and all.

Sunday is going to be exhausting for us at Rockculture and we hope we make it all the way to Tool cos having to see some of our favourite bands in history, Smashing Pumpkins, Beartooth, While She Sleeps and Alice in Chains (!!!!!) will surely make our hearts race and our throats sore. Cage the Elephant could prove to calm things down, but then again, too many good tunes to stay still.

***

We literally only have a few weeks to recover from Rock im Park before we head off to Belgium for Rock Werchter. We were not going to go back to Belgium for any festival for personal reasons, but the line-up has swayed us.

Thursday kicks off with a band who should be seen live before you judge their music, Deaf Havana. Their last album “Rituals”was too poppy for some (there is a theme here, with bands venturing into more melodic tunes and getting abuse), but it has opened them up to so many new fans. Live they are truly amazing, so don’t miss them. They are still pretty rock’n’roll, you know. P!NK is one of those acts, too. Yes, I am actually mentioning P!NK and Deaf Havana in one paragraph. Whilst Deaf Havana convince with their musical talents on stage, P!NK does so as an artist on a whole. Her live shows are phenomenal and her personality will grip you wholeheartedly.

Friday I am in Love- guess who we are here for. Yes, some of our favourites are here, Bring Me, SWMRS, Weezer and Snarky Puppy. But ultimately Friday I am in Love because….The Cure. Come on. This is the highlight of anyone, but especially us at Rockculture, and I don’t care if that is showing my age.

Saturday and Sunday is bound to be interesting, too, but who knows if we are still up for the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Parkway Drive and Greta van Fleet. Send us loads of pics, in case we miss Saturday and Sunday due to exhaustion from the epic Friday at Werchter.

Rock Werchter 2019

SPRINGing into Action

After a long hibernation it is time to hit the clubs, concert halls and festivals again. 

We are going to start slow, but strong with Trixie Whitley honouring her commitment to do the shows she had to cancel last year. The Belgian Boss Lady is taking her new album “Lacuna” on road with her and true to her form and cosmopolitan genius, she will mesmerize you with her very unique mixture of Soul, R’n’B and Indie Rock. Little Shalimar’s epic sound on her new album will hopefully be translated into something magical in her live shows.

German Dates are as follows:

21.05.2019 Frankfurt - Brotfabrik 

22.05.2019 München - Orangehouse 

- and then back again in the autumn-

07.11.2019 Köln - Studio 672 

08.11.2019 Berlin - Musik und Frieden 

Trixie Whitley (Photo credit Kylie Coutts)

 

Always quite fond of geeky guitarists and clever musicians here at Rockculture, we will of course be seeing Trivium on their very short tour of Germany in June. We can’t wait to hear their eighth album “The Sin and the Sentence” live, but we have to be honest…we are actually a little more excited about Cane Hill supporting them on both of their shows. 

Cane Hill’s last German tour was amazing- lesser than Witt having his Morrissey T-Shirt stolen in Cologne. Bands like Cane Hill and While She Sleeps, who will only support their Hamburg show along with Power Trip, leave us in awe, never getting tired of delivering metal at its best.

Go see them

18.06.2019 Hamburg – Markthalle (with Cane Hill, WSS & Power Trip)

19.06.2019 Berlin – Kesselhaus (with Cane Hill) 

 

One of our absolute favourite bands is coming back to Germany for an exclusive concert, we are assuming they loved the German fans that much. And to be fair, they’ve been good to SWMRS, but SWMRS have been good to their fans.

SWMRS’ new album “Berkeley’s on Fire” is part of our daily playlist, the influence of Tom Morello is more prominent than that of The Ramones, but whoever thought punk rock is just a matter of three chords better listen to SWMRS. Pure punk rock class!

If you are quick enough, you may be lucky enough to grab your ticket for 

25.06.2019 Düsseldorf – Zakk

SWMRS  (Photo credit Alice Baxley)

 

Another favourite act here at Rockculture- actually, one of the really, really deep routed LOVES here at Rockculture, are coming to Germany for a one-off gig, as well.

Alice_In_Chains_Promo_Shot_Xraytouring.jpg

Alice in Chains always stood out in the grunge scene in the late 1980’s and all through the 1990’s, also because they never really fit into any one compartment. Layne Staley’s voice mesmerized millions. His untimely death almost killed the genius of what Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney had created with it. In finding William DuVall, the band have come back around. Following their epic success of their numerous Grammy nominations, platinum and gold records of the 1990’s, their album “Black Gives Way to Blue” featuring William DuVall as their new singer put them back on the map. Alice in Chains’ latest album “Rainier Fog” has truly manifested them as one of the finest rock bands ever.

See them live, with Special Guests Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in

04.06.2019 Hamburg – Stadtpark Open Air

 

Gee, and if you fancy a little lighter fare, here’s one more American band we really love, coming to Germany for an exclusive concert. I am sensing a trend here.

With their fifth album “Social Cues” Cage the Elephant are touring the European festival circuit and are playing

11.06.2019 Berlin – Musik & Frieden

Cage The Elephant

Most of the bands mentioned above will also be at a festival near you during the summer, so be sure to look out for them!

 

THOUGHTS AND STUFF

It has been a while. Personal reasons. But also just really depleted of news. Then all came at once.

Bury Tomorrow- “Black Flame”!!!!! How did that happen? I told you ages ago that they are the best new metal band to look out for, but since hooking up with Sony they really have taken it up a step. Not a lie. Cannot wait to see them this month or in December, depending on when I can get there, how often I can get there, you get the picture.

Bury Tomorrow are of course touring with Cane Hill, who I thought were okay until they released their new album “Too Far Gone”……so epic. And them in combination with Bury Tomorrow at a show may make a headbanger or two happier than Larry.

And to top it all off, have you listened to “Royal Beggars” off the new Architects album “Holy Hell”? Where are they coming up with the lyrics and the tunes?

It cracks me up to read that Jordan Fish from BMTH says that there isn’t enough rock music out there to stream. In his recent interview with Mark Sutherland from Music Week, he was talking about how Bring Me the Horizon are one of the few bands who make an impact on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. Sure they have four million plus monthly listeners on Spotify and “Mantra” has become indeed a MANTRA on streaming services worldwide (it has sold over 50.000 copies so far), but to say that others are “generally bad” is really a bit rich, when Ricky Martin could always come back and have a say about how the “Livin’ la Vida Loca” was used in certain rock songs. Jordan Fish is a superior songwriter in his own right, no doubt, but there are rock bands out there who just don’t get the chance to be heard.

Saying that I am deeply grateful for Bring Me the Horizon to have introduced me to YONAKA who have been going for a while, but without their epic support slot for BMTH, I would have not listened to. Now that, my friends would have been a grave loss. They are a lot more rock than other bands with a female singer and they have an uncanny feeling of Siouxie of Siouxie and the Banshees, not a compliment given lightly.

Watch and listen, download, buy, stream. They are bubbciliciously yummy

youtube.com/channel/UCzBddYqg5UYiz3U6EhwDCEA

No, there is music out there and I love it when bands are able to adapt to new styles and take inspiration from other genres and artists (see BMTH), but also While She Sleeps. Have you heard “Anti-Social”? They are such an epic band and if this twist doesn’t catapult them to where they should be, I would be more than disappointed.

youtube.com/watch?v=22CmxMJU2V0

Loz doing what he does best. Photos of this show, amongst others, were taken by ARTUNOTTER.SMUGMUG.COM for ROCKCULTURE®, but in case you want to buy any prints, hit that webpage up.

Loz doing what he does best. Photos of this show, amongst others, were taken by ARTUNOTTER.SMUGMUG.COM for ROCKCULTURE®, but in case you want to buy any prints, hit that webpage up.

Christmas Presents and an Exciting 2018

What tours are you excited for in 2018????

The festival line ups in Europe are insane for 2018, agreed? Foos, Pearl Jam, MUSE, QOTSA to name but a few. ROCKCULTURE are super stoked about the ARCHITECTS and WHILE SHE SLEEPS tour(s), naturally, but here are two acts we are so excited about that we almost peed our pants (but only almost). Can you name the bands in the photos? More on them in our next news blog.

Foto credit: FKP Scorpio

Foto credit: FKP Scorpio

Photo credit: FKP Scorpio

Photo credit: FKP Scorpio

Tours, tours, tours and MILESTONES

So we are pretty lucky in Germany being able to go to some awesome shows in the next few weeks.....

ARCHITECTS

WHILE SHE SLEEPS

DEAF HAVANA

DEAD KENNEDYS

(for those really wanting to have a laugh) FUTURE ISLANDS

NECK DEEP

and especially excited about the European headlining tour of SWMRS 

but those of you in Britain may have lucked out more because

THE GOSPEL YOUTH and MILESTONES are doing a joint headline tour in September

The Gospel Youth have been labeled "Your new favourite band" by Rock Sound and are seriously one of the UK's hottest new Pop rock bands. So with their choice of co-headliners Milestones, this tour will be the most fun you will have had all year. 

Dates for The Homecoming Tour:
Sept. 16 - Manchester, England - Sound Control
Sept. 17 - Nottingham, England - Bodega
Sept. 18 - Southampton, England - Joiners
Sept. 19 - London, England - Camden Assembly
Sept. 20 - Bristol, England - Exchange
Sept. 21 - Birmingham, England - Flapper
Sept. 22 - New Castle, England - Jumpin' Jacks
Sept. 23 - Glasgow, Scotland - Audio
Sept. 24 - Leeds, England - Key Club

Tickets onsale Friday 4th August 10am

Both acts have had phenomenal support from two of the biggest producers around. The Gospel Youth's debut album Always Lose is out now via Rise/Velocity Records and was produced by Romesh Dodangoda (Kids In Glass Houses, Bring Me The Horizon, Twin Atlantic). Live they are currently on the Vans Warped tour, but have shared stages with the likes of We Are The Ocean, Mallory Knox, Deaf Havana, Hands Like Houses and many more. In 2016 the band launched a campaign that saw them release 12 crowdfunded singles in 12 months, putting their future in the hands of their fans and opening up the opportunity to write month on month about live experiences as they happen. 

The Manchester UK four-piece Milestones have been signed to Fearless Records after proving how talented and determined they are, ready to raise the bar even higher by setting yet another milestone. The group debut EP release Equal Measures, produced by Phil Gornell (Bring Me The Horizon, All Time Low, Set Your Goals), unleashed five tracks that all brilliantly showcase singer Clarke’s passionate, emotionally-drenched vocals and the band’s knack for crafting infectiously catchy melodies while wrapping them all around themes of self-recognition, acceptance, learning to love yourself and realising when it’s time to move forward.

 

ITUNES: http://smarturl.it/equalmeasures SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/13qldQFvA9dK3NfyOiC4za Debut EP 'Equal Measures' available now. Stay connected: http://milestonesband.co.uk http://facebook.com/MilestonesUK http://twitter.com/ukmilestones http://instagram.com/ukmilestones LYRICS: I guess I am stuck in this in-between It's gone 24 hours but I just can't sleep It's not that easy anymore It's not that easy So take me back again Nothing's appealing So take me back again So you can call me disaster It's so nice to meet you but I think I'll say goodbye once, maybe twice This is the last time Get up!

HEAVEN

Though it has been hard to listen to anything other than YOU ARE WE by While She Sleeps in the last week or so, we are stoked that PVRIS have released their new song “Heaven,” a first of many  from their much anticipated album, ALL WE KNOW OF HEAVEN, ALL WE NEED OF HELL.

The video to the first song from their new album was directed by PVRIS vocalist Lynn Gunn and longtime video collaborator Raul Gonzo, “Heaven” can be seen HERE OR by clicking below.

https://youtu.be/RJiRx6PTpyw

The wait for the new album is over in August - also check out the vinyl bundles available HERE - and “Heaven” is available as an instant download with all album pre-orders.

We cannot wait to see Lynn, Alex and Brian on their upcoming tour!!! 


UK/EU DATES BELOW
4th May - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London SOLD OUT
5th May- O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London SOLD OUT
8th May - Trabendo Paris, France
10th May - Melkweg, Amsterdam
11th May - Columbia, Berlin
 

Summer EU Festivals
18th Augu Biddinghulzen Lowlands Festival, NL
19th August Hasselt, Pukkelpop Festival, BE
26th August Reading Festival
27th August LeedsFestival

 

 

 

Photo by Eliot Lee Hazel

Photo by Eliot Lee Hazel