We may still have at least two seasons to survive before it’s time to head for Barcelona, but next year’s Primavera Sound festival has been dominating our thoughts over the past week.
First up it found itself central to the news that Pulp had reformed, and as things stand will be hosting their reunion gig. Then they kept coming up with gold nugget announcements. In particular, for those who’ve enjoyed the ongoing trend of full album gigs, former Velvet Underground member John Cale will be recreating his Paris 1919 album, and Mercury Rev will be taking us back to 1998 by performing Deserter’s Songs in its entirety. Add to that some big names including Animal Collective, Mogwai and Fleet Foxes and the sound of Spring 2011 will be music to these London ears.
Gigs Of The Week: 15-21 Nov 2010
Our Broken Garden – St Giles-In-The-Fields, London – 17 Nov
Another week, another awesome act on the Bella Union label lands in town. This time it’s the beautiful songs of Denmark’s Our Broken Garden (pictured, photo by Anika Mottershaw), led by the ethereal vocals of sometime Efterklang member Anna Bronsted. Recently released album Golden Sea combines strong melodies and lush orchestration to great effect. This one off show should be worth going to church for.
More details here.
Hurts – Union Chapel, London – 17 Nov
The Little Noise Sessions take up residency at the Union Chapel this week for five nights of big name attractions in aid of Mencap. Our pick has to be Wednesday’s line-up of hot young pop things. Summer Camp, SaintSaviour, Joe Worricker and Clare Maguire offer up ridiculously strong support to Hurts whose dramatic tales of love lost and found have secured them a place as one of 2010’s success stories.
More details here.
Four Tet + Caribou – Coronet, London – 19 Nov
Both Four Tet and Caribou have had good years with their respective albums There Is Love In You and Swim. They’re pulling an all-nighter at The Coronet this week, so if you’re still young enough to push on through till dawn, their pairing up should work well. Further support comes from James Holden, Nathan Fake and Rocketnumbernine. They’ll also be playing at The Warehouse Project, Manchester and the O2 ABC, Glasgow.
More details here.
Also Recommended:
Dungen – Islington Academy, London – 16 Nov
Twisted Folk: Caitlin Rose and Peter Wolf Crier – XOYO, London – 16 Nov
Leni Ward – The Lock Tavern, London – 17 Nov
Jamie Lidell – Koko, London – 18 Nov
Gold Panda – Corsica Studios, London – 18 Nov
Soweto Kinch: The New Emancipation – Queen Elizabeth Hall, London – 18 Nov
Kele + CocknBullKid – Electric Ballroom, London – 18 Nov
Jon Hendricks – Ronnie Scott’s, London – 18/19/20 Nov
The Greenhornes – Cargo, London – 19 Nov
Matthew Herbert and the London Sinfonietta – Royal Festival Hall, London – 20 Nov
Just Announced:
CocknBullKid
The time’s come for Anita Blay’s alter ego CocknBullKid to emerge into the spotlight after years of prep. Guaranteed to brighten up the music scene with her sassy pop fun, her debut album Adulthood will be getting released some time next year on Island/Moshi Records. She’s been showcasing the new material supporting Marina And The Diamonds and Kele, but will be headlining her own gig at XOYO, London on 6 December.
Details here.
NME Awards Tour 2011
Both diverse and cohesive, the line-up for next year’s NME Awards Tour has been revealed, and it’s a good one. The four bands chosen seem like safe bets but they’re still young guns. Only Crystal Castles have released a second album while dubstep superstars Magnetic Man and verbose indie popsters Everything Everything are still on their debuts. Meanwhile, at the foot of the bill The Vaccines haven’t released much at all, and while they will attract the most sneers thanks to their turbo-injected ascendancy, by the time the tour snakes its way around the country in February they may well have earned their stripes and with that their spot.
Details here.
The Streets
Since Original Pirate Material was released in 2002, Mike Skinner’s earned Mercury Prize nominations and won the BRIT Award in 2005 for Best British Male Solo Artist. With fifth album Computer And Blues looming for release early in 2011, Skinner’s calling time on the project. He’s lined up a nationwide tour that will end up at the O2 Brixton Academy on 5 March.
Details here.
