The shows, which are presented by Radio One, take place in Manchester (Old Trafford Cricket Ground, September 12), Glasgow (Hampden Park, September 16) and London (Wembley Stadium, September 19).
The band start a UK arena tour later this week.
Tickets for the stadium dates go on sale at 9.30am this Friday (November 28).
In an interview with BBC Radio 1’s Chris Moyles, Martin said the band would follow a strict fitness regime before the dates.
“By the time we play the gigs we’re going to look like Hulk Hogan,” he said. “If you’re going to play stadium gigs you got to have pectorals.”
The legendary Richard Gray is back with his superb single release ‘Unchain It’ featuring ZoëXenia (Connaisseur / Kosmo Records). Expect the usual classic club gold! This is the track to best illustrate the French house masters 10 years voyage through dance and who better to travel with than his good old friend, Pacha Recordings.
The Original club mix of ‘Unchain It’ securely grips your feet to the dance floor playing homage to the old school classic piano led house tunes, but with a modern underground twist. A techy driving beat leads us in to take off; as we reach the skies it softens slightly to introduce the effortlessly, larger than life, soulful vocals from ZoëXenia who smoothly takes over the ‘Unchain It’ airwaves. However, don’t get too comfortable… a techno beat does indeed return and we flicker between the good old uplifting house chorus and the deeper electro verse beats.
The radio edit see’s the original club mix reversed and ‘Unchain It’ is now a fully fledged member of the uplifting house team. The glorious vocals are immediately dropped in to set the elevating tone… and then the beats are to follow. It will not disappoint.
Jorge Jaramillo provides a completely fresh approach; it’s a right feisty little number! His mix is experimental and punchy, with added synth both in the track and on vocals. Deep chunky beats are what lead this brilliant version with the vocals taking a slight backseat, but still present and smoothly overlaying on the track. This is a real journey with thrilling turbulence.
We’re off to an immediate start with the Al Velilla remix, no messing about! Keeping up the pace, the vocals come in early but slowly, building momentum and hype. This is a real treat for the more progressive house fans. It builds and builds before a complete break – and then it drops with an almighty crash! The drum kicks in, the beats are stronger and punchier, and the vocals provide that little pinch of much needed soul. This remix has real energy and keeps fighting to the very end!
‘Unchain It’ is simply a solid house production, a timeless classic that will remind you of the old and the new.
Electronica pioneers Orbital will headline The Big Chill 2009 – with the Hartnoll brothers returning for their first live show in five years Orbital split in 2004 after establishing themselves as one of the most influential acts in dance music history. Tracks such as the classic ‘Chime’ and later number 1 hit ‘The Box’ helped shape the UK’s burgeoning club scene.
As their 20th anniversary approaches; their live return will rekindle memories of their era-defining Glastonbury performance in 1994; and the raucous live shows that introduced an improvisational element to live electronic music.
Orbital took live performance beyond the realms of standard DJing; with spontaneity and experimentation setting a blue-print for noughties electro-darlings such as Simian Mobile Disco and Justice.
Their plans for the Big Chill are under wraps for now; but expect wall-to wall anthems, expansive audio-visuals – and the return of Paul and Phil’s trademark torch-glasses.
“It’s not an exercise in nostalgia, the time just seems right,” says Orbital’s Phil Hartnoll. “Everything just seemed to fall into place. I’ve played at the Big Chill before, I DJed there and had a really good time – it’s an amazing festival.
The timing is also good: 20 years of being together.”
“We’ve got 15 years of active service, making song” comments Paul Hartnoll. “If you boil that down to a 90-minute festival set you should get something thoroughly exciting from beginning to end. Let’s put some fun back into it.”
Big Chill Festival Music Programmer Guy Morley commented that “Orbital’s return is a massive coup, and a great way to kick things off for next year’s festival.
I’m delighted that they have chosen to reform for the Big Chill – I’ve been badgering them for years! Orbital have been one of the most important dance artists of the last two decades, and a huge influence on today’s electronica scene.
Few DJs and producers can claim as much diversity as Nick Riley and Andi Durrant. With influences including Angello, Ingrosso, Laidback Luke and Axwell, Herv´e, Ferry Corsten, Paolo Mojo, Lutzenkirchen and Dubfire, its no wonder we had to label this sample pack ‘Progressive House Producer’.
With support for their music coming from a wide range of DJs that include Laurent Garnier, Armin Van Buuren and Sander Kleinenberg the guys tracks and remixes feature on record labels as far apart as house stalwarts CR2, Positiva and Data to trance imprints Black Hole and Maelstrom, proving that Riley & Durrant are one of the UK’s most exciting electronic exports. See for yourself at http://www.myspace.com/rileyanddurrant
The duo have had much success in the studio and continue to DJ worldwide, with House influences that range from Tech, Minimal, Deep, Electro and Progressive, along with Trance and Techno – you will find evidence of all of these styles in this excellent and highly versatile sample pack exclusively created for Loopmasters.
Included in this brand new and original sample pack you will find over 330MB of pristine house samples, with over 300 Wav sounds, 130 Rex2/Apple Loops and 46 ready to play patches for your favourite soft samplers. There are 14 Club ready House Loops, 83 Banging Drum Loops, 33 Filtered Synth Loops, 20 Bass Hits, 80 Single Drum sounds for programming your own loops, 59 Dance FX and 20 Synth Hits!
If you make Progressive House music influenced by the cutting edge music played by the top DJs of the moment, and need the tools to take your productions to the next level of sonic clarity and dancefloor pressure – sample Progressive House Producer from Riley and Durrant today!
Check out this sample pack from the Loopmasters site:
On 31st December 2008, the Ibiza Underground crew is fixed to take over The Coronet in Elephant and Castle.
Featuring fellow London promoters Heavyweight House, this night offers four diverse rooms of house music, a unique one hour long countdown to midnight by VDJ Ne1co, and amazing live stage performances.
The Ibiza Underground room will be fronted by the award winning, Ivor Novello nominated, silver soldier of tech house D.Ramirez; IU resident and all round legend Mr Phil Drummond, hot talent Aaron Le Doubles, and the Veryverywrongindeed, Tim Sheridan.
Heavyweight House will host its own room with a sound of dirty beats, electro and minimal thrown in for good measure, with the incredibly Filthy Rich, promoter and producer Jon O, Sons Of Audio and much more.
The Emergency Room – usually found teaming up with Ibiza Underground in their regular haunt at Mass & Babalou – will power up the third room with the House Doctors, Itchy Fingerz, and an explosive set from DJ Rossi.
It’s our final party of the year, and what a way to finish it! Hosting the legendary End & AKA complex for one of their last Saturdays, we’re very excited to announce a line-up platforming a great expansion of dance music. Each room will portray massive shades of great sounds from all over the world and through many decades.
Joaquin ‘Joe’ Claussell needs no introduction, the vetran spinner and dance music hero will be back in London playing the main room at The End for the first and last time ever. Playing with him will be Jerome Sydenham; a key figure in deep house whom made waves in New York and continues to do so in Berlin. Earlier this year Jerome produced a mix CD for us simulating exquisite modern music coming out of Europe with US influences. This will be our first party with Jerome since last October when he tore it up at the Cross!
Patrice Scott of Sistrum recordings and Keith Worthy of Aesthetic Audio are two fresh, up and coming producers straight out of Detroit USA. Their own labels and releases are ones you cannot sleep on! Certainly some of the most astounding and cutting edge deep house of today.
And what can we say about Maurice Fulton? Anyone with a keen and attuned ear to the finest and very best sounds of the past mixed in with quality deepness knows that Maurice can definitely set the dancefloor alight! Very looking forward to the magic this man can spin.
To join him in the AKA we’ve invited London bros ‘Faze Action’ an outstanding recording outfit paying homage to Disco, Latin, Jazz, African and much more. With a huge array of fantastic music under their name these guys will no doubt get you going.
Our fine residents and fellow party organisers will none the less warm up these special guests to the max ensuring one of the finest nights in London this Christmas, make sure you’re there with us, to say goodbye to one of the best venues in the UK, with style.
Tomas Hedberg is a Stockholm raised and Ibiza schooled DJ / producer and the brains behind ‘The Looking Glass-Part 1’, the first release on Pieces Of Eight from the man fast becoming the one to watch for next year.
The label first became aware of Hedberg whilst in Ibiza this summer, the place that has been home to the Swede for the past seven years. Having notched up residencies at Manumission, Eden, El Divino, Wonderland and Space he has an ear perfectly-honed to recognise what works on the dancefloor, creating a deep, dark mixing style that crosses over into his production.
‘Looking Glass –Part 1’ is a murky, cinematic epic; a heads down, hands in the air anthem which has crowds saluting the speakers and has already pricked the ears of some of the industry’s key players, including Nick Warren, Pete Tong, Nic Fanciulli and James Talk.
Already an anthem in Ibiza, it’s now bursting out of the Balearics, thanks in part to plays on Radio One’s Essential Mix, and already has fans eager to get their hands on Part 2…
Hand clappin’, foot tappin’, knee slappin’…. Mr.A-Skillz presents the latest hot nugget from Finger Lickin’. ‘Happiness’ is a collaboration with south coast superstar dj, Krafty Kuts. Sunshine sounds that swing a punch at the credit crunch whilst the world slips into recession, ‘money won’t bring happiness’. Could this be the anthem to save us from national meltdown? Funky brass stabs, jazzy keys and hand clappin beats make this an instant hit, already proven so at A-Skillz’s sell out shows and championed by Radio 1’s Annie Mac.
On the flip, A-Skillz has hooked up with beatbox legend BeardyMan who recently performed in front of Al Gore alongside Wycleff Jean and Will I Am at a computer convention in the States. A long night locked in the studio with a case of shandy’s and the dynamic duo came up with this fun-tastic JB inspired groove. All vocal dexterity comes courtesty of one man’s mouth and another’s nifty talents on his laptop.
Check out the bonus Beardy-pella for 100% beatbox execution.
Label: Finger Lickin Records Release Date: 8th December 2008
Catalogue Number: FLR094
Track Listing:
A. ‘Happiness’ (Original)
AA. ‘Got The Rhythm’
AA2. Beardypella
More info on Finger Lickin’ Records can be found at: http://www.fingerlickin.co.uk/
SECRET MACHINES have teamed up with iMeem to premiere their hypnotic new video “ATOMIC HEELS”, the glam-rocking first single release from their ambitious self-titled third album, “Secret Machines”. Director Brantley Gutierrez used a digitized multi-layering technique to create a 3D-like backdrop that conjures singer Brandon Curtis’ vertigo-induced vision of a mesmerizing, alienating muse which haunts and taunts him. The result is a super-saturated 4-minute journey through a strobe-heavy array of experimental art madness, synchronized to a pulsating groove. Click on the stills below or the imeem weblink to check it out… http://www.imeem.com/secretmachines
SECRET MACHINES’ ambitious self-titled third album is released 19th January on World’s Fair / Cooperative Music.
“The band has always been more than our individual egos; we’re no less the Secret Machines now than we’ve ever been,” says singer/bassist/keyboardist Brandon Curtis. When his brother, Ben Curtis, parted company to focus on his new band School of Seven Bells last year, Brandon and drummer Josh Garza knew this didn’t mean the end. Unfazed and undaunted, the Machines continued to forge ahead and carve out a new identity out of their many influences, resulting in their ambitious third album, “Secret Machines”.
As well as being their most ambitious album to date, the new record is a logical creative step for Secret Machines, over Now Here Is Nowhere (2004) and Ten Silver Drops (2006). It builds upon the foundation established with those albums while showing that Secret Machines have solidified as a band, even in metamorphosis.
Having just completed the Levi’s Ones To Watch tour, Flashguns release their debut single ‘Timehouse Blue’ on Blue Flowers Records on 1st December.
Since leaving school in the summer, Flashguns have been making a name for themselves with a string of dates up and down the UK recently. Inspired by the likes of The Smiths and Orange Juice, Flashguns are a barrage of ideas and ‘Timehouse Blue’ captures this perfectly.
Creativity abounds, with styles clashing sometimes mid-song, but always held together by their keen pop sensibility; their constantly evolving sound, borne out of furious song-writing will be making an imprint on peoples minds in the coming months.
They’ve already been in session with the likes of Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq, and appeared on the Radio 1 stage at Reading/Leeds Festival this year. After performing at the SWN festival last weekend they’re now back out on the road for a selection of Club NME shows with White Lies, and host a single launch party at The Social on the 1st December.
The unstoppable Hard2Beat Records home of Basshunter, H’two’O, September and Platnum present to you this year’s answer to the Macarena…
Do It Like A Truck has been causing a stir throughout the summer holiday resorts this year for all the right reasons! You couldn’t walk past a bar in Greece or Spain without hearing this infectious track.. the cheeky dance has got revellers uploading homemade videos to YouTube racking up over 1million views!
With Geo Da Silva fever sweeping across Europe it was only a matter of time before this dance floor gem hit the UK, just in time for festive parties!!
The track has been the biggest dance record in Greece, Spain and Turkey all summer and with the final UK tourists returning home it is set to take the UK charts by storm! With its insanely catchy lyrics it won’t be long until you catch yourself singing along to this track in even the most inappropriate situations..
If the track wasn’t enough of a talking point the video features a bevy of Romanian Bikini clad beauties showing you exactly how to, erm, Do It Like A Truck..
After years of anticipation, the freshly named Gaymers Camden Crawl is pleased to announce the addition of Camden’s historic Roundhouse venue as jewel in the crown of the festival’s participating venues. The 2009 event will also see the inauguration of its official broadcast partnership with digital radio station BBC 6 Music. As is tradition, Camden Town will play host to over a mile and a half of fantastic new talent for over thirty hours across more than forty venues. In addition to its customary stellar line up of live music acts, the festival will feature a vast array of interactive daytime activities and cutting edge performances across the arts, including visual art, comedy, spoken word, theatre and much more.
In recent years, the Crawl has seen the likes of Kate Nash, Mystery Jets, Klaxons, The Cribs, Noah & The Whale, Adele, The Kooks, Calvin Harris, Sway, The Fratellis, Lethal Bizzle, Cage The Elephant, Hot Chip and Sam Sparro cut their teeth in Camden Town amongst such legends as Buzzcocks, Billy Bragg, The Charlatans, Moby, The Damned, Amy Winehouse and Echo & The Bunnymen. The 2009 Gaymers Camden Crawl, scheduled to take place Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April, is sure to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors featuring the hottest new acts converging in one location to launch the festival season.
The programme kicks off from midday on Friday the 24th until the wee hours of the following Sunday. Upon arrival each ticket holder will be presented with an all-access wristband, programme guide, timetable and free download album to help plot his/her day’s adventure. ‘Crawlers’ are granted unlimited access to all official festival venues featuring more than 150 live artists, daytime activities & arts programme and aftershow parties capacity permitting.
In keeping with Crawl tradition and the spirit of discovery, the full line-ups and stage times remain a closely guarded secret until each night and surprise guests may appear at any time and at any venue.
The evening line-ups are selected by a committee of music industry tastemakers, including radio DJs, club promoters, journalists and record labels. The most hotly tipped acts will appear on the bill both days, alternating venues on Friday and Saturday to allow die-hard Crawlers two opportunities to see their most coveted artists. All other artists will perform on one day or evening of the event only.
Tickets for the Gaymers Camden Crawl 2009, available as either 2-day or single day passes, go on sale 9:00 am Monday 17th November. Initial line-ups will be announced January 2008.
This is the promise from the promoters of Loaded, the unique house and dance music that for the past five years has taken over the sixteenth century stately house Dunkenhalgh hotel with its increasingly popular NYE weekender.
Determined to out-do last year’s outrageously mad-capped antics this time the theme is ‘Modern Masquerade’ with the whole event being billed as more lavish and utterly more devilish than ever before.
Promoter James Harvey tells;
“This year the plans we have in place are our must adventurous yet with production being taken to the next level. Once again we plan the Amnesia, Ibiza style ice-cannons, but there will be also some new surprises in store. We’ve also introducing a ‘Modern Masquerade’ theme which will hopefully inspire some wild and wacky costume ideas.”
“Anyone who loves to party-hard in nice surrounding should check it out”
Music is also key at Loaded parties and this year being no-different. The main room hosted by Supersocial’s very own ‘Body Language’ will give up to the house and electro sounds of local heroes Hugh Garry (Juice FM, Garlands, Twisted Elegance), Digital Djs (Creamfields, Body Language) and Jamie Harvey (Retro). T-Total and Dan Gardner will push the button on the latest R’nB in for Urban Antics in room 2, while a more chilled vibe will be on offer from Manchester based club night Funkademia in the Northern Funk arena.
In recent years Loaded NYE has sold-out so another change for LOADED 2008 is a new ticketing system whereby party-goers will need to find an ‘invite wallet’ to be able to buy tickets. Each one includes a unique scratch card with a dedicated ‘key code’ enabling up to four people to book tickets from the online site www.weareloaded.net.
Explains Jamie;
“We’re putting on a slightly reduced capacity this year; which means there will be less tickets on sale than usual; so we’ve decided to put a system in place which will mean that our keen fans will be guaranteed a place. The wallets also add a sense of mystery to our event which fits our masquerade theme. We hope people will find it fun.”
If you want to get your their hands of an Invite Wallet should sent an email to info@supersocial.net
Those of you who want to stay over can book one of the 175 bedrooms on a first come, first served basis (+44)1254/398021
Main Room – Hosted By Body Language DigitalDjs, Huey, Jamie Harvey, Ben OC
RnB Room – Hosted By Urban Antics, Dan Gardner , T-Total
On Saturday 29th November, Hed Kandi will transform Pacha into a decadent and dazzling ballroom for its Black and White Glitter Ball, a night that will offer a supreme music policy and electrifying party atmosphere all with a dramatic and glamorous twist.
In the main room, The Black and White Glitter Ball, the music will be supplied by Hed Kandi head honcho Phil Faversham and Andy Daniels whilst backroom don Dave Baxter will supply a night of house party classics in the Global Room. The Lovely Laura on sax and Pav on percussion, alongside the sophisticated Hed Kandi dancers, will also be supplying sound and vision enhancement all against a backdrop of glittering décor.
The endlessly up for it and immaculate Hed Kandi crowd will be also invited to join in the theme, with black and white attire being rewarded with priority entrance on the night.
Hed Kandi will once again exceed expectations as it pulls out all stops to present this lavish event.
This is the final Hed Kandi event at Pacha for 2008. A perfect ending to a perfect year, and a stunning warm up to the Hed Kandi NYE event on 31st December at indigO2, The O2 Arena.
Advance tickets available from www.clubtickets.com and www.ticketweb.co.uk
Ministry of Sound London, the world’s most renowned clubbing venue, will launch its very own DJ Academy on 5th December 2008. A unique one day course that will invite music enthusiasts from all over the globe on to its legendary soundsystem, to study DJ skills with the biggest names in dance music including Danny Rampling, Ray Keith, Chad Jackson and Karl Brown.
Since Ministry of Sound first opened its doors back in 1991 it has become the venue that DJ’s and clubbers have admired. Whether on the decks or on the dancefloor, dance music enthusiasts have travelled far and wide to become a part of the Ministry of Sound experience. Now the club is giving dance music fanatics the opportunity to go behind the scenes to kick start their own DJ career, and learn first hand exactly why it has become the most pioneering and celebrated venue to ever exist in clubland.
TUITION
Starting on Friday the 5th December, and taking place every month thereafter, the MoS DJ Academy will introduce a DJ teaching course to rival all courses of its type currently in the market. The course, which has been devised by Jim Jomoa a DJ & Producer and full time DJ Lecturer at the ACM in Guildford, will provide students with an intensive one day insight into the world of dance music, guiding them through a full DJ aptitude programme whilst also supplying vital information about the nightlife industry, its many career options and guidance towards how to market and develop oneself as a DJ in what has become a very desirable workplace.
TUTORS
The real significance for anyone choosing this course lies in its tutorial team which is made up of eight of dance music’s most legendary DJ’s, all of whom have shaped and influenced their respective genre and scene via their input as DJ’s, promoters and producers. First up is Danny Rampling, reverently known as the Godfather of the British house music scene and a legend all over the globe who will be joined by Karl Tuff Enuff Brown, one half of DJ and production duo TuffJam, a team that alone are held responsible for the emergence of the ‘UK Garage’ scene. Next up is Ray Keith one of Drum & Bass’ foremost DJ’s and remixers whose weekly spot on Kiss 100 continues to supply the most upfront music from this genre. Chad Jackson, one of the UK’s first ever DJ’s and the architect of the ‘Madchester’ house music scene made famous by his legendary Hacienda residency, will also be supplying his extensive experience and knowledge alongside Jazzy M, the first DJ to ever play at Ministry of Sound on its opening night. Other DJ and producers on the rota and currently influencing the scene today are Circo Loco resident Shane Watcha, Jamie Griffiths and aptly named DJ Tutor, who has transformed the DJ tuition market with his on-line tutorials, some of which have received a staggering 338,000 hits in the past year.
VENUE
If the tutors are not enough enticement for those of you already nearing your own superstar DJ status, then the fact that this course takes place within Ministry of Sound on the best soundsystem in the business is bound to have you dribbling on your EQ’s. No other DJ course is able to offer its students the opportunity to play in an actual venue, and certainly not on a sound system of this outstanding quality. This really will be the best tuition on the market, as students will get the extraordinary opportunity to play on equipment including 9 Technics SL1210’s, 7 Pioneer CDJ 1000 MK3’s, 4 Pioneer DVJ 1000’s and a DJM 1000 all on a sound system with a whopping output of 34k at your disposal. It does not get any better than that.
So whether you are simply a beginner who is eager to get started on your DJ career, or indeed an avid mixing anorak who has already dedicated a large part of their life to DJing, this course will enable progression at every level whilst also putting you face to face with industry experts at the greatest venue on the planet. We look forward to seeing you soon.
An introductory price of £299 is available for a limited period of time.
Visit www.ministryofsound.com/djacademy for more information and bookings
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