With so much going on in the UK live music scene, it’s sometimes easy to forget our European neighbours, so today I thought I’d bring you news of 3 festivals happening in Germany this year.
First up, and hopefully ‘melting’ in the heat of a red hot summer, is the Melt Festival. The team behind the festival have obviously found a formula that works, as they present their 13th festival in 2010, which will be held from the 16-18th July. The festival site, in Ferropolis, will come alive to the sounds of a huge number of national and international acts across the pop/rock/and indie genres. Headline appearances come from Goldfrapp, who will be promoting their new album ‘Head First’, ambient Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience, and the solo project from Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke. Other acts on the bill include Jamie T, Hurts, The Big Pink, DJ Shadow, Tiga, Get Well Soon, The Very Best, Miike Snow, Shout Out Louds, and Delphic. There will also be a pre-festival club night from the Audiolilth Crew. Why not go along and see if ‘13’ will be a lucky number for the ‘Melt Festival’.
If you’d like full ticketing details, and line-up info, surf on over to www.meltfestival.de
If the Melt Festival hasn’t tickled your fancy, then maybe Dockville will be the festival for you! The festival enters its fourth year in 2010, and is hoping to build upon its reputation, not only as a unique/non generic music festival, but as an arts project as well. Festival goers at this years event can expect art installations throughout the festival site, a poetry slam, featuring some of the best German ‘slammers’, and while the festival site is being constructed, a creative holiday camp will be hosted on-site, free of charge, for underprivileged children. But back to the music, and this years line-up includes UK acts The Klaxons and Jamie T, and from Germany, Slime, Jan Delay Disco No 1, Jupiter Jones, and exclusive project from German Rock Legend, Michael Rother, called HalloGallo2010. They will be joined by Cats on Fire from Finland, Tune-Yards from America, and from Iceland, Seabear. The festival takes place in Hamburg from August 13th-15th, and is sure to be a unique experience, but don’t just take my word for it; here’s what Ben from MGMT had to say after his band played their only German date at the festival in 2009: “It is so heartening to know that there are people who care about creating a concert experience that stands out from most of the generic things going on right now and that is run by people who genuinely care about assembling an amazing roster of groups to play at it.”
More information at http://www.dockville.de
Finally, I have news from Berlin of their annual festival, which takes place for the fifth year running at Tempelhof Airport, from the 10th to the 11th September 2010. There will be indoor and outdoor music stages, and a mobile disco to entertain up to 20,000 festival goers, and they have just made their first line-up announcements too. Now I have to admit, the names don’t mean much to me, but I’m sure a quick google session will get you up to speed on all the musical treats that this festival has to offer. For 2010 this will include sets by LCD Soundsystem, Fever Ray featuring Karin Dreijer Anderson, audio visual delights from 2ManyDJ’s, and Soul Wax. Record Label ‘City Slang’ have been given control of a stage, and will present Caribou, Herman Dune, and Port O’Brien, while Boysnoize Records will also be present. Their label roster/line-up includes Strip Steve and Das Glow, Housemeister, D.I.M, and special guest Peaches. You’d think 3 music stages would be enough, but there’s more, as The Berlin Festival also has a partnership with the well known industry event PopKomm, held on the same site. This means festival goers will have access to some international showcase events, and workshops/forums scheduled on the 10th September. I’m sure Berlin is a destination of choice for some of you when it comes to city breaks, but will it come under your festival radar? Only one way to find out!
Full information and ticket details are available online now at www.berlinfestival.de
More UK and European festival news coming soon, so make sure you bookmark www.music.co.uk, and come back for more!