The Big Chill has unveiled it’s headliners Kanye West and Rodrigo y Gabriela, both UK festival exclusives, and The Chemical Brothers plus more as the first confirmed artists for 2011. Nestled in the idyllic surroundings of Eastnor Castle Deer Park in Herefordshire, The Big Chill celebrates an impressive 17th year from 4th – 7th of August 2011.
Crowning the Deer Park Stage on Friday night are The Chemical Brothers, a duo who can easily lay claim to the title of dance music royalty. Tracks cited as classics by fans and peers alike such as Hey Boy, Hey Girl, Block Rockin’ Beats and Galvanize are a regular fixture in clubs from the UK to Ibiza and beyond. They have proved their amazing abilities as a live act through many performances at Brixton Academy and festivals worldwide. The Chemical Brothers are bringing their Further Tour to The Big Chill, currently receiving rave reviews for its beats, visuals and light show which are blowing away fans and critics across the globe.
Saturday night’s Deer Park Stage headliner will be the boundary pushing hip-hop superstar Kanye West. The multi- platinum rapper and producer has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and has collaborated with a list of artists that reads like a true “Who’s Who” of popular music over the past decade including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and JanetJackson to name but a few. Kanye West’s performance at The Big Chill in 2011 is a UK festival exclusive; fans need look no further for the only place to catch this interstellar set featuring tracks such as Stronger, Gold Digger and Love Lockdown.
From the bars and pubs of Dublin to five consecutive sell out shows at London’s 10,000 capacity venue, Shepherd’s Bush Empire in November, Rodrigo y Gabriela’s rise to success has been meteoric. Despite meeting whilst playing in thrash metal bands the duo are now renowned for their folk and Latin style, played to a virtuoso level on acoustic guitars. The pair have scored number one albums both in Ireland and in the US, topping the American Billboard’s World Music Charts for 10 weeks, consequently they performed for US President Barack Obama at The White House. Rodrigo y Gabriela’s set at The Big Chill is yet another UK festival exclusive continuing the festival’s history of diverse and globe-spanning programming.
Also appearing on the Deer Park Stage on Friday will be Neneh Cherry, the BRIT Award-winning Buffalo Stance star’s performance will be her first UK festival appearance since Glastonbury 1997. Critically acclaimed indie band and Mercury Music Prize nominees Wild Beasts will appear as well as experimental indie from Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Alt-rock outfit Electrelane will break their three year hiatus in an exciting return to the stage and Mahala Raï Banda complete Friday’s line-up as confirmed so far with gypsy-inspired Balkan sounds.
Saturday welcomes Soulwax side project and duo famed for their bootlegs and visuals, 2manyDJs, to bring the Deer Park Stage to a triumphant close. Armed with an Olympic standard set of vocal chords Jessie J has stormed the charts recently with her slick pop tracks now destined to play out for The Big Chill. Currently receiving rave reviews and gracing magazine covers Metronomy bring their quirky electro-indie-pop to the table while Janelle Monáe offers up an energetic performance of futuristic funk-pop sure to electrify the Deer Park. Electronic influences collide in the form of the Basque-influenced group Crystal Fighters and The Knocks prove their status as one of the ‘20 hottest producers in the world right now’ according to NME.
We are joined by a legend on Sunday as Robert Plant and The Band of Joy take to the Deer Park Stage. Named after Plant’s first band and also featuring Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, The Band Of Joy’s blend of folk, blues and rock comes with true musical pedigree. Creating ethereal art-rock at The Big Chill will be taste-maker favourites Warpaint. Of celebrated lineage is Femi Kuti & the Positive Force, eldest son of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and renowned saxophonist, band leader and world music icon brings with him rich international flavours. MBE and The Big Chill regular Norman Jay makes a welcome return in 2011, also performing are British reggae originals Steel Pulse. The Deer Park’s bounty as confirmed so far is completed by the improvisational About Group featuring Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip.
Headlining The Revellers’ Stage on Friday will be MOBO award winning rapper, Chipmunk who although only 20 years of age has scored an impressive five top 10 singles and a number two album with his debut I am Chipmunk. Following Chipmunk’s set is one of London’s most prominent DJs in the grime and dubstep scenes; Plastician. The soulful Californian solo artist Aloe Blacc also joins the line-up as well as New York DJ Andy Butler’s glittering disco collective Hercules and Love Affair. Another veteran of The Big Chill joins us in 2011 in the form of reggae and roots legend Horace Andy, not only has Andy performed several times at the festival but also audiences will know his voice well form his several guest appearances on Massive Attack albums. New Zealand’s leading hip-hop soul artist, originally part of all-girl crew Sheelahroc, Ladi6 is making waves now as a solo perfomer and also joins The Big Chill’s line-up. Slicing indie with electro and pop Fenech-Soler take to the Revellers’ Stage, as will Cubic Zirconia completing the line-up so for Friday.
Saturday at The Revellers’ Stage sees chart-topper Calvin Harris headline with a set of his infectious electropop featuring tracks such as number one smash I’m Not Alone. Blending pop with electro and rap Example, otherwise known as Elliot Cleave, has also enjoyed much chart success recently with his breakthrough second album Won’tGo Quietly and is sure to get The Big Chill crowd dancing this year. With over 10 million YouTube views for videos such as their risqué take on Ke$ha’s Tik Tok, comedy/music trio The Midnight Beast appear at The Big Chill alongside fellow Revellers’ Stage performers. Also stepping up to the mic will be Katy B, who has previously tackled vocal duties on tracks by dubstep heavyweights Magnetic Man and since gone on to carve her own path to stardom with the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Katy On A Mission. Completing Saturday’s line-up so far are leading grime MC Devlin and classical/techno cross over trio The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble who have assembled an increased ten-piece live band for The Big Chill set.
Bringing some sonic time travel to The Revellers’ Stage on Sunday will be Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings reviving the funk and soul sounds of the 60s and 70s, Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro, the DJ, musician and producer also brings soul and funk sounds to 2011’s line-up. Known as the father of Ethiojazz, Mulatu Astatke and his backing band for this special show The Black Jesus Experience offer up The Big Chill some international flavour. With a BBC Sound of 2011 poll nomination under his belt The Revellers’ Stage welcomes the soulful solo artist and Burial-produced Jamie Woon, and Chase & Status guest vocalist Liam Bailey.
The People’s Ear Stage headliner for Friday will be Californian producer and laptop musician Flying Lotus (Live), similarly electronic will be a set from rising Mancunion DJ xxxy and head of the Hotflush imprint and instrumental dupstep DJ in his own right Scuba. Leeds-based Afrobeat/jazz nine-piece Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra, multi-talented Trumpeter Matthew Halsall Remixed, and psychedelic/soul trio The Stepkids will also appear. Further additions come in the form of Ghostpoet, the MC whose mellow and broody beats are fast becoming a favourite of the taste- makers and New Zealand hip-hop outfit Electric Wire Hustle.
Saturday offers Buraka Som Sistema as a headliner for what will surely be a body-shaking set of their techno beats and African kuduro sounds. Favourite of both funky and grime scenes producer Lil Silva heads to The Big Chill this year as will dubstep band Gentleman’s Dub Club. The People’s Ear Stage also offers the combo performance of jungle producer Congo Natty and Tenor Fly (full live show) and sultry, soulful sounds from Bonobo-produced songstress Andreya Triana. Saturday’s line-up as confirmed so far is completed with bass driven jazz and dub from Leeds-based seven-piece Submotion Orchestra and Afro-futurism courtesy of Spoek Mathambo.
Acclaimed electronic music artist Four Tet tops the bill for Sunday on The People’s Ear Stage joined by rising star of the DJ and remixing world Jamie xx. The Big Chill’s final day also boasts original dub, ska and of course reggae from East Park Reggae Collective and Lily Allen and Graham Coxon producer Prince Fatty presenting Prince Fatty Soundsystem.
Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton have produced everything from industrial techno to electro-funk under numerous aliases but it is their ambient and house sounds produced under the moniker Global Communication (DJ set) for which they are best known. Along with Luke Vibert, Jimmy Edgar and DJ Food these names are the first confirmations for Friday’s Starburst line-up.
Announced for Saturday’s Starburst are performers Kissy Sell Out Symphony of Light, Moda club promoters and up and coming radio DJs Jaymo & Andy George and a set by Craig Charles’ Funk and Soul Show following on from 2010’s popular live broadcast on BBC 6 Music from the site. Also featuring on the line-up will be Starz In Their Eyes singer/MC Just Jack (DJ Set) and Future Boogie DJs.
Sunday, aboard Starburst loses no steam with a headliner set from Mr. Scruff, a regular face at The Big Chill, famed for his marathon length sets and love of tea. Starburst also welcomes Parisian drum ‘n’ bass five-piece Dirtyphonics, the icon of rocksteady DJ Derek and the eclectic Fantastic Mr Fox.
The Big Chill festival 2011
Dates:
4th – 7th August 2011
Location:
Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Eastnor, Ledbury,
Herefordshire, HR8
Website:
www.bigchill.net/festival
The Big Chill Festival tickets
For all information on tickets, including Ticketline’s
4-month ticket purchase payment plan – please go to:
http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info/tickets-0
Tickets (including camping pass):
Adult Weekend: £165 + booking fee
Family Weekend: £165 + booking fee
Child Weekend (13 – 15): £85 + booking fee
Child Weekend (12 and under): £5
Tickets (including limited camping availability):
Friday day ticket: £75 + booking fee
Saturday day ticket: £75 + booking fee
Sunday day ticket: £75 + booking fee
Other tickets:
Car park ticket: £7.50
Campervan ticket: £65 + booking fee
'The Big Reveal 2011 – A Big Chill Radio Special’ With Melvin Benn And Tom Middleton by Big Chill Radio on Mixcloud
