Longitude Festival: 15 new bands to see & Spotify playlist
Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Spotify | Stage Times
With a festival like Longitude, you probably already know who you’re going to see from the bigger names (if not: Friday: Todd Terje, SBTRKT, Metronomy, Little Dragon / Saturday: Caribou (+Daphni), Glass Animals, Jungle, Alt-J, Hud Mo, Le Galaxie / Sunday: Chemical Brothers, James Blake, Wild Beasts, Danny Brown, Young Wonder) but it’s further down the bill where things get a bit less clear cut. So here’s your guide to your five a day, five new artists to see to help you keep your finger on the pulse. Plus, there’s also a Spotify playlist for the entire festival lineup to listen to.
I’ll be down at the TXFM stage (Sitemap) on Sunday along with the rest of the crew who are DJing there all weekend long.
1. Leon Bridges
Friday, Whelan’s Stage, 4:15pm
Old-fashioned soul is Bridges’ thing. The 27 year-old Texan makes no concessions to modernity, even dressing as well as sounding like vintage Sam Cooke. His album Coming Home is what it is – uplifting soul music for sunny days so fingers crossed for Friday afternoon.
2. Ibeyi
Friday, Heineken Stage, 5:30pm
French Cuban twins with beguiling intertwined voices and instruments. One on a piano, another on percussion (which sometimes extends to her body as an instrument), their worldly songs take in their father’s Yoruba Nigerian tongue, gospel, Buena Vista Social Club styles (who their father played with), jazz and soul. Their XL Recordings debut is a fine album but live, as they did at Other Voices, is where they shine.
3. Haelos
Friday, Whelan’s Stage, 3:30pm
With only an EP and a single on Matador Records to their name, the English three-piece Haelos have already established their sound. A rush of synths, hanging percussion and a chorus of voices. ‘Earth Not Above’ is my absolute jam, as featured in my songs of the year list.
4. Hubie Davison
Friday, 5pm, RBMA stage
He might be CdB’s son but let’s not hold that against him. Mr Davison is a modern child versed in electronic music; based in London and releasing music on the Leisure System label that moves between textural electronic ambience and laid back grooves on ‘Get On’ and more dancefloor-edged fare like ‘Khayyam Grey’. Lots of mixes on Soundcloud to peruse.
5. Young Fathers
Friday, Heineken Stage, 6:45pm
When I watched the Glastonbury highlights and saw Young Fathers live footage, it didn’t come across well. That’s the problem with watching live music on the TV, it doesn’t always translate. I know for a fact, that Young Father’s live set is one of the best around at the moment, a gut-punching, tribal, howling, theatrical, visceral blood-let of a show. Their new album is boss.
