The Ripple Online » Music

The Big Chill Mini Festival

Rajina — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:09:43 +0000

With the dark and dreary weather returning and the festival season over we mourn the death of the summer. However, for the Big Chill, summer does not end in the fields of Herefordshire but carries on in the heart of London in the form of the Big Chill Mini Festival. With three days of music over two venues, the Big Chill Mini Festival is the answer for those who cannot quite let go of the good memories of the Big Chill Festival and for those who wanted to experience the good vibes and good music of the festival but couldn’t bear the thought of portaloos and camping in a field. Saturday night at the Big Chill House proved to keep the festival spirit alive in Kings Cross with an astounding performance from Greg Wilson whose established himself as a festival favourite this year. Described as the ‘Electro Grandaddy’ by the legendary Mr Scruff, Greg Wilson’s great mix of disco, boogie and house beats combined with great vibes and decently priced drinks (at least for London!) it truly felt like summer would last forever…at least until the Big Chill Mini Festival ends.

Beach Break festival review

Rajina — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:32:43 +0000

You’ve got to give it to the Beach Break festival organisers. With only a week to go, a last minute decision was made to move the sold out student event from Polzeath Cornwall to Port Lympne safari park in Kent…surely this was going to disappoint the 10,000 beach lovers? Quite the opposite infact…with a killer line up and elephants, giraffes and gorillas just round the corner, somehow the students didn’t seem to care that this festival was not actually a ‘Beach Break.’ With the sun out and the students all revved up from just finishing exams, it was clear it would be a very boozed up week ahead. With a skate ramp for the adventurous, an artificial beach for the sun loungers, a Chai tent for the tea lovers and an extra fast ferris wheel for the adrenaline junkies, there was plenty of entertainment to keep the rather intoxicated students amused. And what about the music? The main stage played host to many up and coming acts like Dan Black and VV Brown, but who really stole the show were headliners like Ladyhawke, Friendly Fires and of course Dizzee Rascal who had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands. It was not only the main stage that kept the festival punters on their feet. The Forest of Kernow Dance tent was graced by the presence of DJ’s like Scratch Perverts, DJ Yoda and Count & Sinden and despite the poor soundsystem the crowd kept their dancing shoes on until the early hours of the morning. So all in all, despite the rather hectic and last minute changes made to the festival, the festival organisers managed to fight for their right to party to give us one of the most chilled and eclectic festivals around at the moment.

Dizzee Rascal interview

Rajina — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:35:54 +0000

Backstage at Beachbreak festival The Ripple met up with a less than chatty Dizzee Rascal to talk about his new album and robbing pizza delivery boys.

R: Hi Dizzee

D: Hi
R: Ok, so, you’ve got a new album coming out in September?

D: Yeah, Tongue ‘n’ Cheek

R: Can you tell me a bit about it?

D: Er, yeah. Basically it’s a crazy pop album, it’s the kind of album that you can like, have a party to, that was the idea, but yeah, there’s a lot of really up tempo, er, quite happy sounding tracks on it. Bits of dance music elements in it, elements of hip hop, and stuff like that.

R: You’ve done a few collaborations now with the likes of Calvin Harris and Armand Van Helden, are there any more on the new album.

D: Nah, that’s it now

R: Have you got a new single that’s going to be put out before the album?

D: Yeah, it’s another big tune, that’s been produced by Calvin Harris, but he’s not featured in it. It’s called’ Holiday’, and that’s coming out in August.

R: What’s the best thing about being Dizzee Rascal?

D: Just being able to do what I love, to make music and get people dancing is pretty amazing.

R: You’ve had quite a rebellious youth, apparently robbing pizza delivery boys and fighting with teachers, have you lost your wild ways?

D: I’m just getting on with work now.

R: What do you feel proudest of?

D: I guess having a career this long and getting stronger and building the fan base makes me feel proud.

R: And what can we expect from your set tonight?

Er, just a lot of vibes, a lot of energy, that’s what we’re going to bring to the stage tonight.

(l-r Zosia Swidlicka, Dizzee Rascal, Rajina Gurung)

Rajina Gurung

Beach Break Lives!

Rajina — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:55:23 +0000

SOLD-OUT BEACH BREAK LIVE FESTIVAL FIGHTS FOR THEIR RIGHT TO PARTY AND WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A LEGENDARY EVENT!

PLUS: HUGE INDUSTRY SUPPORT AND SECRET GIGS / SUN SET TO SHINE ON BBL 09!

16^TH – 19^TH JUNE 2009

BREAKING NEWS**NEW SITE: PORT LYMPNE SAFARI PARK / KENT

www.beachbreaklive.com

Sold-out student festival Beach Break Live are set to go down in history as a legendary event working against all odds to create their best festival ever in the face of adversity. With just 7 days til show-day, BBL were dealt a huge blow by Cornwall council last weekend when planning permission for the event was rejected in a controversial and unprecedented move by the planning committee, against the advice of the Cornish authorities and the planning officer.

However, BBL HQ had a contingency plan and are delighted to confirm that the stunning Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent will be the home of Beach Break Live 09! While Cornwall council’s decision is being investigated, Beach Break Live have bounced back overnight, determined to deliver the best student festival of 09.

Beach Break Live are building a beach and will still be delivering everything they promised! BBL will have an electric atmosphere with 10,000 students all coming together from across the UK to have the party of the Summer and keeping the Beach Break vibe that has become famous amongst students!

In their announcement to ticket holders Beach Break Live announced:

‘After coming face to face with the prospect of extinction, we followed our animal instincts and headed across the UK in search of safety. Bursting out of the undergrowth amongst the rhino’s, tigers, monkeys, lions and a whole host of other completely splendid looking creatures, Beach Break Live is currently erupting in a blossoming safari spectacular’

Now based in the Garden of England…..Kent….. set in 600 stunning acres, including the lush grounds of Port Lympne Mansion with sea views, Beach Break Live 2009 is about to deliver a legendary festival of revolutionary spirit’.

With the met office predicting 5 days of glorious sunshine, there has been huge industry support for the Beach Break camp and to show allegiance to the most exciting student festival of the calendar, other high profile UK bands want to come along for secret sets! All will be revealed next week..

Headliner Dizzee Rascal says: “Yo big up everyone coming down to Beach Break 09 Really looking forward it’s got a wicked line up. It’s gonna be Bonkers!’

Celia Norowzian, founder of Beach Break Live says: ‘I can’t say how delighted we are. This has been a heartbreaking few weeks but and we literally feel like a miracle has happened! The most shocking thing is that Cornwall’s economy is really struggling in the recession – there’s over 30 firms going bust everyday but we’re still doing our best to bring as many Cornish firms and artists with us as possible’

Beach Breakers are keeping the faith and 2009 will go down in memory as the year we stood strong against all odds, delivering the ultimate student festival of the year as promised.

LIVE:

DIZZEE RASCAL/ THE ZUTONS/ MYSTERY JETS/ FRIENDLY FIRES/ LADYHAWKE/ HADOUKEN / DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP / THE WHIP/ CUBAN BROTHERS/ WILL AND THE PEOPLE / RED LIGHT COMPANY/ EBONY BONES/ DAN BLACK/ VV BROWN/ ESSER/ DELPHIC/ OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT / FLASHGUNS/ ZARIF/ RODNEY BRANNIGAN/ ALESSI’S ARK/ OU EST LE SWIMMING POOL?/ THE HITCHCOCK RULES/ VICES/ YEARNER BABIES/ 8 FOLD/ SPIRES/ THREE SEEDS IN PARIS/ ROKHSAN/ FRE3 PEACE/ THE DIRTY DISCO

DJ’S:

CHASE & STATUS FT. RAGE, TAKURA AND PLAN B/ DJ YODA/ SCRATCH PERVERTS/ KRAFTY KUTS/ CASPA & RUSKO/ TAYO / COUNT & SINDEN/ CRAZE AND KLEVER/ FREESTYLERS (DJ SET)/ JACK BEATS/ THE NEXTMEN / DEEKLINE / DYNAMITE MC/ MC WREC/ URBAN KNIGHTS/ RADIOACTIVE MAN/ UTAH JAZZ/ TRG/ MARC ROBERTS / DEKKER AND JOHAN

Access All Areas: Glasvegas

Esther — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:29:30 +0000

Scottish sensations ‘Glasvegas’ are the hottest band around at the moment. Guitarist Rab Allan talks to the Ripple about battling the charts with Metallica and being the next Westlife.

You’re the most hyped band of the year with the NME hailing your album, “the best album of the year,” how do you feel about it?

I agree with them, I think it’s the best album of the year! In terms of pressure, the pressure was when James was writing the album and no-one knew who we were and we were lucky that everyone in the press seemed to like it. There are different pressures now like getting out of bed in time!

Your album was beaten to number one by Metallica, any bitter feelings?

None at all, I went to the bookies and put money on them, so I got something out of it! We knew from day one that they would get to number one as they’re one of the biggest bands in the world. We weren’t that far off, we’ve sold a lot of albums and I’m surprised at that.

How would you describe your sound to new listeners?

It’s quite hard to describe, it’s a big sound and very orchestral.

Your music is quite wall of sound like, was Phil Spector a big influence on the music?

When we started we listened to the Spector Christmas album a lot. We love the girl groups stuff, the 60’s was an
incredible time.

What do you think of other so called 60’s soul singers like Duffy?

I think she’s got a great voice but there are many people like her trying to do the whole 60’s thing but it still comes out very pop sounding and not very original at all. I don’t think there’s a lot of stuff going on and people could do something really good if they tried.

If only you were all girls, you could have been the next Ronettes!

We could have also been the next Westlife!

You’ve also been likened to Jesus and Mary Chain and Oasis, how do you feel about the comparison?

I guess the main issue is the stand up drummer and the feedback on the guitar, but other than that I don’t see the comparison with Oasis, it’s probably because were friends with the man responsible for Oasis, Alan McGee.

Is he a nice chap?

He’s an incredible guy and to be friends with him is bizarre because when I was growing up Oasis was my favourite band and to be friends with him is so weird.

You’re supporting 80’s legends Echo and the Bunnymen on their Ocean Rain tour, were they an influence on you growing up?

Not really, the first time I really listened to them was last year, I always knew all the hits but then we did a festival with them last year and they blew us away. I was with the band yesterday, we were at the embassy getting our visas and one of them collapsed and fainted because he got wasted the night before and Ian McCulloch just walked and left him. The guys a legend.

Is there anyone else you want to work with in the future?

Kate Bush, she’s incredible and most of the people we’d like to work with are dead!

Coming from Glasgow would you say that there’s quite a tight music scene in Glasgow?

I guess it depends where you go in Glasgow, we weren’t involved in the arty scene because we came from the East End and all the other bands like Belle and Sebastian and Idlewild come from the West End. The East End is more deprived, people aren’t really into music they’re into smoking dope and drinking and that’s about it whereas the West End is quite arty.

A fan described your music as ‘life changing’; do you believe that your music has the ability to change lives?

I think all music can because music’s done it to me before, it’s a subjective thing. I think with us people either really love us or think were totally shit. So you’re like the marmite of bands? Do you know what I’m going to use that! It’s always one way or other, if someone’s said that then we’ve achieved what we set out to do.

Have you got any advice for any other bands trying to make it?

We got put down a lot for what for what we were doing, we’d play ‘Daddy’s Gone’ and people would say we were a joke but we just kept on at it.

If you weren’t in a band what would you be doing now?

I wanted to be a teacher and I also wanted to be in a band but I was told that it would never happen…guess they were wrong.

Rajina Gurung

The Prodigy ‘Invaders Must Die’ album review

Rajina — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:28:36 +0000

After a 5 year break, the Prodigy are back with their fifth album, Invaders Must Die, claiming it to be their best yet. With countless hits, such as Firestarter and Breathe and four albums hitting the top spots, are the Essex boys still able to prove that they have more to offer us after 18 years of bringing electronic beats to many generations of ravers? Evidently so, with the album charting at number 1 in its first week, even knocking Kings of Leon off the top spot.

Invaders Must Die shows a mix of their old skool rave roots, whilst bringing in more aggressive rock elements, particularly evident in Run With The Wolves, which is a track built around Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl’s drum part. Grohl’s rapid drumbeats mixed with Keith Flint’s anthem-like chants mould perfectly to provide a cutting edge track which is certain to have this year’s festival goers bouncing around. Other stand out tracks include Omen and Invaders Must Die which received chart success and echoes the likes of electro act Does It Offend You Yeah? Unsurprisingly, this comparison is aided by the fact that the Does It Offend You Yeah? singer James Rushent co-produced these tracks.

So have the Prodigy really brought us their best ever record? Arguably, its nothing completely different and new from previous records but it won’t fail to have the fans dancing their socks off with their glowsticks and whistles in hand.

4/5