Aeroplane one of the acts who will play Coachella 2010

Aeroplane Coachella 2010

Today’s electronic dance culture is due for a melodic transcendence from the shadowy, industrial electro that has been hammering away at the scene. As dance floors begin to buckle under such weighty beats, the Belgium-based band aptly named Aeroplane is dedicated to elevating its fans toward a higher musical space undefined by standardized genres. They reach for freedom from constraints of predictability, weaving currents of psychedelic guitars, pop keys, disco beats, catchy bass lines and melancholic waves into a singular connection of modern beat-driven music.

At the controls of Aeroplane are Stephen Fasano and Vito Deluca, a duo whose combined experience gives life and emotion to the music. Vito brings with him a producer background that pulsates the hands and heart of Aeroplane, and Stephen’s DJ roots vibrate the eyes and soul. Their unique collaboration of sound and purpose is channelling appreciation from among the biggest DJs and producers around, and the 2007 release of their first 12” entitled “Caramellas/Aeroplane” (Eskimo Recordings) has generated a jet stream of increasing momentum. Subsequent releases have kept their ring tones looping with remix requests from artists like Cobra Dukes, Das Pop, Lindström, Cut Copy, Grace Jones, MGMT, Bloc Party, and Friendly Fires. Projects like these reinforce the integration of electronic music into the omnipresent indie scene. Blends of Cosmic Nu Disco, Psychedelic, Balearic, Emo, etc. are forming a new era of musical hybrids, and explorations are officially under way. After all, machines are human too…

Beachdown Festival to celebrate King of Pop

Beachdown Festival will also be celebrating what would have been the King of Pops 51st Birthday on the 29th August with a medley of artists covering their favourite Michael Jackson songs. Full line-up: Grace Jones, Ocean Colour Scene, The Zutons, Laurent Garnier (live), Super Furry Animals, The Rakes, Saint Etienne, Grandmaster Flash, Prince Buster and the Delroy Williams Junction Band, The Fall, Ida Maria, Terry Callier, Alice McLaughlin, Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics, Quantic and his Combo Barbaro, James Hunter, Acid House Brass, Band, Secret Affair, Joey Negro and the Sunburst Band, The Blockheads, James Taylor Quartet, Dreadzone, Gilles, Peterson, Jazzanova, The Apples, Snowboy and the Latin Section, Jazz CoTech Dancers, Lack of Afro, Nostalgia 77 Octet, Laura Izibor, Belleruche, The Impellers, Funkshone, The Fantastics!, Jah Shaka Sound System 3 day residency, Favela Chic Arena of Stupidity 4 day residency ft Radio Favela, Belleruche (Live), Swap-A-Rama, Zeep Acoustic, Renegade Cinema, The Wheel of Bestune compered by Gringo Da Parada, Ross Clarke, Clek Clek Boom ft Tchiky and Monsieur Boo, Savoir Faire Soundsystem, Sofrito Sound System, Vibes Unlimited, Healer Selecter, Spiegel Tent, Super, Cinema, Cool Cabaret, Postonove Madness, Baile Beats, Samba Stupidity.

Club nights: Blah Blah Blah, Dub Pressure, Slackers Convention ft Pav Luquas and Dirtbomb, Go Bang!, Shameless vs Pop Musik with special guests The Food Fighters and The Justice Force 5 plus Tatoo Parlour, Face Painting, Dance Offs and Competitions, Spellbound, JFB and Ed Solo present Multijam, Bust the Box and Tekkitangwan Sound System presents the Boogie Beach Hut, Playgroup ft Manjinga 7, Kalakuta Millionairs, AK/DK, The Devils Way, Bad Sandwich, Beatabet Band, The Resonator Plus DJ¹s Shamblin Sexton, Baca Maraca, Chiv, Dad Disko, Somewhere in the Universe, Stick it On, full line up TBA, Roots Garden Present Nation Vibration Sound System ft Manasseh, MC Kenny Knots and Leroy Horn, Supercharged ft Cagedbaby, Stero:Type and Sneaky, Ocean Rooms presents Our Friends Electric with very special guest, JP presents Return of The Funky Man, Grace Jones After Party with Wild Fruits Jon Byrne and Dulcie Danger, Tru Thoughts ft Rob Luis, Natural Self and Kinny, Mufflewuffle, Balearic Jukebox ft Trevor Fung.

DJ line-up: Youth ft Zoe, Dub House Disco ft Greg Wilson, Derrick May (& Jim Masters), Soft Rocks and Weirdo Police (live), Wayne Hemingway, Ben Balafonic, DJ Farmer Palmer!, Kliks ft Dan Bell, A Guy Called Gerald, Mia, Alex Smoke, Lee Smith and Mark Lerman, Breakin Bread ft DJ Skeg, Nealy Wheely and Natural Self, Good Times ft Norman Jay, Dave Lee, Craig Woodrow, Hospitality ft High Contrast, Skream, London Elektricity, Ed Rush, Cyantific, Caspa, Break, Randomer, Rod Azlan, MC Wrec and Script, Skints Damian Harris and Andy Mac, Gordon Kaye.

Island Records 50th anniversary book

2009 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Island Records, arguably the most prestigious record label in the history of British music. To mark this milestone the label is entering into the world of book publishing. May 21st ’09 will see the publication of ‘KEEP ON RUNNING – THE STORY OF ISLAND RECORDS’ edited by Chris Salewicz (acclaimed author of recent best-selling Joe Strummer biog ‘Redemption Song’ as well as books on The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and many others) and produced by Universal Island Ltd. and The Island Trading Company Ltd.

‘KEEP ON RUNNING’ is a 226-page full-colour hard-cover commemoration of Island Records, started by Jamaican Chris Blackwell in 1959, the most illustrious record label that the British music business has ever known. Illustrated by copious rare images, including original artwork and photographs from the Island Records archives, ‘KEEP ON RUNNING’ will tell the story of this extraordinary label, its art and its artists, in a series of twelve essays by celebrated writers such as Paul Morley, Jon Savage, Sean O’Hagan, Vivien Goldman, Lloyd Bradley, David Katz, Robin Denselow, Sylvia Patterson, Richard Williams and Joe Boyd. Chapter headings include Out of Jamaica, The Pink Label, Season of the Witch, Glitterball, Roots-Rock Reggae, Singular Voices, The Tuff Gong, Globalisation, From Africa & Beyond, Re-birth Of The Cool and The New Millennium. Photographers include Anton Corbijn, Adrian Boot, Gered Mankowitz, Keith Morris, Andy Earl, Lawrence Watson, Maria Mochnacz, Jean-Paul Goude and Neville Garrick.

The book will be published to coincide with the 50th anniversary celebrations of Island Records in May ’09: these include a large-scale, month-long exhibition of Island artwork and memorabilia in London’s Soho; a week of concerts by key artists at Shepherds Bush Empire; a 90 minute TV documentary about the label; a Radio 2 documentary; and deluxe re-releases of many iconic Island albums, which will continue throughout 2009.

Chris Blackwell founded the Island label in Kingston, Jamaica in 1959 with capital of just £1000. Relocating to London in the early 60s Blackwell built the most diverse and enviable back catalogue of any independent record label in history. From Island’s early Jamaican roots in ska and rock-steady, through the label’s expansion to become the cutting edge of progressive rock in the late 60s, and then on to the signing of such international superstars as Bob Marley and U2, Blackwell brought to Island a unique vision and passion which still informs the label’s approach to this day.

The Island label has been responsible for the careers of some of the biggest stars in music including U2, Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Traffic, Free, Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Toots & The Maytals, John Martyn, Marianne Faithfull, Aswad, Tom Waits, King Sunny Ade, Third World, Roxy Music, Robert Palmer, the B52s, Sly & Robbie, Melissa Etheridge, The Slits, Steel Pulse, Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Pulp, Baaba Maal, Tricky, Talvin Singh, and latterly Amy Winehouse, PJ Harvey, DJ Shadow, Sugababes, Keane, The Fratellis, Scott Matthews, Paul Weller, The Feeling, Portishead and Florence & The Machine.