Angus & Julia Stone, currently enjoying global success with their sophomore album ‘Down The Way’, return to the UK for their second tour this year in December.

The duo who kick started their career in the UK – and consider London their second home – have steadily amassed a devoted following alongside considerable critical acclaim. Having wrapped up their spring tour with a sold out show at Shepherds Bush Empire, they’ll return in December for six shows including a date at the Royal Festival Hall.

Meanwhile the band’s profile is rapidly on the rise across Europe with ‘Big Jet Plane’ a huge radio hit in France along with sales of over 30k for their current album.  They will play an extensive run of dates across Switzerland, Germany, France and Holland ahead of their UK tour.

Tickets for their UK tour are on sale on from Friday July 23rd with full list of dates and ticket outlet info as follows:

DECEMBER
4th BRIGHTON, St Georges Church
5th LEEDS, The Wardrobe
7th GLASGOW, Oran Mor
9th LONDON, Royal Festival Hall
10th FALMOUTH, Princess Pavillions
11th BRISTOL, Trinity Centre

The siblings have just taken part in a week of collaborations and gigs put together by Communion – the label and club night co-founded by Ben Lovett from Mumford & Sons.  The fruits of their labours will be heard on a compilation album – also featuring likes of Lissie, Lyre Birds and Sarah Blasko – to be released later this year.

OBELISK ARENA

~ John Grant ~

THE WORD ARENA

~ Angus & Julia Stone ~ Frightened Rabbit ~ Villagers ~

~ School Of Seven Bells ~ Rox ~

SUNRISE ARENA

~ Lissie ~ These New Puritans ~

Latitude Festival returns for an incredible 5th Edition on 15-18th July 2010 set in the beautiful countryside of Henham Park Estate on Suffolk’s Sunrise Coast.

The eclectic Latitude Festival continues to hold its position as a strident and unique summer event with a bill that defies the traditional. Upon the backdrop of the incomparable Suffolk countryside, Latitude incorporates the very best of music, theatre, comedy, literature, film, poetry, dance, art, fashion and cabaret for a memorable weekend of bliss and adventure as well as inspiration and education. Four music arenas are to host a tantalising blend of musical talent from new bands, rising stars and a global outlook, whilst the arts programme spills over into  thirteen arenas and areas providing something for everyone – no matter what you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it;  once again making Latitude the finest destination for your summer.

~ OBELISK ARENA ~

The Obelisk Arena is the focal point for many of Latitude’s most memorable performances and with a line up that boasts some superb acts, this year will be no different. Heading the bill are Florence + the Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend while the likes of Empire of the Sun, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Laura Marling, The Temper Trap, Hockey, Frank Turner and The Strange Boys provide an impressive array of talent. Joining this incredible line-up is:

As the frontman of mid-nineties US alt rock band The Czars, who were one of Bella Union’s first signings, John Grant made a name for himself. As a result, after their disbandment, John Grant has played in bands such as Midlake and The Flaming Lips. He recently released his debut album ‘Queen of Denmark’, recorded with his sometime bandmates Midlake, who were happy to return the musical favour. The album contains a lush landscape of acoustic instruments which boasts John’s striking voice blended with haunting falsetto, another tantalising prospect for Latitude.

~ THE WORD ARENA ~

Under the large canopy that comprises The Word Arena will be an amazing set of alternative artists crossing genre boundaries seamlessly where you’ll discover a host of fresh and exciting acts from across the spectrum. With The National, The xx and Grizzly Bear adorning the top of the bill and Richard Hawley, The Feeling, The Coral, Kristin Hersh and Black Mountain spread across the weekend, it’ll be hard to tear yourself away. Just added:

Australian siblings Angus & Julia Stone are returning to our shores clutching their second full-length album ‘Down The Way’. Their whimsical, folk-addled strains and elegant harmonising have spurred them to number one in their native homeland, while their support of Martha Wainwright in Europe has honed their live performance making them a definite highlight in Latitude’s bill.

Nowhere near as timid as their name suggests, Scottish heroes Frightened Rabbit are currently ensnaring a growing global audience. The critical acclaim garnered by the brutal truthfulness of second album ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ spurred the band into Biffy Clyro support slots and end of year lists. New album ‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’ shares a lyrical snap with a rousing anthemic musical direction, meaning they’ve hit the upper half of the US Billboard 200 and continue to grow in stature in the UK, especially in a live capacity. Their deafening singalongs at Latitude will echo resoundingly across the lake and greenery of the festival’s surrounds.

One of Domino’s latest slew of excellent signings, Villagers are a Dublin quartet whose gentile, yet robust strummed musings bring to mind Devendra Banhart and the hugely successful Mumford & Sons. They were placed sixth in The Irish Times ‘50 Best Irish Acts Right Now’ last April, toured with the Tindersticks in March and recently appeared on Later…With Jools Holland. They’re sure to top all of that with their summery set for Latitude.

New York three piece School of Seven Bells will be heading to Latitude festival  bringing with them their gentle guitars and jagged beats; with silky vocals hiding behind grumpy, alien synthesizers they’ll bring insidiously catchy music to The Word Arena on Saturday. Dipping into tracks from their debut album ‘Alpinisms’, they’ll surely take everyone in to the fantasy world of dream-pop and abstract beauty.

Soundtracking Rimmel adverts and signing to the UK’s premier independent label Rough Trade certainly hasn’t done South London singer Rox any harm. Having already toured with Daniel Merriweather and Mark Ronson and highlighted in the BBC Sound of 2010 poll, Roxanne Tatei is in good stead for the release of her debut album before her Latitude performance. With her slinky soul pop capturing the attention of a wide range of music fans, we’d expect a healthy, eager audience for this rising star.

~ SUNRISE ARENA ~

A deliciously unexpected treat awaits within the fragrant woods on the other side of the lake. The Sunrise Arena is host to a splendid foray of new acts and is the place to discover tomorrow’s stars today. Girls, Archie Bronson Outfit and Darwin Deez headline this woodland retreat and joining them are the diverse sounds of First Aid Kit, Jesca Hoop and Egyptian Hip Hop. Adding to this exciting bill is:

All the way from the banks of the Mississippi River, Lissie will be sharing her smokey vocals (which have drawn comparisons to Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde) and her finely etched songs with us.  Fuelled by tequila, tomato juice and a broken heart, her eagerly anticipated debut album ‘Catching A Tiger’ is soon to hit the streets and includes the single ‘In Sleep’ which has stunned critics.

These New Puritans were never going to make things easy for us or them. Second album ‘Hidden’ was written partly on bassoon, with six foot Japanese taiko drums and Foley recording techniques jammed into the recording sessions. Their dark, warped merging of urban music’s samples, beats and rasped vocals, guitar trickery and hitherto unimagined clashes of classical and electronica is a vicious, exceptional force. Returning to Latitude after a year’s absence, TNP will be looking to mesmerise more, bringing them into their unforgiving yet infinitely rewarding vortex.

Elsewhere throughout the weekend, festival goers can enjoy, among many other things: the comedy stylings of Emo Philips, Phill Jupitus & Friends Improv Show and Richard Herring; literary musings  from the ever-popular Robin Ince’s Book Club with Kevin Eldon, Jo Neary, Robyn Hitchcock, Josie Long & Gavin Osborn as well as a playwriting session with Polly Stenham; leftfield poetry from Wendy Cope, John Cooper Clarke and  Eddie Argos; dramatic performances courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House, Bush Theatre and Sadler’s Wells to name but a few, cabaret performances from Rich Fulcher, Laura Solon and Idiots Of Ants; BAFTA return to the Film & Music Arena with Q&As and discussions, with award-winning director Paul Greengrass already confirmed.

It really is a place like no other; an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you’ve ever wanted to be whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery.

Record Label: Flock

Download Album:

Our Rating:

A batter who fails to get on base 50 per cent of the time is still brilliant; a boxer who walks into half the punches thrown at him had better reserve a hospital bed. EPs are probably somewhere in between; with two hits and a brace of duds, ‘Big Jet Plane’ still comes out on the side of the angels and definitely wears a halo. ‘Big Jet Plane’ is a departure from the Aussie siblings’ usual indie folk, upping the summery pop tones to radio-friendly levels. Angus’ characteristically relaxed tones are edged with yearning and the simple, repetitive lyrics gain in resonance as the string-heavy song slowly builds up. More of a struggle is Angus’ other song, ‘My Malakai’ – a sub-par B-side that, unless my ears deceive me, is about his dog. One of the things that makes Julia’s voice so distinctive is its childish quality, but add a chorus and you get a song so twee that it can cause diabetes at a hundred paces. By contrast, her acoustic cover of the Grease number ‘You’re The One That I Want’ is pretty awesome, working both as a playful reinterpretation and as a song in its own right. Overall verdict? Worth getting for ‘Big Jet Plane’ and ‘You’re The One That I Want’ but all killer, no filler this ain’t.

If ‘enchanting’, ‘charming’ and ‘whimsical’ are the sort of adjectives you like with your music, then Australian indie folk duo Angus & Julia Stone are the band for you. Julia sang in breathy Joanna Newsom tones while twirling barefoot around the stage, while brother Angus’ laconic stoner vocals were strained through Woodstockian levels of facial hair. Add a set liberally sprinkled with fairy lights and anyone allergic to hippies would have come out in hives before the Stone siblings had chance to strum their acoustic guitars.

Those with higher flower power tolerance were in for a laid-back treat, from catchy dream pop opener ‘And The Boys’ to closing number ‘Santa Monica Dream’, a slow-burner packed with bittersweet nostalgia. Along the way we were given a nicely varied selection from Angus & Julia Stone’s back catalogue as well as latest album ‘Down The Way’ (plus a rather unexpected cover of ‘You’re The One That I Want’ from Grease). In a show conspicuously devoid of duds, highlights included the powerfully downbeat ‘I’m Not Yours’ and an exuberant version of ‘Private Lawns’ featuring a one-handed trumpet solo from Julia.

Angus & Julia Stone are a bit of a marmite group – this reviewer adores Julia’s voice, but can see some people are irritated by its ‘childish’ tones – but gigs like this should win them new friends. Angus & Julia Stone are the musical equivalent of lying on a California beach watching the sunset and feeling mellow. And who doesn’t fancy a spot of that?

Record Label: Flock Music

Download Single:

Our Rating:

Aussie brother-sister duo Angus & Julia Stone may have been making music together for a few years now, but they were new to this reviewer. If ‘And The Boys’ is anything to go by, I’ve been missing out; Julia’s sweetly skewed vocals – kinda CocoRosie, a little Martha Wainwright – are a perfect fit for this dreamy pop love song. The lyrics are spot on too; ‘There’s gold falling from the ceiling of this world / Falling from the heartbeat of this girl’ may not sound particularly special when taken out of context but trust me, they work. Nor do the B-sides disappoint, with the sparse, acoustic folk sound of ‘Change’ and ‘Take You Away’s swelling strings demonstrating that Angus & Julia Stone aren’t one-trick ponies when it comes to song writing. Ethereal, heartfelt and downright lovely stuff; highly recommended so long as you’re not the sort who bleeds from the ears at the first hint of tweecore.