MAGNETIC MAN AND CRYSTAL CASTLES TO PLAY NME AWARDS TOUR 2011
The NME Awards Tour is back and for 2011 it’s bolder than ever with a line up including 247 Magazine October cover stars Magnetic Man and Crystal Castles. Renowned for giving the freshest new acts their first taste of national notoriety – past alumni include The Arctic Monkeys, The Horrors, Franz Ferdinand and Florence & The Machine – 2011’s line-up represents the most exciting, groundbreaking and visceral acts around. Kicking off on February 3 at Glasgow O2 Academy and the NME Awards Tour stops at Cardiff Uni on February 13 and Bristol 02 Academy on February 15.
NME’s editor Krissi Murison describes the Awards Tour line-up: “This is the most diverse and exciting NME Awards Tour line-up yet and really reflects the range of music that NME champions every week. From the UK’s best new guitar band to dubstep’s first supergroup, it represents the most cutting edge sounds of 2010 and beyond.”
Ethan Kath & Alice Glass AKA Crystal Castles take pole position, headlining the NME Awards Tour 2011. Their relentless rise has seen them cement their position as the biggest band in the blogosphere with music fans’ insatiable desire for all things Crystal Castles helping them to rack up well over 75 million plays across myspace and lastfm. Imbuing synth sounds with the rawest rock n roll spirit their live shows are a startling mix of measured chaos and magic, revolving around Alice’s helter-skelter stage antics. Currently making waves with the effortless pop of their latest single ‘Not In Love’ featuring former NME Godlike Genius Robert Smith, Crystal Castles are always on the edge and utterly unmissable.
Ethan Kath (Crystal Castles) on heading the bill: “We’re looking forward to it, yeah. We’ve done the Radar tour before [in 2008], so this one will be like a step up for us, especially because we’re headlining. I’m a really big fan of Magnetic Man, so I’m looking forward to seeing them every night.”
Magnetic Man, featuring Skream, Benga and scene catalyst Artwork – a holy trinity of Dubstep’s major players responsible for propelling the sound of Croydon bass culture onto the worldwide stage – will be supplying the NME Awards Tour with a sublime live set of spine-shredding sub-bass action. With their eponymous album recently smashing into the official UK Album chart’s top five, Magnetic Man is the consummate supergroup taking electronic music into brand new sonic territory.
Skream (Magnetic Man) on the eclectic bill: “I think it’s gonna work. It’s kind of a sign of the times. You go to a club night now and you no longer have one-genre crowds, it’s better for everyone and makes it more exciting.”
Art-pop purveyors Everything Everything’s sinewy scattergun riffs, note perfect three-part harmonies and throbbing bass marked them out as prime movers for 2010. A critically lauded debut album and some of the standout performances of this year’s festival season have only cemented their reputation as one of the most electrifying acts around.?
Everything Everything commented: “It’s quite an honour to be invited to do this. And, frankly, we’re daunted at playing alongside the might of Magnetic Man particularly. But I think all the acts will bring out the best in each other in that respect. We’re excited and inspired and it’s going to be a grand thing man… ”
The Vaccines, who release their debut double A-sided single, Wrekin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra) / Blow It Up in late November, have bagged the coveted opening slot for the NME Awards Tour 2011. Currently recording their debut album, due in spring of next year, this will be the first opportunity to check out one of the most hotly tipped bands for 2011. Expect to hear a lot more from The Vaccines.
Justin (The Vaccines) on joining the Awards Tour: “It’s an exciting prospect; the thought of playing our music to so many more people than we’re used to. We’re all looking forward to it. Touring is our favourite thing about being in a band. It’s why you start a band, isn’t it?”
Tickets available from Friday November 12 at www.gigsandtours.com
