Take That Feeling The Effects Of Age?

Take That’s Gary Barlow has suggested that he has finally found his bandmates’ weakness, confessing that the other members of the group are all insecure about their age.


The singer, who celebrated his 40th Birthday with a performance in London earlier this year, has said that the other members of the band are all very conscious of their status as ageing popstars.

Speaking toThe Sun,42-year-old Howard Donald confessed:"I am very sensitive about my age. Gary will make jokes that I'm 46 or 47 and it really pisses me off. I feel like I'm still fit enough to go on, I don't feel my age."

While the band are no doubt fitter than most men their age, they are in no way escaping the inevitable signs of getting older: in 2007 Howard Donald ended up in hospital with a collapsed lung after attempting to perform the splits during a Milan show.

However, it would appear that songwriter Gary Barlow is finding it a bit easier to come to terms with his age. He said:"People still find it hard to believe I'm 40. Actually I'm not bothered about age. I'm really happy and it's lovely to be 40, I'd recommend it to anyone. Music is a young person's industry but you want a few of the older bands like us around. We don't have a plan for how long it is going to last."

Take That are currently working on their upcoming‘Progress’ Tour, which is said to involve a set design worth over £15 million.

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The View Unveil Video To Record Store Day Song 'I Need That Record' - Watch Now

Record Store Day, the annual celebration of independent record shops is due to take place tomorrow, April 16th this year and Scottish indie rockers The View have been selected to create an official anthem for the day, a re-recording of 80s powerpop classic ‘I Need That Record’ by The Tweeds.

The track can be heard below and will be released as a limited edition one-sided 7” single available only from participating indie record shops. The band will also be playing an instore show at Rock-a-Boom in Leicester on Record Store Day.

Record Store Day UK organiser Spencer Hickman said, “We are delighted that The View are showing their support in this way.”

Kieren Webster, from The View says:“The internet seems to be taking over music and it’s great to support Record Store Day as vinyl sounds so much better and it's so much more of an experience going to a record store to get your music. The people who work in them are avid music fans willing to help you. Even the simple pleasure of going in and flipping through the second hand bargain bucket is something I still do at least twice a week - think how many bands have been started by like minded musicians who first met in their local record shop. Without independent record shops every local music scene would lose a vital hub. Thisis why I am very proud to be doing my bit for Record Store Day!”

More than 150 independent record stores are expected to take part in this year’s Record Store Day, selling around 100 exclusive and collectible items which will only be available on the day. The day will also feature scores of unique events from PAs to exclusive gigs open only to RSD customers.

Spencer Hickman said,"Record Store Day is the perfect antidote to all the doom and gloom we hear about the music business. It's a day of celebration fuelled by the enthusiasm of artists and fans for record stores."

Last year's Record Store Day reached new heights with queues hundreds-strong forming outside some shops.

The View’s new album ‘Bread And Circuses’ is out now.

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Liverpool Sound City 2011 Announce Day-by-Day Line-ups, More Acts& Tickets

Liverpool Sound City, Merseyside’s coolest city centre music festival, has revealed the day-by-day programming of this year’s event. The urban festival, which runs between 19th and 21st May, will see performances from the likes of The View, Frank Turner, The Young Knives, Cast, Mona and Fucked Up plus many, many more. Among thenewest additions to the line-up are Frankie and the Heartstrings, The Computers and Our Mountain.

Festival Director David Pichilingi said: “This year we have again produced a world-class festival line-up that is reflected in the scope of artists we are bringing to Liverpool in May. We have continued our diverse programming to include people from all over the world converging on our city for atrue showcase of some of the hottest talent out there and many of the next generation of stars who you will see breaking through the ranks in the coming months.”

Here is a list of some of the acts playing at this year’s Liverpool Sound City:


Thursday 19th May

The View, Frank Turner, The Whip, Yuck, Frankie and the Heartstrings, Wretch 32, Pete& The Pirates, Steve Mason, Dutch Uncles, Chain& The Gang, Dinosaur Pile Up, Handsome Furs, TrophyWife, Wolf Gang, Maverick Sabre, Ed Sheeran, The Sand Band, Flashguns, Veronica Falls, The Publicist, Winter Gloves, Delta Maid


Friday 20th May

The Black Lips, Willy Mason, Miles Kane, Clinic, Young Knives, Cults, Kurt Vile& The Violators, Set Your Goals, Ed Sheeran, Three Trapped Tigers, Forest Swords, Wave Machines, Kid British, Colourmusic, Sound Of Rum, Cloud Control, The Chapman Family, The Lines, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Entrepreneurs, Monument Valley, The Computers


Saturday 21st May

Funeral Party, Cast, Mona, Sound Of Guns, Fucked Up, Spank Rock, Jamie xx, Philip Selway, Yasmin, The Phoenix Foundation, Lower Than Atlantis, Fly With Vampires, The Computers, Young Legionnaire, SBTRKT– LIVE, CREEP, Marques Toliver, Lanterns On The Lake, Alex Mills,
Amanda Blank, Niki& The Dove, The Jezebels, Teeth, Hot Club de Paris, Mugstar, Django Django, The Good Natured, Fixers

Click Here to Compare& Buy Liverpool Sound City Tickets

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Glasvegas Frontman James Allan Claims Adele Has“Amazing Soul”

Glasvegas singer James Allan has heaped praise on current UK Number One Adele for redeeming the reputation of London performing arts college, the BRIT School. The frontman showed his appreciation for the‘21’ star, claiming that she has an “amazing soul”.

Speaking to a British newspaper, Allan said:"Growing up, something like the BRIT School was the least cool thing you could admit to. But you meet some people and it makes you more open-minded and helps you understand where they come from.

He continued, confessing that his appreciation for Adele started when he met her randomly in a bar one night:"I can say that I met Adele one night, I didn't know who she was. We were in this bar and when I spoke to her I thought she'd got this amazing soul, a really soulful person."

As well as Adele, the BRIT school has spawned top chart acts including The Kooks, Leona Lewis, Jessie J, Katie Melua and Katy B.

Allan went on in the interview to criticise the current state of the UK singles chart, claiming that success doesn’t mean the same thing that it once did. He said:"I don't think the charts mean what they used to, which is a shame because I love the anticipation. I love it if it's a rock'n'roll band that makes it to the top of the tree, against the odds."

You can watch Glasvegas performing‘Euphoria, Take My Hand’ on this week’s ‘Later...With Jools Holland’ below:

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Justin Bieber Performs Concert In Israel After Political Row

Justin Bieber has become involved in two separate rows during his short trip to Israel this week, hitting out at the notoriously intrusive Israeli paparazzi and giving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the cold shoulder.

Bieber found himself in the middle of a political dispute after refusing to finalise plans to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a group of young children effected by the struggles in the area.

Speaking on the supposed rejection, an aide of Mr Netanyahu toldThe Independent:"The idea was to do an event, which these kids could enjoy, to do something for the kids in the south who haven't had it easy. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out. The initiative didn't come from us. It came from people claiming to be representing the Bieber people."

Bieber’s problems were far from over after local paparazzi made it impossible for the ‘Baby’ singer to visit the country’s holy attractions in peace.

Bieber took to Twitter to express his anger at the intrusion, saying:“You would think paparazzi would have some respect in holy places. All I wanted was the chance to walk where jesus did here in isreal. They should be ashamed of themselves. Take pictures of me eating but not in a place of prayer, ridiculous.”

He continued:“People wait their whole lives for opportunities like this, why would they want to take that experience away from someone. Staying in the hotel for the rest of the week u happy?

“I want to see this country and all the places ive dreamed of and whether its the paps or being pulled into politics its been frustrating”

However according to recent reports, Bieber’s fortunes in Israel are looking up after playing a sold out show at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv. The show is said to have been a huge success, and a journalist fromThe Hollywood Reportereven described the gig as a“triumphant occasion, and likely the first concert most of the kids in the crowd had ever experienced”.

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Charlie Simpson Unveils New Solo Track– Listen Now

Fightstar’s Charlie Simpson has unveiled the lead track from his debut solo album. The singer and guitarist has performed as part of the rock band since 2003, however has ventured out as a solo artist since the band announced their hiatus late last year. Fightstar have been reluctant to set a definite timeframe on their hiatus, simply stating that they will reconvene at some point in 2012 to record another LP.

Simpson released his first solo EP, ‘When We Were Lions’ in December last year, however the new track , entitled ‘Down Down Down’ will be the first song to be taken from his debut full-length release, tentatively titled ‘Young Pilgrim’.

The album was recorded at Metropolis Studios in London, with John Davis behind the helm for production.

You can listen to‘Down Down Down’ below:

Down Down Downbycharliesimo

The former Busted member (Apologies - Busted broke up six years ago, we’re over it, promise) has also scheduled an intimate solo show for next month. The singer will be performing at West London’s Tabernacle venue on May 10th. Tickets for the show were released on Friday (April 15th).

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Fink Announces Release Of New Album 'Perfect Darkness' - Out June 13th

Mention Fink (real name Fin Greenall) and you surprisingly get one of two reactions: head-scratching non-familiarity; or the impassioned response that prompts artists such as John Legend and Professor Green to wax lyrical about him live on air. It is a remarkable void, one which looks set to finally close upon the release of Fink’s latest studio album ‘Perfect Darkness’ on June 13th.


Recorded and mixed by producer Billy Bush ‘Perfect Darkness’ is a smouldering, pulsating, and purposeful book of songs. From its emotion-rousing, self-titled opener, to the darkly cinematic ‘Fear Is Like Fire,’ and the uplifting nostalgia of album closer ‘Berlin Sunrise’, the ‘Perfect Darkness LP’ bristles with tense passion and hypnotic charm. It is in two words, bewitching and addictive.

“Singer-songwriters always get criticised – fairly – for sometimes sounding like a scratched record,” says Greenall. “…moaning about this, moaning about that, girlfriend’s left you, blah blah, blah.  With Fink we do sing about relationships and love and emotions – but we also sing about other stuff: embracing fear, Berlin dawns, looking forward. Perfect Darkness was written about a friend of mine who’s just signed a massive record deal and it’s all about to kick off. And I’m saying, ‘just roll with it man. It’s gonna get dark but you’ll survive and you’ll come out the other side.’ “

Following three critically-acclaimed albums,‘Perfect Darkness’ marks the next chapter of an incredible musical journey for the Bristol-born artist. The first and pre-eminent singer-songwriter signed to legendary British label Ninja Tune - after making the transition from world-clas club DJ and electronic producer - Fink is also an in-demand collaborator having written for the likes of John Legend, Ximena Sarinana, Amy Winehouse and Professor Green. He has also graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, and with bandmates Guy Whittaker on bass and Tim Thornton on drums, has toured the globe several times over.

Up until now Fink has remained in the shadows, working quietly and diligently in the background, but judging by this new record he is set to emerge into the bright lights of long-deserved mass recognition.‘Perfect Darkness’ will be released June 13th on Ninja Tune.

Title track 'Perfect Darkness' available now as a free download at www.finkworld.co.uk

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Black Sabbath To Release 2CD Deluxe Album 'Born Again' - Out June 6th

Following the departure of lead singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinnie Appice after the studio mixing of the 'Live Evil' album, Black Sabbath were once again on the lookout for yet another lead vocalist to fill the significant void left at stage front. The band turned to ex. Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan.

The resultant album and live touring certainly made for one of the more curious associations in the world of heavy metal. Much of this era of Black Sabbath has passed into rock folklore and was actually the source for much of the material used in the rockumentary movie, This Is Spinal Tap. From the replica stage production of Stonehenge which was too large for some of the venues on the world tour to the employment of a dwarf to dress-up and play the part of the ‘devil-baby’ from the LP front cover, the world of Black Sabbath took-on a distinct air of the surreal.
 
Whilst the well received 'Born Again' album and live dates succeeded in stoking the embers and kept the Sabbath flames burning, this would ultimately be a marriage built more on friendship and respect as opposed to any long-standing and compatible musical association. After one tour, Ian Gillan would eventually bid farewell and re-join his old sparring partners for the Mk. II reunion of Deep Purple and leave Black Sabbath once more gazing into the crystal ball hoping the face of yet another lead vocalist would reveal itself.
 
For Iommi, Butler, Ward, Gillan, and keyboardist Geoff Nicholls, work would swiftly commence in May of‘83 at the Manor Studios in the village of Shiptonon-Cherwell, Oxfordshire. Produced by Black Sabbath and co-producer Robin Black, who had also worked on 1975’s 'Sabotage', 1976’s 'Technical Ecstasy', and 1978’s 'Never Say Die', Sabbath’s eleventh studio release would represent a radical departure from the gloomy atmospherics and blackened lyricism that had forged their identity and spawned innumerable descendants.
 
Gillan’s approach to song-writing bespoke a lighter-hearted approach to what had, until then, been the primary concern of Butler. Album-opener 'Trashed', for instance, was inspired by Gillan’s boozed-up race around the Manor’s grounds in Bill Ward’s car that ended in near-catastrophe and a wrecked vehicle. 'Disturbing The Priest' was the result of a door in the studio having been left open during playback, and a local vicar appearing in the doorway asking for the volume to be turned down as it was disturbing choir practice in the adjacent village.
 
For all of its off-kilter appearance however, 'Born Again' was still Sabbath through and through. Musically twisted and possessed with more than a whiff of brimstone, the album is a thrilling glimpse into an alternative world.
 
For this re-mastered Deluxe Expanded Edition, a second disc containing 2 bonus tracks is included, with‘The Fallen’ being a previously unreleased studio outtake recorded during the original album session. Also included are 9 tracks from the BBC Friday Rock Show broadcast of Black Sabbath’s appearance at the Reading Rock Festival in August 1983, which also includes a performance of Deep Purple’s classic ‘Smoke On The Water’.

Tracklist:
 
Disc One (Original Album):

1. Trashed
2. Stonehenge
3. Disturbing The Priest
4. The Dark
5. Zero The Hero
6. Digital Bitch
7. Born Again
8. Hot Line
9. Keep It Warm

Disc Two Bonus Tracks:

1. The Fallen (previously unreleased album session outtake)
2. Stonehenge (Extended Version)
 
Live at the Reading Festival, August 1983:

3. Hot Line
4. War Pigs
5. Black Sabbath
6. The Dark
7. Zero The Hero
8. Digital Bitch
9. Iron Man
10. Smoke On The Water
11. Paranoid

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Estelle, David Banner& Daley Unveil Video For Janis Joplin Inspired 'Benz' - Watch Now

Brought together by BLAG - Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Estelle, rapper/ producer/ Grammy winner David Banner and Daley (fresh from featuring on ‘Doncamatic’ alongside Gorillaz) collaborate together for the first time. Inspired by Janis Joplin’s iconic song ‘Mercedes Benz’ the super-group have written and recorded ‘Benz.'

Check out the video below.


‘Benz’ by Grammy award-winning producer, David Banner, was recorded in Los Angeles and inspired by his Mississippi roots. Estelle, David Banner and Daley constructed a brand new melody and lyrics for a modern day reinterpretation of the blues classic. All the artists brought their own style andinfluences to the song creating something truly unique.

“That’s why they call it soul music, you can’t put an equation to what we just did...When we first put it together and listened to it, it was something special.” David Banner.

Daley goes on to describe Banner as a“versatile, musician, producer and writer who can pretty much do anything” While Estelle was clearly impressed with Daley’s contribution commenting, “he was singing like he was James Brown’s son.” Estelle did not escape the compliments with David Banner also adding “You don’t have a lot of people that professional and it was beautiful”.  

Beautifully shot, the video is set in three specially created connecting rooms and takes a playful fly-on-the-wall look at the dynamic supergroup creating the song and getting set for a night out together. It was directed by BLAG’s Sally A. Edwards and Sarah J. Edwards.

After hearing about the idea, Mercedes-Benz directly offered support to the project and have given the supergroup a prime slot at their press conference at the Shanghai Auto Show tomorrow, 19th April. This will be their live debut and coinciding with their celebration of 125 years of Mercedes Benz. To watch the first live performance please check Mercedes Benz Facebook  on April 19th.

Multi-talented producer, actor and rapper David Banner has previously produced records for Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, and Akon. While also no stranger to super-collaborations fellow Grammy Award winning singer-song writer Estelle has previously topped the UK and US charts with ‘American Boy’ featuring Kanye West. With Daley having previously worked with Gorillaz, and listed in BBC’s Sound of 2011 longlist, completing the star-studded line-up.

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Belle Phoenix Reveals Details Of UK Debut Album 'Nine Lives'

Dark, enigmatic, beautiful and unique - Australian native Belle Phoenix is a singer, songwriter and aspiring poet and she arrives kicking and screaming onto the UK music scene like a desperately needed shot in the arm - an anti-dote to the current epidemic of bland& sterile female pop stars infecting our airwaves, TV screens,
magazines and daily lives with safe, middle of the road personality free drivel.

Likened in spirit to PJ Harvey, Johnny Cash and The Sex Pistols, Belle's spaghetti western stylized rhetoric on her new album 'Nine Lives' deals passionately in tales of love, death, irony and humour - all wrapped up in a sexually deviant package of artistic expression and creative conviction. Thestory of Belle Phoenix is as intriguing as her music..

As a child Belle was brought up on a steady diet of choice cuts borrowed from her parent's diverse record collection and it was this early influence from her discovery of artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones that she was inspired to teach herself guitar in an attempt to imitate her heroes. As her love affair with music steadily grew, it was the punk movement above all others that seemed to call out loudest and indulging in albums by The Clash, The Ramones, The Cure and Joy Division shaped the future path she
would take in her own music.

A period of time spent squatting in a band rehearsal studio (that doubled up as punk commune) whilst dabbling in heavy use of drink& drugs as a typical teenage punk loving rebel bought her into contact with real gigging musicians on a daily basis. Waking up on the studio floor day after day as band members dragged amps and equipment around her inspired Belle to drop out of school, head first to Melbourne and then to Brisbane trying to form a band around her vocal talents and developing song writing ability.

A brief stint in LA followed before a return to Sydney bought about a record deal with Warner/Chappell but bad luck was to follow as the label folded just after the first single was released to radio. Determined to carry on, and stick one to her over protective producer/ manager, Belle took 10 demos of her own material and fled to New York where she started to record an album with producer Mark Plati (David Bowie, The Cure, Robbie Williams)."It was the middle of winter 2007 and going from 40 degrees Celsius to - 30 was tough and also
invigorating as I felt I was finally honouring myself and my expression without having someone forcing me into a mold."

Inspired by stories of war, child sex trafficking and meditation (Belle spent time as part of a Sikh cult) the album 'The Glorious Dead' was born and Belle was able to form a band, move out of the Aussie run hostel she had been staying after spending all her money on recording and tour across Australia, Germany and the UK (playing to 20,000 people at the ROX festival main stage) before arriving in London after successfully applying for a Finnish passport (her father was from Finland).

Now settled in Camden, and with a brand new backing band formed in the UK, Belle is readying her next collection of twisted, schizophrenic& eccentrically brilliant personal notes to a nation of lost souls. 'Nine Lives' is a wonderfully imagined record, the kind of record Quentin Tarentino might well use to serenade Karen O or Patti Smith to join him for a perfectly choreographed foxtrot during an Andy Warhol hosted party at The Factory. Sinister in its melody yet disarming in its projected  innocence, more than anything 'Nine Lives' is a breathtaking confessional journey into the very depths of a troubled but gifted musical soul.

Belle Phoenix is set to be one of 2011's most exciting breakthrough artists - her debut UK album 'Nine Lives' is out now. ClickHEREto check out the new video for the just released for 'Dance With Me'.

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Chase& Status Announce New Single 'Time' Feat Delilah - Out May 2nd

Chase& Status return with the release of their new single‘Time’ featuring rising star Delilah on the 2nd May, out through Mercury Records. Check out the video for 'Time' below.

‘Time’ follows the release of Top 5 single ‘Blind Faith’ feat. Liam Bailey, and their second album 'No More Idols', which hit the shops on Jan 31st and has been storming the charts ever since. It debuted at #2, behind Adele, and is still flying high in the top 15 of the Official UK Charts.

‘No More Idols’ features collaborations with rising stars such as Maverick Sabre, Tempa T and Claire Maguire as well as heavy hitters Cee-Lo, Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal and White Lies to name but a few. The single 'Time' follows 3 top 10 singles, as well as the free download Hypest Hype, all ofwhich have been A-List at Radio 1.
 
Chase& Status Autumn UK tour:

October 6th - O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham (£17.50)
October 7th - De Montfort Hall, Leicester (£17.50)
October 8th - Southend Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (£17.50)
October 10th - O2 Academy Bournemouth, Bournemouth (£17.50)
October 11th - Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth (£17.50)
October 13th - Liverpool University, Liverpool (£17.50)
October 14th - O2 Academy Brixton, London (£19.50)
October 15th - Oasis Leisure Centre Swindon, Swindon (£17.50)
October 17th - O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds (£17.50)
October 18th - O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle (£17.50)
October 20th - O2 Academy Sheffield, Sheffield (£17.50)
October 21st - O2 Academy Glasgow, Glasgow (£17.50)
October 22nd - O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester (£17.50)

Click Here to Compare& Buy Chase& Status Tickets

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The Vaccines and Cast Among Newest Additions to Lounge On The Farm

The Vaccines and recently reformed Brit-pop band Cast are among another batch of new additions to this year’s Lounge On The Farm festival in Kent. The Canterbury event, which is due to be headlined by The Streets, Ellie Goulding and Echo& The Bunnymen, will also see performances from Braids, Dry the River, Big Deal and Two Wounded Birds. Other new additions include Visions of Trees, Eagulls and Goodnight Lenin.

Lounge On The Farm, which takes place at Merton Farm in Kent on 8th – 10th July, is now in its sixth year and has become known for its unique location on a real-life, working farm. It prides itself as a family-friendly event with a strong focus on locally-sourced food. Organisers of the festival,which first took place in 2006, have also announced that the event is to have its capacity doubled to 10,000. It is also the first year that the festival will have a huge, outdoor main stage.


Here is the list of acts that have previously been confirmed for the July event:

The Streets
Ellie Goulding
Echo& The Bunnymen
Example
Katy B
Annie Mac
Hospitality presents: Netsky, Danny Byrd, London Elektricity, Nutone& Natalia Williams, Cyantific, Prototypes
Graham Coxon
Devlin
Jamie Woon
Cornershop
Johnny Flynn
Slow Club
The Joy Formidable
Caravan
Bob Log III
Scratch Perverts
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Andy George and Jaymo
C.W. Stoneking
Jess Mills
Liam Bailey
Dananananaykroyd
Summer Camp
Fujiya and Miyagi
Syd Arthur
Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Pete and the Pirates
Egyptian Hip Hop
The Milk
Little Comets
Flashguns
Wolf People
Kid Adrift
Trophy Wife
Fixers
Chad Valley
Marcus Foster
Plump DJs
Jagga
Dog is Dead
Doorly
Feed Me
Pete Roe
Spector
Starsmith
Stopmakingme
Ellen& the Escapades
Paper Crows
Alpines
Reset
Barker Band
Beans on Toast
Boot Lagoon
Bucket Boyz
Cocos Lovers
D/R/U/G/S
Daughter
Eliza Newman
Findlay
Haight Ashbury
Handshake
Hannah Peel
Joshua Caole
Kyla La Grange
Rotifer
La Shark
Ladies of the Lake
Laura J. Martin
Leah Mason
Let’s Buy Happiness
Liam Magill
Lulu& the Lampshades
Marques Toliver
Marthas& Arthurs
Melodica, Melody& Me
Philip Roebuck
Rae
Roxanne de Bastion
Slap Alice
Still Corners
The Turncoat
Theo Bard Band
Tom Farrer& The Pharaohs
Tom Williams& The Boat
Toy Hearts
Will Varley
You Save You
Zoo For You

Click Here to Compare& Buy Lounge On The Farm Tickets

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