Valley Fiesta Music Lineup
Valley Fiesta has always been about the music for Brisbane’s biggest free street party. And 2010 is no exception. Whilst this year’s program also offers exciting arts, fashion and food elements, the music program remains a fantastic showcase of local and national talent gracing three stages across three days.Valley Fiesta has always been about the music for Brisbane’s biggest free street party. And 2010 is no exception. Whilst this year’s program also offers exciting arts, fashion and food elements, the music program remains a fantastic showcase of local and national talent gracing three stages across three days.
Please welcome to the Valley, the crème de la crème of upcoming acts including THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS, YACHT CLUB DJS, HERMITUDE, TOM THUM (Tom Tom Crew), LAST DINOSAURS, SPOD, SEJA, LOVE CONNECTION, ROCKETSMITHS, EAGLE & THE WORM, PARADES, BALL PARK MUSIC, JINJA SAFARI, DISCO NAP, FERGUS BROWN, DAN PARSONS, DEAD SHADES, COURAGE, POLAROID FAME.
THE JOHN STEEL SINGERSBrisbane’s own John Steel Singers are set to become the next big thing with the impending release of their debut album this November. Having hit the national scene via triple j Unearthed the band also picked up the coveted inaugural Unearthed J Award in 2008. Since then they have been hard at work touring the country and recording their first long player with the elder statesman of pop music The Go-Betweens’ Robert Forster. It’s set to be a massive year for this horse-head toting five piece. Be amongst the first to see them launch it!
YACHT CLUB DJSSmashing the silence in the quiet anchorage, 2009 was a breakthrough year for Yacht Club DJs. The mash up duo took to the helm, embarking on their sold-out national Kleptomania Tour. They also stormed the festival seas, riding the crest of the national Parklife Tour, Meredith Music Festival and Falls Festival. On their journey, the Ballarat pair unleashed a hurricane of sound; their unique brand of classic pop, metal, hip hop, cartoon theme songs and everything in between sending the crowd into a frenzy at every port. Saviours of the mash-up scene, a Yacht Club DJs show would not be complete without on-stage nudity, crowd invasions and wild water sports, including riding the waves of the crowd on an inflatable boat. Coming to port at Valley Fiesta in September.
HERMITUDE Hip hop purveryors Hermitude, have been at the forefront of Australian beats since 2001. With their unqiue take on the genre medling of their past incarnations as jazz and funk musicians, Hermitude have produced brilliant studio albums and engaging and innovative live shows. Hermitude have toured Europe, China, Malaysia, Norway and Spain as well as massive shows in Australia. Made up of Blue Mountains duo Luke Dubs and Elgusto, the pair have also embarked on pretty impressive solo journeys. Dubs joined Tom Tom Crew for an extensive tour of Europe, whilst Elgusto co-produced Urthboy’s Amp-nominated album “Spitshine”. Catch them at Fiesta.
TOM THUMTom Thum is one of Australia’s most prolific beatboxers, having been awarded Australia’s best beatboxer four years in a row in the OzHipHop Awards and winning the Team Battle, Beatboxing World Championships in 2005. In 2006, Tom received second place at the Scribble Jam Beatbox Battles, America’s most prestigious hip-hop competition. Tom is a member of the internationally touring production, Tom Tom Crew, as well as the co-producer of Brisbane Hip-hop label Born Fresh. Tom has collaborated with such artists as Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Rahzel, Sampology and Blackalicious. Through all this, Tom remains a solid member of the local Brisbane Hip-Hop scene as a breakdancer, graffiti writer, emcee and producer. He also has a collection of fierce animals. Tom has been on tour with the internationally acclaimed Tom Tom Crew and has built up a vocoda, loop pedal, kaos pad, sound scaping set!
LAST DINOSAURS Brisbane’s latest hottest export, Last Dinosaurs, have been making a lot of noise of late. Their debut EP, “Back From The Dead” saw not one, but two tracks on high rotation on triple j, sold out launch shows and supports across Australia with the likes of Yves Klein Blue as well as Ash and We Are Scientists. Having just whipped the Splendour In The Grass crowd into a frenzy, Last Dinosaurs put the festival into Fiesta.
SPODUber-cool hyperactive Spod’s new album “Superfrenz” almost didn’t come into being. After taking three years and six home studios to record his new effort, the hard drives holding said album died. Spod was ready to call it a day, but his Spod-loving “Surperfrenz” rallied around him and set to raising money to record again. And aren’t we glad they did. With the Sydney scenester being branded the last word in cool, Spod brings an exciting live show to the festival.
LOVE CONNECTIONMelbourne trio Love Connection’s pop slant, highly rhythmic flailings and inner psych infused wisdoms have gained them many fans in their home-town, picking up 3RRR’s album of the week and seeing more than 1200 people through the doors at their July residency at the Tote. Love Connection have supported the XX, Micachu & The Shapes, Dan Kelly and Pikelet. Catch them at Brisbane’s outdoor event of the year.
SEJA Seja Vogel is well known to Brisbane audiences but not in this guise as a solo pop chanteuese. Having played the world over in Brisbane’s finest pop bands, Sekiden and Regurgitator for many years, time came for SEJA to strike out on her own, bringing her trademark dreamy synth hooks with her. Her debut album “We Have Secrets But Nobody Cares” has captured hearts nationwide, with her single ‘I’ll Get To You’ a triple j favourite. Catch SEJA live on stage at Fiesta before she jets off around Australia in support of Sarah Blasko throughout October.
PARADESArt-rockers Parades create ambitious, expansive music full of pop harmonies, post rock guitars and electronic meanderings. Likened to Radiohead, Pink Floyd and Sigur Ros, without aping any of these influences, Parades have attracted critical acclaim and a formidable live following. Having been unearthed by triple j for BIG SOUND last year, Parades have been making the most of their walk in the spotlight. See them in the Valley before their light burns so bright it’s blinding.
ROCKETSMITHSIndie rock punks Rocketsmiths have been kicking out the jams around Brisbane and the nation, having supported We Are Scientists, Juliette and the Licks, The Cruel Sea and many more. Their unique style of Vaudevillian rock has many a punter talking. Rocketsmiths have graced the Fiesta stage before, but this time they bring their newest work to life right before our eyes.
BALL PARK MUSICWith their jangly pop hit “I F***ing Love You” or “iFly” taking over the airwaves, Ball Park Music hit the Valley’s Biggest Festival in September with their sophomore EP “Conquer The Town, Easy As Cake”. With a six-piece onslaught of sliding trombones and heart-breaking folk, jangly guitars and honky-tonk piano has had music aficionados calling it “wonderfully accomplished stuff”. See them conquer the town this Spring.
JINJA SAFARIHaving just taken out the national triple j Unearthed competition to play at Splendour In The Grass 2010, Jinja Safari certainly have a bright future ahead of them. Made up of duo Marcus Azon and Cam Knight, they draw from Afropop rhythms tumbling island guitar, with landscapes of melodic layering by the harmonizing frontmen and multi-instrumentalists.
DISCO NAPDisco Nap produce catchy indie-pop with a narrative bent, telling lyrical tales of death, love and family. No strangers to the Brisbane scene, Disco Nap features former Iron On frontman Ross Hope and Intercooler’s Darek Mudge as its core components. Since being Unearthed by triple j in 2009, Disco Nap have supported Oh Mercy, Washington, The Boat People and have previously graced the Fiesta stage. With debut album, “Running Red Lights” to be released this week, Disco Nap are sure to be hitting their stride come the festival.
FERGUS BROWNCreating beautiful melodic guitar pop reminiscent of Bon Iver and The Shins, Fergus Brown’s debut record “Burgers Frown” has already experienced international attention with the single ‘Last Winter’ featured on Emmy Award-winning US TV series ‘The Starter Wife’. He has performed with Martha Wainwright, Jens Lekman, Sarah Blasko, New Buffalo and Josh Pyke. With many accolades already under his belt including the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards, FBi/Time Out SMAC Award for Sydney Song of the Year and Unearthed by triple j for Laneway, Fergus Brown has also showcased at Eastern Canadian Music Awards, Canadian Music Week and SxSW. The Valley now welcomes him with open arms.
DAN PARSONSHis debut album “Firestarter” put this local lad on the national map. In a case of boy meets world, rather than boy meets girl, it’s a snapshot of a young man who spent his high school years emulating seventies heroes on a reel to reel eight track, then finding himself really experiencing life. The result is ten tracks of sincere pop with an optimistic indie flavour that makes Dan Parsons a joy to watch. Join him as he makes his Fiesta debut.
DEAD SHADESDead Shades bring their blues-fuelled soundtrack to dirty deeds to Fiesta for the first time. Having laid down their first EP, “Sea Shandies” with Skritch of Mary Trembles in May, Dead Shades will be bringing their garage punk, bad comedy and shandies to the stage. The local act release their debut EP in September and will then head to Los Angeles in December.
COURAGE Angelic, breathy vocals, melodic magnificence and strategic instrumentation with an unwavering rock drive is the basis for Brisbane duo/come five-piece Courage. Having recorded the debut EP in Electric Sun Studios in Sydney then now have plans to tour nationally in 2010. Catch them at the festival.
POLAROID FAMEHailing from the beachside Utopia of Byron Bay, Polaroid Fame combine the beachside vibe through layers of guitars awash with melodic bass and 80s synths. Having just played Splendour In The Grass Festival, Polaroid Fame have their sights set on the USA with their single, ‘We Live Your Life’ added to American College Radio.
New to this year’s Fiesta, is the hip hop stage with Born Fresh Records and Red Tape Entertainment presenting “Born Renegades,” a Saturday afternoon of quality Queensland bred hip hop including The Optimen, Eloquence and Truths, Pure Product, Seven, Vegas Aces, Prophet Rayza with hosting by the Crate Creeps. Also, the BBoy comp, Judy Breaks is your chance to see Queensland’s hottest BBoys and BGirls battle it out as they headspin, uprock and compete for cash prizes.
THE OPTIMENThe Optimen’s debut album “Boomtown” catapulted them onto the national radar with high rotation triple j play, sold out concerts across Australia and industry and critical recognition. They picked up a slew of peer based awards on the online hip hop community Ozhiphop.com. Their follow up effort “The Optimen present Red Tape Renegades Vol 1” continued their rise as leaders of the Aussie hip hop movement. Their live shows featuring their full crew is the stuff of legends. With new album “The Out Of Money Experience” set to drop, The Optiment are ready to once again set fire to the stage at Fiesta.
ELOQUENCE AND TRUTHSBorn from friendship, Eloquence and Truths are emcees who joined forces to tell their tales laid over hip hop beats. Whilst Truth was journeying throughout the UK, Eloquence was escaping the grind, turning freestyles and metahphors into verses in their heads. They came together out of mutual respect, helped by DJ Butcher and melded two solo EPs into a beast of an album. Having supported the likes of Drapht, The Funkoars, Horrowshow and Spit Syndicate, the dynamic duo have already proved their mettle on the stage.
PURE PRODUCTThe classic line up of three emcees and one DJ is the crux of Pure Product. Their highly successful album “Eviction Notice” saw them gain a slew of hip hop fans. With a new album anticipated in the near future, Pure Product are a welcome addition to Judy Breaks during Fiesta.
SEVENHailing from the Gold Coast, this young MC has spent his formative years as one-half of Brisbane crew Publik Relations. With a name change and fresh outlook, Seven draws inspiration from the ocean and the people that surround his life. Seven won the triple j Unearthed M-Phases competition and has released a self-titled EP with the dreamy vocals of Australian icons such as Michael Tomlinson from Yves Klein Blue, Joyride and Claire Walters. VEGAS ACESFeaturing 4th (of Pure Product) and up-and-coming producer Cam Bluff, Vegas Aces are craving their own sound on the Aussie Hip Hop scene. With a free EP hitting in September, Vegas Aces bring smooth rhymes and hard-hitting drum and bass that is sure to make and impression on the Australian scene.
PROPHET RAYZAProphet Rayza is a master of all trades and jack of none, having perfected his skills across the four elements of hip hop as an emcee, breakdancer, graffiti artist and beatboxer. Prophet Rayza’s performance past reads like a who’s who of hip hop having supported Grandmaster Flash, DJ Q-Bert, Lord Finesse, Grandmaster Roc Raida, Q-Unique, MC Supernatural, Talib Kweli, Buff 1, Def Wish Cast, Drapht, Muph and Plutonic, Hyjak N Torcha and the list goes on… Now one third of super group A Dying Breed with Tom Thum and Adverse you can be sure to see and hear a whole lot more from this multi talented artist.
Watch out for more announcements to come at www.valleyfiesta.com DATES 10 – 12 September WEBSITE: www.valleyfiesta.com
