Coachella: Day 1

With legendary music festival Coachella kicking off today, over 175 acts will take to the stage  in sunny Palm Springs, California. Thankfully for the rest of us, we can catch all the acts LIVE on the dedicated Coachella YouTube Channel. The Brits are out in force tonight with headliners The Stone Roses and Blur, but excluding headliners, here are my ‘Top Acts’ for Day 1 of Coachella.

Friday – April 12th

Headliners: The Stone Roses, Blur

Dillon Francis:  2:30pm – 3:30pm | Sahara

American electronic music producer & DJ Dillon Francis, has been leading the pack championing Moombahton.  Having previously been signed to Diplo’s Mad Decent Label collaborating on ‘Que Que‘ and releasing ‘Masta Blasta‘ (The Rebirth), Dillon has since gone on to release ‘Bootleg Firework‘ through Calvin Harris’ label ‘Fly Eye Records’.  Now currently signed to Skrilex’s label OWSLA , Dillon is fast becoming one of the most exciting acts in EDM.  Check out his latest single ‘Messages’ ft Simon Lord and his upcoming gig with Flosstradamus (aptly titled Dillstradamus) at London’s XOYO May 5th.

 Jake Bugg: 3:05pm – 3:50pm | Mojave

2013 has been a massive year for Jake Bugg, who’s self titled debut album shot to no 1 in the UK.  The 19 year old singer/songwriter has been greatly influenced by classic artists such as ‘The Beatles’, ‘Oasis’, ‘Jimi Hendrix’ and ‘Bob Dylan’ and transports us back to sounds of the 60′s with tracks such as ‘Lighting Bolt’, ‘Taste It’, ‘Two Fingers‘ and ‘Seen It All‘. You can catch Jake at plenty of upcoming festivals this summer including Glastonbury, Isle Of Wight, T in the Park, Longitude and Benicassim.

Of Monsters and Men: 5:45pm – 6:35pm | Outdoor

Icelandic indie-folk group Of Monsters And Men are fresh off their sold out European Tour. With the success of their 2011 album ‘My Head Is An Animal‘ and singles ‘Little Talks’, ‘Dirty Paws’, ‘Mountain Sound‘ and ‘King and Lionheart’, the multi-talented group have  managed to make folk music more accessible and exciting. Their anthemic style chorus and trademark HEY’s will go down a treat at Coachella.

Purity Ring: 9:40pm – 10:30pm | Gobi

Canadian eletro duo Purity Ring released their debut album ‘Shrines‘ in 2012, which featured tracks such as ‘Lofticries‘ and ‘Fineshrines‘ and the most recent cover of Soulja Boy’s ‘Grammy‘.  The duo are known for their unique live performances and use a  tree-shaped instrument for sound and lighting effects. Definitely one set to check out. Upcoming UK dates include Latitude and Love Box Festival.

TNGHT: 8:35pm – 9:20pm | Gobi

TNGHT get a lot of love on this blog so it’s no surprise they’re one of my top acts for Day 1 of Coachella.  Since the release of their debut collaborative EP, which represented the best of UK underground bass and trap sounds, Hudson Mohawke has been snapped up by Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music label and Luncie to Diplo’s Mad Decent label. Combined, the duo seem unstoppable and their latest single ‘Acrylics’ will no doubt wreak havoc at Coachella. A must watch set! Upcoming dates include Pitchfork Festival,  Sonar and London’s Field Day.

So there you have it – my Top acts for Day 1 of Coachella. Fridays line-up was particular difficult to narrow down,  especially when you have acts like Foals, The Neighbourhood, Palma Violets, Alt J, Polica, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit and Modestep.

Check back tomorrow for my ‘Top Acts’ for Saturday!

Year in Review: Top 100 Tracks of 2012

With 2013 just around the corner, I wanted to compile a list of my favourite tracks of 2012. Not an easy task, considering the amount of standout tracks throughout the year. From TNGHT’s massive trap anthem ‘Higher Ground‘, to Frank Oceans RnB odyssey in ‘Pyramids‘, below are my top 100 tracks. Roll on 2013 and here’s to another exciting year in music!

Top 100 Tracks of 2012

1. TNGHT – Higher Ground
2. Azealia Banks – Esta Noche
3. Frank Ocean – Pyramids
4. Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
5. Kanye West – Clique Ft Big Sean and Jay Z
6. Frank Ocean – Thinkin’ Bout You
7. Major Lazer – Get Free
8. Jessie Ware – Wildest Moments
9. Plan B – Ill Manors
10. Disclosure – Latch
11. Rudimental – Feel The Love ft John Newman
12. Mumford & Sons – I Will Wait
13. Frank Ocean – Bad Religion
14. Foals – Inhaler
15. Angel Haze – New York
16. Knife Party – Sleaze
17. Kanye West – Mercy Ft Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz
18. Hot Natured & Ali Love – Benediction
19. MIA – Bad Girls
20. Baauer – Harlem Shake
21. Angel Haze – Werkin’ Girls
22. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – American Dream Part 2
23. Lianne La Havas – Is Your Love Big Enough
24. Swedish House Mafia – Greyhound
25. Jack White – Sixteen Salteens
26. Julio Bashmore – Au Seve
27. Jake Bugg – Two Fingers
28. Steve Aoki – Beat Down ft Angger Dimas & Iggy Azalea
29. Dillon Francis – Masta Blasta (The Rebirth)
30. Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
31. Grimes – Oblivion
32. Florence + The Machine – Spectrum (Say My Name)
33. Scissor Sisters – Lets have a Kiki
34. AlunaGeorge – You Know You Like It
35. Haim  – Forever
36. Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing ft Florence Welch
37. Solange – Losing You
38. DJ Fresh – Gold Dust Shy fx re edit
39. Chvrches –  The Mother We Share
40. The Maccabees – Feel to Follow
41. Everything Everything – Cough Cough
42. Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen
43. Example ft Clavin Harris – We’ll Be Coming Back For You
44. Purity Ring – Fineshrine
45. Alt J – Something Good
46. Palma Violets – Best Of Friends
47. Django Django – Default
48. Skrillex –  Breakn’ a Sweat
49. Redight – Lost In Your Love
50. Polica – Wandering Star
51. Haim – Don’t Save Me
52. Jessie Ware – Night Light
53. Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever ..
54. Two Door Cinema Club  – Sleep Alone
55. Madeon – Finale
56. Kasabian – Goodbye Kiss
57. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs- Tapes & Money
58. Puirity Ring – Lofticries
59. Benga – Pour Your Love
60. Grizzly Bear – Yet Again
61. Polica – Lay Your Cards Out
62. Santigold – Disparate Youth
63. AlunaGeorge – Your Drums Your Love
64. The xx – Angels
65. Coldplay ft Rihanna – Princess of China
66. Knife Party – Bonfire
67. Baauer – Dum Dum
68. TNGHT – Bugg’n
69. The Maccabees – Ayla
70. Emeli Sande – Read All About It (Part III)
71. Underworld – Caliban’s Dream ft Alex Trimble
72. Madeon – Icarus
73. Villagers – Nothing Arrived
74. Alt J – Matilda
75. Language – Porter Robinson
76. Bat For Lashes – Laura
77. Grimes – Genesis
78. Diplo – Express Yourself
79. Kasabian – Man of Simple Pleasures
80. Scissor Sisters vs Krystal Pepsy ft Azealia Banks – Shady Love
81. Alabama Shakes – Hold On
82. Maxsta – I Wanna Rock
83. The Neighbourhood – Let It Go
84. Passion Pit – Take A Walk
85. The 2 Bears – Work
86. Bloc Party – Octopus
87. Ben Howard – Only Love
88. Roses Gabor – Stars
89. Hooray for Earth  – No Love
90. Benzel & Jessie Ware – If You Love Me
91. PartyClub – Young and Free
92. Delphic – Good Life
93. Tame Impala – Elephant
94. Major Lazer – Jah No Partial
95. Blur – Under The Westway
96. Muse – Survival
97. The Killers – Runaways
98. Bombay Bicycle club – How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep
99. Hot Chip – Night & Day
100. The Cast of Cheers – Human Elevator

Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks

Of Monsters and Men is an exciting six piece indie folk band from Iceland. With the success of their album, ‘My Head Is an Animal’, the band were signed to ‘Universal Music Group’ in April 2012. Their debut single, ‘Little Talks‘, has gained them a lot of interest and they have since have been compared to the likes of ‘Mumford and Sons‘.

‘Little Talks’, is an upbeat indie track, with a brass and percussive-filled chorus, that will have you singing along in no time. The song has recently been remixed by ‘Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos, which has transformed the song into an electronica dance track.

Having recently appeared on ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno‘, the band have gone from strength to strength and are certainly ones to watch. Upcoming performances including Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Radio1/NME Stage at Reading Festival, UK.

Their album ‘My Head is an Animal‘, will get it’s UK release on August 13th. Check out their unique video for ‘Little Talks’ below: