this week's Roundtable (11/02)

Thursday's Roundtable see Richard Russell from XL Recordings and our very own Chris Hawkins join Jean-Jacques Burnel from the Stranglers.

1. Jimi Hendrix - 'Bleeding Heart' - the winner - I've never really understood the devotion to Hendrix. he didn't have a good voice, he was an ok guitar player. I'll stop there before anyone starts a campaign to punch me in the face for such blasphemy.

2. Laura Marling - 'Devil's Spoke' - it takes a lot for a woman's voice to make its way into my heart, I'm very critical when it comes to female singers. not really a fan of this. too dark for me.

3. Friendly Fires - 'Hold On' (Holy Ghost cover) - I practically went into cardiac arrest when I heard on Zane Lowe's show last week. (it's been far too long waiting for something new from FFires - the last being July when 'Kiss of Life' premiered.) am preferring this one over HG's original. wicked beats. and v. sexy vocals Ed Mac. good one boys.

hilarious that Richard is trying his best to get people to vote for them in British Breakthrough Act b/c Hannah, his compatriot at XL, told him he better promote them like heck.

4. Rox - 'My Baby Left Me' - hmm. this is v. Noisettes-y. interesting that throwback sound is coming back in a big way.

5. Jamie T - 'Emily's Heart' - I love it! liking it more than his earlier, more rappier stuff.

6. Johnny Cash - 'For the Good Times' - version of Kris Kristofferson song. hmmm. not his greatest.

7. Lightspeed Champion's album 'Life is Good! Nice to Meet You' including 'I Don't Want to Wake Up Alone' and 'Madame Van Damme' - I really like Dev Hynes's latest offering. there's this coyness that reminds me of Morrissey being coy, and the Beatles being coy. agree? teehee...

2010 music festivals - alert

2010 festivals - I've hunted down sites for you, hope this is helpful! Muse appears to be the elephant in the room headlining wise, so if you're not a fan, you may want to check first to see if the festival you were planning on has them top billed.

SXSW - March - U.S. (Austin) => no-go this year b/c I passed on the opportunity from PW
Ultra Music Festival - 26-27 March - U.S. (Miami) - I'm waiting for more acts to be announced. a single woman going by herself isn't really prudent, I don't think :(

Coachella - 16-18 April - U.S. (SoCal) => no-go unless I get a press pass b/c the line-up didn't impress me

Dot to Dot - 29 May (Bristol), 30 May (Nottingham), 31 May (Manchester) - England - I really enjoyed Notts last year!
Pinkpop - 28-30 May - Holland (Landgraaf/Heerlen)
Isle of Skye - May - Scotland - hmm, site not up anymore
Ibiza Rocks - Tuesdays throughout May and September - not sure about this one b/c they were Ibiza and San Antonio last year

Rock am Ring - early June - Germany - generally heavier rock, but Moz performed there years ago
Download UK - mid June (?) - England (Donnington) - generally heavier rock
Isle of Wight - mid June - England
Glasto - June - England

Rock Werchter - July - Belgium (Leuven)
Roskilde - July - Denmark (via Copenhagen)
Oxegen - July - Ireland (County Kildare via Dublin)
T in the Park - July - Scotland (Balado, Perth and Kinross)
Latitude - July - England (Suffolk) - this one would be awesome if certain bands played it this year...
02 Wireless - July - England (London)
Benicassim - July - Spain
Download - 3 certain weekends July through August - U.S. (SF, LA, Philly?)
Cambridge Folk Festival - July into August? - England
Camp Bestival - 30 and 31 July and 1 August - this looked interesting to me b/c Rob da Bank got Friendly Fires to close out the festival Sunday night. but v. pricey.

Virgin Mobile - August - U.S. (Toronto, B'more)??
Lollapalooza - August - U.S. (Chicago)
Summer Sundae - August - England (Leicester)
Pukkelpop - August - Belgium
Frequency - August - Austria
Lowlands - August - Holland - a plus: has tents
V - August - England (Chelmsford/Staffordshire)
Reading/Leeds - August - England
Electric Picnic - August - Ireland (County Laois)
Get Loaded in the Park - August - England (London/Clapham)
Creamfields - August - I'm not entirely sure where this is. according to their "By Air" page, you should go to either Manchester or Liverpool Intl, which is entirely unhelpful. and throwing out "Merseyside" (which I know is near Liverpool) and "Warrington" (Stuart Maconie, help!) in their "By Car" directions don't help much either! :)

Isle of Wight Bestival - early September - England

the badge is humourous, sue me (vote for FFires for Breakthrough British Act at BRITs)

drummer Jack Savidge (far right) is now threatening the lives of members of JLS he *can* pronounce, so get voting by clicking on the button below. voting ends 2 PM Eastern time Friday.