aaamusic | On 25, May 2011

In just under 4 months, the Channel Islands’ biggest weekend of live music rolls into town for the eighth time, and for those that were there for Razorlight and The Thrills way back when, doesn’t it make you feel old? With the support of Jersey Telecom, Jersey Live festival has grown monumentally since that one-day event in 2004 and the diversity on offer these days guarantees that there’ll be something for everyone. With the big names already announced – Madness and Plan B headlining the Main Stage, and Zane Lowe and French nutjob Mr Oizo heading up proceedings in the Dance Arena, joined by the like of Annie Mac & Sasha – the remaining slots are gradually being filled to make for a steller line up for the most southerly UK boutique festival….

Jersey Live are also pleased to announce a further number of performances over the weekend.

THE RAPTURE (USA)

With ‘House of Jealous Lovers’, The Rapture have one of the most recognisable dancefloor-filling tracks of the past decade, and since forming in 1998, have devoted their career to bridging the gap between dance music and rock, spawning a whole generation of dance- infused post-punk bands such as Bloc Party, as well as being heavily influential on the ‘new rave’ movement, best known for bands like Klaxons, Late of the Pier and Datarock.

After releasing their 2001 EP ‘Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks’ on the highly-esteemed Sub Pop label (which previously has been home to such iconic US bands as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney), they achieved international acclaim after joining forces with the much-celebrated DFA production team (of which LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy is one half) to produce their debut album ‘Echoes’. The album was named the ‘Best of 2003’ by respected music webzine Pitchfork Media, and its signature single ‘House of Jealous Lovers’ was listed at number 5 in the ‘Top 100 Songs of the Decade’ by the NME, who described it as “a masterpiece of danceable post-punk.”

The trio have performed alongside and collaborated with some of the biggest names in the business; as well as working with the aforementioned James Murphy, they have had records produced by Dangermouse (Gorillaz/Beck/Gnarls Barkley) and the award-winning Paul Epworth (Florence & the Machine/Plan B). They have toured alongside the likes of Daft Punk, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and The Cure, and are regular fixtures on the US, UK and European festival circuit.

Their live show is perfectly suited to the Jersey Live ethos; their appeal to both indie and dance fans makes them the perfect fit and with so many catchy, punchy numbers in their repertoire, we’ll eat our hats if the entire Main Stage arena isn’t jumping by the end of their set. With a brand new album due out this summer, they’re sure to be amongst the hottest property in music by the time September comes around.

KING CHARLES (UK)

Highly-rated indie-folk solo act King Charles, will perform twice over the weekend; on the Hospitality Stage and on the SoBe Stage. The London-based singer-songwriter has been earning plaudits this year from the likes of BBC Radio’s Tom Robinson and Huw Stephens, with his quintessentially English folk compared to the likes of Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett, seeing him categorised alongside young contemporary folk bands like Noah & the Whale and Mumford & Sons. As well as touring the UK and Europe this summer, he also has confirmed festival appearances at Secret Garden Party and Newquay’s Relentless Boardmasters.

HUW STEPHENS (BBC RADIO ONE)

It has also been confirmed that Radio One DJ Huw Stephens, will be Main Stage compere, on the 3rd & 4th Sept at Jersey Live!

CRAIG CHARLES (BBC 6 MUSIC)

Boosting Jersey Live’s contigent of BBC Radio DJs even further (the line-up already features Stephens, Zane Lowe, Annie Mac and Toddla T), Jersey Live 2009 Main Stage compere Craig Charles returns to compere the Hospitality Stage this year, as well as performing an exclusive DJ set. The Coronation Street and former Red Dwarf star has carved out a successful broadcasting and DJing career, presenting BBC 6 Music’s Funk & Soul Show, as well as DJing regularly at the iconic Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes venue in London. Those in attendance at his previous Jersey Live DJ set will testify that it was quite the raucous affair!