Jonathan Poneman is an old friend of the OFF Festival, but it’s his knowledge that makes him a good choice for a curator: who knows more about music than the guy who signed Nirvana and Fleet Foxes? His music selection will be the perfect match for the intense atmosphere of the Experimental Stage.

Pissed Jeans

An American band that embodies the classic Sub Pop values: they’re noisy, angry, and authentic. This noise-rock quartet from Pennsylvania sounds great in the studio – don’t miss their 2009 release King of Jeans – but the stage is where they truly shine. Go up closer – if you’re not afraid of a bit of madness and chaos, that is. We’re also proud to announce that the Pissed Jeans song “False Jesii Part 2” will be the official musical theme of this year’s edition of the festival, and will be featured in OFF Festival ads and other media.

Purity Ring

Corin Roddick and Megan James serve up futuristic pop that blends club music, r’n’b, and indie experimentation. Released to the world in early 2011, their very first single “Ungirthed” won praise from reviewers at Pitchfork and The Guardian. The Canadian duo’s upcoming album is one of the most eagerly-awaited independent records of the year.

Kuedo

We at the OFF Festival are no strangers to intelligent, forward-looking electronic music. Jamie Teasdale made a name for himself as half of the dubstep duo Vex’d, but he truly spread his wings as a solo artist, recording under the name Kuedo. His debut album, Severant (Planet Mu), and especially his live feats confirm the notion that Jamie respects no borders in electronic music, mixing dubstep basslines with such retro influences as synth pop and even disco.

Fanfarlo
Founded by the London-based Swede Simon Balthazar, Fanfarlo deftly navigates the space between folksy mawkishness and rock and roll literalism. Though they’ve been compared to both Beirut and Radiohead, Fanfarlo have managed to prove that they can speak – or sing, rather – with their own voice on their second album, Rooms Filled with Light, produced by Ben H. Allen (Deerhunter, Animal Collective).

DOOM
You might have heard of Daniel Dumile through such projects as Danger Doom (with Danger Mouse) and Madvillain (with Madlib), but his main incarnation is the uncanny DOOM, known for many years as MF Doom, where MF was short for Metal Face: the rapper hides his face behind a steel mask. The artist earned respect and a following in the underground hip-hop world and outside the rap scene with his 1999 debut Operation: Doomsday, which drew praise for its original albeit hermetic style. Nowadays, DOOM records with the biggest names in the industry, but no longer as an underdog: he’s now one of the greatest, most charismatic figures in avant-garde hip-hop, and has even been noticed by Portishead, who invited him to last year’s ATP, which they curated.

Chrome Hoof performs Hydrozagadka

Who’s Doctor Spot? If that pseudonym doesn’t ring a bell, then you’d better brush up on classic Polish cinema! We recommend you start with Andrzej Kondratiuk’s Hydrozagadka, because this year’s OFF Festival will feature the British avant-garde group Chrome Hoof performing the music to this cult comedy live! Featuring Ace, Poland’s first superhero, on the trail of Doctor Spot and other evil villains — Andrzej Kondratiuk’s Hydrozagadka will be screened with a new soundtrack arranged and performed by the UK’s Chrome Hoof. So what should you be expecting? Everything, really! Founded by the bassist of Cathedral, this orchestra combines funk, disco, metal, and jazz into a unique and colorful variety of futuresque music.

The Wedding Present performs Seamonsters
Founded in Leeds in 1985, this band was hailed as the worthy heirs to The Smiths by the enthusiastic British music press. And while The Wedding Present has suffered perennial lineup changes since all but their earliest years, they’ve managed to release a few albums that went on to become indispensable elements of the UK guitar rock scene of the late 80s and early 90s. Take, for instance, their third album, Seamonsters, produced by Steve Albini. And while The Wedding Present recently resurfaced with a successful ninth studio release (Valentina), their show at the OFF Festival will spirit us away to the year 1991 with a performance of Seamonsters in its entirety.