The Falls Music & Arts Festival is delivering even more line-up delights coming from both near and far. Join the ticket ballot before it closes this Friday at 5pm, as en route to Lorne and Marion Bay this summer are…
Melbournites Alpine (AUS) tread a curious line that lands somewhere between Fleetwood Mac and The XX. As strange a marriage as that sounds, it’s probably the only fitting way to describe songs like their ubiquitous single “Heartlove” – with its jagged rhythm’s and staccato yet harmonic vocals. The track is taken from their recently released Zurich EP – a unique blend of colour soaked electronic synth-pop.
A real citizen of the world, Zach Condon aka Beirut (USA) specialises in splashing music and colours from all over the globe onto an undeniable indie-pop canvas. With a new album The Rip Tide set for release this August, he’ll be playing his lovely new tunes with his full band ensemble, alongside classic favourites like ‘Elephant Gun’.
Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor under the moniker CANT (USA) is hitting the stage with his debut album Dreams Come True which is set for release this September. As a multi-instrumentalist, Chris plays the bass, clarinet, flute, accordion and of course sings on this stunning bedroom pop record. What he’ll bring to the stage is anyone’s guess but it’s sure to be unmissable.
Recently voted in at #10 on triple j’s Hottest 100 Australian albums of all time was Regurgitator‘s (AUS) 1999 classic Unit. It is, quite simply, one of the most influential and jaw droppingly unique records ever produced by an Australian band and is going to be performed live in full at Falls this year.
With their new album, Secret Rituals, The Grates (AUS) have graduated from indie-pop scallywags to fully fledged rock/pop gods. Written and recorded in New York, the altogether musclier and more confident record has caught their already adoring fans by surprise, which is continually expanding with each live show.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (UK) is the brainchild of Oxford’s Orlando Higginbottom, who has a habit of wearing an Indian headdress and dinosaur tail on stage. He also has a habit of creating infectious indie electronic music, massively popular in the UK and soon to be ubiquitous here too. His Household Goods EP, accompanied by his recent single Trouble expanded on the previous Sixty Dancehalls releases, solidifying Orlando’s eclectic taste on dance music and love for non-uniform bpm rates.
Boogie Nights Acts
The former Funk n Soul Revue has been newly renamed Boogie Nights and returns in 2011. It’s the opening night for Falls at both locations where music from all corners of the globe comes together. It’s going to be a hip-happenin’ hustle, this year with a French cabaret and vaudevillian twist.
• Circus, theatre and comedy all in one is Melbourne’s Anna Lumb (AUS), who is quickly becoming one of the rising stars in Australian entertainment after premiering her debut solo show Big Shoes To Fill.
• Taking you to a discotheque and teaching you all the moves is Anna’s Go-Go Academy (AUS). She teaches from the stage and gets the whole crowd involved to give Go-Go dancing a go.
• If you can imagine a punky anti-establishment take on ska, pop, chanson, gypsy and dancehall all shoved into a magical suitcase – you can imagine French rockers Babylon Circus (FRA).
• The man who loves safari suits and blow-waved hair, the ultimate organ salesman – who plays it like no other is Adelaide’s Barry Morgan (AUS).
• Lilikoi Kaos (AUS) has forged a reputation at the forefront of Australia’s circus scene. She draws inspiration from all over the globe and has performed far and wide, even taking in festivals like Glastonbury.
• Melbourne Ska Orchestra (AUS) covers the golden ska period: 1963 through to the British Two Toned craze. Conducted in energetic fashion by Nicky Bomba (one third of the John Butlet Trio), it’s a dream team of ska experts that really show you how it’s done.
• An aficionado on black roots, ska, R&B, reggae and soul music that’s second to none is DJ Mohair Slim (AUS). Transfixed as a whippersnapper by his father’s collection of classic boogie-woogie, blues and soul records, his transfixion has now turned to smooth groove obsession.
• An avid record collector, Pierre Baroni (AUS) has a collection of about 5000 soul, funk and R&B singles. Nothing gives him a buzz more than discovering some rare vinyl and sharing it with passionate listeners.
• Peter Combe (AUS) is back with his huge bag of tricks and classic children’s tunes for one massive sing-a-long. He’s gained a much deserved second lease of life with the now much bigger kids of the 80’s and early 90’s.
• Richie 1250 (AUS) DJ’s soul dances and rockn’roll gigs with his catchy beats. He’ll be pumping out a little bit of everything with his set this December that is sure to be exactly what you feel like dancing to.
• A 9 piece funk and soul explosion coming straight out of Melbourne rock city – Saskwatch, who like their namesake, are larger than life.
• From Liverpool to Melbourne in 1982, Vince Peach (UK) bought his vinyl records and his passion for soul music to Australia. He always plays the music he loves and wants the world to know about it.
Additions to the 2011 line-up (in alphabetical order)
Alpine, Beirut, CANT, Regurgitator performing ‘Unit’, The Grates and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.
Boogie Nights Acts 2011 (in alphabetical order)
*Each state is represented by a v for Victoria or a t for Tasmania or tm for Tasmanian main program. Playing in each state this year will be:
Anna Lumb (t), Anna’s Go-Go Academy (v+t), Babylon Circus (v+tm), Barry Morgan (v), Lilikoi Kaos (v), Melbourne Ska Orchestra (v), Mohair Slim (t), Nouvelle Vague (v+tm), Peter Combe (v), Pierre Baroni (v), Richie 1250 (t), Saskwatch (v), Vince Peach (v) and more.
The Falls Music & Arts Festival 2011 featuring (in alphabetical order):
Aloe Blacc, Alpine, Arctic Monkeys, Arj Barker, Beirut, CANT, Crystal Castles, Dan Deacon, Easy Star All Stars (performing Dub Side of the Moon in full), emma louise, Fleet Foxes, J Mascis, Josh Pyke, Josh Thomas, Lanie Lane, Metronomy, Missy Higgins, Papa Vs Pretty, Pnau, Regurgitator performing ‘Unit’, The Grates, The Jezabels, The Jim Jones Revue, The Kooks, The Wonderful World of DJ Yoda, Tim Finn, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Young MC and many more to be announced.
The Falls Music & Arts Festival 2011
About: A world-class line-up of music, comedy and arts in a relaxed festival environment. The coastal locations are beautiful and all camping is free.
Events: Dec 28 – Jan 1 in Lorne, Victoria (estab. 1993). 18+ event Dec 29 – Jan 1 in Marion Bay, Tasmania (estab. 2003). All ages
Tickets: The majority of tickets will be allocated via the ballot. Enter the ticket ballot at www.fallsfestival.com before 5pm August 5th 2011. Ballot notification and purchasing begins 9am August 8th 2011. Remaining tickets go on sale 9am August 17th 2011.
