10 Acts To See At Farr Festival
It’s just under a month to go until Farr Festival hits Bygrave Woods, in Hertfordshire. With anticipation rising as the bill begins to take its final shape, we asked festival founder Oscar Thornton to run us through ten of the acts that he’s looking forward to seeing at this year’s edition, and a little bit about why he booked them.
Mount Kimbie
I have had a little obsession with Mount Kimbie for some time now and have been keen to book them since we first gave birth to Farr.
It’s taken some time to get the festival to a stage where we are ready to accommodate an act like Mount Kimbie. The guys will play the main stage on Friday 18th July along side Pional and Ame - Live. For me they are one of the best electronic live acts out there. “Bave’s Chords” is a track that feels so organic and warm. I can’t help but reflect when I hear it - stopping to think for a minute about the past, present and future…producing a festival is very much like that! Cheesy, but true…
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Daniel Avery
Dan is one of a kind. It’s so refreshing to see an artist try something different in a scene when so many people are copying each other, or harking back to another time. “Drone Logic” is a track that I will never get bored of and every time I’ve heard it during a set - the roof just flies off. Not only is he an unbelievable producer - but Dan has the ability to hold a crowd in the palm of his hand and gives them a real sense of his personality during each of his sets. It’s like a constant adventure and a journey into the unknown where you forget about all the other shit that’s going on and just let go. We will literally be welcoming him back with open arms to Farr this year, where he plays the Ransom Note & Society stage with Andrew Weatherall, Robert Owens and Hunee.
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Rosie Lowe
Big things to come from this lovely lady! One thing that we have always tried to do with Farr, is showcase emerging acts because they hit the big time. I have been following Rosie for a while now and her Right Thing EP is a real winner - I’m really intrigued to see how her album turns out. This particular track - “Games” - feels very apt. Running a festival sometimes feels like a game - back and forth with agents, contractors and running up against other festival promoters, it’s often hard to make sense of it all.
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Nathan Ball
Oxford/Cornwall based singer songwriter Nathan Ball is an act that we have been following closely over the last couple of years and a firm Farr favourite. His soundscape takes on the haunting and wild sounds of the coast from his time surfing down south. I don’t want to tempt fate, but I can see Nathan headlining massive festivals in the future. We first heard this track when we saw him perform at the Star Of Kings earlier this year. A room of socialites quickly diverted their attentions from playing on their iPhones and stood to attention from the first strum - he is a real natural performer and not one to be missed at Farr ‘14.
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Hunee
An act that takes over dance floors with pure class! If you’re into your house and disco then go and see this guy play. A proper selector and a seriously talented DJ. No nonsense needed when it comes to Hun - as long as his turntables are working, that is! This “Virgo” floor remix is a little gem. Hunee plays with Young Marco, Daniel Avery, Robert owns on the saturday at Farr this year. Expect tops off and some serious sweat - no need for a gym when you have Hunee.
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Wilsen
Each year I seem to miss an act who I would loved to have seen and Wilsen is one of those - but NEVER AGAIN!
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Woman’s Hour
Woman’s Hour were supporting Metronomy on their tour, I also saw them about a year back at Parallel Lines gig in London. An amazing band and her voice just jumps out at you.
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Pional
Pional is the Madrid based artist who is gaining more and more profile at the moment, his live sets are amazing and I was lucky enough to see him play on NYD out in Mexico in Tulum for the Young Turks party. For anybody who has not seen him play - this will be a treat for you at Farr 2014. Bring on the melodic groves and washy vocals. Perfect for the sun going down and the night time antics!
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Skeptical
Farr Festival resident and local Badman from Hitchin. We have made a conscious effort year on year to program well developed D&B - and it always go down a storm at Farr.
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Âme
Friday Main Stage - i think it’s going to be pretty special. I have been following these guys for some time and their DJ sets / live shows are next level. For me they are the perfect booking for Farr Festival 2014.
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The above all join headliners Hercules & Love Affair in Bygrave Woods, from 18-20 July. Tickets are still available here.
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