Desertfest London 2020 has made its first lineup announcement, with nine acts serving as the foundation of the fray set to take place May 1-3 next year. This one happened a bit ago, concurrent I think to the Desertfest Berlin first announcement, but, well, life happens I guess. Either way, the two festivals will share an artwork theme for the first time, which feels only appropriate — one hopes Desertfest New York does the same next September, if only because I’d like to buy a poster on this theme — as well as a few acts in the likes of Masters of Reality, Corrosion of Conformity, Brant Bjork, and Orange Goblin.

They may end up sharing more than that, of course, between the bands that each has thus far revealed. There’s always a bit of stagger between one and the other as they add locals — The Brothers Keg and Green Lung and Black Orchids come to mind here — to distinguish themselves and each offer something of its own to attendees. I wouldn’t be surprised, for example, if The Picturebooks and Possessor wound up playing Berlin too, but that hasn’t been announced yet if it’s going to happen at all. You get the point.

The point is Deserfest London 2020 already looks awesome, and if you can make it, you should go. I should go too. We should all go. And hang out. It’ll be fun.

Mark your calendar:

MASTERS OF REALITY, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, ORANGE GOBLIN + 6 MORE ANNOUNCED AS FIRST ACTS FOR DESERTFEST LONDON 2020

For their first UK appearance in five years, Masters Of Reality – Official will make their Desertfest debut as 2020 headliners next May. One of the most influential bands in desert rock history, with the genres very own Godfather at the reins, Masters is the brainchild of legendary producer Chris Goss (Welcome to Sky Valley, Rated R, Blues for The Red Sun, Songs for The Deaf). Their effortless combination of hard-rock blues with an experimentally progressive tinge makes no apologies for not sticking within the stylised box listeners would assume, yet simultaneously provides the perfect lesson in the musical ethos and story-telling of the Palm Desert scene.

Joining them on the bill will be North Carolina favourites Corrosion Of Conformity whose unmistakable Southern stomp is always a welcome addition, OG’s of the Desertfest family Orange Goblin will celebrate 25 years of relentless riffs and the desert daze continues as living legend Brant Bjork is set to bask in psychedelic sunshine.

Elsewhere we see high-octane German party duo The Picturebooks, London based psychedelic doom devotees GREEN LUNG show just why they are on our ones-to-watch-list and more home-grown talent comes in the form of space sludge stalwarts The Brothers Keg, the unhinged ferocity of Possessor and a journey of groove and reflection with the other-worldly soundscapes of Black Orchids.

Weekend tickets are now on sale and with dozens more bands to still be announced we implore you to pick up a ticket sooner rather than later!

Tickets & more info here – www.desertfest.co.uk || https://link.dice.fm/desertfest20 (*you do not need the DICE app to purchase via DICE!)

Artwork by Piotr w. Osburne

https://www.facebook.com/events/464163361105416/
http://www.desertfest.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestLondon
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_london/

Corrosion of Conformity, Live at Freak Valley Festival 2019

If I can be completely honest for a moment, of all the European festivals that happen each Fall, none of them sets me to daydreaming quite like Keep it Low. Is it the fact that a headlining set from Colour Haze is pretty much guaranteed at this point? Well, that certainly doesn’t hurt. But in addition to that, it’s the vibe of the thing. Every year, fests start spewing out their lineups and try to outdo each other, and I have no doubt that 2018 won’t be any different. It’s a lot of fun, but Keep it Low tends to sidestep the hype in favor of a more laid back approach, and to me that speaks to the kind of vibe I’d like to check out on a cool October weekend in Munich. Acid King, Colour Haze and Sasquatch playing Keep it Low 2018? Pardon me while my mind wanders…

What follows here are actually the first two announcements from the festival via social medias. I put them together as one thing because, like with Up in Smoke the other day, I wasn’t getting Sound of Liberation‘s updates. Once again, that problem has hopefully been fixed at this point, so I should be able to keep up from here on out.

Emphasis on “should.”

Here’s the latest, anyhow:

Keep it Low #6 – Oct. 19 & 20, 2018

The first three bands confirmed for Keep It Low – Festival 2018: Acid King, Sasquatch & The Great Machine! Regular Tickets are also now available! Grab yours quick (remember that Early Birds were gone in only 1 day!)

Acid King – Bathed in distortion and baptized in a plume of smoke, the Bay Area trio fronted by talented Lori S. is rocking the heavy scene for more than 2 decades and we are just thrilled to host them for our sixth edition of the festival.

Sasquatch – Californian Dudes are riffrockers to the core: mixing elements of 70s rock, metal and psychedelia…we’re all in for a hell of a party !

The Great Machine – Three piece heavy rock machine from Tel Aviv, Israel, known for their intense and straight forward live performances. Check them out, you won’t regret it!

Today, we’re thrilled to tell you that Colour Haze will be playing their yearly & exclusive Munich show at Keep It Low – Festival! The band has recently added a fourth bandmember (piano/organ/keys) and as usual you can expect an outstanding live set. We’re also stoked to welcome the amazing alternative-blues-rock duo The Picturebooks, and Munich-based heavy-blues outfit Sundog (who by the way will release their new EP “Where My Bones Lie” on March 17th at Feierwerk, you should check them)!

Last bunch of Keep It Low Hard Tickets: http://woolheads.com/shop-2/festivalmerchandise/keep-it-low-2-fays-festival-ticket-2018-early-bird

Keep It Low E-Tickets:
https://www.sol-tickets.com/produkte/24-tickets-keep-it-low-festival-feierwerk-area-muenchen-am-19-10-2018
http://www.eventim.de/tickets.html?affiliate=EVE&doc=artistPages%2Ftickets&fun=artist&action=tickets&erid=2131092&includeOnlybookable=true&xtmc=keep_it_low&xtnp=1&xtcr=1

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.facebook.com/events/300578407135232/
https://www.facebook.com/Soundofliberation/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/news

Colour Haze, Live at Keep it Low 2017

I have no problem admitting to feeling overwhelmed looking at the full lineup and individual day splits for Desertfest London 2017. I mean, seriously. Look at that poster. What a way to spend a weekend.

Likewise, I have few grand reflections to offer in light of that overwhelming feeling, except perhaps to take a step back and be massively impressed at how much this event has grown in just six incarnations. Along with Desertfest Berlin, the London edition has become an anchor not only for the UK heavy rock underground — which is well represented here as ever in Elephant Tree, Black Spiders, Stubb, Vodun, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Terminal Cheesecake, Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters, Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, and so on — but for bands from abroad as well. You’ll note the three headliners: two American, one Norwegian, and the next line down on the poster is two Swedish, one American. Desertfest London 2017’s reach feels wider than ever. Staring at the final lineup, it’s clear just how much of a big fucking deal this festival has become.

Wish I could be there to see it.

Here’s the announcement of the individual day lineups from their website:

DESERTFEST 2017 DAY SPLITS AND DAY TICKETS ARE HERE!

Finally, the Desertfest 2017 day and stage splits are here, along with individual day tickets. It’s the point of the year where you can start planning the weekend, you can imagine the sets in your head and you can curse those god damned clashes.

Last things first, let’s get straight to that insane Sunday main-stage. To celebrate The Roundhouse joining the Desertfest family, we made their debut appearance something special. Not only will stoner doom icons Sleep be topping the bill, but the Roundhouse hosts a full bill of huge acts. Candlemass, with over three decades of underground acclaim to their name, bring the epic doom metal. USA’s Wolves in the Throne Room bring the atmospheric black metal. Traditional doom metal stalwarts Saint Vitus bring the classic riffs. And how about this for a ‘curtain jerker’? Bongzilla bring the raw weed metal for their second show of the weekend; more on the first later.

It’s not just about the Sunday though. Friday’s stage at the Electric Ballroom is headlined by returning heroes Slo Burn whose short run in the mid 90s furthered the then fledgling stoner rock scene. One band they surely had an impact on is Lowrider, who play Europe’s finest stoner rock alongside them. Ukraine’s Stoned Jesus celebrate their resonant album Seven Thunders Roar, and 1000Mods and Pontiak round up the main stage on the Friday.

The Electric Ballroom on Saturday will be swarming with Turbojugends as death-punk grandmasters Turbonegro turn Camden into party central. John Garcia sticks around for a solo show, sure to feature classics from his years of nonstop mastery in the stoner rock scene. Sheffield’s rock and roll five piece Black Spiders visit London for one last time on their farewell tour, with Satan’s Satyrs and Avon rounding up the main stage.

As ever though, it doesn’t stop at the main stages. Our regular partners have delivered three stages with diverse lineups. Human_Disease_Promo and When Planets Collide take over The Underworld on Saturday in a bill headlined by Bongzilla with a special set celebrating the band’s early work. The Quietus stage is led by synth wavers Zombi, and Nightshift Promotions bring an eclectic mix led by Hungary’s Apey & the Pea. To be honest, just stick a pin in the lineup poster and you’re guaranteed a good time.

For those who can’t make the full weekend, we have a limited number of individual day tickets. Priced at £40 for Friday tickets, £40 for Saturday tickets and £45 for Sunday tickets, links are below.

So there we have it. Our final lineup for Desertfest 2017. We hope you’re as excited as we are to get back to Camden this April and riff London to the ground.

DESERTFEST LONDON 2017 Final Lineup:
SLEEP
SLO BURN
TURBONEGRO
CANDLEMASS
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM
SAINT VITUS
JOHN GARCIA BAND
BONGZILLA
LOWRIDER
SCISSORFIGHT
BLACK SPIDERS
SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT
THE PICTUREBOOKS
STONED JESUS
SATAN’S SATYRS
INTER ARMA
WEAR YOUR WOUNDS
1000MODS
STEAK
AVON
DEATH ALLEY
DEAD LORD
BOSS KELOID
PONTIAK
YURI GAGARIN
HARK
VODUN
CHRON GOBLIN
PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS
THE WELL
MAMMOTH STORM
CELESTE
STUBB
MONOLITHIAN
WUCAN
VENOMOUS MAXIMUS
BRUME
APEY & THE PEA
ELEPHANT TREE
GRAVE LINES
IRON WITCH
EARTH SHIP
BACKWOODS PAYBACK
WIZARD FIGHT
BRULE
CLOSET DISCO QUEEN
GRAND MAMMOTH
CHUBBY THUNDEROUS BAD KUSH MASTERS
MAMMOTH WEED WIZARD BASTARD
SAMAVAYO
WELCOME BACK DELTA
DEAD LETTUCE
MONSTERTONE
LEDFOOT
ZOMBI
TERMINAL CHEESECAKE
KHÜNNT
BASK
BRUXA MARIA

http://www.desertfest.co.uk/#tickets-section
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/desertfest-2017-tickets-27305267791
http://www.desertfest.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestLondon
https://twitter.com/DesertFest
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_london/

Dead Lettuce, Booze and Blues EP (2015)

Desertfest London 2017 joins the Spring festival season fray with its first round of lineup announcements. Set for April 28-30 in its traditional home of Camden Town in London, the sixth incarnation of one of the two founding Desertfests will include a headlining set from Turbonegro, as well as appearances from Samsara Blues Experiment, who seem to be set on making a return to activity as we head into the New Year that I’ll be very interested in seeing how it plays out, plus blues-cycle duo The Picturebooks, Virginia’s Satan’s Satyrs, tribalists Vodun, Yuri Gargarin, Mammoth Storm, and London’s own Elephant Tree, whose 2016 self-titled debut (review here) stands among the year’s best in heavy rock. Bit of a no-brainer there, so I guess you might as well get the announcement out of the way early.

Not really looking forward to six months of cartoon-titty posters, but so it goes. Here’s word from the fest:

DESERTFEST LONDON: first bands announced; Turbonegro to headline the 2017 edition!

After a momentous fifth year anniversary, DESERTFEST LONDON proudly returns in 2017. As the festival grows from strength to strength, each year offers up a new challenge to bring a truly unique and amplified weekend to Camden Town. Desertfest aims to not only expand in all areas, but also to exceed expectations, and this year’s lineup is set to do just that.

The first headliner for 2017 is one of the most ludicrously high voltage, straight-up party bands in the history of rock’n’roll: Norway’s very own TURBONEGRO will be bringing their blend of high octane deathpunk to Desertfest 2017, for their first performance ever at the festival!

Joining them on the bill are one of the most requested Desertfest acts, German psych stalwarts SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT, whose expert blend of stoner rock, psychedelic blues and Indian raga will bring some mind-bending goodness to the weekend’s trip.

THE PICTUREBOOKS will also be eagerly offering up their diverse alt-rock sound. The duo have pushed boundaries with their style – from drumming with mallets to building their own instruments, their live performances unquestionably follow suit and will not disappoint.

Virginia’s crème-de la-crème of thrash SATAN SATYR’S have effortlessly propelled themselves to cult status by paving the way for that true hard-attack heavy rock, making them stand out from a sea of peers who are just trying to hit half as hard.

VODUN are quickly gaining traction as one of those “must see” bands, and Desertfest is thrilled to show our loyal family as to why. An overwhelming talent of primal, genre-bending, heavy afro-soul rock – they’re not easy to describe, but being labelled one of the best new rock acts on the planet may help paint the picture. Swedish space rock cosmonauts YURI GAGARIN will also join the 2017 proceedings to launch revellers into a hypnotic otherworldly journey, alongside doom-drone power trio MAMMOTH STORM, who will be ready to batter out any cobwebs with a sonic tidal wave of riffs. Last but not least, is London’s very own ELEPHANT TREE with their melodic and weighty riffs that will rattle down on listeners like a stampede.

We are proud, and excited, for what next year has in store. But this is only the tip of the iceberg as there is much, much more to come. Stay tuned!

– DESERTFEST LONDON 2017 –
28th to 30th April in Camden, London
Weekend passes are available HERE

First bands announced:
TURBONEGRO, SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT, THE PICTUREBOOKS, SATAN’S SATYRS, VODUN, YURI GAGARIN, MAMMOTH STORM, ELEPHANT TREE

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/desertfest-2017-tickets-27305267791
http://www.desertfest.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/DesertfestLondon
https://twitter.com/DesertFest
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_london/

Elephant Tree, Elephant Tree (2016)

Don’t get me wrong, good for The Picturebooks and all that, but I’m just a little curious as to how the German duo wound up with Another Century as opposed to Century Media proper, where they’d be labelmates to the likes of The Shrine, Hexvessel and Truckfighters (among others). Doubtless some internal organizational thing and I don’t know that it really matters in the long run — they’re both under the Sony banner at this point — but it’s just interesting that Century Media seems to be on such a purposeful push into heavy rock and The Picturebooks, who have their indie stream to be sure but probably still fall under a “heavy rock” banner, would wind up on Another Century instead. Can’t help but wonder if other acts might migrate over as well or how separate the two entities actually are. Past Century Media rock imprints — Liquor & Poker comes to mind — have been pretty fluid.

Either way, The Picturebooks will be on tour in Europe this fall and have a new video even as they work on their next record, so it’s bonus news all around. Note the comments below from Mike Gitter of Another Century and Daniel Hall of RidingEasy Records, who released The Picturebooks‘ 2014 album, Imaginary Horse. Those are two excellent dudes to have in your corner.

From the PR wire:

PRIMAL BLUES-ROCK DUO THE PICTUREBOOKS SIGNS WITH ANOTHER CENTURY

ANNOUNCES EUROPEAN DATES WITH LE BUTCHERETTES & DEBUTS MUSIC VIDEO FOR “THE RABBIT AND THE WOLF”

Primal blues-rock duo THE PICTUREBOOKS has just announced their signing to US-based rock label Another Century. Featuring Fynn Claus Grabke [vocals, guitar] and Philipp Mirtschink [drums], the two perform blues-saturated heavy rock.

“The Picturebooks’ sound is as distinct as the smell of burnt motor oil coming off the sun-baked California desert highway,” explains Another Century’s VP of A&R Mike Gitter. “They are at once completely unique, musically unforgettable, and tapped into the psyche of rock n’ roll at its most primal. We had to get involved with these raw riders of the sonic highway.”

RidingEasy Records’ Daniel Hall adds, “The Picturebooks are destined for greatness and we are excited to be able to combine forces with Another Century who will be able to provide some of the big label resources that we currently aren’t set up to do. I look forward to watching this band continue to grow into the timeless act that they are.”

This September, THE PICTUREBOOKS will hit the road with Le Butcherettes on their month-long “A Raw Youth” European run. A full list of dates can be seen below. With a rigorous touring history, the band has played alongside Eagles of Death Metal, Kadavar, The Answer, and more, as well as performed at Riot Fest (Chicago, Denver; USA), Governor’s Ball (New York, USA), and Sziget (Hungary).

Additionally, THE PICTUREBOOKS have released a new video for their song “The Rabbit And The Wolf,” which was featured on ‘Imaginary Horse.’ Directed by Claus Grabke, the video documents the two riding from city to city on their custom built choppers, amidst a number of daring stunts and electric performances.

“Nothing in the video for ‘The Rabbit and the Wolf’ is staged,” explains THE PICTUREBOOKS. “We just filmed what happened on tour or when hanging around with our friends, riding choppers, skating etc. Some of it was filmed in Europe and some was filmed in the US. The lyrics in the song kinda describe us and the way we feel when being on tour, so it seemed appropriate to use mostly tour-footage for the video. Most of the smaller locations in this video are what really made this band. People believed in us and gave us the chance to play, even before we were signed. We kept coming back till the place was finally packed. We owe these people a lot!”

THE PICTUREBOOKS are working on new material for their Another Century debut, so fans are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled on the group’s socials for future updates.

2016 Tour Dates:
09/09 – Faak am See, Austria – European Bike Week Festival **free entry**

“A Raw Youth” European Tour:
w/ Le Butcherettes
09/22 – Berlin, Germany – Cassiopeia
09/23 – Cologne, Germany – Artheater
09/25 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Loppen
09/27 – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Merleyn
09/28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg Theater
09/29 – Courtrai, Belgium – De Kreun
09/30 – Paris, France – Le Backstage By The Mill
10/01 – Stuttgart, Germany – Kellerclub
10/03 – Prague, Czech – Lucerna Music Bar
10/04 – Munich, Germany – Kranhalle
10/05 – Vienna, Austria – B72
10/07 – Zurich, Switzerland – Dynamo
10/08 – Milan, Italy – Tunnel
10/10 – Valencia, Spain – Loco Club
10/11 – Madrid, Spain – El Sol
10/12 – Barcelona, Spain – Sidecar
10/14 – London, UK – The Black Heart
10/15 – Coventry, UK – Kasbah (club night)
10/16 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
10/17 – Cardiff, UK – Clwb Ifor Bach
10/19 – Dublin, Ireland – The Workman’s Club
10/20 – Belfast, UK – Black Box
10/21 – Glasgow, UK – King Tuts
10/22 – Manchester, UK – Night & Day

http://www.thepicturebooks.com
http://www.facebook.com/ThePicturebooks
http://www.twitter.com/ThePicturebooks
http://www.instagram.com/ThePicturebooks
http://www.anothercentury.com
http://www.facebook.com/AnotherCenturyRecords

The Picturebooks, “The Rabbit and the Wolf” official video

Well, this one’s a no-brainer. A free download from RidingEasy Records that previews two of the label’s upcoming releases while at the same time wrapping up some of the best 2015 had to offer. The label is calling it the Winter 2016 Mixtape, and what it rounds out to is 14 tracks that demonstrate how huge a role RidingEasy has played in setting the tone for heavy rock in the last year. The West Coast label has established one of the strongest rosters of acts in the US, persistently released quality offerings in quality formats, and developed an aesthetic that’s individualized and expanding in kind.

All the tracks listed below are mixed into one molten 74-minute file that you can stream and download below. And if you’re only rolling into it interested in the new stuff — hey, maybe you heard the rest — that’s right up front for immediate access:

Here is a smattering of tunes that came out in 2015 and will come out in the first part of 2016. Hand selected and mixed by DJ Bonghits.

1. Electric Citizen – “Evil” from the forthcoming album “Higher Time” out April 2016
2. Mondo Drag “Out of Sight” from the forthcoming album “The Occultation of Light” out Feb 2016
3. Slow Season “Day Glo Sunrise” from the album “Slow Season”
4. Salem’s Pot “The Vampire Strikes Back” (Full Version)
5, Zekes “Box” from Brown Acid “The First Trip”
6. Old Man’s Will “Got It” from the album “Hard Times Troubled Man”
7. Sons of Huns “Philosopher’s Stone” from the album “While Sleeping Stay Awake”
8. Spiral Shades “Frozen Fear” (Originally performed and written by Bedemon)
9. Holy Serpent “Shroom Doom” From the album Holy Serpent
10. Spelljammer “The Pathfinder” From the album “Ancient of Days”
11. Monolord “Cursing The One” From the Album Vænir
12. Blackout “Tannered” from the album “Blackout”
13. The Well “Crawling Mist” (McPullish Dub Mix)
14. The Picturebooks “Hail These Words” from the album “Imaginary Horse”

BUY DIGITAL MUSIC- www.ridingeasyrecords.bandcamp.com
BUY PHYSICAL MUSIC – www.ridingeasyrecords.com
Follow us On Instagram – @easyriderrecord

Seems an unlikely coincidence that German two-piece The Picturebooks played Astra Kulturhaus last night and here they are today being announced for Desertfest Berlin 2015, which is held at the same venue. You’d almost swear these things were planned out ahead of time. The duo are currently on tour among the formidable ranks of Kadavar and The Shrine and were previously announced for Roadburn 2015 as well. Still fresh of the release of their RidingEasy Records debut and third album overall, Imaginary Horse, they’re also veterans of this year’s Desertfest in Belgium.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they showed up on the bill for London as well (they recently played in Camden Town for the first time), but that announcement hasn’t come yet, so don’t quote me on it. The bluesy roll of Imaginary Horse can be heard in full below and it comes with the info from Desertfest Berlin, in case, you know, it slipped your mind in the three days since they last added a band. Ha:

Alright folks, here we go!

Today we announce a band you have surely heard of in the last couple of weeks and months: the German duo The Picturebooks!!

Their unique sound combines a great bluesy-driven-altern rock mixed with garage and punk elements. Currently supporting Kadavar allover europe, they got amazing feedbacks from press and fans for their incredible live shows. Yesterday, they blew the Astra Kulturhaus Berlin, and will do it again next year! Seeing them live and listening to their tunes, you can´t stand still, promised. This will be FUN!!

Get your limited HARD TICKET (with a free Desertfest T-Shirt) or a PRINT-AT-HOME TICKET on www.desertfest.de/tickets! Make your choice

DESERTFEST BERLIN #4 – APRIL 23th, 24th, 25th 2015
ASTRA KULTURHAUS / F-HAIN/X-BERG BERLIN (GER)

Red Fang + Orange Goblin + My Sleeping Karma + Black Pyramid + Karma To Burn + Brutus + Dopethrone + The Atomic Bitchwax + The Picturebooks + Lo-pan + Mountain Witch + Mother Engine + many many more acts:)

www.desertfest.de
www.soundofliberation.com
https://www.facebook.com/ThePicturebooks
https://soundcloud.com/easyriderrecords/

The Picturebooks, Imaginary Horse (2014)