Wickerman announces Solus line-up and First Rap Battle
Young Fathers and Hector Bizerk to headline bill of Scottish talent
Friday 25th & Saturday 26th July 2014 / www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
The Wickerman Festival prides itself on showcasing emerging Scottish talent, and this year is no exception as a wealth of sizzling acts join its red-hot Solus tent line-up.
Exuberant hip hop trio Young Fathers will headline the tent on Friday, while Saturday’s lead act will be experimental rappers Hector Bizerk. They will be joined by The Amazing Snakeheads, Neon Waltz, LAW and Tuff Love, as well as other rising stars.
On Friday, Edinburgh-based crew Young Fathers are set to get the festival jumping with an alternative fusion of sounds influenced by their Liberian, Nigerian and Scottish roots. The self proclaimed ‘psychadelic hip hop boy band’ will mix tribal percussion and ambient synths with loping beats and hypnotic vocals in an avant garde show stopping set. Hip hop supremos Hector Bizerk will be returning to the festival on Saturday with the promise of an explosive performance that seamlessly syncs melodic beats and intricate word play. The duo, which comprise of drummer Audrey and rapper Louie, have built a solid reputation for their illustrious live shows and have been dubbed a hybrid of The White Stripes and The Roots.
Also announced are The Amazing Snakeheads, a three-piece primal rock ‘n’ roll band from Glasgow whose unapologetic, emotionally charged songs echo the likes of The Pixies, The Cramps and The Gun Club. Joining them will be Neon Waltz, a powerful six- piece psychedelic indie rock band from Caithness and hotly tipped soloist LAW (aka Lauren Holt) who combines a little rap and a lot of soul in her intensive live performances.
Glaswegian trio Tuff Love are set to stoke up Scotland’s hottest summer party further with mesmerising lyrics, heart wrenching vocals and dreamy melodies, whilst the all female Cairn String Quartet will bring a touch of class to the exciting line-up. Badmouth Battles rapper Gasp will pick up the pace by MCing the festival’s first ever rap battle. The event will shine the spotlight on raw talent and is set to get the crowds bouncing.
Other line-up additions include emerging blues rock band Tijuana Bibles who have drawn comparisons to The Black Keys and alternative comedy, dance, rock group Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5. Electronica two piece Atom Tree, indie punk act Thin Privilege and dynamic pop musician Algernon Doll will also be commanding the stage. They will be joined by atmospheric indie rockers Call to Mind, Fat Suit a 15-piece band comprised of Glasgow music students and Gastric Band, who channel the taboo-breaking spirits of Frank Zappa and Karlheinz Stockhausen into their music.
Energetic indie rockers Pronto Mama, psychedelic blues band Deathcats, alternative indie folk act Foreign Fox and jazz rock instrumentalists Cutty’s Gym will complete the tent’s eclectic bill.
Chay Woodman, Wickerman’s Solus Tent booker, said: “The idea behind the Solus Tent since 2006 has always been to keep it diverse, interesting, unique and surprising. Or as Pharoahe Monch said: “If you’re holding up the wall then you’re missing the point.”
Musical genres and geography aside, this is a line-up that offers exactly what the Wickerman goers want when it comes to emerging Scottish artists. As for the headliners, getting Young Fathers took four years of waiting but it’s been timed perfectly and Hector Bizerk were always destined to return after their fantastic debut set back in 2012. Two days and twenty slots, it’s going to be a fantastic weekend.”
