Beacons Festival, 2012 Preview

Beacons Festival is the latest edition to the ever expanding Northern Festival calendar and looks like it's set to potentially forge a great name for itself. Originally scheduled to be held in 2011, the festival was cancelled at the last minute due to unforeseen heavy flooding. 2012 will see the festival take place on the same site, just on much higher ground.

Though 2012 will be the first year for Beacons, the festival actually partly stems from the ashes of Moor Music Festival and one of the most important things Beacons have decided to continue with is their family friendly ethos, which is sure to create an unmatched atmosphere.

Musically there's much going on so we thought we'd help our fellow festival goers along by giving a little information on some of our favourite bands playing over the weekend.

All times are 12PM onwards.

Hey Sholay - Friday 5.30 Noisey / Vice Stage
Ever since we saw Hey Sholay perform in Leeds many-a-year-ago, we knew they had something special to offer and now it seems like the Sheffield/ Leeds quintet are finally being heard by ears around the country. Having supported a variety of bands on their most recent UK tour including, Slow Club, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Male Bonding and Darwin Deez we really can't wait to acquaint our ears with their original pop once again.

Submotion Orchestra - Friday 5.30 Stool Pigeon Stage
If Hey Sholay don't take your fancy, you should venture to the main stage to witness the truly indescribable seven piece Submotion Orchestra was formed in Leeds back in 2009 with a fairly rapid success rate, wowing audiences at festivals such as Herefordshire's The Big Chill, Suffolk's Latitude, Croatia's Outlook and the Isle of Wight's Bestival in 2010. They are set to embark on a headlining UK tour in October kicking off at Sub89 in Reading. The Orchestra, fronted by only female member and vocalist Ruby Wood, have recently released their debut album 'Finest Hour' and describe their sound as dubstep with a jazz crossover.

Jessie Ware - Friday 6.55 Stool Pigeon Stage
South London pop singer/ songwriter Jessie Ware is soon to release her debut album 'Devotion' this month following the success of her February released single 'Running'. Jessie Ware has made various vocal appearances in concerts for SBTRKT and on their recording of song 'Nervous'. Her other collaborations include with dubstep and grime producer Joker on his song 'The Vision', electro pop band Man Like Me and also a backing vocal stint for old friend Jack Penate. Since then Jessie has been championed by Radio one, and we can tell you that's she's one of the few welcome additions to their playlist.

Factory Floor - Friday 8.05 Stool Pigeon Stage
Fans of The Fall rejoice for we know of a band worthy to continue their noisey mantle. London based trio Factory Floor signed to Blast First Petite records following the release of two singles and a mini album 'Talking on Cliffs'. The band are set to play the main stage, they're not going to be crowd pleasers for the majority of folk but to those who it does appeal to, they're at the top of their game.

Wild Beasts - Saturday 11.00 (pm) Stool Pigeon Stage
Wild Beats found their current formation after vocalist Hayden Thorpe and guitarist Ben Little moved to Leeds where they met drummer Chris Talbot and bassist Tom Fleming, soon after the band signed to Leeds based Bad Sneakers Records and released their debut single 'Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants' - for most fans the rest is history, after finding a new home at Domino Records they've released three stunning albums. Never ones to disappoint with their live sets, their headline performance on the main stage is sure to deliver many a sublime moment.

Willis Earl Beal - Sunday 3.00 Stool Pigeon Stage
Chicago born soul singer Willis Earl Beal started isn't one to be easily labelled, personally I think his album Acousmatic Sorcery comes close to something like anti-blues. Beal's uniquely smooth vocals layered over something undeniably lo-fi which is also full of feedback. Earlier this year W.E.B completed his first UK tour, and though it only featured relatively small venues, it sold out without a problem.

Hawk Eyes - Sunday 4.10 Noisey / Vice Stage
Originally called Chickenhawk, Hawk Eyes had to change their name their name after a legal dispute, not ones to let that affect them, the band came back stronger than ever with their follow up material. Their EP 'Mindhammers' released towards the end of 2011 was one of our favourite EPs of the year and the band continued to deliver their raucous riffs when they released their latest album 'Ideas'. Perhaps not a set for the faint-hearted - but if you're down with the riff, you're in for a treat.

Star Slinger - Sunday 7.30 The Greendales Stage
Star Slinger (real name Darren Williams) is still a relatively new names on the DJ circuit but for the past 2 years he's been busy making quite the name for himself. Currently based in Manchester, he is yet another Leeds University alumnus. Star Slinger has a good selection of remixes to his name including Gold Panda, rapper Childish Gambino, Broken Social Scene, The Go! Team and The Morning Benders. We're not exactly sure what Mr Williams will have planned in a festival environment, but we're sure he's well able of delivering the goods.

The Felice Brothers - Sunday 9.00 Stool Pigeon Stage
Hear at contactmusic, we love The Felice Brothers! Having witnessed a few too many of their crowded and ridiculously hot indoor gigs in the past, it'll be great to see what these New Yorkers have to offer on a larger platform. If you saw a picture of this unruly lot, you could be forgiven for believing them to be country hicks, however we strongly advise you stick on one of their albums (particularly their 2008 self-titled album). You'll soon see what they have to offer. Singalongs are fully expected their whisky fuelled song shanties. Anyone who advocates the act of putting 'some whiskey into my whiskey' will always get the thumbs up in my book.

Toots & The Maytals - Sunday 10:30 Stool Pigeon Stage
When you go to a festival in North Yorkshire, you best be prepared to see at least a little cloud and rain - however with Toots & The Maytals playing they're sure to bring the sunshine vibes. Having made a HUGE imprint in Ska scene and their subsequent peers, the band have written a whole host of hit singles including: 'Do the Reggay', 'Pressure Drop' and 'Monkey Man'; even if you're not familiar with Toots, you just might've heard Pressure Drop as it has been covered by bands such as The Clash, The Specials and Keith Richards and 'Monkey Man' by Reel Big Fish. Hopefully Toot's will bring a burst of Caribbean sunshine with them.

If that wasn't enough, there's plenty more happening over the weekend, we also recommend you check out these bands:

Outfit - Friday 2.45 The Greendales Stage
Theme Park - Friday 3.10 Stool Pigeon Stage
D/R/U/G/S Friday 11.30 The Greendales Stage
Savages - Friday 11.30 Noisey / Vice Stage


Stalking Horse - Saturday 12.50 Noisey / Vice Stage
Grass House - Saturday 3.20 Noisey / Vice Stage
Still Corners - Saturday 3.30 Stool Pigeon Stage
Japandroids - Saturday 7.00 Stool Pigeon Stage
Junior Boys - Saturday 9.40 Stool Pigeon Stage
Eagulls - Saturday 22.30 Noisey / Vice Stage


B>E>A>K> - Sunday 12.50 Noisey / Vice Stage
Hookworms - Sunday 03.20 Noisey / Vice Stage
That Fucking Tank - Sunday 5:00 Noisey / Vice Stage
Errors - Sunday 5.00 Stool Pigeon Stage
Lanterns On The Lake - Sunday 6.10 Stool Pigeon Stage
Blacklisters - Sunday 8:00 Noisey / Vice Stage