Modestep

Modestep have had a busy year, with the release of their new album London Road plus performances at some of the biggest UK festivals including both Download and Reading & Leeds. This time, they have started on their own tour across the UK, with support from Culprate, Hatcha & MC Crazy D, and their London show was possibly one of the loudest shows yet. With a set list of songs from both Evolution Theory and their newest album London Road, it was bound to have people jumping and moshing. Along with constant shouts of "Make some noise!" from lead singer Josh Friend, the crowd were wild from start to finish.

Watching Modestep at a small venue such as Electric Brixton is a very different experience than seeing them at a festival. Rather than simply playing track after track of the songs people know, the remixes took their set to a whole new level. Nevertheless, the small crowd barely packed out the venue, and struggled to maintain a mosh pit that Modestep deserved. But this didn't stop the whole crowd from bouncing with every drop.

Songs like Sunlight, Rainbow and Seams went down a storm and with the thunderous bass that caused people's bodies to vibrate without them having to move only further helped to add to the atmosphere of the venue. Machines was a crowd favourite, but it seemed that the band's older tracks from Evolution Theory were more popular. Nevertheless, when the band returned for their encore, Circles, the whole of the Electric Brixton lit up and bounced, causing people who had started heading towards the exits to rush back to the main crowd.

Continue reading: Modestep - Electric Brixton Live Review

One of Europe's best rock and metal festivals returned to its home at Donnington Park last weekend and it's safe to say, once again, that Download smashed it. With a range of bands from Kiss, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Rise Against, Parkway Drive, We Are Harlot and more all booked to play, there was something for everyone at the festival, and that was one of the most noticeable highlights. 

Despite the torrential rain pouring down during Slipknot's set, they pulled off one of the best shows to date on Friday and set an extremely high standard for the rest of the headliners. Playing hits like 'Psychosocial', 'Devil In I', 'Spit It Out' and 'Custer', and attempting to break the Download record for the most amount of people all jumping up at the same time they certainly went all out. 

Muse were considered to be a controversial band to have booked, but all concerns were quickly dashed as soon as they hit the stage on Saturday. Matt Bellamy's vocal abilities were on top form as the band belted out tracks from their newly released album 'Drones' as well as well-known hits like 'Supermassive Black Hole' and 'Plug In Baby'. Even those who were indifferent or somewhat disliked Muse couldn't deny that they put on the show of a lifetime complete with dancing lights, pyrotechnics, confetti and inflatable balls. 

Continue reading: Download Festival - 2015 Live Review

It's only April but Contactmusic already have one eye on the summer. specifically towards Creamfields 2013 which will be taking place at its usual venue near Daresbury in Cheshire over the August Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th August). And while much of the UK's music press will be off to Leeds and Reading, we're looking forward to something that bit more adrenaline-fuelled, weird and wonderful over at Creamfields.

Long since established as the UK's premier dance and electronic festival, Creamfields will be in full party spirit this year to celebrate its 15th Birthday, and the initial line-up is befitting such a milestone. Leading the charge for 2013's event are iconic dance pioneers The Prodigy headlining the Saturday night (24th August) with their only UK festival appearance of 2013. Still going strong and approaching their 25th anniversary, the band are still legendary for their incendiary festival appearances and we're expecting nothing less from their Creamfields headliner - true trailblazers! Supporting them on the North Stage that night will be French Wunderkind Madeon and Zane Lowe with DJ sets, while the South stage takes a distinctly more cutting-edge tack with Avicii, Knife Party and Nicky Romero. Steve Angelo and Benny Benassi head up the Size Matters tent, while Eric Prydz invites Marco Carola, Adam Beyer and special guest Maya Jane Coles to his Prydz Friends tent. Also heading up their own tents are Pete Tong and Annie Mac with impressive supporting casts, though personally, we're most excited about Above & Beyond's Anjunabeats stage: with Paul Oakenfold, Gareth Wyn and Gareth Emery giving us a night of exceptional Trance before Above & Beyond themselves come along to finish the whole thing off in glorious style.

Onto the Sunday (25th August) and the big name is undoubtedly David Guetta - arguably the biggest name in the world of electronic music right now - heading up the North Stage with a selection of tunes that have pretty much been resident on radios across the globe over the past few years. Though, he does face a little competition from Tiësto on the South Stage, as well as Groove Armada giving one of their ever-excellent and eclectic DJ sets in the Nation tent, and Sebastian Ingrosso proving that there is life after Swedish House Mafia as he fronts the All Mixed Up stage. Frankly, Sunday is full of mouth-watering clashes, with Richie Hawtin's intelligent Techno jacking the Enter stage around, Laidback Luke and Eddie Halliwell getting hands up in the air at the Super You&Me stage, Kutski, Andy Whitby and Alex Kidd pushing it hard and fast at the Goodgreef X-Tra Hard stage and Subfocus and Modestep bringing the bass tremors in the Speakerbox tent. And frankly, if you've got any energy left after that little lot, you're a stronger man than I am! An impressive line-up all round.

Continue reading: Creamfields 2013 - Preview