Rob Da Bank

Boris Johnson is set to host this year’s London Music Awards, in a ceremony held on June 11th at the city’s Roundhouse venue in Chalk Farm.

According to its press release, the Awards “celebrate the achievements of London’s inspiring and aspiring musicians and its legendary performers." It includes a panel featuring the radio DJ Rob da Bank, and examples of the prizes it gives out are ‘Londoners’ Favourite Music Venue’, ‘Rising Stars’ and ‘London Legend’.

While this might seem surprising (what do electable political figures have to do with music?), the move makes sense as the Awards, running for its second year in 2015, are held and sponsored by the Mayor’s Music Fund.

Continue reading: Boris Johnson To Host London Music Awards 2015

New Year, New Festival Season and in 2015 one of the best ones is going global - Bestival is going to Toronto. Bestival UK has been a firm favourite in the summer calendar for 12 years having been set up and run by BBC Radio DJ Rob da Bank and his wife Josie.

A firm festival favourite is heading to Canada

This year its popularity is going stateside and it's landing at Hanlan’s Point Beach in Toronto Island on the shore of Lake Ontario during the weekend of June, 12th-13th.

Continue reading: Bestival Is Going To North America

Michael Molloy, 18, died when the Bestival-bound coach he was on came off the A3 near Hindhead, Surrey in 2012. This shocked a festival circuit, otherwise awash with frivolity. Colin Daulby, 63, from Warrington, Cheshire, and Kerry Ogden, 23, from Maghull, near Liverpool, were also killed in the crash.

But in a touching tribute, a song by the late and aspiring musician, penned before his untimely death, is to be released after support from BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank. "It was Michael's ambition to have his music recognised by the wider world,” said his brother Joe."He never fulfilled that ambition so we, his family, are fulfilling it for him. Michael can never come back and we will never cease to grieve for him. We think about him every hour of every day. Michael's mother Frances added: "The release of Michael's single will represent a small step in the long and hard job of rebuilding our lives. We will always be thankful for the fact that he was the happiest 18-year-old alive at the time of his death. He was fulfilled and full of hopes and dreams. One of those dreams was for his talent to be recognised. The release of Rise and Fall means that will now happen."

Instrumental - Rob Da Bank

Continue reading: Song To Be Released By Bestival Coach Crash Victim’s Family

Here at Contactmusic, we’re already taking bets on how many punters at Bestival will be dressing up as Elton John on fancy dress day. Or possibly for the whole weekend. If you’re planning on going to the festival, on the Isle of Wight this summer, you’d better get your outrageous glasses purchased now, because they’re sure to run out pretty soon. Apparently, it was the power of fancy dress that lured Elton to the festival. “I’ve heard that the Bestival audience comes in fancy dress and I can’t wait to see that, they must all look amazing from the stage.”

Elton’s appearance is a serious coup for the festival, which is curated by Radio One DJ Rob da Bank. He admits “I haven't played any of the major festivals in the UK in recent years,” so the chance to catch him at a relatively small (though influential) affair on the ever-expanding UK festival circuit will be a treat. “When the opportunity to play Bestival came up I was very interested,” Elton told The Guardian. "Bestival seems to be more of a people's festival, not too big, and very friendly - I like the idea of that.” Whether or not Elton’s planning on wearing fancy dress too, remains to be seen.

The second of the festival’s headliners to be announced is the US rapper Snoop Lion (the artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg, that is), another rarity on the UK’s outdoor gig scene. The event takes place on September 5-8, 2013. Snoop will headline the Saturday night and Elton takes the iconic closing slot on the Sunday. 

Continue reading: Bestival 2013: Will Elton John Or Snoop Lion (Snoop Dogg) Wear Fancy Dress?

Daft Punk are back at last, with their first studio album in eight years due to be released in May 2013. The French electronic dance duo, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo have signed a new recording deal with the Sony-owned Columbia label, according to The Guardian. This will be the fourth studio album from Daft Punk. Their last, Human After All was released in 2005, though they also created the soundtrack to Tron: Legacy in 2010.

So far, the details of the fourth album are limited but one thing seems to be certain: anyone expecting to see Daft Punk touring in support of the album is likely to be disappointed. There were rumors flying around that they would headline one of the days at Coachella. That proved unfounded, with the Coachella line-up now announced and not including the French dance act. BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank – who also curates Bestival on the Isle of Wight – has revealed that he was told Daft Punk would not be touring in 2013. The last time they played the UK was in 2007, at the Wireless festival.

What is known about Daft Punk’s movements in this lengthy gap between releases is that they have been collaborating with the likes of Chic’s Nile Rogers, Feist collaborator Chilly Gonzales and Animal Collective’s Panda Bear. They’re also said to have been working with the legendary disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder, though it’s unclear how much of the material they’ve worked on over the last few years will actually make it onto the 2013 album release. Mystery may shroud this Daft Punk release but word of its arrival is still bug news for Daft Punk fans. The wait is finally over.  

Continue reading: The Wait Is Over: Daft Punk Announce Fourth Studio Album, But No Tour