For the 2011 Camden Crawl mixtape I put together for Mud Hut Digital, which Nathan from Mud Hut guided you through, every single band/act I chose had already featured on the site. Meaning that the podcast would be a bit redundant for regular readers. So here's some other picks for the festival, and their set times/stage listings too.
If you missed out on the first preview/mixtape/podcast, then the bands I recommended trying to check out were as follows: PVT, Let's Buy Happiness, DELS, The Good Natured, MNDR, Johnny Foreigner, Danananaykroyd, Banjo Or Freakout, King Charles, and Little Comets. You can find their stage times if you scroll down.
Anyway, onto some acts that might be worth checking but we haven't given any/much love for on FG before. Obviously OFWGKTA/Odd Future are on everybody's lips at the moment, and if you can make it into their Sunday show at 16.20 in the Red Bull Jam arena then you might be in for the most chaotic hip hop experience you'll ever have. You're more likely to see the following acts though...
The History Of Apple Pie
(Sat, 15.00, The Forge + Sun, 14.30, The Lock Tavern + Sun, 20.20, The Dublin Castle)
STREAM: Tug by The History Of Apple Pie
Perhaps already well on their way to success, this shoegaze-meets-C86 group are going out on the Emerge NME Radar tour - pick up a free tour EP, including a download of 'Tug' by the band.
Dry The River
(Sat, 20.20, Jazz Cafe + Sun, 14.00, Roundhouse Terrace)
STREAM: History Book by Dry the River
Probably one of those bands to see when you fancy take a little bit of a break from the hustle and bustle of the Crawl. Soothing folk sounds.
Bear Driver
(Sat, The Monarch, 20.20)
DOWNLOAD: Bear Driver - A Thousand Samurais by Bear Driver
A band that has been under the radar for a little while now but might break anyday with their offerings which sit in between Fanfarlo and Broken Social Scene.
Big Deal
(Sat, 19.15, Black Cap)
STREAM: Homework by Big Deal
Another band on the NME tour that I mentioned above, this is the duo of ex-Pull In Emergency member Alice Costelloe and ex- KC Underwood. We mentioned them ever so briefly in the past but didn't elaborate too much. Not that I'll be dedicating that many column inches here either, instead check out an example of their intriguing, stripped back sound above.
Treetop Flyers
(Sun, 20.20, Dingwalls)
DOWNLOAD: Treetop Flyers - Mountain Song by Stayloose
Considering they won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition that I was one of the judges on, I'm guessing they're well worth checking out live. One of the Communion stable but with more of a rock tinge than many of their folk counterparts.
Team Ghost
(Sun, 16.30, Lock Tavern + Sun, 22.30, Black Cap)
STREAM: High Hopes by Team Ghost
The beauty of festivals is sometimes stumbling upon a band you'd never heard of and actually enjoying them. I had a similar experience when I checked this band out online, becoming fascinated by former M83 member Nicolas Fromageau's shoegaze-meets-electronica vibe.
2:54
(Sun, 15.00, Roundhouse Terrace + Sun, 21.25, Black Cap)
STREAM: 2:54 - On A Wire by houseanxiety
Characterised as sinister lo-fi but with the atmosphere of The xx, it will be interesting to see whether this duo of London sisters can replicate the mood live.
Young Dreams
(Sun, 16.00, Roundhouse Terrace + Sun, 21.25, Bull & Gate)
STREAM: Young Dreams - final mix and master by Young Dreams
I imagine the tropical pop meets Beach Boys stylings of Young Dreams will go down a treat if the weather holds out this weekend. But if it pours down with rain then all the more reason to cheer yourself up by watching one of their sets.
Fiction
(Sat, 14.30, Lock Tavern + Sat, 19.15, Dingwalls + Sun, 20.20, Purple Turtle)
DOWNLOAD: Phyllis by Fiction Music
I've been meaning to catch this Talking Heads inspired bunch live for quite a while. Hopefully I won't be the only one with the same goal in mind.
Sissy & The Blisters
(Sun, 19.15, Black Cap)
STREAM: Sissy and the Blisters - Things May Change by ITCManchester
A definite wildcard choice which could end in tears or might well be a massive highlight of your Crawl. Bringing a dose of old school rock into Camden. Not to be confused with the pub rock bands of Camden.
I've neglected to mention some of the other strands of the Camden Crawl - namely comedy and film - although there are manner of different things going on from quizzes to karaoke. Here are some very choice picks.
The beautiful Shappi Khorsandi is on at Belushis on Sunday and Robin Ince appears at the Lock 17 Bar, also on Sunday. Film-wise, I recommend checking out the Creation Records documentary on the Sunday, which I should be reviewing shortly.
**FG ALUMNI ON SATURDAY 30 APRIL**
Seerauber Jenny - Afternoon, Spread Eagle
Benjamin Francis Leftwich - 15.00, Roundhouse Terrace + 21.25, Dublin Castle
Eagulls - 15.30, The Monarch + 21.25, The Black Cap
Dog Is Dead - 17.00, Roundhouse Terrace
Tribes - 18.45, Enterprise
DELS - 19.15, Jazz Cafe (also appears on Sunday)
King Charles - 19.30, Electric Ballroom (Killing Joke headline at 22.00)
Creep - 20.20, Annies // John & Jehn - 20.20, Bull & Gate // Veronica Falls - 20.20, Dingwalls // Visions Of Trees - 20.20, Black Cap
Alice Gold - 20.45, Koko (Saint Etienne follow at 22.00)
Wild Palms - 21.20, Camden Rock // The Good Natured - 21.25, The Monarch // MNDR - 21.25, Jazz Cafe (also appears on Sunday)
The View - 22.00, The Forum // Slow Club - 22.00, Electric Ballroom (Razorlight headline at 23.30)
Dananananaykroyd - 22.30, Jazz Cafe // Little Comets - 22.30, Dublin Castle (also appear on Sunday) // Those Dancing Days - 22.30, Annies
**FG ALUMNI ON SUNDAY 1ST MAY**
Dinosaur Pile Up - 13.10, Red Bull Jam + 18.15, Koko (British Sea Power at 22.00, Simian Mobile Disco at midnight)
Beth Jeans Houghton - 17.00, Roundhouse Terrace + 19.15, Abbey Tavern
Guillemots - 17.00, The Forge (acoustic set) + 20.45, The Forum
Wolf Gang - 19.30, The Forum
Little Comets - 20.20, Annies // Young Legionnaire - 20.20, Bull & Gate
Visions Of Trees - 21.25, Heroes Bar // DELS - 21.25, Barfly (also appears on Saturday) // Banjo Or Freakout - 21.25, Earl Of Camden
Films Of Colour - 22.30, Heroes Bar // Jonquil - 22.30, The Monarch // Let's Buy Happiness - 22.30, Bull & Gate // The Chapman Family - 22.30, Purple Turtle
Louise & The Pins - 22.45 Hawley Arms
Paris Suit Yourself - 23.30, Dublin Castle
PVT - Midnight, Jazz Cafe // Hadouken - Midnight, The Forum ("warm down" for The Lemonheads)
MNDR - 00.30, Dingwalls (also appears on Saturday) // Johnny Foreigner - 00.30, Black Cap
Find more info on the 2011 Camden Crawl, which takes place this weekend in London, by clicking here.
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