Social Sounds Issue 1

SOCIAL SOUNDS

FESTIVAL SEASON IS HERE

ISSUE 1 MAY 2017

BOTTLE NOTE RYLANDS HEATLH TWO DOOR CINMEA CLUB NEW MUSIC + WHERE TO FIND IT

This issue of Social Sounds is like any demo track or pilot episode.

Created as part of my university degree, I was given the opportunity to create any media project I wanted to and so I chose this.

During this project, I had the chance to work with a group of amazing people – from interviewees and photographers to those who gave me their thoughts, opinions and help throughout.

I genuinely could not have created an issue such as this on my own and I am genuinely thankful to you all.

I want to say a special thanks to the people in Bottle Note and Rylands Health for their time and actually letting me interview them.

Also a huge thank you to those who’s images I used in this issue; Sam Neill’s photo of Foals at Reading and Leeds last year, Ben Gibson’s ‘Frank Carter And The Rattlesnake’ images from Download 2016,The ‘Fort Hope’ at Download from Kennerdeigh Scott, Adam Elmakias’ images of All Time Low at Download last year and the people at 2000 Tree’s who gave me access to their collection of images from last years festival.

[All opinions expressed in this issue are my own opinions and those of the team. As this is our very first, almost trial copy, the views are not those exclusively of the publication.]

CO N T E N TS Page 1 - New Music + Where To Find It: Delcan McKenna Bottle Note Oddity Road

The Indigo Project The Sherlocks Anteros The Ninth Wave The Lapelles The Maccabees Rylands Health The Ravellas The Amazons

Page 8 - Gameshow Is The Future:

Two Door Cinema Club

Page 12 - Back To The Future January February March April

Welcome to the first ever issue of Social Sounds !!

From Slam Dunk and Glastonbury all the way through to Reading and Leeds, the next four months is festival season .

Whether you’re going for a headliner or avoiding because of the unpredicatble weather and mud , this year will be like any other. Before looking ahead to the UK’s summer plans, we’re firstly looking back to the year we’ve had so far.

From Two Door Cinema Clubs return tour to the announcement The Amazons debut album, we’ve had a pretty good year so far.

Also, we caught up with Bottle Note and Ryland’s Health to talk about regrettable names, influences and what they would change in the music industry if given the chance to.

Hope you enjoy the read and thanks for checking us out !

Page 21 - Festival Favourites

From,

Slam Dunk 2000 Trees Download

Our Other Favourites

The team at Social Sounds.

We love new music. It ’s what we live for.

In-between lectures and project planning we compiled a list of our favourite new tracks, brand new artists and some of the places you can find them.

All the artists on these next pages are literally a search away. So get online and have a listen .

You can thank us later.

DECLAN MCKENNA If you listen to Radio One, you will have heard of Declan McKenna. At the moment, his debut track Brazil is on their playlists B list (even though it was released in 2014) and he is touring in the UK later this month.

At just the age of 18, there doesn’t seem to be a major festival he hasn’t played at, his first being Glastonbury in 2015.

Also his debut album What Do You Think Of The Car? is due for release on the 21st of July.

For fans of Sundara Karma, Jamie T and Viola Beach.

INTERVIEWING BOTTLE NOTE Who inspires you as a band, and do you think they have impact on your sound?

Joe: Johnny Marr has a massive impact on my sound, playing and even the way I write songs. He likes to layer songs with multiple guitar parts and so do I. I think you can definitely hear it in Callant and Homecoming.

Ross: I take influence from the likes of John O’callaghan from The Maine, I think he is just a genius with words.

What are your favourite albums and tracks at the moment?

We all have very different music tastes which you may or may not hear from our sound which is funny; Ross: At the moment it would have to be Deaf Havana’s new album All These Countless Nights. It’s only been out for around a month and I’ve not stopped listening to it. James Veck-Gilodi’s voice is just amazing, I would marry it if I could.

And also Boston Manor’s debut album Be Nothing. Amazing album!

Jake: Values - Broken Nation Andy: Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool

ODDITY ROAD Favourite Tracks: Handshake + You Possibly one of our favourite new bands at the moment, an indie four piece from Sheffield who look to be following in the guitar driven path of bands like The Shelocks and Catfish and The Bottlemen.

For fans of The Sherlocks and Fronteers.

PAGE 3

Joe: Pure Comedy- Father John Misty, it’s not something I’d usually find myself listening to. I never really notice lyrics in a song as I am mostly listening to everything else but the singing, but his lyrics are amazing, they’re kinda tongue and cheek, he also has a voice of an angel. Tame Impala ‘Currents’, its been out for almost two years and I just can’t get enough of it, just tune after tune. The synths on it are just mental, and it’s blows my mind every time I listen to it. >>

>> Is there any kind of meaning behind your name or is it just words together which you thought sounded good for a band name?

It took us a while to think of a name that we all liked, the idea came from a message in a bottle. A random idea, but we all seemed to like it at the time and it stuck! In all honesty we would probably change it if we could but we feel it’s too late haha!

Bottle Note is made up of Ross (singer and rhythm guitarist), Joe (lead guitarist), Andy (bass) and Jake (drums).

THE INDIGO PROJECT Favourite Track: Suburban Anteros are another great live. They supported Blaenavon and Two Door Cinema Club on tour and released their Drunk EP just last month. This band are going to be everywhere soon enough.

For fans of High Tyde, The Bulletproof Bomb and King No-One.

THE SHERLOCKS Favourite Tracks: Live For The Moment This band have risen unbelievebly quickly over the last 12 months. From playing to crowds of 300 people to supporting The Libertines, Kings Of Leon and playing at some of the UKs biggest festivals.

ANTEROS

ANTEROS Favourite Track: Breakfast Anteros are another great live. They supported Blaenavon and Two Door Cinema Club on tour and released their Drunk EP just last month. This band are going to be everywhere soon enough.

For fans of The Magic Gang and The Big Moon

THE NINTH WAVE Favourite Track: Human Touch This band are great live. If you went to the Glasgow date of the Blaenavon you would have caught their support set, or if you were lucky enoughyou might have saw them at When In Manchester.

For fans of The Van T’s and Blaenavon.

Their debut album Live For The Moment is due on the 18th of August and they have a UK tour starting September 14th in Newcastle.

For fans of Spring King, The Amazons and Rat Boy.

THE SHERLOCKS

PAGE 4

THE LAPELLES Favourite Track: Belts + Braces We love this band, we always have and always will.

If you don’t know who The Lapelles are they were an upcoming ‘indie’ band from East Kilbride, near Glasgow. They’ve been on tour with quiet a few people and were about to set out on their headline autumn tour. Their lead singer, Gary Watson, got into trouble in the River Clyde and died as a result, on his 22nd birthday. The band since have decied to release their debut self titled album, made up of home demos and recordings. The album itself is out now online, however the limited edition copy of the album is due for release in June.

For fans of The Night Cafe and The Magic Gang..

THE MACCABEES Favourite Tracks: Marks To Prove It The Maccabees are not a new band. Their so ‘not new’ infact that their breaking up.

Announced last year on socia media, the band have one final tour before ending things for good. (*Cries*)

INTERVIEWING RYLANDS HEALTH Hi, we are Rylands Heath and we are Jack Cowap and James Deacon.

How would you describe your sound and who are your influences in music?

We define our music as indie-pop but we take inspiration from a lot of genres and styles so I think it’s hard to pinpoint one specific type of music that we play. Our music has similarities to The Wombats and The Amazons, with their upbeat indie guitar sound.

Who are your influcences in music and why?

Our contemporary inspirations vary from Saint Raymond, Mike Posner, Circa Waves but we also take inspiration from some older artists that we were introduced to by our parents such as Queen, Meat Loaf and ELO. What where your first gigs?

Jack’s first gig was actually Meat Loaf and James’ first was We The Kings at Scala and has since been a venue we would love to play.

What festival would you love to play?

I think we’d have to say Glastonbury.

It’s the biggest festival in the UK and it’s basically any UK artist’s dream to play it.

What are your favourite tracks at the moment?

Some tracks we can’t stop listening to in the rehearsal room at the moment >>

PAGE 5

>> are A.L.I.V.E by Port Isla and 100 Times Over by Cassia. The bands we’re just generally loving are Marsicans, Blossoms and the The Magic Gang.

What changes would you like to see in the music industry?

The negative and snobbish attitude towards pop music and the idea that genuine artistic expression is reserved for other kinds of music. Basically, the idea that anything with major chords must be vapid and unoriginal.

Plans for this year?

We have still got more music to release, as well as some music videos, but our main focus is on playing shows. We’ll be playing as many shows as possible up and down the country this summer which we’ll start announcing soon- so watch this space.

THE RAVELLAS Favourite Tracks: Blush The Ravellas are a for piece from Wigan who previously have released acclaimed tracks, their most recent named ‘Blush’.

There is a lot of love for this band online and slowly but surely they are making their way around the UK through various festivals and tours. We’re still hoping for a headline tour from them but for now we have their tracks, which we will be playing all summer long.

THE AMAZONS Favourite Tracks: Black Magic This band are heading to big places fast.

Already set to play at some of the UK’s festivals this summer. Also their self titled album is being released on the 26th of May, which isn’t long from now.

THE AMAZONS

PAGE 6

GAMESHOW IS THE FUTURE. Earlier this year, Two Door Cinema Club brought their huge new tour to the UK, not only playing brand new tracks off Gameshow but also playing our old favourites. Rather than talk about the latest album, we’re talking about all of them and our favourite Two Door tracks.

Starting off with the EP no one seems to have heard of, ‘Four Words To Stand On’.

Not everyone is aware of it’s existence and a physical copy is a rarity but this EP is the very start of this band and is still well worth the listen.

Favourite Tracks: Cigarettes In The Theatre + Undercover Martyn Why: Cigarettes In The Theatre was the first track I had ever heard by Two Door Cinema Club.

First on the EP, it was the track that really drew me in. It is an old favourite but it’s still a great track nearly ten years on since its release.

Undercover Martyn was the track I loved the most on this EP at its release. I played it nonstop for hours when the EP itself was hours old. To this day it still means a lot to me. It’s the track I always go back to.

PAGE 7

Can we please talk about the album that is Tourist History.

If you’ve been listening to this band for the past seven years you’ll understand the sentiment this album holds. Released seven years ago.

To say it makes us feel old is an understatement.

Favourite Tracks: I Can Talk, You Are Not Stubborn + Something Good Can Work Why: Try resisting not moving when these tracks play (it’s pretty difficult), especially when the chorus’s kicks in. Something Good Can Work was the bands debut single and still is a fan favourite two albums later. You Are Not Stubborn is a bit different and isn’t given the recognition it deserves. For me its one of the stand out tracks of the album because it isn’t like the rest.

Two years after their debut album, the band came back with an even bigger album, Beacon.

Favourite tracks: Next Year, Sun, Settle + Sleep Alone Why: This was one of the first albums I had ever pre-ordered. From the initial announcement to it’s day of release I couldn’t stop thinking about this album and what it would sound like.

Would the bands sound change? Would it be as good as the debut? Would it be better?

Would it go to number one? Will I love it?

Of course I loved it. I remember watching the band play live at T In The Park the next year and I was in awe.

As someone who really loved this band this album went beyond all my previous expectations. Essentially I locked myself in my room for a week and played it from start to finish non-stop. I immediately downloaded it on my ipod (yes, it was that long ago) and annoyed my parents with 12 tracks for about a month.

Settle sounds incredible live. It’s difficult to explain but the experience is just something else. Where Next Year, Sun and Sleep Alone belong on the main stage at festivals, Settle belongs at gigs with thousands of people

in one room. It brings people together and everyone, no matter who you are or what you think, bounces and it’s just something great to be part of.

“Two Door Cinema Club released their debut album ‘Tourist History’ seven years ago. To say it makes us feel old is an understatement.”

The long awaited return of Two Door Cinema Club came in 2016.

In the year where everything bad seemed to be happening, the band came back with a slightly different sound and 10 tracks to prove the wait was worth it. It’s the album where the bands sound has gone through its biggest change yet.

Favourite Tracks: Are We Ready? (Wreck), Lavender + Ordinary Why: The track Are We Ready? (Wreck) is sentimental. Just under a year ago, this track was released. The first new music from Two Door Cinema Club in four years. It was our first glimmer of this album. >>>

It didn’t come as a shock to the system. The track could be pulled from any of the previous releases. It’s sound isn’t too different and some did think this new album would be the same as the previous releases.

Oh how they were wrong.

Tracks like Lavender and Ordinary exist where, for me, the bands newer style comes into its own. Dropping the more indie guitar driven sound, Ordinary and Lavender have a more toned down sound yet keeps the whole crowd moving. Its the progression of the bands sound.

The boys at Two Door have grown up, their sound has grown up and developed into this slightly less indie, more pop subdued sound which still works for them. Even if they have grown up and found a slightly different sound, they’re the same three piece from Derry who self recorded their debut EP and have found themselves touring the world.

PAGE 9

BACK TO THE FUTURE Before looking ahead to the summer of 2017, we’re looking back at the year we’ve had. From past tours, releases and announcements, we’ve got you covered.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

JA N UA RY SUNDARA KARMA

Starting off with an album which was long over due, we’re kicking things off with Sundara Karma’s debut album, Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect.

The title is a bit of a mouthful (but we secretly love it for its complexity). Deciding on a favourite track off this album is difficult. We managed to narrow it down to two tracks. ‘A Young Understanding’ and ‘She Said’.

‘A Young Understanding’ because it’s the first track on the album. It’s the first thing you hear when you hit play and for a debut album, the first track is pretty important.

We said ‘either’ because the other track we cannot get enough of is ‘She Said’. It’s a great track and if you were lucky enough to catch the band on tour, opening for Two Door Cinema Club, or their own headline tour, you know what we mean when we say it’s a great live track.

The next release we love, two days after Sundara Karma’s, is possibly one of our favourites for the year. Released on the 6th of January and reaching number one in the UK Independent chart, You Me At Six returned with their fifth studio album Night People.

PAGE 13

Last year the band celebrated their tenth year playing Slam Dunk and next year the band are celebrating ten years since the release of their debut album Take Off Your Colours, which is making alot of people feel pretty old. However, when seeing this band live, whether its a new track or something from the debut, the crowd know it and love it all the same.

Another returning favourite of ours is As It Is, who released their awaited second album Okay. We have been following this band for the last four years pretty closely. From their initial tours, the realise of their debut EP, debut album, their multiple support sets, coheadline tours and headline tours, our paths have a tendency to cross. Most recently we caught them on tour supporting State Champs beside ROAM on their headline UK tour.

Creating the album, the band worked with producer Mike Green, who’s worked with the likes of All Time Low, Pierce the Veil and Paramore and pushed the idea “it’s okay to not be okay”, not only creating mental health awareness but allowing fans to connect on another level with the band and album.

Resembling an oil spill, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes released their second studio album, The Modern Ruin, through the International Death Cult label on January 20th.

It received mixed reviews but we love it. Yes, it’s heavy and points out humanities worst qualities in tracks like ‘Thunder’ but there’s some sort of balance restored with ‘Bluebelle’.

Our favourite track however has to be the wonder that is “Wildflowers”. Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes are back and they’ve got us hooked.

After You Me At Six’s return, nothing made us want the end of January more than the return of Deaf Havana. We became so used to the two year wait before a new Deaf Havana album, we were at breaking point when the three year mark passed. Not to worry however, they’re back. Old Souls is four years old. Fools and Worthless Liars is five. It was time for new Deaf Havana.

At Reading and Leeds last year, they broke the silence and ended our suffering. A new album was coming. Reaching number 5 in the UK top 10, the bands latest album All These Countless Nights was released on January 27th. Tracks like ‘Trigger’, ‘Sing’ and even ‘St Pauls’ remind us of the older tracks like ‘Mildred’ and ‘22’. In their four year album absence, Deaf Havana have truly returned.

LIVE MUSIC In January there were two tours which really stood out for us. Firstly, the guys over at Seaway finally returned to the UK, with WSTR and The Gospel Youth for support.

It’s been a while since we’ve went into a basement in the pursuit of live music but the gig was worth it. With stage dives, crowd surfing and mosh pits, what more could you want from a gig?

The second tour, was when A Day To Remember came to the UK arenas and brought with them Moose Blood, Neck Deep and New Found Glory for support.

This was Neck Deep’s last UK tour before heading to the US to work on their upcoming album whilst New Found Glory used the tour to kick off their 20 years since forming celebrations. The tour of course was for A Day To Remembers ‘Bad Vibes’, the bands fifth studio album released in September 2016. The tour consisted of confetti, mosh pits and a collection of brand new and really old songs being played loud in huge arenas across the country.

Business as usual for A Day To Remember.

SEAWAY

PAGE 14

BACK TO THE FUTURE

FEBRUARY When Safe In Sound was announced we really didn’t know what to expect. Lower Than Atlantis are good at creating the unpredictable. If you liked the bands last self titled album, this possibly may be your next favourite. The next instalment in the bands discography brings to us a sound which is more Lower Than Atlantis than ever. If you ever need to describe or define this bands sound to anyone, hand them a copy of this album and just walk away. It has the rawness and emotion we’re used to but also includes the bands best attempts at pop-rock tracks. Ten years on since forming, this album is the way Lower Than Atlantis should be sounding- not scared to try new things and unapologetically loud.

February, for us, started off loud. Then Hippo Campus released their debut album and everything changed. Landmark is the perfect name for this long awaited album.

We’re all scared of not wanting to grow old but Hippo Campus have managed to grow up, mature and yet keep hold of their youth.

They haven’t traded their sound for maturity but instead have covered loss, love and grief with the same ‘just out of high school’ enthusiasm’ we heard on the bands previous EP’s.

Our favourite track off this album has to be Boyish, because it reminds of the bands earlier release Suicide Saturday but shows the evolution of the bands sound. In a way they are impossible to hate. The album itself is the perfect summer record.

It isn’t as delicate as the bands previous EP’s but its the sort of album you can have playing constantly and not get tired. You can turn it up loud when your on a summer road trip with friends or just blare it when your home alone (and annoy all your neighbours).

Either way, its a joy to listen to.

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS

VANT’s debut album Dumb Blood comes up in a lot of our conversations. Describing the bands sound is a task and a half when you start to think of the other artists they are similar to. Whether you like Biffy Clyro, Spring King or The Bohicas, this album is for you in certain places. Don’t let tracks on the album like Karma Seeker or Peace and Love fool you - this band mean business.

VANT aren’t for the feint hearted. Read the lyrics of The Answer or listen to the intro to their debut single Parasite, and you’ll understand what we mean. This album is a great listen, whether you’re moving on from Spring Kings debut from last year or want an album to be angry with; this is it.

PAGE 15

Hippo Campus haven’t lost the sound we love, they’ve evolved it into something better.

LIVE MUSIC From Two Door Cinema Club and Sundara Karma to The Wonder Years, our February gigs managed to highlight our somewhat weird music listening habits.

We saw Sundara Karma live for the first time on tour with Two Door Cinema Club and then two weeks later on their own headline tour.

On their headline tour, Sundara Karma had support from Will Joseph Cook and the Liverpool boys in The Night Cafe.

The Wonder Years not only brought their best loved tracks to British audiences but brought with them a collection of great live music, courtesy of Trash Boat, Tiny Moving Parts and Pup. Two Door Cinema Club had the full Barrowlands audience captivated. Selling out both Scottish dates the historic venue was brought to life.

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

PAGE 16

BACK TO THE FUTURE

MARCH An album came out earlier this year which literally changed my life.

album ‘Signals’) and the albums lead single ‘Giving It Up‘.

The difficult second album has passed for this artist and now their on to their third release, where they’ve had time to developed their sound further.

This band have never fail in coming through with a release. Every track, album and live date out does the last. If you want to find the future leaders of British rock music, your looking at strong contenders.

Released on the 3rd of March and fronted by a red head, the album brought us just over Jumping from one favourite band to another, ten tracks which will have people singing all the guys over at Can’t Swim released their summer long. And we’re not talking about debut album ‘Fail You Again’. the album named after a maths symbol.

The five piece from New Jersey were signed We are of course talking about Mallory

by Pure Noise Records before playing Knox’s third album ‘Wired’, which kind of a single live show and in February 2016, blew us away. We at Social Sounds have a released their debut EP ‘Death Deserves A bit of a soft spot for Mallory Knox.

Name’.

They’ve had us obsessed since the ’Pilot EP‘ and their acoustic cover of Green Day’s ‘Good Riddance’ in 2012 had us sold.

Our favourite tracks off this new album are ’California‘, ‘Come Back Around‘ (which just reminds us of ‘1949’ off the bands debut

We’ve caught them live a couple of times including the times they supported Boston Manor and more recently Real Friends on their UK tour. As much as Can’t Swim are a great support band who are great at getting a crowd fired up, we think their own headline gigs would be next level..

MALLORY KNOX

PAGE 17

CIRCA WAVES

Moving momentarily from the heavier stuff, we need to talk about Circa Waves new album.

It’s called ’Different Creatures’ and was released on the 10th of March through Virgin Records.

There are a lot of opinons about this album. Lots of people love it, some seem dissappointed and a few really don’t like it. It’s understandable - every release faces some criticism in one way or another.

What we like about it, is the fact the band haven’t changed their sound to be more pop and less ‘indie’. They held their ground and didn’t let anyone push them away from the sound that made them the band we know them as now.

This album is heavier than their debut, Young Chasers, and if anything it works better than the previous lighter sound.

We are talking about Creepers debut album, Eternity, In Your Arms.

Creeper as a band, have developed a huge, devoted fan base over the last few years and with them have created almost a community,.

With such a fan base, the band were able to create a whole story with a plot relating to their previous and future releases, capturing their fan base and almost going viral.

After nearly three months, the band resurfaced and announced their debut album. Creeper are the only band we know who could pull off such a build up.

The praise for this band is enormous and has been, it feels, since their formation.

They’ve already played Download, Reading and Leeds, supported Funeral For A Friend and people are comparing them to My Chemical Romance. This band are going to be big.

Watching them perform, you know they are still the same band who delivered their debut album just three years ago, with their huge track T-Shirt Weather, but you can see they’ve Eternity, In Your Arms was so hyped up and moved on and grown up. by the time March came around, everyone needed this album to be released.

Young Chasers is like a nostalgic memory where as Different Creatures is the more We won’t give anything away, other than political, mature, ‘difficult second album’. advice: Go listen to this album.We want you Which in our opinion, this band have smashed. to have a first listen with the suspense and curiosity we first did.

We said earlier we were momentarily moving away from the ‘heavier stuff’ because we are going back into wormhole of alternative rock music with this next album.

PAGE 18

BACK TO THE FUTURE

APRIL We’ve been waiting a while for Blaenavons debut album.

The announcement felt like it would never come. On the 12th of January this year, the band finally announced their debut album That’s Your Lot due to be released on the 7th of April. Along with the album announcement came a huge UK tour.

Sharing the name with the Welsh town Blaenavon, it didn’t take long for a gig to be scheduled there. It wasn’t your typical Blaenavon gig, mainly because they were accompanied by the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir.

The album itself is unfathomably delicate in places, with acoustic versions of the tracks showcasing the bands talent - swapping guitars for a piano and double bass.

Another album we could not wait for was DYGL debut album ‘Say Goodbye to Memory Den’.

We’ll be pretty surprised if you’ve ever heard of DYGL (pronounced DayGlo).

They’re an indie-rcok four piece from Tokyo who will change the way you think about international music.

Forming in 2012, the band released their debut EP Don’t Know Where It is in 2016.

They’ve already played at SXSW (South

By South West) and their tracks feature in Spotify’s Tokyo Rising playlist.

Getting a physical copy of this album in the UK is a bit of a challenge but to hold a copy is worth all of the trouble.

Hopefully they’ll get the chance to come to the UK on tour or a trip to Japan may be in order for us.

Say Goodbye to Memory Den was released through Hard Enough Records.

BLAENAVON

Written over five years, the album showcases who this band really are. It contains multiple genres and manages to still work as an album.

Don’t let the gorgeous cover art fool you into a sense of calm and peace, big sweeping vocal pieces come to an end and the next track, full of guitars, causes havoc at gigs.

‘What you see is what you get’ doesn’t apply to this album, nor this band.

BLAENAVON

LIVE MUSIC Who did we see in April 2017? Lots of people infact, including You Me At Six, Blaenavon, The Hunna, The Amazons and even Real Friends on their rescheduled tour.

Rather than describe them all, we’ll just show you. (All of our own picks are below).

THE HUNNA

THE AMAZONS

PAGE 19

Rather than glossing over Coachella or gooing on about our love for Glastonbury, we’re talking about the festivals we actually want to go to, not just for its namesake.

Where are we talking about? The places mosh pits are encouraged and crowd surfers are welcome. Where distressed denim and Vans have always been the only thing to wear and a sea of band merch and check shirts are the only thing you see.

We might not have Vans Warped Tour, but we’re British, we don’t need it. Especially when we’ve got the likes of Slam Dunk, 2000 Trees and Download.

FESTIVAL FAVOURITES

SLAM DUNK One of my favourite line up’s, year after year, always belongs to Slam Dunk.

The three day festival in May celebrates the best pop punk and rock music in not only the UK but from around the world. This years line up includes Enter Shikari who are closing the main stage each night with their headline set, celebrating ten years since the release of their debut album ‘Take To The Skies’. Joining them on the main stage are Deaf Havana, Beartooth, Don Broco and We Are The Ocean.

WSTR

However our focus is on the Monster Energy stage because it’s line up includes Neck Deep, We The Kings, Cute Is What We Aim For, The Maine, Like Pacific, Trophy Eyes and WSTR. Another stage we’ve got our eyes on is the Key Club Stage.

This year is possibly one of the festivals best line ups, with our favourite Australians Tonight Alive and With Confidence. Set It Off are going to be there alongside Waterparks, Fort Hope, Black Foxxes, Decade, Boston Manor and even the boys in Seaway coming back over to the UK from Canada.

WITH CONFIDENCE

BOSTON MANOR

The line up still isn’t complete. Rock Sound magazine ran a competition earlier in the year, giving upcoming bands the chance to play on the Rock Sound stage alongside Turnover, Milk Teeth, Sorority Noise, Casey, Homebound and The Gospel Youth.

SEAWAY

Already two of the dates have completely sold out with the last closing in on the sell out status. There is no Scottish date this year but it is line up not to be missed.

Slam Dunk takes place between Saturday 27th of May and Monday 28th of May. Saturday 27th May Midlands – Birmigham NEC Sunday 28th May North – Leeds City Center - SOLD OUT Monday 29th May South – Hatfield Forum - SOLD OUT

PAGE 22

2000 TREES With the festival turning just 10 years old, the people at 2000 trees have spent no time in discovering the secret to creating perfect line ups.

This years line up includes our favourites in Young Guns, ROAM, Nothing But Thieves, The Wonder Years, Wallflower, Spring King, Milk Teeth and Puppy.

A big part of this years line up is made up of returning acts with brand new music including Mallory Knox, Deaf Havana, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, Gnarwolves and Lower Than Atlantis.

TWIN ATLANTIC

For the last 10 years, 2000 Trees has celebrated the best new and upcoming indie + rock acts from across the country and around the world. It may be younger than Download and doesn’t have the history of Reading + Leeds but it is up there with the best festivals.

Boasting previous line ups including Twin Atlantic, Frightened Rabbit, The Xcerts, and even Frank Turner at the very first 2000 Trees.

FRANK TURNER

Whether you missed them on tour earlier this year or just wanted to catch up again, this is one of the best live experiences you’ll go to this year.

MALLORY KNOX

PAGE 23

FESTIVAL FAVOURITES

DOWNLOAD This years Download line up is possibly one of best yet.

Turning 15 next year, Download once again boasts a huge line up, which is possibly better than last year which included the likes of Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes, Neck Deep, Twin Atlantic, All Time Low, Puppy, Against The Current, Bury Tomorrow and Fort Hope.

So who’s playing at Download 2017?

Biffy Clyro, Pierce The Veil, A Day To Remember, Creeper, Sleeping With Sirens, ROAM, Simple Plan, Youth Blood, Dead!, As It Is, State Champs, Wallflower, Trash Boat, The LaFontines, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Sum 41, Basement, Of Mice And Men, Four Year Strong, Crown The Empire, Casey, Junior, Knuckle Puck...the list goes on and on.

Why do we love the Download line up so much?

Here’s five reasons why: 1. Biffy Clyro are headlining the main stage. Nothing more needs to be said.

2. Lots of smaller bands are getting a chance to play the big stages.

3. Sleeping With Sirens, State Champs, Four Year Strong, Pierce The Veil and Of Mice and Men are at Download, making it the closest thing the UK will get to the Warped Tour line up we all dream of.

4. Who doesn’t have new music out who is playing? Everyone has some new track to show off.

5. Download doesn’t have Eminem headlining.

FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES

Slam Dunk, Download and 2000 Tree’s may have a special place in our hearts but that doesn’t mean we don’t have other favourite festivals. So we wrote about them too (and had a bit of cry because we’re not going to them all).

READING + LEEDS WHEN: 25th - 27th August

GLASTONBURY WHEN: 21ST -25TH June

WHERE: Richfield Avenue, Reading + Bramham Park, Reading

WHERE: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset

WHO’S PLAYING: Kasabian, Bastille, Two Door Cinema Club, Rat Boy, Mallory Knox, Muse, You Me At Six, Marmozets, The Sherlocks, The Magic Gang, Blaenavon, Boston Manor, WSTR and The Amazons.

WHO’S PLAYING: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Royal Blood, Biffy Clyro, Warpaint, George Ezra, Glass Animals, Kaiser Chiefs, Declan McKenna, Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes, Courteeners, Warpaint, Haim, First Aid Kit, Alt- J and Circa Waves.

Y NOT

COMMUNITY

WHEN: 27th - 30th July

WHEN: 1st July

WHERE: Pikehall, Derbyshire

WHERE: Finsbury Park, London

WHO’S PLAYING: The Vaccines, Nothing But Thieves, Two Door Cinema Club, Deaf Havana, Fickle Friends, The Hunna, Declan McKenna, Frank Turner, Twin Atlantic, Oddity Road, and Asylums.

WHO’S PLAYING: Catifsh and The Bottlemen, The Wombats, Nothing But Thieves, Redfaces, The Hunna, Fickle Friendsand Nothing But Thieves.

FOALS - READING 2016

ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE END OF OUR FIRST ISSUE, THIS ISN’T THE END. THIS IS JUST THE START.

Got a track you think we should listen to, an idea for a future feature or do you want to be in our next issue?

Contact us socialsoundsmagazine@gmail.com

PAGE 27