Who Plays Glasto this year? MUD

@ Glastonbury 2011

Wellies, Mud, Rain, Junk Food, Beer... all this is true.

Good music is true too.

And in my opinion this is the festival, the original English/hippy/rock one.

Don't worry about what to wear, you can have everything there, boots included.

Just be prepared to walk a lot, and to never sit.

All your efforts will be rewarded.

At Sonar, in video

as seen on Grazia.it

In this video-collage you can see live performances by various artists: Toro Y Moy, The Surrender, Janelle Monàe, Venice, Teebs, Gilles Peterson, Floating Points...

But more than anything else, the aim was to convey some of the sensations experienced during the festival.

People crossed, places, some stopped moments ...

Thanks to Venice for the soundtrack!

Sonar Part 2

as seen on Grazia.it

.....Saturday, the last day of the festival, early in the afternoon...finally Venice is up on stage, one of my favourite at all! Native of Viterbo, moved to Rome for study, Benjamin is a real musician, and an absolutely lovely person. He participated at the last edition of "Red Bull Music Academy". Often compared to cosmic sounds, we are actually talking about an omnivore in terms of music. His latest EP "Animals, Stars and Other Creatures Psychedelic" perfectly blends evolved electronics, surf interludes, pure psychedelic, 90's british and tribal rhythms. During the concert he involves unknown technologies to me, he plays acoustic and electric guitar, he dances without never remove his sunglasses. A relic at the neck, motivated by his adoration for Alejandro Jodorowsky, visionary director, writer and screenwriter.

Coming from the underground scene of New York, familiar to contexts like the CBGB's Gallery and the Baby Jupiter, the "No Surrender", aka Eddie Steeples (also actor in "My Name is Earl"), Gnomad and Sherapim blend hip -hop, Afro-Punk, electro, soul, synth-pop and indie-rock, offering a pleasant interlude. For the new album "Medicine Babies" the group has recorded with Tunde Adebimpe, lead singer from "TV on the Radio", Radioclit (Santigold, MIA, Bonde Do Role) and Freq Nasty. During their live at the Village, they call on stage professionals and photographers, using until the last second. A fine discovery!

Well, now, what can I say about Gilles Peterson? That the Japaneses are crazy about him? That he mixed jazz, samba, soul, boogie and funk for an hour and forty minutes of genuine entertainment? Or that he is a truly friendly artist, quite denied in dance? Grown up in south London, DJ Gilles, along with other distinguished colleagues, founded the legendary label "Acid Jazz", promoters of names like Jamiroquai and Mother Earth. In addition, and besides producing reference compilations also for the Blue Note, Gilles founded the "Talkin Loud", another important label. His works are dozens, combining styles from all around the world. Don't miss his program for the BBC "Worldwide Underground".

The final DJ set at "Sonar de dia" comes from Tiger & Woods, Roman duo that already created a considerable scene. The audience is happier than ever, dancing more than ever.

Their work is a trademark of contemporary reworking of boogie, funk, house and collapsed. "Editainment" is the mysterious label that produces Larry and David. If you see this name somewhere, be sure that dancing will not be an option!

Let's now talk about the evenings...

The first party in the city is that one from "Life and Death", a label founded by Italian Manfredi Romano (DJ Tennis) and Greg Oreck (Thugfucker). The situation at the ZT Hotel, Villa Olimpica, is quite frantic, there is a huge fun desire, and the daylight lasts up to 10 pm.

A drop at the OMM hotel is my following step; Dj Ralf, aka Antonio Ferrari, is still resident dj at Cocorico (famous club in Riccione), and he has been involved with such phenomena events as "Les Folies de Pigalle", "Breakfast At Tiffany's", or the latest "Made in Italy Ibiza". With a smile on his face, he does brilliantly his job. Unfortunately, I do not hold back until the end ...

Sonar de Noche reveals itself quite different from the day, definitely more cheap and trash. Spaces are larger, the turnout more numerous, but the music proposals much far from my tastes, with a pleasant exception. But lets proceed by order.

I can enjoy a bit of the Underworld' exhibition, surprised to see how such a large amount of people know by heart all their pieces.

After them, Mary Anne Hoobs, british dj, music journalist and radio host for the BBC (which has just left). Festival abituè, she is considered a feminine dubstep icon. In 13-years of career she amassed more than 700 worldwide live! WOW.

Paul Kalkbrenner is the last I hear, but, honestly, I don't remain very impressed by his "cinematic sound", as defined by Ellen Allien, big fan and friend of this German DJ.

I want to spend my last lines for the performance that I enjoyed the most: Janelle Monàe!

A real show, of those who had not seen for time, with a great band, fantastic dancers and a real choral experience! We know that Janelle is particularly linked to the talent of Michael Jackson: she performed "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, singing exactly like a baby Michael.

The first 8 minutes live involved soul, funk and Prince' sounds, thrilling the audience. In addition to a fantastic voice, the girl has a unique charisma, dancing and moving on stage as if it was his place ... and indeed it is!

Venice after his concert

dancefloor at Sonar De Dia

Cècile at OMM

Girls at the Village, Sonar De Dia

free wi-fi at Sonar De Dia

Janelle Monàe live

Gilles Peterson after his dj set

Dj Ralf

Sonar Bercelona (Part 1)

as seen on grazia.it

Blue skies, windows and synthetic grass sorround the Spanish festivals of contemporary electronic.

The location of "Sonar de Dia" is the beautiful MACBA, "Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona". People dance barefoot on the green carpet that cover the ground in front of the main stage. I must admit that Sonar has been to me a very nice surprise event, almost intimate in some ways, nothing to do with the chaos I expected. Among the musical proposals, I definetly liked ones, while others well, what can I say? Not in my strings. But, if you add good vibes, sun and great Catalan food ...

My opening concert was Toro y Moi, stage name of Chazwick Bundick, twenty-five years old, native of South Carolina. Chaz brings on stage clear references to 'electropop from the 80s, mixed with synth, loops, samples and filtered voices.

Soon after, always at the Village Stadium, comes Floating Points with its amazing vinyls, officially entered in my favorite DJs list. Dj and producer, founder of Eglo, independent British indie label, Sam Shepherd has a 'classical and jazz music education, his father encouraged him to join a local choir as a child. Syrian, Indian, classical, jazz, house, dubstep, hip hop, soul... his sets include all of these genres, and even more. Herbie Hanckock, Fela Kuti, War, Chaka Kahn are some names that I could pick up during the live performance. A special mention, however, the real tribute, uncompromising fashionistas, who he gave to the genius of Gil Scott Heron, recently died, proposed in the full live version of "Home is Where the Hatred Is." We really danced!

"The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble" performs at the Sonar Dome, hosted by Red Bull. Daniel Brandt, German musician, winner of the Red Bull Music Academy in 2006, began playing drums in rock bands, jazz and even classical orchestras. Then he started producing electronic music with his partner Jan Brauer. The meeting with the composer Paul Frick was decisive for the trio' creative process: Brandt Brauer Frick is a unique project, able to stage a techno / club sound, very appreciated in the contemporary scene. Their live involves a real jazz band, a harpist and a cellist included.

Short note for Sebastien Devaud, in art Agoria, with its mix of soft techno and dreamy house, and Atmosphere, american hip hop group, my soundtrack while I was looking around, comfortably lying in the shade of the trees.

Finally is the turn of Mtendere Mandowa, aka Teebs, able to enchant the audience with his avant-garde sound, rich of atmospheres. Often interspersed with environmental ' sounds, buzzing, wet ropes and strange percussion, the production of his pieces is impeccable, clearly inspired by the sound of Flying Lotus. Apparently Mtendere is also a painter .. I can imagine him, on the back of his Los Angeles house, enjoying a beer, with colors in his hand, some music from the stereo ...

To be continued...

on monday!

I am off to Glastonbury this weekend!