Amphi Festival releases second wave of bands with focus on cult and diversity!
XIV. AMPHI FESTIVAL 2018
28. & 29.07.2018 – COLOGNE | TANZBRUNNEN
The second wave of bands for Amphi Festival 2018 has crashed in and impresses with its strong focus on variety. Cult formations go hand in hand with newcomers, as modern dark-rock meets neo-classical perfomance and cutting edge postpunk passes on the baton to an injection of fresh electropop. Please welcome:
AESTHETIC PERFECTION
GIRLS UNDER GLASS + UNZUCHT
LEBANON HANOVER + SOVIET SOVIET + PERSEPHONE
A PROJECTION + INTENT:OUTTAKE + LA SCALTRA
Between massive beats and exciting industrialpop hymns AESTHETIC PERFECTION is where have found their musical home. After the Californians' highly acclaimed show at Amphi 2016, which went totally through the roof, Daniel Graves & Co. are to return next year, ready to instigate an extra load of mainstage mayhem!
Despite having become comparatively rare, every concert of Hamburg-based scene-pioneers GIRLS UNDER GLASS turns into an even more special occasion with distinct cult status. Active since 1986, it is not by chance the darkwave legend around Thomas Lücke, Hauke Harms, Volker Zacharias and Axel Ermes counts as one of the most influential scene-formations of the 80s, who inspired many acts who are successful today, that maybe would never have existed without them!
Ever since their latest album "Neuntöter", darkrockers UNZUCHT have joined life in the fast lane. Amidst an undertow of honest statements and shattering riffs the Lower-Saxonians struck a nerve with the modern generation goth, carrying their audience in their unrelenting grip.
LEBANON HANOVER are a phenomenon! Subversively elegant and surrounded by their own distinct magic, Larissa Iceglass and William Maybelline create a powerful spark from a chilling postpunk attitude, honed with minimalistic darkwave and undeniably immersive hypnotic rhythms.
Almost completely opposite SOVIET SOVIET keep no holds barred when it comes to firing off a temperamental postpunk barrage. Like Jake LaMotta in his best days the Italians literally push forward like a raging bull - relentless - tireless - full speed ahead! While their albums "Fate" and "Endless" became instant classics, the trio rightfully received strong international acclaim and recognition. In 2018 they are to guest at Amphi Festival for the first time!
It has been a long time coming with the German-Austrian neo-classical ensemble PERSEPHONE. Now Sonja Kraushofer (L' Âme Immortelle), Martin Höfert and their fellow musicians finally return to present "Perle", the highly anticipated follow up to their 2007 album release "Letters to a Stranger". Exceptional vocals meet instrumental finesse. Join in, listen and let yourself be taken to another world!
The creative work of Swedish rockers A PROJECTION again is set in the realm of smart postpunk, spiced with a notable indiepop injection. Emerging from the influences of bands like The Cure, Editors and Joy Division, the five-piece around singer Isak Eriksson cultivated their unique style. With the release of their second album "Framework" in early 2017, the Scandinavians ranked themselves among the most promising genre newcomers.
Andreas Engleitner and Bastian Polak, also known as INTENT:OUTTAKE, have fully dedicated themselves to the world of dark-electro. Ever since the release of their debut album "Wake-Up Call" the boys from Leipzig conquered the club dancefloors by storm. Even in your festival-wishlists the duo received tremendous consideration and so we are happy to welcome Intent:Outtake for next year as one of the most requested newcomers at Amphi Festival.
"Is this witchpop?", you might ask yourself in the search for a fitting drawer, when LA SCALTRA sound the haunting melody of their current smasher "Cantate". Catchy, bittersweet and mysterious in themselves, Aeleth Kaven, Dae Widow and Jay Sharp radiate a fascinatingly abysmal magic by which the newcomers will claim our Orbit Stage instantly.
XIV. AMPHI FESTIVAL 2018
28. – 29. July 2018 GER – Cologne | Tanzbrunnen
AND ONE
OOMPH! + GOETHES ERBEN
SOLAR FAKE + NEUROTICFISH + FUNKER VOGT
GIRLS UNDER GLASS + [X]-RX + THE CREEPSHOW + CENTHRON
PERSEPHONE + HELDMASCHINE + KIEW + SOVIET SOVIET
INTENT:OUTTAKE + FUTURE LIED TO US + LA SCALTRA
+ many other bands & supporting programme coming soon
Info: www.amphi-festival.de or www.facebook.com/amphifestival
Original tickets: exclusively available at www.amphi-shop.de (worldwide shipping)
Festival tickets: also at all nationwide CTS/EVENTIM box-offices, online at www.eventim.de, www.oeticket.com, www.ticketcorner.ch and as PRINT@HOME edition.
"Sky Collapse" is the overture of a storm to come. Not only is it the first single from Kirlian Camera's new album "Hologram Moon", but also a dark song about worrying skies and disquieting scenarios. Moreover, it marks the collaboration between two of the most distinguished names in the dark electronic world, in fact Kirlian Camera are at work for the first time with Swedish electronic icon Eskil Simonsson of Covenant on the opening version of the track, which is a duet between singers Elena Alice Fossi and Eskil Simonsson. The song was written and produced by Elena Alice Fossi and Angelo Bergamini, mixed by legend producer John Fryer.
Kirlian Camera: “Sky Collapse” is memories from a recent hard period, when any possible light seemed to turn into deep darkness as if everything was definitely lost. The words of Reverend Jim Jones in the beginning of the song are a clear guidance to that disquieting world (Peoples Temple's leader Jim Jones committed suicide along with 1000 followers in Guyana, 1978: the biggest mass suicide in the recent history of America).
The sky looked as if it were collapsed, exactly, when... an unexpected ray of hope started shining in a doomy evening. So we are here, today, to describe quite an ordeal with simple words and “dance on all those ruins”, whether they are the past we briefly mentioned above or a hard future we'll have to face. We always perceived a connection with Eskil Simonsson's Covenant, so... this meeting each other on these strange roads, today, is just a natural effect of such research in music and beyond."
Dependent: "Their collaboration culminates in one of the finest electronic singles we released in some time; that's why we bet so many DJs will play this EP's A-side in heavy rotation, so due to the force of the song, the wonderful remix and the B-Side titles, this item is going to be an outstanding presence in every dark electronic record collection. And this is just the overture to KCs forthcoming album "Hologram Moon" to be released this year as well!"
The 4 track EP/Single will be released on October 20th 2017.
Listen to the preview snippet on Youtube below!
Kirlian Camera will headline BIMFEST at De Casino (St-Niklaas, Belgium) on Friday 15th
www.bimfest.be / Tickets / Facebook Event
This weekend, the DAFT / MINIMAL MAXIMAL festival will be held for the first time in Antwerp! In the past we had DAFT Festivals happening in Waregem and Kortrijk, but now for the first time, it will happen at Het Oude Badhuis in Antwerp.
As the name already reveals, this festival is mainly about both national as international bands who have ever released something on DAFT Records and / or Minimal Maximal records. These two record labels are the brainchilds of one of the most active musicians in the Belgian alternative music world, Dirk Ivens. Already since the late 1970's, Dirk is making music and has been performing, first with his punk rock band The Few, later with the more legendary The Klinik and Absolute Body Control cultbands. Nowadays he’s prominent present at many festivals and international stages with his Electro-Industrial Solo-Project DIVE.
DAFT / MINIMAL MAXIMAL FEST is therefore a collaboration between Dirk Ivens and the Antwerp organization BodyBeats Productions, an organization which is also responsible for the annual and renowned BIMFEST.
In case you are not so familiar with those names on the bill we like to introduce them to you shortly:
ESPLENDOR GEOMETRICO (ES)
Is a Spanish combo that have made stages unsafe around the world ever since the early 1980s with their heavy industrial noises and beats. Together with the energetic and pleasantly disturbed jump-a-round Arturo Lanz’s shouted slogans, their performances are quite impressive we must say. EG released the album Sheikh Aljama in 1992 on DAFT Records.
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PORTION CONTROL (UK)
This British duo has been active since 1980 and influenced bands like Skinny Puppy and Front 242. In 2014, they released the album 'Unrest In The Grime' on Minimal Maximal Records. Currently the band is working on new material. Their pumping beats, menacing sequences and energetic performance, easily get any audience dancing!
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A SPLIT SECOND (B)
A name that should sound familiar to you, as it is also one of those other bands that has been very active since the 80’s. Their first 12" immediately became a cultrecord with dance floorfillers like On Command and Flesh. The classic track Flesh was picked up by DJ’s of the Belgian New Beat hype some years later, who pitched down the speed a little, to gather filled dance floors again.
In 2012, Minimal Maximal released the vinyl version of the first ever Stained Impressions tape, in 2014 the CD version followed too. Although the band is currently touring with a 'Best Of' show around the world, there are some rumors about an new album being in the pipeline. Anyway, we know that the A Split-Second always delivers and guarantees ambiance and quality!
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DIVE (B)
Of course, the personal solo-project of the man himself could not be excluded from this festival. Not only because Dirk Ivens aka DIVE is an established value in the Electro-Industrial music world but also because the man has just released a brand new and critical acclaimed album this year! Underneath is the 7th studio album of this Dirk Ivens solo-project and has been very well received by fans and critics. The release was followed by an intensive tour of over 23 shows. This energetic en all-sensing one-man show must have had you at least once in your life!
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VITA NOCTIS (B)
Again, one of those brilliant Belgian electronic and musical export products from the 80’s, maybe this time in a rather minimalist and fragile form but as good!. The first tapes were collected and released on vinyl by Minimal Maximal in 2011, and in the meantime the band also released the thrilling come-back album No Place For You on DAFT in 2015!
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THE FORCE DIMENSION (NL)
Also Belgiums northern neighbors are represented with The Force Dimension! Once signed to the legendary Belgian underground label KK Records and nowadays on both Minimal Maximal Records, with the re-release of their already sold out debut album KK20, as well as on DAFT Records with their new album Machinesex, released earlier this year! Electro-pop meets EBM met een vrouwelijke toets!
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GERTRUD STEIN (CH / UK)
This London-based eccentric and Swiss female artist and musician is proof younger generations can still make exciting and interesting music! Always a special, happily disturbed Girl Power performance with a wink to (her big example?) Peaches. Gertrud Stein drew Dirk Ivens attention through her contribution to the Daft Records compilation Deep, an interesting album featuring only sung-by-women tracks.
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Knk (B)
This Antwerp newcomer surprised friend and foe with the release of the Dead Body Music I +II tapes on Daft Records in 2016. Heavy and dark electronics musically in the footsteps bands like The Klinik and Dive and heavily inspired by all what is horror and pitch-black. Not for pussies!
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Dit weekend vind voor het eerst het DAFT / MINIMAL MAXIMAL festival plaats in Antwerpen! Er waren in het verleden al DAFT Festivals in Waregem en Kortrijk maar nu dus voor het eerst in Het Oude Badhuis te Antwerpen.
Zoals de naam van het festival al een beetje laat vermoeden draait dit festival vooral om binnen en buitenlandse bands die ooit een release uitbrachten via DAFT Records en/of Minimal Maximal records. Deze twee platen labels zijn twee geesteskinderen van één de meest actieve muzikanten in de Belgische alternative muziekwereld, Dirk Ivens. Al sinds de eind jaren 70 staat deze performer op de planken, eerst met zijn punk-rock band The Few, later met de ondertussen legendarische geworden cultbands The Klinik en Absolute Body Control. Maar tegenwoordig weer alom aanwezig op vele binnen en buitenlandse podia met zijn Electo-Industriele solo-project DIVE.
Het DAFT / MINIMAL MAXIMAL Festival is een samenwerking tussen Dirk Ivens and de Antwerpse organisatie BodyBeats Productions, een organisatie die o.a. ook verantwoordelijk is voor het jaarlijkse BIMFEST.
Mocht u niet bekend zijn met de artiesten op de affiche stellen wijn hen graag even kort aan u voor:
ESPLENDOR GEOMETRICO (ES)
Is een Spaans combo dat al sinds de vroege jaren ’80 podia over de hele wereld onveilig maakt met zware industriële noises en beats.
Voeg daarbij de door energieke spring-in-het-veld en prettig gestoorde Arturo Lanz gekrijste slogans en je krijgt een indrukwekkende performance! EG bracht in 1992 het album Sheikh Aljama op DAFT records.
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PORTION CONTROL (UK)
Dit Britse duo is ook reeds actief sinds 1980 en beïnvloede bands als Skinny Puppy en Front 242. In 2014 brachten zij het album 'Unrest In The Grime' uit op Minimal Maximal Records en momenteel werkt de band aan nieuw material. Met hun pompende beats, opzwepende sequences en energieke performance krijgen ze met gemak ieder publiek aan het dansen!
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A SPLIT-SECOND (B)
Een naam die u niet onbekend in de oren zou mogen klinken, en alweer een band die actief is sinds de jaren ’80. Hun eerst 12” was meteen een schot in de roos met dansvloer krakers als On Command en Flesh. Het hitgevoelig nummer Flesh zou enkele jaren opnieuw opgepikt worden door DJ’s van de Belgische New Beat rage die met het nummer, zei het iets vertraagd, weer volle dansvloeren oogsten.
In 2012 bracht Minimal Maximal een vinyl versie uit van de allereerste cassette ‘Stained Impressions’, in 2014, volgde ook de CD versie hiervan. Hoewel de band momenteel met een ‘Best Of’ show' de wereld rond tourt tot in Brazilië, zijn er geruchten over een nakend nieuw album. In ieder geval weten wij dat de live shows van A Split-Second altijd garant staan voor ambiance en kwaliteit!
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DIVE (B)
Natuurlijk mocht het persoonlijke solo-project van de curator zelve niet ontbreken op dit festival. Niet alleen omdat Dirk Ivens alias DIVE een gevestigde waarde is in de Electro-Industriele muziekwereld maar eens te meer omdat de man dit jaar een gloed nieuw album uitbracht! Underneath is het 7de studio album van dit Dirk Ivens solo-project en werd goed ontvangen door fans en critici. De release werd gevold door een tour van ondertussen al meer dan 23 shows. Deze alle zintuigen prikkelende one-man show moet je minste één keer in je leven ondergaan hebben!
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VITA NOCTIS (B)
Weer één van die briljante Belgische electronisch en muzikale export producten uit de jaren ’80 zei het dit keer in een eerder minimalistische en fragiele vorm. Het eerste tapes, werden in 2011 verzameld en uitgebracht op plaat door Minimal Maximal maar ondertussen bracht de band in 2015 ook het spetterende come-back album No Place For You uit op DAFT!
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THE FORCE DIMENSION (NL)
Ook onze noorderburen zijn vertegenwoordigd en dit met het electro combo The Force Dimension! Ooit nog getekend op het legendarische Belgische underground label KK Records en nu bij zowel Minimal Maximal Records, met de re-release van hun reeds lang uitverkochte debut album KK20, als op DAFT Records met het eerder dit jaar verschenen nieuwe album Machinesex! Electro-pop meets EBM with a female touch!!
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GERTRUD STEIN (CH/UK)
Deze in Londen verblijvende excentrieke en Zwitserse kunstenares en muzikante is het bewijs dat ook de jongere generaties nog spannende en opwindende muziek kunnen maken! Een prettige gestoorde Girl Power performance met een knip oog naar het grote voorbeeld Peaches. Gertrud Stein wist de aandacht te trekken via haar bijdrage aan de Daft Records compilatie Deep, een interessant verzamel album met daarop enkel door vrouwen gezongen tracks.
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KnK (B)
Deze Antwerpse nieuwkomer verraste vriend en vijand met de release van Dead Body Music op Daft records in 2016. Zware en donkere electronica muzikaal in de voetsporen bands zoals The Klinik en Dive en zwaar geïnspireerd door alles wat horror en zwartgallig is. Niet voor watjes!
www.bodybeats.be/en/tickets/20-21-10-daft-minimal-maximal-fest
On the 14th of October 2017, Amnesty International Belgium invites hundreds of artists, across disciplines, on the occasion of the greatest committed arts festival of Belgium: the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival. The FADHA aims to raise public awareness of the migration crisis and the humanitarian tragedy on Europe's doorstep within the framework of the #JeSuisHumain-e ("I'm Human") campaign.
The festival features dozens of concerts, DJ live sets and mixes all night long, movies, collective exhibitions, live street art, performances, etc. by famous artists and amateurs.
The event will take place at Rockerill, in Charleroi. The Rockerill is an industrial building from 1832. It was converted to an alternative culture centre, one of the most popular in Belgium.
A few weeks ago we already had the honor to announce the release of the new Simi Nah single 'Chacun Pour Soi' and now you can also watch the video on Youtube! The video has been captured into an abandoned village in southern France, where reportedly, lost souls hide themselves from the inclemecy of life!
It’s been 3 years now sInce Simi-Nah released their concept album “Be My Guest” while in 2015 “Bootleg” saw the light, containing unreleased versions from the their first album “CherChez la Femme”. Meanwhile some of their tracks were featured on several international compilation albums and they did remIxes for other artists. One of their tracks was even featured on the Belgian TV series Chaussée d’amour soundtrack.
Simi-Nah announced this single as the prelude to her very last French Dark Wave album whIch wIll be released towards the end of 2017.
Enkele weken geleden mochten wij u al de release van de nieuwste Simi Nah single 'Chacun Pour Soi' en nu is ook de bijhorende video te bewonderen en te beluisteren op Youtube! De video is gedraaid in en verlaten dorpje in het zuiden van Frankrijk, waar naar verluid, verloren zielen zich verschuilen voor de hardheid en verzuring van het leven!
Het is ondertussen al 3 jaar geleden dat Simi-Nah hun conceptalbum "Be my Guest" heeft uitgebracht, terwijl in 2015 "Bootleg" het licht zag, met daarop onuitgegeven versies van hun eerste album "CherChez la Femme". Ondertussen werden enkele van hun nummers ook opgenomen op verschillende internationale compilatie-albums en maakten ze enkele remixen voor andere artiesten. Een van hun tracks werd zelfs opgenomen in de soundtrack van Belgische tv-serie Chaussée d'amour.
Simi-Nah kondigde ook aan dat deze single de voorbode is voor haar laatste donkere Franstalige Dark Wave album, dat eind 2017 gereleased wordt.
