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Name: Sean (aka the Boss)
1. New Bands Tent: REINDEER SECTION
...after releasing one of my albums of the year so far 'Son of Evil Reindeer' the supergroup of idlewild, snow patrol, eva, arab strap, mogwai, b&s and other bands are doing one of their first live shows since the albums release. Think about a band that sound like your first real kiss. Or the perfect morning after. Or ladybirds and butterflies procreating in the pretty dust trails from a slither of sunlight. Expect: true beauty.
2. New Bands Tent: The (International) Noise Conspiracy
...probably the most exciting band around at the moment on the whole second wave of new york inspired, ramones-esque punk rock. Must see live band. Expect: fists in the air for united social reform!
3. New Bands Tent: SPAN
...you may have read bits and bobs on here about the mighty Norweigians. Not too dissimilar to early weezer, but faster, cleaner, sharper, more posing, cool-oozness and shouts of baby, WAH-HOO! WAH-HOO!. Expect: uncontrollable pogoing.
3a. (cus i'm the boss, hehe) Main Stage: MUSE
...ok, a fairly predictable one but in 4 short years they've gone from 2nd on in the new bands tent, to headlining the session tent to the main stage. One of our most exciting, inspiring, iconic, special, talented and dare i say it, genius groups around right now. Expect: Falsetto's, noise, carnage and mass crowd surfing.
Also excited about seeing: Incubus, Foo Fighters, NoFx, The Icarus Line, Trail O'Dead, Spiritualized, The Cooper Temple Clause, Biffy Clyro, Jetplane Landing, Six by Seven, The Streets, Guided by Voices, Sparta, Saves the Day and Pretty Girls Make Graves.
Name: Kate Price (Derby/Sheffield Area)
1. The Evening Session Stage: The Icarus Line
...Despite remaining not at all convinced by these latest American Nu-Punk exports on record, since experiencing them live for the first time I've become a bit of an addict. With their energetic, intense 70's punk rock spirit, there's no doubt in my mind that The Icarus Line will manage to scare, intimidate and inspire almost every single person who turns out to watch them - no matter how many there are.
2. The Evening Session Stage: The Cooper Temple Clause
...Where so many bands fail to do themselves justice with their live performance, The Cooper Temple Clause blow minds and reverse opinions. Although the many layers of sound seem to fall fairly flat on record, live they boast a huge 3D sound that sweeps you off your feet and swallows you up. Fan or not, you'd be a fool to miss 'em!
3. Main Stage: Prodigy
...those of you who, like me, will be up at Leeds this year are lucky enough to get to end your festival experience by dancing the night away to Prodigy. And yes, that's DANCE. No doubt everyone'll be too bruised and tired to mosh by then anyway, so a nice dosage of shimmying to 'Baby's Got A Temper' will do very nicely indeed!
Also looking forward to: Janes Addiction, Span, The Dandy Warhols, The Breeders, The Bellrays, Aphex Twin, The Foo Fighters, Vex Red, Incubus, NOFX, Amen, Hundred Reasons, Trail 'O Dead, Six By Seven, Sparta, The Music, The Alpinestars, Biffy Clyro, The Streets… I'm gonna be a busy girl!
Name: Peter White (London/Poodle Rock)
1. Concrete Jungle Stage: Dashboard Confessional
...How beautiful can one man's acoustic punk be? Further Seems Forever frontman knocking out Dawson's Creek killing lullabies. Expect: Confused punk kidz
2. New Bands Tent: 80's Matchbox B Line Disaster
...The craziest Jesus Lizard inspired noise for ages. They may have just signed to Universal but they still sound like a monkey on acid. Expect: Somebody to wonder why Richard Ashcroft is there.
3. New Bands Tent: Pretty Girls Make Graves
...It's new, it's part Murder City Devils, part Icarus Line and it's gonna be this year's At The Drive In. That's a great thing, by the way. Expect: Someone to make a joke about dead girls never saying no.
Can't want to see: Andrew WK, The Anniversary, The Get Up Kids, Simple Kid, Ben Kweller, Thursday and Weezer.
More to come in a following parts tomorrow and throughout the rest of the week...
DiSCUSS: Comment below with your recommendations...
