Approximately twenty pop/rock, electronic, folk, world, and jazz bands or artists from all continents will perform from January 18 to 21 in front of industry professionals and the Azuréen public. The lineup will include the American rock band Blue October, Colombian artist Monica Giraldo who was recently nominated in the New Artist category at the Latin Grammys, the South Africans The Parlotones, who were named Best Rock Band in 2006 at the South African Music Awards, as well as John Shannon (USA), Hogni (Faroe Islands), Charlie Winston (UK), Ndidi Onukwulu (Canada), Sliimy (France), and Magnus Lindgren’s Batucada Jazz (Sweden).
Pop/Rock & Electro Talent
From 12 pm to 2 pm at Magic Mirrors under the Croisette tent, come enjoy lunch with music! (bar, fast food, and tables for dining)
From 7 pm to 11 pm at Magic Mirrors, 2 or 3 concerts for an evening of 100% discovery (bar & fast food)
Sunday, January 18
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
YODELICE / Mercury – France
www.myspace.com/yodelice
“Yodelice is my clown, my second skin, my refuge. Yodelice only exists when he sings and that is good. Yodelice is the past, the present, the future, a mirror that opens thanks to those who listen. I do not know where he comes from or how he arrives, I only open my arms wide to him.
Like a collage taking shape, Yodelice inspires me and guides my steps. It is good. The ground disappears, the sun shines even at night, and birds also sing… Yodelice has traveled to the four corners of the world, dressed in dust and water, he does not look like much. In the evening, when the concert ends, I turn around, and on the stage where he leaves me, I have the hope that he is not alone.”
SCOTT MCKEON BAND / Provogue Records – UK
Scott Mc Keon – guitar and vocals / Tom Latham – bass and backing vocals / Phil Wilson – drums
www.scottmckeon.com
This 25-year-old British guitarist-singer, influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robin Trower, and Rory Gallagher, offers muscular blues rock in a “power trio” format with his very first album, Can’t Take No More. Already considered by many as one of the best blues guitarists in the world.
Sunday, January 18
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
SLIIMY / Warner – France
www.myspace.com/sliimy
Nicolas Jouanneau, product manager, Warner Music France:
“Sliimy is a rather eccentric 20-year-old man. He is part of that MySpace generation that writes its own songs and lyrics. We consider MIDEM a very great opportunity for Sliimy to showcase what he can do on stage. His musical influences are Lily Allen, Kate Nash, Santogold, The Do, and Vampire Weekend, and his songs are exclusively in English. We intend to increase his fame initially in France, Belgium, Canada and then we hope he will be known worldwide because his music is truly international. The release of his first album is planned for March or April 2009.”
THE GHOST, Faroe Islands / Sunday Best – UK
www.myspace.com/theghostband1
In their short existence, The Ghost has received a good national and international reception. Before the end of 2008, The Ghost will have played in more than 12 countries! The band serves a curious mix of electro-pop and indie rock, tracks between eighties pop and aggressive 21st century electro.
Monday, January 19
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
ABHIJIT POHANKAR URBAN RAGAS Big Music – India
www.abhijitpohankar.com
Indian music for the world audience!
Urban Ragas is a family project and a reference in the new Indian sound, with a bit of rock, chill-out touches, the energy of the tabla, the groove of the flute, and a few saxophone interventions.
MAGNIFIC ARIH D.O.O – Slovenia
www.magnifico.info
Magnifico is actually Robert Pešut, a singer, musician, and actor. His unique sense of aesthetics, boundless admiration for porn stars and drag queens, his music is a combination of disco funk and electronic music. An originality that makes him one of the most famous Serbo-Slovenian singers.
Monday, January 19
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
MONICA GIRALDO WattsUp! Codiscos – Colombia
www.monicagiraldo.com
Monica Giraldo is an accomplished artist, heavily influenced by her Latin roots and folk; she left her native Colombia to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After self-producing her first two albums “Monica Giraldo” (2002) and “Muy Cerca” (2005), Monica won the Billboard’s songwriting contest for the “best Latin song” in 2007. She was also recently nominated at the Latin Grammys in the “New Artist” category.
ROTARY DOWNS Rookery Records – USA
www.rotarydowns.com
Rotary Downs is a band from New Orleans. Melodic independent rock with sometimes dissonant guitar, an energy guided by texture shifts and especially by the deep voice of the singer. Their sunny, psychedelic music sometimes reminiscent of Beck’s.
Tuesday, January 20
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
MATTHEW ANDRAE France Music – USA
www.myspace.com/matthewandrae
Matthew Andrae was in Salt Lake City to sing at the Olympics “The Next Country Over”, a massive simultaneous prayer with 8 million children around the world and in front of 12 million viewers. Since then, he has released an acoustic pop album titled “Born” with a lineup of stars, fabulous musicians and great engineers who together have 14 Grammy Awards.
NDIDI ONUKWULU, Canada
www.ndidi.ca
Ndidi Onukwulu is one of this year’s most beautiful discoveries in female voices: She has an extraordinary voice, she sings with her heart, her guts. With conviction and honesty, Ndidi exposes herself, bares all for the music she loves above all: the blues. This isn’t about vintage-style blues or traditional blues but rather a mix of pop/country/soul/blues/folk that provides immediate listening pleasure, enhanced by the talented musicians who accompany Ndidi wonderfully.
Tuesday, January 20
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
MAMAS GUN Decca Records – UK
www.mamasgun.co.uk
Mamas Gun is a band made up of 5 musicians based in London, named after Erykah Badu’s second album. The singer, songwriter, and producer Andy Platts has previously enriched his experience through numerous collaborations, notably with Steffan Halperin (now drummer for The Klaxons), Corinne Bailey Rae, Rod Temperton (writer of Thriller), Toby Smith from Jamiroquai…
CHARLIE WINSTON Atmosphériques – France / Real World – UK
www.charliewinston.com www.myspace.com/charliewinston
This thirty-something Englishman has traveled extensively, like the hobos, the itinerant workers he discusses in his album title. His album is scheduled for release in early 2009.
BLUE OCTOBER Brando / Universal – USA
www.myspace.com/blueoctober
Blue October is an American piano rock and alternative rock band from Houston, Texas. Formed in 1996, its members are Justin Furstenfeld (vocals), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums and percussion), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin, viola, mandolin, keyboard, vocals), C.B. Hudson (guitar), and Matt Noveskey (bass guitar). Since 1998, the band has released 5 albums, with the latest released in 2006 achieving platinum status. The track “Calling you” helped increase their popularity, particularly appearing on the soundtrack of the movie “American Wedding.”
Wednesday, January 21
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
JOHN SHANNON ObliqSound – USA
www.johnshannonmusic.com
John Shannon introduces his debut solo album “American Mystic”. The intimate and mesmerizing melodies of this young guitarist and songwriter take us on a journey seeking the values and spiritual essence emanating from nature and the vast American landscapes. With a delicate, high-pitched, almost feminine voice, delightfully on the edge with this way of approaching the crack but never collapsing in it, with also a gentle guitar play (light picking and delicate caresses on the strings), Shannon enchants with his intertwining of notes and exquisite melodies.
HOGNI Tutl – Faroe Islands
www.hogni.com / www.myspace.com/hognilisberg
Hogni is certainly the best known of the young artists from the Faroe Islands and is preparing the release of his third album. “HOGNI – hare! Hare!” will be released in December 2008. Hogni is a blend of funk and pop, a sensual groove and a voice still young but truly amazing.
Wednesday, January 21
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
HJALTALIN Kimi Records – Iceland
www.myspace.com/hjaltalinband
Hjaltalin has all the traits of a twee band, classical virtuosos with regressive pop desires, far from chiaroscuro… Sleepdrunk Season, their album released in 2007, comes across as a whirlwind of guitars, choirs, strings, and winds, caught in a round to lead with hands in the air. The first track, instrumental and theatrical, establishes the horizon of expectation: Hjaltalín wants to play pop while replacing guitars with as many classical instruments as possible, with a spirit similar to Scottish bands like Belle & Sebastian or Camera Obscura. The band was nominated 5 times at the last Icelandic Music Awards in 2008.
THE PARLOTONES Sovereign Entertainment – South Africa
www.parlotones.co.za / www.myspace.com/theparlotones
Since the last The Parlotones album “A world next door to yours” has achieved platinum status in South Africa,
the band has become the biggest record seller there and has played over 200 concerts in Great Britain, South Africa, and Europe. In 2008, The Parlotones were nominated twice at the MTV Africa Awards and in 2009, they are also expected at the South by Southwest festival in Texas and at Canadian Music Week.
