Rock and Pop: Preview - New bands confirmed for this year's Camden Crawl
Published: 17 March 2011
by ROISIN GADELRAB
NOT too long ago a group of wise old music moguls gathered in Dingwalls for the annual “pick me!” fest that is the Camden Crawl band allocation day.
As DJ Steve Lamacq described it in his Going Deaf for a Living blog: “It’s like picking teams in a school playground.”
Except a fair amount of young musicians I knew at school would’ve run a mile at the mention of PE.
So while we don’t yet know who the 14 promoters hosting gigs for the Crawl managed to wrangle for their chosen venue, we can still bring you a selection of the names released so far: St Etienne, Villagers, Frankie & the Heartstrings, Lethal Bizzle, British Sea Power and Simian Mobile Disco.
Toddla T, Hadouken, Mazes, Young Dreams, The Qemists and Hudson Mohawke are also on the known list.
But there are a whole lot of lesser-known musicians that are worth a look-in. You never know – one day Florence and the Machine were playing to 100 people in The Crescent pub for the Crawl, the next, young Flo’s sharing the stage with Jennifer Hudson at The Grammys.
While the main headline acts are yet to be announced, rumours are rife. Although I’m hoping Aerosmith will be among them, I’ve a feeling Steve Tyler’s caught up judging a little talent show over in the States.
So here’s a basic summary of what it’s all about:
The Camden Crawl – one wristband, two days (April 30-May 1), music, comedy, fringe arts, and interactive events, 250 live acts and special guests across 50 venues.
While there is music all day from the very start, there’s a whole bunch of other activities during the sunshine hours to help Crawlers prepare for the hardcore trek around Camden (and Kentish Town).
The real games begin after the taxing music quizzes, comedy, spoken word and performance, visual arts and crafts, interactive events and games are over.
I leave you with a brief summary of our recommendations.
There’s the Island Records showcase at the Enterprise featuring Tribes, Kid Adrift and Jon Fratelli, as well as Cocknbullkid and Rizzle Kicks.
Or take vantage on the Roundhouse Terrace for the Summer Sundae Weekender with Benjamin Francis, Leftwich, Delta Maid, Dog is Dead, Lulu & the Lampshades, Marques Toliver, 2:54, Beth Jeans Houghton, Dry the River, Peggy Sue and Young Dreams.
We don’t yet know who else is playing where so here’s a brief list of some of our picks from the rest: Visions of Trees, Paris Suit Yourself, DELS, Dananananaykroyd, Divorce, Japanese Voyeurs, John and Jehn, Wild Palms, Flats, Little Comets, P Money, Sound of Rum, The Chapman Family, Teeth and Fiction.
COMPETITION: WIN CAMDEN CRAWL TICKETS
• For tickets, as well as profiles of all these bands and the rest of the line-up, visit www.thecamdencrawl.com