"At times, there's a feeling that we were never meant to perform these songs until now." — Felix White
And what an incredible performance it's going to be! The lineup is a well-curated indie disco day… One of the initial motivations for this event was when All Points East approached us about curating the lineup, making it hard to decline. Having all these bands in one venue was a goal of ours; we aimed to create a day that would resonate with fans of The Maccabees as well as bands we admire. I think we achieved that pretty well. While it's impossible to include everyone we wanted, it truly feels like a collection of bands we grew up with or collaborated with during that time... It might be challenging for attendees to catch everything! There's a fantastic blend of classic indie favorites, your contemporaries, and some emerging new bands... Yes! Bands like Bombay Bicycle Club, The Cribs, Everything Everything, and The Futureheads cater to that vibe, while Black Country, New Road, Dry Cleaning, and Sorry bring in some fresh energy... I believe it appeals to those of us who have a deep passion for guitar music and what guitar bands can accomplish. Hopefully, it will be the place to be! In recent years, there seems to have been a shortage of bands—solo artists have dominated the scene—so APE feels like it's signaling a revival of guitar music's golden era. Of course, the dynamic tension in bands can both enhance their greatness and lead to their dissolution. Having a bit of space has allowed us to reflect on The Maccabees, making us appreciate each member's contribution that elevated the music beyond just individual effort. That's the beauty of guitar bands; the best ones possess an unquantifiable essence that no single person could envision. There’s something magical about that. In contrast to the carefully crafted solo artist presentations—which are also fantastic—bands often have a chaotic energy that is uncontrollable but thrilling because it’s fleeting. It brings a vivacity that makes it enjoyable to host a festival that celebrates this spirit. Additionally, we have the YALA TV series running alongside the festival in anticipation of it! YALA hosted a stage at APE for The Strokes day around 5, 6, or 7 years ago, which was fantastic—we had BC Camplight headline, along with YAK and many others. YALA was born after The Maccabees ended, when I was unsure of my next steps. My friend Morad and I envisioned creating something to fill the gap left in guitar music since The Maccabees began. It felt only fitting that YALA would play a role in this. I've always wanted to do that because, from the moment The Maccabees finished, I was inspired by all the bands we worked with. Since YALA's inception, many have achieved great success—like Wunderhorse and IDLES—but I also admire those who haven't reached that level. It wouldn't feel right to do APE without supporting others, you know? The Maccabees will perform at the All Points East Festival, which occurs the second weekend from August 22nd to 24th at Victoria Park, London. For more information and last-minute tickets, visit allpointseastfestival.com.
Benny Sings is set to launch his new project 'Beat Tape III' on September 19th. The Amsterdam-based talent possesses an exceptional flair for creativity in his music.
The song is the fourth track to be released from their upcoming self-titled album.
The pair recently performed on the Main Stage at this weekend's Reading and Leeds festivals.
The English group Divorce has released the deluxe edition of their debut album, 'Drive To Goldenhammer'. The album originally came out earlier this year, and the band's
London artist Bagge has released a new single titled 'For You'. This alt-soul talent combines traditional influences with a unique style, reminiscent of
The Reset & Rewind Wellbeing Breaks and Summer Family Support initiatives aim to provide additional assistance to PRS For Music members in the upcoming months.
Before their big headlining performance this weekend, we spoke with the band’s guitarist to see how the group is feeling as they prepare.