Land of Kings on Diesel:U:Music radio

When it comes to festivals in the Big Smoke, revellers are completely spoilt for choice. So with all that tough competition, organisers need to think outside the box a little bit in order to pull in the crowds. And members of the Land of Kings collective have done just that. Tapping into a unique resource--the long and winding Kingsland Road--they can offer you a rare festival experience where your frantic city schlep is swapped for a more civilised stroll down this popular east London promenade.

The brainchild of three friends and Dalston residents, Land of Kings gives festival goers the chance to delve deep into the filthy underbelly of D-Town. “It’s a festival that celebrates all of Dalston’s many musical and artistic talents,” says Laura Martin, a member of The Land of Kings collective. “We wanted to show people that there are loads of amazing little hidden venues all around Dalston that you would not necessarily know about otherwise.”

This two-day Dalston party launched just last year and a right good time was had by all. “My highlight had to be seeing Disco 3000/Erol Alkan in the Stone Cave," says Laura. "He loved the idea of doing a set in a Turkish Restaurant. It was such an amazing night, hundreds of people just raving in this cave.”

And indeed the founders of Land of Kings--Piers, Nick and Connie--have left no stone unturned. Indulge your senses in the sleazy decadence of basement club Dreams or head down to a real Dalston institution, the Vortex Jazz Club. Brimming with insalubrious night-time joints a plenty, Land of Kings have got everywhere covered.

And the music’s not bad either. “We choose artists from totally across the board, from Italo disco, to electro, to acoustic indie,” says Laura. And indeed, last year's line up saw a stellar selection of talent, from electropop whizz kids A.Human to glorious indie popsters Sportsday Megaphone, and those ear-splitting beat masters, Drums of Death. And with DJ sets from Fuck Buttons and Faze Action, amongst others, the Land of Kings collective have clearly got their fingers firmly on the pulse of new music. So if last year's line up is anything to go by, we can expect great things.....

Can’t wait ‘til April? Well the Land of Kings have organised a pre-festival warm up, in the form of a Dungeon Disco this Friday. Taking place in Dalston’s very own Stone Cave, surely there’s no better way to spend All Hallows’ Eve….
Tickets are free, just email info@landofkings.co.uk and tell them the scariest band/DJ you've ever seen or heard.

Land of Kings festival takes place next April 2010, for more info go HERE

And Laura will be on Diesel:U:Music radio tonight, tune in HEREfrom 6pm