French festival La Route Du Rock has announced the first bands on its bill for this summer, with My Bloody Valentine, The Horrors and more set to keep the crowds entertained.
The French can’t do festivals, that’s the received wisdom of the blinkered British music fan. How can a nation built on taste and respectability compete with the lager fuelled weekends of our nation’s summertime?
Quite easily as it turns out. La Route Du Rock is a new event that is fuelled by a growing passion in France for cutting edge rock music, for bands who stand for more than just crafting soundscapes for cola adverts.
Set in the walled seaside city of St. Malo in Brittany, previous years have boasted the likes of Sonic Youth, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, Foals and much more.
This year organisers have outdone themselves producing a bill that can compete with the best European events. While it may not have the token massive headliner, or the dodgy dub reggae tent, La Route Du Rock does have a line up that seems to be hand picked by people who simply love music.
My Bloody Valentine will headline this year’s event. The great outdoors is perhaps the best place to experience the shoegazing innovators, whose use of extreme volume is legendary – hell, the band even hand out complimentary ear plugs at the door!
Joining the Creation Records legends on the bill are revamped Londoners The Horrors. Sure, their debut album wasn’t much cop but new record ‘Primary Colours’ positively oozes ambition. Undoubtedly one of the most surprising returns in recent times, the album will turn more than a few heads before the year is out.
Also on the line up is New York group Grizzly Bear, whose new album ‘Vecktamest’ is set to bring the band out of cult obscurity. Joining the band in France are the likes of Telepathe and The Kills, whose lead singer Alison Mosshart is also set to begin work with Jack White’s new side project The Dead Weather.
Scottish indie gurus Camera Obscura released their fourth album ‘My Maudlin Career’ earlier this year through their new home of 4AD. A stunning collection of 60s pop infused indie stompers, the album could well be the band’s most assured to date.
With a wealth of talent and magnificent setting La Route Du Rock is one of the highlights of the European festival calendar. In France. Go figure.
La Route Du Rock takes place between August 14th – 16th.
