The general consensus of the Body & Soul festival is that it has an amazing and unique atmosphere.
People seem to want to go because it has a certain vibe that you just don’t seem to get at most other festivals, but it can be easy to overlook the fact that there are some very impressive musical acts performing there.
Running from 23 to 25 June, this year’s line-up is as great as ever, but just in case you’re unfamiliar with some of them, your good pals here at JOE are here to give you a quick introduction.
METRONOMY
Formed in 1999, this English electro-group have had five albums so far, with their most recent Summer 08 released in 2016 to critical acclaim. But in keeping with wanting to introduce you to these acts (or reminding you of them, in some cases), their biggest album to date was definitely The English Riveria, which was listed pretty high of Best Of 2011 album lists.
Clip via Metronomy
BONOBO
This British DJ and producer has released a few albums of his own, with this year’s Migration seeing the highest charting position since his career began. The downtempo, experimental electronica is exactly what you’d expect for the end-of-the-night swaying-sessions.
Clip via Bonobo Official
VITALIC
This French producer puts together electroclash (yes, that’s a thing) with electro-house for something a little more upbeat if you’re looking for a bit of a bop. Maybe his most famous song was used during a shockingly violent scene in the 2012 Dredd, and his fourth studio album Voyager was released earlier this year to critical acclaim.
Clip via vitalicofficial
LAMBCHOP
And now for something completely different. This alternative country band from Tennesse doesn’t really have a core group, with the members coming and going around frontman Kurt Wagner. Their most recent album, 2016’s FLOTUS, was ranked highly as one of the best albums of the year.
Clip via Lambchop
SLEAFORD MODS
Okay. (clears throat) This minimalist, rap-punk, post-punk, electro-punk Nottingham-based duo have released an album a year since they formed in 2007, and are seen as being the kind of middle ground between The Prodigy, The Streets and Blur.
Clip via Wakeymedia3
MYKKI BLANCO
A self-described multi-gendered alternative hip-hop artist, you can be guaranteed something extraordinary from the Mykki Blanco performance. Only one album in, Blanco is already seen as one of the visionaries in the field, managing to take the creativity within rap and putting a brand new spin on it.
Clip via Mykki Blanco
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