You might have thought that after the first part of our roundup on "the hottest bands of Sziget festival" we — and the organizers — might have run out of good bands to recommend. Luckily, it ain't so, and to prove it here are some more of our favorites. While the concert schedule is not yet determined as of press time, stay tuned for updates with specific dates and times for the following acts.
The 1975"The 1975 are one of the biggest and shiniest new popbands in the UK, the breakout act of 2013, peddling an unlikely variant of '80s funk-pop cut with 21st-century R&B; a Mancunian all-boy version of Haim, perhaps," wrote The Guardian. Their self-titled debut album (produced by Mike Crossey, who also worked with bands like Arctic Monkeys and the Kooks) sounds like Bloc Party jamming with Phoenix and M83. This special cocktail has made even Muse frontman Matt Bellamy a fan, so it's no surprise that the 1975 has already opened for Muse. If you're interested in the newest and hottest sounds out of Manchester, you shouldn't miss the first Hungarian gig of this all-boy quartet.
KelisIf you feel like you need to spice up your life with even more funk, don't worry, Kelis will also perform at the Island Of Freedom. You might know this name because of hits like
Caught Out There, but she is more than just a solid singer with some memorable songs. She's worked with a wide range of music-industry artists, from Amon Tobin to David Guetta and The Neptunes, and her versatility means that she can always find a new voice and a new audience. This year she released her newest album "Food", produced by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio. According to a recent interview, she is now into vintage funk and soul: think Bill Withers, Roberta Flack or Diana Ross. The ex-wife of American rapper Nas, Kelis is in top form and ready to make you dance!
Crystal FightersCaptivated by Basque folk music and mythology, Crystal Fighters took their name from an unfinished opera. They live in a universe where it’s perpetually sunny, the DJs never get tired and the MDMA is far from wearing off. They've found the perfect place to work on the perfect mix of traditional Spanish music, pop and ultra-catchy dance beats. Like Arcade Fire and Phoenix jamming after a huge pile of drugs while listening to a ukulele band. The unusual instruments (charango, txistu, txalaparta for example) go very well with the luscious synths and the starry-eyed optimism of the lyrics, making them the ultimate festival band. If you don't believe it, you should listen to their album "Cave Rave" from last year — or just check them out at the Sziget Festival!
FinkAltough he started as a breakbeat DJ, Fin Greenall — aka Fink — is more into the style of singer-songwriters like José González, Bob Dylan, Michael Kiwanuka (who will also play at Sziget), and Bibio nowadays, instead of bleeping acid melodies. His songs range from acoustic to guttural rock, and from sour blues to soulful pop. The lyrics are always
deeply personal. It's no surprise that he was the first singer-songwriter ever to be signed by the legendary Ninja Tune label. The tirelessly creative musician will release his long-awaited new album "Hard Believer" next month and we're likely to hear some songs from this album at his first concert in Hungary at Sziget in August.
Black Sun EmpireIf you think the biggest party will be during the Prodigy concert, you might want to listen some Black Sun Empire and re-think things: the trio represents the finest in dark and tech-fueled dancefloor drum and bass.
Milan Heyboer, Micha Heyboer and
René Verdult are making music together since 1997, and even though they are clearly inspired by the legendary labels Virus Recordings and Metalheadz, they always incorporate elements of the newest styles in their songs. Techstep, dubstep, trap, drumstep — they know everything about these styles and they aren't afraid to use their elements. Of course innovation is one thing and ripping up the dance floor is another, but luckily, BSE could also stay bombastic and innovative at the same time. It's no surprise that they share the clubs with acts like Noisia, State Of Mind, D. Kay or Chris.SU.
Mount KimbieIf you like Darkside (if you don't know them, check out the first part of our Sziget article), you'd might like Mount Kimbie too: they fuse bass music, indie rock, R&B and experimental electronica in a way that you've rarely heard before. Their debut album — "Crooks & Lovers" — is one of the essential 'post-dubstep' releases, and last year's follow-up "Made To Stray" (which featured the BBC Sound Of 2013 nominee King Krule in two songs) indicated that the duo of Kai Campos and Dominic Maker is not a one-album wonder. They are currently signed to the legendary label, Warp, which is known for shaping the future of IDM and electro for more than three decades now.
Lily AllenIn 2006 Lily Allen bounced onto the scene like a cartoon bomb painted to look like a beach ball. Her debut "Alright, Still" was equal parts sunshine and snark — a ska-pop album about skeevy pick-up artists, sexually dysfunctional exes and all the sordid stuff going on just below the surface of respectable society. Lily Allen's debut album was what No Doubt would have made in 1995 had Gwen Stefani been a little more jaded and a whole lot funnier, and it made the UK singer a huge star.
Allen's 2009 follow-up, "It's Not Me, It's You" wasn't as buoyant or bold, but the electro-pop edge affirmed her versatility as a songwriter. After the record's release Allen announced plans to take a hiatus and in the years that followed she got married and had two children. Amid all the changes in her personal life a lot has happened in popular culture too, and in the lead-up to her comeback album "Sheezus" (a direct reference to Kanye West's "Yeezus" album) Billboard says fans have been dying to know "what this sly social critic thinks of the world." But we'd like to add that Lily Allen's no ordinary pop star, and despite being MIA for a few years we're glad to see this cheeky and talented songstress return. Check her out at Sziget.
