Doves [ Live ]
Steve Mason [ Live ]
Field Music [ Live ]
Mike Pickering
Now Wave DJs
Will Tramp!

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Having just released their best of compilation The Places Between, a collection spanning their 12 year career, acclaimed Mancunian trio Doves will be performing a very special homecoming concert at WHP2010. Since appearing on the scene with their 1998 debut EP, containing the epic anthem The Cedar Room,  they have been at the forefront of British guitar music, their powerful, expansive and honest songwriting winning them fans far beyond the city they grew up in. Their first two albums, Lost Souls and The Last Broadcast were both nominated for the Mercury Music award. Fourth album Kingdom of Rust, released last year, was followed with a sellout worldwide tour and headline spots at T in the park, Latitude  and the BBC electric proms.

They will be joined by live appearances from Beta Band alumni Steve Mason, whose excellent recent album with Richard X, Boys Outside, has been receiving rave reviews, as well as Sunderland’s critically acclaimed Field Music. Legendary Hacienda DJ Mike Pickering will be playing a rare set, and he is joined by some of the stars of the next generation of DJs from Manchester; Now Wave and Will Tramp!

 

• Doves [ Live ]
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  • Twin brothers Jez and Andy Williams grew up in Manchester in the 80s, and after meeting Jimi Goodwin at the Hacienda the three formed the dance trio Sub Sub, scoring a top ten hit in 1993 with Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use). They split up in 1996 after their studio, containing the master tapes of their album, burned down in a fire. They returned after a two year hiatus in their new incarnation as Doves, their sound and ethos completely changed. The song The Cedar Room on their debut EP immediately caught the industry and media’s attention, an urgent mix of soaring guitars, pounding percussion and melancholy vocals. They signed to Heavenly, and debut album Lost Souls was met with rapturous praise. Follow up album The Last Broadcast entered the charts at number one, and lead single There Goes The Fear was their biggest hit to date, despite only being released for a limited period of twenty four hours.

    They gained a reputation as one of the countries’ most exciting live acts, supporting the likes of U2, Oasis and Coldplay in front of enormous crowds, and releasing live DVD Where We’re Calling From. Last year’s Kingdom of Rust was another huge success, and was followed this year with a best of compilation, The Places Between.

     
• Steve Mason [ Live ]
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  • Born in St Andrews, Steve Mason was the lead singer and founder of cult Scottish group The Beta Band.  Their famous first three Eps garnered widespread adulation and critical praise for their charismatic and unique blend of folk, electronica, hip hop and dub amongst other diverse influences. During his time in the band Mason began to release his own solo music under the moniker King Biscuit Time, his original vocal style and experimental yet accessible production winning him a cult following, with Radio 1 legend John Peel a strong supporter. After three successful albums but many recording delays and disputes with their label, The Beta Band split up amicably in 2004. Mason started a new project, Black Affair, releasing the album Pleasure Pressure Point in 2008. Currently recording under his own name, he recently released the widely praised album Boys Outside, produced by Richard X, erstwhile electro pop producer of Annie, St Etienne and Kelis.
     
• Field Music [ Live ]
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  • Sunderland’s Field Music, formed by brothers David and Peter Brewis in 2005, have won widespread critical praise and media attention for their mix of accessible vocal harmonies, complex guitar work and post rock ideas mixed with pop structures. Hailed by the NME as one of the best new bands to emerge in Britain in recent years, their eponymous third album released this year marked the end of a three year hiatus the band took to pursue other musical projects, and was named by many critics as their best work to date. Personally chosen by Belle and Sebastian to play at their ATP weekender as well as this year’s Meltdown fesitval curated by Richard Thompson, they toured extensively in the UK and America this year.
     
• Mike Pickering
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  • Born in Accrington, Mancunian legend Mike Pickering became a fan of Northern Soul in his youth, and at the age of 16 met fellow music obsessive Rob Gretton, the pair both going on to work for Factory records later in life. Pickering got a job as one of the resident DJs at the Hacienda during its halcyon period in the 80s, often playing with his DJ partner Graeme Park, and was hugely influential in its musical policy and style after visiting New York’s famous Paradise Garage to play with Larry Levan and becoming inspired by the venue. He signed the Happy Mondays, James and other acts to Factory records in the 80s, his knack for spotting musical talent later earning him a job as head A&R for Sony BMG where he now works with acts such as Calvin Harris, The Ting Tings, The Gossip, Kasabian and many others. In the eighties he formed the experimental punk-funk group Quando Quango, but achieved much wider recognition with his later band M-People, who had huge chart success in the UK and the US throughout the 90s. He has been involved behind the scenes with the Warehouse Project since the very beginning. 
     
• Will Tramp!
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  • In 2004, Will Dunn and a group of friends started their own night Tramp!, bored with the monotony of the Mancunian club scene. Taking place in the bizarre surroundings of the now defunct Bierkeller, with a musical policy of anything goes, they quickly gained a reputation as one of the best parties in Manchester, packing in the crowds week in week out. They bought in guests as diverse as Justice, The Presets, Chromeo, Spank Rock and many more to Manchester, with Will gaining a reputation as one of the most daring, eclectic and passionate DJs in the city. Tramp! bowed out gracefully a few years ago, but Will continues to DJ around Manchester as Bugged Out! and Homelectric resident amongst many other places.
     
• Now Wave DJs
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  • In the short space of two years Manchester’s Now Wave have graduated from putting on up and coming bands at the Deaf Institute to bringing huge international acts such as Flying Lotus, Battles, Doom, The xx, Four Tet and Chris Cunningham to Manchester for some of the most thrilling and groundbreaking shows the city has seen in a long time. Their weekly club night adheres strictly to their motto “give the past a slip”, playing only the best new music from the last two years.