Wednesday 28 January 2015

XI. AMPHI FESTIVAL 2015 25. & 26.07.2015 – Cologne | AMPHI EVENTPARK



Dear Amphi Fans,

after all the artists confirmed so far, the time has come to vividly work on diversity again. From Synth-Pop to Goth Rock there´s something in store for every taste. As recently requested, we put a special focus on bands that either haven´t played at Amphi before or haven´t been with us for a long time. We hope you enjoy this little bag of surprises:

COMBICHRIST + THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE THE CREEPSHOW + HENRIC DE LA COUR + FOLK NOIR EUZEN + SONJA KRAUSHOFER + ÆON SABLE + CHRISTIAN VON ASTER

It was almost 12 years ago when Andy LaPlegua, at that time already successful with Icon of Coil, returned to the path of heavy electronic music with COMBICHRIST and opened Pandora´s box, which devoured and reassembled him into iconic figure of the harsh industrial-electro scene, we came to adore so much. Hardened on the anvil of life, forged by the hammer of time, name COMBICHRIST represents its own archetype of heavy-electro, combined with an outburst of industrial-rock and hardcore elements, as recently featured on the lastest album „We love you“.

THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE are back! And how! The Canadians not only financed their new album „Superstition“ through a crowdfunding campaign, they also created a synth-rock gem, whose irresistible „drive“ is a loveletter to the 80s. It was in 2009 when leading lady Chibi and her boys took over the Amphi Festival last time. So we´re extremely happy to see them returning to the all-new Amphi for their single European festival show this summer!

As we´re with Canadian bands, why not stay for a while? With an extra-load of Rock & Roll pumping through their veins THE CREEPSHOW charged along the fast lane at breakneck speed since 2005 and settled themselves in the front row of the most popular psychobilly bands worldwide. Headlining our second open air stage, Kenda, Sick Boy and their crew will drive you into a neat little tangle-jam on Saturday evening, as THE CREEPSHOW are a live-phenomenon that knows how to kick-ass - 110%!

With HENRIC DE LA COUR we welcome another northern light. Previously known as the voice of „Yvonne“ and „Strip Music“, the charismatic Swede started a solo carreer in 2011 and constantly expands his growing fanbase with sounds and melodies that could be described best as an abysmal profession of love to the pop- & wave-culture of the 80s. Having started his musical carreer in 1993, HENRIC DE LA COUR counts to the most fascinating personalities of the swedish music scene, who inspired director Jacob Frössén to shoot a documentary about him, which got released in October 2014.

Further new in the line-up are FOLK NOIR, a.k.a. Oliver s. Tyr and Stephan Groth of Faun. Together with the enchanting exceptional voice of Livy Pear and Alexander Schulz on drums, FOLK NOIR manage to clang their folk sounds with enthralling force and intensity. Mumford & Sons meet hurdy-gurdy and lute, carrying the shady atmosphere of a Tim Burton movie onto the stages of the 21st century while the „Man In Black“ watches from above.

And the next Amphi-Premiere follows right away. This time for EUZEN. Fronted by their charming vocalist Maria Franz, the band from Copenhagen captivates the audience with a unique mixture of progressive electro-pop and nordic-folk elements. Formed in 2008, the Danes are already about to release their third album by the title „Metamorph“ in early 2015. If you look for unconventional sounds, don´t miss this very fine scandinavian band.

Impressive stage presence and multi-faceted musical activities are the specialty of SONJA KRAUSHOFER. Whether in the electronic way as part of LAI, neo-classical with Persephone or as the rock-lady in Coma Divine, the powerful-voiced Austrian pushes the limits. When, back in 2013, we asked her to perform in a short guest appearance at the ship-event „Call The Ship To Night“ last year, she was immediately passionate about the idea. The guests aboard the ship enjoyed a marvellous but way too short concert with acoustic variations and unreleased songs from the career of one of the best voices of the dark scene. So when the opportunity arose, we did not hesitate to invite SONJA KRAUSHOFER for an exclusive „da capo“ at Amphi 2015.

With ÆON SABLE yet another band gives its Amphi debut this year. Deduced from the names of their creative minds Din-Tah Aeon and Nino Sable, formed in 2010, the band from Essen, Germany earned a veritable reputation as psychedelic postgoth-rockers. On their latest album „Visionærs“ they impressed once more with atmospheric songs as legitimate heirs of „the great old ones“!

Last but not least a good friend of our house announced to stop by again: author CHRISTIAN VON ASTER. As some of you might have heard he´s also the creator of the famous tagline „all is Amphi“ („Alles wird Amphi“), he can´t afford to miss the natal hour of the new venue, reading some of his delightful stories.

FESTIVAL TICKETS

Original weekend tickets, day tickets, combined tickets with the E-tropolis Festival and the limited premium boxes are exclusively available online for worldwide shipping at the Amphi ticket shop: www.amphi-shop.de .

Alternatively tickets are available at CTS/EVENTIM and the associated local box offices in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands:

Germany: www.eventim.de Austria: www.oeticket.com Switzerland: www.ticketcorner.ch Netherlands: www.eventim.nl + all associated box-offices

For further information about Amphi Festival check out our homepage at www.amphi-festival.de or Facebook at www.facebook.com/amphifestival .

SET IT OFF AND AGAINST THE CURRENT RELEASE COVER OF 'UPTOWN FUNK'



Against The Current have featured 2 members of Set It Off in their latest cover, 'Uptown Funk'! If you haven't already, check it out here:



Set It Off are about to hit the UK for a run of dates with Crown The Empire. Full dates below.

SET IT OFF (supporting Crown The Empire)

FEB 05 - London, Electric Ballroom FEB 06 - Manchester, Club Academy FEB 07 - Glasgow, Garage FEB 08 - Leeds, University FEB 10 - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms FEB 11 - Norwich. Waterfront FEB 12 - Birmingham, Asylum FEB 13 - Southampton, Mo Club FEB 14 - Bristol, Fleece

Fields Of The Nephilim playing at Eurorock 2015



We are pleased to announce that Fields of the Nephilim, the gothic rock band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England in 1984, will be playing the festival in May. Since the band has been in the studio in 2014 to record new material, it's pretty sure you'll be able hearing fresh songs together with their hits that have influenced a whole generation of musicians.

The 3-day festival Eurorock takes place in Neerpelt, Belgium on May 14-15-16 2015.

Other bands playing include Front 242 – The Orb – ASP – Oomph! – Apoptygma Berzerk – Kant Kino – The Bellwether Syndicate – Stahlzeit – Vive La Fête – Diary of Dreams – Whispers in the shadow – Legend – Peter Hook (Celebration of Joy Division) – Tanzwut – Suicide Commando – XMH -Alien Vampires – Star Industry – Lovelorn Dolls – The Juggernauts – Lescure 13 – Stin Scatzor – Arbeid Adelt – Absolute Body Control – Crematory – Lacrimas Profundere – Asrai – Stoneman – Customs – The Crüxshadows – The Dallas Project – Monica Jeffries – The Neon Judgement with more to be announced.

There will also be a Stubru party ‘Was het nu 80,90,2000′ and a Depeche mode Party.

RANGER - UK album release show confirmed for March 19th



‘Skull-splitting metal’ merchants RANGER will release their Spinefarm debut, Where Evil Dwells, on March 16th. True to old school form, the album is an analogue recording, featuring the sound of melting Marshall amps.

Where Evil Dwells will be out on CD, LP, cassette & digital.

To celebrate the release of Where Evil Dwells, the band will play their first ever UK headline show at The Boston Music Room, London, on March 19th. Support for this one-off event to be announced shortly.

Check out ‘Defcon 1’ here:



Just voted among the most interesting new generation metal bands in Finland, Helsinki's RANGERwill melt your face. Overloading all senses with a relentless onslaught of turbo-charged heavy/speed metal, RANGER'S torrid riffs, twin-guitar assault, intense rapid-fire drumming, pummelling bass attack and banshee-like vocal delivery thrashes you into oblivion.

We're talking heavy metal here, the sort that transcends generations: organic, authentic, classic and, frankly, crazy as a fucking shithouse rat. Contagious. Unstoppable.



Where Evil Dwells track-list:

01. Defcon 1 02. Deadly Feast 03. Phantom Soldier 04. Dead Zone 05. Black Circle (S.Y.L.S.) 06. Where Evil Dwells 07. Storm Of Power