For Immediate Release
Monday, May 26, 2008
Brit Chart-Toppers Bloc Party to rock Fredericton's Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
(Fredericton, NB) – The headliners keep coming for Fredericton's Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. With blues legend Buddy Guy and "otherworldly" guitarist Derek Trucks already announced, New Brunswick's biggest annual music festival made a huge announcement today with the signing of million-selling British pop-rockers, Bloc Party.
After performing this summer at Chicago’s Lollapalooza and Toronto’s Virgin Festival, the critically acclaimed British band will make their East Canadian debut in Fredericton on Saturday, September 13, 2008. Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 19, 2008. Visit www.harvestjazzandblues.co
"This is another huge score for Fredericton," says the Festival’s Musical Director, Brent Staeben. "Being included on a world tour for a band of this stature is a major coup for an Atlantic Canadian Festival."
Storming onto the scene in 2005 with their debut album Silent Alarm, Bloc Party spent 69 weeks on the UK’s top album charts. The record, which included the singles “Banquet” and “Helicopter”, raced up the charts in 17 countries around the world, was declared Album of the Year by NME Magazine, and went on to sell one million copies worldwide.
Returning with their follow up A Weekend in the City, singer Kele Okereke, guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong teamed up with producer Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol) to create 11 electrifying and staggeringly direct tracks that chronicle post-millennial Britain.
“It's a great endorsement of the unique event that we've created here in Fredericton," says Staeben. "Bloc Party is one of Britain’s hottest music exports right now and we're thrilled to have a stop on their world tour. The huge reception that DJ Champion received here last year cemented our reputation as a great place to perform in front of a very appreciative and enthusiastic audience.”
The UK phenom group is renowned for their amazing live shows and bold indie-techno sound.
Pitchforkmedia.com said, “...within a minute the band’s starting to kick up dust, on its way to be a chorus hook that’s loose, energetic, and honestly thrilling: It’s the kind of craftsmanship that would sound good coming from nearly anyone.”
Blender Magazine said, “At Bloc Party’s best, music and message collide with astounding force.”
Hitting the Afterburner stage at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday night, Bloc Party will thrill the crowd with their dynamic live show, their hottest tracks on the set list and even a preview of songs from their newest album, set to be released through Warner Music in October, 2008. Prior to coming to Canada, Bloc Party will perform at some of the world’s biggest music festivals including Chicago’s Lollapalooza, Germany’s Hohenfelden Festival and the UK’s Reading and Leeds Festivals.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 19 at 8:30 a.m. at Harvest Central, 81 Regent Street; by phone, 1.888.NB BLUES (622.5837); and online, www.harvestjazzandblues.co
For more information on Bloc Party, visit: www.blocparty.com
