Gigantic Indie All Dayer Returns For Their Third Volume

Did you see our post yesterday about what you could do this Bank Holiday weekend?
Were your eyes drawn to the Gigantic Indie Vol.3? They should have been, who would want to miss the return of gigantic indie all dayer?

The reputation of this event as the first fixture in the festival calendar is an un-missable event for the connoisseur of indie, the annual music marathon proudly returns to kick-start the season once again.

The festivities won’t be starting until the Saturday 28^th May 2016, there are many amazing acts who will be appearing across the three Academy stages for the Bank Holiday extravaganza.

THE MAIN STAGE  ACADEMY 1

Headliner:

The Wonder Stuff

Speaking about the headline slot, the band’s exuberant frontman Miles Hunt said:

“We are all so very much looking forward to sharing the bill with such an amazing cast of bands. Speaking entirely for myself, I’d pay top dollar to see any one of the bands on this bill. Bring it on, it’s gonna be a killer event!”

Since self-financing their debut EP in 1986, the joyous sounds of A Wonderful Day ensured that an irresistible contract with a major label lay just around the corner for the Midlands bunch. A string of irresistible singles paved the way for their classic debut album The Eight Legged Groove Machine, a record that would take indie kid collections by storm. The fan’s love affair with the band wouldn’t stop there however, as they continued to besiege the charts with three further top 5 albums and thirteen Top 40 smashes. Coupling these formidable feats with gargantuan anthems such as “The Size of A Cow”, “Unbearable”, “Don’t Let Me Don’t Gently”, “Dizzy” and more – The Wonder Stuff have all the hallmarks of a truly Gigantic headliner.

Special Guests: 

The House Of Love

Formed in London in 1986 around the integral song-writing core of singer Guy Chadwick and Terry Bickers, The House of Love’s career and the pair’s relationship burned with a fuse like tenacity, bright and quick. Sparking off each other’s talents, the pair’s tangible and passionate chemistry set them from the pack and debut single ‘Shine On’ immediately left listeners like rabbits in the headlights, a landmark debut and a wealth of unforgettable classic singles followed with “Christine”, “Never”, “Beatles & The Stones” and the stunning “Destroy The Heart”.

After the recent 25 year anniversary provided a perfect opportunity for a glowing re-appraisal of ‘The House of Love’, it seems the record’s place in indie history and its maker’s legacy still remain as relevant as ever. As for 2016, as we invite this seminal act to the Manchester Academy with the classic writing partnership at its core once more, you can prepare to experience something truly unique at next year’s Gigantic Indie All Dayer.

Getting psyched for their 2016 special guest slot, The House Of Love have said:

“We’re all excited to play at the Gigantic Indie All Dayer Vol. 3 in Manchester. It is always a pleasure coming to this fantastic city where the fans are second to none. Looking forward to some Mancunian banter!”

Featuring:

Crossing the Severn for the occasion, former Blonde-movement bombshell Tiffany Ann is sure to “Hit The Ground” running when she leads her faithful Welsh entourage The Darling Buds to charge through their adrenalin laced alt-rock.

Ireland’s go-to janglers par excellence The Frank And Walters will be brightening the Manchester skies once again with sunshine soaked repertoire spanning the 25 years – with “After All”, “This Is Not A Song”, “Happy Busmen” expect nothing else than radiant riffs and chest-swelling sing-a-longs start to finish.

Plus – with only a sporadic reunion shows since their split in 1995, fans will have plenty to chew over at Gigantic 2016 as CUD returns for this year’s bill. Staking their place in the proto-Britpop premiership, Leeds four-piece also scored an early fan in John Peel. An unlikely cover of Hot Chocolate’s  “You Sexy Thing” soon won over his listeners when it placed at #20 in his iconic festive fifty and spring-boarding a career that would see the band go on to release classic singles including ‘Purple Love Balloon’, ‘Magic’, ‘Rich & Strange’, ‘Neurotica’ and many more.

A band whose name has always pre-empted an anarchic live show – S*M*A*S*H – will be rocking up to ruffle a few feathers at Gigantic 2016. Erupting out of Welwyn Garden City with an unholy punk rock racket in the 90s, messrs Borrie, Salv and Hague gained a notorious reputation with likes of feminist anthem “Lady Love Your C*nt”, the raucous “Shame” and the incensed “(I Want to) Kill Somebody”. Batten down the hatches, lock up your daughters, cover your children’s ears – but by no means miss the trio as they tear up Manchester Academy next year.

THE SECOND STAGE – ACADEMY 2

Headliner:

Jesus Jones 

Heralding their return atop our magnificent Second Stage line up, prepare to witness the resurrection of alt-dance saviours JESUS JONES as they headline the Academy 2 stage with their complete, original and unadulterated line up. With sensational time-tested tracks in the cannon including “Real Real Real”, ”International Bright Young Thing” and of course the international super smash “Right Here, Right Now”.

An integral component in the merging of the disparate dance and indie scenes in the late 80s, Jesus Jones offered themselves as the vessel in which to channel an experimental concoction of genres as diverse as house, techno, goth and indie, into one mind-expanding body of sound. Three decades on since their seminal 1989 debut LP ‘Liquidizer’, the band went on to conquer the globe with vast sales notched up on follow-up albums ‘Doubt’ (1991) and ‘Perverse’ (1993). Playing to a devout fanbase across the world, the band continued to tour and release new material regularly up until 2004’s ‘Culture Vulture’ EP. Over a decade later, the band whipped up a social media storm amongst their avid followers as they announced 2016 would see Jesus Jones release not only a brand new EP but also a whole album of brand new material. Having snapped the legendary outfit up quick for their first and (so far) only scheduled live show of this new year, don’t miss out on your chance to hear the new tracks performed first, not to mention alongside an abundance of classic tracks too for the Gigantic Indie All Dayer Volume 3.

Featuring:

Masterminds Bentley Rhythm Ace (BRA) lead the support for Jesus Jones with a sampletastic set over at the second stage. The duo comprising Mike Stokes and Richard Marsh bounded out of Birmingham in 1996 with debut single ‘Bentley’s Gonna Sort You Out’, a head-zoning track of tranquillising sample-led electronica that emerged in the midst of 90s Big Beat and has since come to define the genre.

You’d better strap yourself in for a bumpy ride earlier on the afternoon as Back To The Planet (BTTP) bombard the Academy 2 stage with a set of their tempestuous Anarcho-punk. Establishing themselves a firm footing in the trenches of early 90s politics, the free-thinking collective expressed their views vociferously through animalistic singer Fil Walters and their distinctive sound combining elements of Ska, Reggae, Dub and Punk. No strangers to the festival circuit (the band have previously been invited to play Glastonbury at four consecutive years), expect to be whipped into a frenzy BTTP style as the rallying cries of ‘Teenage Turtles’ and ‘Daydream’ ring out at Gigantic 2016.

As we all know, indie isn’t so much a sound but a spirit, a way of thinking, a state of mind. And in 2016, to prove exactly that, Credit To The Nation will be joining the Gigantic ranks to show that attitude can always be ramped up louder than any guitar. The conscious hip-hop group fronted by Matty Hanson (a.k.a. MC Fusion) set out to rock the establishment with a sound that combined razor sharp sampling with rap that dealt with Brit-centric socio-political issues delivered with fierce left wing perspective. Whilst, the band have always been proud of their hip-hop roots, some of their finest moments have emerged from their keen ability to hear the unheard in the tracks you’ve always known. Prepare to hear Nirvana, Radiohead and more, sampled and transformed by Hanson and the gang during this unmissable 2016 set.

THE THIRD STAGE – CLUB ACADEMY

Headliner:

BMX Bandits

Celebrating 30 years in the game, the BMX Bandits will be riding high as they headline on our Third Stage in Club Academy. With a trove of sixties-inspired jangle-pop up their sleeves, ring leader and chief songwriter Duglas T. Stewart has been steadily making the world a brighter place with their sunny side up indie pop since 1986. Over the years, the band has witnessed an impressive and ever-rotating line up featuring members from the likes of Teenage Fanclub, The Vaselines, Plectrum and Soup Dragons flit in and out of the frame, all of whom have helped the Bandits steadily notch up a series of timeless releases over the years. Reflect, rejoice and reacquaint yourself with their jubilant back catalogue at our third Indie All Dayer as they play out the evening with ‘Serious Drugs’, ‘E102’, ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ and many more.

Featuring:

Extend your gaze to the Academy stage and you might just feel your senses slip into kaleidoscopic realm of The Telescopes. With the ability to transport audiences into a world of swirling dream pop spires and psychedelic sonic tapestries with trip-tastic compositions like “Kick The Wall”, “Celeste”, “Flying” anon – ever could.

Giving further reason for you to camp out at the Academy all day for a full marathon of rock’n’roll hedonism, the prospect of a rare appearance from post-grunge noiseniks BIVOUAC will be more than enough for many. Returning to the Academy to shunt through their first set in 17 years together, expect to hear the very best of their pitch-decimating discography from the Derby trio with tracks from debut LP Tuber and Full Size Boy (1995); this reunion is not to be missed.

 

And last but not by no means least, Jack Adaptor – a self professed “musical whirlwind of style, intention and lifelong bravado” from the electric mind of Paul Frederick, the former frontman of the much loved garage-rockers The Family Cat. Whilst Paul’s palette may be more diverse under his new moniker, there’ll be no doubting his penchant for killer pop song has never gone amiss through this reincarnation.

– MORE FESTIVITIES –

As previous years, from stage to stage, set to set, Gigantic will be enlisting top DJs throughout the day to ensure you have 10 hours or uninterrupted classic indie bliss across 3 stages. 

Helming the steady flow of great tunes throughout the day, 2016 will see Gigantic MCs, Marc & Jason Jones (Indiecation & Planet X, Liverpool) and Andy Woods (Smile / Unknown Pleasures).

And for those looking to turn their Indie All Dayer into an Indie All Nighter, the fun needn’t end!. For Gigantics Official After Show party, Mike Joyce will be seeing out your night with a selection of top tunes into the small hours.

The return of the All Day Real Ale & Cider Festival for the third installment is just a way to make Gigantic Indie All Dayer that better, with street food stands dotted around the site selling a wide variety of snacks and meals, aiming to meet every requirement.

– Ticket Details –

 

Tickets are currently now on sale from the Manchester Academy website + all the usual online ticket retailers.

– Event Times –

Gigantic Indie All Dayer Vol 3… A big, big love
Bank Holiday Sturday 28th May 2016
Manchester Academy
Doors open 1:30pm
Tickets £29.00 Advance SBTF
Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult over 18.

Need more information? Take a look at their Facebook and Twitter

So just to recap, the line up so far:

Main Stage – Manchester Academy

The Wonder Stuff
The House of Love
The Darling Buds
CUD
The Frank And Walters
S*M*A*S*H

Second Stage – Manchester Academy 2

Jesus Jones
Bentley Rhythm Ace
Back To The Planet
Credit To The Nation

Third Stage – Club Academy

BMX Bandits
The Telescopes
Bivouac
Jack Adapter

Official After Show with Special Guest
DJ MIKE JOYCE (THE SMITHS)*
MCs & DJs Marc & Jason Jones (Indiecation & Planet X, Liverpool) /
Andy Woods (Smile / Unknown Pleasures)