Dot To Dot Festival have announced the second wave of artists joining the bill for 2023, with over 45 new names added. The latest release of acts from the metropolitan festival showcasing the hottest emerging talent includes the likes of THE MURDER CAPITAL, GROVE, 86TV’S, FAT DOG, and HAMISH HAWK. They are set to join already announced headliners YARD ACT and ALVVAYS, along with many more in Nottingham and Bristol this May bank holiday for a day of unearthing new talent.
Dublin-based post-punk group THE MURDER CAPITAL are amongst those announced for the second wave, set to take to the stages at Dot To Dot on the 27th and 28th May respectively, following their return at the end of July with “Only Good Things”, their first new material since 2019, the Irish band recently released their anticipated second album Gigi’s Recovery. They also made their live return last year performing at the likes of Primavera Sound, VYV Festival and Solidays, as well as opening for Pearl Jam at British Summer Time, following their biggest sell out headline show to date at London’s Electric Ballroom.
Melding together elements of punk-infused dancehall, jungle, bass and pop, Bristol-based producer, vocalist and DJ GROVE is also set to bring a constantly morphing sound to Dot To Dot 2023. Grove’s noise concoctions come from the ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ energies that reside within, filtering them through a sensuous & rave-centric lens, with lyrics inspired by political angst and queer euphoria. Also, formed of brothers Will, Hugo and Felix White (The Maccabees) and Jamie Morrison (Stereophonics, Noisettes), 86TVs are set to perform at the festival in May. After The Maccabees played their final shows at Alexandra Palace in 2016, the brothers begun to regularly meet at their studio in South London. Over the years since, the group have been writing and rehearsing music, privately evolving a collection of music, which they will be taking to Nottingham and Bristol’s stages on the May bank holiday weekend.
Rock and Roll band formed in lockdown, FAT DOG join this year’s line up, alongside BBC Radio 6 Music’s firm favourite, Edinburgh singer-songwriter HAMISH HAWK. And having already received support from the likes of Holly Humberstone and Thomas Headon, NIEVE ELLA is set to bring her raw talent and powerful lyrical stories to Dot To Dot, alongside issues based music collective BENEFITS.
Previously announced headliners YARD ACT are set to continue the festival’s rich tradition of showcasing the most exciting up and coming talent with the news that they will headline. After performing on smaller stages at D2D 2021, the minimalist post-punk four-piece are currently skyrocketing with the success of their Mercury Award nominated debut album The Overload. FINN FOXELL and KOFI STONE are also amongst those returning to the festival, rising on the line up.
Joining Yard Act for D2D’s 2023 edition are Toronto-based headliners ALVVAYS. Combining indie pop with infectious, sugary melodies and melancholy noise rock, the band first made a splash with their awkwardly pretty single Archie, Marry Me, which featured on their assured self-titled debut. Their 2022 album Blue Rev receiving rave reviews from the likes of NME, The New York Times and more, along with being selected as Pitchfork’s Best New Album.
Other artists named in the second wave of artists are: Singer songwriter and producer ALFIE NEALE, and ANTONY SZMIEREK who will bring his absurdist everyday-isms, flashing-light feelings and late-night philosophies. Queer alt-rock gal pal duo ARXX are set to play and BLOOD WIZARD bring their brand of ‘Wonky Folk’. An honest, unapologetic singer-songwriter who is not afraid to bare his sole, CAP CARTER heads to D2D 2023, and CHARLOTTE PLANK brings her collision of indie-pop, garage and drum & bass. Indie singer-songwriter CHILDE joins the line up too, and taking inspiration from The Clash, Parquet Courts and The Fall, are Nottingham post-punk band CUCAMARAS.
Also joining the bill is: Twin sibling musical project CLOTH, indie pop band DELIGHTS and Zimbabwe born, Hull UK raised musician DOWNTOWN KAYOTO. Combining smooth R&B vocals with vibrant beats and soulful chords, FEMI TAHIRU is amongst the new wave, alongside indie rock band FLASHER and four-piece garage rock outfit GIRL AND GIRL. All girl trio channelling the likes of Wet Leg, Blue Moon and Los Bitchos, GIRLBAND are set to play, and producer & saxophonist Pete Cunningham’s ISHMAEL ENSEMBLE will be making an appearance at the festival for a DJ Set in Bristol only on 27th May. Multi-hyphenate artist JEMIMA COULTER also joins the line up, alongside Nottingham singer-songwriter JERUB, and JORDS will bring his smooth hybrid of hip-hop, R&B and poetry.
Further artists taking to the stage at Dot To Dot 2023 will be: Singer-songwriter JORDY, and writing relatable and sweet/sour songs that speak to her generation, 21 singer-songwriter KAYLA GRACE. Brixton based trio KID APOLLO will perform, as well as politically outspoken Irish Avant Garde punk producer MERYL STREEK and Nottingham woozy surf pop sextet MIDNIGHT RODEO. Straight from DORK’s 2023 ‘Hype List’, alt-pop indie queen MOLLIE CODDLED joins the second wave, alongside Lewisham rapper NAMANI and experimental hip-hop and electronica collective NUKULUK. Colchester punk rock band PET NEEDS and 20-year-old Bognor Regis musician and producer PINKPIRATE are announced too, alongside hazy and ethereal quartet SHE’S IN PARTIES and indie-rockers SLANEY BAY.
And making up the rest of the huge second line up announcement are: described as Harry Styles for 6 Music dads SPIELMANN, London based duo STRABE and employing the use of paintings, set design, soundscapes, costumes, and short films in their live performance TAPIR! A masterful composer of indie folk pop tracks TAY OSKEE will take to the stage and described as ‘atmospheric genius’, duo TEETH MACHINE will perform. Featured as a vocalist on Fred again… track ‘Hannah (the sun)’, TERRA KIN joins this year’s line up, and tinyumbrellas bring their own brand of daydream indie pop. Gritty pop producer and vocalist TLYA X AN and 3-piece Louisville band WOMBO complete the 2023 second wave.
These recent additions enhance the exciting first wave of ‘spotlight artists’ released at the end of 2022, with first and second tier tickets for the festival now sold out, and tickets on their final tier. Acting as a showcase for the hottest up and coming talent is the core mission of Dot To Dot year on year, and festival booker Joshua Ward said “We’re thrilled to be announcing this second wave of artists joining the bill for 2023, making us now set to bring a hugely diverse range of talent to the venues in Bristol and Nottingham in May, with even more still to be announced. As always, this line up truly represents the next generation of upcoming music and is a chance for attendees to discover some of the most exciting artists to be coming out of 2023.”
The full line up so far is: Yard Act, Alvvays, The Murder Capital, Finn Foxell, Kofi Stone, Cryalot, BEKA, High Vis, Grove, 86TV’s, Fat Dog, yunè pinku, Opus Kink, Hamish Hawk, Alfie Neale, Antony Szmierek, ARXX, Benefits, Blood Wizard, Cap Carter, Cathy Jain, Charlotte Plank, Childe, Cloth, Cucamaras, Delights, Downtown Kayoto, Divorce, Femi Tahiru, Flasher, Girlband, Girl and Girl, Heartworms, Ishmael Ensemble (DJ Set, Bristol only), Jemima Coulter, Jerub, Jords, Jordy, Kayla Grace, Kid Apollo, Meryl Streek, Mickey Callisto, Midnight Rodeo, Mollie Coddled, Namani, Nell Mescal, Nieve Ella, Nix Northwest, Nukuluk, Personal Trainer, Pet Needs, PinkPirate, She’s In Parties, Spielmann, Slaney Bay, Strabe, Tapir!, Tay Oskee, Teeth Machine, Terra Kin, tinyumbrellas, Tlya X An, Wombo, Yot Club and more still to be announced.
With first and second tier tickets now sold out, remaining tickets for Dot To Dot are priced from £30 and available now through alt. tickets: www.alttickets.com
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