The Magic Numbers

Bring your sunhat and dancing shoes: Four is the magic number.

Providing the perfect music for your Friday night at Camper Calling, we welcome The Magic Numbers to the main stage.

Four critically acclaimed albums including huge summer soundtracking hits like Forever Lost, Take A Chance & Love Me Like You, this double sibling, double platinum festival favourites will have you up on your feet immediately. 

With their incredible harmonies, bittersweet melodies and a decade of touring under the belts, The Magic Numbers are the perfect fit to start the the weekend off. 

“Their predilection for a bittersweet nugget surfaced again with a cover of Skeeter Davis’ immaculately tragic The End Of The World, previously used to impress Neil Young on a recent tour, which showcased the tight three-part harmonies of Stodart, his sister Michele and keyboard player Angela Gannon.”

— Fiona Shepherd, The Scotsman

Buffalo Brothers

Lazy Habits

Having toured with the likes of Mos Def and Bonobo and performed at Glastonbury and Bestival, to name but a few, Lazy habits offer up brass-fueled soulful hip-hop stories.

“The best house party your parents never wanted you to have.”

— The Sun

“One of the most exciting acts to come out of London in some time.”

— Mixmag

The London seven-piece describe their sound as “beats, rhymes and brass of the highest calibre”, and it’s easy to hear that confidence ooze from the pores of their self-titled debut album. Their onstage energy is contagious and will stay with you long after they’ve left the stage, and it’s this bombastic energy that has seen their music championed by UK tastemakers such as Huw Stephens, Joss Stone, Ghostpoet and a host of BBC Radio DJs.

It’s hip hop, Jim; But not as we know it…

“They nod to big band jazz, soul and bop while MC Lazy spits classic UK hip-hop patterns dripping with clever rhymes...lyrically, they’re edgy and relevant.”

— Bram E. Gieben, The Skinny

Soley Mourning

“Mat Partridge’s soulful voice, coupled with a funk infused rhythm section, makes for an eclectic record where melody always rules.”

— Classic Rock

Powerful and melodic, Soley Mourning have that quintessential late-80s/early-90s American alt/grunge vibe, yet hail from the UK’s Black Country!

These guys have riffs coming out of their ears, and they pull sounds from the likes of Soundgarden, Rage Against The Machine as well as Led Zeppelin. 

This is a classic rock five-piece destined for greatness.

“Zeppelin-esque intros and heavy bluesy riffs accompanied by melodic vocals.”

— London Chronicle

ABC

A leading light of the New Wave scene of the early-’80s, ABC took the pop baton from the likes of David Bowie and Roxy Music and ran it up the UK top ten.

In 1982, ABC’s debut release, The Lexicon of Love spawned seminal synth-driven hits such as “The Look of Love”, “Poison Arrow”, and “Tears Are Not Enough”: Now founder Martin Fry has unleashed The Lexicon of Love II reaching number 5 in the UK album chart with singles “Viva Love” and “The Flames of Desire”.

With his ageless voice and ear for timeless hooks, Martin Fry will take you on a journey back to 1982 and everywhere in between at Camper Calling 2016.

“This is the sound of an old master falling not far short of a standard that his youthful self set very high indeed.”

— The Guardian

The Hoosiers

Hailing from Bracknell, Berkshire via Indiana, The Hoosiers have been purveyors of some of the finest vintage indie pop for the last decade.

Following the release of their 2007 chart-topping debut album The Trick To Life, which included the massive singles “Goodbye Mr. A” and “Worried About Ray”, their sound has evolved. That bombastic pop has matured into something more electronic and synthetic, but ultimately just as enjoyable.

With influences ranging from The Cure, The Flaming Lips and Giorgio Moroder, you can rest assured that their eclectic earworms will get you on your feet.

Toploader

This Eastbourne band are the perfect fit for Camper Calling with a catalogue of tracks boasting the likes of “Achilles Heel”, “Time Of My Life”, and of course the iconic “Dancing In The Moonlight”. Toploader's live career began playing with the likes of Coldplay and Muse in small venues across the UK. They later went on to back the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi, becoming the last British band to play the original Wembley Stadium.

With a style that echoes The Faces and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road-era Elton John, they shot into the limelight in 2000 with the release of their debut album, Onka’s Big Monka. 

Their keyboard-heavy, soulful sound brings a hazy feel-good vibe to the show, and we can’t wait to see them perform!

UK Foo Fighters Tribute

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It’s been a huge year for the UK’s premier Foo Fighters tribute band, and we’re glad that they’ll be making Camper Calling part of their 2016 story. 

With an expansive back catalogue of the American rock legend’s seminal tracks under their belt, the UK Foo Fighters Tribute will be bringing all the energy and bounce you’d expect from Dave Grohl and the gang!

“It isn’t very often that you see such a wild reaction in a crowd at a tribute band gig, but on this occasion, it was completely justified – the UK Foo Fighters Tribute were already beginning to sound like a close, almost carbon copy of the Foo Fighters themselves.”

— Nicola Claire Allen, The Demon

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“Jay, obviously loving every minute, somehow recreates that famous Grohl swagger without, at any point, losing his own identity as a fantastic performer and showman in his own right.”

— Jacqueline Grima, Humanity Hallows

The Carnabys

Hailing from London, The Carnabys are a frenetic five-piece making a big noise, and some of the biggest names in rock are listening. The band certainly aren’t lacking in confidence after having toured with Bruce Springsteen as winners of Hard Rock Calling 2013, and more recently Blondie!

Channeling the indie of the early-to-mid-2000s, The Carnabys specialise in a raw and energetic brand of songwriting similar to that of The Futureheads, Kings of Leon and The Arctic Monkeys.

What you’ll notice first about their sound is that guitars and vocals are both as strong as each other: Driving, powerful, but ultimately warm and attention-grabbing.

“Their sound is fully grown. Lead singer Jack Mercer‘s young frame hides a deceptively husky voice, perfected for the balls-out garage-rock swagger that their swinging sixties name suggests”

— VH1

“The best support band we’ve had in years.”

— Debbie Harry, Blondie

By the Rivers

Having supported the legendary Madness in 2013, and skirting the boundary between reggae and ska with joyous ease come Leicester’s By the Rivers.

Tight vocal stylings add an accomplished flourish to tracks punctuated by brass to create something infinitely danceable. 

Will and the People

Brighton-born Will Rendle and his band of merry men will delight with their playful reggae-tinged pop offerings influenced by Bob Marley, Mott the Hoople, Elton John and Elbow. The band have also toured with an eclectic mix of artists such as Paolo Nutini, jamie Cullum and Girls Aloud!

2015 saw the release of their third studio album ‘Whistleblower’, and we sure can’t wait to see how they translate these new tracks to the live arena at Camper Calling in 2016.

“Showcasing a variety of sounds and vibes that fuse indie pop with ska and glam rock, Will and the People have traversed a road as wild and unpredictable as their musical output. ”

— Louis Roberts, CultureFly

Jack Blackman

Jack Blackman has been making waves in the UK blues scene for quite some time now, and he is fast developing into one the country’s finest exports of acoustic roots.

Receiving international airplay with his exquisite fingerstyle guitar playing, Jack fuses his trademark classy songwriting with a folk sensibility to summon the ghosts of blues long gone.

“We were absolutely blown away by Jack when he appeared at the Overton festival in May. Many people told us that he was the star of the festival and we had to agree. Rarely have we heard such talent on the guitar from someone so young.”

— BluesInTheNorthWest.com

Dodgy

Regulars of the early/mid-’90s Camden pop scene, along with Britpop superstars Blur, Dodgy came with their infectious and goofy punk-pop likened to early The Who or The Stone Roses.

With seminal works such as “Staying Out For The Summer”, “If You’re Thinking Of Me”, and “Good Enough” on their hitlist, it’s time to travel back to the 90s!

Live performance has always been integral to the Dodgy experience, and it’s this approach that has helped them maintain a cult following for over 25 years. Nigel, Mathew, and Andy are working hard on their new album that we can’t wait to get in our ears later this year!

Hey, if it’s good enough for you…

“Dodgy’s fifth album is a musical reunion worth celebrating…”

— John Harris, The Guardian

Mused

Mused are the UK’s authentic Muse concert experience and come armed with all your favourite Muse tracks in their arsenal, pulling from each of the band’s studio albums.

“Not only do these guys look like Muse, they sound just like them: Totally amazing!”

— Johnny Doom, Kerrang Radio

There’s no denying that Matt Bellamy has one of the most unique and recognisable voices in rock yet, somehow, Carl’s managed to recreate his tone, his swagger, and his musicianship with effortless ease. Team that with a pitch perfect rhythm section of drummer Chris and bassist Stu, you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference onstage.

Wille and the Bandits

Likened to such iconic acts as Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience and hailing from Cornwall, this blues rock three-piece come dripping with classic sensibilities.

Wille and the Bandits bring a tight performance and instrumental virtuosity rarely seen within the live arena with a range of instruments getting stage time, sometimes even in the same song!

Listed as one of the top ten bands to see at Glastonbury 2014 by Radio 1, Wille and the Bandits will be at Camper Calling 2016 with their fresh approach to blues rock.

The Future Dub Project

An apt band name: The Future Dub Project is a hybrid of computing and dub power that creates progressive new music greater than the some of its parts.

Littered with subs and samples, The Future Dub Project effortlessly combine reggae, drum & bass, breakbeat and everything in between to create a truly vibrant live show and the perfect party vibe for Camper Calling 2016.

“They seamlessly blend all the best bits of electronic and reggae music together and have one of the best rhythm sections I’ve ever seen – definitely one of my favourite things happening in the UK live music scene right now.”

— Jonathan Doyle, The Skints

“I witnessed a great performance from a very competent group at Secret Garden Party this year. A dance-floor friendly set building to a frenzy containing every dance style imaginable. A slick performance from a very tight band.”

— Danny Templeman, Submotion Orchestra