Kanye West,The Chemical Brothers, Rodrigo y Gabriela and more confirmed for The Big Chill Eastnor Castle Deer Park,Herefordshire 4th – 7th August 2011 

The Big Chill is proud to unveil headliners Kanye West and Rodrigo y Gabriela, both UK festival exclusives,and The Chemical Brothers plus more as the first confirmed artists for 2011. Nestled in the idyllic surroundings of Eastnor Castle Deer Park inHerefordshire, The Big Chill celebrates an impressive 17th year from 4th - 7th of August 2011 cementing its position as one of the festival calendar’s true originals.

For 2011 The Big Chill celebrates its rich heritage with new and developed aspects of a much loved summer weekend.Another diverse line-up, spanning countless genres and corners of the globe featuring performances from superstarsand rising stars alike, culminates in a tantalising offering for 2011’s festival.

Crowning the Deer Park Stage on Friday night are The Chemical Brothers, a duo who can easily lay claim to thetitle of dance music royalty. Tracks cited as classics by fans and peers alike such as Hey Boy, Hey Girl, Block Rockin’Beats and Galvanize are a regular fixture in clubs from the UK to Ibiza and beyond. They have proved their amazingabilities as a live act through many performances at Brixton Academy and festivals worldwide. The ChemicalBrothers are bringing their Further Tour to The Big Chill, currently receiving rave reviews for its beats, visuals and lightshow which are blowing away fans and critics across the globe.

Saturday night’s Deer Park Stage headliner will be the boundary pushing hip-hop superstar Kanye West. The multiplatinumrapper and producer has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and has collaborated with a list of artiststhat reads like a true “Who’s Who” of popular music over the past decade including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and Janet Jackson to name but a few. Kanye West’s performance at The Big Chill in 2011 is a UK festival exclusive; fans needlook no further for the only place to catch this interstellar set featuring tracks such as Stronger, Gold Digger and LoveLockdown.

From the bars and pubs of Dublin to five consecutive sell out shows at London’s 10,000 capacity venue, Shepherd’sBush Empire in November, Rodrigo y Gabriela’s rise to success has been meteoric. Despite meeting whilst playingin thrash metal bands the duo are now renowned for their folk and Latin style, played to a virtuoso level on acousticguitars. The pair have scored number one albums both in Ireland and in the US, topping the American Billboard’sWorld Music Charts for 10 weeks, consequently they performed for US President Barack Obama at The WhiteHouse. Rodrigo y Gabriela’s set at The Big Chill is yet another UK festival exclusive continuing the festival’s historyof diverse and globe-spanning programming.

Also appearing on the Deer Park Stage on Friday will be Neneh Cherry, the BRIT Award-winning Buffalo Stancestar’s performance will be her first UK festival appearance since Glastonbury 1997. Critically acclaimed indie bandand Mercury Music Prize nominees Wild Beasts will appear as well as experimental indie from Ariel Pink’s HauntedGraffiti. Alt-rock outfit Electrelane will break their three year hiatus in an exciting return to the stage and Mahala RaïBanda complete Friday’s line-up as confirmed so far with gypsy-inspired Balkan sounds.

Saturday welcomes Soulwax side project and duo famed for their bootlegs and visuals, 2manyDJs, to bring theDeer Park Stage to a triumphant close. Armed with an Olympic standard set of vocal chords Jessie J has stormedthe charts recently with her slick pop tracks now destined to play out for The Big Chill. Currently receiving ravereviews and gracing magazine covers Metronomy bring their quirky electro-indie-pop to the table while JanelleMonáe offers up an energetic performance of futuristic funk-pop sure to electrify the Deer Park. Electronic influencescollide in the form of the Basque-influenced group Crystal Fighters and The Knocks prove their status as one ofthe ‘20 hottest producers in the world right now’ according to NME.

We are joined by a legend on Sunday as Robert Plant and The Band of Joy take to the Deer Park Stage. Namedafter Plant’s first band and also featuring Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, The Band Of Joy’s blend of folk,blues and rock comes with true musical pedigree. Creating ethereal art-rock at The Big Chill will be taste-makerfavourites Warpaint. Of celebrated lineage is Femi Kuti & the Positive Force, eldest son of afrobeat legend FelaKuti and renowned saxophonist, band leader and world music icon brings with him rich international flavours. MBEand The Big Chill regular Norman Jay makes a welcome return in 2011, also performing are British reggae originalsSteel Pulse. The Deer Park’s bounty as confirmed so far is completed by the improvisational About Group featuringAlexis Taylor from Hot Chip.

Headlining The Revellers’ Stage on Friday will be MOBO award winning rapper, Chipmunk who although only 20years of age has scored an impressive five top 10 singles and a number two album with his debut I am Chipmunk.Following Chipmunk’s set is one of London’s most prominent DJs in the grime and dubstep scenes; Plastician. Thesoulful Californian solo artist Aloe Blacc also joins the line-up as well as New York DJ Andy Butler’s glittering discocollective Hercules and Love Affair. Another veteran of The Big Chill joins us in 2011 in the form of reggae and rootslegend Horace Andy, not only has Andy performed several times at the festival but also audiences will know hisvoice well form his several guest appearances on Massive Attack albums. New Zealand’s leading hip-hop soul artist,originally part of all-girl crew Sheelahroc, Ladi6 is making waves now as a solo perfomer and also joins The BigChill’s line-up. Slicing indie with electro and pop Fenech-Soler take to the Revellers’ Stage, as will Cubic Zirconiacompleting the line-up so for Friday.

Saturday at The Revellers’ Stage sees chart-topper Calvin Harris headline with a set of his infectious electropopfeaturing tracks such as number one smash I’m Not Alone. Blending pop with electro and rap Example, otherwiseknown as Elliot Cleave, has also enjoyed much chart success recently with his breakthrough second album Won’t Go Quietly and is sure to get The Big Chill crowd dancing this year. With over 10 million YouTube views for videossuch as their risqué take on Ke$ha’s Tik Tok, comedy/music trio The Midnight Beast appear at The Big Chillalongside fellow Revellers’ Stage performers. Also stepping up to the mic will be Katy B, who has previously tackledvocal duties on tracks by dubstep heavyweights Magnetic Man and since gone on to carve her own path to stardomwith the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Katy On A Mission. Completing Saturday’s line-up so far areleading grime MC Devlin and classical/techno cross over trio The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble who haveassembled an increased ten-piece live band for The Big Chill set.

Bringing some sonic time travel to The Revellers’ Stage on Sunday will be Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kingsreviving the funk and soul sounds of the 60s and 70s, Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro, the DJ, musician andproducer also brings soul and funk sounds to 2011’s line-up. Known as the father of Ethiojazz, Mulatu Astatke andhis backing band for this special show The Black Jesus Experience offer up The Big Chill some internationalflavour. With a BBC Sound of 2011 poll nomination under his belt The Revellers’ Stage welcomes the soulful soloartist and Burial-produced Jamie Woon, and Chase & Status guest vocalist Liam Bailey.

The People’s Ear Stage headliner for Friday will be Californian producer and laptop musician Flying Lotus (Live),similarly electronic will be a set from rising Mancunion DJ xxxy and head of the Hotflush imprint and instrumentaldupstep DJ in his own right Scuba. Leeds-based Afrobeat/jazz nine-piece Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra, multi-talentedTrumpeter Matthew Halsall Remixed, and psychedelic/soul trio The Stepkids will also appear. Further additionscome in the form of Ghostpoet, the MC whose mellow and broody beats are fast becoming a favourite of the tastemakersand New Zealand hip-hop outfit Electric Wire Hustle.

Saturday offers Buraka Som Sistema as a headliner for what will surely be a body-shaking set of their techno beatsand African kuduro sounds. Favourite of both funky and grime scenes producer Lil Silva heads to The Big Chill thisyear as will dubstep band Gentleman’s Dub Club. The People’s Ear Stage also offers the combo performance ofjungle producer Congo Natty and Tenor Fly (full live show) and sultry, soulful sounds from Bonobo-producedsongstress Andreya Triana. Saturday’s line-up as confirmed so far is completed with bass driven jazz and dub fromLeeds-based seven-piece Submotion Orchestra and Afro-futurism courtesy of Spoek Mathambo.

Acclaimed electronic music artist Four Tet tops the bill for Sunday on The People’s Ear Stage joined by rising star ofthe DJ and remixing world Jamie xx. The Big Chill’s final day also boasts original dub, ska and of course reggaefrom East Park Reggae Collective and Lily Allen and Graham Coxon producer Prince Fatty presenting Prince FattySoundsystem.

Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton have produced everything from industrial techno to electro-funk under numerousaliases but it is their ambient and house sounds produced under the moniker Global Communication (DJ set) forwhich they are best known. Along with Luke Vibert, Jimmy Edgar and DJ Food these names are the firstconfirmations for Friday’s Starburst line-up.

Announced for Saturday’s Starburst are performers Kissy Sell Out Symphony of Light, Moda club promoters andup and coming radio DJs Jaymo & Andy George and a set by Craig Charles’ Funk and Soul Show following onfrom 2010’s popular live broadcast on BBC 6 Music from the site. Also featuring on the line-up will be Starz In TheirEyes singer/MC Just Jack (DJ Set) and Future Boogie DJs.

Sunday, aboard Starburst loses no steam with a headliner set from Mr. Scruff, a regular face at The Big Chill, famedfor his marathon length sets and love of tea. Starburst also welcomes Parisian drum ‘n’ bass five-pieceDirtyphonics, the icon of rocksteady DJ Derek and the eclectic Fantastic Mr Fox.

Also at The Big Chill this year…

Big Chill Radio is back, bigger and better than ever before! Big Chill Radio has been the beating heart of The BigChill for over 10 years now, broadcasting great music, interviews, rocking DJs, live sessions, festival information andeven the odd weather report, as well as covertly operating as a secret spot for late-night parties. In a massive stepforward, this year Big Chill Radio will break out of its humble studio into its own fully-developed stage with livesessions during the day and DJs by night. Come down to the new Big Chill Radio Stage and feel the raw power ofFM stereo! You can tune into all the wireless fun 24 hours a day on 87.7FM from the all-new, even earlier starting timeof Wednesday, all the way through to the emotional goodbyes on Monday, and whatever you do - don't forget yourradio!  Radio Stage will be announced soon.

New for 2011 Tom Middleton will programme his own stage, as a performer who has graced the decks at each andevery year of The Big Chill so far and booked debut festival performances from Mylo and Hot Chip, there is no manbetter for this job. New for 2011 will be a stage produced in collaboration with the American Glenn Maxwhose past work has included Meltdown Director and Ether, The White Rabbit Lounge will be anexploration of the sights and sounds known as ‘psychedelic’. Combining live band and DJ sets withprojections and talks from expert speakers, The White Rabbit Lounge will be as much a place for recliningamongst the cushions and bean bags as it is a place to freak out to mind expanding performances. The lineupfor The White Rabbit Lounge is TBA so stay tuned for further updates.

The Big Chill has always involved much more than music, and 2011 will see entertainment such as cabaret, comedy,film and the celebrated Big Chill Arts Trail return. As a destination for those who like to ‘kick back’ the Body & Soularea will increase this year offering more chance than ever before to truly ‘Chill’ through holistic and therapeuticpursuits and a new ambient stage. 2011 will be more family friendly than ever as the first festival-within-a-festivalappears in the form of The Little Chill, with many activities on offer from local groups such as Colwall PrimarySchool’s Friends of Colwall and Ledbury Scout Group. Combining the kids’ area, midnight movies programmedespecially for children to wind down and a little something for the parents too, The Little Chill ensures festival goers ofall ages will be catered for, open to family ticket holders exclusively and linked directly to family camping for ease andenjoyment. With many original audience members and performers from The Big Chill’s past now attending with theirown families Tom Middleton will be hosting DJ Dads, special sessions taking place in The Little Chill for friends andfamily young and old. The parental disc jockeys performing will be announced shortly.

Now a fully fledged member of the Festival Republic family The Big Chill is poised to build further on the successesof 2010, one of its most successful years to date. Last year saw an international line-up of some of the biggest sellingnames in electronic, indie and pop music and 2011 sees another all-star cast taking to The Big Chill stages.

“I am very pleased to unveil the first announcement for The Big Chill, ushering in the festival’s impressive 17th year.Having been at the forefront as a ‘boutique’ event we have put together a programme that reflects The Big Chill’sheritage whilst offering up new and exciting developments for our audiences old and new alike. To be able to offersuch well respected and diverse performances, from our headliners to our international artists and breakthroughnames is a true pleasure and we are thrilled to be able to evolve the musical content of the festival. What’s more, weare very lucky this summer as two of our headline acts are UK festival exclusives which is brilliant. In turn, The BigChill 2011 will welcome the return of some key elements that have defined the festival over its 17 years including amuch enhanced The Big Chill Radio, which will see it having its own stage, and Tom Middleton who, having played atevery Big Chill since the very beginning is more involved in the festival than ever this year curating his own stage. Ofcourse The Big Chill extends to much more than our musical line-up and festival goers will once again be able toenjoy the Art Trail in full and we are extremely pleased to be working with the local community to radically expandaspects such as our family and children’s entertainment through the creation of The Little Chill; a festival within in itsown right. 2011 is a celebration of all that The Big Chill has been throughout its history and a bold step forward towhat will be a very bright future. We look forward to seeing you there.” Melvin Benn, Festival Republic

Tickets available from: 

Gigantic

Ticketline