Block9 has revealed the line-up for its 16th birthday celebrations at Glastonbury this June.
Amongst the names announced to play across Block9 East and Block9 West next month, there’s Underground Resistance, who are set to perform live, founder of NYC’s Shelter Timmy Regisford, Cakes Da Killa, Analog Soul, The Blessed Madonna and Mood II Swing. Also joining the Block9 festivities is Drag Race star Bimini and The Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears.
This year will also see the London-based creative organisation partner with Notting Hill Carnival again. As part of this, they will have a permanent sound system in Block9 East with sessions from Rough But Sweet, Love TKO and a tribute to the late Jah Shaka on the Saturday.
Elsewhere, Block9’s renowned NYC Downlow and IICON stages make a return. For the former, in addition to a headline set from Timmy Regisford, there will also be Detroit’s Rick Wade, UKG DJ and producer Scott Diaz and NYC Downlow residents The Carry Nation. At The Meat Rack – which is housed at the back of NYC Downlow – Black Artist Database’s Niks has been confirmed to play alongisde Call Super, Dungeon Meat and Gina Breeze.
At IICON, the immersive audiovisual arena is set to welcome Black Obsidian Sound System, amapiano artist Vigro Deep and Four Tet. It’s also where Underground Resistance and Cakes Da Killa will perform. Additionally, each night there will be an a/v intepretation of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for The End of Time.
Outdoor arena Genosys Sound System will see sets from New York twins Analog Soul, Hessle Audio’s Ben UFO, Maricas founder ISAbella and Ukrainian artist Pavel Plastikk with more special guests to be announced.
Speaking on Block9’s 16th outing at Glastonbury, Block9 co-founders Gideon Berger and Stephen Gallagher said: “At Block9, we have always championed underground music, freedom and self-expression, and our 16th birthday feels the perfect occasion to celebrate our ‘coming-of-age’ with our Glastonbury family. In the last few years, our freedoms and our right to protest have come under sustained attack. The creation of new draconian laws means our liberty is being systematically eroded. Block9’s 16th birthday party is a stand against right-wing populism, and a celebration of all things alt!.”
Glastonbury Festival returns to Worthy Farm, Somerset from 21-25 June. This year sees the launch of the Woodsies stage – the area formerly known as the John Peel Stage – with Christine and the Queens set to headline along with performances from former Crack Magazine cover star Caroline Polachek, Warpaint, Rina Sawayama and Hot Chip.
