Hercules and Love Affair and Ty live both now confirmed!

* Two huge new live announcements from The Garden Festival – Hercules and Love Affair and Ty both confirmed
* MasterMan also added to the billing with live deep house
* Many Argonaughty boat parties and Barbarellas Discotheque parties are selling quickly and some have now sold out – get your tickets asap!
* Wizz Air still have cheap flights from Luton-Split at http://wizzair.com/ Other options include Ryanair and Easyjet from several UK airports
* Soul legend Terry Callier sadly now not playing due to ill health
* There are now less than 5 weeks until the Double Whammy begins, taking place from Fri 2nd-Sun 11th July! For all new updates, go to www.thegardenfestival.eu

It’s just been announced from the Garden Festival HQ that the scene-stealers of disco-pop and house invention, Hercules and Love Affair, and one of the most revolutionary rappers in the UK, Ty, have both been confirmed for scintillating live sets on the sun-kissed site in the Adriatic this summer.

The New York-based collective have electrified the world since their eponymously titled first album on the DFA label which led to live gigs and DJ sets in some of the leading venues, clubs and underground environments around and a glowing, rapturous response from music scribes, bloggers and admirers inspired by their new sound. Lovingly crafted with many references, ideas and soundscapes inspired from the past created something entirely new, and the album sent the band into the spotlight of the limelight. Helmed by a restless imagination and joyful love from front-man Andrew Butler in a paean to the scenes he treasures, HaLA fuse eighties house and disco to melancholy sojourns and upbeat dance numbers, enriched with the exquisite nature of Butler’s vocals and the on-stage allure of Nomi. A second album is due out later in 2010 from this pioneering band who will be electrifying the Garden Festival in July.

Nick Colgan, one of the founders of the Garden Festival, explains that, “We think this is the last place in the jigsaw for this year and are all incredibly happy to have a band of this stature over in Petrcane. The live stage on the site is really made for them – their first album was a real joy and that is part of the sound we love, some really good disco and house to dance the night away to. Then we have got Ty, a UK rapper and artist of huge acclaim and someone we really feel will bring something new to the festival. ”

So the second new announcement is something of a freshly inspired departure for The Garden Festival, helping to further embody 2010’s lineup as the most forward-thinking yet. As one of the most revolutionary rappers on the British hip-hop scene, Ty embodies the intellect, talent and ferocity of an MC always destined to become a legend. Over the last decade, the Mercury Prize nominee has achieved the rare feat of establishing a legacy through his three albums and wise persona, strengthened by his amazing worldwide shows and countless appearances alongside luminaries such as De La Soul, Tony Allen and Pee Wee
Ellis. Musically, he’s also worked with Estelle, Scratch Perverts, Talib Kweli, Black Twang, Arrested Development, Bahamadia and Zion I, both in front and behind the mixing desk, further proof of his relentless artistry and his evolution from roguish wordsmith from South London to an internationally-acclaimed hip-hop connoisseur. His fourth album, released in 2010, features Erik Rico, Roses Gabor, rapper Sway, Carroll Thompson, Terri Walker, Soweto Kinch and
Basement Jaxx songstress Vula amongst others.

Finally there’s another live act who are freshly forged from the fires of the UK house scene only this year. MasterMan are a live deep house act combining the vocal talents of Schmoov! co-founder and smooth synth funkster Andre Bonsor with the soulful voice of seasoned vocalist and frontman Andre Espeut. The two met at renowned London party Soulfulbeats where they performed live for the first time and the result is a fizzing musical chemistry that has seen the pair writing prolifically ever since. They also include live percussion from Gareth Bailey, formerly a session musician with Bad Manners, Bent, Secret Stealth, Babyhead, Neon heights, Mark Rae, Yes King, Waxploitation, Schmoov!, Christina Aguilara, Mylo, Six by Seven, Crazy P, Max Sedgley, Faithless and Orbital to name a few! Masterman’s productions lay bittersweet chord progressions and laidback lyrics over irresistible deep house grooves to create a sound that is fresh and soulful, perfect for the summer time sun-kissed Garden Festival vibes.

Please note Hercules and Love Affair are replacing Terry Callier, who sadly has had to pull out of performing at the Garden Festival due to health issues, and all of our best wishes are with him for a speedy recovery. We hope is able to play next year for us. Please also note Daddy G and Floating Points are also now not playing.

More info on The Garden Festival.