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Click to the next image to see all the British, Scottish and Irish bands performing at the Coachella 2013 festival.
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2010
Taking minimalism to the next level with last year’s second LP, Coexist, London indie pop trio the xx manages to communicate volumes in its elegant, subdued and understatedly sensual tones. We hope their dreamy sounds will translate out in the open desert.
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2003
We're hoping for an eclectic mix of singles and album tracks from the London alt-rockers—from their baggy-ish Leisure era, through the heights of their Britpop heyday, all the way to the moody, textured art-rock of their latter work. Expect even the youngest of festival goers to "woohoo" along to "Song 2," by far the band's most well-known hit stateside.
Download "Song 2" on Amazon Download Blur: The Best Of on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: Nottingham, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
This 19-year-old British newcomer isn’t your average teenager, even if labels like “the new Dylan” (applied by UK's the Guardian) feel like a bit much. Bugg has mastered retro-modern songwriting on his 40-minute self-titled debut LP, which fits in with a long lineage of Brit-rock forefathers, while taking cues from manifestly stateside icons such as Dylan and Robert Johnson.
Download Jake Bugg on Amazon Download Two Fingers EP on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2007, 2008, 2010
If electronic dance music is the new pop, should indie dance-rockers prepare to share the spotlight? Among the trendy synth-rock acts riding the electronic-music wave to the top is Hot Chip. Not that this British group is new to the scene—after five studio albums and nearly a decade of experience, it wouldn’t be unfair to consider them veterans. But Hot Chip’s new and very solid record, In Our Heads, might just lift the group from underground-darling status to electropop ubiquity. The house-heavy disc refines the fashionably disheveled crew’s reflective, synth-driven experiments, resulting in its most ambitious and gratifying effort yet. At once clever and dance-floor-ready, these tracks are poised to become anthems for even the most skeptical scenester festival kids.
Download In Our Heads on Amazon Download One Life Stand on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: Oban, Scotland
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
This pretty British singer-songwriter has been likened to Adele and Sade, and many call her debut album, Devotion, one of the best of 2012. Unfortunately, she may be better known for her illegal sampling of rap legend Big Pun's track "100%," which she has since had to remove from her work. Oops.
Download Devotion on Amazon Download If You're Never Gonna Move EP on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: Manchester, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
One of the pioneering groups of Manchester's popular Madchester movement, this legendary four-piece rock band—vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield, and drummer Alan "Reni" Wren—meshes '60s style, psych/alt guitar pop with an '80s dance beat.
Download The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Legacy Edition) on Amazon Download Second Coming on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: Bangor, Ireland
Previously played Coachella: 2011
Northern Irish indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club is Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird and Sam Halliday (along with a touring drummer, often Benjamin Thompson—the band has never had a permanent percussionist). They make effervescent electropop à la Phoenix and will hit the desert to play tracks off their 2012 album, Beacon.
Download Beacon on Amazon Download Tourist History on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
As he's yet to release a follow-up to 2011's hotly debated debut, 24-year-old Brit James Blake will most likely perform a set of his trademark sparse, dubstep-wobbled falsetto soul, plus—we hope—new material. His recent single "Confidence Boost," with MC Trim, suggests a darker, more aggressive direction.
Download "Retrograde" on Amazon Download James Blake on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2008
The U.K.’s Simian Mobile Disco, the duo of James Ford and James Anthony Shaw, is known as master of the hook-stuffed, full-throttle indie-electro realm, but SMD is equally adept at serving up slabs of streamlined, serious-minded techno as well. The recent Unpatterns album skewed toward the latter, but we'd be surprised if the boys didn't let a bit of pop majesty slip into their Saturday sets.
Download Unpatterns (Amazon MP3 Bonus Version) on Amazon Download Attack Decay Sustain Release on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Career longevity hinges on reinvention, and art school refugee Natasha Khan knows this. As Bat for Lashes, the London songstress was at the top of the dream-pop tide not so long ago, leading a wave of new artists paying belated homage to Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks with shimmering sound washes and wardrobes to match. Bravely forgoing trendy pop machinery, Bat for Lashes shows us she’s still a step ahead of her peers with 2012's The Haunted Man, and hopefully with an impressive live festival show.
Download The Haunted Man on Amazon Download Two Suns on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: Liverpool, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
The Wombats hail from Liverpool, a town that knows a few things about rock & roll—it did, after all, breed Clinic. The trio plays behind its peppy second album, 2011's This Modern Glitch. We hope to hear 2007's "Let's Dance to Joy Division," which makes us want to, you know, dance.
Download The Wombats Proudly Present...This Modern Glitch on Amazon Download A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
This English band from Lambeth, London—comprised of Sam Fryer and Chilli Jesson on vocals and guitar, Pete Mayhew on keyboards and Will Doyle on drums—formed in 2011 as a solid garage rock act with psychedelic influences. They won two NME awards in 2012, for Best New Band and 50 Best Tracks of 2012 (for their single "Best of Friends").
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 1999, 2008
Space rock! Jason Pierce brings his veteran English space-rock outfit, Spiritualized, over from London (not quite the outer reaches of the galaxy, but still) to play from last year's Sweet Heart Sweet Light. They have seven studio albums, but their most popular is probably 1997's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space.
Download Sweet Heart Sweet Light on Amazon Download Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2010
As with many of today’s gifted pop starlets (we’re looking at you, Gaga), La Roux frontwoman Elly Jackson has cultivated an image that seems carefully designed to overshadow her catchy if rather conventional music—in this case: chilly, retro synth-pop. Still, behind the gravity-defying red tresses and androgynous getups is a very human performer with a powerhouse voice.
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
As its deadpan title suggests, Grinderman 2 is the second album from Nick Cave’s latest band, in which the Australian singer, songwriter, actor and novelist is joined by the three hairiest members of his longtime backing troupe, the Bad Seeds. The band's rowdy 2007 debut served notice that years of goth-punk balladeering hadn’t dulled Cave’s flair for raw garage rock; but the most convincing cuts here are the slow, pretty ones. Either way, their festival set promises an awesomely warped experience.
Download Grinderman on Amazon Download Grinderman 2 on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: Leeds, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Riding high on the success of its 2012 debut album, An Awesome Wave, talented Leeds quartet Alt-J brings its gangly, odd and irresistible indie-pop stylings to Indio this April. Crowd favorites will be the quirky "Fitzpleasure" and beautiful "Breezeblocks."
Download An Awesome Wave on Amazon Download "Breezeblocks" on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
London's Maya Jane Coles doesn't have the star power of the many headliners in this fest's lineup. Yet. The talk of the scene, for those bowled over by her heavy-hitting deep tech-house offerings, she's easily one of electronic music's most rapidly ascending stars.
Download DJ-Kicks on Amazon Download Easier to Hide on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: East Ayrshire, Scotland
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Determinedly quirky Scottish alt-rock outfit Biffy Clyro can sound like a hybrid of Weezer and the Foo Fighters with a little folk and new wave thrown in for good measure. As they distance themselves from their original, more dissonant style, we become a little less impressed, but also a little more inclined to keep listening.
Download Only Revolutions on Amazon Download Opposites on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Rising English star Ben Howard brings his dark, jazz-tinged folk to Indio this April. His debut, Every Kingdom—released by Communion, the label founded by Mumford & Sons' Ben Lovett—is rife with nature references, swoonsome acoustic-guitar strums and softly crooned angst.
Download Every Kingdom on Amazon Download The Burgh Island EP on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
This all-female post-punk rock group, formed in 2011, hails from London and brings with it their native land's gritty take on punk rock. These ladies offer up intense performances, for lack of a better word, and their Saturday sets are not to be missed, if you're into that sort of thing.
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: Oxford, England
Previously played Coachella: 2011
The Oxford quintet, who set themselves apart from the Rapture-like, punk-funk cum retro synth-pop pack by flashing an unselfconscious intelligence and bashing out smart, danceable pop tunes, will play to promote their new album Holy Fire. Think math rock mixed with indie, new wave and a hint of kraut.
Download Holy Fire on Amazon Download Total Life Forever on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
The 2 Bears aren't really furry beasts—well, okay, maybe they are a little bit fuzzy. But in reality, they're Joe Goddard from Hot Chip and Ministry of Sound radio-show host Raf Daddy (Raphael Rundell to his ma and pa). They produce 2-step, house and hip hop, and often perform in bear suits (good luck in the desert heat).
Download Be Strong on Amazon Download 2 Bears 1 Love on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2001, 2002, 2006
Before there was Skrillex, there was Paul Oakenfold. The three-time Grammy-nominated artist paved the progressive house dance genre for dozens of DJs after him, from which seemingly endless subgenres of electronic dance music spawned. In addition to playing at some of the most notorious clubs in the world and signing artists like Will Smith and Salt-n-Pepa through his record label, Perfecto, Oakenfold has toured with Madonna and U2, and has done scores for movies such as The Bourne Identity and The Matrix Reloaded.
Download Greatest Hits & Remixes on Amazon Download "Ready, Steady, Go" on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
What a glorious change of fortune. Having been hyped to the hills but with little chart success last year, blue-eyed soul singer Alex Clare moved to Israel and gave up the biz. It was only then that his track "Too Close" was featured on a worldwide Microsoft advert, leading to this renewal of interest in the Diplo and Switch-produced modern soulster (and former paramour of Amy Winehouse).
Download "Too Close" on Amazon Download The Lateness Of The Hour on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: Salford, England
Previously played Coachella: 2005
Here's a rare treat: Seminal English postpunk outfit New Order ventures stateside for its first appearance at Coachella since 2005. Sadly, the group will be performing sans original bassist Peter Hook because of intra-band squabbles—but the opportunity to hear classics like "Bizarre Love Triangle" and "Temptation" nearly makes us forget such unseemly quarreling.
Download Lost Sirens on Amazon Download "Bizarre Love Triangle" on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Prepare thyself for the vocal-led soul, funk and R&B sounds from the Saturday players that formed in LA, but are now based in London. It's been self-described as "live-wired, strait shootin," dirty-mouthed, pelvic-pushing juke music. This, combined with their habit of calling fans "troublemakers," has us hoping their set can live up to the self-induced hype.
Download The Bomb Shelter Sessions (Encore Edition) on Amazon Download "Blues Hand Me Down" on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: Wirral Peninsula, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Andy McCluskey and his Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark celebrate over 30 years in the business of making intelligent synth pop, once again reunited with Humphreys, Holmes and Cooper, who quit in 1989 but rejoined a few years ago. While waiting to shimmy to Pretty in Pink classic "If You Leave," expect to hear tunes from the band's twelfth studio album, English Electric, due to hit the airwaves this April.
Download The Best Of Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark on Amazon Download "If You Leave" on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: Coventry, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
2-Tone Records veterans, pop/ska outfit the Selecter—still fronted by Pauline Black—plough on through their 33rd year. The Coachella first-timers are responsible for ska classics such as "On My Radio," which we just may be lucky enough to hear during their Saturday sets.
Download "On My Radio" on Amazon Download String Theory on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: Montreal, Canada + Glasgow, Scotland
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
The deservingly hyped Scottish-Canadian dance duo—comprised of producer/DJs Hudson Mohawke and Lunice, from Glasgow and Montreal, respectively—brings its bass-heavy party tunes to Coachella. This collab is quickly becoming larger than the sum of its parts, and is backed by Kanye West—so, you know, don't miss it.
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: Bristol, England
Previously played Coachella: 1999, 2001, 2005, 2009
Drum ’n’ bass kingpin Roni Size jets over from his Bristol, U.K. home to spin his impossibly funky rhythms—a confluence of hip hop, funk, soul and house. The godfather of jungle deftly melds his beats with live drums and double bass, which makes for a larger than life sound, especially during live shows. Grab your glow sticks and your brown paper bags, it's rave time.
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
London-based rave-lover Jamie Jones is a man who's rapidly become (both solo and in the duo Hot Natured) one of electronic dance music's biggest stars via a series of stunningly good releases on the Hot Creations label and other name-drop-worthy imprints.
Download fabric 59: Jamie Jones on Amazon Download Tracks From The Crypt on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: Surrey, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
This pair of studio-based producers (brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence) put out a garage/house remix of Jessie Ware's "Running" that basically owned 2012. Ware began playing with them, helping to launch them to success, and now you can see Disclosure take it to the stage this April during their Sunday sets.
Download "Running (Disclosure Remix)" by Jessie Ware on Amazon Download The Face EP on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: Bristol, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Producer and DJ Julio Bashmore made his name in house music in an interesting way—by sequestering himself away from his hometown and bass hotbed of Bristol. Staying on the edge of the scene allowed Bashmore to create a unique take on the genre, which you can hear for yourself during his Sunday sets.
Download "Battle For Middle You (Maurice Donovan Dub)" on Amazon Download "Husk" on Amazon
Sundays April 14 and 21
Origin: Dublin, Ireland
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Irish country-rock crew Little Green Cars, a five-piece outfit signed to Glassnote, will preview tunes from their forthcoming debut, Absolute Zero, out May 13. The LP boasts production from Markus Dravs, who has produced Arcade Fire records, as well as the reigning Grammy Album of the Year, Mumford & Sons' Babel.
Download "The John Wayne" on Amazon Download "Witching Hour" on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
Hugely in-demand producer, remixer and one half of a mildly popular lo-fi duo, Jamie xx is as happy laying down a killer Boiler Room set as he is remixing Radiohead or Gil Scott-Heron, so expect smoky downtempo goodness among bassier endeavors from this English remix artist.
Download We're New Here by Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx on Amazon Download Far Nearer / Beat For - EP on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: Manchester, England
Previously played Coachella: 2003
Veteran guitarist and songwriter Johnny Marr is most well known for his work in the Smiths, Modest Mouse and the Pretenders. The melancholy of the Smiths is apparent, but Marr makes the sound his own—see him perform his signature, jangly guitar solos during his Friday sets.
Download The Messenger on Amazon Download Boomslang on Amazon
Saturdays April 13 and 20
Origin: Glasgow, Scotland
Previously played Coachella: 2006, 2009
This Scottish band, formed in Glasgow in 2002, hit it big with their singles "Take Me Out," "No You Girls" and the quirky "Eleanor Put Your Boots On." They've supposedly been working on a new studio album that may or may not come out later this year, so expect to hear brand new songs from the odd rockers.
Download Franz Ferdinand on Amazon Download "Take Me Out" on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
London's Modestep does electro-dubstep with a live band and recently described its sound as "ridiculous live bass" in an interview with Vibe. For a taste of the mosh-friendly madness before the festival, check out their latest viral video "Sunlight," which features debauched senior citizens on a drugged-out binge.
Download Evolution Theory on Amazon Download "Sunlight" on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2005
One-man, post-rock-electronic-digital-funk machine Four Tet (a.k.a. Kieran Hebden) will play behind his new album, Pink. You may hear something that sounds familiar, as Hebden has performed remixes for a number of artists including Aphex Twin, Beth Orton, Radiohead, Battles and Black Sabbath.
Download Pink on Amazon Download There Is Love In You on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: Cambridge, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
DJ Harvey is the man who helped pioneer the disco edit and has been known as an all-round legendary DJ over several decades. There are few DJs worth their salt today who don't have at least a little love for Harvey, who has effectively been on hiatus for the best part of ten years. Expect cosmic disco, thumping funk-driven house, dancefloor-oriented techno and a whole lot more, all supplied by the deft hands of a master-craftsman.
Download Late Night Sessions V.1: DJ Harvey on Amazon Download Mix Freaks [Japan CD] on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: 2011
Beatboxer extraordinaire and festival favorite Beardyman (Darren Foreman) brings his seemingly physically impossible vocal talents to the stage—the place where his hip hop/drum and bass/electro recreations (done with beat boxing and live looping) work by far the best.
Download Where Does Your Mind Go? on Amazon Download Oh! on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
This UK-based, five piece folk act have released a series of self-released singles since their formation in 2009, and recently dropped their debut album Forge & Flagon in January of this year. Skinny Lister has been playing behind the release all year, starting with a tour in Germany, then joining Flogging Molly on the first half of their annual Green17 tour. Coachella is the first of their many summer festival stops, so take the opportunity to see them while they're still feeling somewhat fresh.
Download Forge & Flagon on Amazon Download "Rollin' Over" on Amazon
Fridays April 12 and 19
Origin: London, England
Previously played Coachella: First-timer
James McCartney—yep, that's Paul and Linda's lone son, reared during Wings' late-’70s heyday—shows off his well-crafted folk-pop. He's a talented songwriter, whose work seems to owe more to moody Lennon ballads than dad's work (although he's the spitting image of dad, meaning that ladies will most certainly swoon more over his music than his looks—sorry Paul).
Download Available Light on Amazon Download The Complete EP Collection on Amazon
Check out talent from across the pond in our list of British, Scottish and Irish bands playing at the Coachella 2013 festival.
 Made in LA |
 Let's hear it for the ladies |
 Blasts from the past |
 New York style |
 Friday |
 Saturday |
 Sunday |
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