Chal Ravens

A what bath? Are we getting wet?Nope! So, there are two distinct concepts here. First, you know about gong baths, right? So we are getting wet.Still nope. A gong bath is also known as a sound bath, and some practitioners like to say it’s a shortcut to meditation. Basically, you lie down on a mat, close your eyes and let your mind drift off as someone plays gongs at you for an hour – and maybe other instruments, like accordions or conch shells. The idea is that you come out feeling refreshed, perhaps even healed, by the tones. The effect might last for several days. Sounds a bit whoo-y, but I like lying down. And… ‘donk’?Donk is a proud musical tradition in north-west towns like Bolton and Wigan. About ten years ago some avant-garde youngsters discovered that if you take the fastest, stupidest happy hardcore, throw in a few MCs rapping in Lancashire accents and add the famous ‘donk’ bass (imagine a drainpipe being hit by a table tennis bat), you get rave magic. Combine the two: donk bath. That sounds like an unholy combination.A fair assessment, yes. We got in touch with some donk bathers ahead of this week’s ritual in Manor House, and it all got a bit weird. There’s a ‘guru’ behind it, apparently, who has come down from Wigan to teach us southern softies. One of his followers told us about the healing properties of donk, explaining that ‘the ultimate goal is to reset the mind to factory settings, so that we may move closer to, and better understand, the Ultimate State of Peac

The twin peaks of Reading and Leeds are still a spiritual home for rock, metal, punk and all manner of black-clad guitar antics, but in recent years the plus-sized festival has been earning a reputation for megawatt rap headliners like Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Post Malone. In 2020, that shift takes centre stage – and this time it’s a UK takeover, with international grime ambassador Stormzy bringing his gospel-tinged street anthems to the August bonanza. With Glastonbury already in his back pocket, the double-headline slot should be no sweat for Croydon’s finest (figuratively, that is – we’re sure there’ll be a LOT of sweat).The irrepressible Liam Gallagher – who outed himself as a headliner back in November – returns to the festival for the umpteenth time to play songs from his two solo albums – plus a few Oasis classics, no doubt. And for the third headliner? Grab your air guitar (or drumsticks or microphone – really, the choice is yours) for Rage Against The Machine, as the LA rap-rockers return to their adoring British public for a spittle-flecked shout-along like no other. Stormzy is just one of a huge cast of UK rappers on the lineup, with AJ Tracey, M Huncho, Aitch, Jay1 and D-Block Europe all flying the flag for a homegrown movement that’s finally getting the shine it deserves. Plus, representing the rap wilds of Northampton, breakout MC Slowthai will bring politically charged bars from his excellent debut album 'Nothing Great About Britain'. A few US imports get a l

Only the strongest survive in the London festival game, and they don’t come much stronger than Field Day, the former east London staple which returns for its thirteenth year on Saturday July 11. A lot has changed in that time. In fact, almost everything has changed. It’s no longer in a field, for a start: the current venue is The Drumsheds, a vast warehouse complex on Tottenham Marshes. It’s not exactly a daytime event, either. With a uniquly late running time of 3am, the space should be perfect for this year’s Field Day danceathon. It’s a far cry from the floppy-haired indie – Foals, Mystery Jets, Battles – that dominated the first festival back in 2007. A laser-toting live show from headliners Bicep had previously been announced, but the scoop is they’ll be joined on the Ninja Tune stage by live performances from Floating Points (bringing selections from his gorgeous new album, ‘Crush’) and lo-fi house star Ross From Friends. Expect more lasers, lights and eye-popping visuals from the other live acts on the bill, including two who’ve been carrying the torch for the wild euphoria of ’90s rave: top-tier junglist Special Request and sibling duo Overmono. Talking of Jungle, there’s a DJ set from the XL-signed indie-dance act, plus appearances from seasoned party host Artwork, tech-house titans Tale Of Us and phenomenally popular house duo Maribou State. We also recommend catching Tottenham-born DJ Josey Rebelle playing hometown hero for the day – she’ll be representing London’

Precious few pop superstars make it to their fifth decade in the spotlight – but when you’re made from metal and circuits it’s not so hard to maintain that youthful visage. Still, Kraftwerk are looking pretty good for their age – especially when seen through 3D glasses – and in 2020 the original robot rockers will celebrate their fiftieth year in music with a headline slot at All Points East on Friday May 29th. Founded in Düsseldorf in 1970, Kraftwerk were the first band to really grasp the potential of newly invented synthesizers and drum machines. In the next decades, the krautrock pioneers had a game-changing effect on pop music: artists like David Bowie, Juan Atkins and Afrika Bambaataa all took inspiration from their man-machine rhythms. Without them there’d be no synthpop, no electro, no hip hop and certainly no techno. Standards have never slipped, either: in recent years, Kraftwerk have toured their mind-melting 3D live show around the world, reanimating tracks like ‘Computer World’, ‘The Robots’ and ‘Autobahn’ for new generations. The complete 3D spectacle will touch down in Victoria Park in May, the band’s only UK show of 2020. The supports announced so far are pretty legendary too, including the equally ageless Iggy Pop, jangly guitar hero Johnny Marr, fiery rocker Anna Calvi, hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash and cult US synthpop crew Chromatics. Sie sieht gut aus! Kraftwerk play All Points East on May 29 2020. Read more about APE's other headline announce so far.