Popfests in 2011!

Hello, it’s been a while! As we at Indietracks HQ sift through the hundreds of band applications that have already flooded in for the 2011 festival, we find ourselves getting a bit impatient for some pop action and a chance to get together with our friends from all over the world. But we can’t wait until July – it’s aaages away!

Thankfully we don’t have to wait that long at all, because next month brings the first of 2011’s Popfests! These festivals happen all over the world and it seems like more spring up every year – last year saw the very first Copenhagen Popfest, and this year the Madrid Popfest will be making its debut. These events are lovingly organised by friends and indiepop fans, many of whom we have come to know well through our own festival, and some of whom are even involved in Indietracks themselves. If you’ve never been, we can’t recommend enough that you do! Below are the details we have so far:

London Popfest, 24 – 27 February

Thursday @ Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush
The Pooh Sticks, Tender Trap, The Understudies + 1 more tba

Friday @ Brixton Windmill, Brixton
The Andersen Tapes, Sourpatch, Town Bike, The X-ing School

Saturday @ 100 Club, Oxford Street (now sold out)
Bearsuit, Evans The Death, Eux Autres, The Felt Tips, Help Stamp Out Loneliness, The History of Apple Pie, Humousexual, The Monochrome Set

Sunday @ The Lexington, Islington
14 Iced Bears, The Notes, Youngfuck + 1 more tba

Tickets are selling FAST for this, so be quick! You can find out about tickets, schedules, news and loads more at www.londonpopfest.com

Madrid Popfest, 11 – 12 March

Bands confirmed so far are Tender Trap, Cola Jet Set, The Blanche Hudson Weekend, Papa Topo, Aias, Zipper, and Horowitz.

Visit the website for tickets, and to sign up for news and updates! www.madridpopfest.com

Other Popfests!

Rome Popfest is usually in March, but no details have been released for this year’s event as yet. You can visit the website for updates!

Last April’s Copenhagen Popfest was somewhat hampered by pesky volcano action, but people were so determined to get there that they travelled for days on whichever mode of transport they could find still operating! Sadly we were among those stranded due to cancelled flights (we ate a lot of cake that weekend to console ourselves), but received glowing reports from those who had made it. Let’s hope they announce a 2011 version soon – keep up to date here.

Next up is New York Popfest, which is taking place in May. We’ve been hearing the first whispers about this in the last couple of days, and although the website isn’t operating at the mo there is a Facebook group which you can follow. We’ll be there, so come and say hello!

Also in May, the San Francisco Popfest have not yet released details of this year’s event, but having visited ourselves in 2009 we can guarantee it’s worth going! Visit their website to get the news as it happens.

If you still haven't had enough pop after Indietracks in July, then head to Athens (US) Popfest which takes place in August! Visit their website to read about last year's event, download the excellent free compilation of bands who played, and get the 2011 details as they're announced!

Finally, New England Popfest takes place in November. It’s a bit early for details of the 2011 version just yet, but you can visit their website or join them on Facebook to get the first details.

So there you go – the pop never stops!

Band submissions for Indietracks now open!

Applications are now open for bands interested in playing at Indietracks next year. To apply, please send your email address, a short biography and a link to your music to indietracksbands@gmail.com We prefer to receive links rather than mp3s where possible.

The deadline for applications is midnight on February 13, 2011. Thanks to everyone who has applied so far - we're now looking at your emails and we'll respond to successful applicants after the submission deadline has closed. Best of luck!

Next year's Indietracks takes place on July 29-31. For further information about the festival, visit http://www.indietracks.co.uk/

Midland Railway in the snow

Hopefully the recent snow has had you feeling all excited and festive! Of course, it's made running a steam railway an interesting challenge, as these photos demonstrate. They were taken on 1 December, at the height of the snow, so it's possibly all melted by now. Still, it all looks very Christmassy! 

The railway has sent us a quick update following the recent appeal we held to help finish the Swanwick station building. Work is continuing at the station, with some more internal work done to the station office and wood panelling put up around the booking hall. The railway have told us it looks great, so we can't wait to see it next year! They're hoping to be able use the booking office as part office/part shop in the spring, which will be a great addition to the part of the site where we hold the festival.

If you've come along to Indietracks over the last few years, you'll have seen this station building growing gradually, and it'll be fantastic when it's finished. Thanks again for your contributions!

Have a great Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you next year!

xxx

UK Festival Awards:

 (Photo: matteb83)

7/10/10 - UPDATE:  Sadly Indietracks didn't reach the shortlists for the UK Festival Awards, but a big "thank" you anyway to everyone who voted!

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Thanks once again for your amazing generosity in donating to our appeal for the Midland Railway centre. If you haven't seen it already, you raised nearly £2,000 which will help the charity finish the station building at Swanwick.

We're just posting to ask you for another favour, which doesn't involve donations this time, but instead just a minute of your internet time. Indietracks has once again been nominated in the UK Festival awards, and it would be fantastic if you would like to vote for the festival again this year.

Indietracks has been nominated in the following categories:
* Best small festival
* Best grassroots festival
* Best family festival
* Best toilets

To vote, you just need to visit http://www.festivalawards.com/, fill in the quick sign-up form and tick the boxes. It literally just takes two minutes and is dead easy. Voting stays open until 6 October.

Thanks to everyone's votes, Indietracks has been shortlisted as best small festival for the last two years. La Casa Azul even won an award last year for their Indietracks 2009 headline slot, seeing off competition from the likes of The Prodigy, ZZ Top and The Specials.

We think getting nominated or winning can help the festival in a few ways: it's a cost-free way to help new people find out about the festival; and it's a useful thing for us to be able to say to potential bands, the local council, the Midland Railway trustees etc. to help show that the festival is a good thing.

Hope you can help!

Thank you!

(Photo: camano10)

We'd like to say a massive 'thank you' to everyone who contributed to our recent appeal to help the Midland Railway Centre!

You raised an amazing £1,942.92 (including Gift Aid) for the charity, which will really help them finish the Swanwick station building.

The appeal is now closed. However, if you missed out and would like to help the railway, you can make a general donation on the Midland Railway Charity Giving page.

Or for just £16 a year you can become a member of the Midland Railway. Members are able to travel on Midland Railway Centre trains at reduced fares and can become involved in the development of the Centre. They also receive a regular magazine, `The Wyvern'.

Thanks so much again for your help! It's brilliant that the railway supports this festival and we're delighted that you've been able to help them out in such a generous way.

xxx

Last chance to help our Midland Railway appeal!

(Photo: Dave W Clarke)

There's just three days left to help our charity appeal to raise money to finish the Swanwick station building at the Indietracks festival site. The appeal finishes on Friday 10 September.

We'd like to say a massive thanks so much to everyone who's contributed so far. The appeal has raised well over £1,300 for the Midland Railway charity. If you haven't had a chance to contribute yet, it would be fantastic if you could help us push the total a bit higher before Friday.

We've launched this appeal to help the charity finish their Swanwick station building (pictured here). If you came along to the festival in 2007 you'll have seen the foundations were already laid for the station building (pictured above). Four years later, it's progressing gradually, and the shell of the station is virtually complete. We'd love to help them finish it completely!

If you'd like to contribute something, please visit www.charitygiving.co.uk/indietracks2010 by Friday 10 September.

Thanks again to everyone who's contributed!!

xxx

Radio Nowhere at Indietracks!

Those lovely folks over at Radio Nowhere have now put up their special Indietracks edition of the Christopher Laird show. Featuring interviews with and music from the likes of The Primitives, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Slow Club, Eddie Argos, Allo Darlin' and Slow Club, the show provides a fantastic round-up of the festival and has made us go a bit misty-eyed and nostalgic all over again.

You can download the show as a free MP3 from Radio Nowhere's website (August 9 show) or from iTunes.

As well as reading Indietracks reviews over the past few weeks, we've also been busy fundraising to help complete the new Swanwick station building at the festival site. The Midland Railway have been building the station gradually since 2007, and while it's nearly complete they still need a bit more money to finish the internal and external building. So far, the campaign has already raised over £1,200! We've been absolutely staggered by your generosity and want to say a massive "thank you" to everyone who has donated so far.

If you would like to donate, please visit our Charity Giving page - the campaign runs until September 10!

Please help the Midland Railway!

(Photo: Martin Arrand)

We're launching an appeal to raise money to finish the Swanwick station building at the festival site.

We're amazed and really grateful that the Midland Railway makes it possible for an indiepop festival to take place on their steam railway each year. It's a beautiful, perfect location for our festival and the railway staff and volunteers have always been incredibly welcoming, friendly and supportive.

As you can imagine, it takes a lot to keep the railway going each year, so we'd like to try and help out. We asked the charity how we might help and they said they'd love some help in raising money to finish their Swanwick station building (pictured above).

They've been building the station gradually since 2007 and while it's nearly complete they need a bit more money to finish the internal and external building and furnishing.

If you'd like to contribute something, please visit www.charitygiving.co.uk/indietracks2010 by Friday 10 September.

Thanks so much, and hopefully see you next year!

xxx

Indietracks reviews!

We've been keeping an eye on all you busy bees writing for fanzines, blogs and magazines, and have rounded up a selection of our favourite Indietracks reviews for you to check out. We've picked out some of our fave quotes and provided links to the full reviews where possible. We know there's still more reviews and podcasts to be posted, so we'll keep updating this as the coverage is put online. Happy reading!

“Indietracks' relaxed atmosphere and unique choice of stages - a church, a steam train, indoor barn stage and an outdoor one that literally did fall off the back of a lorry - as well as a wide selection of affordable real ales make it one of the most prominent events on the summer's music calendar”
Drowned in Sound

“Once again Indietracks festival provided a warm, friendly, entertaining event, where the bands and punters all mingle together without the over inflated egos that you get at some other bigger festivals....Indietracks will always be a special festival that is worth making the effort to come to, it is one of the few festivals where you know that regardless of who is playing you are guaranteed to have a great weekend.”
Efestivals

"Now in its fourth year Indietracks is indie-pop’s mecca, its Nirvana – a festival borne from all things C86 it is the place to be for indie music with heart."
The National Student

"With its tiny capacity and eccentric setting, Indietracks is a one-of-a-kind festival where you can spend as much time hanging out with bands as watching them perform."
The Fly

“You should really get yourself along to Indietracks for a truly unique festival experience.... Although it threatened to rain for much of the weekend it thankfully stayed away. Not that it mattered to the legions of indie fans who had fallen upon the Midlands Railway - there wasn't a single person without a smile to be seen.”
BBC Derby

"It is difficult to pinpoint one single thing that made the Indietracks Festival such tremendous fun....Derbyshire should be very proud of its own, little-known, but ever-expanding festival. Roll on next year."
Derby Evening Telegraph

“It was very friendly and everyone was helpful. I was chatting away to people in queues and it felt very safe and very friendly. I would definitely recommend it and I’ll be going again hopefully next year.” BBC6 Music (Steve Lamacq’s Festival Spy)

"Drawing on the same wellspring of C86 pop that fuels most of the bands and all of the fans at the festival, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart take down that wall between performers and fans, summing up the sense of common purpose and shared belief you feel everywhere you walk around this weekend."
Sounds XP

"Set in the glorious countryside of rural Derbyshire, Indietracks is a unique festival that showcases the best of new and upcoming indie music talent.....Indietracks is that rarity of a festival, a trailblazer that is something different and isn’t afraid to come out of the box."
Winkball

"[POBPAH’s] set is the perfect send-off, and as the last steam trains leave the site and the last cries of "We will never die" echo out into nothingness, they confirm unequivocally both their status as one of the planets most exciting bands and the weekend’s status as one of the friendliest, most enjoyable, nay best, independent festivals."
Contact Music

"Indietracks is such a perfect festival that I almost want to keep it a secret. But as the profits go to keeping the wonderful Midland Railway Centre running, I guess I ought to start forcing everyone I know to come and join in the indie fun."
247 magazine

"Back from a fine weekend among like minded people amid the glorious infrastructure of Indietracks.....In summary: wonderful weekend by the abandoned stock, once again.”
Sweeping the Nation

“Indietracks still remains my favourite festival on the musical calendar. I’ve mostly written about the bands in these posts, but there’s so much more that makes it what it is. Primarily how friendly just about every single person you meet is. Bands wander the site and mingle with everyone else...and even the volunteers who work on the railway. Of course, discussions about just who should play next year are already in full swing, but honestly, it doesn’t really matter. If the Indietracks team came up with a list of 50 bands I’d never heard of before, I’d still go, perfectly trusting in their abilities to select ideal bands and put on a perfect weekend.”
Another Form of Relief

“....words can’t really relay how I feel about this precious festival.....I don’t go to any other festivals any more....mainly because nothing will compare to Indietracks, alright?”
A Layer of Chips

"It's so hard to write succinctly about Indietracks when it's so much that makes it special, the bands, the venue, the fantastic food, the organisers and volunteers who do such a great job and the trains. But, and it's a cliche, I guess what really makes the festival each year is the people...It's a moment where turning around to see someone dancing behind you can lift your heart 'til you're feeling giddy or someone you haven't seen in forever gives you a hug, and suddenly you remember that, yes, this is what Indietracks is all about. Roll on next year."
Beer and Bands

"There are trains to drink on, indie discos to dance at, new friends to meet ... Indietracks is like being a member of the best social club you'll ever find. And yes, there are badges.
Morning Star

"The location is stunning, the campsite clean, and the festival-goers (on the whole) loved-up and well-behaved. And where else can you see your favourite band members looking rough in the shower queue, mere hours before they go onstage?"
For Folk's Sake

"Indietracks 2010 proved to be the most successful Indietracks festival to date, and by successfully drawing together the older generation of indie bands with more recently established acts and truly up and coming groups, it has reaffirmed its status as one of, if not the best of the UK’s smaller festivals."
God Is In The TV


We'll be adding to this list over the next few weeks, so please drop us a line if we've missed anything interesting!

More Indietracks on film

Following yesterday's quick video round-up, here's another amazing Indietracks video, this time from Lucy Dawkins, who's making the Story of Sarah Records documentary.

The video has bundles of interviews with bands and festival-goers about the festival, including Kip and Peggy from The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Orchids, Pete, Marianthi, Ian and, of course, Fortuna Pop!'s Sean Price! There's also some great footage of the railway and the festival site, as well as music from the Pooh Sticks and Betty and The Werewolves. It's a really lovely video and comes highly recommended!



Link: Story of Sarah Records: Indietracks interviews 2010

Also, if you're looking for a video of your favourite band from the festival, Ill and Ancient is compiling an easy-to-use alphabetised list of all the clips on Youtube from this year's festival. There's dozens and dozens of videos there - from Allo Darlin' to Veronica Falls and everyone inbetween, so make a cup of tea and then  pop over and have a look: Indietracks 2010 videos

There's been lots of lovely reviews of the festival so far, and we'll post links to some of them soon. If you've done a review, write up or blog about the festival, please let us know and we'll include it.