The talent across the three stages at Create this year is phenomenal. Local bands and those further afield gather to play everything from pop to punk, by way of jazz, soul, and rock. Here are five artists you simply must see:
Luca Afrobeat Band
Main Stage, 15.55
Afrobeat is having something of a revival, and LUCA are bringing their own stamp to it. They melt the raw potent funk of Fela Kuti with 70s prog and metal influences to create a funky apocalyptic nightmare. Luca Afrobeat Band have released two EPs to date, with a third on its way in 2019.
James from the band says that community festivals like Create are perfect for them as a band. ‘Being a bit of a niche band, we really rely on people stumbling across us at these kind of events and so we really welcome the chance to play to people that have never heard us before. We have all been told that Create Festival is a fun day with a great atmosphere and so we can’t wait to discover it for ourselves.’
The song they are most looking forward to playing?
Tall Poppies
Revelation Ashford Stage, 14.15
Tall Poppies are a London based, Australian born, indie pop quartet. I identical twins Susan and Catherine spin tales of life from both sides of the planet alongside heart tugging violin from Diarmuid whilst Doug Fink injects energy and danceability on drums. They played Create in 2015 ‘for the rainiest day in July ever. But despite the rain, they say ‘it was a brilliant experience with everyone warmly welcoming us.’
This year they have new material out, following their recorded and released two studio albums, ‘Thursday’ and ‘All The Rave’.
The song they are most looking forward to playing?
Estelle Mey
Revelation Ashford Stage, 17.15
French singer songwriter Estelle Mey has always been influenced by her surroundings. British weather and Icelandic landscapes have imbued her rock with a dreamy and otherworldly quality that balances power and lightness.
Based in Canterbury now, powerful riffs emerge from deep within the raw and distorted growl of her baritone, accompanied by the heavy, thumping, rhythmic beats of Neil Price on the drums.
She is excited to play Create, and says that ‘it’s an honour to be chosen to play Kent’s biggest original Free festival. To share my music in the county I love, Kent.
The song they she is most looking forward to playing?
Anything from the new album – but here’s the old one for now.
Jaz Ellington
Main Stage, 15.00
The humble singer-songwriter Jaz Ellington describes to music as his “audible diary”, of which houses the transcripts to personal memoirs and experiences. As a result, his music is downright honest, and never misses the mark when it comes to writing and arranging songs that come from the soul.
His career highlights included opening opened for the legendary Lauryn Hill, working with Will I Am on a project for NASA, appearing on The Voice UK 2012, and being selected as one of the top six singers to represent England in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
He says that ‘I am excited about doing Create as i love sharing my music and I’m looking forward to good vibes from my fellow ‘Ashfordians’,’
The song he is most looking forward to playing?
Don’t Run
Lake Folks
Revelation Stage, 16.30
Lake Folks is an indie-folk artist from France, whose music varies between delicate guitar-voice folk to some more Americana-flavoured pieces. Think Ben Howard, Bob Dylan, Villagers or Mumford and Sons.
Lake Folks started as a solo project with the release of his first EP in July 2017, and his single ‘The Old Man and the Lake’ was well received. He decided to move to London in 2018 to broaden his musical horizon. After a few months of settling in the London music scene, he got back to studio with a full band this time to record his second EP ‘Someone else’s dreams’, which was released last March.
The song he is most looking forward to playing?
Fire