Vampire Weekend
Band form
2006
Vampire Weekend (Formed 2006)
Vampire Weekend are an American rock band, consisting of the members Ezra Koenig (Lead Singer/guitarist), guitarist/keyboardist and backing vocalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer and percussionist Chris Tomson and bassist and backing vocalist Chris Baio.
They are better known for their single "A-Punk".
Formation: The band members met each other at Columbia University.
They all bonded over a love of African and pop punk music.
The band self-produced their first album, whilst working full-time jobs.
Music Career: Their song "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" ranked at number 67 on the Rolling Stone's '100 Best Songs of The Year'.
They toured the UK with the Shine in 2007.
In March 2008, they were named 'The Year's Best New Band" by Spin magazine.
Their first self-titled album was released on January 29th, 2008.
It peaked at number 15 on the UK Albums Chart, and number 17 on the Billboard 200.
Four singles were released from the album, but "A-Punk" was the most successful.
It peaked at number 25 on the Billboard modern rock chart.
Their second album, 'Contra', was released on January 11th, 2010.
It reached number 1 on the Billboard 200.
In June 2010, the band performed at Glastonbury, T in the Park, and Oxegen Festival.
They went on tour in 2010 around North America.
They toured with Beach House and Dum Dum Girls.
They were nominated for 'Best Alternative Music Album' at the Grammys.
'Modern Vampires of The City' was released in May 2013.
It debuted at number 1 on the Soundscan Vinyl Charts.
Upcoming Releases: What's In Store For May 2019
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 30 April 2019
From Rammstein to Lewis Capaldi, these are the albums we're waiting for.
With two eagerly anticipated debut albums, some epic returns plus a long-awaited comeback, May is already shaping up to be another incredible month for good music whether your an indie lover or a die-hard metalhead. Luckily for us, we're most definitely both!
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - End of Suffering
(May 3)
Following the success of 2017's Modern Ruin, former Gallows frontman Frank Carter returns with his third studio album End of Suffering this week. Two singles have already been released: Crowbar and Anxiety. The album will be released as he continues the UK leg of his tour with his band The Rattlesnakes.
Continue reading: Upcoming Releases: What's In Store For May 2019
Ten Huge Albums We're Looking Forward To In 2019
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 12 January 2019
Ten huge new album releases coming up in 2019!
Happy New Year, music lovers! 2018 was a cracker for great albums, and the coming 12 months also promises to shape up. Here’s just ten of the most exciting new album releases scheduled for 2019.
Lana Del Rey has been teasing the release of her fifth studio album, with the working title Norman F***ing Rockwell, since the end of the summer. This week, she trailed it with the release of new single and video, with the unwieldy title ‘hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me…but I have it’, representing the fourth cut from the LP. There’s no release date as yet, but the last we heard LDR5 was going to appear in the first half of 2019.
Continue reading: Ten Huge Albums We're Looking Forward To In 2019
Music News Round-Up: Elton John UK Tour Dates, Long-Lost Aretha Franklin Film And Vampire Weekend Album Four
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 11 November 2018
The week's non-Spice Girls music news rounded up, including Elton John's farewell tour and the first All Points East 2019 announcements.
Aretha Franklin FILM TO BE RELEASED AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS
A documentary film about Aretha Franklin, capturing the power of her live performances, is to see the light of day after nearly 50 years in the editing room.
Amazing Grace will premiere in New York City on Monday November 12th as part of the DOC NYC film festival. Shot by director Sydney Pollack over two nights in January 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles – the same performance that gave us the multi-million-selling live album Amazing Grace – the proposed project was beset by problems.
Continue reading: Music News Round-Up: Elton John UK Tour Dates, Long-Lost Aretha Franklin Film And Vampire Weekend Album Four
Sony Confirm Vampire Weekend Signing, Hint At Imminent New Album
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 03 August 2018
Vampire Weekend last released an album in 2013.
After more than five years, Vampire Weekend look like they’re on the cusp of releasing new music, with Sony announcing that the band had officially signed to their roster and suggesting that a new project is just around the corner.
Releasing their quarterly financial statement on Thursday (August 2nd), Sony Corp. confirmed that the New York-based group had signed to their label from their decade-long home of XL Recordings recently.
Most excitingly for fans, the statement said that Vampire Weekend would be commencing a “noteworthy project” by the end of Q3, which ends on September 30th.
Continue reading: Sony Confirm Vampire Weekend Signing, Hint At Imminent New Album
Vampire Weekend Announce First Show In Four Years, Headlining End Of The Road Festival
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 31 January 2018
Vampire Weekend are still putting the finishing touches to their fourth album.
Vampire Weekend have announced that they are to headline this year’s End of the Road festival, a show that will mark their first live performance since 2014.
Set over four days from August 30th to September 2nd, the Wiltshire-based festival will be the New York group’s first gig in very nearly four years and will be their only UK appearance in 2018.
Vampire Weekend - whose self-titled debut album was released almost exactly a decade ago - last released an album in 2013, their third LP titled Modern Vampires of the City, and finished the supporting tour in August the following year. Since then, the band has been on hiatus, with keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij quitting the band in a formal capacity and leaving them as a three-piece.
Continue reading: Vampire Weekend Announce First Show In Four Years, Headlining End Of The Road Festival
Charlie Puth, Vampire Weekend, Iggy Azalea And More - Five Huge Albums Set For 2018
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 26 December 2017
Some of the biggest stars who are set to release new albums in 2018.
We preview some of the prospective albums by major artists who are due to release a new record in 2018.
Charlie Puth
Continue reading: Charlie Puth, Vampire Weekend, Iggy Azalea And More - Five Huge Albums Set For 2018
Leeds Festival 2014 - Live Review
By Alister Roberts in Music Reviews on 28 August 2014
It came, It went, It conquered as per. Leeds Festival 2014 was a real pinnacle for this year's UK live music, cramming it's masses into the colossus fields of Bramham Park, this year's Leeds Festival was a true menace of a machine. From strolling the sights and stalls of the relatively tame arena, to hiking through the foothills of Red camp and afar, the beast of Leeds Festival was out in full glamour this year. Not only for the sheer size and scale of the glorified playground, nor for the big bad names it captured upon its stages, but purely the immense and sometimes overwhelming atmosphere of Leeds Festival is what attracts the crowds in their droves - (Each and EVERY year).
Without further ado, we present to you this year's top live sets and why they really made this year what it was.
Continue reading: Leeds Festival 2014 - Live Review
Leeds Festival 2014 - Preview
By Alister Roberts in Music Reviews on 18 August 2014
Here we go, here we go! Leeds Festival 2014, yet only half of us have scored a return ticket from the headaches and hangovers of last year's epic line-up. Each and every year, thousands of people across the social spectrum and across the UK flock to the fields of Leeds for what they know is THE music event of the year. Of course, catering to the masses is no easy feat but with ten stages all rigged up, this machine, emblem of the north, once again raises its flags way up heavens bound.Moving from Temple Newsam a few years back now, LF has really made itself at home within the colossal 1,235 acre grounds of Bramham park. Returning bands themselves (or the newcomers for that matter), facing glorious deja-vu on approach to the site if not already attended as rowdy teens, are in for a real good show.
In no preferential order at all.
Continue reading: Leeds Festival 2014 - Preview
Sam Smith, Janelle Monae - The Unexpected Gems Of Bonnaroo Day 1
By Victoria Pavlova in Music / Festivals on 14 June 2014
The first day of Bonnaroo went off without a hitch - even the Tennessee weather was cooperating.
Happy Bonnaroo weekend! The Tennessee-based arts and music festival effectively kicked off the season on Friday. Per USA Today’s recap, he weather was appropriately mild and the rain that threatened for the entire day never came through, letting crowds enjoy the show free from sweltering heat and soaking rain – a good thing, considering that the lineup, including the likes of Phoenix, CVRCHES, Vampire Weekend and Neutral Milk Hotel were not to be missed. And then there were the headliners.
CHVRCHES were just one of the bands playing Bonnaroo Friday.
Kanye West kicked off his set late at night on Friday. As usual, West’s performance was on point, but due to the large crowd and somewhat poor technical execution, it was difficult for many fans to connect. A number of the people, who were too far from the stage, reportedly booed the rapper.
Continue reading: Sam Smith, Janelle Monae - The Unexpected Gems Of Bonnaroo Day 1
Betty Who, Tegan And Sara And Foster The People - Big Guava Music Festival 2014 Is Definitely Worth A Visit
By Holly Williams in Music / Festivals on 02 May 2014
It looks like it's going to be an epic weekend with Big Guava 2014's quality line-up.
Arguably what could be Florida's most fun-packed 3-day event of the year, Big Guava Music Festival makes its debut today (May 2nd 2014) with an impressive line-up headlined by Outkast, Vampire Weekend and Foster The People.
There's a lot of things we like about Florida, and we reckon Big Guava's inaugural event will definitely be one of them. Set against the glorious city backdrop of Tampa, this festival is bound to be the highlight of your year as it arrives at the Florida State Fairgrounds and Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre. As well as 40 awesome bands on 4 different stages, you got your craft beers, your diverse food trucks and your epic fairground rides (which are free, by the way) that will keep you busy in between performances from a line-up that prides itself on its quality over quantity. Having said that, we still think you're going to be spoilt for choice with this lot.
Continue reading: Betty Who, Tegan And Sara And Foster The People - Big Guava Music Festival 2014 Is Definitely Worth A Visit