Land of Kings is a music and arts

festival A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival c ...

that took place at various locations throughout the

London Borough of Hackney London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

from 2009 to 2015. The festival occurred in May, with live music and interactive art across indoor and outdoor locations in Dalston. The ticket price was equal to one wristband allowing attendees access to all the participating venues, along with a map of the festival site.

Origins

The festival was established in 2009 by Nick Griffiths and Connie Harrison. The festival included record labels, arts organisations, and curators local to East London. Land of Kings used a mix of clubs, bars, arts venues and temporary event spaces, with the layout changing each year. The festival artwork was by Hackney-based artist Colin Henderson.

Past Line-Ups

2009

Allez Allez, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump, Ben Westbeech, Chrome Hoof DJs, ColouringIN, Crystal Vision, David E. Sugar,

Drums of Death (musician) Colin Bailey, better known by his stage name Drums of Death, is a London-based electronic musician, originally from Scotland. His music is a blend of techno, house, and electro. He is known for energetic and exciting live shows and has said ...

, Erol Alkan, Fimber Bravo, Fuck Buttons DJs, Get The Blessing, Greco Roman Soundsystem, Hot Coins (Red Rack'em), Ian Woods & The Psychologist, Idjut Boys, Johnno, Kathy Diamond, Leggo Beast, Liamski & Beccy Grierson (SpaceBass), Living in A Disco, Lou and Nova, Newfamily, Oriole, Quiet Village, Rory Phillips, Ross Allen, Soft Rocks, Sonny Akpan, Sportsday Megaphone, Tayo Popoola, Three Uninvited, Todd Hart (Dalston Oxfam Shop),

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Orlando Tobias Edward Higginbottom (born 7 March 1986), known professionally as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (or TEED), is a British electronic music producer, DJ and singer-songwriter based in the United States. Early life Orlando is ...

, Unnamed Project

2010

Arne Blackman, Bill Brewster, Cheatah DJs, Clancy,

Cocknbullkid Anita Blay is a British-Ghanaian singer and songwriter, formerly known by the stage name CocknBullKid (previously thecocknbullkid). She released her debut single in 2008 and her debut album, ''Adulthood'', in 2011. Blay currently writes for othe ...

DJ set, Deep Teknologi,

Detachments (British band) Detachments are a London-based, post-punk influenced art rock/electronic group led by Bastien Marshal (born Manchester). They were discovered and signed by Thisisnotanexit Records in 2008. Limited edition 12" release ''Fear No Fear'' received ...

, Dignan Porch, Dollop DJs,

Faze Action Faze Action are a British dance music band, composed of brothers Simon and Robin Lee. Over the years, Faze Action blended house music with Western classical, pan-African, and Latin music. Its music is also heavily influenced by funk, disco, and ...

, Feeding Time, Firas, Girlcore, Gyratory System, Jonny Rock, Kindness DJ set, Lovers & Gamblers, Lovvers DJs, Magnets, Matty J & Ben Terry, Nadia Ksaiba, Night Angles, Raf Daddy, Ronojoy Dam, Rory Phillips, Savage Beach, Sexbeat, Simon A. Carr, Soft Rocks, Sound of Rum, Speakers Corner Quartet, Spectral Empire, Spin Spin the Dogs, The Horrors DJs, Thomas Bullock, Transparent DJs, Wet Paint DJs,

Yuck (band) Yuck was a rock band that originated in London, England in 2009. The band's final lineup was drummer Jonny Rogoff, guitarist Ed Hayes, bassist Mariko Doi, and lead vocalist/guitarist Max Bloom, who formerly played in the band Cajun Dance Party a ...

2011

Land of Kings 2011 took place earlier than usual to coincide with the Royal Wedding between The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, joining in with the nationwide festivities celebrating the occasion. The festival partnered with film director

Saam Farahmand Saam Farahmand (born 1979 in London) is an Iranian-British film and music video director. A fine arts graduate of Goldsmiths, Farahmand is considered, according to ''The Guardian'', "one of the most talented music video directors of his generation ...

and

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to create an interactive video installation based around portraits of attending party-goers. The installation was soundtracked by 2many DJs. 2many DJs, Alex Patchwork, Bleeding Heart Narrative, Brassroots, Clancy, D/R/U/G/S, Deboa, Django Django,

, Eeek Empire, Funkineven, Gang Colours,

Ghostpoet Obaro Ejimiwe (born 18 January 1983) is a British singer, songwriter and musician better known by his stage name Ghostpoet. His first album, ''Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam'', was shortlisted for the 2011 Mercury Prize. His 2015 album ''S ...

, Gwilym Gold (live), Hannah Holland, Idjut Boys, In Flagranti, Isa GT, Jahcoozi,

James Yuill James Yuill (born 1981) is an English folktronica musician from London, currently signed to the Moshi Moshi record label. Biography Yuill released his first album, ''The Vanilla Disc'', on his own Happy Biscuit Club label in 2005. After relea ...

, Keaton, Klaxons DJs, Lou & Nova, Mama, Mumdance,

My Tiger My Timing My Tiger My Timing was a five-piece new wave pop band from New Cross in south-east London formed in 2008. Their music was described by NME.com as "tribal electro like a south London Gang Gang Dance" and by Clash as "alternative pop with a dark ...

, Hannah Holland, Naomii, Night Angles, Om Unit, Ragga Twins, Ray Mang, Riton, Romy XX, Rory Phillips, Shut Up & Dance,

Skinny Lister Skinny Lister are a British folk band formed in London in 2009. They were a five-piece band until October 2013 when a drummer was added. In August 2022 they returned to being a five piece after Sam Brace left and the decision was made not to r ...

, Soft Rocks, Streets of Beige, Thomas Whitehead, Tristian, Vince Vella, Visions of Trees, Wild Geese, Zara Mcfarlane, Zara Truss Giles

2012

Aboutface & Champetamine, Alexander Nut, Alex Patchwork, All The Queen's Ravens, Ant Hill, Ben Westbeech, BestCleo, Bicep, Bos Angeles, Boss Terror, Bullion, Camille Walala, Caze Nove, Clash DJs, Classic Album Sundays, Comadisco,

Connan Mockasin Connan Tant Hosford, better known by the stage name Connan Mockasin and sometimes credited as Connan Hosford, is a New Zealand musician, composer and record producer. Critically acclaimed and described as "a psych-funk oddball...a contrarian", ...

. Dalston Darlings, Dan Beaumont, Dark Shaft, DJ King Knut, Dollop DJs, Dreamtrak, Durrr, Eglo Live Band, Eliphino, Elliot Yorke,

Esser (band) Benjamin Joel Esser, known mononymously as Esser, is an English singer, songwriter and producer. He is from Chelmsford, Essex and was formerly a drummer for the band Ladyfuzz. His debut album, ''Braveface'', was released in the UK in May 2009 ...

Factory Floor Factory Floor are a London-based band formed in 2005. They have been described as 'post-industrial', using live drums, synthesizers and noise. History The band formed in 2005, originally comprising Gabriel Gurnsey and Mark Harris, who were then ...

, Famy, Fever Dream, Five Easy Pieces, Four Aces, Funkineven, Gang Colours DJ set, Great Waves, Gwilym Gold DJ set, Hackney Film Festival, Hall of Mirrors, Hammer & Tongue, Hannah Holland,

Hatcham Social Hatcham Social are an English indie pop band. The group first met and formed in New Cross, London in 2006 and have since released a string of singles on indie labels, followed by three studio albums. With the debut album, they made headway in th ...

Is Tropical Is Tropical are a band from London, England, with members as of 2014 including Simon Milner, Gary Barber, Dominic Apa, and Kirstie Fleck. Formed in 2009 as a trio, in June 2011 they released their debut album ''Native To'', preceded by the sing ...

, Johnno & Charlotte (Bugged Out), Kutmah, Kwes, Kwesachu, Land Shapes, Legacy In The Dust, Let Us Be Golden,

Literary Death Match ''Literary Death Match'' is a reading series co-created in 2006 by Todd Zuniga, Elizabeth Koch, and Dennis DiClaudio. Each event features four readers who read their own writing for seven minutes or less, and are then critiqued by three judg ...

, Living in A Disco, London Fields Radio, Make It Stop Mum,

Male Bonding (band) Male Bonding is an English indie/noise rock band. The group released their debut album, ''Nothing Hurts'', on 11 May 2010. History Based in London, England Male Bonding is composed of John Arthur Webb (vocals, guitar), Kevin Hendrick (vocals, ...

Maria Minerva Maria Juur (born 15 March 1988), better known by her stage name Maria Minerva, is an Estonian musician and activist. Maria Minerva is the recipient of two Estonian Music Awards. Her releases have received critical acclaim from music publicati ...

, Maurice Fulton, Mo Kolours, Moshi Moshi DJs, My Panda Shall Fly, Naomii, Night Angles, NTS DJs, NZCA/Lines, O Children, Ollie Rant, Owiny Sigoma Soundsystem, Public Information DJs, Raf Daddy, Ray Mang, Richard Clancy, Rory Phillips, Royalty, Slagbox, Slow Club, Soft Rocks,

Speech Debelle Corynne Elliot (born 17 March 1983 in London, England), better known as Speech Debelle, is a British rapper signed to the Big Dada record label. She was the winner of the 2009 Mercury Prize for her debut album ''Speech Therapy''. She released h ...

, Spirit of Mantra, Standard Planets, Stay+, Stealing Sheep, Stoke Newington International Airport, Tayo Popoola, The Austerity Games, The Horrors DJ set, The Invisible (band), The Lovely Jonjo, To The Lazer Cave DJs, Toy,

Trevor Jackson (musician) Playgroup is a British dance act. It is the project of musician and designer Trevor Jackson. They were associated with the electroclash movement. Jackson has also performed under the names Underdog and Skull. Discography Albums *''Playgroup Part ...

, Trophy Wife, Virginia Wing,

We Were Evergreen Evergreen (formerly known as We Were Evergreen) are a French indie pop group. The band formed in Paris in 2008 and are now based between Paris and London, UK. They've been described as "shape-shifting pop blend ngfolk melodies, electro beats an ...

, Wicked Wicked, Winstan Whitter, ZTG

2013

A Love From Outer Space, Andrew Weatherall, Avarus, Babe, Bo Ningen, Boxed In, Brownswood, Bugged Out, Camille Walala, Casual Sex, Chrome Hoof, Circle Traps, Clancy, Clash, Dan Beaumont, Dark Sky, Darkstar, Drums of Death, Durrr, Fanfarlo, Faze Action, Fimber Bravo, Five Easy Pieces, Flako, Friendly Fires DJ, Gaggle, G R E A T W A V E S, Gang Colours, Gentlemen, Gideon Reeling, Halls, Hammer and Tongue, Hannah Holland, House Of Hot Breath, Landshapes, To The Lazer Cave, London Fields Radio, Lost Picture Show, The Lovely Jonjo, Low Life DJs, Midnight Davis, Moshi Moshi, Mr Bingo, Musical Bingo, The Nest Collective, N.E.W.,

NYPC NYPC (also known as New Young Pony Club) are an English electronic music band from London. The band was formed by Andy Spence and Tahita Bulmer in 2004. Their influences are predominantly post-punk and new wave artists. Career Forming and sig ...

, Night Works, PVT, Paradise, Petit Records, Poetry Takeaway, Public Information DJs, Raffertie, Reggae Roast, Rory Phillips, Sean Johnston, Seams, Sega Bodega, Soft Rocks, Stevie Neale, Shut Up and Dance, Sweet Baboo, Tayo,

, Tee Circus, Tropics, Troumaca, The Wave Pictures, Week Of Wonders, Wicked Wicked, William Adamson

2015

The 2 Bears The 2 Bears are a British musical duo formed in 2009 composed of Joe Goddard (of electronic band Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell (previously of 1965 Records). The duo produces original material amalgamating various styles including 2-step, house a ...

, Art Macabre, Antepop,

Boxed In Boxed In is the alias for British singer, songwriter and record producer Oli Bayston (born Oliver George Bayston). The name is partly inspired by Francis Bacon's infamous painting Head VI, once described as "the operation through which the ent ...

, Brolin, Capablanca, Chloe Black, Chris Troy, Crucial & Fresh, Dalston Darlings: Loose Women,

Don Letts Donovan "Don" Letts (born 10 January 1956) is a British film director, disc jockey (DJ) and musician. Letts first came to prominence as the videographer for the Clash, directing several of their music videos. In 1984, Letts co-founded the band B ...

, Esther Joy Lane, Flying Ibex,

Flyte ''Flyte'' is a 2006 children's novel by Angie Sage and the second book in the ''Septimus Heap'' series. The book's cover was modelled after the in-story book: ''How to Survive Dragon Fostering: A Practykal Guide'' with the Flyte Charm lying on ...

Ghost Culture ''Ghost Culture'' is the debut studio album released by electronic musician James Greenwood under the name Ghost Culture. It was released on 12 January 2015 through Phantasy Sound Phantasy is a British independent record label established i ...

, Gideon Reeling: The Big Queen's Navy, Hairy Hands, Hot Breath Karaoke, Huntleys + Palmers, HVOB, Increments: Vitamins,

Koreless Lewis Roberts, better known by the stage name Koreless, is a British electronic musician and recording artist. He released his debut album, ''Agor'', in 2021. History Roberts was born in Wales and spends the majority of his time in Glasgow. ...

, Krankbrother, Laish, Landshapes, Lena Willikens, Let's Be Brief: Place Is The Space,

Lex Luger Lawrence Wendell Pfohl (born June 2, 1958), better known by the ring name Lex Luger, is an American retired professional wrestler, bodybuilder, and football player. In 2011 he began working with WWE on its wellness policy. He is best known for ...

, London Short Film Festival, Looking Glass Cocktail Club, Lost Picture Show, Meilyr Jones,

Mo Kolours Joseph Deenmamode, known professionally as Mo Kolours, is a half-Mauritian, half-British music producer, percussionist, and vocalist. In 2014, he released his debut self-titled album on expanding independent label One-Handed Music, which was wa ...

, Moshi Moshi DJs, Moxie, My Panda Shall Fly,

Nathan Fake Nathan Fake is an English electronic music artist from Necton in Norfolk, England, who has released singles as well as three albums on the label Border Community Recordings. In 2006, his debut album ''Drowning in a Sea of Love'' was released ...

, Nick Rasie, NZCA Lines, Pool DJs,

Portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...

, Psychemagik, Public Information DJs, Russ Chimes, Soft Rocks, Soul Jazz Sound System, Tape Club, Thomas McCarthy, Thris Tian, Thump DJs, Toby Gale, Tom Vek (solo/AV set), Tony Poland, Ultrademon,

Waze & Odyssey Waze & Odyssey are a British electronic music duo consisting of Serge Santiago and Firas Waez. In 2014, the duo had a top 3 UK chart hit in the UK with their remix of 1994 single " Bump n' Grind". The track went on to sell over 400,000 copies w ...

, Wolf Music, Wyles & Simpson, Zanzibar Chanel

References

{{reflist

External links

Official Website

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Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Hackney Music festivals in London