Dot to Dot unveils first acts for 2011

Hurts, The Naked and Famous, Mona, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and more announced for Dot to Dot 2011.

Having expanded to a three-day event last year, Dot to Dot Festival is set to take over three of Britain’s musical hubs as part of what has quickly become the leading urban music festival in the country. Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol will continue the event’s tradition in hosting some of the most exciting up-and-coming artists and on the strength of the seven names we can now announce, there is no let up in the depth of talent which will be on show.

Dot To Dot Event Organiser Anton Lockwood Commented: ‘2011 is shaping up to be the best Dot To Dot ever. We’re really excited to have the UK’s most stylish avant-garde electronic pop act Hurts headlining the festival. And, this is just the tip of the iceberg as we have many more fantastic established and up and coming acts from around the world still to be announced.’

Headlining this year’s Dot to Dot are Hurts. The Manchester duo had a fantastic 2010 with their debut album, ‘Happiness’, going Gold, peaking at number four in the Official UK charts as well as selling out their headline UK tour. The synth-pop act have won a number of high profile fans after coming fourth in the BBC Sound of 2010 poll from the NME to Scissor Sisters who they supported on tour last year.

The Naked and Famous are also set to delight Dot to Dot audiences in 2011. The New Zealanders will play the event off the back of a huge British, European and American tour which is showcasing their ‘Passive Me, Aggressive You’ album. Impressive Nashville Teddy Boy-rockers, Mona, are confirmed for the 3-day, 3-city event. With their guitar layered tracks, lead singer Nick Brown has even declared they will be “bigger than Bono” which sets a standard for their future ambitions.

Stepping up the tempo and also highlighting the diversity of artists Dot to Dot attracts will be Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Under the tutorledge of Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard on the Greco-Roman label, it should be an opportunity to hear some of his hotly anticipated album material which is due out later this year. UK singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is also taking the stage in all three cities, as are New Zealand’s finest, The Phoenix Foundation, showcasing tracks from their acclaimed ‘Buffalo’ album   while Darwin Deez is playing an exclusive set on the Manchester leg.

With a deserved reputation as the festival that showcases the freshest bands around, Dot To Dot will be announcing even more boundary pushing acts in the near future, who will join the ranks of Friendly Fires, Ladyhawke, The Temper Trap, Patrick Wolf, Mystery Jets, Ellie Goulding, The Hold Steady, The XX, 65daysofstatic, Annie Mac, Kissy Sell Out, Little Boots,Marina And The Diamonds, Mumford & Sons, Klaxons, Gallows, Spiritualized, Late Of The Pier, Los Capmpesinos!, Laura Marling, British Sea Power, Foals, Jakwob, Egyptian Hip Hop, Santogold, Glasvegas, Kano, Erol Alkan, Frank Turner... and many more who have all previously made early career appearances at Dot To Dot Festival.

Dot to Dot Manchester

Dot to Dot Nottingham

Dot to Dot Bristol

Dot to Dot, 28th - 30th May 2011