It’s that time of the year again. While music fans nationwide scan the skies nervously and ready the wellies and tents in anticipation of the festival season, Nottingham bypasses the sweet smell of the Portaloos and prepares for the invasion of 2008’s Dot to Dot festival.

This year's musical marathon has been extended to cover two full days and boasts a spanking array of bands, DJ’s and artists performing at the various Rock City group venues round town. All for a cheap as chips price, plus you can actually wash your bits afterwards. What are you waiting for?

This year, the LeftLion team will be looking out for….

	Two Gallants A lo-fi duo composed of just drums, guitar and vocals; and with them they make a beautiful bluesy racket. They are almost charming in their approach. Unfortunately, over here they are more famous for getting tazered  on YouTube by some thick headed security guards which is a crying shame. So go and get to know them for all the right reasons.
	Spiritualized Jason Pierce’s psychedelic space-rockers have close connections with Notts, and their recent album ‘Songs In A&E’ was partly recorded in Nottingham following his experiences here. if you are lucky enough, they may play one or two songs from‘Ladies and Gentleman we are Floating in Space, one of the most important British rock albums of the last 20 years. Outstanding.
	Swimming Its good to see a local band with so much potential flying the flag for Nottingham amongst the national and international artists dominating this years line-up. They are already down to play at this years Glastonbury Festival, but who is bothering with that? Watch them here instead away from the mud and the crusties.
	Ida Maria Shy and retiring she ain’t, and Norway’s raven-haired answer to Feist has happily been dominating the airwaves of Radio 6 and XFM for quite some time now. Expect great raucousness from this whisky-demanding, smokey-voiced songstress and self-proclaimed Queen of the World.
	Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit Beguiling country folk from the rolling Sussex Downs makes for perfect listening on a cider-fuelled summer weekend. Think plaid shirts, Bob Dylan guitar, and a bevy of jaunty tunes. One for all you fans of Herman Dune, travelling minstrels and pretension-free cheer.
	Sons & Daughters Blondie vocals, raw roots guitar and relentlessly catchy post-punk sensibilities suggest that these Glasgow rockers are the offspring of the grimy and godlike musical generation that gave us Nick Cave and Kate Bush. Intensely likeable and, at times, just downright intense, these celtic rockabilly wonders are not to be missed.
	Saul Williams The multitalented American writer, actor and poet has collaborated with some top US Hip-Hop acts to the sounds of Blackalicious, Zach de la Rocha and Sage Francis. This strange hip-hop poetry combination is sure to keep you on your toes, with your ears pricked longing for more of his impassionate tongue-twisted verses.
	Noah and the Whale Get on your checked shirt, grab your straw hat and head down to the Bodega Social Club for some modern-day folk, by the ironic name of Noah and the Whale. The London based band, with melodic and quite often melancholic tracks, a combination of dreamy strings and perfectly timed percussion are a real 21st Century gem.
	DJ Magic & P Money If you’re looking for a break from Indie go catch some raw Grime by some world class DJ’s ready to pump you up. DJ Magic, the UK’s own London based Grime, Garage and Hip-Hop Disc Jockey, accompanied by New Zealand’s P Money (left); one the finest producers and DJ’s to rock clubs all over the world and spin alongside artists such as 50 Cent and Public Enemy.

So, what's all this about free tickets, you ask? well, with line-ups as tasty as the one above, let alone all the rest of artists on offer, you're right to be interested...

The purveyors of fine tunes at Rock City have kindly put aside a pair of tickets worth eighty paaand for one lucky Leftlion reader...

(...whose now got em, the winner has been draw and our sequin-clad dolly birds are back round mine runnin around meh livin room - Ed)

Meantime, check out our gallery and reviews from last year's festival.

The Dot to Dot Festival 2008 takes place on Saturday and Sunday 24-25 May spread over the following venues: Rock City, The Rescue Rooms, Stealth, The Bodega and Trent Students Union.

Dot to Dot festival website
 
 

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