If history had been kinder, Croydon would now be home to a London international airport hub. If history had been kinder to the Cro Cro Land Festival there would’ve been more festivals following its 2019 debut event. Things got in the way. Heathrow happened. Covid grounded Cro Cro Land. Finally, Croydon is now ready to take-off again as Cro Cro Land returns for a weekend festival packed with cutting edge bands and the coolest DJs. The two day event is back over the weekend of April 13/14 at Stanley Arts Centre, Croydon.
The line-up reads like a who’s who of who matters in alternative music today. Artists that have been instrumental in keeping grassroots venues open and dynamic. Saturday’s headliner is Mattiel. Before the Atlanta based garage rock chanteuse takes to the stage there’s so much more outstanding talent to see including Desperate Journalist, Berries, Ms Mohammed, The Baby Seals, Yuke and the wonderful LIINES.
Sonic Cathedral label rising stars Whitelands bring their heady shoegaze fug and Noah and The Loners will be punking it up at the Arts Centre too. Just a few gigs into their career Safari Inn are another very promising prospect on Saturday afternoon. As if that isn’t enough, those fine tastemakers Get In Her Ears provide the DJ soundtrack throughout the Saturday session.
The Sunday line-up is equally sublime. Those energetic souls The Subways bring their explosive rock to headline the second day of Cro Cro Land. Vocalist Billy Lunn told Backseat Mafia,
“We’re especially excited about Cro Cro Land, given it’s dedication to platforming and supporting such diverse line-ups….we feel very lucky to have been asked to play!”.
There are some artists who enjoyed the unique vibe of the first Cro Cro festival so much they’re back for more – She Drew The Gun (aka Louisa Roach) returns with more of their poetic polemics.
Local heroes Fightmilk also play again and guitarist and vocalist Lily Rae is excited about the festival:
“Playing the inaugural Cro Cro Land was such a unique experience – amazingly organised and so many fantastic bands. As Croydon residents, we know how desperately the borough needs these kind of events and how underfunded they are, as last year’s sadly cancelled festival proved. We’re honoured to have been asked again this time around and can’t wait to play the beautiful Stanley Arts building!”.
Fightmilk are joined in the Sunday line-up by the superb Jemma Freeman & The Cosmic Something, Buzzard Buzzard, disco-fuelled riot grrrls Bugeye, the ridiculously talented Charley Stone and the frankly irrepressible disco post-punk anthem thumpers Gen and the Degenerates.
There’s more though, much much more. Including indie DJ hero John Kennedy who has done so much to champion new and emerging music on his Radio X show X-Posure. Cro Cro Land looks to be the best value for money gathering of the festival season. They just don’t do duff bands! Every artist could, and often has, headlined other venues. It’s an inclusive celebration of new, emerging and established acts all within the space of a beautiful Arts Centre building. Croydon will be flying again!
Tickets and more information about Cro Cro Land is available here: www.crocroland.co.uk
Some of the artists performing:
Mattiel – https://youtu.be/MeuOhtdaFzU?si=BOmCvnf4t2NXZ2G3
Fightmilk – https://youtu.be/gaPYgJ8pms4?si=fMqlB6-p7Q6udUs5
Gen and The Degenerates – https://youtu.be/UNFB5V4Jf7c?si=CjGd4tO6rdceGOb0
Berries – https://youtu.be/Zfc3CyYpN6g?si=pZ0lIkgRTwYuMCDf
The Baby Seals – https://youtu.be/eT5RR92tGsA?si=Yt_b2zSZHtg7RQy4
Bugeye – https://youtu.be/FECf3wAEDe8?si=FqW_HqcaxdIx13KK
The Subways – https://youtu.be/lLZvJ_rtZO8?si=f9use_ejvH0D1485
