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Get Hard NYC (No, Not in That Way)
M.I.A, Sleigh Bells and others perform at Hard NYC
The original line: “Sometimes I feel like sitting on ferries to Governors Island” (Photo: HardFest.com)
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The unassuming South Island Field at Governors Island will be transformed on Saturday, July 24 into the grounds for Hard NYC, a two-stage dance party with music from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. The headliner? None other than M.I.A., one of the most popular artists in the world right now and whose /\/\ /\ Y /\ comes out next Tuesday, July 13 (but is currently streaming on M.I.A.’s MySpace). Hard NYC will be M.I.A’s sole East Coast stop, and one of only two North American dates (the other being Hard L.A. a week prior). She’s known to put on a great show and many of the other artists performing are friends of hers, so Hard NYC should be quite the evening—and yes, M.I.A. will probably sing her mega hit, “Paper Planes.”
Other scheduled performers include:
Their debut album Treats was ranked by Encore as the eighth best album of 2010 so far, so clearly, we like Sleigh Bells.
A three-man rap group from Cape Town, South Africa, Die Antwoord’s first U.S. show was this past April at Coachella, a performance that proved popular, so they’ll be ready for Hard NYC. The trio first found success via YouTube with “Enter the Ninja” (5.2 views) and “Zef Side” (2.3 million). As someone who works for the internet (yes, for), I’m jealous.
The 19-year-old Ryeisha Berrain was the first artist signed to M.I.A’s N.E.E.T. record label. Here’s how she was discovered, as told to GrooveEffects: “I did a song in Baltimore and Maya overheard it. I was in the studio and Diplo and Maya were there, and Maya said, ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve been looking for you for the longest time.’ After that I started making music with Diplo.” So, yeah, the woman behind “Shake It to the Ground” is good.
If the Beastie Boys grew up in present-day Brooklyn and rapped lines like, “You better watch out ’cause somebody gonna get pregnant,” this is what they’d sound like. Reverend McFly, Telli Gramz and DJ Teenwolf make up Ninjasonik (or is that Sonik fuckin’ Ninja?), the finest punk/rap/club group out there.
Also performing: Skream, Benga, Nguzunguzu, 12th Planet, Theophilus London, Borgore and Destructo.
Hard Fest first came to NYC last year, with a lineup of Crookers, Major Lazer, Rusko, Jack Beats and Destructo playing at Terminal 5. Due to the show’s popularity, this year’s festival was moved to a larger space to accommodate the expected crowd increase. Hence, the great outdoors of Governors Island.
Tickets for HARD NYC ($55) can be purchased here, and all other information can be found on HardFest.com.