Thom Yorke / Atoms for Peace are the newest stars of Malta Festival Poznań

Malta Festival Poznań will provide us with lots of wonderful music again. At the end of this year’s extended edition of the festival, ATOMS FOR PEACE will perform on July 20. This is a supergroup gathering the charismatic frontman of Radiohead, Thom Yorke and one of the best bass players in the world, Flea of Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Thom Yorke will visit Poznań for the second time, again at the invitation of Malta Festival Poznań. He was here four years ago with Radiohead, for a concert of the ‘Poznań for the Earth’ cycle, organised by Malta and ordered by the city. Now, together with friends of his new band, he will perform at the first concert promoting in Poland the debut record of ATOMS FOR PEACE– Amok.

The line-up of ATOMS FOR PEACE consists of Yorke and Flea, as well as Radiohead’s long-term producer, Nigel Godrich (keyboard and synthesisers), drummer Joey Waronker known for his collaboration with among others Beck and R.E.M., and Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refosco (percussion) who played with David Byrne and Brian Eno. The musicians met at the end of 2009 – at the request of Yorke, who wanted to present songs from his solo album The Eraser live. Already during the first performance, the band played Judge, Jury, and Executioner, called by Yorke the first joint song of ATOMS FOR PEACE. In September 2011, news was released on the record being a work in progress, and a year later the ‘Atoms’ released the Default single on iTunes.

The debut record of the band, Amok, was released on February 25. It gathered wonderful reviews, and a week after the release became number 5 in the Official UK Albums Top 100 listing  - the highest among new records. The announcement of the first European tour of ATOMS FOR PEACE sparked a wave of enthusiasm among followers of particular musicians of the supergroup, and among fans of their bands. This makes the fact that Malta Festival Poznań belongs to the tour schedule even more special.

Thom Yorke definitely plays the leading role in the band; yet as the reviewer from Rolling Stone magazine notices - Amok dispels all the doubts concerning the core of ATOMS FOR PEACE. This is not just a set of session musicians supporting the star, but a true band, or separate space which allows people create a new quality, and frees their energy afresh. Amok is the warmest and most ‘crazy’ record among Yorke’s achievements. In these nine songs computer technology clashes with wild and funky improvisations. The pleasure which Yorke has from playing with the ‘Atoms’ is clearly heard; he sings freely, easily and in a laid-back manner. This is rarely heard at Radiohead records. He is present here and now, got lost in the rhythm and has oh-so-much fun. What perfectly drives the whole work, are loopy bass parts by Flea*.

On July 20, we will be able to experience the new and captivating energy generated by ATOMS FOR PEACE – as the closing act of Malta Festival Poznań, and we will be among the first people in Europe to do that.

Even before that, on June 28, we would like to invite to a meeting with a legend of electronica and one of the most important bands ever - KRAFTWERK.

ATOMS FOR PEACE @ Malta Festival Poznań, Poland, July 20, 2013,

Tickets go on sale from March 15.

Ticket prices:

189 PLN – 15.03.2013 - 31.03.2013

198 PLN – 01.04.2013 - 31.05.2013

220 PLN – 01.06.2013 - 28.06.2013

Tickets for Malta Festival Poznań events can be bought at www.malta-festival.pl and www.eventim.pl.