After a massively successful first year of operation, Big Ape celebrates in style with its first ever National Tour.

And not just any old, slapped together production either. This tour puts together the best names in dubstep today.  A line up that represents where dubstep came from, what it should be and where it’s going.  The acts have always brought something unique to the table. With roots in grime, garage and hip-hop, each one of them has had a major impact in shaping the dubstep genre.

Put your hands together for the Big Ape National Tour featuring SKREAM and his partner in crime Sgt Pokes, JOKER and PLASTICIAN.

SKREAM

Croydon’s musical wonderkid. At 15 he discovered making music. Five years later he’s changed the course of UK urban music, having helped build the foundations of London’s most exciting new musical style, dubstep. But he’s barely started yet: because right now, Skream is an artist on fire.

One of dubstep’s first and most prominent producers, he is often hailed as the ‘ambassador’ of the growing genre.

Most famous outside the dubstep community for his crossover hit ‘Midnight Request Line’ released in 2005 on Tempa, he continues to churn out classics at an amazing rate, including his ‘Skreamizm’ vinyl series and a self-titled album, and his recent hit “Anticipate” featuring Sam Frank.

Skream is big time and his drops are even bigger.

JOKER

In 2007, with the underground in the midst of grime exploding nationwide and dubstep beginning to show new possibilities for UK bass music, a then 16-year old Joker was making his first contribution to the scene he’d later go on to help define. Against the backdrop of Bristol’s rich musical heritage, he was well placed to thrive. After releasing his debut, the Kapsize EP (named after his late cousin, a tribute he has continued with, being the name of his label too), he went on to release five more 12″s in 2008. Included among them were splits with peers Jakes, TRG and Rustie.

Forward to now and having signed a deal with 4AD, he finally appeased his waiting public in late-2011 with the release of his debut album, The Vision. Having premiered it at Glastonbury Festival with the numerous vocalists involved, it represents five years of hard work. Old fans were pleased that trademark instrumentals are there in abundance, from the Vangelis inspired album opener (‘Intro’) to established classics ‘Tron’ and ‘My Trance Girl’, which showcase the muscular synths and sharp drum snaps for which he has become renowned to the warmth of the heady height of summer album closer, ‘The Magic Causeway’, performed with Ginz.

These were complimented by a number of startling vocal collaborations that also show just how far his sound has come; with inspired contributions from fellow rising stars like Jessie Ware on the Radio 1 playlisted ‘The Vision (Let Me Breathe)’, Jay Wilcox on ‘Electric Sea’ and Silas from Turboweekend and William Cartwright on forthcoming singles, ‘Slaughter House’ and ‘On My Mind’. He also found the time to round up Buggsy, Shadz, Scarz and Double (KHK-SP) to record ‘Back In The Days’, the definitive Bristol track he’s been promising to make.

This boy is on fire!

PLASTICIAN

Chris Reed, also known as The Plastician (formerly Plasticman), connects east London grime to the south London dubstep scenes as DJ and producer from Thornton Heath in the London borough of Croydon. His participation in the Rephlex Grime compilations, his primetime radio shows on Rinse FM and his BBC Radio One Residency slot on the ‘In New DJs We Trust’ show have contributed to the rise in popularity of dubstep and grime. The Plastician has released records on labels such as Rephlex Records, Soulja, ROAD, Slimzos, A.R.M.Y. and Southside Dubstars. The Plastician also runs his own label; Terrorythm Recordings. Killer sounds!

National Tour Dates

Perth – 18 July 2012 / Villa Nightclub

Brisbane – 19 July 2012 / Family

Melbourne – 20 July 2012 / Billboards

Sydney – 21 July 2012 / The Metro

Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au

GA First Release: $60 + BF

GA Second Release: $65 + BF

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