Our History
Originating and founded as the Brighton Hip Hop Festival (BHHF) by a small team in 2004 and rebranded in 2008, RISING STYLES (RS) has become the UK’s largest celebration of International Hip Hop culture. Over the past number of years the festival has gone from strength to strength and is recognised as a must attend event for all Hip Hop enthusiasts, as well as anyone with an interest in the many art forms that are comprised within the culture.

Curated and delivered by arts development agency KALA PHOOL, RISING STYLES exists as ‘not for profit’ to celebrate the richness, strength and diversity of Hip Hop culture, with many of its events free to attend. Historically the festival has been supported by a range of the large public funders. The 2006 festival was a huge success with more than 25,000 people attending throughout. In 2007, despite last minute funding difficulties we saw thousands attend the various events, largely thanks to the sector, local businesses and new funders who stepped up and supported the project. We have even had festivals which have been delivered with extraordinarily low budgets but this is not sustainable and all the help we can achieve enables the hundreds of artists involved to thrive.
Rising Styles and the future

Building on the success of previous years, the 2010 festival currently being developed will boast a fantastic line up of high profile events, designed to appeal to audiences new and old that were bigger and better than ever. They included:

    * Launch event in London
    * Fresh Styles Hip Hop Film Festival
    * Poetry and MC shows
    * Youth workshops in music production, MC-ing, DJ-ing, breakdancing and art and design
    * Live public art through Frieze Box
    * Battlejam (a day long breakdance event)
    * Hip Hop Foundation (educational programme)
    * Festival Music
    * Performances

RISING STYLES has seen attendance figures go through the roof over the years! With people travelling from across the globe we were certainly kept busy!

Sponsorship
As a not for profit festival run by a small team of volunteers and the need for financial support is immense. If you are a sponsor who wants to connect with this dynamic sector and varied audience then do get in touch. This is your opportunity to be a part of something spectacular that shouts from the rooftops its commitment to Hip Hop’s grassroot beginnings and become a festival Hero.

Contact us if you wish to support Rising Styles.

The Corin Amis trio boast a dynamic set featuring timeless classics from the 1950′s up to the modern charts. We are the halfway house between a full electric band and an acoustic act, this gives us the means to create the perfect atmosphere for you! Be that a toned down relaxed vibe or a lively party atmosphere – The Corin Amis trio can make it happen!

An indie/new wave/post-punk band from SF, Subculture fleshes out their own interpretations of this genre to create a moody brand of rock with driving bass lines and shimmering guitar work. They boast a dynamic stage presence and set themselves apart from the typical band by switching instruments among members during performances, creating a powerful and energetic mood.

Future Selves is Subculture's debut EP. Make sure to check us out on Facebook and we'll keep you updated on when we play live. Thanks for supporting indie music, love you.

Umberto Porcaro, singer, guitarist and band leader was born in Palermo in 1979, but for his musical style may have been born in any town in Texas or California. In fact it is considered one of the most talented bluesman in Italy, and his ability led him to be appreciated abroad, both in Europe and the United States. "Umberto Porcaro & The Rollercoaster" was his first group and with this ine up he recorded You Belong To Me in 2002, followed by
his attendance at major Blues and Jazz Festivals and has the opportunity to share the stage with artists such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robben Ford, Roy Rogers, Canned Heat, The Blues Band. In 2005 he released his second CD Burn The Day Away with excellent recognition from Italian and foreign reviews. Umberto in 2006 moved to the States on the West Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Experience that took him closer to the giant exponents of the blues scene, with whom he performed around California, just to remember some: Kim Wilson, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Hollywood Blue Flames, Mark Hummel and RJ Mischo. Definitely important human experiences and music alongside these great artists have shaped his personal formation and style. In recent years he has collaborated with the Feelin 'Good Productions “artists family”, with whom hehad the opportunity to tour Europe offering his talent to artists such as Andy Just, Pat Wilder, Texas Slim, Vivian Vance Kelly and Brian Templeton. Umberto, after years of hot performances "live", has proven to be a musician of some artistic value, which has earned the respect of critics and the public, becoming one of the most experienced veterans of the contemporary blues scene, and not only in Italy! Featuring a rich voice, scratchy and passionate phrasing on guitar,pungent and pyrotechnic, Umberto has been able to develop and blend in a natural way the jump blues of the Californian school with the Chicago blues, adding a rough accent, sharp and aggressive, purely Texan: they are the hallmarks of a dynamic and exciting musical cocktail. This new album sees him in the studio with his new band, the Shuffle Kings, formed by Luca "Loppo" Tonani on bass and Lele Zamperini on
drums, who create a strong and powerful rhythmic section.
Both Luca and Lele have a wealth of experience really striking, that few others can boast. To further enrich this disc there are two very "special guests": veteran Max Lugli on harmonica, and the brilliant Henry Carpaneto on piano, what a stellar line up! Pleasure Is My Business is the first album of the trilogy of recordings planned to be released throughout 2013. Umberto's guitar work is wonderfully versatile, and overall, this is an excellent and totally successful modern blues-based set which incorporates elements from Californian Jump blues to Texas blues and roll, displays of highly rumbustious goodtime guitarwork.. This album is undoubtedly going to nail Umberto’s colours to the mast as a highly respected blues artist of the future and will, quite possibly, take him into some highly interesting.
The sixteen tracks collected here should, for best results, enjoyment and maximum effect, be heard very loud in your stereo!
Enjoy !

The story begins in the early Naughties in an independent record store owned by Graham Rawlings, where Umit Batman quickly found himself immersed in a job selling Vinyl with a like-minded soul. The duos love for House is quiet simply what brought them together. After vinyl sales failed to peak the store was forced to close down, but Umit and Grahams relationship with each other and music was yet to climax. Both have DJd and been part of the music scene for the best part of 10 years but Emkay was formed only a year ago, when the south London boys combined their production skills to birth a unique sound that they spend days on end in the studio crafting and perfecting. The group name was derived from their old stage names Misfit and Kartel and eventually MK, became Emkay.

Emkay have remixed for the Hoxton whores on World Sound music, Bassmonkeys & Soulshaker on AudioFreaks; a track that reached number one on the DMC charts over Christmas 2009 (but we dont like to boast about that early achievement too much), Cheri Moon (Which made it to number 2 in the Music Week Charts) Bizzy B ft Kosha and more. Collaborations have included Bizzy B, Kel Sweeney, Louis Latino and Paul Harris (Spanish Fly) who holds pride of place as vocalist on their more commercial Dance Tracks due to be released soon through their album that they are currently hammering away on. Add to this the launch of their underground label 'Grub Records' & The Boys have a lot on their plate! 

The duo have managed to create a bifurcation of sound; one with a zingy commercial edge where they produce hands in the air, dance floor stirring productions with relentless hooks and catchy beats. The other is their deeper underground side, mainly showcased in their remixes and of course their independent underground tracks that they produce.

Their sets drip with a deeply technical style where they use multiple effects machines, software and different forms of hardware. Part of the evolution of todays double acts doing more than just going back to back for a set, Emkay design a well thought out arrangement of sounds throwing loops, Acappella, samples and scratching into the mix creating a show for onlookers and making their live sets dynamic, interesting and consistently different. As they say we feel that music is there to be manipulated and re-generated. 
Amen.

ANCKORA, a Russian alternative/industrial band, is characteristic for its aggressive female vocals, heavy industrial riffs which create a uniquely tense and energetic atmosphere as well as an unforgettable and outstanding laser show.  The band has had numerous club and festival gigs both in Russia and abroad and enjoys an indisputable popularity with Russian, CIS and Europe fans of extreme music.  Having gone on several tours as a headliner, ANCKORA can boast with loads of touring experience, a fascinating show and dynamic music.  

Their music is a striking and melodic balance between heavy- and thrash-metal with a few traits of alternative music. The texts in Russian are devoted to the search for the truth both social - in life, and personal - inside each personality. The band's songs show a great melody and character variety which can certainly attract broad public attention. Unusual female leading vocals backed by a harsh male voice create a tense and energetic ambience. Every song contains an active essence of personal struggle either with the powers of nature or with delusions and contradictions of one's own which stop us from breaking down conservative traditions and gaining the freedom of self-expression.

Bill Parton Trio are William Parton (Vocals & Piano), Jeremy Martin (Bass) and Andrew Partington (Drums). The band hails from the city of Adelaide, South Australia. While there is no clear box to define the trio’s unique genre and sound, the lads classify their music as ‘Piano Pop-Rock’. To paint a picture, try and imagine the simplicity and catchiness of The Beatles, combined with Coldplay-like chords and melodies, the impressionism of Jeff Buckley and Radio Head, along with a dash of the relaxed chilled-out mood and atmosphere that Zero 7 are notorious for being able to create.

The trio are very proud to have released their self titled debut EP on Friday 2nd August 2013. The EP follows the successful release of singles ‘Going Away’ and ‘Falling For You Again’ which are featured on the EP. ‘Going Away’ debuted at No.10 on Amrap AirIt’s Great Southern Charts, qualified as a semi finalist in the 2013 Unsigned Only Global Songwriting Competition and spent six weeks in the Westsidewill.com Unsigned Artist Top Ten. ‘Falling For You Again’ was featured on Home Brew Radio, made the Three D Radio Top 20+1 and won best new track in Sonya Feldhoff’s ‘new music’ competition on 891 ABC Adelaide. The video clips for both singles have been nominated as finalists for the 2013 MusicOz Awards and between the two of them have accumulated over 95,000 YouTube views! The EP itself since being released has received incredibly generous amounts of community radio and street press support, has been playlisted nationally on ABC stations and charted as high has No.8 (so far) on the Three D Radio Top 20+1.

Following in the footsteps of many other great established bands and artists, the trio started off by paying their dues performing on the local circuit in order to hone their craft and make some cash. They boast a current performance tally of over 1000 shows, appearing at over 250 different venues! Besides the usual gigs at Pubs, Clubs, Bars and Wineries, over the years Bill Parton Trio have found themselves regularly engaged to perform at Private Functions such as Conferences, Gala Dinners, Balls, Cocktail Nights, Corporate Events, Birthday Parties, Product Launches, Festivals and MANY (WAY TOO MANY) Weddings!!! 

The band’s extensive festival record includes ‘Music In The Gardens’, ‘Sea & Vines’, ‘Cellar Door Sessions’, ‘Copper Cove Marina’, ‘NATUZZI’, ‘A Day On The Grass’, ‘Whitmore Square Arts Fair’, ‘Crush Festival’, ‘Hoot!’ and many more! The band has also made an appearance at the 2010 EMERGENZA World Band Competition and also qualified to the finals of the 2010 AACA National University Band Campus Competition.

The EP was recorded at Chapel Lane Studios (Adelaide) with the help of Producer Darren Mullan (The Angels, The Beards, John Swan, Russell Morris), Recording Engineer Adam Rhodes (Angus & Julia Stone, The Cat Empire, Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins), Assistant Engineer Gabriel Agostino (Lowrider, Sundance Kids, Hilltop Hoods) and was mastered at Disk-Edits Pty Ltd (Adelaide) by Neville Clark (Hilltop Hoods, Peter Combe, Levitators, Funkoars). Overseeing the A&R side of things was Matt O’Connor (Beautiful Girls, The Whitlams, Thirsty Merc).

Frontman William Parton explains… “‘The EP is the product of a heap of time, money, thought and effort. It represents common themes, simple chord progressions, catchy lyrics and tasteful melodies. We’re very proud of it and can’t wait to share it with everyone!”

To celebrate the release of the record, Bill Parton Trio hit the road to embark on a 10x show Australian national tour with Melbourne band Artist Proof and Sydney soloist Nathan Leigh Jones throughout August – September 2013. The tour provided a platform for the trio to put their dynamic, flawless and epic ‘stadium-esk’ live show on display in front of the nation. After both ‘wow-ing’ and gracing the audiences across the country with their tunes, it comes as no surprise that tour was a huge success.

Bill Parton Trio’s debut EP is available for purchase online via iTunes + all other major online digital music retailers as well as selected stores. The record is an absolute must listen for anyone who’s remotely a fan of: Coldplay, The Beatles, Keane, The Fray and Thirteen Senses.

“The find of the year” – Richard Margetson (ABC)

“Bill Parton Trio offer haunting melodies, well thought out lyrics and huge potential to be the next big thing worldwide” – Emma Walker (Love Music Magazine)

“Undeniably charismatic…stadium-standard piano pop rock” – Stephanie Liew (Inpress Magazine)

“Full of heart, full of meaning, drenched with charisma and damn catchy.” – Renee Jones (themusic.com.au)

"It would be easy to liken Bill Parton Trio to Ben Folds Five although the trio’s work is just as impressive. Intelligently-crafted, piano-based pop is very much the order of the day on what is a very mature release.” – Robert Dunstan (Music SA)

“Incredibly catchy” – Ryan Winter (Radio Adelaide)

"A decent body of work...a great voice and chemistry with the band." – Mark Holland (EMI)

After years of struggle and perseverance, the Steve Palmer Band finally releases their debut CD “Apparition” on Arythmia Records. Highlighted by stellar musicians, original and inspiring music and piercing lead vocals, their music is “timeless and transcends genre” (Celebrity Café 2010). Muzik Reviews gave it a five star rating adding, “Famous rock bands don't make this kind of music anymore,” and comparing the CD to Skynyrd, Springsteen, Dylan and Tom Petty. 

A ground breaking addition to the east coast rock scene, SPB carries on the proud tradition of winners like the Beatles, Led Zepplin and Chicago. They then meld the classics with contemporary trends generated by Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and Nirvana. With a unique sound, Palmer hopes to “transcend a segregated music industry and still reach Top 40 charts.” 

The single “Apparition” renews the rich widescreen pop-rock power of the 1970s for the modern zeitgeist. “Nothing To Do,” which Palmer co-wrote in England during an economic downturn, speaks to today’s hard times with enhanced resonance. “Livin A Lie” rocks with an antagonistic edge mocking those who misinterpret and ridicule those who are different. And “Living On The Streets” implores the youth to explore, understand and overcome cultural and religious differences. Throughout the CD there is an aching soul juxtaposed with a snappy soulful backbeat and gospel-inflected background vocals. 

Palmer has gathered the “best players and the best hearts” and formed them into a genuine and committed band. SPB currently includes Bryan Ewald (Musical Director / Lead Guitar), Brandon Bartlett (Drums) and Josh Chapman (Bass). 

SPB recorded “Apparition” live off the floor with minimal overdubs at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios, the ground zero recording facility for the city’s rock community thanks to fellow habitués like Kings of Leon and Jack White. While the CD was recorded three times and mixed six times at Cue, Sterling, Drop Trou Productions and Blackbird, Palmer has finally coerced a dynamic and contemporary sound out of multiple tiers of engineers, musicians and studios. 

“Music was always a big part of my life,” says Palmer. “It says so much about people, their lives and their emotional experiences. And it always made me feel good even in tough times. I could always express myself and my observations and weave stories with my creative mind. . . just like any good writer.” 

After committing himself full-time to music in 2002 and moving to Nashville in 2009, he has spent every waking hour battling fierce headwinds, writing, recording (in at least a dozen different studios), developing his band and growing a record company into a production, distribution and marketing label. Palmer currently resides outside Philadelphia where he grew up, attended Gladwyne Public Elementary School and played soccer, baseball and tennis as a kid.

In running Arythmia Records, Palmer mixes in street smarts he learned earning money working in yards, supermarkets and restaurants, founding a student paper in England, bringing student groups together to promote appearances by Dick Gregory, Chick Corea and Gil Scott Heron, working with Alderman Danny Davis on Chicago’s West Side and working for the disadvantaged in the Washington area.

Born in Denver, the SPB frontman entered his first studio at age 18. “I drew from the music I knew and loved as a kid. I grew up with bands like Steely Dan, The Beatles, the Stones, Peter Frampton and legends like Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Kansas and Billy Joel. And I learned to write from solo artists like Joni Mitchell, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Dylan, Harry Chapin, James Taylor and Usaf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). And my biggest rhythmic influences were Yes, Led Zeppelin and Joan Armatrading, and all the great jazz artists like Stanley Turrentine, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Herb Albert, Chuck Mangione and Weather Report.” 

Steve also listened to country icons like Willie Nelson, Kenny Rodgers, Dolly Parton and Waylon Jennings, just to name a few. “The first few songs I performed were ‘If I Were A Carpenter’, ‘Sunny’, ‘I Saw The Light’ and ‘Cat’s In The Cradle,’ which also got me writing stories in the different genres.” 

Palmer’s first of many performances to come was in sixth grade. By junior year of high school he had made his initial solo quarter-inch reel- to-reel recordings, followed soon by studio sessions at age 18 in Plymouth, England and then Connecticut with first call New York musicians. His schooling and later work were “to keep one foot in the ‘work world’ and the other searching and writing,” Palmer explains. 

He moved on to record in top studios in the Chicago area, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, Philadelphia and Nashville. “Unfortunately, no one really reached out or wanted to help and some people actually hurt us, so I just kept on recording and writing because it was something I had to do,” he explains.

In 2002, Palmer made it his 24/7 pursuit. In Nashville he found some dynamic players but he found a second group of great players and good people through his buddy Bryan Ewald. “Touring and recording was so problematic for us that I needed a group of loyal players who could roll with the punches on the road. So Bryan introduced me to Brandon Bartlett on drums and Josh Chapman on bass, both of whom I am tracking “Mirrors In Your Mind” with right now. Bryan has done a lot for me – no question about it. He’s a very giving person and a fantastic player.” 

The members of The Steve Palmer Band boast blue-ribbon live and recording experience with rockers like Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Pat DiNizio (Smithereens), Warren Zanes (Del Fuegos), Joe Grushecky (Iron City Houserockers), The Pierces and Niles Rodgers as well as such country staples Randy Travis, Little Big Town, Restless Heart, SheDaisy, Ronnie Milsap, Lari White and Ray Price. 

The group recently filmed three concerts in Nashville at Mercy Lounge, Sound Check and 3rd aVenue South, as well as a live music video at Blackbird Studio for their debut CD's title track. Clearly in it for the long haul, Steve’s indie label, Arythmia Records, distributes “Apparition”. “I didn’t want to do it this way but I had to. No one would help.”

“We're trying to bring back the best elements of music, art and culture for anyone who loves and is moved by music,” explains Palmer. As SPB hits the road in 2011 and beyond to spread its sound to every corner of the globe, Palmer is thrilled to finally share the music he has envisioned. He spent 2010 playing in front of Bob Schneider, Sister Hazel and Blues Traveler among others. 

“Getting this CD out to the public is my lifelong mission,” he says. “I am very happy with it and thrilled to try to get our sound out there and finally try to move the people with strong harmonic currents.”

Paolo Cecchetto was born in Padua in 1980. Thanks to his great passion for music, in 1997- at the age of 16- he joined the St@rg@me project as a resident DJ. Since then he collaborated with music clubs such as: ALTER EGO (Verona), INSOMNIA (Pisa), NIGHT & DAY, SPOT, JOIA and COTTON CLUB (Venice), BOOM and WILDCHILD (Vicenza), NIGHTWAVE (Rimini), STARKEY and NIAGARA (Treviso), THE BASE, THE GAME, PAR HASARD, ARPAX and DIGISTAR (Padua), PAPAJA, AIDA, EX and THE MURETTO in Jesolo (Venice). 
He took also part to prestigious AFTERs such as SPECIAL KEY and DARK CITY in Padua. 
From 2001 to 2005 he has been resident DJ of MAYDAY in Venice and played at the DYNAMIC (Treviso), PARTY CLUB (Rovigo), MATRIX (Brescia), CABANA (Venice), NIRVANA, EDEN 02, DIGISTAR, HEAVEN and EAST SIDE WORLD (Padua).
In summer 2005 he was one of the first DJs to invest in the seafront of Sottomarina, creating events such as EMBARASADA beach.
From 2005 to 2009 he was resident DJ at 909 where he shared the console with world famous DJs such as Carl Creig, Paul Ritch, Anthony Collins, Italoboyz, Scarlette Etienne, Shonky, Marc Antona, Marcell Dettman, Valentino Kanziani, Danilo Vigorito and Oliver Huntemann. He also collaborated with TNT, PACHUCA, CIELO and ZANZIBAR (Venice), DOMUS AREA and REPLAY in Foggia, BARRACUDA (Ferrara), VILLA SELMI (Rovigo), LE CLAN, TRILOGY and TRIBE (Padua), THE RANCH, and ALL IN (Treviso) and K-Club in Jesolo, where he shared the console with international DJs like JULIAN JEWEIL, MONIKA KRUSE, JEFF MILLS, UMEK and MARCO BAILEY. 
Founder and DJ of the PLAYALOCA project, now he is resident DJ in one of the most important Clubs in Italy: THE MURETTO in Jesolo. Moreover he is one of the protagonists at MARCO POLO (RELOAD), at PULSE FESTIVAL in Slovenia and at the CIRCOLO DEGLI ILLUMINATI in Rome.
Actually Paolo can boast more than 18 years of experience in the night music panorama with more than 2,000 events behind.
The experience as a DJ-producer started in 1999 with the EP “Enjoy the trip” (Tomahawk Rec.) and continued in 2008 with the release of the singles “Minimal Traktor” (BRG) and “Opters” (Mauro Alpha rmx) on the ambitious label Supreme Rec.
The release of “BLIND EP” on Borghese Incisioni in 2009 brought him to the top positions of the Minimal charts in the USA, and he got excellent reviews from a lot of famous DJs, protagonists of the most important events in NYC and Hollywood such as Damien Ford and DJ Erphun.
In 2010 the coming of "IN OUT, OPTERS, AFTERTEA and SPIRITIK ROOM” with the record company BRG.
In 2014 with the release of “Dia de Locos” EP, he rose the charts with the single NOCHE that RICHIE HAWTIN has played in all his American tour, choosing it as the opening disk at CREAMFIELD in Buenos Aires and during his dj set at TIME WARP in NY, to name but a few.
A Disk Jockey of strong personality, he distinguishes himself for his dj-sets TECH-HOUSE that combine house music sound to culminations of techno influences. The refined and extreme use of vocal samples and filters make his whole BACKGROUND particularly lively.



Hailing from the flatlands of Bedford in the UK, Pirate Radio are an Alternative Rock band bursting with passion, soul and groove-laden alternative rock 'n' roll!

PR boast a diverse sound coloured with textures and flavoured with 90′s grunge/Alt rock. Mixed with the bravado of 70′s classic rock, with hints of Metal/Hard Rock/Stoner Rock/Punk/Pop/Blues/Soul, Pirate Radio are a driving, sonic beast of huge guitars, pounding bass & drums with raw uncompromising vocals & melodies.

Comprising of Rob Muir (Guitars & Throat Lozenge Addiction), Peter Hunt (Guitar maestro & sky-scraping), Simon Wilson (Bass & the In Yo Face) and Daniel James (Drums & Gate Keeping of Time) PR are currently touring the haunts of the UK, building the PR fan base (Los Illuminados or The Enlightened) and gearing up to record and release a brand new EP and preparing to unleash their debut album this year (2014).

PR are a band committed and passionate about bringing emotional, groove-laden, textural, dynamic and above all real music made by real musicians back to the masses. In the age of a saturated popular music culture…everybody needs an outlet, everybody needs Pirate Radio!

Cody Louis is following