Orbital reform in 2009

Orbital fans, try to remain calm – the brothers Hartnoll are reuniting to play a very special gig at the Big Chill in August 2009.

Next year marks an important anniversary in the Hartnoll family – Phil and Paul recorded the dance chart hit ‘Chime’ on their father’s cassette recorder in 1989.

The rest is dance music history, as Orbital spent the next 15 years putting on the raucous audio-visual gigs, releasing countless club hits, tearing up festivals and paving the way for today’s live-electro acts.

Orbital are at their best playing a festival, so 2009’s Big Chill event in August is a perfect setting for their first gig in five years. “It’s not an exercise in nostalgia, the time just seems right,” said Orbital’s Phil Hartnoll. “Everything just seemed to fall into place. I’ve played at the Big Chill before, I DJed there and had a really good time - it’s an amazing festival.The timing is also good: 20 years of being together.”

Big Chill tickets go on sale December 1st, but you’ll have to watch this space for gig details. The Big Chill PR guys weren’t ready to spill many beans: ‘plans for the gig are under wraps; but expect wall-to wall anthems, expansive audio-visuals – and the return of Paul and Phil’s trademark torch-glasses.’

Orbital www.loopz.co.uk
The Big Chill, 7-9 August 2009 www.thebigchill.net

Beyond Orbital, Paul Hartnoll