Month: August 2011

Blingley Music Live update

by
Regardless of the temperamental summer weather, you’re going to have to dig out your Ray Bans to get your peepers round the glittering line-up of acts heading to Bingley Music Live this summer – from reggae-metal, blistering alt-rock and indie to bubblegum pop, Motown soul, grime and chart-topping dubstep.
 
This all-embracing attitude to great music is what makes Bingley Music Live so unique. Where else are you going to find SKINDRED and ELIZA DOOLITTLE on the same bill? Answers on a postcard, please…
 
So let’s see. Who’ve we got? First and foremost, there are the headliners. New York funk-rockers FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS will top the FREE Friday night bill. Saturday night sees Geordie art-rockers MAXIMO PARK apply some pressure, and the mighty CHASE AND STATUS will bring the weekend to an explosive close.
 
Dishing out the beats over the weekend will be rising grime star DOT ROTTEN and collaborator RUSSO, British hip-hop heroes STEREO MCs, Example’s Unorthodox pal WRETCH 32 and Brighton’s wild style hip-pop guitar-rockers THE GO! TEAM.
Then there’s the sun-kissed pop of ELIZA DOOLITTLE, young soul sensation DIONNE BROMFIELD and the psychedelic pop-rock delights of ALICE GOLD.
 
Plugging in and rocking out will be YOUNG GUNS and SKINDRED, and  FEEDER, THE CORAL, ATHLETE, MYSTERY JETS, THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND, and JON FRATELLI will provide the indie hits.
 
Scooby Snacks? Connected? Wires? Buck Rogers? Dreaming Of You? Skinny Genes? Going Missing? Warning? Time? Whoever helps you get your groove on, there’s going to be a huge sing-along festival moment in there for everyone.
 
Over the last four years, music legends like THE BUZZCOCKS, HAPPY MONDAYS, JAMES, and PUBLIC IMAGE LTD and upcoming new artists and some of today’s hottest acts like EDITORS, THE BLACKOUT, EXAMPLE, THE FUTUREHEADS and KASSIDY have played to crowds of around 15,000 each day at Bingley Music Live.
 
We dare you to find a festival which focuses as much on family-friendliness and value for money as it does on the great acts to grace its stage. Bingley Music Live is about getting together and having a great time before the summer calls it quits once again.
 
Weekend tickets are available from HMV stores around Yorkshire, Crash and Jumbo in Leeds, Attick in York, Leeds Visitor Centre and TICs around Yorkshire, and online at www.seetickets.com, priced £35 (plus booking fee).  For more information, visit www.bingleymusiclive.com
Bingley Music Live

The first Persil Pass on the Love Picnic at Camp Bestival is a storming success

by
Jo WhileyDJ and mum-of-four Jo Whiley hosted the first ‘Persil Pass on the Love Picnic’ at Camp Bestival on the weekend. Mums and kids were encouraged to hold a picnic and bring newly washed soft toys for another child to love – for fun family picnic ideas and more visit www.netmums.com/persilpassonthelove
  • The traditional teddy bears picnic is set for a refresh this year thanks to Jo Whiley and Persil 2in1 with Comfort
  • We all know that kids quickly grow out of their teddies, so rather than throw them away, Jo is encouraging mums to bring their old (but clean!) soft toys and then pass them on for another child to love – either by swapping with a friend or donating them to charity partner Oxfam who will sell them on
Festival-lover Jo Whiley says “As a mum, I know how difficult it can be to find family activities over the summer, which is why I think the fresh take on once-retro teddy bear’s picnics is such an inspiring idea. Toys will not only be given a new lease of life but with Oxfam, they can be passed on for other children to enjoy. Please host your own ‘Persil Pass on the Love’ picnic with friends and family this summer and let us know how you get on!”

Camp Bestival 2011 Review

by
As we head towards Lulworth Castle on Saturday, I am not quite entirely sure what to expect. Billed as a family friendly festival, I can only assume that Camp Bestival will be aimed more at the children and families rather than just the avid music lover. With a sold 30,000 crowd in attendance we were quite excited to find out what Camp Bestival is all about.
 
Camp Bestival
 
It’s a nice slightly overcast day at Lulworth Castle and upon entering, immeditely we are surrounded by children lining up for the ice cream van! Making our way towards the main stage, the sound of children having fun echos through the grounds, the kids are being entertained with things like mini golf, music shows, puppet shows and storey telling. The main stage faces in the direction of the impressive Lulworth Castle, banking down a slight hill, familes have setup picnics, there is food and drink everywhere, blankets are layed down and people are having a wonderful relaxing time.
 
Over the weekend the kids had plenty of keep them entertained all day. A medival theme brought about an array of both parents and children dressed as knights, jesters, princeses and more. With Dick and Dom performing on the main stage, as well as an appearance from the Zing Zilla’s and The Gruffalo, you cannot help but simle as the kids lap up the entertainment and sing and dance along. An area specifically dedicated to the children is filled with rides and the ‘Little Big Top’.  The Skrek and Fiona Singalong show is a treat and has the kids rocking along to ‘Im a believer’.
 
There is plently of entertainment for the younger and older adults as well, with performances from Blondie, Mark Ronson, Groove Armada, Katy B, Primal Scream and more. The lineup is aimed at both the young and old, and this winning formula has worked at Camp Bestival since its installment in 2007.
 
Camp Bestival 
Saturday saw The Wonder Stuff get the older crowd off their feet with a great performance of hits, followed by late running Miss Dynamite whos short but energetic set had the teenagers up front and centre. The lovely Eliza Doolittle graced the stage and with her soulful voice played her hits ‘Skinny Jeans’ and ‘Pack Up’. A mass crowd packed to see reformed House of Pain whose lyrics might not have been appropraite for some of the children there, had the entire crowd (young and old) jumping to their hit ‘Jump Around’. Mark Ronson’s tribute to Amy Winhouse was fitting as she passed a week ago, but this didnt stop him from playing an entertaining set. Joined on stage by The View’s ‘Kyle Falconer’ Mark Ronson performed Valerie and had the entire crowd singing along with him. Sound issues at the begining of Groove Armada’s set put a small damper on things, however once they were sorted, Groove Armada were back to their best, playing to a crowd which had now thined out as the young ones took refuge to rest back in their tents. Jaguar Skills in the Bollywood tent had the crowd dancing so hard that sweat began to pour off the ceiling!
 
Camp Bestival
 
 
Sunday at Camp Bestival was more of the same, great music and entertainment for all. Wretch 32 took to the main stage and opened with his latest hit with Example, ‘Unorthodox’, he had kids and parents alike bopping to his hop-hop beats. One of the acts I was most looking forward to seeing was Katy B whose set was jam packed of hits from her album ’On a Mission’. Her hits Perfect Stranger, Lights On, and Katy on a Mission had the crowd dancing from begining till end of her 45 minute performance. Beardyman’s impressive layered and tech infused beat making ability and skills on the mic had the bass pumping from the main stage sound system. Primal Scream closed Camp Bestival playing their classic ‘Screamedelica’ album in full as well as diving into their back catalogue to perform hits like ‘Rocks’.
 
Camp Bestival
 
A massive fireworks display at the end of Primal Scream’s performance signalled the end of another excellent and well organsied Camp Bestival. Showering over Lulworth Castle, the fireworks combined with projected images on the castle wall and the sound of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ made for a spectacular finale. For me Camp Bestival was one of the highlights of the festival season so far, combined with good music and a great atmosphere, this is one festival I would recommend!
 

RockNess launch incredibly priced weekend tickets for 2012

by
This exceptionally priced ticket will allow Festival Fans to experience as described by the NME ‘the UK’s most eye-wateringly gorgeous festival site’ without breaking the bank!  
 
Even better still, fans that want to come to a festival but find it difficult to find the funds all at once, will have the option to buy their £99 ticket in 3 instalments at the ridiculously low price of £33! 
 
Jim King, Festival Director commented, “We’re delighted to be able to offer this amazing ticket price.  When you think of the quality line ups that RockNess has every year there can’t be a more value for money 3 day festival ticket in the UK. The offer will be limited so we advise everyone to try their best to find the 1st instalment of only 33 quid and book as early as they can.”
 
RockNess 2011 saw historic headline performances from Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers and Paolo Nutini, drawing the biggest main stage crowds ever seen at the festival.  With stand out moments from Groove Armada, Magnetic Man, Glasvegas, Boys Noize, Emeli Sandé and Lucy Rose, to name just a few.  
 
The cogs are already turning in RockNess HQ to make sure that 2012 will be even bigger and better!
 
The £99 launch tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday 4th August via WWW.ROCKNESS.CO.UK

Global Gathering 2011 Review

by

We arrived at the Global Gathering at around 5pm and to my surprise a good crowd was already building in the grounds of Long Marsden Airfied. It is overcast above and there is no sight of the sun, it is warm and the ground is dry and that is all that matters! Walking into the grounds, past the tight security complete with police dogs, I immeditately noticed that the arena’s were now more spread out than in previous years. One thing that will never change is the great array of people that come out to Global each year. The costumes are out again in force this year, we run into some bananas, a large group of tigers, chickens and more!

Heading over to the main stage, we are just in time to see the infamous Jaguar Skills who always performs behind a ninja mask. Little is known about the man behind the mask, but this doesnt take away the fact that Jaguar can rock a crowd with his skills on the decks.

One of my favourite area’s at Global is the outdoor Toolroom Knights arena, there is always a great crowd here and Friday’s lineup was immense. Rocking the decks was Micheal Woods, coming straight off his success with Example’s ‘Changed The Way She Kissed Me’, he had the entire crowd jumping with hands in the air. As we look over from the front of the stage, all we see is a crowd full of smiles, they have a massive weekend of great music ahead and this is the perfect way to start. Special guest Benny Benassi kept the crowd going with his uplifting house set before making way for Toolroom Knights head honcho Mark Knight.

Global Gathering

With Above and Beyond having their ‘Group Therapy’ tent at Global this year, we were expecting nothing but uplifting trance and it was supplied by some of the heavy hitters in the scene, Super8 & Tab, Gabriel and Dresden, Gareth Emery, Sander van Doorn and of course Above and Beyond all graced the decks in this tent. Above and Beyond showcased their Group Therapy show with a spectacular music, video and lighting production and played a blinding set to a full house.

Underworld still promenintely play the festival circuit each year and we catch the trio, Karl Hyde, Rick Smith and Darren Price in the Global tent. With Karl on vocals and Rick and Darren on mixing, the trio certainly know how to whip a crowd into shape. Eric Prydz brough his EP/IC show to the Global tent this year and really only one word can describe it ‘Epic’. With a massive LED wall which curves around the stage and displaying amazing visuals, the show is on another level of production I have never seen before. As a massive fan, I knew that Eric would deliver a brilliant uplifting house and electo set, and that’s exactly what he did!

The main stage at Global is set totally seperate from the rest of the arenas giving plently of space to enjoy the headliners that hit the stage over the weekend. With Professor Green cancelling due to health reasons, and Steve Angello and Pendulum to perform, this was defintely the place to be. As night begins to fall, Steve Angello takes to the stage to huge applause. The crowd are massive Swedish House Mafia fans and Steve takes to the mic, ‘Are you guys having a good time, my names Steve Angello from the Swedish House Mafia, are you guys ready!’ As the bass drops and the pryotechnics blast out from the front of the stage, the crowd is jumping, and Steve drops banging track after banging track, including the massive ‘Save the World Tonight’, ‘Miami to Ibiza’, and ‘One (Your Name)’

Pendulum headline Friday night at Global Gathering and they have a huge stage rig complete with huge LED screens and a pryotechnics setup. Pendulum have featured on the lineup’s of festivals all around the world this year and they have the Global main stage crowd well and truely in the palm of their hands. With the energetic front man Ben Mount on the mic, their set are so full of energy you could actually power half the site with it! Hits like ‘The Island’ and ‘Salt In The Wounds’ have the crowd going insane and you can feel the crowd’s excitment as they plow through hits from their latest album Immersion, and the rest of their back catalouge.

Global Gathering

Although the sun did not come out to play, Global Gathering delivered yet another fine lineup and the crowd was on hand to enjoy every single moment of it.

Catch our interview with Above and Beyond before they took to the stage at Global Gathering 2011.

Click here to see our photos for Global Gathering

Creamfields 2011 SOLD OUT

by
It’s been announced that early bird 2 and 3 day camping tickets for Creamfields 2012 will go on sale 9am on Friday 2nd September 2011. 
 
2 day camping tickets will be priced at £100+BF and 3 day camping tickets priced at £120+BF.   Creamfields 2012 takes place on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August Bank Holiday weekend.
 
For info go to www.creamfields.com or to purchase early bird tickets go to www.ticketline.co.uk / Tel: 0844 888 4401 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk / Tel: 0844 847 2448 (24hr).