Festivals

Looking for the latest lineup, date, ticket information or latest news about your favourite festivals, look no further.  Summer Festival Guide’s Festival News section covers all your needs!

My Bloody Valentine set for Polands Off Festival

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To call My Blood Valentine's new album one of the most eagerly awaited records in the history of rock would be an understatement. The long wait for the follow-up to Loveless can only be compared to that of Guns N' Roses' infamous Chinese Democracy, with the difference that Axl's fans, who had grown up in the meantime, simply ignored his new album, while the followers of My Bloody Valentine, though furious at Kevin Shields for repeatedly postponing the release date of m b v, waited faithfully for the promised record. So loyal were they that when the band announced the immediate release of their new material one February night a few weeks ago, the band's website promptly crashed under the deluge of fans eager to buy the digital LP.

My Bloody Valentine

But there's another fundamental difference between the two: m b v was actually worth the wait! The album is, by all standards, outstanding; a worthy successor to Loveless, one that builds on the themes sketched out 22 years ago while at once broadening the band's musical horizons to encompass new and intriguing artistic dimensions. The record became an instant classic, winning critical acclaim from both reviewers and fans, who immediately forgave Shields his sins of omission.

We're proud to announce that My Bloody Valentine will be performing at the 2013 OFF Festival!
The band resumed playing live shows five years ago. And while the performances aren't too frequent, the group makes up for the lack of quantity with superior quality: My Bloody Valentine's live act is as legendary as the volume of sounds produced by the artists. We've hosted many of Shield's excellent and talented students at the OFF Festival, but it's about time we saw the original: don't miss My Bloody Valentine this August in Katowice!

Kasabian & Bruce Springsteen to headline Hard Rock Calling

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Paul Weller, Miles Kane, Kodaline, The Black Crowes, Alabama Shakes, The Cribs, Klaxons and Tribes are all confirmed in what is set to be one of the biggest Hard Rock Callings to date. Tickets are on sale at 9am on Friday 8 March 2013.

Kicking off what will be the first show at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London since the London 2012 Games, one of Britain’s biggest and most contemporary bands Kasabian are announced in a UK festival exclusive, making their debut appearance at Hard Rock Calling on Saturday 29 June. The multi-million selling BRIT award-winning band are ready to get crowds rocking with hits including ‘Processed Beats’, ‘Club Foot’, ‘L.S.F’, ‘Empire’, ‘Shoot The Runner’, ‘Fire’, ‘Underdog’, ‘Days Are Forgotten and festival favourite ‘Velociraptor’ spanning their four studio albums.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are confirmed for Sunday 30 June in what marks a third epic headline performance at the festival. Back for some unfinished business, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band will bring The Wrecking Ball Tour to Hard Rock Calling. Expect a high energy all out rock performance that goes down in history with some of their biggest and most loved hits plus a few surprises and special guests. 

Bruce Springsteen

Modfather Paul Weller joins Kasabian as special guest on Saturday 29 June, while US rockers the The Black Crowes and Alabama Shakes both join the Sunday 30 June bill. Some of the best of British indie, Miles Kane, Kodaline, The Cribs, Klaxons and Tribes are all confirmed for Saturday 29 June, with many more additions still to be announced across the weekend.

“Last year, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band made international news and history when their Hard Rock Calling encore with Sir Paul McCartney was unceremoniously cut short due to a noise curfew at Hyde Park. This summer we are giving Bruce and the band the opportunity to finish what they started and make history again with celebrated performance at Hard Rock Calling,” said CEO of Hard Rock International, Hamish Dodds. “Additionally, we are looking forward to christening Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with a Saturday lineup of some of Britain’s hottest talent, including headliner Kasabian, Paul Weller and more.”

Earlier this year it was announced that Hard Rock Calling will be held at a brand new home, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London providing a dazzling open-air live music experience this summer. It offers a chance to experience the excitement of watching the best in popular music at one of London’s most iconic sites.

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive, London Legacy Development Corporation said:

“Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is proving to be a fantastic draw for big names and we are delighted to be adding legends like Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band and Kasabian to this summer’s line up. We are on track to deliver a great summer, a top visitor destination and a great legacy for east London.”

My Bloody Valentine, Klaxons and more added to Berlin Festival lineup

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My Bloody Valentine will return to the city in which they recorded their debut EP, This Is Your Bloody Valentine, in 1985 for a very special show at Tempelhof. After a break of over 20 years, the directional Irish band fronted by mastermind Kevin Shields, released their third studio album, mbv, in February of this year. With the album receiving wide acclaim from critics and fans alike, their spectacular live show is sure to delight the Berlin Festival crowd.

My Bloody Valentine

British indie-rockers Klaxons are also set to perform at this years Berlin Festival. The nu-rave initiators, who first burst on to the scene in 2007 with their Mercury award winning album Myths of the Near Future, are now back with a brand new album to be released later this year.

After having sold out the Berlin-based Columbiahalle well in advance, fans of Fritz Kalkbrenner will get another chance to see him on stage at Berlin Festival. Mia. and Dillon will both play their only Berlin show this year at Tempelhof Airport and UK band Savages, one of the most promising acts of 2013, will make their Berlin Festival debut.

The newly introduced Club THF at Hangar 2 will cater to all the techno lovers amongst you. The first acts to be added to the event's line-up are techno icon Ellen Allien and the mighty John Talabot (live) setting the tone. 

The All-inclusive Festival Ticket, which gives festivalgoers access to Berlin Festival at Tempelhof Airport, Club Xberg at Arena and Club THF at Hangar 2 is available for EUR 129 plus booking fee. A free shuttle bus service from and to the venues is also included.

Headliners announced for Boardmasters 2013

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Day tickets are now on sale for Boardmasters:

Headliner Dates Announced – Day Tickets on sale NOW

·         Friday 9 August:                The Vaccines

·         Saturday 10 August:        Basement Jaxx

·         Sunday 11 August:           Ben Howard

Ben Howard

The Stranglers are confirmed to headline Galtres Festival

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Scoring 24 UK top 40 singles and 18 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning four decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most continuously successful band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s. Their legendary smash hits include Peaches, No More Heroes, Five Minutes, Duchess, Something Better Change, Always The Sun, Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl and Skin Deep amongst many, many others.

Festival director James Houston said: "This is a major coup for us. The Stranglers have stood the test of time brilliantly, with outstanding recent festival performances and a new album building on their extraordinary success over four decades. They are legends, we've always dreamed of booking them, and now they are coming. It will be a fabulous end to this year's festival at our spectacular new home."

The Stranglers occupy the big Sunday night spot occupied at Galtres by the Levellers, The Beat and Adam Ant in recent years. "Our event always ends on a big high," said James. "This year, as the sun sets over the North Yorkshire Moors, it will be a golden brown high!"

Known for their aura of danger and cool, the Stranglers begin their 2013 live campaign today in Scotland with an extensive 25 date UK tour, and concluding at Duncombe Park in August. The band, whose hits include 'Duchess', will play Galtres Festival's fittingly-named Duke Stage, overlooking the stately home.
In 1977 the Stranglers released their extraordinary debut album, Rattus Norvegicus and firmly established themselves as progressive punk outlaws.

The Stranglers first new album for six years, Giants was released in March 2012.  The record was critically acclaimed and saw the band complete another hugely successful UK tour, quickly followed by 23 dates in Europe.

Last summer the band played V Festivals, Hop Farm and Isle of Wight in the UK. They also played Germany’s major festival, Rock Am Ring & Rock Im Park and shows in Estonia, France, Belgium and Turkey.

T Break 2013 details

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Since 1996 Tennent’s have given Scotland’s top unsigned acts the chance to play the legendary T Break Stage at T in the Park. As from today, bands and solo acts from across the country can submit their demos for the chance to take to the stage at T in the Park’s 20th year celebrations.

Tennent’s passionately believe in supporting Scotland’s grassroots music scene and T Break offers acts an unrivalled opportunity to showcase their material to music industry experts and fans on the biggest platform for emerging talent at T in the Park – the T Break Stage.
 
The T Break judging panel is made up of 14 of Scotland’s most influential music industry experts including promoters, bookers, artist managers, music business academics and members of the media.  This team of music aficionados will listen to every demo before handpicking the acts to go on and play the T Break Stage over the 12th – 14th July.
 
George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship at Tennent’s Lager, said:
 
“Year after year we see a huge amount of Scottish talent coming through T Break. It’s no secret that we have a vibrant grassroots music scene in Scotland; something Tennent’s believe should be celebrated, encouraged and supported.  T Break achieves this through providing artists with a platform on the T Break Stage at T in the Park and through the industry exposure the bands gain throughout the whole T Break experience.  We can’t wait to hear from bands this year and to see who will be playing the T Break Stage at T in the Park’s 20th year.”
 
Dave McGeachan from T in the Park festival organisers DF Concerts, sits on the judging panel. He said:
 
“Every year the other judges and I are bowled over by the amount of fantastic demos submitted to T Break and whittling it down to the final 16 is always a huge challenge. There is always a special buzz at the T Break Stage, a kind of anticipation in the air that you could be about to witness something really special. T Break is an invaluable asset to Scotland’s grassroots music scene and something I’m always extremely proud to be part of.”
 
T Break 2012 acts Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward and Fisher and Brown Bear and the Bandits were named as two of The Scottish Sun’s, ‘Magnificent Seven – Scots acts set to be massive in 2013’. Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward and Fisher have also featured in the soundtrack to a nationwide advertising campaign for Caledonia Best and have been nominated for Best New Scottish band at the Scottish Variety Awards 2013.  
 
Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward and Fisher, T Break 2012 band, said:
 
“The experience was invaluable. I suppose when people think you’re good enough to play among the biggest names in the industry you can’t help but feel good about what you’re doing.  It’s wonderful to be sighted among the most exciting up and coming bands of the moment so keep it up T Break! There are plenty of up and coming Scottish acts deserving of their day on the T Break Stage.”
 
Not only does T Break provide bands with a huge platform to showcase their talent, it also continues to support bands long after they have played the T Break Stage. For example, previous T Break band Fatherson recently played T in the Park’s 20th year launch event in Glasgow’s SWG3 and former T Break band The LaFontaines provided the foot-stomping soundtrack to T in the Park 2013’s launch video.
 
T Break is open to musicians of all genres and each year attracts talented acts from across the musical spectrum.  To get involved entrants must be 18 or over, live in Scotland, and must be currently unsigned – full details on how to submit demos is available on www.facebook.com/TennentsTBreak and www.tennents.com/tbreakand entries must be submitted before the deadline of midnight on Friday 29th March.

Peatbog Faeries to headline Bearded Theory Festival

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They will be performing a unique Celtic Soundclash session with legendary progressive Celtic band Shooglenifty, in what should be an unforgettable climax to an incredible weekend of musical performances. 

Other acts performing on the Magical Sounds stage over the weekend include live performances from Subgiant, A Guy Called Gerald (feat Special Guests) and Sicknote. Ed Tangent, Kickflip, Clumsy and more than 25 other live acts and DJs will also perform.

Bearded Theory's Main stage hosts an extensive number of major artists from the UK and around the world. Friday boasts a double headliner line-up, featuring headline performances from both New Model Army and Reverend and the Makers. Also on the bill are Midlands heroes Ned's Atomic Dustbin, The Hummingbirds and Karine Polwart. Derby's very own indie chart toppers The Beekeepers will also play a rare live set.

Saturday's billing is topped by the legendary Asian Dub Foundation. Joining them are Seth Lakeman, Macka B, The Quireboys, Ruts DC, Citizen Fish, AHAB and Zombie Met Girl.

Levellers will close the festival in style on the Sunday night. They are joined on the bill by Stiff Little Fingers, The Farm, Goldblade, Ezio, New Groove Formation, and The Lancashire Hotpots. Local success story, The Life & Times Of Brothers Hogg complete the bill.

Michael Eccleshall, spokesperson for Bearded Theory Festival says, "We are delighted to announce that Peatbog Faeries have been added to the bill for Bearded Theory 2013. We believe they are the final piece in the jigsaw, completing our best ever line up ever! Everyone at Bearded Theory HQ is looking forward to welcoming you all to Bearded Theory 6 in May"

Warpaint, Dinosaur Jr, Dawes and more for End of the Road Festival

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The full A – Z list of artists confirmed today is as follows: Allo Darlin', Birthday Girl, Cayucas, Dawes, Dinosaur Jr, East India Youth, Ethan Johns, Indians, The Leisure Society, Cass McCombs, The Staves and Warpaint.

Ticket prices for End of the Road Festival 2013:

Tier 4 tickets (currently on sale) are priced as follows:

Adult weekend (incl. camping): £165

Youth 13-17 years (must be accompanied by an adult): £125

Child 6-12 years (must be accompanied by an adult): £50

Child 0 – 5 years (must be purchased in advance & accompanied by an adult): Free

Campervan / Caravan pass £55

Noah and the Whale, Everything Everything + more for Sound City

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Noah and the Whale are used to playing huge venues but will play a much more intimate show in Liverpool at the Anglican Cathedral, the perfect setting for a much fuller sound that belies their more folksy beginnings.  The band release their fourth album ‘Heart Of Nowhere’ in May and will showcase tracks from it at this very special show. 

Band of the moment, Everything Everything recently released their second album ‘Arc’ to widespread critical acclaim and their art-funk stylings are not to be missed.  Melody’s Echo Chamber’s kaleidoscopic fusion of psych rock and warm hypnotic pop is a thing of great beauty whilst the futuristic indie pop of New Yorker Darwin Deez and crystalline leftfield pop of Manchester based Dutch Uncles will also be two hot Sound City shows.  Delphic’s debut album heralded a reappraisal of dance influenced rock music and paved the way for the current crossover success of the genre and their second album ‘Collections’ sees them heading into even more adventurous territory.  The experimental drone of Oneohtrix Point Never and noisily drenched voodoo pop of local band Stealing Sheep will take music matters in a much more avant garde direction.
 
Punky blues rock from the Peak District comes courtesy of Drenge, a band being tipped by everyone to watch out for in 2103 whilst blog queensPins showcase why the North West contines to produce the UK’s most exciting music.  Savages are another girl band whose post-punk is rapturous, passionate and intriguing.  Wave Machines second album ‘Pollen’ was a masterpiece that met with huge critical acclaim and their homecoming show at Sound City will show why they are one of the best bands the city has produced.
 
Also newly announced today are: Alessi’s Ark, Jetta, Bipolar Sunshine, Loom, Deep Sea Arcade, Blackeye, Skaters, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Wolf People, Splashh,  Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs, Lulu James, Arcane Roots, Still Corners, Luls, Hands, Wild Smiles, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam, Mikill Pane, Bebe Black, Jacob Banks, Bo Ningen, Big Deal, Night Engine, Mind Enterprises, Golden Fable,Likely Lads.
 
Having previously announced acts such as Dexys, The Walkmen, Enter Shikari, Reverend and the Makers, AlunaGeorge, Thee Oh Sees, Mount Kimbie, Future Of The Left, King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Darkstar, Toy and more, Sound City underlines its commitment to showcasing the world most exciting new talent, up close and personal.
 
Sound City also boasts an acclaimed convention giving attendees the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the music and entertainment industry.  Giving a keynote speech for 2013 will be Andrew Loog Oldham, former PR man for The Beatles and manager of the Rolling Stonesand Sound City will also present Set In Stone a photo exhibition of the history of the Stone Roses by Ian Tilton who has documented the band at every stage of their career from the initial hectic gigs and TV performances to their reformation in 2011.  Many of these images have never been seen before.
 
A big focus in 2013 will be to provide key insights in the workings of a band and Murph from The Wombats and his manager Simon Bobbet will talk about the unique relationship between and band and its manager.  Enter Shikari In Focus will speak to the key people around the hardest working band in Britain and Tracey Thorn will discuss a career which has spanned 30 years in the music industry.
 
‘Social Media Hellraiser’ Jon Morter was behind the Rage Against The X Factor campaign and worked on the fight to save BBC 6 Music.  He has worked on campaigns for artists such as Nirvana, Sex Pistols and the recent Number 1 album for the Rolling Stones and was instrumental in the success of the recent Christmas Number 1 with the Justice Collective in aid of the Hillsborough families.  His panel will highlight the potency of social media.
 
Many more panel, speakers and guest will be announced for the convention shortly.
 
LINE UP TO DATE
 
Noah and the Whale / The Walkmen / Dexys / Everything Everything / Enter Shikari / Thee Oh Sees / Darwin Deez / Delphic/ Mount Kimbie / Reverend and the Makers / AlunaGeorge / Dutch Uncles / King Krule / Oneohtrix Point Never / Future Of The Left / Toy / Wave Machines / Egyptian Hip Hop / Stealing Sheep / Drenge / Savages / Melody’s Echo Chamber / Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Ian Prowse & Amsterdam /Darkstar / Outfit / Swim Deep / Alessi’s Ark / The 1975 / PINS / Wolf People / Theme Park / Jetta / Hawk eyes / Bipolar Sunshine / Loom /Deep Sea / Arcade / The Family Rain / Blackeye / Skaters / Splashh / Charlie Boyer & The Voyeurs / Dan Croll / Soley / Lulu James / Arcane Roots / Still Corners / Luls / Hands / Wild Smiles / Mikill Pane / Bebe Black / Jacob Banks / Murkage / Bo Ningen / Big Deal / Amateur Best /Night Engine / Fossil Collective / Marmozets / Hacktivist / Brolin / Mind Enterprises / Golden Fable / Neck Deep / Likely Lads

Seth Troxler, Dubfire and more for Exits Dance Arena

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Traditional as ever, EXIT's intent to drip feed the line up is torturous but you know that it's always going to be an enormous one, upfront, varied and full of crazy times! First acts to be revealed on the Dance Arena are:

Seth Troxler, Dubfire, Pan-Pot, Matador live, Subb An b2b Adam Shelton, Apollonia & Deniz Kurtel

We are delighted to welcome back Resident Advisors' No.1 DJ Seth Troxler, since entering the scene Seth has ignited the world of house and techno with a barrage of critically acclaimed vocal jams. Under the label 'Visionquest' Seth, Shaun Reeves, Ryan Crosson and Lee Curtis have made some groundbreaking music, their most recent remix being a track from David Lynch's debut artist album. Together their 'Visionquest' project has spawned the most exciting new record label in dance music today.

Dubfire also makes a welcome return, after wowing the crowd's at the EXIT 10th Birthday with a legendary back to back (click2click as they called it) set with Richie Hawtin. This time around the Grammy-winning recording artist Dubfire will have the decks all to himself, ready to take the EXIT crowd on a journey with his renowned, seamless sets.

Pan-Pot have become a dominant presence in modern techno, an ascent mirrored in the rise of their home label 'mobilee records' to the top tier of electronic music. They are "the dark side of the force", they've melted minds, warped perceptions and reinvigorated the dancefloor with their heady, unorthodox sound. All we can say here in Dance Arena mordor is hell yeah, bring it on.

We love techno and we know you do too so we've also got Matador live twisting your tiny little minds. We won't tell you his real name because it's not as scary as Matador but we'll tell you that his journey into techno first began when listening to early DJ compilations, 'Dave Clarke's World Service', 'Richie Hawtin's Decks Efx 909' and various others. "Deep, Dark, Chuggy, Warped, Trippy, Driving… once it?s interesting, I'm on it" he states, so you can only imagine what he's going to be doing. 

For deep house lovers we introduce Subb An b2b Adam Shelton, from sultry and atmospheric sounds to the acid-drenched and techy, the pairing of these two will be something worth salivating over.

Apollonia are the next big thing! They are a collaboration of three of Paris underground's hottest exports, Shonky, Dan Ghenacia and Dyed Soundorom who are gearing up for a back2back2back showcase spectacular. They are Circo Loco's favourite French trio, playing at the Ibiza club DC10 all summer and now we too will get a taste of that sweet honey. DJing together with one-vinyl-each, back2back concept for the full duration of the show… Boom!! And who said vinyl was dead?!

Last but certainly not least we have the first lady to be announced, Deniz Kurtel a striking and uniquely gifted producer, her first releases were the 'Whisper' EP and her remix of No Regular Play's 'Owe Me' on Wolf + Lamb and recently she has released her 'Yeah' EP and remixed the single 'Fables & Fairytales' by N/A on Crosstown Rebels, and her debut album 'Music Watching Over Me' solidified her as 'one to watch' and we're looking forward to seeing what she's got up her sleeves.