Month: May 2014

Red Bull Music Academy lineup announced for Field Day 2014

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The Summer Festival Guide has the latest announcement from Field Day HQ, the lineup for this years Red Bull Music Academy has now been announced.

We are excited to welcome back our long-standing partner Red Bull Music Academy to Field Day 2014, who will bring a taster of its global carousel of alumni and affiliates to Victoria Park. 

“Consistently presenting a roster of white-hot up-and-comers, Field Day remains one of the capital’s best showcases for new music.  Red Bull Music Academy, with its own worldwide agenda nurturing the next generation of musicians, makes for the perfect partner.”, Red Bull Music Academy

On Field Day Saturday, LuckyMe livewire and 2010 Academy alumnus Lunice tops the bill, bringing his signature dynamism and fancy footwork to the stage. Fellow Canadian Ryan Hemsworth joins the bill, offering up some sonic sunshine with his emotive blend of R&B, trap and pop, alongside G.O.O.D. beatsmith/Kanye collaborator Evian Christ, and Dutch deep-house heroine SOPHIE.  Rinse/NTS regular Slackk goes b2b with Pelican Fly’s Samename for some body-twitching raw grime/UKF, while elsewhere bass turbo DJ Barely Legal, Tri Angle affiliate Vessel, BBC Radio 1 ‘In New DJs We Trust’ cohort Moxie and Jamie Isaac, south-London’s nocturnal, electronic balladeer, weigh in.  

Field Day Sunday sees master of melodic, glitchy electronics and WhoMadeWho former glory Tomas Barfod headline, while voodoo bass outfit Nguzunguzu and genre-bending future-rap artiste Mickey Lightfoot step in. Panes, the band that sees singer Tyson McVey turn up the heat with Flesh & Bone’s Shaun Savage, join the roster alongside mysterious London-based producer and warp artist patten, who’s kept his identity masked in the shadows as his music seeks out the light, leaving soulful singer-songwriter and RBMA alumnus Louis Baker to complete the roll-call.

RBMA stage confirmed:

Lunice, Ryan Hemsworth, Evian Christ (DJ), Jamie Isaac, SOPHIE, Vessel (Live), Slackk b2b Samename, Barely Legal, Moxie

SUNDAY 8TH JUNE 2014

RBMA stage announced:

Tomas Barfod, Nguzunguzu, Louis Baker, patten (DJ), Mickey Lightfoot, Panes

"I am very pleased to have RBMA with us again this year. With a similar mentality and love for discovering great new music and talent, Red Bull Music Academy are the perfect partner for Field Day and it has been great to work with them over the years!",

Field Day co-founder Tom Baker

Handmade Festival 2014 Review

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For its second year, the burgeoning Handmade Festival, situated in a number of venues across the inner-city landscape of Leicester, brought in a diverse range of acts once again.

Headliners for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday amounted to Irish experimentalists And So I Watch You From Afar, Japanese pop-rock girl-band Shonen Knife and the rousing acoustics of Dry the River, a pretty eclectic mixture, I'm sure you'll agree! Throw in some top comedic acts interspersed throughout local talent and smaller acts, aswell as photography and art installations at some interesting venues, a great combination of entertainment all for just £30.

For me, it began on Friday evening with Matt Henshaw  at the Cookie. Henshaw had pre-empted his slot with a selection of photos featuring him alongside Leicester landmarks like the Clock Tower and the King Power Stadiumon on his Facebook page. It was a nice way to kick-off the festival as his soulful style was soothing, after a long week for the majority of the audience! Henshaw is appearing back at the Cookie in a month's time to launch his new EP, so the city obviously means a lot to him, something he pointed out inbetween songs.

I jumped over to the Firebug pub to check out MJ Hibbett & the Validators set upstairs. They attracted a sparse, yet involved crowd upstairs, as they rattled through a relatively short 30-minute set. The leader of the group, Hibbett has a great history with the music industry, creating his own music label 'Artists Against Success' and peppered with a few viral hits, including he claims, the first ever viral video. I liked the tight drumming and the use of a violin, shaking things up a bit, and the lyricism of Hibbett was subtle yet effect, in a similar vein to Melvyn Bragg.

From Firebug, it was then over to the exquisite Hansome Hall, my third venue of the night for the backend of Three Trapped Tigers' set. I emerged into the ex-theatre venue to see a room full of bouncing fans, as TTT had the crowd in the palm of their hand. From the brief end of the set, it was clear to see they were on fine form, a fact confirmed as I discussed with a fellow fan who'd seen the entirity of the set.

But it was undoubtedly obvious what the majoirty of said fans were there for, the experimental stylings of Irish band And So I Watch You From Afar. Having listened to some of their work beforehand, I was anticipating their arrival greatly, and I wasn't left disappointed. The three-pronged guitars were backed up brilliantly by their drummer and some choice cuts from last year's 'All Hail Bright Future's' LP went down a storm, 'Big Things Do Remarkable' and 'Eunoia' amongst them. Their second record has progressed them higher up the musical spectrum, so it was great to see them in such an intimate environment, where they filled the room brilliantly with their sound. What was great about the band was that they controlled the room with very little vocalisation, but when that did kick in, you felt the effect fully. It was a great ending to the first evening of fun, as the band told their ecstatic audience just how much they loved playing in Leicester, a city that has been great to them.

Saturday began with a set from locals Juniors. They played at Firebug, which again showed its impressive use of space for a live music venue. It was brash, loud start to the day as the alternative-rock the band plays throws in some ragged, raw riffs to create a pacy, head-pounding sound. 'Sharman's Rug' was the pick of the bunch, as Leicester's eclectic music production line looks to have created a new batch of stars.

Brawlers followed Juniors, and kept up the relentless pace. It was almost as if the two bands were in direct competition for who could be as fast as possible. Nonetheless, the quality didn't dip either, as they impressed immensely. I got a Dinosaur Pile-Up vibe from the foursome, whilst there were also shades of the Strokes too. Handmade did well to deliver two such exciting bands so early in the day. 

After settling down, I was ready for the calming acoustics of Katie Malco at the Bishop St Methodist Centre. It was a much different affair from the back-to-back rockers of earlier in the day, but it's clear to see Malco is just as talented, as her haunting vocals put her in the bracket of fellow songstress Emmy the Great. The use of a piano on 'September' elevated her gig even moreso, making me delighted I'd picked to see this rising starlet. Go YouTube her now and prepare to be excited!

The exciting thing about this festival is the sheer variety, for this you just have to go for Shonen Knife. A band who toured with Nirvana and taken influences from the likes of the Ramones and the Beach Boys are never going to be boring! They followed on from ASIWYFA the previous evening to take on the headline status at Hansome Hall, and they lived up to the high standards set on Friday night, with their range of tunes that delighted a passionate crowd. After seeing a lot of up-and-comers it was refreshing to see band who'd toured the world over and still had such love for the art, most bands should look at Shonen Knife as a great template to follow.

For me, Sunday was a quieter affair, beginning in the surroundings of the comedy basecamp, St Martin's Coffee Shop. I took my place in the terrfically decorated venue ready for a slice of comedy from 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' panellist and Pete Docherty lookalike Joey Page. Possibly the first observation from Page was of his passing resembelance to the Libertines frontman, as his eccentric show took in some Noel Fielding-esque stories of fantasy encounters with Eric Cantona in the five-item queue in Tesco Express…a ramble that began after thanking a guy called Stan for attending his show. Granted it might not be to everyone's comedic taste, but Page, admitting that the show was a smorgasboard of new and old material, had everyone roaring with laughter, especially with his discussion of just what has gone wrong with ITV's very own 'Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'. A great diversion from the excellent music I had seen up to that point.

Speaking in Italics followed up a show the other side of Leicester (the O2 Academy) the previous evening to entertain the citizens of Firebug with a half-hour set of progressive rock, that strayed into a more hardcore area at times. I enjoyed the vocals quite a lot, as they clashed with the instrumentation, but in a good way! No, SiI were placed well, offering a nice slice of entertainment ahead of their quieter counterparts.

Next up for me were Cut Ribbons, another interesting mixture of sounds. A lighter offering of indie-pop with male and female vocals, the sound was fresh and crisp as I got poppy-vibes, alongside something like early Kings of Leon. The vocals are hard to place though, given their originality. I enjoyed single 'Damascus' a lot, and they are supporting Thumpers on a UK tour, so watch out for more from this original group.

Possibly the most famous act at the minute on the entire bill came last, Dry the River, were an act a lot of people had been waiting for and a little bit later than advertised, the moment they took to the Firebug stage was a great one. The bar was slowly filling up throughout the evening and was almost to capacity when the foursome came on. Every song was greeted with rapturous applause, as songs from 2012's 'Shallow Bed' LP were sung from the rafters with some new material cheekily thrown in for good measure. They played for just under an hour, but it was a great experience, seeing such a hot band in such tight circumstances, made for memorable moments, such as 'Shield Your Eyes' and 'Weights & Measures' a rousing tune. The band themselves appeared to be loving every moment too, thanking the crowd for their patience and support throughout.

So there you have it, Handmade Festival is an exciting event that is growing with each annual edition. It was my first proper metropolitan city festival, and an experience I thoroughly enjoyed, allowing me to take in a wealth of different arenas, picking out some hidden musical gems in the process.

Live At Leeds Festival Review

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The first event on the festival calendar saw a multitude of British and international bands and artists descend to a number of venues across a sunny Leeds on Saturday, with an expansion of sounds fitting the bill – from chart topping electronic with strings quartet, Clean Bandit to two-man rock duo, Royal Blood, both drawing massive crowds.

“Aren't there a lot of bands that sound like the toilet music”, says a man commenting on Nation of Shopkeepers choice of bathroom music, saying “I’m into my experimental electronic music but this just sounds like Fuck Buttons”.

Three-piece ‘NME Radar’ guitar band, Blaenavon, drew an unexpectedly busy crowd to cool bar-come-gig-venue, Nation of Shopkeepers, with an early 1pm set. Performing tracks from their Koso E.P, the young and impressive trio sound like a mix of Maccabees-esque gliding riffs in Prague, which are contrasted with the emotive Wu Lyf-like atmosphere in tracks, Gods, and Wunderkind. With just a handful of songs under their belt, an album is surely in the pipeline for the talented Hampshire trio.

Swiftly pacing across the city to catch Wet’s debut visit to the UK at cool underground venue, The Hifi Club, the Brooklyn trio supply futuristic dream-pop for the Soundcloud and Apple Mac generation. Performing the entirety of their debut Dreams E.P, they mix the electronic synths of Chvrches with the chilled out melancholic storytelling of The XX. Set opener, "Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl" and new track "Bad Idea" showcase singer, Kelly Zutrau’s effortless crystal vocals before she explains to the music-savvy crowd: “This is out first time in Leeds and in the UK – we’re having a lot of fun." Dreams and No Lie, also of the E.P, create a swaying, breezy fantasy atmosphere before penultimate single, You’re The Best, which is currently receiving daytime support on Radio One from Fearne Cotton and Zane Lowe. With added house synths, it receives an impressive reaction with most of the crowd singing along – it’s sure to be a future hit, especially with the major label bidding war which is currently engulfing Wet’s futuristic R&B productions.

Next up, London based Gengahr performed to a busy crowd at the Belgrave Centre. With pitch-shifted vocals sounding similar to Unknown Mortal Orchestra, this is one of their first live shows. Summery foot-tapper, She's A Witch is a perfect indie track which sees the floppy haired young singer bop on the spot. Huw Stephens supported single, Fill My Gums With Blood, sounds sweet and soft despite the grizzly connotations of the tracks title. Clocking in at just 20 minutes, it’s a short-but-sweet set of endearing and exciting tracks – hopefully we’ll hear more from Gengahr in time for the summer.

SFG take an hour break to recharge batteries (physical and phones) before arriving back at the Hifi club to see electronic producer, Tourist who has recently toured with Disclosure play a late afternoon set. His blend of chill-wave house and electronica translates well to a packed, mixed-age crowd. William Philips aka Tourist introduces himself, saying: "I'm Tourist, I haven’t been here for a while, and it’s nice to be back”, before building electronic synths silence whispered murmurs in the crowd. Opening with Lies, a crowd pleasing remix of popular Glasgow synth-poppers, Chvrches, it’s a clever start. It could be expected that Tourist’s house beats and bass popping grooves are more night time friendly but the crowd still seem to still love it. Meanwhile, William energetically bops around behind his synth touch-pad and laptop. Later, I Can't Keep Up and Together from the new Patterns E.P bring him the biggest crowd of the day so far, with people still piling in during the last song. The penultimate track, a remix of Haim’s, The Wire, which featured on the LA sisters deluxe album ignites a carnival like energy with Jamie XX-like percussion beats soaring through the room before final E.P title track, Patterns ends the impressive set. With impressive sets like this one, Tourist’s atmospheric, forward-thinking sound will sit perfectly at outdoor festivals this summer. Make sure to catch him at one.

Darlia, who perform to a busy Cockpit crowd at the other end of the city, are three young lads from Blackpool making Nirvana influenced 90’s rock revival – lead singer Nathan Day, even looks like Kurt Cobain. Pronounced by Radio 1’s Playlist boss Nigel Harding, as “the most exciting new guitar band in the UK”, it’s difficult to argue against the statement. Playing a 30-minute set of heavy guitars and drums, they sound a lot heavier live than on record. Animal Kingdom and the infectious Queen of Hearts, the latter harkening to the sound of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Later, the audience revel in joining in for the chorus of current single Candyman, which translates far rawer, grittier and scuzzier in a live environment. The sweaty and loud, Cockpit is the perfect venue for their rock ‘n’ roll barrage to really make you take notice before they hit the big-time with a slot booked at Leeds Festival in August.

Two-piece rock outfit, Royal Blood, who have just announced a support slot on The Pixies US tour, attracted the biggest crowd of the day, with the queue stretching far beyond the confines of Leeds Metropolitan Univeristy, where the duo were unleashing their faultless energy. SFG were even lucky to get in, with press restricted to a one-in-one-out rule. New single, Come On Over’s heavy riffs make it sound as though there at least four band members before the singles Little Monster and Out of the Black encourage a circle pit in the crowd centre. Royal Blood really are the next big thing, ever since their NME Award Show and SXSW slots, they've multiplied in fans wanting to see them.

Running over half hour late due to technical problems, R&B crooner/ rapper Raleigh Ritchie, says they must keep the set quite short but doesn't let that dampen his spirit. He bounces across the stage telling engaging stories of growing up and gaining independence in Stronger Than Ever and Freefall, the latter about being sad in a cit. Later, before Keep It Simple, Raleigh tells his debut album will be out by the end of the year. Ending with set highlight, 2013 single, Bloodsport, the technical problems have been forgotten and he’s managed to captivate the crowd with an emotive, ‘give it your all’ vocal performance.

Later, Circa Waves expectedly pack out The Cockpit with a circle pit ensuing ten minutes in to the set during popular single Good For Me. Catch My Breath sounds like if The Vaccines stamping choruses met Vampire Weekend’s catchy indie riffs. The upbeat indie-pop of Stuck in My Teeth and Fossils quickly follow, before frontman Keiran Shuddall teases the crowd saying: "It's been very special for us – anyone going to Leeds festival? Well see you there.”

Chart-topping electronic with classical strings quartet Clean Bandit, headlined the 02 Academy with an important hour set, justifying their soon-to-be big name festival headlining status. Chilled openers, Rihanna and A&E impress with effortless guest vocals. It’s been a long time coming for them, but the success of Rather Be, which stole the top of the charts for a month is set to be followed up by new single, Extraordinary – both of which get an outing tonight. The Cambridge-graduates fit the large stage perfectly with colourful visuals of their EP covers placed neatly behind the set while pulsing house beats move the crowd throughout new track, Heart on Fire. Older tech-house track, Mozart’s House asks the question whether electronic music is boring? Certainly not, judging from tonight’s crowd who lap up every chart ready track. Later, Nightingale is mixed into the deep-house Gorgon City remix before they mix things up with their own rendition of Show Me Love. Clean Bandit are impossible to dislike, fusing every genre of music into their own concoction of strings, house, pop and R&B, their live shows have become a phenomenal spectacle.

Catering for the masses with a range of acts across a multitude of genres and a friendly atmosphere throughout, Live At Leeds, showcased new bands in their prime, most of which will be playing big-player, Reading & Leeds Festival – be sure to catch them there!

Photos by Heather Berrisford

Slam Dunk Festival 2014

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Slam Dunk Festival, the UK’s favourite and biggest independent touring festival is back for a 9th year. The 7 stage event kicks off at Leeds University followed by The Forum, Hertfordshire then finally tearing it up on the last date at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Monday 26th May.

The festival uses a combination of indoor and outdoor stages to create a totally unique festival experience with a variety of performances across The Main Stage, Acoustic Stage, Dance Stage and many more.

Headlining the main stage this year is none other then The All American Rejects.  No Doubt they will be playing all the classics including ‘Dirty Little Secret’, ‘Gives You Hell’, ‘Swing Swing’ and many more. Recently Goldfinger who were also performing along side The All American Rejects have had to announce there withdrawal from the festival due to one of the members has had to have some routine minor surgery and the recovery process has taken a little longer than expected. Meanwhile It was recently announced that another pop punk heavy weight is joining the line up in the shape of The Ataris!.

Total Uprawr will host this year’s dance stage. Headlined by one of the biggest party DJs in the UK DJ Yoda. Plus Tek-One will return to promote his new album, Sleep Equals Myth.

The line-up has been announced but there will be LOADS more to come and as usual, a few surprises.

The All American Rejects

Canterbury
Letlive
Bury Tomorrow
The Devil Wears Prada

I Killed The Prom Queen

We Are The In Crowd
We The Kings
Kids In Glass Houses
Zebrahead

Tek-One

Are just FEW artists to name

For a full list of ticket outlets for all events, please go to www.slamdunkmusic.com

Tickets are priced at £35 & £39 with Afterparty across all sites.
Tickets for Slam Dunk Festival will be onsale Friday 14th February

Big Top 2014 Review

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After a week of rain I was prepared with my wellies and raincoat, but on the morning of Big Top the sun was shining and it was time to get the sunglasses out. Before doors had even opened at 11am, hundreds of people were at Stoneham Park in Hampshire ready to party for 12 hours. Junk Department’s first year of putting on this festival attracted nearly 5000 party goers, with attendees travelling from up and down the country for this unique event.

Luca Pilato kept the crowd lively, whilst dance floor thumping sets came from electronic music’s finest talent including Dyed Soundorom, Laura Jones and Maya Jane Coles. The vibe of the Big Top was insane, with the crowd constantly dancing.  The VIP section had a separate stage headlined by Flashmob. It also had a free bar which ran out of cups and mixers half way through the day, but the festival goers were kept happy with shots of vodka until more supply arrived. As the sun came down, Jamie Jones hit the Big Top to a capacity filled tent ending the day on a high. The sound system and lighting production was phenomenal, with fire pyrotechnics adding to the intensity of the Big Top. There could have been a wider selection of food options around the festival; however the fairground rides provided some outside entertainment. There is definitely lots of potential for Big Top to expand next year and become an annual party on the South coast. With early-bird tickets selling at £25, it was well and truly worth the money and is definitely one to look out for next year.

 

Photos by Mickey Cole

Parklife Weekender Official Afterparties announced

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The Summer Festival Guide is excited to announce the afterparty lineup's for this years Parklife Weekender which features Hot Creations and more!

Today the Parklife Weekender release the long awaited line-up for Afterlife, the official series of after parties from Manchester's premier festival taking place on 7th & 8th June. Over 30 events will take place, making it the biggest Afterlife announcement in the history of the Parklife Weekender. Crosstown Rebels, FACT Magazine and Hot Creations to name a few, will take on hosting duties for two nights along with DJs such as Dixon, Tensnake, and chart-toppers Breach and Route 94. Local clubbing mecca The Warehouse Project will also return to curate a very special event, giving those who missed out on tickets to the sold out weekender the chance to be a part of the festivities.

While The Parklife Weekender can easily boast one of the most exciting and eagerly anticipated line-ups of the festival season, today they announce their biggest series of after parties yet. Afterlife, which every year brings some of the most popular acts in electronic music to the venues of Manchester, will once again collaborate with some of the most prominent clubbing brands and institutions for two nights of unbelievable parties on a grand scale. For those who don't want the night to end, the breathtaking and iconic Albert Hall will be the place to catch Hot Creations founders Jamie Jones and Lee Foss, while Damian Lazarus, Dixon and Art Department will all take part in the 'Rebel Rave' for Crosstown Rebels on the Sunday night. 

As the go-to place for music news, FACT Magazine will join forces with local icons Now Wave to welcome Oneman and Ryan Hemsworth to the Deaf Institute, while the newly reborn and globally infamous Sankeys bring Nina Kraviz, Eats Everything, Route 94, Catz 'N Dogz and Hannah Wants to the former soap factory.

Scuba will celebrate over 10 years as Hotflush boss with a headline performance for Drop The Mustard's Afterlife outing, while recent Essential Mix alumni Ben UFO will play a very rare B2B set with Midland. Recent Mixmag cover star Hot Since 82, Innervisions co-founders Ame and respective OBE awardees David Rodigan and Soul II Soul's Jazzy B will also feature on what is the greatest and most diverse Afterlife announcement in the history of The Parklife Weekender. 

Sonus Festival lineup adds Hot Since 82, The Martinez Brothers and more

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The Summer Festival Guide can announce three massive additions to this years Sonus Festival in Croatia. UK big talent Hot Since 82, energetic duo The Martinez Brothers and Minus member Gaiser (live) join over 50 international artists for five days and five nights of partying in the summer sunshine.

Sonus Festival 2014 brings together the biggest names in techno for its second Croatia outing, as it announces its full lineup for the Zrce Beach extravaganza, with CLR face ChrisLiebing, influential techno head Dixon, house revivalist Jamie Jones, spontaneous selector Loco Dice, Music On’s own Marco Carola, techno pioneer Richie Hawtin, and Detroit mastermind Seth Troxler, as well as Adam Port, Henrik Schwarz (live), Karotte,Marcel Dettman, Margaret Dygas, Markantonio, Mirko Loko, Monika Kruse, Pan-Pot,Robert Dietz, tINI, Valentino Kanzyani and more.

In Sonus we trust.

The full lineup (in alphabetical order):
Chris Liebing
Dixon
Jamie Jones
Loco Dice
Luciano
Marco Carola
Ricardo Villalobos
Richie Hawtin
Seth Troxler

Adam Port – Alexandra – Apollonia – Bella Sarris – Binh – Bunte Bummler live – Cormac – Dan Andrei
David Mayer – David Nicolas & Sebastian Werle – Djebali – Dorian Paic – Ernesto Ferreyra – Evan Baggs – Gaiser (live)
Henrik Schwarz live – Hot Since 82 – Ian F – Jacob Husley – JSR AKA Janina – Joseph Capriati – Karotte – Leon
Marcel Dettmann – Margaret Dygas – Markantonio – Meat – Mirko Loko – Monika Kruse – Nastia – Pan-Pot
Peter Pixzel – Praslesh – Rare Movement – Reas – Robert Dietz – Shaun Reeves – Sonja Moonear – Steffen Deux
The Martinez Brothers – tINI – Tobi Neumann – Valentino Kanzyani – Yaya – Zip

Aneuria – Examine – Homeboy live – Labud – Mariano Mateljan – Mimi – Sergej Snooze – Zero

Late Night Revelry details announced for Wilderness Festival

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This year, Wilderness will keep the celebration going all hours with an exciting schedule of late night programming that will thrill and electrify even the most hardy of partygoers and keep you dancing till dawn.

By now, you would probably be aware of the amazing calibre of acts already confirmed to play for the fourth installment, the extraordinary range of chefs on hand to whip up lavish feasts for festivalgoers, the dazzling variety of outdoor pursuits to appease active types, and even the wonderfully engaging family activities for those travelling with their little ones. What you might not be aware of, however, is that Wilderness has assembled a stellar roster of DJs, performers, entertainers and events to take the party deep into the night as well. 

First up, the Pandaemonium DJ Stage, which will be “a secret hidden valley of revelers and dancing feet”, with a different theme for each night. For ‘Altered States’, festivalgoers are invited to brush off their everyday woes by transforming themselves to join the hypnotic rhythms of the Secret Valley. With incendiary sets from Eats Everything, Psychemagik, Lukas & Jim Morrison, and For Better and Worse lined up, attendees can weave between the shifting shapes on the dance floor and lose themselves to transformative beats, surrealistic spectacles and metamorphic performance. The following night disco kings Horse Meat Disco will lead the charge for a ‘Disco Renaissance’, enlisting Greg Wilson and Futureboogie in their mission to set dancefloors alight in the wee hours. On Sunday, the valley will embody “The Cosmos”, with the UK’s only Astronomers Ball to take place in a secret woodland valley. Expect an evening of celestial wonder, astrological music and aerial splendor with DJs like Zero 7 and Mojo Filter set to provide a sparkling, spinning universe of cosmic beats and stunning performance. And finally, the immersive dance experience turned morning rave, Morning Glory, will be onsite to get the festivalgoers’ day started right, with DJs like Carlo Rossi and the Organic Jam (Live), Tythe, Mark E and Zero 7 present and correct to get people raving their way into the day.

In addition, the acclaimed theatre company Petersham Playhouse will be bringing The Juke Joint to Wilderness, a specially constructed Rhythm and Blues barrel house run by the infamous witch doctor Mama Gris Gris. During the day guests are invited to unwind in the sunshine listening to tales of the southern wild, but as the sun goes down there will be a Mardi Gras inciting you to release your inner demons and inhibitions, with the help of Mama Gris Gris’ herbs, potions, spell and midnight moonshine, soundtracked by DJ sets from Gaz Mayall & Baby Soul of Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues fame and Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, and live sets from the likes of HatFitz & Cara, Dollar Bill, Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, The Black Kat Boppers and The Sunshine Kings.

Finally, for those with a world music bent, there’s The Styx Stage, hosted by those late-night experts in mayhem Rumpus, Artful Badger and the Shangri La Superstar himself, Chris Tofu, all bringing their idiosyncratic party-starting nous into the equation. Rumpus will be bringing together the gloriously varied sounds of The Turbans, Barking Bateria Samba Band, and the Brass Volcanoes New Orleans Brass Band in what promises to be a hugely energizing mix, while Chris Tofu has got the Renegade Brass Band, Le Klischee and Woohoo Revue lined up alongside Swing Patrol for his night. Last, but certainly not least Artful Badger will unveil the deeply eclectic sounds of Gentle Mystics, They Say Jump, Tythe and Tako Lako to excellent effect.

As this is Wilderness however, the music is hardly the end of it. The Footsbarn Big Top will also be present, a decadent establishment for louche elegance, avant-garde entertainment and hedonistic parties, a place to awaken all the senses. These Epicurean nights will be hosted by The Candlelight Club, London’s most notorious nightclub The Box, and White Mink, while the Wilderness Stage will dazzle with gin-induced opulent overtures, sumptuous symphonies and cinematic classics, with Borderless Beats, Cabinet of Living Cinema, Silent Opera and The Wilderness Orchestra all introducing special presentations of films. And Now: will lead revelers into the woods to witness this season’s Giant Ceremonial Burn, while Macnas processions will gather together as we light up the skies above Wychwood Forest.

Throw in the finest storytellers, firewalkers, luxury hot tubs, moonlight walks and live art painting, among many other frivolities and you have an experience that is completely and uniquely Wilderness.

De La Soul set to headline Brownstock Festival

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The Summer Festival Guide is excited to let Brownstock fans know that the latest announced headliner for 2014 is hip hop legends De La Soul.  They are also joined by new announcements Netsky, Roots Manuva, Claude VonStroke, Shy FX, Matrix and Futurebound and The Cuban Brothers.

Latest full line up Dizzee Rascal, De La Soul, Razorlight, The Feeling, Netsky, Roots Manuva, Claude Von Stroke, Shy FX and Stamina MC, DJ EZ, Jack Beats, Matrix and Futurebound, P Money, Doorly, Goldie Lookin Chain,The Cuban Brothers, The Milk
Nothing But Thieves, Young Kato, TED ZED, Dexters, The Feud and M+A

 

Introducing Malta’s Sunscape Festival

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Details of the incredible debut from Sunscape Festival are today revealed. Taking place in the beautiful surroundings of the Mediterranean's most hidden island of Gozo-Malta, the festival promises an all-encompassing immersive experience for music and adventure lovers. From the 3rd-10th September, Sunscape will take over the bays and beaches of the island to welcome a wide variety of international DJs, live acts and artists spanning the creative landscape. 
THE MUSIC
'The Headland', set on its own serene peninsula, will play host to takeovers and showcases from some of electronic music's leading labels. New York house and techno pioneers ReSolute home to Kiki and Tiefschwarz, will take on hosting duties alongside the colossal Get Physical Music, Arupa, Prime Time, Why So Serious? and local talents Electro Swing Malta. 

As founders of 'Get Physical', releasing tracks from the likes of Carl Craig, Erol Alkan and Loco Dice, M.A.N.D.Y will demonstrate why they have become one of the biggest names in electronica. The classically trained 'Clockwork', who has seen releases on Hot Creations and Life and Death, and Avatism, whose recent debut album 'Adamant' continues to receive rave reviews, also join the line-up in a very special collaboration. Both  are formidable forces in their own right but together they will set the shores of Gozo alight. Formidable in their genre-defying mix of live instruments, South African electronic music duo Goldfish will perform live and not to be missed.

With a sound that takes inspiration from the synth pop of New Order and Depeche Mode to the energy of acid house and 90's techno, Berlin's Thomas Schumacker has become a name on everyone lips having spent over 20 years as a DJ and producer. Add these to a line-up that features household names such as Guti, the pioneer of 'emotional house music' and the genre-bending Sebo K, alongside electro duo and hugely popular Pig&Dan then you see why Sunscape acts as an epic round-up to summer. 

LIFESTYLE & ART
While Sunscape will host an array of boat, beach and after parties amongst the magical surroundings of Gozo, the isle will be the playing field for a celebration of unique performance, art, illusion andcinema, affirming that Sunscape is so much more than your regular festival. The village, in amongst the restaurants, bars and hotel rooftops, will act as the canvas for an immersive and experiential art installation that will be built especially for the event. Collaborative works from local talents and creative thinkers alike will span the paths and walkways of the village, while festival-goers can immerse themselves in the many recreations on offer, from archery, zip lining and kayaking to yoga, Pilatesand craft workshops.

HOLISTIC
With a location that could not be any more ambient and atmospheric, Sunscape presents the Holistic Arena. Under the dominance of the Xlendi watchtower, and perched on the very tip of the peninsula, senses will be tantalised by the abundance of therapies, workshops, exhibitions and tastes. Discover and experience new therapies, indulge in the spiritual rituals of yoga, Pilates, crystal healing, Reiki and meditation, or indulge in the sensation of a floatation tank, created in a natural rock pool, and heated by the natural suns rays. The festival promises to keep the heritage and beauty of the sites intact with its active Environmental Policy and “Leave No Trace” philosophy. Sustainable initiatives are in place throughout all aspects of the festival from planning stages to pack down, and will continue to expand through years to come.

ACCOMMODATION
The island of Gozo opens its arms wide for visitors with a range of budgets, and Sunscape offers everything from beachside camping to bay front apartments. Standard, self-pitching and boutique camping options are available, while the village offers a range of authentic Maltese apartments and hotels situated in the midst of the celebrations. For what will be the perfect close to the summer, Sunscape has saved the best festival until last. 

Tickets are now available from day tickets from €39 to camping packages from €135 and apartment packages from €300. Sunscape offers one of the best value getaways of the entire festival season in arguably Europe's most hidden and breathtaking locations.