Jane Anderson

The first Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender line-up announced

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Soundcrash presents… The Funk & Soul Weekender Camber Sands Holiday Camp – East Sussex, England 13-15 MAY 2016

FULL LINE UP ANNOUNCED: QUANTIC (LIVE), AFRIKA BAMBAATAA, CRAIG CHARLES, GENTLEMAN'S DUB CLUB, ROY AYERS, TONY ALLEN, MR SCRUFF, NORMAN JAY, FATIMA & THE EGLO BAND, THE MOUSE OUTFIT, RENEGADE BRASS BAND, DJ YODARUSS RYAN + MANY MORE, 30 bands and 40 + DJ's

Respected London event promoters Soundcrash are proud to announce the full line up for their very first UK festival The Funk & Soul Weekender, to take place at Camber Sands Holiday Camp Legendary funk, soul and jazz composer Roy Ayers headlines, joining 9-piece dub band Gentleman's Dub Club, American genre-defying electro DJ Afrika Bambaataa, Eglo Records' Fatima (plus Eglo Band),Tru Thoughts' Quantic, and carnival legend Norman Jay. Completing the line up, names added today include: the 23-year-old musician, DJ and record producer Catching Flies, hip-hop live band The Mouse Outfit, and the beats, rhymes and brass

From Funk to Soul, to Latin and Afrobeat to Northern Soul, Ska and Swing a touch of the right Hip Hop & House and everything in between, this new event on the festival calendar is an intimate affair, with a capacity of 3000, created for an audience that truly loves its music. Soundcrash programmer and founding director Rob Waller explains the event is in response to a renewed public interest in the funk and soul genres, with record numbers of fans attending shows for established legends such as George Clinton, Quantic, Tony Allen and Tinariwen. There's also strong and growing interest in a very vibrant new soul scene with artists such as Taylor McFerrin, Andrew Ashong, Haitus Kaiyote and Andreya Triana at the helm.

"Soul, funk, jazz, afrobeat and latin has all been at the heart of my booking for almost 2 decades; and although Soundcrash Productions – itself in its 10th year, is equally well known for itinnovative electronic, bass music and hip hop output (which crosses very well into these genres), I thought is was time to make a special event specifically within the world of funk and soul for 2016.”

Soundcrash has also announced some fun and unique experiences as part of the event, including Live Band Karaoke, DJs, Brass Bands, Music Quizzes, Northern Soul Dance Classes, South London Soul Train Stage, and Live Brass Band Soundtracked Crazy Golf Tournaments. Warming up for the festival, associated club nights and DJ’s from the country's finest Soul nights, including Move On Up and Soul 45, will be promoting parties in the lead up to the big event. This is set in the picturesque Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex, a mere hour's train journey from London. Chalet accommodation (catering for 4-6 people) is included in the price of Get your dancing shoes packed and we hope to see you in Camber!

Tickets available now: http://www.funkandsoulweekender.com

 

Soundwave Croatia – First wave line up announced

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Sound-tracked by the some of the world’s finest exponents of broken beat, reggae, afro to acid jazz, hip-hop, soul, funk, drum and bass, vocalists, rappers and more, the festival is a harmonious and beatific odyssey which seamlessly merges a sublime holiday and musical escape like no other. Soundwave is revered for its eclectic range of bookings and its laid back attitude, which come together in an enchanting adventure by the sea, exploring a range of music seldom heard in the Adriatic region. It’s a journey which explores a different path to many of the region’s other festivals, a little more edifying and spiritually enriching, set under the sizzling Croatian sun and star-lit skies.

The headliners for Soundwave have now been revealed. While a member of the New York City duo Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe Monch developed a reputation as one of underground hip-hop's preeminent lyricists, crafting intricate and intelligent raps with partner Prince Poetry. He is also an incisive political and social commentator, using hip-hop as a platform for political engagement. Calibre is responsible for some of the most beautiful and sublime tracks in drum and bass. Releasing on only the most distinguished labels, including his own Signature Recordings, Calibre’s distinctive sound has progressed taking on elements of jazz, funk, dub and techno whilst losing none of its esteemed soul.

 

Many more great artists join the festival. Digital Mystikz’s Mala returns with a heavy dose of bass-shaking dubstep, whilst one of 6 Music’s lead presenters Craig Charles, a funk and soul DJ and prime instigator of good times, makes a very welcome return. Fatima & The Eglo Band perform live; soul star Fatima has worked with everyone from Floatings Points, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra) and Dam Funk, and the band are drawn from performers from the famed Eglo label. Still on the live side, Gentleman’s Dub Club will deliver their energetic and exhilarating live show, emerging from the UK reggae and bass music scene as its prime exponents. Channel One Sound System have been at the Notting Hill Carnival for over 30 years and are the UK’s most prominent and respected reggae crew; the Red Bull Culture Clash winners are set to bring ground-shaking bass to Tisno.

Back to genre-skipping delights, the Riot Jazz Brass Band bring peace-lovin’ aggro jazz, hip-hop samples, funked-up favourites and re-interpreted dubstep too, dropping drum and bass and dancefloor bangers that always have everyone dancing. Romare sublime cut ’n’ paste style blends Afrocentric beats and global inspirations, encapsulated in his brilliant Projections album; this also translates into bouncing party sets of the highest order. And the incredible voice of Harleighblu is set to enchant, the young singer and songwriter one of the UK’s brightest new names. Clap! Clap! is the project by the Italian producer C. Crisci. His focus is around sampling African tribes, bands and singers, creating tribal rhythms through drum machines and synths. And BAFTA and MOBO award winning artist Akala is a rapper with heart, soul and steel, a historian who brings a touch of lyrical grace and edge to Soundwave.

Rinse FM presenter and DJ Josey Rebelle’s house and techno spans across time and space, venturing into rare groove, soul and garage, and Eglo Record’s boss Alexander Nut brings his richly varied sounds to the festival. Henry Wu hails from 22a Records, a young label which has been causing a real stir. Their beautiful tracks are inspired by luminaries including Roy Ayers and John Coltrane to form jazzy, dubby soulful beats. Further names announced for Soundwave include Dan Shake, Jordan Rakei, Harvey Sutherland, Flo Real (Mahogani Music), Chunky, Werkha, Eva Lazarus, Bambooman, Sarah Williams White, Bobbafat, Gilla, DJ Mylz, Tehbis, Normanton Street, Chiminyo, CC Disco, Taste The Difference, So Fresh So Clean, Plates and Tuckshop.

The Garden Resort is a true slice of paradise nestled on the Dalmatian coastline. Blessed with crystal clear azure Adriatic waters, sizzling sunshine and star-lit night skies, the idyllic and intimate setting welcomes a global crowd of music lovers and adventure seekers to Tisno. The site has the incredible water-side beach bar, where you are so close to the sea you are almost dancing in it, and cosy curl of beach which looks out over the bay. The site’s main stage is a little way behind, perfect for headline acts, and nearby nestled under the canopy of trees is the Olive Grove stage. It’s a beautiful location, everything built around nature, growing like the environment around it, rich with intimacy and a sense of wonder. And a short drive away is the incredible Barbarella’s club, a fully open air space, powered by Funkion One, redolent of Ibiza’s formative early days. As dawn breaks and the sun slowly comes up, there is no place else like it. 

Fatima

Pharoahe Monch, Calibre, Mala, Craig Charles, Fatima & The Eglo Band live, Gentleman’s Dub 

Club, Channel One Sound System, Riot Jazz, Romare, Harleighblu, Clap Clap, Akala, Josey 

Rebelle, Alexander Nut, Henry Wu, Dan Shake, Jordan Rakei, Harvey Sutherland, Flo Real 

(Mahogani Music), Chunky, Werkha, Eva Lazarus, Bambooman, Sarah Williams White,

Bobbafat, Gilla, DJ Mylz, Tehbis, Normanton Street, Chiminyo, CC Disco, Taste The 

Difference, So Fresh So Clean, Plates and Tuckshop

Soundwave
Thursday 4th – Monday 8th August 2016
@ The Garden Resort, Petrica Glava 34, 22240, Tisno, Croatia
£125 for 5 days (club and boat parties extra)
www.soundwavecroatia.com / @soundwavecro

Garden Party Leeds Review

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The Garden Party is a two-day inner city festival in Leeds, set within the grounds of the Tetley Brewery. Taking place over the august bank holiday weekend the event showcased some of the finest music, food and art. Celebrating its 10th birthday (previously known as the Faversham Garden Party) the organisers teamed up with promoters Canal Mills, Chibuku, Warehouse Project, Now Wave and East Year Own Ears to curate this special edition.

Appealing to a broader spectrum of music fans the line up covered dance, electronica, disco, funk, garage and bass. Live acts included Roisin Murphy, Little Dragon, Todd Terje and Soul II Soul, alongside DJ sets from Bicep, Kerri Chandler, Heidi, Julio Bashmore, Black Coffee, Patrick Topping, Joy Orbison, B-Traits, Redlight, Preditah and the legendary Craig Charles.

There were five stages set across the Tetley site and each a stone’s throw from one another. Brightly covered bales of hay provided areas in which to socialise and soak up the atmosphere at the heat of the site. Food and drink was hosted by Leeds Indie Food Fest and offered punters an exceptionally high standard of delicious street food, craft ales and cocktails. Affordable and tasty local treats were provided by from Chicken Bang Bang, Boozy BBQ, Bánh Mì Booth, Pizza Fella, Rola Wala and the ice-cream from the coolest looking van around Northern BloC. Much to my delight it was a very mixed crowd with a range of ages, proving that the lure of good grub and without the muddy fields seems to be the way that many people want to spend their weekend. Complimenting the food and music bill was colourful temporary art installations and live drawing by local artists throughout the weekend.

Here are some of my highlights from the weekend:

Black Coffee

Black Coffee seemed to be the hot tip on every ones lips, so we headed over to The Fact stage to see what all the hype was about. Black Coffee (known as Nathi to his friends) is a multi award winning producer and superstar DJ hailing from Durban. He’s been active on the South African music scene for over a decade now, but it’s only been recently that his meteoric rise has seen him play at some of the top clubs and festivals globally.

His set was laced with tantalising tribal beats and flavoursome house, mixing up a smooth set of expertly blended tunes like Ian Pooley – Compurhythm, Mr.V – Jus Dance, Culoe De Song – Y.O.U.D and ending on the epic Chew Fu’s Purple Rain (Mousse T mix). I don’t usually hang around for a full DJ set but we couldn’t pull ourselves away for the full two hours, it was completely mesmerising and he certainly lived up the hype.

Craig Charles

On Sunday afternoon Craig Charles brought his funk soul sound to the Just A Little stage.  Such a high profile DJ was always bound to draw a big crowd and once again the tent was packed to the rafters with everyone ready to groove and shake. There were a whole host of familiar classics from rare groove and snippets of funk and soul packed into his energetic set.  He doesn’t do dj’ing by halves; the man was completely going for it, working up a sweat and working the crowd like a dream. My feet were aching from bouncing up and down at the side of the stage with the hugest of grins – the good vibes were totally infectious and everyone there was fully in on this blissful groovefest.

Preditah

Saturday afternoon saw Birmingham’s finest Preditah play to hyped crowd that spilled outside the Metropolis tent. His grimy and bassy set featured his hits Selecta, Circles, Supernaturally as well dropping 90’s and garage-influenced set of songs. We caught up with Jordan & Jamie from Leeds “Preditah was absolutely nuts, especially the first hour. It was so up-tempo and bassy and he really knows how to play the crowd.”

Todd Terje

As Sunday evening fell the main stage numbers started to swell and Norwegian disco deity Todd Terje took to the stage. His continuous live instrumental set featured his well-known songs Dolorean Dynamite, Strandbar, Swing Star and Svensk Sås. It was clear that most people in the crowd were eagerly awaiting Inspector Norse, which rightly the crowd went berserk to when he went into the extended intro. My only disappointment was that he had got rid of his amazing beard. Please Todd grow it back or at the very least breakout the sequins.

All in all this was a beautifully crafted metropolitan festival, offering an array of music, feasts and culture, making it a perfect way to spend a bank holiday weekend – well done Garden Party Leeds, you definitely know how to throw a party.

New Talents Added to the Garden Party Leeds!

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A Plethora of New Talents Added to the Garden Party Leeds!

Errors / Dutch Uncles / Honne / Lonelady / Haelos / Formation / Bernard And Edith / Whilk And Misky

August Bank Holiday Weekend, 29th – 30th
The Tetley, Hunslet Road, Leeds LS10 1JQ, Leeds
Day tickets start from just £19.50, weekend tickets from just £29.50
 www.thegardenpartyleeds.com

 

Leeds’ brand-new August bank holiday event welcomes a plethora of emerging acts for their exciting fourth stage, curated by Eat Your Own Ears & Now Wave. Saturday will see electronica 3-piece Haelos from Bow in East London perform their 2014 head-turner ‘Dust’, plus brand-new material. Joining them is the unique sounds of Whilk & Misky, a provoking infusion of techo, folk, electronica and blues, whilst Manchester’s Dutch Uncles will perform tracks from their acclaimed fourth new album ‘O Shudder’. Wrapping up Saturday is post-electro band Errors who are signed to Mogwai’s Rock Action Records label, plus a very special headliner to be announced.

 

Sunday welcomes Honne, a lo-fi, syth-heavy soul duo who will be injecting some feel-good vibes into The Garden Party along with the vintage disco sounds of duo, Formation. Joining them are Bernard & Edith, one half of Egyptian Hip Hop and whose slow and haunting vocals over lingering syths have drawn comparisons to Swedish band The Knife. Finally, Warp stalwart Lonelady will complete the fold along with a yet-to-be revealed headliner.

 

Food will feature heavily over the weekend courtesy of Leeds Indie Food Festival, featuring traders Boozy Q, Sela, The Cocktail Shack plus craft beer.

 

Other acts to feature over the weekend include Roisin Murphy, Little Dragon, Mos Def, Todd Terje, John Talabot, Julio Bashmore and more. Tickets for The Garden Party Leeds start at just £19.50 for one day and £29.50 for the weekend found at www.thegardenpartyleeds.com. Festicket will be providing a number of hotel and ticket packages from £25 pp available from http://www.festicket.com/festival/garden-party/.

 

ROISIN MURPHY / LITTLE DRAGON / YASIIN BEY AKA MOS DEF /
TODD TERJE / SOUL II SOUL / KERRI CHANDLER /
JOHN TALABOT / JULIO BASHMORE / JOY ORBISON /
BLACK COFFEE / HEIDI / GRANDMASTER FLASH / ÂME /
BICEP / REDLIGHT / PATRICK TOPPING / B.TRAITS / MR SCRUFF /
CRAIG CHARLES / SHADOW CHILD / PAUL WOOLFORD /
CHRIS LORENZO / FATIMA & THE EGLO BAND / PREDITAH / ROMARE /
PBR STREETGANG / CRAZY P SOUNDSYSTEM / FUTUREBOOGIE /
ADY SULEIMAN / PEOPLE GET REAL / ARKIVE / DISKO KID & TOBIAS /
KRYSKO & GREG LORD / THE SONIC EMPORIUM / GRAINGER /
STE ROBERTS / CHRISTIAN MAIDEN / OLI PATTEN /
 
CLUB PARTNERS:  CANAL MILLS / AFRO.CO / ZUTEKH / VOODOO / ORIGINS / MONO_CULT / KMAH RADIO / JUST A LITTLE / JOES BAKERY / DEEP FEVER / BUTTER SIDEUP / ANTICS / DROP THE MUSTARD / GOODLIFE / NOW WAVE / EAT YOUR OWN EARS / METROPOLIS

Just So Festival – a fun filled family adventure

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Just So is an award winning family-festival set in the beautiful surrounds of Rode Hall Estate, near Congelton in Cheshire. Now in its sixth year the festival is run by Wild Rumpus team Rowan and Sarah, who are well known for creating imaginative large-scale outdoor experiences.

Unlike some of the bigger family festivals Just So is unique in that the whole weekends entertainment is solely dedicated to children, young people and their families. Even the bands are chosen for their family-friendly sounds.

Set across ten main areas there’s a wonderful array of engaging outdoor activities from music, immersive theatre, literature, arts, film, and most importantly adventure of every kind. Families have the freedom to explore, dance, chat and play in an uninhibited way that nurtures all round memory making.

There’s a variety of activities to capture the imagination of any child and adult from woodland walks, tribal tournaments, circus skills workshops, pillow fighting, lantern making, paper plane creating, campfire songs and storytelling, giant battleships, pirate training, dancing workshops, fairyland house and wand making and intrepid explorer training.

Peekaboo is designated area for the youngest of festivalgoers with baby yoga, sensory workshops, baby massages, bathtime and lullabies to sooth them to sleep.

There are no shortage of toilets on site, a mix of portaloos and flushing toilet blocks. Everything was super clean as one would hope at a family festival. The site facilities were exceptional from baby-changing tents, hot showers (rarely any queues), trolley hire and a buggy park.

Most things wound down by 10.30pm and it was lights out by midnight…. this was the quietest campsite I have ever had the pleasure of staying on ‘shhhhh’. It made a refreshing change not to be kept awake by the rumbling sounds of some distant dance tent.  

Eating out at a festival can get prohibitively expensive, so many brought picnics & snacks to keep the costs down.  For those who indulged there was a great selection of gastronomic delights from street food vendors selling falafels, wood-fired pizzas, pulled pork, fish & chips, paella, hot dogs, pasta, corn on the cob and frozen yoghurts. Hoban & Son’s travelling bars in converted ambulances provided a superb range of handpicked beers, ciders and ales.

A torrential storm brought Saturdays festivities to an early close, which meant the eagerly awaited lantern parade was called off. Luckily they got the power back up in time Electro Swing Circus who brought the festival alive again with the mix of sassy swing and stomping electro beats.

A highlight for me over the weekend was meeting the Gruffalo in the Spellbound forest. It’s amazing how quickly you can feel like a child again. That’s the thing I finally figured out…for adults Just So is all about getting in touch with your inner child, relinquishing the shackles of rat race and having heaps of unbridled FUN!

Many of our friends have dropped off the festival scene since entering parenthood, fearing festivals are too dirty or too stressful to cope with kids – I beg to differ. I have found the answer. Just So Festival has an array of offerings to suit everyone’s taste and in comfortable and stunning surroundings. I can’t think of a better way to spend some quality family time. There’s absolutely no way your children can get bored at Just So, and neither will you.

Festival No.6 announces Long Table Banquets with award-winning chefs

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Festival No.6 announces Long Table Banquets with award-winning chefs Aiden Byrne, James Lowe and Mary-Ellen McTague

Multi award-winning Festival No.6 has announced that festival goers will have the chance to join its famous long table banquets along the beautiful White Horses promenade on the banks of the River Dwyryd estuary at this year’s festival.An intimate, bespoke banquet of music, arts and culture, Festival No.6 takes place over the weekend of the 4-6 September in the magical Italianate village of Portmeirion, Wales, home of the cult TV series The Prisoner.

 

Billed as ‘Dinner at Clough’s’, a tribute to Clough Williams-Ellis, the inspirational architect who created Portmeirion, the banquets will cost £65 per head (plus booking fee) and will include a sumptuous three-course meal cooked by one of the festival’s internationally renowned chefs. The banquets take place every lunch (1.30pm) and dinner (7.30pm) and will seat up to 200 guests who will experience an elegant water-side feast, sharing a mixture of communal dishes and individually plated delights in truly stunning surroundings.

Mary-Ellen McTague opens with Friday’s banquet and following rave reviews from her High Tea in Wonderland at the Manchester International Festival diners are definitely in for a treat. Mary-Ellen worked for four years at The Fat Duck before heading north as a pastry chef at Ramsons in Ramsbottom. She then opened her own restaurant, Aumbry. Drawing on a love of traditional and historical British Food, it was named 8th Best Restaurant in the UK by voters on Toptable. Mary Ellen also won Chef of the Year award at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2013 and is currently readying herself for the re-launch of legendary Manchester venue, Roadhouse, after the closure of Aumbry last year.

The creative force behind Lyle’s – James Lowe – takes over on Saturday with what is sure to be a masterclass in British food.James opened his first restaurant Lyle’s in Shoreditch, east London, in April 2014, and it was recently voted the 6th best restaurant in the UK. The food is modern-British, produce-led and driven by a common sense philosophy. He was previously head chef at St John Bread & Wine for 4 years and started the London based chef collective the Young Turks in 2011, which saw him start on his journey to redefine what British food is. He draws inspiration from a network of farmers and fishermen that he has been working with over the last seven years. His desire is to show people, both at home and abroad, what's possible with British ingredients through his fresh approach. 

Sunday’s finale is created by a man who needs no introduction, the industry legend that is Aiden Byrne. Former head chef at The Grill, London Dorchester, at the age of 22 Aiden became the youngest chef ever to win a Michelin star. Previously mentored by Tom Aitkens at Pied à Terre and developing his style at Michelin-starred establishments such as The Oak Room and Orangery and The Commons Restaurant he now holds the helm at the iconic Manchester House as well as at his British grill pub, The Church Green in Lymm. Guests lucky enough to get tickets for Aiden’s banquet will secure bragging-rights for years to come having dined with the maestro. 

As well as the banquets, Festival No.6 has brought together a selection of the UK’s finest food and drink pop-ups, serving food in the Street Food village located in the Castell Park. Guests can sample food from around the globe with stalls including Bel Air serving up Californian-style feel good fast food, Patty & Bun’s incredible burgers, Anna Mae’s bringing the finest mac & cheese available to mankind, a delicious taste of the Orient in the form of Dorshi’s Japanese dumplings, pizza to die for from Voodoo Rays or mouth-watering steak sandwiches and homemade relishes from Stakehaus. Festival No.6 has also created an independent food market on site – the beating heart of the festival. Guests will find locally sourced, fresh produce at the Welsh Producers Market from renowned traders Little Jack Horner, Village Deli, Nurse’s Cottage and The Whole Cheese.

Drinks pop-ups include the ever-popular Real Ale Bar, the Pop-Up Bubbles Bar and Bloody Meirion serving fabulous Bloody Mary’s with a twist. Champagne will flow from the Laurent Perrier pop-up in the Castell Gardens and Barcelona returns to Portmeirion as Estrella Damn will again be the official beer of Festival No.6

For Banquet tickets and festival tickets visit: www.festivalnumber6.com

Just So, the family festival is just three weeks away

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JUST SO FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES INTRIGUING ADVENTURES FOR ITS 2015 EXPEDITION – THREE WEEKS TO GO

The award-winning Just So Festival (21 – 23 August), produced by Wild Rumpus announces its brilliantly bonkers programme based on the golden age of travel for 2015, the largest programme in its six year history.

An annual, intimate, weekend-long camping festival for children and their families the Just So Festival provides an imaginative outdoor adventure like no other, showcasing the best art, music, literature, comedy and theatre for families all embedded and entwined in a wondrous landscape of woodland clearings, rolling parkland, arboreal amphitheatres and lakeside spots in the Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire.

With an incredible mix of regional, national and international artists and performers, it promises to take you on an expedition of mischief and mayhem, to lands full of magical midnight feasts, raucous pillow fights, tribal tournaments, curious creatures and breathtaking beauty.

The eagerly anticipated Tribal Tournament will once more be headed up by that motley crew from immersive theatre specialists LAS Theatre. The Fox, Frog, Owl, Fish, Stag and Lion tribes will compete in ridiculous games and all manner of unexpected shenanigans. Find your tribe on festival Sunday and round off the festival in style with the Tribal Parade. Inquisitive and adventure driven family explorers can expect to tour the most curious of lands and encounter creatures and characters beyond your wildest dreams.

A visit to Grand Central complete with Passport Office, Bureau de Change and mischievous luggage porters is advice worth heeding, before venturing into the uncharted territory that is Just So Festival 2015. Head to our new eccentric Village Green to encounter ridiculous knitting, toddler jousting, pillow fighting and a nonsensical, outrageous game of Consequences.

Roll up, roll up at Head over Heels for the most spectacular and flamboyant area of Just So yet. Expect tumblers and somersaults, aerial mastery and juggling galore. Gasp and faint at amazing shows, and try your hand yourself at all manner of circus amazement.

Step into the Spellbound Forest to a place quite extraordinary. Woodland theatre, dancing and exploring by day, bonfire bands, stories and songs as dusk falls and the woodland magic really begins

Whispers have reached our ears of a Fairy City and Fairy Ball found within Away With The Fairies, an enchanting woodland, home of the Fairy Queen.

Make your way into the perilous High Seas supported by SunSense. Maps will be needed, encounter massive battleships, pirate training camp and watch out for the kraken.

At Footlights and Jitterbug we will see foot stomping, wild whirling and swirling, and unmissable family music and theatre performances including poet John Hegley, comedian James Campbell and authors Emma Carroll and Paul Stickland. When evening comes, dance the night away here.

At Silver Screen take part in BFI slapstick workshops, delve into the Picture Palace, encounter eccentric producers from the turn of the century, or bring a blanket while night falls and snuggle up to watch family classics.

Peekaboo, supported by Weleda, is where to find the best arts (and right royal facilities) for the tiniest visitors. Music, paint, clay, dens and bubbles, listening to stories and songs and baby bath time will ensure the littlies doze off to the sound of our choral lullabies as dusk falls.

Don’t miss The Marie Celestial. A co-commission between the Northern Festivals Network, headed up by Just So, and Glastonbury Festival, this melancholy, mechanical beast will form the incredible beating heart of Just So Festival and other Northern festivals in 2015.

Winners of Festival Kidz Gold Award for three years running Just So Festival aims to create memories treasured by families year-round. Rowan Hoban and Sarah Bird, Directors of Wild Rumpus who produce large scale family arts events in wild natural landscapes set up Just So Festival in 2009 to create a spellbinding weekend where families could play, dance and create together and see the world class breathtaking outdoor arts.

Rowan says “At Just So 2015, audience members will be journeying through the most magical, awe-inspiring landscape for three nights. They must watch carefully the whole journey…as Roald Dahl once said, the best adventures and greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places”.

Sarah says “we immerse families into a world of imagination, letting their creativity run wild. We believe in the power of a wonderful moment to change the way that a family engages in the arts together. If we don’t give you goosebumps we are not doing it right.”

For the full line-up, further information and tickets visit www.justsofestival.org.uk.

Follow Just So @justsofestival https://www.facebook.com/justsofestival

 

MADE Birmingham 2015 Review

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Whilst many of the big festivals were coping with mud over the weekend we were thankful that our Brummie feet were firmly on solid ground as we arrived for MADE. With a line up that boasts heavyweight names such as MK, Heidi, Claude Von Stroke, Julio Bashmore and David Rodigan, as well as prominent local acts Tom Shorterz and Adam Shelton, there was plenty for everyone in this urban playground.

MADE is a mini Metropolitan festival that brought ravers from all corners into the heart of Birmingham city. Now in its second year, the site had been expanded to include six stages set across the Digbeth triangle and the Rainbow complex. In keeping with the creative melting pot of the area, that ethos was very much evident in the site production from the epic wall mural by Newso & Gent48, live graffiti art and illustrative signage.

First up was veteran DJ and reggae selector David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan on the Heavyweight Bass Champion stage, a boxing ring with caliber of booming bass and DnB acts to match. 40 years in the business and David still knows how to rock a crowd. He invited all the ‘young tongue shooters to take a trip to Jamaica’ with him as he spun tunes from reggae, dance hall and DnB. He bounced around with the energy of a teenager, puffing out his chest and rewinding the decks, it was a pure joy to watch.

Next up was Norman Jay MBE playing from a fire exit high above the car park. The Bloc Party stage set up wasn’t a massive success and it was a shame to see Normal play to smaller numbers than expected. The VIP terrace above the Warehouse offered the best views over the main stage and revellers danced with the inflatables in the hazy afternoon sun. We stopped for some much needed respite with a delicious gourmet pizza from Baked-in Brick.

Back on the Heavyweight stage was beat-box extraordinaire Beardyman and friends for the ‘Bass Battle Off’. DJs Pete Graham, Marc Spence and Santero went back to back with only 7 minutes to impress the audience. We darted round the site, catching glimpses of sets from Korupt FM, Stanton Warriors, and Blonde who performed live as confetti cannons launched multi coloured flakes into the sky of the main arena. Julio Bashmore and Dusky were the stars of the Underground stage as they played to hyped punters in dark sweat-box of a room.

A packed out crowed gathered at the main stage anticipation for the headline act.  It seemed as if most people had come to see MK (Marc Kinchen) as the other stages emptied out. As his first record dropped confetti cannons boomed, followed by smoke jets and fire streams lighting up the crowd. His set was bursting with techno and club classics including remixes of Rudimental’s ‘Powerless’, Bakermat’s ‘Teach me’, Dumont’s ‘The giver’ to the crowd pleasing anthemic sing-a-long moment ‘My head is a jungle’. MK dived into the crowd at the end of his set and was hoisted up on to shoulders for the fireworks finale whilst Low steppa took up the mantle.

We caught up with Pete Jordan festival organiser about the challenges of delivering 11,000 capacity inner-city festival. “Digbeth is a unbelievable place and we had the opportunity to go bigger. We have had a phenomenal amount of support from the council, police and emergency services.”

“Having the indoor and outdoor spaces created a different vibe and we tried to put a bit of personality into each individual stage. Delivering bass music in a conceptual form such as a boxing ring makes people experience the music in different way. To see some of these stages really come off makes me really proud.”

It was clear the festival was a big hit with the punters too. Carly Banks from Staffs said “I have literally had the best day/night of my life!!! so unexpected and so worth it!!!!!”

Despite the terrible weather on Sunday they still had good numbers through the door for Made by Day. The organisers worked quickly to relocate as much of it indoors at the rainbow complex. There was a great selection of food available from gourmet burgers, pizzas, Caribbean, North African, Thai from Digbeth Dining Club regulars, as well as comedy, music and retro gaming from Dead Pixels.

Made my day was a great success and provided thousands with the best in bass and dance to party through day and night. We’re already looking forward to what 2016 has to offer.

 

See the full image set here https://www.flickr.com/photos/summerfestivalguide/sets/72157656009069788

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beat Herder Festival 2015 – Review

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The Beat Herder prides itself on being a festival like no other and has firmly established itself as one of the best festivals of the summer, constantly evolving and improving. 17 lovingly crafted stages set across the Ribble Valley site in Lancashire catered for all types of music taste.  Each year there’s the promise of new arena to wet your appetite. This year that was Trash Manor, which got an upgrade from a red & yellow stripy tent to a stately manor complete with a roman style fountain and grinding robots.

What I love most about this festival is the attention to detail. It’s in abundance everywhere, from the flower boxes to site signage, to my favourite hangout – Quality Street (a street complete with a sweetshop, barbers, tattooist, garage, hotel and a parish church). The whole site is built from reclamation yards and the organisers positively encourage punters to explore the every nook and cranny, after all it’s not just about the music.

The DIY ethic is also noticeable in the refreshing absence of corporate sponsorship and that’s how fans want to keep it. This year however, heritage drinks brand Jägermeister unveiled their new festival experience ‘Unearthed’.  Jägerhaus comprised four separate spaces that offered festival-goers an immersive experience which differs between night and day to reveal secret rooms and passages. The two story wooden shack had a Germanic mountain lodge feel and complete with hexagonal pool table and funky stags heads. There were notable sets from Raff Daddy (2 bears) and Mike Skinner over the weekend, though the venue never quite set the festival alight in its promise. Is this a sign that Beat Herder losing their independent roots, I sincerely hope not….

Matt Whalley from Blackburn said “Beat Herder was amazing as per usual but no more expansions please. Stay true to your loyal fans and don’t go commercial.”

This years Beat Herder was a special one…. their tenth birthday and they invited some of original line up back to celebrate it with them. It’s hard to believe that only ten years ago that Beat Herder was a little known 1,200 capacity rave in the woods. Those numbers have swelled to 15,000, and it’s the wide range of music, and the lovely Lancashire charm that keeps people coming back year on year. Lifers even dedicate their love with a BH sheep logo tattoo. I was tempted myself…but maybe next year.

The main arena opened at 4pm on Friday, giving punters a chance to set up, acclimatise and get pretty drunk by the time the first acts came on. Over the weekend we saw a good caliber of acts from local bands to well-known international dance artists. Here are my highlights.

As Friday evening fell UK base artist Melé & frequent collaborator Slick Don played to young and hyped crowd in Pratty’s Ring. Belting out a host of heavyweight euphoric dance tunes Slick Don urged people to get on shoulders and rise above the crowds. Melé has been steadily rising in the ranks due to his quick mixing style and increasing radio play of his summery anthen Ambience, earning the support of Annie Mac, Mista Jam and Pete Tong.

Securing a huge electronic dance act such as the Basement Jaxx must have been no mean feat for the organisers and what better way to celebrate their 10th anniversary.  The Jaxx did not disappoint as they brought their carnival-esque and energetic show to close Friday’s proceedings on the main stage. They ran through their galaxy of hits from Where’s Your Head At, Good Luck, Red Alert, Do Your Thing, Raindrops, as well as showcasing material from their new album Junto Never Say Never. It seemed as if the whole of beat herder, young and old were bouncing in the air to the finale to Bingo Bango. A job well done.

If you’ve ever seen A. Skillz live you know the man is a wizard on the decks. On Saturday evening the DJ extraordinaire set The Fortress alight with a pounding wave of scratching, sampling and mixing, fusing together, hip-hop, dance, breaks, DnB, soul, funk and disco. We heard mash-ups of everything from Eurhythmics, Nirvana, Damien Marley, The Champs, Route 94, Brookes Brothers. Too many hands-in-the-air moments to mention, and with fire canons lighting up the crowd, this was ASkillz at his very best and it was ridiculously good.

I seem to follow the same pattern each year, and 2015 was no exception; swing dancing on Sunday morning followed by a jerk chicken in the sunshine, then over to the Toil Trees stalwart Mr Scruff’s for one of his legendary 5 hour sets. Accompanied by Mc Kwasi’s cheery infectious nature, his chilled out vibes make you want to smile & dance. He starts off with some more laid back grooves, that build to a more jungle funk to a trip-hop vibe. Towards the end of the set most people are waving their hands in the air and singing along to ‘Hot 8 Brass Band’s – Sexual Healing’. Like A.Skills there are no genres that he won’t touch jazz, motownesque horns, funk, hip hop, ska, reggae, disco and house are all up for his treatment. Sunday’s are made for this.

The sun shone gloriously in the afternoon Crazy P took to the main stage. Championing disco-house vibes lead singer Danielle’s big personality and on stage energy adds a huge amount to their live band performances. She high-kicks the crowd out of their final day sluggish state showcasing their latest offerings from the excellent ‘Walk Dance Talk Sing’ – ‘Cruel Mistress’, Scrap the book, Like a Fool, Hear my Song, The Come On; as well as throwing in some crowd pleasing older favourites ‘Love on the Line and ‘Eruption’.

Caroline Greener from Leeds said “Crying with laughter multiple times, warm crowds, dancing till my feet hurt, being with an amazing group of friends in a magical place where rainbows live and fireworks fill up your eyes. Thanks beatherder!”

This is my fourth year of herding beats in Sawley. I almost don’t want to publish this review for others to see. I want to keep this wonderful festival for the few thousand in the know. When something’s this good it would be rude to share, surely….

Beat Herder tickets sell out as it celebrates its 10th year.

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Northern England’s most cherished festival, Beat-Herder in Lancashire, has sold out of all 12,000 tickets with 2 weeks to go. 

Selling out in advance has become something of a given for the festival, which celebrates its landmark 10th anniversary this year. This will be the 9th year in a row that all tickets have gone in advance. 

In other exciting news, legendary British electronic-duo Leftfield have been announced as Sunday night headliners. They will be closing the festival on Beat-Herder's main stage and replace Sugarhill Gang, who have sadly had to postpone due to health issues.

From humble free party origins to an annual three-day 12,000 capacity bonanza with a legion of devout fans, Beat-Herder is a rare find in today’s climate: a staunchly independent festival that stays true to its roots, completely shunning all corporate sponsorship or branding. 

"We're over the moon about having yet another sell out event; our 9th in a row! We're looking forward to an amazing and very special 10th birthday with some surprises in store, and which is looking set for, dare I say it, great weather too." Nick Chambers, Beat-Herder Festival founder.

beatherder.co.uk