Summer Festival Guide

Secret Garden Party announce Art & Expression Theme for 2014

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As the warmth of a wonderful summer begins to fade and the afterglow of the Secret Garden Party 2013 is still a visceral memory, we offer you this: a missive of joy, musical memories and hope for the future because……The Secret Garden Party is pleased to announce its Art & Expression Theme for 2014 will be…

 "Goodbye Yellowbrick Road"

 Sickened by commercial gigolos and the false promise of fame and Fortune achievable only through wearing the right deodorant? Well then,join us in saying "Goodbye (to the) Yellow Brick Road" and its promise of (social/financial) redemption. Within the shelter of the Garden, where the dogs of society's howl is inaudible, we are exploring the more positive visual imagery in our favourite songs – so dust off your old LPs say an oh my and a boo hoo to the 9 to 5…   Dance with us beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free; because, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.

New official video…..

As a reminder of last summer here is the wonderful brand new official video – hot from the editing room  – by our friends at Ju Ju Films. Relive those magical moments and come dance with us again next summer. 

First artist announced…..

1930s rave culture? Oh yes, long long before Spiral Tribe (or even Wigan Pier) there were all-nighters that were 'threatening to the very fabric of society'. But these were not taking place in a field somewhere in Hampshire nor on a draughty ballroom over the North Sea; rather they were in the music halls of the Weimar Republic. Suppressed by society, criminalised by the Nazis, yet beloved by the Bright Young Things, the music and style of this time has been painstakingly researched and recreated by Max Raabe & The Palast Orchester.

And after chasing them for almost two years we are proud to announce that they will be bringing you this most original of counter-culture music: 

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUPqR3Cy5c

Arts applications now open…..

For super creative Gardeners, Grant Applications are now open for those who wish to submit their proposals to the Secret Garden Party 2014. Whether it is producing an art installation, running an action camp, curating a parade, building an art boat or a tree house, devising a fire show, hosting a workshop, making an art car  …we want to hear from you and help your wildest dreams come true.

Our number one rule is that the party must facilitate participation. To ensure that this principle is upheld, Secret Garden Party gives over half of all programming money back to the gardeners, in the form of arts and expression grants.

For more information on participation or for an application form please visit:            

 http://secretgardenparty.com/2014/forms/SGP_Participation_2014.pdf

Cradle of Filth added to Alt-Fest 2014 lineup

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Cradle of Filth (CoF), boasting a career spanning over 20 years, are today confirmed as the latest act for the first ever Alt-Fest, 15th – 17th August 2014 at the Boughton Estate, Kettering. CoF’s latest and tenth studio album, The Manticore and Other Horrors, has been dubbed as their “best album in years” by Metal Hammer. This headline set on the Alt-Fest Metal stage will be a testament to CoF’s status as one of the best extreme metal acts Britain has ever produced, and there is no better time to announce it than at Halloween.  

Thrashers and fellow Brits, Malefice have now been added to the Alt-Fest bill as are the reformed Onslaught. The two will be offering up a guitar-shredding slice of fast paced metal.
 
With a nomination for ‘Best British Newcomer’ in the 2013 Kerrang! Awards, Fearless Vampire Killers are a hotly tipped outfit joining the proceedings at Alt-Fest. Fans of theatrical punk rock are advised to take their stakes and garlic to the front of the stage for this riff-laden show.

Cradle of Flith

 
Lastly, but by no means least, ‘fuzz monsters’ Truckfighters, Palm Reader and Steak are set to take to the Alt-Fest stage with amp-busting stoner rock, hardcore and punk.
 
Super early-bird tickets start from £70 for an adult weekend ticket and can be purchased from alt-fest.com.
 
Alt-Fest has already caught the attention of both the UK alternative scene and the media through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign.  The event, a five-day, multiple stage festival covering Alternative, Industrial, Metal, Goths and Steampunk music, lifestyle and more not only reached its target of £30,000 but went on to double the target, receiving over £61,000 from fans via the Kickstarter UK platform. 130 acts across the metal, rock, goth, industrial, steampunk and more genres are now booked with headliners to be revealed soon. Most importantly Alt-Fest, which is operating a strict policy of ‘run by the fans, for the fans’, is engaging their audience in every aspect of the planning process making Alt-Fest not just crowd-funded but also crowd-led.

A Greener Festivals Festival Woods reach 1000 trees

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One year on and 1000 trees have been planted in the Festival Wood thanks to the generosity of the Festival Community.

The Festival Wood is an initiative set up by A Greener Festival in 2012 in partnership with the highly regarded charity Trees for Life. The project is to reforest the Caledonian highlands for its own sake to provide desperately needed natural habitat to support biodiversity and healthy ecological systems. Trees will not be felled for timber. 100% of the £5 per tree donations go to the project with no admin fees to A Greener Festival. 

A Greener Festival recently paid a visit to the Scottish Highlands, where they are planting the "Festival Wood" in Dundreggan.

Claire O'Neill and Helen Innes undertook the long journey north to plant some of the trees kindly donated this season. The most considerable donation this summer came from Electric Hotel, who donated £1 per phone charge at Shambala festival this summer. They were able to contribute 242 Trees which is fantastic!

Other donators this summer so far include Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Kendal Calling, Glastonbury Festival, ID&C, Hadra Trance Festival, Rockstar Services, Festival Mag, Et Voila Events and Peppermint Bars.

A Greener Festival donate one tree per festival that applies to its awards internationally. So far this year that makes over 50 trees.

O’Neill, Co Founder of A Greener Festival, said “Although this is a carbon positive activity, we don’t see it as an “offset scheme”. This is a reforestation project for the festival industry and all of us to give something back, and to have a long term beneficial impact on the ecosystem that our lives depend upon.”

There is still a month left of planting and all festivals, suppliers, organisers and individuals are invited to donate what they can to the commendable cause!

To donate and for more information www.agreenerfestival.com/festival-wood

Undercover Festival returns for 2014

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A month on plans for 2014 Undercover Festival are already gathering a pace.

We are asking people to let us know what they think, what they want for 2014, and we will do our very best to listen to them as this is their festival as well, but as we are a small festival we will do what we can on those requests.  We can say that we have listened already a month since the festival many have been driving us nuts about a particular band, and we are finalising booking this band.

Undercover Festival have hit the ground running for 2014 and one of the headliners will be announced just before Christmas, also we have a great Christmas present for people with a limited number of early bird tickets and early bird family tickets available now!!  We are pleased that so far these have been selling really well so get in quick before they are gone. Details from the website.

Reflections on our very first festival:  “At the time GuilFest was no longer with us and we thought it would be a shame to let the unique atmosphere / buzz that was created in the Vive Le Rock Stage @ Guilfest in 2011 & 2012 go to waste”.

When we set this festival up we looked at what was special about the VLR stage and our primary aim was to recreate and build on that multi genre buzz that was the VLR stage at GuilFest, I hope those of you that were there agree that we not only met this aim we surpassed it.

The thing about this festival more than any other in our opinion is a melting pot of the crew, the bands, the venue but last and not least the varied / fun nature of those there that made this a festival that we think no ever promoter will be able to re-create.

Highlights? far too many to single out really, the main highlight for me was the people there walking around with the biggest smiles on their faces.

We have been asked what bands stood out; that is also a difficult one to answer as all the bands were excellent and it would be unfair to single any out in particular.

We pulled off the event with no trouble and a cracking atmosphere judging from the social media quotes and emails we have received everyone had a good time.

For 2014 we probably will not do any more stages as we think the 2 we had with the bands we had was 110% quality and the synergy between both stages was excellent.

Please note: For the avoidance of any doubt The Undercover Festival is not an open air festival – the festival will be held in 2 rooms plus other areas at the Bisley Pavilion nr Woking Surrey –  undercover by nature of the music policy of this festival and undercover – well because it is….

Hideout Festival announces Registration for 2014

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After yet another sell out year, Hideout announces its return for 2014 with a brand new registration system that will give fans the chance to buy their tickets before anyone else. Those who register will have access to an exclusive sale of tickets on November 28th before the festival inevitably sells out for the fourth year running. Next year will see the summer's biggest party return to the island of Pag, Croatia, and fans who want to avoid losing out on a ticket should register now via the Hideout website.

Anticipation is already hotting up for Hideout 2014, which is set to raise the bar once more with another stellar line-up of world class acts and unforgettable boat and pool parties. The new registration system will mean only people who have shown interest will have the opportunity to buy tickets on November 28th and flexible payment options will mean that it will be even easier for revellers to get their hands on the hottest ticket of the year. Registration is easy and can be done by heading to www.hideoutfestival.com, submitting a name and email address and then sharing to Facebook or Twitter. Users will then receive an email confirming they have successfully registered their interest.

2013 saw a myriad of electronic music's finest descend upon the sun soaked Zrce Beach in Croatia, to provide the soundtrack to the hottest event of the summer. With the stunning backdrop of the Adriatic coast, the festival featured unbelievable boat parties hosted by leading labels and curated a lineup that included the likes of Loco Dice, Marco Carola, Four Tet, SBTRKT, Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones, Julio Bashmore, Chase & Status, David Rodigan, Camo & Krooked, Dusky, Joy Orbison and many more.

The line-up for 2014 will be announced soon and organisers are advising fans to register to ensure they don't miss out on what will be another incredible party.

Ultra Music Festival goes to South Africa and Japan in 2014

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Ultra Music Festival
Following months of speculation and anticipatory hearsay from hopeful dance music enthusiasts across all corners of the globe, ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL have today put the rumors to rest by revealing that the World’s Premier Electronic event will be heading to not one, but TWO new locations for 2014!
 
Next year will see both SOUTH AFRICA and JAPAN waving the ULTRA flag, as the world’s most international festival brand continues to export its unique experience to an ever-growing number of territories across the globe!
 
Having already established gargantuan events in Miami, Argentina, Chile, Croatia, Brazil, Korea and Ibiza in its 15-year history, ULTRA SOUTH AFRICA and ULTRA JAPAN will be the EIGHTH and NINTH international editions of the Miami super festival, making ULTRA WORLDWIDE the most international festival brand in the world by quite some way, with events on no less than FIVE CONTINENTS!
 
Guaranteeing the same level of world-class talent, along with the meticulous attention to detail and world-beating production that characterizes all of their worldwide events, Ultra Worldwide will bring its unique experience to two vibrant new markets, both increasingly hungry for dance music.
 
Russell Faibisch – Founder, Executive Producer and CEO of Ultra Music Festival and Ultra Worldwide shared his excitement by saying:
 
"South Africa & Japan are without a doubt two of the most burgeoning territories in the world when it comes to their ever-growing enthusiasm towards electronic music. Their demand for world-class electronic acts have become truly overwhelming of late, and the infrastructures in each place to put on an event like Ultra are healthier than they’ve ever been. These thriving scenes, coupled with the additional fact that these locations are some of the most beautiful I've ever come across, made the decision to expand into Africa and deeper into Asia an extremely exciting one to make."
 
Adam Russakoff – Executive Producer, Talent Booker and Director of Business Affairs for Ultra Music Festival and Ultra Worldwide went on to say:
 
"If there's one ethos that characterizes each and every one of our worldwide events, it's the unmatched experience that we offer our fans. This unique 'Ultra' experience is ultimately achieved by delivering the very best forward-thinking lineups alongside unbeatable production values, and I can absolutely guarantee that next year’s new editions will be no exception.  The local promoters we've chosen to work with in each country both have an exceptional reputation for putting on the biggest and very best events in their markets, and our expansion into such booming territories is something I'm very much looking forward to."
 
 
ULTRA SOUTH AFRICA
 
FEBRUARY 14 – OSTRICH FARM, CAPE TOWN
FEBRUARY 15 – NASREC SHOWGROUNDS, JOHANNESBURG
 
TICKETS ON SALE 9AM (SAST) NOVEMBER 1, 2013
 
PHASE 1 LINEUP 
 
TIËSTO 
ALESSO, NICKY ROMERO, KREWELLA, W&W, 
GOLDFISH, BLACK COFFEE, MI CASA, EUPHONIK & DJ FRESH
 
 
Gracing Cape Town Ostrich Farm [February 14] and Nasrec Showgrounds, Johannesburg [February 15] with the unique and unrivalled experience for which it is so globally famed, ULTRA SOUTH AFRICA will be the first, and by far the biggest, event of its kind to hit the African continent when it lands in early 2014. 
 
What’s more, headlining the entire event will be none other than Dutch superstar DJ, producer and Musical Freedom label boss TIËSTO! A firm favourite with Ultra fans across the world, and without doubt one of the planet's most in demand DJs, Tiësto will be supported by an array of fellow countrymen, in the form of bona fide überstar NICKY ROMERO and chart-topping duo W&W. Flying the flag for Sweden will be 22-year old superstarALESSO, whilst Chicago-based trio KREWELLA look set to provide the much needed injection of bass to proceedings!
 
Tiesto
 
If that weren’t enough, joining these international big hitters in the first wave of talent to be announced, will be a whole host of South Africa’s finest talent and local heroes in the form of Cape Town based duo GOLDFISH,underground house star BLACK COFFEE and the stellar three-piece outfit hailing from Johannesburg, MI CASA. Last but by no means least, legendary house music partners EUPHONIK & DJ FRESH will be stepping up to represent South Africa in style.
 
Shaun Duvet, MD at Electric Music – the South African partner and co-organizer of the festival – added:
 
"Over the past three years we (Electric) have successfully toured the world's biggest DJs and in doing so feel that the South African audience has been building up momentum to take on a festival of massive proportion… All electronically focused of course.  Having been to Ultra Miami and Europe, we felt the market was indeed ready for Ultra South Africa, and judging by the levels of anticipation here, it is."
 
TICKET INFORMATION
 
Ultra South Africa is strictly an 18 and over event. 
 
TICKETS GO ON SALE 
9AM (SAST) NOVEMBER 1, 2013
 
Ticket prices for each event are as follows:
 
CAPE TOWN – FEBRUARY 14, 2013
GATES OPEN 2PM
 
GA
Early Bird – R600
Phase 1 – R700
Phase 2 – R800
Phase 3 – TBA
 
VIP
Phase 1 – R900
Phase 2 – R1100
Phase 3 – TBA
 
 
JOHANNESBURG – FEBRUARY 15, 2013
GATES OPEN 12PM
 
GA
Early bird – R650
Phase 1 – R750
Phase 2 – R850
Phase 3 – TBA
 
VIP
Phase 1 – R1200
Phase 2 – R1500
Phase 3 – TBA
 
VVIP
Phase 1 – R3000
Phase 2 – TBA

NASS 2014 Info and Ticket details

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NASS Festival is back!

The action sports and music festival returns to the Bath and West Showground from 11-13th July 2014.

With tickets officially going on sale at 12pm on Sunday 3rd November demand is high with a limited amount of early bird passes selling out in record time during a flash sale at the end of the festival that saw the likes of Nas, Katy B, Zane Lowe, Hadouken, Skepta, Andy C, Benga top the bill of the 3 day event.

Basked in sunshine for the entire event, there was no shortage of awe inspiring sports action also with a whole host of internationals and the cream of the UKs best skaters and BMX’ers. World Cup Skate Comp saw the strongest foreign contention making the trip over including Brazil’s Kelvin Hoefler and Diego Fiorese but Madrid’s Danny Leon took the title taking home over £5K. Ozzie riders Logan Martin, Brandon Loupos and Todd Meyn flew over for a fierce battle for the top 3 podium places splitting over £10K between them.

Rumours are rife with early speculation over potential headliners and attending star athletes but one thing that is for sure, save the date. Nass is coming…

Here’s what went down in 2013.

NASS 2013 Highlights trailer:

Megadeth to headline Bloodstock 2014

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BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL is thrilled to announce that MEGADETH are confirmed to headline the Sunday night slot in 2014.

This will be the thrash icons’ first appearance at BLOODSTOCK.  In a career nearing 30 years and counting, MEGADETH has sold more than 38 million albums worldwide, earning five consecutive platinum albums in the US and numerous accolades along the way, including 11 GRAMMY® nominations.  The band’s latest studio album released in June, ‘Super Collider’, reunites firebrand frontman Dave Mustaine once again with guitarist Chris Broderick, bassist David Ellefson, and drummer Shawn Drover.  The release debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 and #22 on the UK album chart and notched up Top 40 album chart debuts in a further 22 countries worldwide.

Megadeth

MEGADETH also recently released a live DVD of last year’s ‘Countdown To Extinction’ 20th Anniversary tour.  Check out this video of MegaDave and the guys thundering through the title track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYzUIKnGVvk.

MEGADETH’s founder, frontman and visionary, Dave Mustaine comments: “2014 is the 20th Anniversary for ‘Youthanasia’, and we are celebrating that by headlining the Bloodstock Festival in the glorious UK.  Every year MEGADETH and our UK fans get closer and celebrate another year of metal greatness together. This is the beginning of 2014…the best is yet to come.”

Tickets for 2014's event are already on sale at ‘early bird’ prices, £115 for a 4-day weekend ticket with camping.  Don't delay, as once the limited ‘early bird’ allocation is gone, it's gone, and tickets revert to full price.  Pick ‘em up now at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/.

In other BLOODSTOCK news, the festival is very proud to announce their recent win at the LIVE UK MUSIC BUSINESS AWARDS 2013 in the ‘Best Festival (under 15K cap)’.  The second ‘Best Festival’ accolade in a row, after picking up 2012’s UK Festival Awards gong for ‘Best Medium sized Festival’!   Long may it continue!!

Already announced as Friday night bill toppers are New Orleans sludgemeisters DOWN. Joining them to headline Saturday night are black metal overlords, EMPEROR.  BLOODSTOCK will be the only UK performances for both bands.

In 2013, over 1.2 million fans from across the world logged on to watch the bands on the BLOODSTOCK main stage, via the Daily Motion live link.  This year was BLOODSTOCK’s biggest ever attendance at just shy of 14,000 and with a site licence of 15,000 we are expecting the 2014 event to sell out in advance, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets!

BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2014.  Keep up to date with the very latest info on BLOODSTOCK’s official sites at www.facebook.com/bloodstock and www.bloodstock.uk.com.

Hideout 2013 Highlights Video

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2013 saw a myriad of electronic music's finest descend upon the sun soaked Zrce Beach in Croatia, to provide the soundtrack to the hottest event of the summer. With the stunning backdrop of the Adriatic coast, the festival featured unbelievable boat parties hosted by leading labels and curated a lineup that included the likes of SBTRKT, Skream, Benga, Four Tet and Loco Dice who all delivered unforgettable sets to revellers throughout the week. The highlights of 2013 can be seen in this amazing new video.

Anticipation is already hotting up for Hideout 2014 and organisers have some big news coming in the next few weeks. Watch this space…

Stanton Warriors announce they will be at Glastonbury 2014

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Stanton Warriors are the first official act announced for Glastonbury after they announced it on their facebook page earlier this week!

Stanton Warriors

It will be a 10th anniversary for the DJ duo at the 2014 installment of Glastonbury which sold 120,000 tickets out in a record 87 minutes!

Michael Eavis has confirmed that all three headliners have been booked for Glasto 2014 but has yet to reveal who they are.