SLAYER announced for Bloodstock Open Air 2016!

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As the calendar turns to the final month of the year, BLOODSTOCK are excited to announce their Sunday night headliner for 2016!  The very mighty SLAYER are set to close out the festival at Catton Park next August.

Having recently released their twelfth studio album, ‘Repentless’, which has been their most successful to date, SLAYER are on truly blistering form!  Check out their brutal, yet epic video for ‘Repentless’, starring Machete star Danny Trejo: https://youtu.be/yjb0j9l1sz4.

Legendary SLAYER axeman, Kerry King comments; "I’m looking forward to heading back to Bloodstock, as always!  Come party with SLAYER and watch us wreck the place!!"

Already announced for BLOODSTOCK 2016 are TWISTED SISTER (their last ever UK show), MASTODON, GOJIRA, ANTHRAX, SATYRICON, BEHEMOTH, DRAGONFORCE, ROTTING CHRIST, VENOM and PARADISE LOST. Many more are still to be added.

Early bird weekend tickets with camping are available now, priced £120 (+ booking fee) from http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838.  BLOODSTOCK is family-friendly and welcomes rockers of all ages!  A weekend ticket with camping for kids aged 4 – 11 is just £35 (+booking fee) and if your little mosher is under 4, they can join you for free (Note: all children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over the age of 18)!  Campervan pitches are already on sale and these move very quickly, so pick yours up ASAP to avoid disappointment. Rock Society passes are already sold out.

Faithless and Stereophonics to headline Isle of Wight Festival 2016

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Giving the festival a massive injection of memorable anthems and electrifying electronica, the two British favourites will ensure a spectacular start to what is the first festival of the summer, ahead of a full weekend of live music and entertainment.

Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones said: “I love playing the Isle Of Wight Festival. I got to steer the boat over last time. Captain of the ship and honked the horn!  Only the captain gets to honk the horn. This will be our third time at the festival…. I'll leave my white suit at home this time though!”

Faithless said: "We cant wait to return to play such an iconic festival for the second time. We were proud to be part of its relaunch in 2005 and it's an absolute pleasure to be invited back.” 

Festival promoter John Giddings said: “We are delighted to welcome Stereophonics and Faithless back to The Isle of Wight Festival to co-headline the Friday night. Stereophonics continue to prove they are still on top with a new No. 1 album and they are absolutely brilliant live. Likewise Faithless, who are currently celebrating their 20th year, have had hit after hit, and I know the crowds at the festival are going to go crazy when they bring their live set up to the Friday night. Looking forward to catching their sets!”

Without doubt one of the UK’s best bands, Stereophonics recently scored another No. 1 album with their latest release ‘Keep The Village Alive’. Their achievements over the past two decades are many; six No. 1 albums, 26 Top 40 singles, including the No. 1 hit ‘Dakota’, and wide acclaim for their live performance which has seen them become a firm festival favourite.  Armed with new hits C’est La Vie, I Wanna Get Lost With You, Song For The Summer and classic songs such as ‘Local Boy in the Photograph’, ‘The Bartender and the Thief’, ‘Have a Nice Day’, ‘Dakota’ and more Friday night will be a fantastic evening.

British electronic dance icons Faithless created club classics such as ‘God is a DJ’, ‘Insomnia’ and ‘We Come 1’ and have sold over 15 million records worldwide. To celebrate their 20th anniversary the band created a special remix album ‘Faithless 2.0.’ featuring remixes from some of the biggest DJs today including Avicii, Tiesto, Eric Prdyz and Armin Van Buuren paying tribute to their enduring legacy. 

SlamDunk Festival Lineup – First Wave

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Celebrating its ten year anniversary, the ever growing festival known as SlamDunk has released the first wave of bands. With only a month from the holidays it seems Slamdunk knows what we all want for Christmas.

Topping the bill is Brendon Urie's Las Vagas rock band PANIC! AT THE DISCO. After absolutely smashing the main stage slot at England's infamous Reading and Leeds festival earlier this year, it seems they are set and ready to take SlamDunk by storm with relentlessly releasing new material and their new album 'Death Of A Bachelor' on the horizon. It's no wonder they've hit the top spot for celebrating a decade of SlamDunk!

Joining Panic! in the first wave of bands is one of Orange County's finest metalcore bands, OF MICE & MEN. After not long completing their full circle earlier in 2015 it seems the five piece can't get enough of the UK. Their appearance at next year's SlamDunk leaves us anticipating some new material.

A band with little need for introduction joining the lineup is Pop Punk classic New found glory.

Not only known for the heroic beards, most probably sharing a stage with New Found is another one of Pop Punk's finest, Four Year Strong. After releasing their self titled album in June, it seems they have some fresh material the UK is ever excited to hear!

Every Time I Die – after completing their UK tour in October it seems like the boys from Dallas can't get enough of the English soil and are once again heading back in May.
Also joining the lineup from across the pond, Memphis may fire, Issues and last but certainly not least, Dan Lambton's five piece Real Friends.
As you can imagine here at Summer Festival Guide we are completely stoked for next summer with these incredible bands hitting the lineup so early on, it's a wonder what SlamDunk have in store for us.

Tickets are now on sale from slamdunkmusic.com. Don’t miss out with a further forty bands to be announced across seven stages keep posted for another amazing announcement to come over the next few months.

The dates and venues for SlamDunk 2016 are as follows:

May
28 Leeds City Centre
29 Birmingham The NEC
30 Hertfordshire Hatfield Forum

 

Bestival’s Common People comes to Oxford in 2016

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COMMON PEOPLE COMES TO OXFORD!

BESTIVAL’S OFF THE WALL WARM UP DEBUTS IN THE CITY OF DREAMING SPIRES

28 & 29 MAY 2016, SOUTH PARK OXFORD

 

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Common People, a grand day out from the makers of Bestival in conjunction with Oxford City Council, will be coming to Oxford on 28th & 29th May 2016, so don’t miss out – save the date! Taking place in the stunning surrounds of South Park, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful parks in the UK, and famously the venue for a home-coming concert by Radiohead and Supergrass over 15 years ago, Common People Oxford, will be a feast of the finest that the live music and DJ scenes have to offer. A twin for our already established Southampton event held on the same spring bank holiday weekend, both festivals will share some line-up, with a few key regional differences to give each show an unmistakably homespun feel.

Common People Curator Rob da Bank says: “Common People HQ is buzzing with excitement today to announce that we’re bringing our show to Oxford next May. South Park is a stunning setting and we have an amazing line up to share with you very soon – from pop stars to underground legends, theatre and spoken word to our ace Kids Area and some special Oxford touches. Thanks for having us Oxford.”

New bands for Bloodstock Open Air 2016

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BLOODSTOCK add GOJIRA, SATYRICON & ANTHRAX to 2016!

 

As the festive season looms, BLOODSTOCK come bearing early gifts for you!  Three more bands for 2016!

 

French heavyweights GOJIRA are set to bring their whale-sized riffs to Catton Park as Saturday’s special guests!  A crowd favourite every time they play, and with a brand new album on the way, being recorded in their own studio, their BLOODSTOCK set is sure to be a sight to behold.  Frontman Joe Duplantier enthuses, “BLOODSTOCK is one of our favourite festivals in the UK!  The quality of the bands playing is always a high standard and we love the passion of the people who come to rock out!  It’s an honour to be a part of it again.” Look out for updates from the studio at www.facebook.com/GojiraMusic.

 

Stepping into Sunday’s special guest slot are thrash titans, ANTHRAX!  More than three decades in and with a new album, ‘All For Kings’ coming in February, BLOODSTOCK will be the place to see them next Summer.  Axe legend Scott Ian comments: “On the most metal of days we will once again have the privilege to rage with you crazy fuckers!  BLOODSTOCK!!!  A festival fit for all kings!!!  See what I did there?  See ya soon, my friends.”  Get excited by checking out their latest single ‘Evil Twin’, released last month, at: http://youtu.be/xPmLkF3e6Fc.

 

Playing their only UK show for 2016 are Norwegian trailblazers SATYRICON, performing their classic ‘Nemesis Devina’ album in full on Sunday.  “Next year it’s 20 years since Satyricon made its live debut as a band, and 20 years since we released Nemesis Divina,” frontman and visionary Satyr comments. “There's a nemesis walking through life, for all to face.  And there's a Divine Nemesis, for all to face that come to see Satyricon at BLOODSTOCK 2016.  Let us celebrate the 20th anniversary of a milestone album like only Norsemen and Brits can!"  Learn more at www.facebook.com/SatyriconOfficial.

 

Early bird weekend tickets with camping are available now, priced £120 (+ booking fee) from http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2016/catton-park/902838.  BLOODSTOCK is family-friendly and welcomes rockers of all ages!  A weekend ticket with camping for kids aged 4 – 11 is just £35 (+booking fee) and if your little mosher is under 4, they can join you for free (Note: all children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian over the age of 18)!  Campervan pitches are already on sale and these move very quickly, so pick yours up ASAP to avoid disappointment. Rock Society passes are already sold out.

First acts announced for Field Day 2016

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From its early inception back in 2007, Field Day has evolved across two days, heightened its levels of production, expanded its culinary and extra-curricular activities, yet always remained true to its core values – impeccably curated music at the heart of everything it does is. Continuing this ethos Field Day are honoured to announce PJ Harvey for a London exclusive in 2016 on Sunday the 12th June.

Since her first album Dry – a record Kurt Cobain considered one of the 20 greatest albums ever written – PJ Harvey has received worldwide acclaim for her unique, restless artistic vision. The recipient of multiple awards, she is the only artist to have won the Mercury Music prize twice, first with the platinum selling Stories From The City: Stories From The Sea in 2000, then over a decade on with 2011's Let England Shake.

2015 has found PJ Harvey breaking more new ground, releasing her first volume of poetry and writing and recording her as-yet-untitled 9th studio album in front of live audiences inside an architectural installation at Somerset House. 

 
Awarded an MBE for services to music in 2013, her headline slot will be a Field Day exclusive and be the first UK live, full band show since she played at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011.

FIELD DAY 2016 – Saturday

Elsewhere at their decade celebrations, Field Day Saturday will see long time friend of the festival Four Tet play a key slot on the Eat Your Own Ears Main Stage."One of the UK's most dedicated club DJs, capable of holding a room in sweaty excelsis for eight hours without pause." He's restlessly dedicated his life to creating other-worldly club music, with his timeless productions sounding like they've been beamed from another dimension.
 
All-conquering grime superstar Skepta graces Victoria Park with his presence as he continues to bring grime kicking and screaming into 2016. A new album imminent with a reportedly all star cast of collaborators, his ascendancy continues at pace. Get set to get Shutdown.
 
Led by the enigmatic frontman Bradford Fox, Deerhunter bring their gloriously shape-shifting genres and sounds, vacillating from post-punk to pop, auspiciously under the all-encompassing umbrella of indie-rock. 
 
Floating Points has won over crowds around the world with his strictly vinyl club sessions, spanning, house, techno, soul and disco, steadily climbing the ranks of the globes most impressive DJ's. Floating Points will bring his enchanting full band show to Field Day Saturday, for a mesmerising performance filled with warm electro weaves and delicate euphoria. 
 
Mercury Prize nominated and this year's rising star SOAK will also appear on Saturday, along with a further line-up which veers into corners as diverse as Cass McCombs blending rock, folk, psychedelic, punk, and alt country, plus Yorkston Thorne Khan, which encompasses the mighty Scottish folk nobility of James Yorkston.
 
Founded in 1970, the six piece Senegalese Afro-Cuban, Son, Wolof and Pachanga band Orchestra Baobab, are hailed as one of Africa's great iconic bands, producing more hits in less than a decade than other bands in a lifetime. Elsewhere, Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band will bring their mix of traditional Thai sound with echoes of folk-rock, blues and dub to a Field Day stage.
 
Renowned for their beautifully blissed out sound, London duo Mount Kimbie come to Field Day on the Saturday and will be joining DJ Koze who was recently selected to mix the 50th edition of !K7's seminal DJ Kicks series. Also up on the Saturday is Motor City Drum Ensemble – a much in demand artist who over the the past few years he's cemented his reputation as one of the top ranking record pioneers making Resident Advisor's Top 20 DJs last year.
 
One of the biggest names in the German electronic music scene and part of the Robert Johnson family, Roman Flügel is also on Saturday's line-up. A chameleon visiting many styles from ambient to house, techno, electro and leftfield. Special Request, the rugged alias for house and techno stalwart Paul Woolford is inspired by the unruly conventions of UK pirate radio stations, with productions span from murky house through darkside techno to chaotic eye-of-the-storm hardcore/jungle tear-outs. Also joining Saturday's bill will be the dynamic house duo Dusky, who in just three years have asserted themselves as leaders of the UK underground.
 
Live electronic acts come in the form of Holly Herndon, Kink and Red Axes. Holly Herndon brings her unique blend of glitching, bewitching electronics and choral voices to her sonic performance. Recent album Platform, co-released on 4AD and the peerless RVNG Intl has seen another step forward in her production and gained her further plaudits far and wide.
 
Hailing from Sofia, Bulgaria, Kink's an enigma in many different forms and will perform one of his much-lauded live sets at Field Day.  Tel-Aviv producers Dori Sadovnik and Niv Arzi have been performing together for a long time, first as post-punk band Red Cotton. It's with their current Red Axes incarnation that they've struck gold, touching on stripped back slow mo techno.
 
Ghanaian musician Ata Kak, was the first ever post on The Awesome Tapes from Africa blog which spawned the hugely influential label. Obaa Sima has gone on to transcend genres and appeared in an unbelievable array of DJ's sets since. Ata Kak comes to the UK to play Field Day for what will be his first time out of Ghana. Special.
 
Performing new live music for the first time, Wild Nothing, the American five piece indie rock/dream pop band from Virginia, will bring their  shimmery, synth-washed indie pop recordings to Field Day Saturday. While Trevor Powers' a.k.a Youth Lagoon, will provide the Festival goers with an insight into his ever mind expanding and varied productions.
 
Producer, DJ and software developer Avalon Emerson and electronic music producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mura Masa also join for the Saturday, along with Dean Blunt, an artist renowned for consistently delivering compelling and unpredictable performances and the terrifyingly gifted Meilyr Jones.          

FIELD DAY 2016 – Sunday

On Sunday, hailing from Buchanan, but now ensconced in Iceland, singer, song-writer and honesty purveyor John Grant joins the bill alongside PJ Harvey. His third solo studio album, 2015's Grey Tickles, Black Pressure featured several guests such as singers Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl and Amanda Palmer. In 2014 John Grant was nominated for Best International Male Solo Artist at the BRITS and appeared on UK TV show, Later with Jools Holland in early October this year, accompanied on stage by a band including several backing singers and special guest Budgie.
 
Also on Field Day Sunday, Baltimore dream-pop duo and masters of the lullaby, Beach House are known for creating music which is dark, dreamy, and alluringly hypnotic. Since their formation in 2005, Beach House have charmed indie music enthusiasts across the blogosphere with their languid songcraft, and the eerie warmth of "Apple Orchard" landed on Pitchfork's Infinite Mixtape MP3 series in August 2006. 
 
Swedish psych-rockers and master of the on-stage costume, GOAT will bring their unique sound to the main stage. The indie-informed and highly electronic adept Junior Boys, are back with a much lauded new album this year including a synth cover of Bobby Caldwell's 'What You Won't Do For Love'.
 
Elsewhere on Sunday's cohesive yet eclectic line-up, Glaswegian DJ royalty duo Optimo will be representing. JD Twitch of Optimo's Autonomous Africa, Optimo and Optimo Trax labels responsible for some of the most incredibly diverse releases of recent time. Former Sonic Youth frontman will also bring The Thurston Moore Band to the Sunday Field Day crowd. 
 
BBC 6Music resident, and member of the best-selling duo Everything But The Girl, Ben Watt will play with his band featuring Bernard Butler, whilst Molly Nilsson's synth-pop also comes to the fore. Plus many more to be announced complete another classic Field Day Sunday.

Disclosure, The 1975 and The Courteeners join T In the Park

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Disclosure’s return to T in the Park is sure to be an epic one, after their mind-blowing headline set on the Radio 1 Stage in 2014. The electronic music duo released their second album Caracal in September, featuring guest appearances from The Weeknd, Lorde, Gregory Porter and Sam Smith, among others. It follows their no.1, platinum-selling debut Settle, which received nominations for the Mercury Prize and a Grammy. They’ll be sure to bring the party vibes to Strathallan Castle next July.
 
 
The 1975’s eponymous debut album topped the UK Album Charts in September 2013 when it entered at no.1 and last month, the Manchester four-piece announced their second studio album I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It. The first single off the new record – Love Me – is currently dominating the airwaves. Their infectious indie pop anthems are the perfect summer festival soundtrack, and are sure to inspire mass sing-alongs when they make their T in the Park return.
 
Fellow Manchester lads and huge favourites with the T in the Park crowd, Courteeners have also been added to the bill. In 2014 the group achieved their highest chart position to date when their fourth record Concrete Love reached no.3 in the UK album charts. Liam Fray’s sharp songwriting combined with the band’s euphoric pop riffs has fuelled the band’s longevity, and they going from strength to strength, currently playing a string of sold out dates across the country.
 

Elton John to open Henley Festival 2016

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Following the release of his hotly anticipated new album, Wonderful Crazy Night due out on 5th February 2016, Elton John will perform on the Floating Stage for the first time in the 34 year history of the festival. Elton John’s performance at Henley will be one of only five concerts in the UK next year and the only place to see him perform in a unique riverside setting.

lton John is one of the world’s most famous and best loved musicians. Having sold more than 250 million records worldwide, he holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, has had 37 gold and 27 multi-platinum albums, and has played over 3,500 concerts across 80 countries.
 
With festival goers dressed in black tie and Michelin starred food on offer, Elton John’s performance on the River Thames to 7,000 festival goers will be the most exclusive night of the year, his performance will be followed by a magical 15 minute firework display along the river.
 
Elton John has said: 

“The simple truth is I want to spend more time with my family, and I am only too aware of just how precious the time ahead is. My sons are growing up so quickly; their early years are just flying by and I want to be there with them. So these concerts will give me the chance to thank the British audiences who have been so faithful to me over these many decades. We cannot get to everyone but I am going to try – and I am thrilled that I will be able to say I have played the beautiful Henley-on-Thames.” 

Charlotte Geeves, Henley Festival Director commented: “We are extremely excited to be able to announce that the world’s most famous pop star will be headlining Henley Festival for the first time. Henley Festival goers are huge Elton John fans so he can expect a very warm welcome when he plays at Henley. It’s definitely going to be a night to remember and we can’t wait for him to open the festival in July.” 

The Beach Boys at Bondi Beachfest LIVE review

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The newly-appointed Bondi Beachfest sure pulled out the stops, with their first ever summer beach show this November 2015 boasting an incredible lengthy set from one of the most lasting and popular bands in music history. Who, you might ask? Why, the complete wonders that are The Beach Boys! And with a promise that the pop-rock superstar hit makers would be playing all their classic tunes, it's fair to say that I was pretty excited to see them to say the very least!

There’s no denying that as we head over to Sydney’s Bondi beach – quite easily one of the world’s most famous beaches, there was a stir of apprehension dancing in my stomach. Ironically, The Beach Boys, the musical icons of summer cheer, surfing and sunshine were playing the Sydney leg of their Australian tour on a day that, well… was absolutely bucketing it down.

However those worries soon evaporated as we hurried through the throngs of fans and into the arena. The Beach Boys hadn’t even taken to the stage yet and the atmosphere was buzzing pleasantly, made up of a surprising concoction of both younger and older fans, many already bopping away in preparation for the well-awaited show. And with the impressively stormy waves of Bondi setting a rather excitingly atmospheric backdrop, who really cares about the rain eh?

With a short and sweet introduction, the boys took to the stage donning colourful floral shirts, opening their lengthy set with their 1961 hit ‘Surfin’’. The hive of catchy melodies immediately prompted fans to start their boogying as the rain shed down on them. As I peered around at the crowds, I could see all was very well indeed, most completely ignoring the rain.

The first half of the show picked up for a fantastic start, with the boys treating fans to a string of hip-swingin’ hits such as the aptly-named ‘Goin’ to the beach’ and ‘Catch a wave’, the wonderfully enthusiastic ‘Dance, dance, dance’, and the soothing-sounding ‘Good to my baby’ and ‘Don’t worry baby’. We also saw the boys perform several of their well-known covers, including the likes of The Crystals’s ‘Then he kissed me’ and Lead Betty’s ‘Cotton Fields’, much to the joy of the audience.

‘God only knows’, easily one of The Beach Boys most popular hits was played halfway through the set as a moving tribute to former band members Carl and Dennis Wilson. As classic visuals were shown of the former bandmates, it was difficult not to feel choked up! A very heart-warming moment indeed.

The boys ‘Good vibrations’ caused the emotional atmosphere to shift, triggering, well, extremely good vibrations! Seemingly most of the audience were up on their feet to jig animatedly to the much-loved hit, making for a brilliant atmosphere.

And what came next proved to be a real even more of a treat. Golden hit after hit came rocking for the rest of the second half, including my personal favourites ‘Wouldn’t it be nice’, ‘Help me Rhonda’ and ‘Surfin’ USA’. It was almost impossible not to dance, and it’s completely fair to say the rest of the crowd must have felt the same!

The encore saw the set conclude with the wonderfully relaxing beach hit ‘Kokomoko’  and the ultimate dance classic ‘Fun fun fun’, paired with beautiful visuals of stunning bikini-clad model types and stretches and stretches of caster-sugar white beaches. And that song rather sums up the night – it was fun, fun, fun and the boys definitely proved they’ve still got it. An amazing night with the absolute legends that are The Beach Boys!

Jess Glynne, Circa Waves and more for Live at Leeds 2016

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Officially kicking off the festival season, Live At Leeds hosts the biggest names alongside the best in new and upcoming acts, and this year is no different. Having played host to the likes of Bastille, James Blake, Wild Beasts, The Cribs, Bombay Bicycle Club, Rudimental and The Vaccines over the years, each year Live At Leeds provides a snapshot of everything that is vital in music right now, and 2016’s event will be no different.

Leading the charge amongst the first series of artists to be announced is the fantastic Jess Glynne, who will be bringing her chart-topping hits to Live At Leeds 2016. Breaking onto the scene after her appearances with Clean Bandit, this year saw Glynne release her acclaimed debut album I Cry When I Laugh, which was jam packed with singles that will no doubt sound massive when played at the UK's premiere metropolitan festival for new music.

Joining 2015’s biggest pop sensation will be Circa Waves. Arguably one of the most important groups in indie at the moment, the Liverpool four piece have gone from strength to strength in 2015, storming major festivals all over the world and smashing stunning headline tours, rising to play huge venues including 02 Brixton Academy and more. Needless to say, their appearance at LAL looks set to be nothing short of spectacular.

Also joining the bill are indie legends We Are Scientists. Undeniable icons, it's fair to say the duo hold fond memories in any indie fan's heart, releasing countless hits over the last decade, from classics like 'The Great Escape' and 'Nobody Move, Nobody Gets Hurt', through to 2014's 'Dumb Luck' and 'Return The Favour'. Visceral, empowering and above all else fun, their performance is sure to draw a huge crowd. Band of Skulls will also bring their signature brand of raucous rock to proceedings, effortlessly justifying the huge festival and support slots they’ve played in the past.

Representing the artists that will come to dominate 2016, Rat Boy, Clean Cut Kid and Barns Courtney have also been revealed to play the festival. Receiving a wealth of critical acclaim in recent months, these three acts look set to be huge by 2016, and with a barrage of hits already under their belts, summer festival season is theirs for the taking, starting with Live At Leeds.

Speaking about this year’s talent and the festival’s 10 year legacy, lead booker Andy Smith commented: “2016 will be the tenth year of booking Live at Leeds, it feels like a great achievement to have grown what was originally a four venue bill to what it is today.”

“We have seen some great names grace our stages over those ten years and I’m really looking forward to next year and what will hopefully be our biggest event yet, it really feels like we are stepping up another level”