Festivals

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

Kendal Calling announce Outer Space fancy dress theme

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This years Kendal Calling have announced their theme for 2014 which will be Outer Space.  Expect the grounds of Lowther Deer Park to bhe transformed into a dazzing alien world!

Without giving away the festival's plans too much, festival-goers can beam themselves into the Calling Out tent after the bands go home to watch some of the best space films ever made and some that might surprise!  
 
Once again an attempt will be made to smash another world record. This year Kendal Calling hope to break the record for the largest moonwalk! No, we're not sending people into space!  Instead festival-goers should don their sparkly white gloves and embrace their inner MJ as they attempt to 'beat it.'                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
As always, Saturday will be fancy dress day and festival-goers are encouraged to suit up in keeping with the space theme, whether it be a character or object from across the galaxy such as Darth Vader, Spock, Barabella, Dr Who, Ziggy Stardust, Neil Armstrong, Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Michael Jackson or even a planet. Be as creative and as wacky as you like! In years gone by revellers have demonstrated brilliant ideas and imagination in designing and donning costumes transforming the ancient, tranquil Deer Park into a surreal, bouncing wonderland.  
 
As well as the overall space themed décor, Kendal Calling will once again have a wide variety of the very best music and performance art to excite, enlighten and entertain throughout the weekend. Keep an eye out for many more Kendal Calling announcements in the near future as this multi award winning festival continues to provide the perfect backdrop for a weekend of musical merriment in the fields.  
 

Watchet Live Festival 2014 first lineup announcement

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This years Watchet Live Festival has announced the first wave of artists that will perform, it includes Toploader, Bad Manners, Eric Faulkner's Bay City Rollers and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

With their trove of of hits including Dancing In The Moonlight and Achilles Heel, Eastbourne's Toploader are the perfect sing-a-long festival headliner for Saturday night. Saturday's 2nd headliner is yet to be announced.

The line-up for Friday's main stage include a host of legendary acts. Buster Bloodvessel's legendary Ska band Bad Manners will headline, supported by the No.1 60's soul man, Geno Washington and his Ram Jam Band. Tartan scarves will be out in force for Eric Faulkner's Bay City Rollers, and the unique retro-pop sound of Dance Rock Revivalists Joywride will open the festival main stage.

Both Sunday headliners are yet to be announced, but as always 'house band'The Wurzels will perform in the afternoon, alongside Company B and Land Of The Giants.

Taking place for the 8th time on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th August, Watchet LIVE Festival will showcase the very best music, food and entertainment from the Westcountry and beyond.

Camping and Campervan option early-bird tickets are on sale at last year's prices until March 2014, when the remaining three headliners will be announced. 

Watchet LIVE is a not-for-profit family-friendly festival with amazing views of the stunning West Somerset coastline and beyond. Three live stages will host more than 50 live acts, bringing a wide range of high-calibre musical acts not normally found performing in West Somerset, at a very affordable price. 

Following the success of last year's sold out event, Watchet LIVE Festival has made financial donations to local groups including The Children's Hospice South West, West Somerset Brass band, and the local "Stand Against Speed" young driver's awareness campaign. 

2014 will see more emphasis on youth-oriented daytime and evening entertainment & workshops; a shuttle bus from the main town to the festival site in the afternoon and evenings on each day has been introduced, plus more walk about street entertainers, more showers in the camping area and an extended family camping area.

Alongside a wide variety of high quality food stalls, the extensive in-house Cider and Real Ale Bar prices are always kept as low as possible, providing one of the best-value refreshments offerings to be found at any event in the UK.

Darkside, Four Tet and more added to Melt Festival lineup

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Having performed to sold out crowds all over Europe, Melt! goers will have yet another chance to see Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington a.k.a. Darkside live. Four Tet will make a welcome return to the City of Iron to bring us the latest tunes from his 2013 release, ‘Beautiful Rewind’ and the UK band, Bombay Bicycle Club, will celebrate their Melt! debut raising the indie quota with their guitar-laden sound. In 2013, SBTRKT got behind the decks in Ferropolis. This year, festivalgoers can see him live on stage with brand-new material. Clean Bandit, who have been topping charts all over since the release of their hit single, ‘Rather Be’, will also be on hand get party revellers in the mood with their charismatic electro pop tunes.

Performances and sets by DVS1, George Fitzgerald, John Grant, Ja, Panik, John Talabot (DJ-Set), Jungle, Markus Kavka, Kid Simius (live), Of Montreal, Pantha du Prince (live), Planningtorock, Pretty Lights, S O H N, Son Lux, Tale of Us, Tourist, WhoMadeWho and Wolf Alice have also been confirmed.

 

More acts announced for 2000trees Festival

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Electronica showstoppers Public Service Broadcasting will bring their unique visual and musical performance – including TV sets, sampling and live video – to this summer’s 2000trees Festival.

Itch, Blitz Kids, Hawk Eyes, The Virginmary’s, Winter Villains and Verse Chorus Verse have also joined the 100-strong line-up, with organisers promising ‘the best year yet’ for discovering new favourite bands.

Organiser James Scarlett said: “2000trees has won national awards for encapsulating what many music fans want – a wide selection of new and underground British music in an affordable, fun and friendly environment, not to mention the beautiful Cotswolds countryside.

“Our line-up is strongly influenced by fans’ input as well as our own experiences as music fans, so we are proud to say this will be the best year yet for variety and strength in depth of acts.”

Already announced acts are: Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Jamie Lenman, Tall Ships, Wolf Alice, Canterbury, Arcane Roots, Gnarwolves, Johnny Foreigner, Ben Marwood, Lonely the Brave, Natives, Dad Rocks!, &U&I, Slaves, The Retrospective Soundtrack Players, Oxygen Thief, Radstewart.

Acts now announced:

Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Public Service Broadcasting, Jamie Lenman, Tall Ships, Wolf Alice, Canterbury, Arcane Roots, Itch, Blitz Kids, Hawk Eyes, Gnarwolves, Johnny Foreigner, Ben Marwood, Lonely the Brave, Natives, Dad Rocks!, &U&I, Slaves, The Virginmary’s, The Retrospective Soundtrack Players, Oxygen Thief, Radstewart, Winter Villains, Verse Chorus Verse.

Jamie Jones, Sasha & Magda added to SW4 lineup

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The legendary and SW4 regular Sasha joins the SW4 bill along with SW4 first time performers, Jamie Jones and Magda.

A man who needs absolutely no introduction joins the Clapham Common festivities for the very first time in 2014, as Jamie Jones finally makes his South West Four debut. Widely regarded as the leader of the new house sound that has dominated dancefloors worldwide over the past five years, Jamie’sslick and sexy adaptation of the 4×4 beat has resulted in his rapid catapault to global superstardom. Jamie’s pioneering sound has been instrumental in the success of his cross genre band Hot Natured and iconic label Hot Creations. This, along with his role as the face of Ibiza’s seminal nightclub DC10, has paved the way for a warmer and more melodic side of techno to emerge. Adding to this the recent launch of his second label HOTTRAX, plus his superb ‘Planets and Spaceships’ EP and its clear that Jamie joins us at SW4 at the very pinnacle of his career.

A true SW4 legend makes his welcome return in 2014. That legend is Sasha. Having previously headlined South West Four three times (more than any other artist), Sasha’s exploits on Clapham Common are the stuff of folklore. His unrivalled ability to evolve and adapt to the ever changing world of electronic music has resulted in his international reputation as one of the greatest DJs to have ever walked the planet. The past twelve months have seen Sasha demonstrate his ground-breaking status further through the release of Involv3r, recently nominated for Beatport’s Album of the Year, a Mixmag front coverand a simply unforgettable headline appearance on New Years Eve at Brixton Academy as part of his Last Night Night On Earth label takeover.With recent standout performances serving to raise the benchmark of Sasha’s genius even further, we look forward to welcoming back one of SW4’s favourite sons with open arms.

Conistently cherished as the world’s finest and most infleuntial female DJ, Magda makes her SW4 debut in 2014. The Detroit-raised artist joined the M_Nus family back in 1998, soon establishing herself as one of the most revered DJs in the world today. Her performances alongside long standing friend Richie Hawtin have obliterated the world’s leading clubs and festivals for over a decade and we look forward to similar wild scenes at SW4. Now steering her own label Items & Things along with co-owners Troy Pierce & Marc Houle, the imprint has provided an ideal platform for many other world class producers toshowcase their sound. As an artist that prides herself on developing within such a fast-paced scene, her constand demand has led to one of the most impressive touring schedules around. South West Four get ready to be blown away by Magda.

Over fifty acts announced for End of the Road Festival

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Hosted in the wonderful surroundings of Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset, this years End of the Road Festival will be headlined by Flaming Lips and Wild Beasts.

Along with the announced headliners, check out the fifty other artists that have been added to the lineup.

Festival founder Simon Taffe: "I am very excited to have finally got the Flaming Lips, one of the best live bands in the world today, playing End of the Road on Saturday night. It's also a great honour to have the Wild Beasts back to play a headline spot, plus some of the most interesting live bands around at the moment – White Denim, John Grant, Yo La Tengo and many more."

The full A-Z list of artists confirmed today is:

9 Bach
Adult Jazz
Alexis Taylor
All We Are
Andrew Combs
The Barr Brothers
Benjamin Clementine
Bird Courage
British Sea Power
Cate Le Bon
Cold Specks
Connan Mockasin
Deer Tick
Drenge
Eagulls
Ezra Furman
Flaming Lips
Gruff Rhys
Hookworms
Horse Thief
Houndstooth
John Cooper Clarke
John Grant
John Smith
Johnny Flynn
Juana Molina
Mark Kozelek
Marissa Nadler
The Melodic
Nick Waterhouse
Oliver Wilde
Perfume Genius
Peggy Sue
Pink Mountaintops
Radiophonic Workshop
Richard Thompson
Rosie Lowe
St Paul and the Broken Bones
Stealing Sheep
Sweet Baboo
Temples
The Horrors
Three Trapped Tigers
Tinariwen
Tiny Ruins
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Wave Pictures
White Denim
Wild Beasts
Woods
Wytches
Yo La Tengo

 

Sunsplash Festival announces line up for 2014

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This year Sunsplash Festival moves to a new summer hotspot, the sun soaked shores of Bodrum in Turkey.

We have the first lineup announcement for this years festivals which includes Zara McFarlane, Gilles Peterson, Osunlade, Karizma, Lefto, Phil Asher, Rainer Trueby and many many more below.

ARTISTS CONFIRMED SO FAR:
 
Zara McFarlane
Zara McFarlane’s debut album, 2011’s Until Tomorrow, came garlanded with rave reviews and a MOBO award nomination heralding a major new talent in the world of British Jazz. SunSplash welcomes her with open arms. Read More
 
Osunlade
For the first time at SunSplash! Osunlade is an artist who personifies art. His music creates unified melodies manifested with balance, life and wisdom. Read More
 
Gilles Peterson
One of the residents of SunSplash, rocking it year after year and needing very little introduction. Read More
 
Karizma
One of the most in-demand DJs on the worldwide house circuit, his productions are a must-check for any self-respecting house lover, and his remix talents are sought out by some of the biggest names in the music business.Read More
 
Phil Asher
One of London’s finest. DJ, producer and a much loved SunSplash resident. Bringing good time boogie and deep club cuts. Read More
 
Rainer Trueby
The Root Down legend from Germany returns to grace the turntables. What can we say? The man is pure class. Read More
 
Patrick Forge
First time at SunSplash! A familiar name on the London DJ scene for the last 25 years, his radio show, The Cosmic Jam, ran for twenty one years on Kiss FM, the longest running programme in the station’s history! Read More
 
Alex Attias
A long established and well loved house, funk and disco and later ‘broken beat’ DJ who has produced some of the most memorable tracks of the movement, working with the likes of Dego, Mark De Clive Lowe, Bembé Segué, Vanessa Freeman and others. Read More 
 
Kev Beadle
DJ, radio presenter and producer Kev Beadle’s bio reads like a journey through the halcyon years of the jazz, jazz funk and soul scene in the UK from the late 70’s through to todays musical manifestations. Read More
 
Ruben Estevez (BrukBoogieKru)
Ruben started as a DJ in 1994 in Lausanne, Switzerland, spreading a selection of sounds from hip hop to soul funk and electronica, progressing to drum and bass and broken beat/nu jazz. Read More
 
FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITES:
 
Yoga
Start and finish the day with Yoga; sunrise and sunset sessions are on offer daily and included in the package fee. 
 
Kate Magic – Raw Living
In keeping with the festival’s good music and good living concept, the scrumptious Kate Magic comes to SunSplash in 2014 with her workshops on Raw Food and Raw Living. There will also be a stool to buy delicious raw cakes and chocolates, so it’s not all talk! Read More
 
Phil Asher – Beats
One of London’s finest. DJ, producer and a much-loved SunSplash regular Phil Asher will take a music production seminar for ‘headz’, other interested parties and budding producers. Read More

Open’er Festival add Darkside, Haim, Interpol and more

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Addtions from the american continent for this years Open'er Festival include Interpol, Haim & Darkside.
 
Interpol

Fortunately, 2014 sees the return of this New York postpunk trio, creators of possibly the albums of the early 2000’s  – the highly acclaimed Turn On The Bright Lights and Antics. Powerful and affecting, their masterful command of pace, atmosphere, and reverb-drenched guitar mark them out as very special indeed. No-one does fragile aggression and melancholy quite as dramatically and their upcoming fifth album will cement Interpol’s status as one of the millennium’s best bands.

Haim
Hailing from the San Fernando Valley, HAIM consists of three sisters, like Tchekov's play. Music is truly a family affair for the band: the sisters, Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, grew up playing classic rock songs with their parents in a family band, aptly called "Rockinhaim." Then the girls decided to strike out on their own and began writing their own material. In their music, critics often hear echoes of Fleetwood Mac and 90s all-female bands like En Vogue and TLC. Their debut full-length Days Are Gone charted at #1 in the UK, earning the record gold status. In 2013, the band performed at Glastonbury Festival and many more, also earning the title of BBC Sound of 2013.
 
Darkside
DARKSIDE is the collaborative duo of guitarist Dave Harrington and electronic producer Nicolas Jaar.  They summon a hybrid of electronic music and psychedelic rock with the kind of artistic depth and breadth for which the term “progressive” was coined. In the autumn of 2013 they unveiled their debut full length, Psychic, via Jaar’s own Other People label. DARKSIDE aren't dancefloor producers taking a stab at rock music; nor are they a rock band paying homage to their new favorite techno 12­inches. They're deep listeners and creators of both who see little need for distinction between their favorite sounds.

Wilderness Festival 2014 lineup announced!

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We are pretty excited to let you know that the lineup for this years Wilderness Festival has been announced.  This idyllic, eclectic and gloriously paradisiacal music and arts festival returns for its forth installment to the lovely surroundings of Cornbuy Park in Oxfordshire from 7th – 10th August 2014. 

Live Music & Dancing

Metronomy, Burt Bacharach, London Grammar, Jessie Ware with the Wilderness Orchestra, Sam Smith, Connan Mockasin, Gregory Porter, Submotion Orchestra, Mount Kimbie, Soak, Friends of the Earth Busking Stage

“BitterSuite” – A Sensory Concert

Travelling Folk Barn with Two for Joy , The Local and The English Folk Dance & Song Society

Feasts & Gastronomy

Long Table Banquets with Simon Rogan, Angela Hartnett, Russell Norman

The return of Sam & Sam Clark’s Moro Souk Tent, St. John Dining Room & Bakery, Wilderness Cookery School

Late Night Revelry from

Greg Wilson, Futureboogie, Horse Meat Disco, Zero 7 (DJ), The Quarry hosted by Rumpus, Artful Badger, Shangri La Superstar & Continental Drifts, The Astronomers Ball, Aircraft Circus’s Midnight Circus.

Spectacular Processions and Fire Shows inspired by the infamous Wychwood Forest Fayres created by Macnas And Now:

Tented Theatre, Art & Promenade Performances

Victoria and Albert Museum, Shakespeare’s Globe, Slung Low, Oxford Shakespeare Company presents “As You Like It”,

Bohemian Artists Studio, Son and Sons Productions, Petersham Playhouse

Talks, Debates and Literary Arts curated by Secret Forum, with support from The Huffington Post UK

Intelligence Squared, School of Life, the British Humanist Association, How To Academy, Project Wild Thing, Letters of Note, Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Odditorium, George Monbiot, HuffPost UK’s Mehdi Hasan, Tongue Fu, Guerilla Science, Book Slam, Guerilla Archaeology, Spark London, Chill Pill, Ugly Animal Preservation Society, Liars League,

Letters of Note, Sunday Papers Live

Outdoor Pursuits & Wellbeing

Lakeside Spa, The Sanctuary, Sunset Yoga Classes, Pilates, Massages and Facials, Hunter Gather Cook, Fly Fishing, Horse Riding, Long Bow Archery, Wild Swimming, Woodland Foraging Walks, Boating, Greencrafts, Forest Runs, Philosophy Walks, Tai Chi, Morning Meditation, Capoeira

Family Magic & Games

Storystock, Charles Dickens Museum, Roald Dahl Museum, Angel Gardens, Discover Children’s Story Centre, Hullabaloo Arts, Mortimer Nannies, Croquet, Bearded Kitten’s Cricket Match, Chap Olympics, Village Hall

 

Foster the People. John Newman and more added to Bilbao BBK Live lineup

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Nine new artists are added to this years BIlbao BBK Live lineup which takes place on top if a hill in the mountain regions of Bilbao Spain.

Joining the previously announced headliners are Foster the People. John Newman, Conor Oberst, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls, Future of the Left, Kuroma, Allen Stone, Bleachers and Spanish heroes Vetusta Morla to the line-up of the festival.