Tatton Park Picnic Concerts return for 2012

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The Hallé Fireworks and Choral Spectacular will be an evening of the most celebrated and exciting pieces of choral music with the famous orchestra and a choir of 100 voices on Saturday 28 July while music icons Tony Hadley, Rick Astley, Roland Gift of the Fine Young Cannibals, Heaven 17 and Altered Images will put on ashow-stopping ‘Back To The 80s’ concert on Sunday 29 July, in association with Francis House Children’s Hospice.  

Held in the picturesque grounds of the historic estate, the Tatton Park Picnic Concerts are a true highlight of the North West’s summer season. The event celebrates the wonderful British tradition of the picnic as ten thousand concertgoers enjoy scrumptious picnics in the spectacular surrounds before experiencing world-class music and breathtaking firework displays.

The Hallé Fireworks and Choral Spectacular will come to the beautiful lakeside setting for a magical evening on Saturday 28 July. The world-class Hallé Orchestra with their choir of 100 voices, conducted by Stephen Bell, will perform renditions of the most dramatic choral masterpieces including Handel’s Zadok the Priest, the Anvil Chorus from Verdi’s Il Travatore and Orf’s formidable O Fortuna from Carmina Burana in the stunning lakeside setting of Tatton Park. This enchanting evening will crescendo with an awe-inspiring fireworks finale, as each impressive explosion is timed perfectly to accompany some of classical music’s most famouscompositions. This is one incredible summer experience not to be missed.

Back To The 80s on Sunday 29 July will feature some of the greatest and most successful artists of the 1980s: Spandau Ballet’s enigmatic frontman Tony Hadley, the soulful voice of Rick Astley, sultan of soul Roland Gift of the Fine Young Cannibals, Heaven 17 and cult Scottish rockers Altered Images.  It’s a welcome return for Heaven 17 who performed at the Tatton Park Picnic Concerts in 2009, they said:

“We're thrilled to be playing this year's Tatton Park Picnic Concerts, we played in 2009 and the audience were incredible.  We can't wait to perform there again; the lakeside setting is absolutely beautiful.”

With anthems amongst them including ‘Gold’, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, ‘She Drives Me Crazy’, ‘Temptation’ and ‘Happy Birthday’, Back To The 80s is set to be a sensational party night. This outstanding evening is in association with Francis House Children’s Hospice, with a portion of proceeds raised on the night going towards care for children and young adults with life-threatening conditions from all over the North West.

Tatton Park Picnic Concerts stands out in a busy UK summer music programme due to its perfect marriage of the magical outdoor setting and world-class music performances, together with the celebration of one of Britain’s favourite pasttimes. Guests can choose to bring their own picnics or enjoy the delicious pre-prepared picnic hampers provided by Carluccio’s. With the estate’s interesting history of music – the mansion boasts a dedicated music room with a 1789 harpsichord – Tatton Park is the perfect destination for an incredible night of entertainment.

Tickets and pre-booked picnic packages are on sale this Friday 16 March from www.tattonparkconcerts.com or by phone 0844 847 2457

SATURDAY 28 JULY – Hallé Fireworks and Choral Spectacular

Early Bird – £27.50

Adult – £29.50

Family – £112

Groups of 10+ – £27.50 per person

SUNDAY 29 JULY – Backto the 80s

Early Bird – £30.50

Adult – £32.50

Family – £124

Groups of 15+ – £30.50 per person

WEEKEND TICKETS

Entry to both concerts – £56

Roots Manuva, Family Stone and George Clinton to headline Mostly Jazz, Funk, and Soul Festival

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The Friday – 29th June 2012 – curated by Birmingham’s Leftfoot will see the return of Gilles Peterson who will be compering on the day as well as jumping behind the decks of one of his legendary DJ sets.

Roots ManuvaLondon Hip-Hop virtuoso Roots Manuva will be headlining the Friday and will be joined by the genre defying Ghostpoet, cover Maestro’s Introducing who will be taking on DJ Shadow’s ‘Entroducing’ in full, with Leftfoot’s new favourites Bad Bad Not Good completing the main stage line up.

Headlining the second stage will be local tropical dub pioneers Troumaca, electro heroes Free School, the groove driven Maylight as well as a DJ set from Leftfoot’s very own Sam Redmore.

The Friday doesn’t end there… Mr. Scruff will be heading to the park to play on his very own stage – Mr Scruff’s Tennis Hut. He will also be headlining the After Show Party which will be completely exclusive to Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul ticket holders!

On Saturday – 30th June 2012 – we will see the return of Craig Charles’ Funk & Soul Club with the man himself curating the line up as well playing a headline DJ Set on the second stage. He will also be taking over the After Show Party on the Saturday night. Again, this will be completely exclusive to Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Ticket holders.

Headlining the Saturday night will be Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and Woodstock legends Family Stone. They will be playing a hit laden set which will include psychedelic groove classics such as Dance To The Music, Family Affair and Everyday People.

They will be joined by the Native New Yorkers Odyssey, Speedometer, The Atlantic Players, The Bongolian, Lack of Afro (DJ Set) & Federation Of The Disco Pimp, Rotunda of Wonder, Electric Swing Circus as well as Introducing coming back to play their second show of the weekend with their take on the music of Mr. Scruff.

On Sunday – 1st July 2012 – We will be joined by the Godfathers of Funk – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. They will be bringing the party to a rapturous close which what is looking like their only UK date of the summer!

Also performing on the Sunday will be James Brown’s Trombone player and master in his own right Fred Wesley who will be joined by his long time band The New JB’s. Completing the Sunday line up will be Soweto Kinch, Neil Cowley Trio, Zoe Rahman, Abram Wilson, Andy Hamilton & The Bluenotes, Husk, Miles Levin, Steve Ajao & Birmingham Jazz Youth Ensemble.

In 2012…. There will be, once again, two stages side by side at the festival, the second of which will feature up and coming talent. As in 2011, Tony Dudley-Evans’ development agency Jazzlines and Birmingham’s premier jazz & funk parlour The Yardbird will be curating the second stage, whilst Gilles Peterson’s favourite Birmingham promoters Leftfoot will curate both stages on the Friday. Each will showcase some of their top acts so expect to see a wealth of emerging sounds.

Tickets for Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul 2012 are now on sale via www.mostlyjazz.co.uk. To avoid booking fees there will also be the option to send in a postal form which is now available from the website. Alternatively, you can visit one of our outlets listed on our site to pick up the tickets in person.

Bombay Bicycle Club, J Cole and more for T in the Park 2012

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bOMBAY bICYCLE cLUBHaving sold in excess of 350,000 albums since their debut release in 2009, North London’s finest, Bombay Bicycle Club, have already notched up two Top 10 albums, an Ivor Novello nomination and an NME Award for Best New Band (2010). With rave reviews for their third studio album A Different Kind Of Fix, the band have just returned from a sold-out US tour and are sure to thrill fans with a stand-out set at T in the Park 2012.
 
After their massive break-through hit Buck Rogers cemented their much-deserved status as one of the UK’s biggest rock acts, Feeder are back with a revitalised new sound. Having sold over 5million records and wowing audiences around the world with their exhilarating anthemic rock, T in the Park fans are in for a treat.
 
When US rap sensation J Cole released his hugely anticipated debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story last September, it shot straight to the top of the US Billboard chart and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Counting Jay-Z amongst his many fans J Cole is one of the hottest breakthrough acts on the hip hop block right now.
 
Reverend and the Makers’ massive top 10 single Heavyweight Champion of the World announced their arrival as a huge force on the UK indie scene. Their epic anthems secured them a coveted support slot with Oasis on their last ever tour, and they have just supported fellow T in the Park act Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on their recent tour. With their third studio album @Reverend_Makers due this spring, it’s sure to be a stand out set at T in the Park 2012.
 
Californian psych rockers The Brian Jonestown Massacre achieved cult status with their starring role in the notorious 2004 rockumentary Dig! The band won themselves even more fans when their track Straight Up and Down was used as the opening theme to hit TV series Boardwalk Empire. With their legendary psychedelic jams and killer hooks, they’ll no doubt treat the crowd to old hits, as well as new material from the soon to be released Aufheben, their 13th studio album to date.
 
York-born acoustic singer-songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich is hotly tipped for the top.  His first single, Pictures (taken from his EP of the same name), was declared "The Hottest Record in the World Today" by Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, and his majestic debut album Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm is earning him major critical acclaim.
 
London five-piece Zulu Winter are also capturing the eyes and ears of fans and critics alike and the quintet’s catchy and anthemic indie-dance, atmospheric synth-pop went down a storm at their recent NME Awards show.
 
The Milk have been enjoying major airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music courtesy of Huey Morgan and with their influences ranging from classic Motown to the Beastie Boys, their edgy blend of hip-hop, dub, dance and punk is sure to impress on their T in the Park debut.
 
California-based roots rock band Dawes make their big debut this summer. Their rich West Coast harmonies and vintage Americana sound has earned them comparisons to Crosby, Stills and Nash and Neil Young, and they’ll showcase material from their highly acclaimed second album Nothing is Wrong.

Isle of Wight Festival 2012 adds Big Country and more!

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The singer/actress will join the band for their Main Stage performance just after her debut at the Festival with her own group Sadie & The Hotheads on The Garden Stage. Tickets for this years not to be missed Festival are on sale now www.isleofwightfestival.co.uk.

Returning to the Isle of Wight Festival for the second year running, Big Country are in the process of making their first studio album in 13 years with producers Steve Lillywhite & Youth at the helm. Joining the band on stage for a special guest performance is Elizabeth McGovern, who has also starred in 'Once Upon A Time In America', 'Ragtime', 'Ordinary People' and numerous movies.

Elizabeth McGovern said: “I am thrilled to be playing with such a stellar cast of musicians and look forward greatly to performing with Big Country – and of course my band Sadie & The Hotheads.”

Big Country's Tony Butler said: “We had a tradition of working with great female vocalists such as Kate Bush and Eddi Reader in the past, so having the opportunity to have Elizabeth perform with us at the IOW is going to be really cool.”

John Giddings, the Festival’s promoter, said: “I have been a fan since ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA… as soon as I found out that Elizabeth could sing, it was a must to invite her to play at the festival, we will roll out the red carpet for Lady Cora…”

Head to the official Isle of Wight Festival Facebook site Facebook.com/iwfestival for all the latest Festival updates, exclusive news, videos & interviews. And follow us on Twitter @IsleofWightFest to get up to the minute tweets to keep you in the know!

2012 LINE UP:

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS · PEARL JAM · BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND · GROOVE ARMADA PRESENT RED LIGHT · THE DARKNESS · MAGNETIC MAN · ELBOW · BIFFY CLYRO · NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS · EXAMPLE · TINIE TEMPAH · NOAH AND THE WHALE · JESSIE J · THE VACCINES · FEEDER · MADNESS · LABRINTH · KELIS · LANA DEL REY · ENTER SHIKARI · ASH · BAND OF SKULLS · JOAN ARMATRADING · PROFESSOR GREEN · WRETCH 32 · KATY B · BLACK STONE CHERRY · LOICK ESSIEN · STOOSHE · CLEMENT MARFO & THE FRONTLINE · SPECTOR · ZULU WINTER ·THE MILK · SWITCHFOOT · BOYCE AVENUE · BRIT FLOYD · CRYSTAL CASTLES · THE CHARLATANS TELLIN’ STORIES · MILES KANE · PULLED APART BY HORSES · BEST COAST · DRY THE RIVER · CARO EMERALD · PENGUIN PRISON · X · THE VIRGINMARYS · THE CHRISTIANS · CHRISTINA PERRI ·BETH HART ·  TERRY REID · STACKRIDGE · TENSHEDS · THE REAL D’COY

Dell™ Digital Festival Experience comes to Beach Break Live

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The Dell Digital Festival Experience is a chance for festival goers to be involved in every element of the event, from tagging themselves in photos of their crazy antics with Bearded Kitten to watching interviews backstage with headline acts. The Digital Festival Experience will also provide Spotify playlists to download, ensuring that no moment is without the perfect soundtrack; as well as an interactive map tagging artists’ whereabouts when at the festival and lots of other amazing and otherworldly technology treats.

On-site Dell will also be upgrading the festival’s tech presence, providing the now infamous Dell Dome where festival goers can check their all important exam results, Facebook feeds and surf the internet alongside the Welsh sea! Tired from the hundreds of free activities on-site festival goers will be able to relax in the comfy internet zone, catch up with their family over Skype and generally enjoy a bit of time out before they head back to the majestic mayhem! 

Beach Break Live has led the way in the festival landscape as the first ever Student Festival, bringing the hottest new talent from across the globe and now they continue to make waves in the industry as they partner with Dell to enable music fans to use technology and get closer to the artists they love – whenever and wherever they like.

Beach Break Live is the largest student festival in the UK, attracting 20,000 students from 14th to 18th June to celebrate the end of term and the beginning of the summer. Featuring some of the largest music stars on the planet including Dizzee Rascal, Chase and Status and Friendly Fires down to the hottest up and coming acts such as Ben Howard and Delilah. Beach Break Live offers so much more than music, from a beach full of kite surfing, windsurfing and wakeboarding to a forest flourishing with activities for everyone to get involved in. At only £109 for four days of full on fun, Beach Break Live is a bargain; visit www.beachbreaklive.com to find out more.

FRIDAY lINE-UP 

CHASE AND STATUS [live]
CLEMENT MARFO & THE FRONTLINE 
DELILAH
EATS EVERYTHING 
FREE PEACE 
JAKWOB
LABRINTH
MAVERICK SABRE 
MISTAJAM 
NERO 
RANDOM IMPULSE 
RODIGAN 
THE SAVAGE NOMADS 

SATURDAY LINE-UP

BENGA [LIVE] 
BROTHER & BONES 
DIZZEE RASCAL 
DJ FRESH [LIVE] 
DOORLY 
GHOSTPOET
JACK BEATS 
ONEMAN 
RUSKO 
SCROOBIUS PIP 
SKREAM & SGT POKES 
THE WHIP
TODDLA T 
WRETCH 32

SUNDAY LINE-UP

ABANDONMAN
AYAH MARAR
BEN HOWARD 
CAMO & KROOKED 
DANNY BIRD 
DYNAMITE MC 
FRED V & GRAFIX
FRIENDLY FIRES 
HIGH CONTRAST 
JESSY ALLEN 
NETSKY 
THE MILK 
WREC & CARASEL 
YOUTHSTAR

 

New acts announced for Off Festival

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The House of Love
There’s no mistaking the sound of British indie rock from the turn of the 80s and 90s: catchy tunes sprinkled here and there with a touch of noise and psychedelia. The House of Love whetted their fans’ appetites with two years’ worth of excellent EPs before finally coming out with their debut album in the spring of 1988, a release that won them critical acclaim and a cult status among audiences. The group broke up just three records later, but luckily went back on stage and into the studio in 2005, giving us the album Days Run Away. It’s about time we saw this British legend live. King Creosote and Jon Hopkins
What could a folk bard possibly have in common with a musician steeped in experimental electronic music? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Kenny Anderson, a Scottish singer/songwriter who performs under the name King Creosote, and Jon Hopkins, the London-based producer who’s worked with such artists as Imogen Heap, Brian Eno, and Coldplay, came out with a collaborative album titled Diamond Mine on Domino Records in the spring of 2011. The LP is a breathtaking combination of King Creosote’s subtle hymns and Hopkin’s field recordings and minimal beats. Their prestigious Mercury Award nomination and appearances on many of last year’s Top 10 British album lists thus comes as no surprise.

Nerwowe Wakacje
Founded in 2007 by Jacek Szabra?ski (of The Car is on Fire) and Micha? Szturomski (Afro Kolektyw), Nerwowe Wakacje take inspiration from Polish classics such as Skaldowie and Czerwone Gitary, but it’s clear that the artists grew up on British alternative rock. There’s something retro about them, and yet they’re 100% fresh. The debut release by Nerwowe Wakacje, subversively titled Polish Rock, was one of the best albums to come out of the local music scene in 2011. Yet it wasn’t as much about giving us a some new choruses to hum as it was about provoking a debate about the identity of Polish popular music.

Viennese visionary Fennesz will also be curating one day at the Experimental Stage. He’s invited Kim Gordon & Ikue Mori, Henry Rollins, Papa M, Lillevan (performing in a duo with Fennesz himself), Forest Swords, Jacaszek, Mordy, and Pietnastka to perform.

Fennesz and Lillevan
Christian Fennesz: an Austrian musician, composer, and improviser. A guitarist who has pushed the boundaries of guitar rock and broadened the scope of modern electronic music. Critically acclaimed for his 2001 album Endless Summer, Fennesz has been constantly seeking new challenges, performing alongside such artists as Sparklehorse, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Mike Patton. Lillevan is a visual artist who specializes in animation and video art. He first gained recognition as the founder of the music and visual ensemble Rechenzentrum as well has his collaborations with several big names, including Luomo, Tarwater, and Fennesz.

Kim Gordon & Ikue Mori
Kim Gordon needs no introduction: aren’t we all secretly in love with her? Best known for her work as singer and bassist of Sonic Youth, Gordon will be performing at the OFF Festival with the amazing improvising drummer Ikue Mori, who records for Tzadik Records and has collaborated with Ensemble Modern and John Zorn.

Henry Rollins
An American musician, comedian, writer, and actor, Rollins is also active in charity work, which he claims helps him keep a lid on his anger. That anger first erupted in the early 80s, when Rollins took over the mike for the now legendary group Black Flag. He went on start his own act, Rollins Band, which made it onto the charts with the bitter hit “Liar”. Rollins isn’t coming to the OFF Festival to sing. Instead, he’ll have some important things to tell us. His appearances can be as brutally painful as they are hilarious: if you’re sure you can handle the truth, don’t miss this show.

Papa M
The multi-instrumentalist David Pajo, a musician mostly known for his recognizable guitar style and worshiped for the albums he recorded with the legendary group Slint, is among the most active artists on the independent music scene. He basically plays everything: from hardcore to post-rock and folk and everything in between. He racked up over a dozen releases under the Papa M moniker, and twice as many in a variety of other configurations, most notably Millions Now Living Will Never Die and TNT with Tortoise, and It’s Blitz! with Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Forest Swords
Created by Matthew Barnes of Liverpool, Forest Swords is a musical project that blends ambient sounds with echoes of alternative guitar rock. Rave reviews of his EP Rattling Cage and the mini-album Dagger Paths are a clue that we might just be dealing with a phenomenon that is on the brink of breaking out of the British underground. For now, Matthew’s remixing skills are in high demand (he’s released his own versions of tracks by These New Puritans, The Big Pink, and Burial) as are his DJing talents, which he recently debuted on the BBC.

Jacaszek
The Gda?sk-based artist Micha? Jacaszek has managed to grab the attention of the entire world: suffice it to say that his latest album, Glimmer was released with a Ghostly International sticker on the case. We also appreciate him for his melancholy, poetic Treny as well as the church- and echo-steeped Pentral.

Mordy
The band started playing in Sopot in the mid-90s, and their every note resonates with the proud musical legacy of the Tri-City alternative scene. Mordy’s music has a bit of everything: from jazz to rock and electronic sounds, putting all of them on an equal footing. The band’s latest demonstration of this approach was released in 2011 under the title Nobody.

Pietnastka
An instrumental project by Piotr Kurek, who debuted last year with a cassette tape on Sangoplasmo Records, a tiny indie label based in Wroc?aw. The critically-acclaimed album Dalia explores minimalism and psychodelia, but the project’s live incarnation – which features Hubert Zemler on drums, S?awomir Ksi??niak on guitar, and Piotr Kurek on the organ and electronic instruments – could be even less predictable.

Line up so far
Alva Noto, Atari Teenage Riot, Battles, Baxter Dury, Black Face, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, Colin Stetson, Connan Mockasin, Container, Converge, Death in Vegas, Fennesz & Lillevan, Forest Swords, Henry Rollins, Iceage, Iggy and The Stooges, Jacaszek, Kim Gordon & Ikue Mori, King Creosote I Jon Hopkins, kIRk, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Matthew Herbert, Mordy, Nerwowe Wakacje, Nils Frahm, Other Lives, Papa M, Pietnastka, Retro Stefson, Shabazz Palaces, Sleep Party People, Spectrum, Suicide,  Swans, Swietliki graja Ogród Koncentracyjny, The House of Love, Ty Segall.

Secret Garden Party announces more acts

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Great Stage / Where The Wild Things Are / The Crossroads
Caravan Palace
Little Dragon – Alabama Shakes – Tim Minchin
Lamb – Derrick Morgan & Dennis Alcapone
Holly Golightly – Jodie Marie – Citizens!
Marques Toliver – BIGkids – Kate Jackson
We Were Evergreen – Tom Williams and The Boat
Professor Penguin – Kirsty Almeida
Poppy & The Jezebels – Bird Radio

The Living Room
Charlene Soraia – Mamas Gun
Passenger – Leddra Chapman
Rachel Sermanni – Ethan Ash – Ryan Keen
Sam Gray – Ecki – Tom Copson – Animal Kingdom
The Willows – Dan Clews – Bo Tomas – Cozi
Leo Altareli – Jay Leighton – Lee Mitchell – Evi Vine
Fair & Square – Isobel Anderson – Jodie May
Ellie Lawson – Paul Goodwin – Annie Dressner
Will Robert – Shellac Collective DJS

The Temple Of Boom
(Home of all things BASS – curated by Eddy Temple-Morris)
Jacques Lu Conte – Utah Saints
Krafty Kuts & A Skillz with Dynamite MC
Adam F – Scroobius Pip (LIVE) – Niki  & The Dove (LIVE) – Danny Byrd & MC Risky
Mistabishi (LIVE) – Herve – Adam Freeland – Mixhell (LIVE)
Jon Carter – Get Cape Wear Cape Fly – High Rankin (LIVE)
True Tiger – Rack & Ruin – Monkey Mafia (LIVE) – TC (LIVE)
Shock One – Freq Nasty  – Wilkinson – EddyTM & Majestic

Losers (LIVE) – Ayah Marar (LIVE) – Russ Cuban – Cut La Roc
David Dunne – Akira Kiteshi – SkisM – Rednek – Caan (LIVE)
Engine Earz Experiment (LIVE) – Maribou State – C.R.S.T – Baxta
Afghan Headspin – Pathaan – Effect Mode & Illaman (LIVE)
2 Bit Thugs – Hiatus And Shura – Kry Wolf – Steve E Something
Disqo Conqrette – Swifty B – Feeling Gloomy – Rawkus Noize
MCs: Majestic, Krafty MC, Illaman, Bad Manners, MC Gaika

They will be joining…

Orbital
Edward Sharpe &
The Magnetic Zeros
KT Tunstall – Little Roy
The Jim Jones Revue – King Charles
Jenny O – The Duke Spirit – Vintage Trouble – Soko
Beth Jeans Houghton and The Hooves of Destiny
Hyde & Beast – North Mississippi Allstars Duo
Casio Kids – Pearl and The Beard – Violet – Laurel Collective
Zulu Winter – Baxter Dury – Karima Francis – Juan Zelada
Scanners – Ellen & The Escapades – Legendary Tigerman
Mad Dog Mcrea – Louise and The Pins – Dollar Bill – The Jessie Rose Trip
L.A. Salami – Ahab – Beans on Toast – Ruby & The Rib Cage
Electric Swing Circus – Steve Smyth – Jake Bugg – Grass House
Flap! – The Ladykillers – The Caezars – Brother & Bones
The Pine Hill Haints – Suburban Dirts – Warehouse Republic

The Fo:rem

The Fo:rem, the garden’s popular intellectual platform, has also announced some really exciting names in the fields of science, philosophy, technology and literature that will be enriching gardeners this summer.  This summer’s line-up of movers & shakers includes Jamie Catto, Robin Ince, Josie Long, Aleks Krotoski, Chris Hatherill, Ann Daniels and Benjamin Morris.  We are also told that we can expect mind-bending talks, spoken word performance and workshops hosted by Liars League, BERG, Super/Collider, Literary Death Match, Elephant, The Lost Lectures, Fast Future and PLEB.

The Never Ever Land Theatre and Nocturnium for Lost Children

As with everything at the party, gardeners can expect oodles of participation, interaction, simulation and sheer silliness. And the Never Ever Land Theatre Tent is of course no exception. The Troubadours of Tax Deductible Theatre Company have confirmed a delectable line-up of performance to suit every palate. Gardeners can look forward to hilarious, rock n’ roll performances from Shitfaced Shakespeare, mind-blowing bowing from the all-singing, all-dancing string quartet Bow Jangles, surrealist puppetry by Colossal Crumbs and the Goodyearian National Theatre Company will be back to bemuse and baffle audiences with their nation customs and dances.  There will be psychedelic dancing by Huru Dance, big surprises from Little Bulb Theatre, mischievous revelry from the naughty, natty Victorian Tiny Wallops and of course the in-house reprobates Tax Deductible Theatre Company will be offering delightfully shambolic comedy hours.

And when the theatre closes its doors after dark, the fun does not stop. Opening at midnight the 'Nocturnium for Lost Children' will be a haunted den of debauchery, featuring award-winning burlesque act Femme Ferale, music from King Lagoon's Flying Swordfish Dance Band and La Mort Subite …amongst many others.

A few favourite picks for Family Gardeners…

There will be plenty of fun, games and activities for young gardeners too.  Look out for Sky Blue Theatre Company’s theatrical workshops, which they will be running for children of all ages in the Never Ever Land Theatre Tent.  Join The Flying Seagulls Circus for some ‘laughter therapy’, circus skills and other crazy games at Kids Camp.  Where young gardeners can also take part in the multi-coloured glittery Candy Floss Olympics with The Secret Micronation of Candy Queens, join a drumming circle, learn capoeira, explore the music maze, screen print a t-shirt, create a headdress, write a story with Writers Ink Suitcase Stories, make a pizza or watch a puppet show with The Italian Job.  And after all that, families can relax under the stars with Ready Steady Science at a storytelling workshop. And for the really young gardeners Kids Camp will be running multi-sensory workshops too.

Soul Fire Restaurant

The garden’s sensual food sanctuary, the Soul Fire Restaurant is now taking bookings for The Secret Garden Party 2012. Returning for its fourth year, this is the perfect place to relax, connect with friends and replenish a famished soul during the party. Housed in a cosy hub of deliciously dressed yurts, Soul Fire provides a retreat where you can eat and be merry. Live music will play all day and evening guests will be treated to fabulous performances.

To view the full menu and book your dining experience, click HERE.

Theme: Standing on Ceremony

The real power of the party is not just about what you are watching or doing, but the fact that you are watching and doing it together. This year, as The Garden celebrates her 10th Birthday, we explore those ceremonies, rituals, initiations, anniversaries and carnivals that bind us together, that emphasise matter over mind, that emphasise our true gifts as humans: social existence.

Tickets available HERE

Boutique camping available HERE

Deadmau5 to headline Friday at Wireless Festival 2012

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Canadian producer and DJ Deadmau5 is firmly established as one of the most innovative and successful electronic live acts in popular music today. He has a host of accolades – four Grammy Award nominations, three International Dance Music Awards, three Juno Awards and was described as the “most influential, relevant and forward thinking person in electronic music” at the 2010 Beatport Music Awards.

deadmau5

London born, Irish raised singer songwriter Maverick Sabre has his name ringing round the world right now and rightly so. First championed by BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra’s MistaJam as one of his “Ones to Watch for 2011”, Maverick Sabre’s gritty yet soulful voice is drawing audiences in and leaving them hooked. His debut album ‘Lonely Are the Brave’, released in February this year, has received widespread acclaim for its catchy lamenting social-political content.

Aussie DJ duo Knife Party will now be hitting the Hyde Park stage on Friday 6 July. The act is the newly formed side project of Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, members of Australian electronic rock band Pendulum. Also joining the line-up is the much hyped electro act Feed Me.  Double BRIT Award and three time MOBO Award and Mercury Prize winner artist Ms Dynamite also joins the line-up, and is set to bring her distinct sound to the Barclaycard Wireless Festival crowds. A formidable presence in the UK, her third studio album is set for release this year.

Knife Party, Zane Lowe and more added to South West Four (SW4) lineup

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Chase & Status, Skrillex, Carl Cox, Skream & Benga. Not only a dream for talent train spotters, but just some of the revered names providing August’s aural assault on Clapham Common. Earmarking this year as our most eclectic and engaging, an unprecedented early interest has sent ticket sales soaring. With fervent enthusiasm from all involved, this quality quintuple is most qualified to engage your senses. However that is the just the tip of the iceberg. A warm SW4 welcome to Saturday stars Knife Party and Zane Lowe. Then last but not least, Sunday’s surreptitious ambassadors of Clapham carnage; Jack Beats, Foreign Beggars, Rudimental and Dread MC.

The cutting edge Knife Party duo consists of powerhouses Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, from last year’s headliners Pendulum. A privilege to welcome their sharp, succinct sound to SW4, following a musical direction away from Pendulum’s D&B mould. Their huge collaborative effort with Swedish House Mafia titled ‘Antidote’ debuted at number four in the UK Singles Chart, whilst their appearances at Space Ibiza and for UKF Bass Culture at Alexandra Palace have quickly proved what a sure fire hit Knife Party has become. Hinging primarily on an electronic house sound, it’s guaranteed to hit SW4 for six.

Zane LoweZane Lowe is arguably the best specialist Radio1 DJ since the late great John Peel. His award winning Radio 1 show features the hottest new music and in the process has received numerous awards. He also heads the acclaimed MTV show ‘Gonzo’ and is heavily involved in Ibiza Rocks, the party which has ripped the White Isle rule book to shreds. Having played alongside the likes of Kasabian and Oasis at Wembley Stadium, plus The Prodigy at Milton Keynes Bowl, Zane is an outstanding DJ whose enthusiastic, fast paced and sometimes rowdy style always fires up the crowd.

Then the multiple DMC Award winning DJ duo, made up of Niall Dailly (DJ Plus One of Scratch Perverts fame) and Ben Geffin (The Mixologists). Jack Beats have had an immediate and profound effect on the club scene since teaming up in 2007, producing transcendent remixes for La Roux and Florence & The Machine amongst others. Citing influences as diverse as Timbaland and A Guy Called Gerald, the two began to hone a style fusing House, Hip Hop, Drum & Bass and Dubstep with Electro and Baltimore Club. The ensuing support from major industry players like Zane Lowe and Annie Mac, has accelerated them to stardom as evident in their latest red hot production ‘All Night’.

The Foreign Beggars don’t need begging, to showcase their underground repertoire of rousing rap, dubstep and grime. The beggars’ own ‘Dented Records’ has become the cornerstone of a meteoric rise to fame, combining these urban sounds with dance music cuts. This underpins a packed itinerary of energetic live shows, widely regarded as changing the face of UK hip hop in the last decade. So no surprise the Foreign Beggars, orchestrated one of the highlights at the recent UKF Bass Culture show. Recent collaborations with trendsetters Skrillex and Flux Pavilion is further proof of a raw unrivalled talent.

We’re not finished yet, all hail rising stars Rudimental! This North London collective have given the ever changing electronic music scene a rude awakening of late. Melding soulful house with acid, disco and deeper influences, results in a rudimentary sound for rocking any festival. New track ‘Spoons’ has been serving up just this, its blissful vocals having seduced BBC Radio One stalwarts Pete Tong, Annie Mac and the aforementioned Zane Lowe. Also proving Rudimental’s unique production versatility, a hot remix of ‘Drunk’ by Ed Sheeran.  An addictive drum and bass lead is exacerbated by a vivacious melody – intoxicating all by itself!

Finally to complement a bulging bill Dread MC. Cranking up the atmosphere to dangerous levels this homegrown MC has perfected his trade performing alongside the biggest names in bass music. A talent which is effortlessly adapted to any genre, he will be performing exclusively alongside the brilliant Redlight. Makes us dread if SW4 can contain his madness!

So there you have it. Six further SW4 artists that encapsulate all genres – defying known definitions for every sonic style. Guaranteed to bring dancing delight to the Clapham faithful, there really is something for all tastes.

Sigur Ros, Franz Ferdinand and more for Berlin Festival 2012

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First up, and for their only scheduled performance in Germany this year, Icelandic band Sigur Rós will showcase new songs from their eighth studio album, set for release later this year. Also making an exclusive appearance at Berlin Festival is British act Franz Ferdinand, who first appeared on screen in the early Noughties with hits like “Take Me Out” and “This Fire”. The band are back with their fourth studio album in 2012 and will be performing many of their new tracks at Berlin Festival. German favourite Paul Kalkbrenner is also set to get the crowd at Tempelhof Airport ready for take off. His shows are always an instant sell out and his 2011 album Icke Wieder is a true chart-stormer. which is guaranteed to be a party starter. Another act ready to whip the ardent crowd into a dancing frenzy is Britain's legendary techno duo Orbital. Following their 2008 reunion, the in-demand duo have been touring and working on some brand new material which they are ready to unleash at Berlin Festival.

Friendly FiresAnd the names just keep on coming with confirmed performances from Friendly Fires, Metronomy, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, SBTRKT and German DJ duo Modeselektor who will celebrate their Berlin Festival debut at Club Xberg this year. Italian DJ duo Crookers and acts Cro, Daughter, Dumme Jungs, First Aid Kit, Frittenbude, Jamie N Commons, Kraftklub, Little Dragon, Major Lazer, Morning Parade and Slagmalsklubben are also confirmed to perform. Further highlights will be announced soon. Get ready…it’s going to be BIG!

Festival-goers purchasing a Berlin Festival 2-day ticket will be in for a treat this year. With 10,000+ headphones, the Silent Arena Aftershowparty will give ticket holders the chance to continue partying after the final main stage gig from midnight till 4am at Tempelhof Airport. It’s going to be the biggest ever Silent Disco! The DJ line-up will be announced soon. The Art Village will also make a welcome return to Tempelhof Airport, boasting over 60 national and international artists. Urban art, murals, performances, sculptures and more will all be on show plus an art bazaar, bars, booths, and the Design & Record Label Market as well as the art prize and a costume competition will complete the Art Village. And new for this year is the addition of accommodation at the festival site. We’ll have more info on this soon…

All confirmed acts so far Berlin Festival @ Tempelhof

Airport Bonaparte * Cro * Daughter * First Aid Kit * Franz Ferdinand * Friendly Fires * Frittenbude * Jamie N Commons * Junip * Paul Kalkbrenner * Kraftklub * Little Dragon * Major Lazer * Morning Parade * Orbital * SBTRKT (live) * Sigur Rós * Tocotronic * WhoMadeWho Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin Crookers * Digitalism * Dumme Jungs * Metronomy * Modeselektor live * Slagmalsklubben * Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Tickets Berlin Festival

2-day ticket: EUR 74 + booking fees valid for 7th + 8th September including Berlin Festival and Silent Disco Aftershow party @ Tempelhof Airport Doors/stage time (Fri + Sat): 12.30pm Silent Aftershow Party: midnight-4am

Kombiticket: EUR 89 + booking fees valid for 7th + 8th September including Berlin Festival @ Flughafen Tempelhof and Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin as well as shuttle service to Club Xberg. Doors/stage time Berlin Festival (Fri + Sat): 12.30pm Doors/stage time Club Xberg (Fri + Sat): 11pm