Festival organisers DF Concertsand founding partner Tennent’s Lager are thrilled to announce that the feisty rapper has just been added to the stellar bill of names announced this morning.
Organised by likeminded festival-lovers with a simple mantra to put on a brilliant festival done to the highest standards, Golden Down aims to take the festival back to its glorious roots. Revellers can expect quality music transcending a variety of genres alongside great bars with local beers, ciders and wines (and of course all your usual favourite tipples!) supplemented with award-winning fresh food all at fair prices.
Golden Down will also offer an eclectic range of the hottest artists and DJs performing well into the early hours and with a capacity of just 5000, Golden Down tickets will be much sort after this summer. We can’t promise you that this festival will change your life – if we did we’d be lying – but we can promise that you'll meet new people, discover new sounds and indulge in some wholesome yet decadent discovery.
They will be joined by an ultra-impressive bill made up of the world’s ‘must see’ acts across the weekend of 6-8th July 2012.
Saturday and weekend tickets on sale now:
www.ticketmaster.co.uk/sw4 / 0844 847 2467
Sunday tickets on sale soon.
SW4 SATURDAY HEADLINE DJS ANNOUNCED!
CARL COX
ERICK MORILLO
[EXCLUSIVE UK FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE 2012]
JOHN DIGWEED
“It’s amazing to be returning to Clapham this year for South West Four. It’s without a doubt a festival with one of the best atmospheres and being where it is means all my friends and family get to join me – another one of the reasons I truly love playing this festival. This year, I am back but hosting the main stage – of course a great honour and I’m seriously looking forward to rocking SW4” Carl Cox
A sincere thank you to everyone who has already purchased their prized ticket to South West Four. An unprecedented demand testament to the colossal standing of Chase & Status, previously announced as Saturday’s coveted headline act. Their influential live show has transfixed fans of electronic music worldwide, rapidly adding numbers to an ever increasing SW4 fan base. This group of electronic music connoisseurs is set to multiply, as our Saturday headline DJs are revealed!
These are without doubt the SW4 all-stars, having buried their roots deep into Clapham Common history. However there’s more to this than just sentimental legacy. With each marking a LONDON FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE for 2012, just one of these artists would be cause for celebration. Featuring the undisputed Kings of the four by four beat, they add to what is without doubt our most sensational SW4 Saturday ever. Not forgetting that extra hour and improved sound levels to boot. The build up officially begins in earnest…
Carl Cox can lay claim to being amongst South West Four’s most inspirational DJs. Such was the rampant success of his 2006 and 2008 headline outings, Carl returned in 2010 to host our biggest indoor arena. His ability to balance deep, driving and uplifting grooves, orchestrated a frenzied atmosphere rarely witnessed. Incorporating an unrivalled crossover formula, his performances at South West Four are widely regarded as some of the best ever seen at the festival. Be prepared to have your senses pulverised, Carl Cox is coming…
Second up is the irrepressible Erick Morillo. His smooth Subliminal Sessions sound is custom built for SW4, as demonstrated in his headline performance at South West Four’s inaugural event. Erick’s devastating debut in 2004 is fondly remembered for an intricate blend of huge house sounds, snazzy acapellas and infectious vocal cuts; a mantra on which he has forged his unwavering reputation over an illustrious career. Making this year’s performance a must see, Erick’s first London performance in over seventeen months – and his ONLY UK Festival performance this year. Following the unequivocal success of his Pacha Ibiza residency and continued success of his legendary record label, Erick is set to bring something VERY special to SW4 this summer. Sunglasses at the ready…
Finally a progressive philosophy which continually pushes the boundaries, John Digweed embodies South West Four. 2012 will be his seventh consecutive SW4 gig, more than any other artist. Hence responsible for providing a plethora of memories, with 2009 the most poignant. A back to back set with Sasha brought sumptuous sounds and a sea of smiling faces. A trait also attributed to his mighty Bedrock imprint, providing tunes that have defined a generation. Furthermore the recent return of Bedrock’s monthly club night has succeeded in rejuvenating midweek clubbing in the Capital. Increasing the magnitude of this eagerly anticipated appearance, John will also be bringing something quite special to SW4. Already in the pantheon of electronic artists, SW4 2012 will elevate John Digweed to stratospheric heights.
Just the tip of SW4’s iceberg, the following weeks will herald further awe inspiring announcements. Guaranteed to delve deeper into an immersive electronic experience, South West Four 2012 is shaping up to be an essential part of your August bank holiday weekend.
The supremely intelligent Fay Hield and her Hurricane Party, Romanian gypsy band Mahala Rai Banda, ex-Beetroot Kings frontman Gary Armstrong and London-based alt. folkers Urusen have all been added to the line-up, proving Wychwood Festival to once again be a treasure trove of the ecclectic, diverse and sonically engaging. Now in its eighth year, Wychwood Festival takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse and is set against the picturesque backdrop of the Prestbury Hillsn Gliucestershire. Tickets are on sale now and available from the official festival website.
With economic and social upheaval in England during the 70s, disenfranchised youngsters stepped up to the stage and began initiating chaos. This was the birth of the infamous British punk movement. The Damned were at the forefront of this movement as one of the earliest punk bands to form. They were the first British punk band to release a single, an album, and tour America. Having formed in 1976, the band now have over 35 years of punk rock history under their belts. The Damned are incredibly ambitious and have constantly evolved, with their later albums taking influences from psychedelia, prog rock and metal genres. The Damned are generally recognised as one of the founders of goth music and have been a constant source of inspiration for many emerging hardcore bands.
Fay Hield’s earthy approach to singing and her haunting and powerful delivery uniquely appeal to both older and younger audiences and it wasn’t long before Topic Records, Europe’s oldest and most respected Independent Record Label, approached her with a view to signing her as their first new artist in 20 years. Raised in the singing community of the West Yorkshire Pennines, Fay’s childhood was as much influenced by the bare essentials of the West Yorkshire landscape as the lively, warm music scene surrounding the Famous Bacca Pipes Folk Club in Keighley. Her debut solo CD, ‘Looking Glass’ was released to a fanfare of music media praise and brought her a nomination for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2011. She has guested on the latest CDs by Martin Simpson and Spiers & Boden and has been described as “a real singer… in an age of honey throated whimpering" by fRoots and “Unadorned – and quite exquisite…Hield is a rare talent" by Uncut.
Duke Special is an artist aptly named. Dynamic, musically ambitious & bracingly eccentric, with his inimitable style and lush musicality. Hailing from Belfast with a sound that is self-confessed “hobo-chic”, Duke Special – AKA the endlessly inventive Peter Wilson – is once heard, never forgotten. Blissfully at home in his own alluring genre of beautifully bruised romanticism, Duke Special inhabits a world unlike any other – a world filled with vaudevilleesque sensibility, sing-a-longs and addictive melodies. “My sound is a bit vagabondy, but pure and soulful too,” he explains.
Mahala Rai Banda is a gypsie band with members originating from small Romanian villages and retired soldiers from Moldavia. Shaped in the Gypsy ghettos around Bucharest, Mahala Rai Banda (translated as Noble Band from the Ghetto), combine a dazzling array of styles. The band play Romanian violins & accordions with a brass section and a riotous rhythm section. They group form inventive arrangements and perform them in style to create an energetic party atmosphere at every show. Tracks by Mahala Rai Banda have been covered and sampled by Nouvelle Vague, Balkan Beat Box, Dj ClicK, Forty Thieves Orkestar and Russ Jones. Their song “Mahalageasca” makes an appearance in the Borat film and also features on the Buddha Bar Ten Years compilation.
The former front man with Mansfield-based indie rock band The Beetroot Kings Gary Armstrongbacks up his huge local following and obvious talent with some impressive guitar-driven material. Gary is no stranger to the underground or the festival circuit, with countless shows behind him. From pop tonal summer days screaming at pre-teens, to rock and blues bike fests under a rain of real ale to underground unlicensed folk punk fests, Gary has achieved something so many artists have tried to do before him and bridged the void of all the genres.
Urusen are one of the most exciting bands to emerge out of the UK alt-folk scene. The London based band have performed at festivals across the UK including Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Larmer Tree and 2000 Trees, cementing themselves as a festival favourite with their musicianship, heartfelt narratives, and exhilarating dedication to performance. They recently recorded a new album at Realworld Studios with producer Steve Osborne (Elbow, Doves, KT Tunstall, PJ Harvey) which is due for release in early 2012.
Famed for delivering a truly family-focused festival experience, Wychwood leads the way with innovative programming designed to delight children as well as wonderful music from around the world to entertain the adults. Since launching in 2005, Wychwood has become one of the UK’s most successful independent arts events of the summer season and been nominated in the ‘Best Family Festival’ category at the UK Festival Awards every single year.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Weekend Festival Tickets
Weekend Adult: £115
Weekend Disabled 2 for 1: £115
Weekend Youth/Concession: £55
Weekend 5-9 Year Old: £15
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
Day Festival Tickets
Friday Adult: £37
Friday Youth/Concession: £24
Friday 10 -15 Year Old: £20
Friday 5 – 9 Year Old: £10
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
Saturday Adult: £53
Saturday Youth/Concession: £40
Saturday 10 -15 Year Old: £20
Saturday 5 – 9 Year Old: £10
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
Sunday Adult: £43
Sunday Youth/Concession: £30
Sunday 10 -15 Year Old: £20
Sunday 5 – 9 Year Old: £10
Under 5: FREE (but ticketed)
Booking Fees
Credit/Debit Card (per paid ticket): £2
Cheque/PO: FREE
Postage & Recorded Delivery: £3
Camping Passes (Weekend)
Adult Weekend: £20
Adult Weekend in Campervan/Caravan/Live in Vehicle: £35
Weekend Youth/Concession Weekend: £10
Under 16 Weekend: FREE
Camping Passes (Day)
Adult Day: £10
Adult Day in Live in Vehicle: £15
Youth/Concession Day: £5
Under 16 Day: FREE
The Vaccines, The Maccabees, Two Door Cinema Club, Frank Turner, Miles Kane, The Horrors and Maverick Sabre are also amongst the first wave of acts to be announced. Festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager will unveil the two Main Stage headline acts that will join The Stone Roses as well as other top acts on Thursday 23rd February.
Taking place from 14th – 18th June in Pembrey Country Park the four-day extravaganza will welcome the mighty Chase and Status, who will be performing live on Friday, grime maestro Dizzee Rascal who will be topping Saturday's bill and Friendly Fires, who will raise the roof on Sunday, closing what is without doubt the most exciting festival line-up of the summer. With tickets priced from just £109, Beach Break Live will be buzzing with festival goers enjoying the epic line-up and four fun-filled days in the sun which will see everything from Roller Disco's to The Celtic Games.
After Beach Break Live gave Chase and Status their first ever headline show in 2010, the duo have risen to global stardom pioneering drum and bass in the UK singles chart and bringing the genre to the forefront of the music industry. They will be joined by multi-talented producer and artist in his own right Labrinth, who shot to fame in 2011 with his numerous collaborations and hugely successful singles 'Let The Sun Shine' and 'Earthquake'. BRITs Critics Choice-nominated Maverick Sabrewill stun the crowds with his beautiful voice while hotly tipped London bandClement Marfo & The Frontline will be skanking down in their uniquely urban style. The coveted Delilah will no doubt be performing her single 'GO' which has received huge critical acclaim and resonated with fans across the UK. Dubstep chart toppers Nero will bring hits such as 'Me And You' and 'Promises' to the Beach Break Live Dance Stage.
DJ Fresh, who has just reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart, will be showcasing his new live tour, which includes a full band and a tonne of technology as a back drop to his hard hitting bass lines. Since 2010 Wretch 32 has been steadily rising up the charts thanks to breakthrough singles from his hugely successful album 'Black and White'. 2012 is set to continue that trend, if not garner even more success for the grime MC when he performs at this year's Beach Break Live 2012. Embarking on UK tours this February, Beach Break is delighted to be welcoming both Manchester indie rockers The Whip and lyrical genius Ghostpoet to the festival for the first time while the newly appointed BBC Radio 1 contingent Benga [live] and Skream will be offering up the kind of cutting edge drum 'n' bass that has seen them become two of the most talked about DJs and producers in the business.
The infamous Ghetto Blaster stage is returning yet again to Beach Break Live, true to form artists will be keeping festival goers up into the small hours with a mash up of unique dubstep from Toddla T, Rinse FM's very own Oneman and Glasgows champian DJ and Numbers label founder, Jackmaster, will be spinning the decks with a frenzy of electronic bass and beats. Blawan will also be joining the boys on the Ghetto Blaster stage, hotly tipped producer of 2011 will no doubt be bringing even more to the dance table in 2012. Festival circuit pros DJ Parker, DJ Cheebaand DJ Moneyshot will be spinning the decks in Chai Wallah whilst rising talentsMystery, SDM, MTD and Dutty Dan will also be performing around the site. Propaganda will be starting the post main stage party in the ActionAid tent every night, with some secret DJ sets to top it off!
With the highly anticipated second album from Friendly Fires tantalisingly close to being released, there's little doubt that the St. Albans trio will be a festival highlight for many a Beach Breaker in 2012 when the boys close proceedings on the Dell Main Stage on Sunday. They will be joined by Beach Break regular and rapidly rising singer songwriter Ben Howard while Merlin's Forest is set for the ultimate drum 'n' bass takeover when the one-and-only Hospitality unleash their collective on Sunday. High Contrast, Netsky, Camo & Krooked, Danny Byrd and more will take to the decks for what promises to be a unforgettable show.
KISS EUROPEAN EXCLUSIVE,
QUEEN EXCLUSIVE &
FAITH NO MORE
UK EXCLUSIVE HEADLINE SETS
FOR SONISPHERE 2012
ONLY UK SHOWS OF 2012 FROM EVANESCENCE, MARILYN MANSON, INCUBUS,
WITHIN TEMPTATION & WOLFMOTHER
EXCLUSIVE FESTIVAL APPEARANCES FROM MASTODON, ANDREW W.K., FLOGGING MOLLY, LACUNA COIL, GOJIRA, SWITCHFOOT,
GHOST & KATATONIA
REFUSED TO PERFORM FIRST UK SHOW SINCE 1998 EXCLUSIVELY AT SONISPHERE
APPEARANCES FROM, THE DARKNESS, CYPRESS HILL, THE BLACKOUT, FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM, & I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN CONFIRMED
TIM MINCHIN LEADS COMEDY ELEMENT WITH HEADLINE SLOT ON SATURN STAGE
Queen’ Brian May and Roger Taylor today confirmed the band will headline the second day of this year’s Sonisphere Festival appearing at the festival home ground Knebworth Park, Stevenage, on Saturday July 7.
Knebworth was the setting for Queen’s final concert with Freddie Mercury in August 1986.
May and Taylor also confirmed that for this special one-off concert they will be joined by US singer-songwriter Adam Lambert.
Since first encountering each other during American Idol Season 8 in May 2009 where Lambert joined the band to perform We Are the Champions the two have repeatedly hinted at a future collaboration, most recently with Taylor telling Billboard Magazine "He (Adam) has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice with a range that's great. We would like to work with him again. There's nothing signed just yet but …it could be very exciting."
After their brief meeting on American Idol, the potent chemistry between Queen and Lambert finally broke the surface when at the invitation of Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor Lambert joined them for the closing showcase at the recent MTV Europe Awards where Queen were present to collect their Global Icon award.
Their eight minute MTVE set ignited an immediate reaction across the internet with social network sites buzzing with excitement and campaigning for a more formal union between Queen and Lambert. The Sonisphere 2012 Knebworth stage will at last provide an eager public the opportunity to see May, Taylor and Lambert delve deeper into exploring their very evident artistic appreciation of one another.
Says Brian May: “Judging by my incoming mail, this decision will make a lot of people very happy. It's a worthy challenge for us, and I'm sure Adam would meet with Freddie's approval! And what better place to revisit, and walk those emotional paths than Knebworth? It will be a rush.”
Lambert adds: “I'm completely in awe of the Queen phenomenon. The thought of sharing the stage for a full set is so beautifully surreal. I'm honoured to be able to pay my respects to Freddie's memory. He's a personal hero of mine and I am deeply grateful for the chance to sing such powerful music for fans of this legendary band. I know the evening will be a huge milestone for me, and with the support of Brian, Roger and the rest of the band I know magic will be on display.”
Queen’s previous performance at Knebworth Park, close on twenty-six years ago , August 9, 1986, was set up to be the glorious last stop for the band’s monstrously successful Magic Tour which had spread out across Europe over eight weeks of that summer. Over a million people had already paid to see them.
Now riding one of the highest crests in their career, Queen drew a record crowd of 120,000, their biggest ever UK audience. Coming on the back of two stunning shows at Wembley Stadium – to this day regarded as among their finest performances – anticipation was high.
Queen delivered the goods, winding up the crowd by arriving above their heads in a custom decorated helicopter, and then going on to perform a Queen textbook set to a deliriously enthusiastic audience, winding up with an emotional ‘God Save the Queen’ and Freddie wishing his audience ‘sweet dreams’.
What no-one in that Knebworth Park audience, and as far as we know, not even the band could anticipate that day, was that a new chapter in Queen’s history was being written: after more than 700 concerts together, what was taking place was the very last live concert of Freddie Mercury with Queen.
With the exception of an appearance in 1988 with Spanish operatic soprano Montserrat Caballe to launch Barcelona’s successful bid for the 1992 Olympic Games performing their duet ‘Barcelona’, Mercury would never again be seen performing to a public audience.
On what will undoubtedly rate as one of this summer’s most highly anticipated and emotionally charged concerts Queen’s Roger Taylor says: "I remember Knebworth as being the most incredible gig, with the most amazing audience and the sound on stage was utterly perfect. It was a fitting last stand before a live audience for Freddie. It will be a real challenge to complete the circle by returning with Adam."
Shooting rockets. Blood spitting. Face Paint. Shiny Boots and utterly jaw dropping triumphant live shows: SONISPHERE is proud to announce KISS as Friday's headliner. With a reputation for being perhaps the most flamboyant and entertaining band on the planet, the American Kings will bring their stage extravaganza to SONISPHERE as their only European performance of 2012.
For the final, Sunday night, SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH is proud to announce the legendary FAITH NO MORE as the headline act on the APOLLO stage. Mike Bordin, Roddy Bottum, Bill Gould, Jon Hudson and Mike Patton are poised to set KNEBWORTH on fire when they close the last night at SONISPHERE with their only UK appearance in 2012. Of their set Gould comments:"It was over 2 years ago when we decided to reform and play those amazing UK shows. The good news is, we've had a couple of years to improve our skills; moving our song to error ratio down 3.5 full percentage points. Watch out UK, we're going to do it right this time!!"
Joining the three superb headliners are some of the biggest names from the world of rock and metal including:
WITHIN TEMPTATION – only UK show of 2012, EVANESCENCE – only UK show of 2012,THE DARKNESS,INCUBUS – only UK show of 2012, MARILYN MANSON – only UK show of 2012, ANDREW WK – only UK festival show of 2012, REFUSED – only UK show of 2012,MASTODON – only UK festival show of 2012, THE BLACKOUT and more.
As well as the exciting names from the world of rock, SONISPHERE once again shows it’s forward thinking nature, and invites musician/comedian TIM MINCHIN to headline the Saturday night on SATURN. Since his first appearance at SONISPHERE back in 2010 theTIM’s success has gone from strength to strength, resulting in his first UK arena tour, his first West End Musical (Matilda The Musical) and numerous high profile TV appearances. After the astounding success of Bill Bailey’s SATURN slot last year, TIM – with full backing band in tow – is bound to deliver a much talked about and highly memorable show atSONISPHERE.
Tickets on sale to the public from 9:00am Thursday 23rd February fromwww.sonisphere.co.uk / 0844 871 8803priced at £145 for a weekend ticket (£180 with 4-day camping, £170 with 3-day camping), with a very limited number of day tickets available for £75. Rock Royalty and Day VIP packages will also be available from www.sonispherefestivals.
To spread the cost of the festival customers can pay a non-refundable deposit of £50 to secure their weekend tickets and then pay the balance off anytime before 30th April 2012.
SONISPHERE KNEBWORTHtakes place July 6th – 8th at KNEBWORTH HOUSE.
It’s been 20 years since Korn rocketed on top of the metal world and the guys from California stayed there ever since. They already sold tens of millions of albums, won two Grammy awards and are generally considered as universal points of reference in the contemporary culture of rock/metal music. During their Sziget gig they plan to present the new LP, also considered as a dupstep-based metal craze, with the title ‘The Path of Totality’.
The Vaccines were reviewed by BBC as one of the biggest prospects of 2011 and the band lived up to expectations with their first album, ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’ The London-based indie rock guitar combo was already nominated for some of the biggest music awards of the continent and plan to start working on their new LP this March.
Dupstep heroes Artwork, Benga and Skream joined forces to create the legendary Magnetic Man formation and released their self-titled studio album in 2010, reaching instant success. 3 in 1 is always a good offer, so be prepared for another gigantic gig on Sziget.
Steve Aoki has Japanese roots, lives in California and by now he is regarded as a grand master of the electro house scene. ‘Wonderland’, his debut album was released this January, but he also made remixes for bands like Justice or Franz Ferdinand. The DJ and producer is the founder of the world famous Dim Mak Records.
For long years now it’s impossible to imagine DJ Magazine’s top DJ listings without finding Axwell’s name on them. He’s a member of the world famous Swedish House Mafia and counts as one of the most active contributors to the Scandinavian e-music scene.
Two Door Cinema Club is maybe the most lovable UK indie band these days. Easy going and guitar-centric, although not reluctant to some electronic sounds either. They’ve already played the biggest festivals and are currently working on their second studio album.
When it comes to combining fun and punk-rock, short but out-of-control kind of songs, you might wanna turn your heads towards Germany. Really! Beatsteaks has been existing for over 15 years, recorded 7 LPs and the ‘House of Fire’ track from their new album was even selected for the soundtrack of the third Transformers movie.
Antwerp-based immortal cult-rock act, dEUS is an all-time favorite for big festivals. One of the few bands who can perfectly evoke the anger and melancholy that is flooding from their studio recordings, also while playing live.
Synthesizers and machine-like guitar riffs, unbelievable pace and an industrial metal show that will simply blow your mind. That’s what you need to know about Ministry, announcing that after 3 years of silence they have recorded a new album and are ready to blitz the world once again.
Caro Emerald is the favorite singer and nr. 1. music export item of The Netherlands. The nu-jazz sensation has already won several big awards, combining groovin’ jazz with swing and tango, but doing so in a way that you will love her music even if you’re far from being a jazz fan.
Great voice, wonderful charisma and already a Grammy nomination to her name, these are the obvious words to describe Bebel Gilberto, also regarded as the ambassador of modern bossa nova. The Brazilian singer is mixing the Bahia region music with electronic patterns, while her latest LP, ‘All in One’ was nominated in ‘the best contemporary world music album’ category during the 2009 Grammys.
Already established as the UK’s premier venue for American roots music, and featured in The Guardian’s Top Ten Small Festivals 2010, other artists set to appear include festival favourites OTIS GIBBS (Billy Bragg’s favourite protest singer), Downton Abbey’s ELIZABETH MCGOVERN and her band EVE SELIS, as well as international roots stars CORB LUND and EMILY BARKER.
Running between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, Maverick is set on a restored Victorian farm which boasts a spacious, pastoral campsite and tipi village, and a recognised family-friendly atmosphere.
As well as music, the festival also showcases film, dance and workshops. Add in award-winning local ales, lager and cider and a range of regional food and you have a “master class in how to put on a friendly, well organised, perfectly-sized festival where music is still the main attraction.” [Shades of Blue]
Visit maverickfestival.co.uk for the latest line-up and ticket offers.