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!
JBM Events are back with another mouthwatering run of events that features parties in Manchester, Newcastle, London, Leeds, Burnley, Hastings and Milton Keynes. Each one features a tasteful mix of headliners from the vanguard of house, disco and techno such as Craig David, Shaggy, Toots & Maytals, Floorplan, Danny Krivit, Francois K, Pleasurekraft, Craig David Presents TS5, Roger Sanchez, Low Steppa, Crazy P, Todd Terry, Artwork, Pan Pot, Spectre, Mark Knight, DJ Rush, Cafe Mambo, Green Velvet, Do Not Sleep, Retro, Paula Temple and Imogen, with the world famous Retro and specially themed 90s and reggae nights also included featuring Toots and The Maytals, Aswad, David Rodigan and more.
In only one year, Jorge Meehan and Brian Murphy’s JBM Events have established themselves as one of the country’s foremost party promoters and draw on over 20 years of experience of hosting events. Last year alone they booked 328 artists, hosted 64 events, had 53,298 attendees, held music shows and festivals in seven different UK cities and was nominated as ‘Best Large Club Promoter’ in Skiddle’s 18th Birthday Awards. In 2020 the company’s festival count exceeds 20 with the hope to attract over 120,000 attendees this year alone not to mention booking over 150 music events across the country.
Each event they host is focussed on getting the details right, so you can always be sure that the mesmeric lights, epic sound systems and close knit atmospheres are unlike any other you have experienced. They take place in leading venues up and down the country and deal with the most assured and iconic brands, DJs, labels and artists in dance music. The latest schedule is another bold statement of intent that covers plenty of the electronic spectrum and with the launch of seven new festivals will take their festival count past the 20 mark.
On Feb 8th Haus 22 host Detroit royalty in pioneering house and techno pair Floorplan aka father and daughter duo Robert and Lyric Hood at underground cavern Gorilla. The same venue on the 22nd is another special Haus 22 event as Pleasurekraft, Spektre and OC & Verde stop by as part of their UK cosmic techno tour.
On February 28th at Hidden, Haus 22 host again with Augmented, this time with a three hour set from Chicago’s hard techno don DJ Rush, and the same night sees Augmented present an all night long set at Joshua Brooks from Toolroom label boss and global house ambassador Mark Knight. As well as La Discotheque with Body and Soul pair Danny Krivit b2b Francois K, Artwork, Crazy P, and Jamie 3:26 at Albert Hall, and 90s Baby at The Steel Yard in London. February also includes chart topping house talent Low Steppa presenting Boiling Point at intimate Newcastle space World Headquarters.
Drum & bass fans will be counting down to Playaz Manchester at Albert Hall on the 6th with key talents DJ Hype, Hazard, Problem Central, Watch The Ride, Sub Zero, Annix and many more all bringing a wide sphere of sound. The same venues welcomes some Balearic bliss and years of dance heritage when Cafe Mambo host on March 7th with Riton, Weiss and Tough Love, and Low Steppa’s Boiling Room then lands at HiFi Club in Leeds on the 13th.
Do Not Sleep is the edgiest night in house music with a key party in Ibiza, and on March 14th it comes to Albert Hall with Pan-Pot, Darius Syrossian, East End Dubs and Sidney Charles all serving up the no frills grooves. On the same night, Berlin favourite and dark techno renegade Paula Temple links with NTS host Imogen at Hidden, and then Low Steppa comes to Gorilla on the 20th.
In April, the 4th is a huge Garage Nation party at Manchester’s Albert Hall with DJ Pied Piper, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Artful Dodger, Oxide & Neutrino and plenty of others. Do Not Sleep also returns on Easter Sunday with Green Velvet, Richy Ahmed, Darius Syrossian and Seb Zito at Planet Ice in Milton Keynes.
The rest of the year also promises 90s Baby at Albert Hall on May 1st, ABODE Bank Holiday Special on May 8th for a 10 hour marathon at Albert Hall, Retro in the Park on July 4th in Burnley, Hastings Reggae Festival at The Oval on August 1st with Shaggy, David Rodigan, Channel One, Eva Lazarus, General Levy, Prince Fatty and many more, and The Milton Keynes Reggae Festival on August 15th with Toots and The Maytals, Aswad, David Rodigan, General Levy, Mungos HiFi, Channel One, Levi Roots, Iration Steppas and more. Last of all is Southern Sunset Festival on Saturday September 5th with Craig David Presents TS5 at The Oval in Hastings.
This is a bold and adventurous series that takes in the very cutting edge and is set to confirm JBM Music as a vital player in the contemporary dance music landscape.
FEATURING THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY STEPHEN BELL
PRESENTED BYMYLEENE KLASS
COMEDY
MATT FORDE | ANUVAB PAL | MILTON JONES | AL MURRAY | CHRIS STOKES
SIMON EVANS | SHAPPI KHORSANDI | OLGA KOCH | KEN CHENG
EDWARD ASKHAM-SPENCER | ADA CAMPE | KIRSTY NEWTON
TOM HOUGHTON | SOPHIE DUKER | RORY BREMNER | JUSTIN MOORHOUSE JONNY AWSUM | LOST VOICE GUY | CRAIG HILL | MARK SIMMONS
ROBERT WHITE | WITT ‘N CAMP
JAZZ & SWING
THE BONESHAKER BAND | MOSCOW DRUG CLUB | JAZZ DYNAMOS
NATTY CONGEROO & THE FLAMES OF RHYTHM | GROOVE UNDER THE SEA
AUREUM SAXOPHONE QUARTET | THE HAWKMEN
WORLD & FOLK
JULU & HEG | MARTIN HARLEY SOLO
HENRY WEBSTER & ELLIOTT MORRIS | NICOLA & JIM
CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL | THE GASLIGHT TROUBADOURS | MAX PASHM
PAPRIKA | THRILL COLLINS | NAMVULA
BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING BERKSHIRE
RALEGH LONG | DARSHAAN | ROZ FIRTH
OLLY CHAMBERLAIN | TABI GAZELE
VISUAL ARTS
PUNCHBOWL GALLERY| CRISTO DESIGN | HANOI ART HOUSE
FRED GORDAN | GALLERY ATTACHÉ
Henley Festival, the UK’s most glamorous festival, and winner of Headline Performance of the Year in 2016 returns to its spectacular setting on the riverbank in Henley-on-Thames from 8th to 12th July 2020.
As the UK’s only black-tie festival, Henley Festival is glamour personified, offering Michelin starred food, award-winning comedy, critically acclaimed artists and the biggest names in popular, world, jazz and classical music. Many festival goers arrive by boat, as the green lawns of the festival are transformed into a Great Gatsby vision, as black tie clad revellers spill across the festival site, champagne in hand, while fireworks explode overhead.
Established 38 years ago as a classical music charity event, Henley Festival continues to run as a non-profit organisation, supporting charitable projects at both a national and local level.
THE FLOATING STAGE HEADLINERS 2020
Seminal British pop band Madness will open Henley festival 2020 on Wednesday night. One of the top 20 selling UK groups of all time, Madness have seven top ten albums, 22 top 20 hits and over six million album sales to their name. Having celebrated 40 years in the music industry in 2019, Madness will perform much loved classics including ‘House of Fun’, ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘It Must Be Love’ alongside new songs from their first album in five years ‘The Bullingdon Boys.’ A British group like no other, formed in the heyday of punk, Madness are true originals who mix ska and reggae rhythms with social comment and music hall humour. Their appeal endures to this day, Madness’ latter-day concerts having become fun-packed celebrations of one of the best-loved songbooks in British pop.
On Thursday night, Henley Festival is delighted to welcome the multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter James Blunt to headline the Floating Stage. A household name across the UK and beyond, Blunt rose to fame in 2004 with the release of his debut album Back to Bedlam, achieving worldwide acclaim with the hit singles ‘You’re Beautiful’ and ‘Goodbye My Lover’. Back to Bedlam went on to become the best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK, with over 11 million copies sold worldwide. Blunt has received numerous awards, including two Brit Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards and two Ivor Novello Awards, as well as receiving five Grammy Award nominations. He has continued to achieve huge commercial success with his following releases, the latest being his new album Once Upon a Mind.
The Henley festival audience are in for a treat on Friday night, as singer-songwriter sensation Sophie Ellis-Bextor takes to the floating stage. The queen of ‘sophisticated pop’, Ellis-Bextor released her double-platinum selling debut album Read My Lips in 2001, which reached number two in the UK Albums Chart and produced hit singles including ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ and ‘Take Me Home’. The album also experienced international success, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and winning the Edison Award for ‘Best Dance Album’ in 2003. Ellis-Bextor continued to achieve great commercial success with her following releases. In 2014, her fifth studio album Wanderlust became her highest charting album since Read My Lips, peaking at number 4 in the UK. Bringing a vibrant mixture of mainstream pop, disco, nu-disco and 1980s electronic sounds to Henley, Ellis Bextor’s headline show is bound to have the whole festival dancing the night away!
Friday night’s performance by Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the floating stage will be followed by Sara Cox presents: Just Can’t Get Enough 80s.Dance the night away to classic tunes from the TV and radio broadcast legend! Join Sara Cox for all the hits from the best decade, delivered with a stunning stage set and amazing visuals. Huge anthems for monumental crowd participation moments making epic memories to take home. If you’ve got fond memories of legwarmers and spandex, ‘Just Can’t Get Enough 80s’ is a new show set to send you into a retro frenzy!
Lovers of disco are in for a once-in-a-lifetime treat on Saturday night, as a collection of the world’s most iconic dancefloor hits are reimagined, reinvented and brought to the floating stage by Disco Classical, with legendary Special Guest Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge. Formed in 1971, Sister Sledge achieved international success at the height of the disco era. The year 1979 saw the release of their breakthrough album We Are Family, which peaked at number three on the US Album Chart and included the top ten singles ‘He’s the Greatest Dancer’ and ‘We Are Family’, the latter earning a Grammy Award nomination. Alongside the Manchester Camerata Orchestra – who opened Glastonbury 2017 – a live band, guest singers and renowned crowd-pleaser DJ Mark Armstrong, Disco Classical and Sister Sledge will create one of the most memorable and uplifting live music experiences around, filled with captivating light displays and glittering disco balls; it’s the perfect party show!
On Sunday 12th July, classical superstar Myleene Klass will present Classic FM’s Classical Salute, an evening of classical and military music performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell.
Classical Salute celebrates the power and glory of one of our finest orchestras and the theatre of the military around the world. During the evening, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by a string of military musicians including Ceremonial Trumpeters for Verdi’s Grand March from Aida, a band of Military Drummers for Ravel’s Bolero as well as uniformed pipers for Highland Cathedral by Roever. The orchestra will also be joined by internationally acclaimed soloists for performances of popular greats including Rule Britannia, Bizet’s Carmen and a rousing performance of Goodwins 633 Squadron. There will also be music by Gershwin, Strauss and many others, and the evening will end with triumphant fireworks exploding over the river on the final night of the festival.
A STELLAR COMEDY LINE-UP
The 2020 comedy line up at Henley is set to be bigger and better than ever, with the likes of Al Murray,Milton Jones, Shappi Khorsandi and Rory Bremner among the stellar 20 comedians performing at this year’s festival. One of Britain’s favourite comedians, Al Murray’s hard-edged social and political satire is sure to have the audience in fits of laughter. In 2003, Murray was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in 2007 he was voted the 16th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.
Milton Jones will be bringing his hilariously clever one-liners to Henley’s comedy line up, involving puns delivered in a uniquely deadpan and purposely neurotic style. Jones has had various shows on BBC Radio 4 and is a recurring guest panellist on Mock the Week. Along with the likes of comedian and author Shappi KhorsandiandScottish impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner,his hilarious show is certainly not to be missed. In addition, runner-up on series 12 of Britain’s Got Talent, Robert White, and the first stand-up comedian in Britain to use a communication aid in his routines, Lost Voice Guy, will also be keeping audiences thoroughly entertained, alongside a whole host of up-and-coming comics.
JAZZ AT HENLEY FESTIVAL
Henley Festival’s very own Jazz Club in the stunning Spiegel Tent offers dining and live jazz music before and after the main headline act. With their thrilling three-part harmonies, mercurial percussion, virtuoso violin and soaring sax and clarinet, The Boneshaker Band will create an inimitable and unmissable opening to the Jazz Club on Wednesday night. On the following night, Moscow Drug Club will bring their intoxicating & intimate musical experience – where elements of Berlin Cabaret, Hot Club de France, French Musette and Storytelling meet – to Henley’s Jazz Club. Friday night will see London’s own Jazz Dynamos transform and reinvent well-known songs from Peggy Lee, Dolly Parton and Madonna with a mix of jazz, bossa, samba, and contemporary pop music – occasionally all at the same time!
On Saturday night, internationally acclaimed Swing band Natty Congeroo & the Flames of Rhythm will bring the party to the Jazz Club with their high-energy, immersive live performance. Led by the legendary showman Natty Congeroo, the Flames’ repertoire is a combination of tight original numbers and explosive interpretations of classic Hot Jazz, Swing, Rhythm ’n’ Blues and Gospel. Closing the Jazz Club on Sunday, Austrian ensemble Aureum Saxophone Quartet will showcase the richness and infinite array of sounds that are possible on the saxophone; your ears will be amazed! In addition, electrifying live outfit The Hawkmen will bring a taste of rhythm ‘n’ blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll – brought together in a uniquely classic, rootsy, hybrid blend – to Henley.
WORLD & FOLK MUSIC IN THE BEDOUIN TENT
Enter the Bedouin Tent for a taste of world music and home-grown British folk at their best. World music highlights include Paprika, the UK’s leading Balkan band, who create fiery melodies and foot-tapping rhythms that fuse Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsy and Classical music in a whirlwind performance of frenzied virtuosity. Max Pashm will also bring his infamous live show experience to Henley, featuring uplifting percussion, vocals and keyboards along with his general showmanship and sense of humour on stage. Fusing the folk and urban traditions of her Zambian homeland and her Scottish roots with London’s eclectic music scene, Namvula’s uplifting, emotive songs will transport the Henley audience into different worlds, while staying firmly rooted in African soil.
The Bedouin Tent will also be presenting up-and-coming names in folk music, including Julu & Heg, who have taken the scene by storm with their evocative, harmony-rich songs. Award-winning fiddle player Henry Webster is also among the latest generation of folk musicians bringing a fresh perspective to the tradition. Teaming up with singer-songwriter and guitarist Elliott Morris, this special performance is not one to be missed. In addition, folk duo Nicola & Jim will present the amazing spectacle of Nicola’s simultaneous fiddle playing and clog dancing alongside the driving sounds of Jim’s piano and accordion. Having recorded and performed with international stars including Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Laura Marling, British slide guitarist and songwriter Martin Harley will also showcase hisincredible artistry and intimate, gritty style to the Henley audience, and with three albums and numerous gigs across Europe already under her belt, Charlotte Campbell will be bringing her charming London street performances to the Bedouin Tent stage.
BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING BERKSHIRE
BBC Music Introducing was created in 2007 to support unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians. Henley Festival is hugely excited to be working with BBC Music Introducingdiscovering breaking acts from the region, all of whom have featured across the BBC network before.
This year Henley Festival will be hosting new local producer talent in addition to emerging bands and songwriters. Elton John and Lauren Laverne approved multi-instrumentalist Ralegh Long brings his Nick Drake-like sombre lyricism to Henley on Wednesday night followed by the London based and Reading bred electronic composer Darshaan on Thursday. On Friday Henley audience gets to enjoy the intricate folk of Roz Firth and on Saturday the singer-songwriter Olly Chamberlain will grace the stage at Pure Heaven before hitting major UK festivals in Reading and Leeds. Nigerian-Australian Tabi Gazele’shypnotic melodies and joyful yet thought-provoking lyrics have drawn her comparisons to Emeli Sande. Her first performance at Henley Festival follows over 2 million combined streams of two track features (Devil On My Shoulder and Soul Glo with Lee Fields) on multi-platinum Australian hip-hop group Bliss n Eso’s 6th Studio Album ‘Off The Grid.’
VISUAL ARTS
Henley Festival is one of the very few festivals in the UK to showcase artworks from some of the UK’s most talented artists, photographers and galleries. Focusing largely on local talent this year, Henley Festival is delighted to play host to a string of up and coming makers and craftsmen, including artisanal jewellers of Studio 35 and Cristo Design’s striking wooden furniture. The festival will also welcome back Tommy Burr’s urban art that repurposes mundane materials like traffic signs into vibrant pieces of art. The festival will also collaborate with the internationally recognised Bishopsland Educational Trust for the first time, celebrating the craftmanship of the recent jewellery graduates.
FOODIE FESTIVAL
Michelin starred chef Angela Hartnett MBE will be returning to Henley Festival 2020 to run Europe’s biggest field restaurant, creating a bespoke menu exclusively for Henley, at the Riverside Restaurant. Angela Hartnett’s astonishingly creative, flawlessly executed dishes focus on purity of flavour and reverence for ingredients. A festival for food lovers, Henley caters for all tastes offering a huge number of restaurants and pop ups from street food to fine dining. Restaurant’s popping up at the festival will include Garden Bistro by Jimmy Garcia, Green Box, Oink, BBQ Club, Hotel Chocolat, Jessecco Prosecco, Black Cab Coffee Company and many more.
FAMILY SUNDAY
Sunday sees the festival transformed into an enchanting playground for families and children of all ages, with a whole host of dazzling activities, performances and concerts.
Headlining the stage on Family Sunday is award-winning children’s presenter and double MOBO winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown performing with the spellbinding Henley Symphony Orchestra. From glitter face painting, eccentric comedy and theatre shows to interactive performance art, Family Sunday is a whole day dedicated to nurturing adventurous, curious and creative little minds.
For kids who love our furry friends, globe-trotting theatre troupe Creature Feature will roam the grounds as hugely lifelike and interactive gorillas for the day, for kids who love music there will be jazz and funk fuelled storytelling taking them on a magical adventure under the sea from Groove Baby whose latest show ran at London’s Southbank Centre, and for kids that love to have a giggle, hilariously silly comedy-duo Mad Etiquette will be performing one of their critically acclaimed skits.
With a programme packed full of wildly imaginative activities, Family Sunday at Henley Festival promises a truly entertaining day out for all the family.
Excitement continues to build for Outlook Origins as the cult bass festival returns to its roots in the stunning Garden Resort in Tisno from July 30th to August 3rd 2020. It can now be revealed that joining the 13 tastemaking curators will be the heavyweight likes of Shy FX, dBridge, Fabio & Grooverider, Randall, Wookie, Youngsta, Hatcha, Breakage, Doc Scott, DRS, J.Sparrow, P. Money, 6 Figure Gang (aka Dobby, FAUZIA, Jossy Mitsu, L U C Y, Sherelle, Yazzus), Children of Zeus, Coops, Darwin, Horsepower Productions, Jah Shaka, N-Type and many more to come.
Outlook has built a world renowned reputation for focussing on the best in drum & bass, dubstep, grime, garage, reggae and beyond on its scene-leading sound systems. Returning to their roots in 2020 with a new and exciting format, the mission this year is to showcase the very best in the game, old and new, as curated by 13 bass heroes who are experts in their field and include Calibre, D Double E, DJ Storm, Flava D, Fliptrix, Goldie, Iration Steppas, Lenzman, Mala, Mungo’s Hifi, The Bug and Zed Bias – with new addition Hybrid Minds, added to the list with this announcement.
Celebrating the foundations of Outlook Festival, this year’s addition is set at The Garden Resort for the main festival, open-air club Barbarella’s for after-parties, and the iconic St Michaels Fortress for an all new opening concert. As such, the new look festival promises to be an imitate, personal gathering of friends and family who all have a shared love of bass and are long time devoted dancers.
The first wave of names is irresistible, with all the most vital names included from the worlds of drum & bass such as Shy FX, dBridge, Breakage, Randall, Doc Scott, DRS and Fabio & Grooverider, amongst others. Red hot grime, dubstep and bass talents are also well represented with El-B, Horsepower Productions, Hatcha, Youngsta, Wookie, Darwin, P. Money, J.Sparrow and 6 Figure Gang (aka cult collective Dobby, FAUZIA, Jossy Mitsu, L U C Y, Sherelle and Yazzus) as well as plenty more, with hip hop heads like Children of Zeus and Coops also lining up.
As well as further details of the beach parties, boat parties, after-parties and opening concert, the all important stage splits will soon be revealed as the countdown to this much anticipated chapter in the history of Outlook gets ever closer.
Cross The Tracks Festival continues to build excitement for the mouthwatering 2020 edition as new names such as the iconic Madlib, Sudan Archives, Greentea Peng, Sadar Bahar, London African Gospel Choir, Coops, Laura Misch, Neue Grafik Ensemble, SEED Ensemble, Charlie Bones, Dreamcast and many more are all added. Taking place on Sunday June 7th at Brixton’s beautiful Brockwell Park and offering a wealth ofstreet food, craft beer immersive workshops, talks and much more, Cross The Tracks has already announced a peerless mix of funk, soul, disco, jazz, r&b, and house stars from across the ages including Sister Sledge, Tinariwen, Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay MBE, Nu Guinea, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Chris Dave & The Drumhedz and Theon Cross amongst tens more.
The carefully assembled Cross The Tracks is set to be an all encompassing day out for lovers of real music, great food and contemporary culture. It mixes up the original pioneers with artists from today’s vanguard in a beautiful setting that is ripe for exploring thanks to its rolling green lushness, ornamental ponds, formal flower beds and wealth of top class street food vendors, craft beer brewers and bespoke bars, luxury toilets for VIP access, chill out and wellness areas, art fair, panels, creative markets and plenty more to nourish your entire being.
The first of these new names couldn’t be bigger: Madlib is a giant of the hip-hop world who will play a special back-to-back set with Gilles Peterson. From recent collaborations with Freddie Gibb to cult albums like Madvillany with MF Doom, his jazz remixes on Shades of Blue Note or genre-defining albums as Quasimoto, Madlib has taken hip-hop to its highest heights. His ability to craft beats and lay down instrumentals is second to none and for that reason he is one of the most critically acclaimed in the game. He is a DJ first and foremost, so this show should especial indeed.
Joining him will be the likes of Stones Throw artist Sudan Archives, the hugely innovative violin player who mixes her playing with beautifully melancholic soul and hip-hop. There will also be a show from South London experimentalist Laura Misch, who is defining new soundworlds with her saxophone, synths and vocals.
There will be an in-the-know focus on the exciting emerging r&b and neo-soul scene, too, with acts driving things forward like Biig Piig, Sasha Keable, Charlotte Dos Santos and Collard all playing, plus hotly tipped London star Greentea Peng, who has a look as unique as her candid, immersive sound.
The booming contemporary jazz scene will also be well represented by Neue Grafik Ensemble and SEED Ensemble, who are bringing fresh perspectives as well as compelling grooves to their productions and live shows which are hybrids of house, jazz and hip-hop. Steam Down also line up and are a London collective who have supported Kamasi Washington, picked up two Jazz FM awards, appeared on Jools Holland, headlined their own UK and EU tours and brought real spontaneity to the jazz scene.
There will also be hip-hop from High Focus star Coops, a widescreen array from NTS’s legendary Breakfast Show host Charlie Bones, lo-fi bliss from super smooth Washington, D.C. singer Dreamcast, and soul stirring sounds from London African Gospel Choir who will be performing Paul Simon’s Graceland, as well as a smorgasbord of disco brilliance from famously deep digging Chicago originator Sadar Bahar.
These latest additions are another bold statement that make Cross The Tracks the capital’s most essential day of music, culture and good times.
Welcoming party people to the idyllic setting of Hastings beachside, Southern Sunset are proud to reveal none other than Craig David as the first artist set to perform at the festival’s inaugural edition this coming summer.
Taking place at The Oval in East Sussex on 5th September, the arrival of Craig David will see the R&B & Garage legend bring his hugely popular TS5 concept to the coastal venue, following a series of huge residencies at Ibiza Rocks in recent years, where Craig’s weekly pool parties have proved the most in-demand ticket on the island.
Widely recognised as a pioneer of the UK garage scene, Craig David’s double-decade career has seen the ‘Fill Me In’ star rack up a whopping 14 BRIT Award & 2 GRAMMY nominations, in addition to a record haul of 5 x victories at the MOBO Awards, with the iconic vocalist scoring a mammoth run of 15 x Top 10 singles in the official UK Charts thanks to timeless tracks such as ‘7 Days’ and ‘Walking Away’.
Lighting up Southern Sunset with his TS5 party – where Craig amalgamates his live vocals with a sizzling DJ performance as he produces live mash-ups and edits of his biggest hits – the eagerly anticipated September event is the latest brainchild of Jorge Meehan & Brian Murphy, founders of UK mega-brand, JBM Music. Booking 328 artists over the course of 64 huge music events and festivals in 2019, JBM Music is rapidly garnering a reputation as a true behemoth of the events scene. Bringing over 53,000 attendees to their previous events, 2020 promises to be an even bigger year for JBM – who were recently nominated as ‘Best Large Club Promoter’ at the annual Skiddle Awards.
Following a sold-out run of shows on his UK tour, fans are urged to act fast to secure tickets for this simply unmissable Craig David performance, with Southern Sunset passes available here
Download Festival, the world’s premier rock event, has announced further acts including ALTER BRIDGE, BOWLING FOR SOUP, FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES, MASTODON, THE DISTILLERS, SEPULTURA, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE and FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, to join headliners IRON MAIDEN (Legacy of the Beast Tour), KISS and SYSTEM OF A DOWN this summer. NXT UK is returning to deliver more knockout entertainment over the weekend, and Kerrang! Radio will host FINDING FRESH BLOOD for another year – searching for the best emerging acts in the world of rock to perform on The Avalanche Stage.
Download takes place on 12 – 14 June 2020 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire. Tickets are on sale now at downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets.
The Main Stage just got even better with a host of new names which are sure to stir the crowd into a frenzy. US heavyweights ALTER BRIDGE will return to Download with their breed of blistering and technical rock completed with incredible showmanship courtesy of Miles Kennedy.
Mark Tremonti from Alter Bridge said: “We are very proud and honoured to be a part of the 2020 lineup. Download has always been the highlight of our touring schedule over the years, thanks for another opportunity to perform for some of the best rock fans in the world!”
The brilliantly chaotic FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES will wreak havoc at Download, with pit-starter anthems such as ‘Juggernaut’, ‘Crowbar’ and ‘I Hate You’. MOTIONLESS IN WHITE are staggeringly heavy, with a good dosage of theatrics that will no doubt fuel a memorable performance. Also performing rare Australia’s ferocious THY ART IS MURDER, rising Florida metalcorers WAGE WAR, and melodic Brit metallers THE RAVEN AGE.
Chris Motionless from Motionless In White said: “Playing Download is an accomplishment that bands of every level still write home about. It is THE festival to be a part of, and I’m so proud to announce that we will be making an appearance again for the first one of the new decade. See you in a few months!”
Looking towards The Zippo Stage, Atlanta’s finest MASTODON have garnered a reputation as a formidable live force, and their performance at 2020 is sure to be enormous. Fronted by the infamous Brody Dalle, THE DISTILLERS are a household name in modern punk and make their anticipated return to Donington. THE DARKNESS are also set to bring a healthy dose of classic rock and roll bombast., Italian goth icons LACUNA COIL, melodic rockers AMARANTHE, bondage-punks HATARI and rock n roll revivalists THE GLORIOUS SONS. They’ll be joined by Mississippi rock stalwarts 3 DOORS DOWN.
Justin Hawkins of The Darkness said: “UK festival appearances are like children – so precious and impossible to pick a favourite. This year though, my number 1 child is our Download slot! I have a pair of pyjama bottoms designed to look like jeans with tickets for Monsters of Rock 1991 hanging out of the pocket, and that tells you everything you need to know about my excitement levels.”
Following their disbanding in 2016, Download are beyond excited to reveal that Welsh post-hardcore and crowd favourite FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND will make their euphoric return to the festival by headlining The Avalanche Stage. Joining them are Texan troopers BOWLING FOR SOUP who are sure-fire to get Donington singing along to their tongue-in-cheek pop punk anthems.
Ryan Richards from Funeral For A Friend said “As a band, and as individuals – we’ve made some incredible memories at the hallowed grounds of Donington through the years, so it’s going to be nice to come back and make a few more together. Those trademark black fringes are a bit greyer/balder these days, but we’ll still be able to show these young ‘uns a thing or two!”
Jaret Reddick from Bowling For Soup said: “Download Festival is always something special for Bowling For Soup. So many of the stories we share with other bands and family members back home come from our time spent playing or hanging out at this festival. Very much looking forward to making more memories this summer…and of course bringing something special to our show, that only BFS can get away with!”
Elsewhere on the Avalanche Stage are Philadelphia’s THE MENZINGERS who will draw a monstrous crowd with their honest melodic punk, Woking’s brutal EMPLOYED TO SERVE, anonymous collective SLEEP TOKEN, garage punk outfit PRESS CLUB, Welsh post-hardcore band HOLDING ABSENCE, Liverpool prog-metallers LOATHE, mysterious emo rapper SULLII, London ska-punks THE SKINTS, alt-pop-rock Mancs THE HARA, Northern Californian pop-rockers CEMETERY SUN, and Brighton indie punks GENDER ROLES. They’ll be joined by punk trio MILK TEETH.
Headlining The Dog Tooth Stage are genre defining heavy music titans SEPULTURA who are set to be a crowd pleaser with huge songs such as Roots Bloody Root and Refuse / Resist.
Derrick Green from Sepultura said; “We are ecstatic about our return to Download Festival. It’s an honour and pleasure to be a part of a festival with such a rich music history. We look forward to rocking out with you all!!”
Also on The Dog Tooth stage are Sydney metalcore innovators NORTHLANE, alongside bruising Leeds hardcore collective HIGHER POWER. If that wasn’t enough, further Dogtooth Stage additions are London progressive rock band HAKEN, virtuosic Texan quartet POLYPHIA, Sacramento noise metallers WILL HAVEN, the hotly tipped KILL THE LIGHTS (featuring members from Bullet For My Valentine, Still Remains, Throw The Fight, Glamour Of The Kill and Threat Signal), self-proclaimed ‘Satanic doo wop’ trio TWIN TEMPLE, Texan hardcore outfit FIRE FROM THE GODS, Bristol post-punks HEAVY LUNGS, NYC rockers TEMPT, Peterborough melodic hardcore act MODERN ERROR, brutal Holy Roar signees London five-piece RENOUNCED, mesmerising alt rock artist JJ WILDE, and Brummie metalcore pack SHVPES.
Download Festival are pleased to announce the return of WWE NXT UK to this year’s festival. The first round of Superstars to be announced are title-holders WWE NXT UK ChampionWALTER, NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray, and NXT UK Tag Team Champions Gallus. The first-ever WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, and his Tag Team partner Trent Seven, will no doubt bring a stunner of a show. Also set to perform is Finn Bálor’s protégé Jordan Devlin, the highflyer Mark Andrews, and his Tag Team partner Flash Morgan Webster. Toni Storm is also confirmed, alongside powerhouse Piper Niven – both of whom will bring the energy to Donington Park. NXT UK has made a massive impact at Download in previous years, full of tense moments and adrenaline-soaked performances, it’s the ultimate spectacle for fans of loud music and even louder sport.
In addition, Kerrang! Radio will once more host Finding Fresh Blood, the search to bring the hottest emerging talent to Donington. 2019 was its inaugural year and grime-punks PENGSHUi triumphantly opened the Avalanche Stage. UK acts can now upload their tracks online to be in with the chance of playing this year’s festival on the same stage. To apply, and for more information please visit their website. The chance to apply closes on 1st March at 23:59, and winners will be announced in April.
Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker said: “Playing at The Download Festival is a benchmark moment in any bands career, it is the most important festival in the country for alternative music and a performance on any of the hallowed stages can catapult your career as a musician to new heights. I only like working with people who share my unyielding spirit for supporting new artists, and the absolute dedication that Andy and the team from Download have in this field is truly inspiring. When Pengshui walked out on the Avalanche Stage last year, the atmosphere on the stage, in the crowd AND in the wings was absolutely electric – it is a moment that will never be forgotten.”
Download Festival is the home of rock music and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park, which have been associated with rock since the eighties. The festival attracts icons of rock and metal to its main stage, plus some of the best and hottest new acts in the world.
After making a huge impression in its first year, the magical UNUM Festival returns to the Albanian Riviera from May 28th to June 1st 2020. The first wave of names for this sun soaked, naturalistic getaway include Raresh, Seth Troxler, tINI, Sonja Moonear, Dyed Soundorom, John Dimas, Priku, Praslea, Cap, Digby, Cesar Merveille with many more to be announced.
In 2019, UNUM made an immediate mark with its debut edition, that played out on the stunning Albanian Riviera with a world class line-up. The festival really shined a spotlight on the last untapped corner of Europe: Rana e Hedhun, in the town of Shengjin, on the idyllic Albanian coastline.
Now running even longer by starting Thursday and continuing non-stop until Monday, music plays both the day and night, so you can expect blissful sunrise and sunset parties, as well as a wealth of water sports, local culture, rich food and drink offerings and a music loving crowd from all corners of the world. There are also isolated bays and golden sand beaches to explore, and all with the stunning Albanian Alps as the backdrop. UNUM is the type of blissful and dreamy, organic and natural place, that feels undiscovered and hidden away from the rest of the world.
In 2020, there are once more three stages: The Beach Stage, which runs from sunrise until sunset, will be more experimental and chilled during the daytime, to give people a place to enjoy the surroundings. The Main Stage, which runs from sunset until dawn, and finally the Into the Pines Stage, which runs 24 hours a day and mixes world renowned names, regional artists and a mix of alternative and experimental musical styles, all in the shade of lush pine trees which infuse the air with their scent.
More than 50 international and local artists from across the house and techno spectrum will perform, such as Raresh, Seth Troxler, tINI, Sonja Moonear, Dyed Soundorom, John Dimas, Priku, Praslea, Cap, Digby, and Cesar Merveille.
This is a boutique event that offers the chance to experience a brand new and lesser known corner of Europe with a world class soundtrack. There are also pre-parties lined up from now until the festival in Berlin, Zurich, Geneva, Istanbul, Tirana, Skopje, and Belgrade.
Prepare to dance beneath the trees and float across the sand because Elements Music & Arts Festival has announced a star-studded lineup for its fourth annual event, taking place Memorial Day Weekend, May 22 – 25th, 2020. A veritable “adult playground”, Elements features a beach with stunning lakeside views, a whimsical, art-infused forest and an impressive selection of camping options for the weekend.
Brought to life by the Brooklyn independent production company known for their legendary BangOn!NYC art and music gatherings, this year’s multi-day “sleepaway” celebration will see scene heavyweights like Bonobo, Four Tet, TOKiMONSTA, Chris Lake, Claude VonStroke and over 100 more artists bringing unmatched energy to a summer camp set upon 150 acres of picturesque Pennsylvanian land, approximately 2 hours outside NYC.
“Festivalgoers can dance from dusk until dawn, journey through immersive environments, take a dip in the serene lake, indulge in delicious eats from craft vendors, or hit reset with a meditative sound bath or expert-led yoga class.” said Brett Herman Co-Founder and Managing Director at BangOn!NYC. “Over the past four years we’ve delivered big surprises and created unforgettable, transformative memories for our festival family, and 2020 won’t disappoint.”
“Festivalgoers can dance from dusk until dawn, journey through immersive environments, take a dip in the serene lake, indulge in delicious eats from craft vendors, or hit reset with a meditative sound bath or expert-led yoga class.” said Brett Herman Co-Founder and Managing Director at BangOn!NYC. “Over the past four years we’ve delivered big surprises and created unforgettable, transformative memories for our festival family, and 2020 won’t disappoint.”
Elements Festival’s playground features:
Music for tastemakers. Featuring all of tomorrow’s relevant electronic and crossover music today.
Immersive stages. Featuring engrossing environments composed of 4 main (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) stags along with dozens of community produced stages .
Larger than life art. Featuring dozens of large-scale art installations spanning from live performances to multi-sensory interactive experiences.
The ideal destination. Accessible destination for all major metro areas in the Northeast.
Diverse scenery. From expansive beachfront to an enchanted forest to rolling hills, every summer activity is within reach inside our 100 acres of diverse landscape.
Special programming. A packed schedule of risque programs and playful workshops.
A reconfigured campground. Sprawling villages that consist of a variety of tents and makeshift homes that bring to life a small world.
The 2020 lineup boasts representatives from every in-vogue genre from house and playa-inspired techno, to heavier stylings like dubstep, glitch-hop, psy-dub and funk, all of whom will deliver their finest grooves across the festival’s collection of imaginative elemental stages, along with a number of community-produced renegade stages.
Element I. FIRE Stage
On Friday night, against a sublime, tree-lined vista, GRAMMY Award-winning producer Diplo will lead an inaugural US “Higher Ground” festival takeover on the Fire Stage, where he’ll introduce fans to his fresh, house-leaning catalogue with a little help from Lakewood veterans, Walker & Royce. Bringing chiller vibes on Saturday is ambient house stalwart Bonobo. Then the king of smooth cuts, Chris Lake, will end things on a hot note as Sunday’s closing headliner, alongside sizzlin’ sets from favorites like Dr. Fresch, The Golden Pony, J. Worra, Dirty Looks and AKKI.
Element II. EARTH Stage
The epic Earth Stage will undergo a trippy makeover with the introduction of The Rabbit Hole, North America’s premiere psychedelic visual experience featuring state-of-the-art projection mapping and a walking trail of massive, glowing structures that will transport attendees to a never-before-seen wonderland. Within this ethereal zone, rumbling acts like Jade Cicada, TOKiMONSTA, Emancipator, Rusko, and Manic Focus will bring heavy bass straight to the forest floor.
Element III. AIR Stage
Keeping things breezy on the Air Stage are Canadian electro-rockers Bob Moses, plus UK experimental producer Four Tet, progressive house visionary Yotto, All Day I Dream regular YokoO and the fun-loving Desert Hearts crew, whose infectious sounds will float sweetly into the colorful treetops.
Element IV. WATER Stage
The captain of this year’s Water Stage is none other than Dirtybird Records label boss Claude VonStroke, whose bubbly brand of house is certain to make big waves at the coveted daytime chill spot where revelers can otherwise dance to disco, board a floating pirate ship or take canoes out for a spin. On the hunt for fresh talent? Dozens of local artists can be found blasting tunes on five additional secret stages – the result is an auditory scavenger hunt where everyone wins!
Art Installations
The lush, green grounds will again be transformed into a giant installation, decorated with works from a myriad of groundbreaking artists. Attendees are encouraged to create their own masterpieces during live painting demonstrations, explore new tech-driven indoor art spaces, marvel at the Lost Forest’s magical “tree people”, set the dancefloor ablaze with fire dancers, and start their own mobile parties on top of the production company’s ever-growing fleet of climbable art cars.
Special Programming
Should attendees crave a breather between sets and sights, they’ll find refuge at the Wellnest. The extensive roster of health and wellness programming expands to include diverse forms of yoga, Didjeridu massages, as well as the return of popular offerings such as meditative sound baths and sunset vinyasa. As always, those who want to awaken their inner child may engage in classic summer camp activities like roller skating, rock-climbing, watersports, campfire storytelling,and treehousehangouts. Fashion-forward festies can dazzle or “be-dazzled” at the Unicorn Lounge, where they can drop-in for a hair braiding and other glitter-related needs.
It’s these kinds of unexpected thrills which have helped Elements Lakewood emerge as the East Coast’s leading transformational camping festival. But this level of exploration takes a lot of energy. Thankfully, guests can stay sated by sampling tasty bites and sips from a wide selection of 24-hour vendors with options to satisfy any diet.
“We are working with our community of fans and cross-section of Northeastern partners to make this festival our biggest yet in terms of attendance, music, art, programs, and features,” said Emily Alworth, Marketing Director. “We can’t wait to share more over the coming weeks and months with our dedicated and new-found community alike.”
3-Day and VIP passes for Elements Lakewood 2020 are available now at elementsfest.us. Festival-goers can choose from a variety of accommodation options including camping, Glamping Village packages for up to 8 people, as well as private cabins, apartments, and bungalows for up to 20 people. For those traveling from Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., attendees can access Elements Lakewood via transportation partner Bus.com.
What better than some line-up news from BLOODSTOCK, to banish your January blues and help pass the time to pay day! As we boldly go into 2020, here are seven more bands to whet your appetite for the UK’s best metal weekender.
BLOODSTOCK is delighted to announce that Sunday’s headliner on the Sophie Lancaster stage will be none other than Connecticut bruisers HATEBREED. Jamey Jasta & crew certainly know how to get a pit going and are sure to round out the weekend in pulverising fashion! The group spent the latter part of 2019 working on new music for the follow-up to their crushing 2016 album ‘The Concrete Confessional’ and are promising a new album via Nuclear Blast in the spring! While you’re waiting, warm up your neck with this 2016 banger, ‘Looking Down The Barrel Of Today’, here.
Performing at BLOODSTOCK for the very first time, are BURY TOMORROW. The British metalheads release new album ‘Cannibal’ via Music For Nations in April, so you have ‘til August to learn the new songs to bang your head to! Get started with its title track here. They said, “We’re really excited! BLOODSTOCK are known for showcasing the best bands in the genre, so we’re genuinely honoured to be involved in 2020, see you in August!” The group will be appearing on the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Saturday, promoting the previously announced PARADISE LOST with their ‘Draconian Times’ set to special guests that day.
Also landing a spot on the main stage on Saturday, are home-grown, heavy metal beasts SYLOSIS, last setting foot on BLOODSTOCK’s hallowed ground way back in 2010. The Nuclear Blast signed group drop their long awaited new album ‘Cycle Of Suffering’ next month. Wrap your eyes and ears around the lead track ‘I Sever’ here (and if that’s not enough, head over to their Facebook for another new track they debuted just last week).
Joining them, BLOODSTOCK welcomes Portland, Oregon thrashers TOXIC HOLOCAUST. After a six year wait, patient fans were rewarded with new album ‘Primal Future: 2019’ last October, with the band’s frontman Grind recording all the instruments on it harking back to their early days. Watch the lyric video for ‘Chemical Warfare’ from that album here.
Over on the Sophie Lancaster stage on Saturday, don’t miss the return of atmospheric black metal squad WINTERFYLLETH. While they’ve been working on new material, in September they released live CD/DVD ‘The Siege Of Mercia’, for which the DVD footage was filmed at BLOODSTOCK in 2017! They add, “We have been fortunate enough to have been asked back to perform at the festival on a number of occasions since our early days, and it has always felt like ‘coming home’ when we do.” See the video for ’The Swart Raven (Live At Bloodstock) here.
Californian deathgrind merchants EXHUMED will also appear on Sophie Lancaster stage this year. Formed way back in 1990, the band now have eight albums under their belt to choose the set list from! Watch the video for the song ‘Naked, Screaming, And Covered In Blood’ from their latest Relapse Records album ‘Horror’ here. The song title is not a suggestion of how to watch their set.
Last but certainly not least, Californian three-piece NECROT will be bringing their blend of death metal/punk to the Sophie stage. The group closed out 2019 on a 6-week tour of the USA with EXHUMED! Not familiar with NECROT yet? Courtesy of record label Tankcrimes, you can play their latest album ‘Blood Offerings’ in its entirety here.
Just for a bit of fun to help any of you with January gym resolutions, BLOODSTOCK alumni Venom Prison have created BLOODSTOCK and Heavy Metal Lifting Club a special workout playlist on Spotify. Blast it out here.
BLOODSTOCK’s very popular ticket deposit scheme is now up and running, allowing you to spread your standard weekend ticket purchase over 5 instalments. You can sign up at any time until February 28th and will make your first payment of £29 + booking fees straight away. After that, payments break down as follows: Payment 2 – £29.00 (debited on 27/03/20), Payment 3 – £29.00 (debited on 27/04/20), Payment 4 – £29.00 (debited on 26/05/20), and then your Final Payment – £29.00 + postage (debited on 26/06/20). Please note VIP and child tickets are not eligible for the deposit scheme. Get tickets at the ticket store.
Unsure what to expect? Watch a trailer all about BLOODSTOCK here.
BLOODSTOCK’s 2020 main stage headliners are DEVIN TOWNSEND (Friday), BEHEMOTH (Saturday), and JUDAS PRIEST (Sunday). The festival also welcomes PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, SKINDRED, PARADISE LOST, LIFE OF AGONY, BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DIAMOND HEAD, JINJER, VIO-LENCE, SACRED REICH, GLORYHAMMER, DARK TRANQUILITY, BUTCHER BABIES, CATTLE DECAPITATION, BLOODYWOOD, MEMORIAM, RAMAGE INC, GREEN LUNG, BOSSK, CONJURER, ORANGE GOBLIN, THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, and SAXON so far. Many more bands performing over the weekend will be announced in due course.
Whet Travel, the leader in independent music cruise experiences, announces its next journey just in time to be an amazing and unique holiday gift! With Groove Cruise Miami 2020 selling out, fans having FOMO because they’re stuck on shore can now secure a spot for the next adventure sailing January 7-11, 2021 from Miami aboard the award-winning and newly refurbished Celebrity Infinity.
“Captains” will enjoy 96-hours of non-stop electronic music from 50 diverse top electronic music artists on multiple stages hosted by some of the best record labels and industry leaders paired with awe-inspiring production created exclusively for the journey. Voted “Best Groove Cruise Ship” by the #GCFam and “Best Cruise Line” in the Cruise Critic’s Choice Awards, the Celebrity Infinity will have the same layout and staff they love, but with awe-inspiring upgrades as the fleet undergoes a $500 million modernization thanks to 500 A-list architects, designers, and engineers!
The reimagined Celebrity Infinity includes:
Luxuriously Revolutionized Suites, Restaurants, Bars, Boutiques, and Casino
Travel Weekly’s Magellan Gold Awards for The Spa by Canyon Ranch and Penthouse Suite Design
All-New Craft Social Featuring over 40 Craft Beers and Creative Cocktails
The Retreat Sundeck & Lounge envisioned by world-renowned designer Kelly Hoppen, MBE, plus exclusive Luminae Restaurant with Signature Dishes from Michelin-Starred Chef Daniel Boulud
The Groove Cruise Miami 2021 presale sold out in only two days! The public on-sale begins December 19, 2019 online; payment plans start at just $87! Fans can follow their inner compass to GrooveCruise.com and book this bucket-list adventure now or be left behind on shore!
