Festivals
Looking for the latest lineup, date, ticket information or latest news about your favourite festivals, look no further. Summer Festival Guide’s Festival News section covers all your needs!
Bloodstock’s first M2TM Finals winners announced
There’s a wealth of exciting news from BLOODSTOCK HQ in regard to their grass-roots-metal-supporting ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ scheme! Coming on board as a premier sponsor is the newly resurrected, iconic metal label, MUSIC FOR NATIONS! Also two more exciting prizes have been thrown into the hat for one of the lucky bands on the Hobgoblin New Blood bill.
All those winning a slot on the Hobgoblin New Blood stage via the ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ initiative will already be in the running for the chance to receive endorsement deals from gear manufacturers and professional PR advice, but are also now eligible for these additional prizes. One winner will get recording time with renowned producer, Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Angel Witch, Cathedral & many more) at his residential Orgone Studios in Woburn, Beds. Metal Hammer have also pledged to support one winning band with exposure on Metal Hammer’s website and invite them to the magazine offices for a feature photoshoot and interview, plus a radio interview for Team Rock Radio.
Meantime, the ‘M2TM’ finals are already under way and continue through to 10th July (remaining dates below). BLOODSTOCK’s ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ judging squad have been clocking up the miles (1800 to date!) and many lucky bands have won slots on the Hobgoblin New Blood stage! Check out this lot for starters.
Joining Friday’s bill are;
SEED OF SORROW (www.facebook.com/seedofsorrow), melodic death metallers from the Inverness final. Five piece from the Scottish highlands, dedicated to producing the angriest metal possible!
HUSK (www.facebook.com/HUSKUKMETAL), death metal from the Wolverhampton final. With many of their dark, groove based tracks being built around bass player/vocalist Bob Taylor’s infectious bass playing, introducing elements of slap bass in death metal shouldn’t even be a thing …. But it really is.
BURNING THE DREAM (www.facebook.com/burningthedream), progressive death metal from Glasgow’s final. Venomous groove-laden death with hooks galore!
VEHEMENT (www.facebook.com/officialvehement), extreme/black metal from Brighton’s final. Black clothes? Black face masks?! Check! An unrelenting smoke machine and a bone fide MMA fighter on drums?! Check, check!! Extreme metal with real strength!
TRIVERSE MASSACRE (www.facebook.com/triversemassacre), groove/thrash metal from Carlisle’s final. “…like standing naked in a hurricane, or diving head-first into a nest of pissed-off hornets!” Heavy as fuck!!
THE CRAWLING (https://www.facebook.com/thecrawlingband), down-tempo death from Belfast’s final. When a band has the ability to set a scene in a mere 30mins, you’re on to a winner. The Crawling say little between tracks allowing the sample of flies to draw the audience into an uneasy feeling of melancholy. A grim blend of doom and death that’ll hve you scratching and questioning your own mortality.
TEN TON SLUG (www.facebook.com/tentonslug), stoner sludge doom from Dublin’s final. Like being reverse kicked in the knackers by a disgruntled rhino! These lads are not for those of a weak disposition.
Winning a Saturday slot:
BEARFIST (www.facebook.com/bearfistuk), metal from London! It’s all about the riffs and these guys have ‘em in spades. So much so, the guitarist won the handmade custom guitar from local sponsors, Empire Guitars! Congrats lads!
RAMAGE INC (www.facebook.com/ramageinc), ambient prog metal from Glasgow’s final. Already well established with prog/tech metal fans, these guys deliver with comparisons to the Devin Townsend writing style but with the Ramage stamp. Tech bliss.
FAMYNE (www.facebook.com/famyneuk), doom from Kent’s final. A young band with an old school sound, remiscent of Chronicles’-era Hawkwind mixed up with the epic sound of Candlemass. An obligatory oversized gong and a rolling smoke machine were in full effect!
And the first one for Sunday:
ART OF DECEPTION (www.facebook.com/ArtofDeceptionofficial), melodic death from Norway’s final. With frontman Sindre Johnsen having direct family ties to Kvelertak, his pedigree points to his ferocious vocal delivery and no shortage of notable twin lead skills. These guys were a stand out choice.
As well as the fresh blood, sliding in to a Sophie stage slot are BEHOLDER (www.facebook.com/beholderuk)! Fronted by M2TM Head Honcho, Simon Hall, he’ll be leading the way where many of his charges will hope to follow. With a recently lauded new album…
There’s also a chance for punters at each event to win weekend tickets to BLOODSTOCK, a case of Hobgoblin Ale to take home, or various other BLOODSTOCK related prizes. You can even shake hands with BLOODSTOCK’s ‘M2TM’ mainman, Simon Hall. Remaining finals run as follows so get out, support and win those festival tickets for yourself!
17th Jun – NEWCASTLE – The Cluny
18th Jun – SOUTH WALES / CARDIFF – Fuel Club
19th Jun – MANCHESTER – Grand Central
24th Jun – SWINDON – The Victoria
24th Jun – DEWSBURY – The Old Turk
25th Jun – MERSEYSIDE / LIVERPOOL – Bumper
1st Jul – LINCOLNSHIRE / LINCOLN – The Lincoln Imp
2nd Jul – READING – Facebar
9th Jul – BURNLEY – Sanctuary
9th Jul – BOURNEMOUTH – The Anvil
9th Jul – POLAND / BIELSKO-BIALA – The Rude Boy Club
10th Jul – BIRMINGHAM – The Roadhouse
Already announced for 2016 are our three headliners, TWISTED SISTER (in their last ever UK show), MASTODON and SLAYER, plus special guests BEHEMOTH, GOJIRA and ANTHRAX. Also on the bill are FEAR FACTORY, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SYMPHONY X, SATYRICON, PARADISE LOST, DRAGONFORCE, METAL ALLEGIANCE, STUCK MOJO, ROTTING CHRIST, MISERY LOVES CO, GHOST BATH, VENOM, UNEARTH, DIAMOND HEAD, GOATWHORE, ACID REIGN and many more. Additional bands are still to be announced.
Bestival Announces Amphitheatre Line Up
Cloaked among luxuriant trees in Bestival’s Ambient Forest lies The Amphitheatre, an enchanted world of arch amusements. Featuring a provocative feast of curious follies by day, and an unmissable whiff of penetrating, tongue in cheek fun by night, this is just one glimpse of The Future at our anthology of the absurd this September on the Isle of Wight.
Rob da Bank says: “We like to think we’re pretty open-minded and uninhibited at Bestival… and it certainly feels like that in the middle of the night down by the Amphitheatre. It might be off the beaten track but it’s definitely one to search out if you’re looking to have your mind blown by all manner of crazy things. From our mates Sink the Pink, Jodie Harsh and Scottee to madcap theatre, spellbinding poetry and brilliant comedy you won’t know what’s hit you”.
Resplendent below its verdant canopy, The Amphitheatre is a treasure trove of off-the-wall entertainment by day, including electrifying gig-theatre from My Beautiful Black Dog, a celebration of the Bard on booze with Shitfaced Shakespeare, sketch comedy from Beasts Presents Mr Bestival, anxiety comedy from Morbid Abnormal Me, the final part of Sleeping Trees’ live movie trilogy, Sci-Fi, dance-theatre from Scary Shit, sketches, songs and super-good jokes from Shelf Comedy Duo, absurd comedy from Simon Slack – The Fantastic and an enlightening look at drug policy with Leap – Good Cop Bad War.
We’ll also have music from London Contemporary Voices Choir, beatboxing heavyweight and artist Reeps One will be turning up the heat for Nando’s Music Exchange, there will be fx pedal mania with Dawson Loop Station and the Sounds Familiar Quiz, plus versification with The Satin Lizard Lounge curated by Scroobius Pip, our Island Poetry Competition winner Kestrell and the amazing Roundhouse Poetry Collective, all hosted by Jack Rooke.
As day time turns to night we discover exactly what lurks beneath the belly of the Bestival beast… fizzing with gay abandon, The Amphitheatre will transform into a glitter-strewn arcadia where our number one drag slags Sink the Pink await you on Friday and Saturday night. We’ll also have bottle-blonde-bombshell beats with Dystopia Presented by Jodie Harsh, limp-wristed future weirdness from Scottee's Camp, Hacienda legend Greg Wilson's Super Weird in the Woods, with The Reynolds and Blind Arcade, Backstreet bacchanalia with Figs in Wigs, homo-hip-hop from Hard Cock Life, and the chance to unleash your hidden diva with Gospeloke. Plus, there will be Two Total Losers and the Fabbo Future Quiz, and it’s all hosted by Aoife Hanna.
There are still plenty of treats to be revealed for our Future paradise, including our Sunday night main stage headliners and much more, so head to www.Bestival.net, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram / Tumblr
#Bestival16
Reading and Leeds Festival announce fifteen more acts
MAIN STAGE
NME / RADIO 1 STAGE
FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE
1XTRA STAGE
Stuffed full of incredible music and festival memories, Reading and Leeds 2016 will break new ground with 5 Headliners Over 3 Days, with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foals, Biffy Clyro, Disclosure and Fall Out Boy all commanding euphoric celebrations for landmark headlining performances. They head up a bill that includes the leading names in rock, indie, dance, hip-hop, RnB and everything in-between featuring Jack U, The 1975, Two Door Cinema Club, Boy Better Know, Chvrches, Imagine Dragons, The Vaccines, A$AP Rocky, HAIM, Nas, Good Charlotte, Asking Alexandria, Fetty Wap and over 200 more. The epicentre of alternative music, Reading and Leeds is once again destined to cement the next generation of musical legends.
Just for Laughs Festival comes to London
The original festival is both a desirable launch pad (kick-starting the careers of Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Louis CK and so many more), and a place for the globe's greatest joke slingers to flex their comedic muscles. With an eye firmly on the prize JFL are planning to take over the world with laughter and London is no exception; starting with Russell Square, destined to be the funniest place on the planet for 12 days in July.
The centre of Russell Square will be open daily as a free festival of street performers, magicians and art installations. The Paradiso Spiegeltent and the UK's hottest new venue The Mix will play host to our festival hub ticketed shows and 900 capacity venue Logan Hall is just 2 minutes away, where our biggest names will be holding court.
Jim is just one of many phenomenal comics making their way to JFL London. Bethnal Green's very own Gina Yashere is still making waves over in New York & LA; America’s Got Talent ‘loser’ Piff The Magic Dragon, now a nightly resident of The Flamingo Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, will be wowing us with his comedy, magic and levitating Chihuahua. And whilst on the subject of magic we welcome the Champions of Magic, a HUGE illusion show that will blow your mind and probably a few of the venue's light bulbs (NO SPOILERS).
Throughout the 12 days you can also catch a brand new show from Milton Jones and see Marcus Brigstocke's topical news show The Early Edition.
Alongside the comedy there is a plethora of musical shows taking place in our surrounding venues, just a chassé away.Sing along to the purely brilliant and uplifting A Night at The Musicals starring Le Gâteaux Chocolat & Johnny Woo or sing even louder to another set of legends: The Brand New Heavies. If you’d prefer a ‘quiet night in’ you can dance all night at the ORIGINAL Silent Disco. Whatever you do, do not miss The Church who are destined for great things, it’s written in the scriptures!
There’s even more… with the always hilarious and topical Andrew Maxwell, the simply sublime Sammy J and Randy and kids shows including Annabelle's Skirting Board Adventure. So much to mention, so little time! With many more surprise guests and exclusive one off shows to be announced we hope this has whet your appetite.
The opening night Gala will be held at the Spiegeltent on Wednesday 13thJuly with proceeds from ticket sales donated to Great Ormond Street.
LISTINGS (MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED)
T in the Park announce stage splits for 2016

Bestival unveils even more acts for The Future!
As Bestival’s luminous dream world draws ever nearer, we have news of a host of amazing new live acts and DJs who will be dropping future sounds among the cosmic campfires, mindful escapism, intergalactic raves and Mexican wrestling when Bestival heads into The Future this coming 8-11 September at Robin Hill on the Isle of Wight.
Rob da Bank says: “As ever we aim to please at Bestival and cover all bases at our insane island party. So let’s head into The Future with one of my favourite electronic acts ever Leftfield, a-song-a-month sensation Oh Wonder and newbies Honne and Anne-Marie, plus jungle and house legend DJ Zinc and hardcore heroes Slipmatt, Billy Daniel Bunter and Altern-8!”
They’re one of the biggest and best live dance music acts ever, so we’re over the moon to announce that Leftfield will be tearing up the Big Top on Saturday night. Famed for their speaker smashing bass, and a truckload of anthems from Phat Planet and Release the Pressure to Swords and Universal Everything, they never fail to give the dancefloor a proper spanking. You don’t want to miss this one.
But that’s not all as we’ll have breathy synth duo Oh Wonder, electronic soul from Honne, Rudimental collaborator and winner of MTV’s Brand New list Anne-Marie, hotly tipped rapper Tiggs da Author. acoustic trance from The ShowHawk Duo, and post punk three-piece and Robert Smith faves The Twilight Sad.
There will be even more live music from London Music Awards’ Rising Star Espa, widescreen indie types New Desert Blues, Sunday Best’s own Alice Jemima and Xylaroo, high octane rhymesters Too Many T’s, and the incredible winner of our Isle of Wight bands competition Lauran Hibberd.
Joining our future perfect fun on the ones and twos we have a host of forward-thinking crate diggers who’ll keep you dancing all night long including super sharp shooter DJ Zinc, the World of Rave & Music Mondays crew with History of Rave action from DJ Slipmatt going b2b with Billy Daniel Bunter and a DJ set from Altern-8, plus grime selector Sir Spyro, Radio 1’s Clara Amfo, freestyle femme fatale Amy Becker and woozy, psychedelic wunderkind Roosevelt.
We’ll also have pleasingly repetitive beats from Junk: Not Your Thing featuring Luca Pilato & Jordan Mckinlay, Bestival FM co-host and all round party phenomenon Goldierocks hosting the main stage, and dancefloor devastation from Ghettospheric, K2rah, Dr DJ, Joe Roberts Presents Ecstasy Garage Disco, Suspiciously Delicious, Bitr8 and Isle of Wight DJ competition winner Just Eden.
Plus, there will be energetic pursuits from the amazing Reggaerobics who will be helping us blow away the cobwebs with some stirring morning manoeuvres.
There are still plenty of treats to be revealed for our Future paradise, including our Sunday night main stage headliners and much more, so head to www.Bestival.net, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram / Tumblr
Jason Manford to headline Kendal Calling’s Soapbox Comedy stage
Last year’s sold out Kendal Calling saw the return of the festival’s celebrated Soapbox Comedy Stage and this year the stage presents its biggest lineup to date. With Main Stage headliners Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Rudimental, Madness and The Charlatans on hand as some of the biggest names in the world of music, Kendal will also proudly host some of the finest names in the UK’s always-flourishing comedy scene including headliner Jason Manford.
As one of the country’s best-loved comedians and an undisputed household name, Jason Manford has one of the most recognizable faces in British comedy. From humble beginnings as a glass collector at Manchester’s Buzz Comedy Club to starring on Live at the Apollo, QI and 8 Out Of Cats as well as successful theatre stints in The Producers, Sweeney Todd and his recent run in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, his career has seen him become what the BBC describe as ‘a true master of observational comedy’. Kendal couldn’t be happier to welcome another huge Manchester talent to the festival.
He’ll be joined by some of the finest comedic talent that the UK and beyond has to offer in the shape of frequent Peter Kay collaborator Justin Moorhouse, Channel 4's Friday Night Project host Rob Rouse, prolific American comic Russel Hicks, the elegant rants of Phil Jerrod, Time Out ‘One To Watch’ Sarah Callaghan, Edinburgh Fringe regular John Hastings and the unique musical comedy of Vince Atta. Familiar face of E4’s ‘Cucumber, Tofu, Banana’ series Bethany Black, Holsten Pils’ Comedian of the year Steve Shanyaski, the whip smart Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, the BBC New Comedy Award shortlisted Laura Lexx and ‘The Funnygirl Podcast’ host Katie Mulgrew.
Set in what is widely regarded as the most beautiful festival site in the UK, this award winning, independent festival is renowned for more than just music and comedy. Festival lovers will also enjoy 4 days of arts installations, gourmet food, kid’s entertainment, a real ale festival and the incredible Arts Council funded Lost Eden area all within the surrounds of the Lake District’s incredible Lowther Deer Park.
Tickets sold out in record time last year and for the first time Kendal Calling is not increasing it's capacity so grab one of the final tickets now and see you in the fields!
Full Soapbox Comedy Lineup:
JASON MANFORD
JUSTIN MOORHOUSE
ROB ROUSE
RUSSELL HICKS
PHIL JERROD
SARAH CALLAGHAN
JOHN HASTINGS
VINCE ATTA
BETHANY BLACK
STEVE SHANYASKI
KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN
LAURA LEXX
KATIE MULGREW
Soundwave Announces New Names and Boat Parties for Summer 2016
Soundwave Announces New Names and Boat Parties for Summer 2016
- Soundwave returns to Croatia for its 8th year this summer
- New names revealed are LTJ Bukem, Congo Natty and Jazzanova
- 13 boat parties revealed taking place across glittering Adriatic Sea
- Names already announced include Pharoahe Monch, Calibre, Mala, Craig Charles, Fatima & The Eglo Band live, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Channel One Sound System, Riot Jazz, Romare and Harleighblu
- Clap Clap, Akala, Josey Rebelle, Alexander Nut, Henry Wu, Dan Shake, Jordan Rakei, Harvey Sutherland and more in support
- For full festival info go to www.soundwavecroatia.com
- Festival runs from Thursday 4th – Monday 8th August
Soundwave Festival is arguably Europe’s leading intimate odyssey, a musical journey and sun-splashed adventure which takes place on the stunning Dalmatian coastline in the town of Tisno. The festival’s ethos is to do things a little bit differently, and each year it has continued to build a renaissance in Croatia unlike many other events in the region, cultivating a crowd who flock from around the world to what is as much a festival as it is a holiday.
The music is provided by the some of the world’s finest exponents of broken beat, reggae, afro to acid jazz, hip-hop, soul, funk, drum and bass, vocalists, rappers and more, and brings a soundscape to the region which is seldom heard, joining so many dots together into a beautiful single whole.
And with some amazing names already announced, Soundwave are very proud to announce three new additions who each bring a different element to the already wonderfully diverse collection of artists performing this August. Drum and bass pioneer LTJ Bukem is one of the UK’s most iconic names, with his Good Looking label embracing the jazzier, more atmospheric side of the scene. And leading the Jungle Revolution is the amazing Congo Natty; the lauded Rebel MC blends African-inspired rhythms and heavy urban beats in his rousing sets. And finally the revered eclectic collective from Berlin, Jazzanova, have been busy producing, composing, arranging, remixing and DJing for many years, continuing to create magic in clubs, the airwaves, their studio and live on stage, with their label Sonar Kollektiv one of Europe’s most respected. They join Pharoahe Monch, Calibre, Mala, Craig Charles, Fatima & The Eglo Band live, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Channel One Sound System, Riot Jazz, Romare, Harleighblu and many more names already announced.
Soundwave also is announcing its boat party schedule, with each show taking place on the legendary sea-dog, The Argonaughty. No visit to Soundwave is complete without taking to the sparkling seas, with sun-kissed and star-speckled voyages taking place day and night across the Adriatic. The run of boat parties is:
THURSDAY
BOAT 1. DUB TO JUNGLE
Plates Records & Circles.
13:00 – 18:00
BOAT 2. THE DISCO BOAT
Bedmo Disco, Origins & Harvey Sutherland.
19:30 – 23:00
FRIDAY
BOAT 1. THE CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & SOUL BOAT
Craig Charles, Bitesize DJs & Jack Tyson Charles
13:00-16:00
BOAT 2. THE SUNSHINE REGGAE BOAT
Channel One Sound System & Lively Up
16:30-19:30
BOAT 3. TUCKSHOP SUNSET BOAT
Jazzanova / Manu & Ando / Russ Ryan / Tappa / Mentú
20:00-23:00
SATURDAY
BOAT 1. SFSC & GOODLIFE PRESENT THE HIPHOP BOAT
Josey Rebelle / Menendez Brothers / TwoGood / Dj Mylz / Bloxed Beats
13:00-16:00
BOAT 2. EGLO RECORDS BOAT
Alexander Nut, Fatima & Noah
16:30-19:30
BOAT 3. THE SOUNDCRASH BOAT
Special Guest TBA, Bamboomann, Mo Fingaz & Bobafatt
20:00-23:00
SUNDAY
BOAT 1. TRU-THOUGHTS VS. FIRST WORD RECORDS
With J-Felix, Harleighblu, Gilla
BOAT 2. THE SOUL BOAT (HOW x STFD)
With Dan Shake, Flo Real & Jordan Rakai
16:30-19:30
BOAT 3. DUB TO DRUM&BASS BOAT
DRS / Eva Lazarus / GDC Sound System / Rich Reason (LVLZ)
20:00-23:00
MONDAY
BOAT 1. RIOT JAZZ BRASS BAND ON A BOAT
Riot Jazz, Taste The Diff'erence, Chunky & Rich Reason
15:00 – 18:30
BOAT 2. CLOSING BOAT
Staff, friends & family, Dan Shake & Harleighblu
19:30 – 23:00
Soundwave takes place at The Garden Resort, a true slice of paradise nestled on the Dalmatian coastline. Blessed with crystal clear azure Adriatic waters, sizzling sunshine and star-lit night skies, the idyllic and intimate setting welcomes a global crowd of music lovers and adventure seekers to Tisno.
The site has the incredible water-side beach bar, where you are so close to the sea you are almost dancing in it, and cosy curl of beach which looks out over the bay. The site’s main stage is a little way behind, perfect for headline acts, and nearby nestled under the canopy of trees is the Olive Grove stage. It’s a beautiful location, everything built around nature, growing like the environment around it, rich with intimacy and a sense of wonder. And a short drive away is the incredible Barbarella’s club, a fully open air space, powered by Funkion One.
Soundwave
Thursday 4th – Monday 8th August 2016
@ The Garden Resort, Petrica Glava 34, 22240, Tisno, Croatia
Just revealed artists: LTJ Bukem, Congo Natty, Jazzanova
Who join: Pharoahe Monch, Calibre, Mala, Craig Charles, Fatima & The Eglo Live Band, Gentleman's Dub Club, Channel One Sound System, Riot Jazz, Romare, Harleighblu, Clap Clap, Akala, Josey Rebelle, Alexander Nut, Henry Wu, Dan Shake, Jordan Rakei, Harvey Sutherland, J-Felix, Flo Real (Mahogani Music), Chunky, The Menendez Brothers, Werkha, Eva Lazarus, Bambooman, Sarah Williams, White Bobafatt, Mo Fingaz, Gilla, Russ Ryan, Jack Tyson, Charles (trio), DJ Mylz, Tehbis, Normanton Street, Chiminyo, Manu & Ando, re:tract, Rogan Emerald, Amber Sounds, Thirsty Work, Harry Pepper, Alex Crescent, Rogan, The Future Dub Project, Shanty, Olbi Iyah, Shuna Boston, Bloxed Beats, Sounds of Harlowe, French DJ, DJ E, Double D, TWOGOOD, Mount Nakara, In Search of Yard, Melt Out, Touchy Subject, Kid Gorgeous, South London Samba
Friends & family: Soundcrash, New Bohemia, Tru Thoughts, South London Soul Train, Firstword Records, Tuckshop, So Fresh So Clean, Goodlife, Shut The Front Door, Bedmo Disco, Circles The Origins, Bitesize, House of Wax, Sure Shot, P.U.S.H Plates
£125 for 5 days / boat parties £20 + BF
www.soundwavecroatia.com / @soundwavecro
Beat-Herder Festival – Third wave line up announcements
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