The Maccabees announce special guests for 2025 All Points East show

Following the phenomenal response to news of their forthcoming All Points East reunion show on Sunday 24 August 2025The Maccabees have announced the first wave of special guests including Bombay Bicycle Club, Dry Cleaning, The Cribs, Nilüfer Yanya, The Murder Capital, Divorce and Prima Queen – with many more still to come.

The show will be The Maccabees’ first show in eight years and coincides with the tenth anniversary of the landmark album Marks to Prove It. The announcement on Monday was the news fans have been waiting for since the band paid an emotional farewell in 2017 with a sold-out three-night run at Alexandra Palace.

Guitarist Felix White says: “In the intervening years we’ve been to All Points East a lot, separately. It’s become a bit of a landmark festival for us, always checking who’s on the line-up. I’d go and have a great time throughout the day, but there was always this pinch of regret watching headliners that we could’ve done it ourselves one day too. I thought that moment had passed, and it was something I was prepared to come to terms with that I was always going to miss. I think we’re all kind of shocked and excited that we get to do it together again.

As if the return of The Maccabees wasn’t exciting enough, the addition of special guests Bombay Bicycle Club guarantees one of the biggest  events of the year in British guitar music. Since Bombay Bicycle Club formed in 2005, accolades have included the NME Best New Band award and an Ivor Novello Award nomination for the 2010 album Flaws. The band returned in 2023 with their sixth studio album, the joyful My Big Day, and this year they followed that up with Fantasies, an EP of infectious indie-pop collaborations with the likes of Lucy Rose and Matilda Mann.

With many more names still to be announced, the bill is already packed with exciting talent. Modern post-punk icons Dry Cleaning have won a dedicated following with their mix of jagged guitars, driving rhythms and spoken-word vocals on absolute bangers like ‘Scratchcard Lanyard’ and ‘Strong Feelings’.

Perfectly formed rock indie classics will be delivered at All Points East next year by The Cribs. If you have any doubts of the band’s pedigree, ask Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who even joined the band for a few years, or check out the blistering live album, released last year, of a performance in Liverpool’s The Cavern in 2020.  
Nilüfer Yanya is a genre-defying musician and songwriter, who this year released the gorgeous album My Method Actor album on Ninja Tune. Pitchfork praised it as “an album of everyday luxury”. A remix edition is on the way in November.

Also on the bill are Dublin post-punk heroes The Murder Capital, who have been delivering exhilarating dark anthems since 2019’s debut album, When I Have Fears. Their latest release is the primal roar of the single ‘Can’t Pretend To Know’ and a third album is currently in the works.

2025 is set to be a big year for fast-rising Nottingham band Divorce, with the release of debut album Drive to Goldenhammer. The infectious, soaring single ‘All My Freaks’ was described by So Young as a “refreshing, sharp commentary on the music industry, delivered with the warmth and authenticity that Divorce have made their signature”.

Plus one of pop’s rising stars, Prima Queen will head to All Points East next summer. The melodic partnership of Louis Macphail and Kristin McFadden delivers tunes that are made for the airwaves and perfect for a sunny day in Victoria Park. Latest single Fool was described by Clash as “a whip-smart piece of alt-pop that is both striking and oddly understated”.

Speaking about the The Maccabees’ reunion as plans to headline All Points East came together, guitarist Hugo White said he was inspired, in part, by watching The Strokes at last year’s All Points East: “I could see that they were enjoying it , realising how great what they had created together was. Being a band, you are usually in a mindset of, ‘We can do better’ and you’re always chasing something else. This is an opportunity to realise that whatever we had in that moment was pretty special and get to enjoy it again. It’s a chance to appreciate everything, and especially how it impacts other people and created a community.”

For 2024, All Points East welcomed another round of huge headliners Kaytranada, Loyle Carner, Mitski, LCD Soundsystem, APE presents Field Day and The Postal Service & Death Cab For Cutie and carefully curated guest lineups for each day. Between the weekends, In The Neighbourhood returned for four days of activities and free entry in Victoria Park.  

Artist Presale sign up here: www.themaccabees.co.ukGeneral tickets available from www.allpointseastfestival.com

Amex Presale begins 10am GMT Monday 28 Oct, ends 9am GMT Thursday 31 OctArtist Presale begins 10am GMT Wednesday 30 October

General tickets go on sale at 10am GMT Thursday 31 October

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram | @allpointseastuk#allpointseast | www.allpointseastfestival.com

Brazil’s Réveillon Carneiros Reveals Line Up For Magical Coastal Escape


Tickets here

Carl Cox, &ME, Vintage Culture, Bedouin, Jan Blomqvist, Adam Ten, Carlita, Damian Lazarus, Pawsa, Blond:Ish and many more will perform

From December 26th to January 2nd, the 8th edition of Réveillon Carneiros promises another unforgettable experience on the Brazilian coast. Soundtracked by top-tier electronic artists and local stars, this spiritual journey of well-being and community connection takes place at two venues in Praia dos Carneiros.

World class music, food, nature, wellness and sustainability all come together in a stunning coastal setting at Praia dos Carneiros. The large site has everything needed for a special few days of adventure, partying, wellness, food and culture. 

Villa Mouton hosts wellness activities from morning until early afternoon, Mouton Beach Club has a gym and restaurant open to everyone until 3pm and then hosts epic sunset parties for those with a ticket, then follows the Night Celebrations which head to a main stage on the coast with superb headliners and different stage set designs and production each day. This year’s theme is “We Are All Special” which fosters unity among attendees while celebrating the local community. 

Among the headline acts is an unmissable classic house set by Carl Cox and unique Afro House vibes from &ME of Keinemusik. Local hero Vintage Culture will also deliver a special b2b set with a surprise guest and other standouts include the vibrant energy of Bedouin and a live performance by Jan Blomqvist.

The full lineup showcases a rich mix of both Brazilian and international talent including Adam Ten, Carlita, Damian Lazarus, Pawsa, Blond:Ish, Ahmed Spins, Antdot B2B Maz, Aline Rocha, Curol, Doozie, Eli Iwasa, Jackson, Jessica Brankka, Pedro Mendes, Vanjee, Badaro, Camila Jun, Fmenezs + Alfaias Da Praia, Giovanna Zattar, Hoo, Jpcastro, Känt, Makeda, Mary Mesk, Maul, Milkdonna, Rod Brito, Sage Art, Stv, Tato, Thema, and Tiago De Renor. 

Additionally, the Spirit of Brazil program will feature iconic Brazilian artists like Jorge Ben Jor, Seu Jorge, Nattan, Menos é Mais, Monobloco, and Marcelo Falcão performing Tim Maia’s greatest hits.

The dining experience, included in the package, is curated by Buffet Arcádia, one of the most renowned caterers in the region. Guests can indulge in a wide variety of dishes, including meats, salads, fish, shrimp, finger foods, as well as vegan and vegetarian options while by day, guests can enjoy complimentary wellness activities such as yoga, meditation and breathwork. Villa Mouton is the event’s central hub and it provides a range of services from boutique shopping and restaurants to spa treatments. For a full guide to the expansive festival site, party locations, amenities, wellness activities and much more.

Réveillon Carneiros is dedicated to environmental preservation with CO2 offset initiatives, beach clean-ups and proper waste management. Additionally, much of the festival workforce comes from the local community, helping to strengthen Tamandaré’s economy. 

For those seeking a unique New Year’s Eve destination, Réveillon Carneiros offers a magical experience where music, nature, and well-being intertwine.

For a full guide to Réveillon Carneiros, see below:
Website | Instagram | Guide

Sunny Side Festival Unveils Phase One For Return to Maltese Paradise

tINI b2b Anthea Sunny Side Festival 2024

Sunny Side Festival 2025 is bringing world class house and techno talents to the gorgeous island of Malta from 16-18th May 2025. Taking place in the beautiful heart of the Mediterranean, this community minded gathering is a perfect blend of music, culture, and travel to paradise with phase one headliners including Ryan Elliott, Mathew Jonson (live), Sweely (live), Christian AB, PARAMIDA, BASHKKA, Aline Umber, Bruno Schmidt, Jonny Rock, Hostom (Varhat) (live), Mike Shannon (live), Lamache and many more. Tickets are available now from https://bit.ly/Ssfpr

Malta is an island that has it all – a stunning place with clear blue skies, perfect beaches, and glistening seas. It has a wealth of local food, architecture, and culture to explore and plenty of accommodation options, all with year-round sunshine. It truly captivates all the senses with one-of-a-kind event locations where the beauty of nature harmonises seamlessly with an unforgettable party atmosphere.

The superb host venues include the world-renowned Uno Malta, which has two rooms and boasts a high-spec sound system and epic production. There will also be day parties by the sea where people can swim and enjoy a nice day under the sun, while a range of boat parties offer raving at sea.

Sonja Moonear Sunny Side Festival 2024

Sunny Side Festival focuses on diversity, with a line-up that aims to represent people of all races, genres, and sexualities. It has also partnered with some of the finest crews from across Europe to serve up a scintillating mix of stages hosted by the likes of Air Funk (France), Det Gode Selskab (Norway), Dungeon Meat and Half Baked (UK), Outcast (IT), Rhythm Point (Ibiza), plus Trommel, Why Not? (Zanzibar), Yoyaku (France), Love on the Rocks of PARAMIDA and Sunny Side Up (Malta).

As well as the music, the whole island is ripe for adventure and exploring from swimming and water sports to diving trips, prehistoric temples, feasts, fireworks, and outstanding gastronomy all ready to make this an unforgettable experience.

Raresh b2b Edward Sunny Side 2024

Says the team behind the event, “We aim to create a safe space for underground music aficionados together with all the key players from all around Europe, on the beautiful Island of Malta. Our vision is to educate younger generations to keep Underground Dance Music thriving by creating an inspiring and beautiful environment, where great memories are made, to the tune of avant-garde music. Together with our partners, we are committed to building up this festival into an enduring, sustainable, and prominent European institution for many years to come.”

The countdown is now on to this most cultured underground festival in a perfect party paradise, so get your early bird tickets now.

Sunny Side Festival 2025 Phase One Line-up

BLOODSTOCK’s Halloween Treats

It’s showtime! In honour of it being Halloween week, BLOODSTOCK was going to treat you to a spooktacular vampire pun. But it sucks. 

So let’s creep it real with some more bands joining the bill, because we all know that you ghouls just wanna have fun. And in case you missed the fangtastic news about more weekend tickets being released, read on for further details and mark your calendar for 9am, November 5th, for that’s when they go on sale! No tricks!
Hot on the heels of the monstrously good news about MASTODON joining the bill last Friday, here’s another 15 bands to bewitch you… 

BLOODSTOCK is pleased to welcome thrash-lovin’ Norwich metal maestros SHRAPNEL, innovative Canterbury doomsters FAMYNE, and Danish blackened death/doom metal merchants KONVENT to the Ronnie James Dio stage on Friday. Emerging from Germany’s extreme metal void with a fresh take on all things black/death, THE SPIRIT are added to Saturday’s bill. Sunday’s lineup now includes atmospheric, dark symphonic metallers GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS, and ONE MACHINE, the heavy metal brainchild of Steve Smyth (Nevermore, Forbidden, Testament) which also features members of Biomechanical, Savage Messiah, and Savage Grace in its ranks. 

BLOODSTOCK also has these spine-tingling acts to unmask for the Sophie Lancaster stage! If you like your heavy psych, don’t miss Belgium’s prog stoners MY DILIGENCE, performing on Friday. Joining them that day are well established Finnish symphonic black metal squad SHADE EMPIRE and Vikings EIHWAR, who promise “pagan dancefloor” music, composed of Nordic folk sounds, ritual chants, shamanic drums, and electro machines!

Spicing up Saturday, self-proclaimed “dirtbags of the North” WATERLINES bring their blend of nu-metal and EDM-flavoured metalcore, melodic metal outfit PHOENIX LAKE will no doubt delight fans of Within Temptation and Evanescence, and if that’s not enough, the live spectacle of rock beasts NEONFLY (complete with fire-breathing guitarist) ought to get your pulse racing. Sunday’s no slouch, adding instrumental riff machine WALL (formed by the twins from Desert Storm) and status quo challengers DOGMA, who are keen to wield their music as a weapon against ignorance and oppression.

Last but not least for Sunday, don’t miss SIGLOS, from Ministry alumni Sin Quirin, offering up a unique dose of extreme metal (think black, doom, & industrial) combining ancient indigenous chants and brutal gutterals. 



More boos? Why not treat yourself to a devilishly good bottle of “Iron Maiden Darkest Red” wine this Halloween. Full bodied, rich & moody….not for the faint hearted. You don’t have to be prehistoric, but you do need to be over 18.

Our friends, IRON MAIDEN and THE BOTTLE CLUB, want to give Bloodstockers 6.66% off with code BOA666. Why don’t skeletons fight over drinks? They don’t have the guts! 

Snap up your bottle of “Iron Maiden Darkest Red” here.



Additional weekend ticketsFestival HQ saw a lot of social media posts after weekend tickets for next summer’s event sold out, with fans disappointed they missed out on tickets. While a limited number of day tickets will be made available in due course (once more of the line-up has been announced), festival HQ has managed to acquire some extra camping space in a new field. 

It’s important to note that BLOODSTOCK is not increasing its capacity – the festival will have the same maximum number of headbangers. However, the number of day tickets available each day will be reduced to a smaller quantity to accommodate some additional standard weekend tickets. 

Details of the new standard weekend tickets

This new campsite – called Kyrr – will and needs to be quiet camping. Please be respectful of that. The Ragnarok campsite will also remain quiet camping. The name comes from an Old Norse word meaning calm & peaceful!
To avoid overcrowding in BLOODSTOCK’s existing campsites, the new standard weekend ticket will have a different wristband – you will only be able to camp in Kyrr. 

On arrival, you will collect your wristband directly at this campsite.

Kyrr is situated directly behind Vanaheim (campervans) and is approximately a 10 minute walk from the arena entrance. You will walk through the Hel campsite to get there (not through Vanaheim).

As an additional benefit, there will be a car park right next to the Kyrr campsite. The new weekend ticket will be available to buy with or without parking in this car park. This parking is only valid in this specific Kyrr car park.
The new standard weekend ticket is the same cost as the original standard weekend tickets. This is much cheaper than buying 3 individual day tickets as some fans were considering – and you get Thursday included too!

These tickets will go on sale from the ticket store at 9am on November 5th. We expect them to go quickly so be ready!



EARLY ACCESS!!If you already have a weekend ticket, Wednesday early access is available for an add-on cost of £25 for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience, staying in any of the standard campsites (including Kyrr) or the campervan field. This option is not available at present for the VIP or accessible campsites. Head to the ticket store to see all currently available options including car parking.
If you’re looking for sold out tickets or need to sell your tickets on, BLOODSTOCK’s secondary ticketing partner, Tixel, might be able to help. Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed. You can sell ALL ticket types, including instalment plan purchases, plus any tickets sold via Ticketmaster or other third party ticket outlets. This partnership helps BLOODSTOCK streamline all resale tickets into one place to guarantee the safety of the sale, avoiding social media scam bots and rip-off pricing. It’s a very simple process for the customer and most importantly, it’s a trusted platform. Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works. 
BLOODSTOCK’s 2025 Ronnie James Dio stage headliners are TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA. Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage will be ME AND THAT MAN, KATAKLYSM, STATIC-X, and OBITUARY. You’ll also be able to see MASTODON, NAILBOMB, MINISTRY, EMPEROR, FEAR FACTORY, LACUNA COIL, HERIOT, ORANGE GOBLIN, CREEPER, KUBLAI KHAN TX, CAGE FIGHT, RIVERS OF NIHIL, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, FEUERSCHWANZ, LORD OF THE LOST, PALEFACE SWISS, AUGUST BURNS RED, WARBRINGER, UNDEATH, SPIRIT ADRIFT, THROWN, ALL FOR METAL, BREED 77, HIGH PARASITE, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD.

Keep your eyes peeled for many more bands and on site activities will be announced over the coming months.
Get full festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com.  Watch a trailer here.

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2025.

BLOODSTOCK announce MASTODON; additional weekend tickets available soon



This news needs no added fanfare. Time for a mic drop! 

BLOODSTOCK is thrilled to announce that special guests on the Ronnie James Dio stage on Sunday will be…. wait for it…. none other than highly revered, four-headed metal behemoth MASTODON

The group are just off the road in the USA with festival alumni pals LAMB OF GOD, dropping the collab track ‘Floods Of Triton’ to celebrate their co-headline Ashes Of Leviathan tour. You can check out a ‘making of’ interview here.  Perhaps you caught MASTODON headlining BLOODSTOCK all the way back in 2016? Investigate the treasure trove of live tracks from that set on BLOODSTOCK’s YouTube at your leisure, including ‘High Road.’



If you’re extra crushed now you didn’t manage to snap up a weekend ticket before they sold out, read on for good news… 

Additional weekend ticketsFestival HQ saw a lot of social media posts after weekend tickets for next summer’s event sold out, with fans disappointed they missed out on tickets. While a limited number of day tickets will be made available in due course (once more of the line-up has been announced), festival HQ has managed to acquire some extra camping space in a new field. 

It’s important to note that BLOODSTOCK is not increasing its capacity – the festival will have the same maximum number of headbangers. However, the number of day tickets available each day will be reduced to a smaller quantity to accommodate some additional standard weekend tickets. 

Details of the new standard weekend tickets

This new campsite – called Kyrr – will and needs to be quiet camping. Please be respectful of that. The Ragnarok campsite will also remain quiet camping. The name comes from an Old Norse word meaning calm & peaceful!
To avoid overcrowding in BLOODSTOCK’s existing campsites, the new standard weekend ticket will have a different wristband – you will only be able to camp in Kyrr. 

On arrival, you will collect your wristband directly at this campsite.

Kyrr is situated directly behind Vanaheim (campervans) and is approximately a 10 minute walk from the arena entrance. You will walk through the Hel campsite to get there (not through Vanaheim).

As an additional benefit, there will be a car park right next to the Kyrr campsite. The new weekend ticket will be available to buy with or without parking in this car park. This parking is only valid in this specific Kyrr car park.
The new standard weekend ticket is the same cost as the original standard weekend tickets. This is much cheaper than buying 3 individual day tickets as some fans were considering – and you get Thursday included too!

These tickets will go on sale from the ticket store at 9am on November 5th. We expect them to go quickly so be ready!



EARLY ACCESS!!If you already have a weekend ticket, Wednesday early access is available for an add-on cost of £25 for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience, staying in any of the standard campsites (including Kyrr) or the campervan field. This option is not available at present for the VIP or accessible campsites. Head to the ticket store to see all currently available options including car parking.

If you’re looking for sold out tickets or need to sell your tickets on, BLOODSTOCK’s secondary ticketing partner, Tixel, might be able to help. Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed. You can sell ALL ticket types, including instalment plan purchases, plus any tickets sold via Ticketmaster or other third party ticket outlets. This partnership helps BLOODSTOCK streamline all resale tickets into one place to guarantee the safety of the sale, avoiding social media scam bots and rip-off pricing. It’s a very simple process for the customer and most importantly, it’s a trusted platform. Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works. 
BLOODSTOCK’s 2025 Ronnie James Dio stage headliners are TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA. Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage will be ME AND THAT MAN, KATAKLYSM, STATIC-X, and OBITUARY. You’ll also be able to see NAILBOMB, MINISTRY, EMPEROR, FEAR FACTORY, LACUNA COIL, HERIOT, ORANGE GOBLIN, CREEPER, KUBLAI KHAN TX, CAGE FIGHT, RIVERS OF NIHIL, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, FEUERSCHWANZ, LORD OF THE LOST, PALEFACE SWISS, AUGUST BURNS RED, WARBRINGER, UNDEATH, SPIRIT ADRIFT, THROWN, ALL FOR METAL, BREED 77, HIGH PARASITE, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD. News of many more bands and on site activities will be announced over the coming months.

Get full festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2025.

BLOODSTOCK reveal 13 more bands & add exclusive live clips to YouTube

Off the back of BLOODSTOCK’s first announcement of 19 bands for 2025, tickets have been flying out the door in record numbers. Adult standard weekend tickets are now sold out! A limited number of day tickets will be available in due course, once more bands have been announced. Missed out on the type of ticket you wanted? Sign up to TixelBLOODSTOCK’s official resale partner and avoid social media ticket scams! 

For those of you who have already snapped up your tickets, here’s 13 more bands to whet your appetite for next summer’s metal extravaganza!

The Ronnie James Dio stage on Friday is pleased to welcome classic thrashers FLOTSAM & JETSAM. Joining them will be hotly-tipped deathcore upstarts PALEFACE SWISS

Industrial metal icons MINISTRY jet in as RJD stage special guests on Saturday night, in their first ever BLOODSTOCK appearance. Also added to the RJD line-up that day are LA legends FEAR FACTORY (playing their seminal 1995 album ‘Demanufacture’ in full!), fast-rising metalcore moshers HERIOT, full-pelt thrash overlords WARBRINGER, and furious hardcore bruisers CAGE FIGHT.

If you were having trouble picking your favourite day already, Sunday’s main stage additions aren’t going to make it any easier, adding boundary pushing, tech-death squad RIVERS OF NIHIL
Still want more? 

On Friday, the Sophie Lancaster stage is proud to confirm the infamous and uber rare NAILBOMB. Let’s make BLOODSTOCK 2025 as iconic a set for NAILBOMB as Dynamo 1995! Self-proclaimed death popsters HIGH PARASITE (feat. Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride) will get you warmed up earlier in the day. 

For your Saturday shenanigans, the Sophie stage now includes New York-based, death metal crew UNDEATH
Texan doom-come-trad-metal headbangers SPIRIT ADRIFT and brutal Swedish aggressors THROWN join the affray on Sophie, on Sunday. We’ll see you down the front.



If you already have a weekend ticket, Wednesday early access is available for an add-on cost of £25 for those who want to max out their BLOODSTOCK experience, staying in any of the standard campsites or the campervan field. This option is not available at present for the VIP or accessible campsites. Head to the ticket store to see all currently available options including car parking.

If you’re looking for sold out tickets like VIP, weekend, or campervan passes, BLOODSTOCK’s secondary ticketing partner, Tixel, might be able to help.  Simply set an alert for notification if your tickets of choice become available, or pre-authorise your card in advance, so no need for constant checking back. Tixel also allows you to safely re-sell tickets to a new home if plans have changed.

You can sell ALL ticket types, including instalment plan purchases, plus any tickets sold via Ticketmaster or other third party ticket outlets. This partnership helps BLOODSTOCK streamline all resale tickets into one place to guarantee the safety of the sale, avoiding social media scam bots and rip-off pricing. It’s a very simple process for the customer and most importantly, it’s a trusted platform. Click through to https://tixel.com/uk/bloodstock-tickets for more information on how it works.  

To relive 2024’s metal glory, head over to BLOODSTOCK’s official YouTube channel for some exclusive live videos, including most recently, the full set from GREEN LUNG plus choice cuts from CLUTCHWHITECHAPEL, and VINTAGE CARAVAN. There’s also three epic tracks from MEGADETH in 2023, and hours more footage for you to delve into.
BLOODSTOCK’s 2025 Ronnie James Dio main stage headliners are TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, and GOJIRA. Headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage will be ME AND THAT MAN, KATAKLYSM, STATIC-X, and OBITUARY. You’ll also be able to see EMPEROR, LACUNA COIL, ORANGE GOBLIN, CREEPER, KUBLAI KHAN TX, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, FEUERSCHWANZ, LORD OF THE LOST, AUGUST BURNS RED, ALL FOR METAL, BREED 77, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD. Stay tuned for news of 100+ more bands and on site activities to be announced over the coming months.

Get full festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com.  

BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 7th-10th August 2025.

Gates Of Agartha Debuts in the Heart of Mexico’s Mayan Jungle

Exclusive series heads to Zamna, Tulum 16th to 19th January 2025

2025 Sign Up: https://zamnafestival.com/gates-of-agartha-tulum/

World renowned music, travel, art and culture series Gates Of Agartha is heading deep into the Mexican jungle where ancient Mayan civilisation once thrived. The acclaim series’s next event from January 16th to 19th 2025 is in Tulum, nestled on the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, and offers a two day festival experience as well as an exclusive Lagoon Opening Ceremony and party and Cenote Closing Party for those lucky few who purchase the Full Experience. Pre-sale begins October 9th. 

Gates of Agartha is a concept that draws its inspiration from the mythical underground kingdom of Agartha, where ancient secrets and wisdom are guarded. Its debut was widely acclaimed as the Best New Regional Festival last year in Croatia. The series is all about offering unique cultural experiences in unusual locations with a rich sense of history and is a spin off of the main event Echoes From Agartha Cappadocia, which is an impossibly beautiful festival in an ancient land in the heart of Anatolia, Turkey.

Renowned for its well-preserved ruins, Tulum serves as a gateway to the rich history and culture of the Mayans. Gates Of Agartha will take place in the lush surroundings of Zamna, a venue known for its natural beauty and mystical ambiance and one that will be transformed into a realm where the spirits of the past meet the energy of the present.

For this special event, the sacred lands of the Mayan jungle become the stage for a four-day festival amidst cenotes, ancient trees, and the echoes of a civilisation that has left an indelible mark on history. It is a place where attendees can enjoy a deep connection to the natural and spiritual world in what will be a truly immersive experience that honours the legacy of the Mayan people.

This celebration of music, history, and art will feature production design inspired by ancient Mayan aesthetics and culture, blended with Agartha’s ancient futuristic design. Various types of accommodation packages provide a full, immersive experience and whether you choose to stay in boutique villas, or scenic jungle lodges, all accommodations come with added perks.

This once in a lifetime journey begins on Thursday January 16th with an exclusive and intimate Lagoon Opening Ceremony for 400 Full Experience package guests. It takes place at sunset at a serene lagoon where you will connect with nature, water, land, and the sky as the ancient Mayans once did with a ceremony that blends Mayan traditions with futuristic aesthetics before a private party under the stars. 

Friday January 17th and Saturday 18th are the Big Festival Nights at Zamna with two monumental parties hosting 4,500 people each night for an immersive journey through music, art, and history. Expect world-renowned DJs, breathtaking visuals, and a transformative atmosphere as the energy of the jungle fused with cutting-edge technology to create an unforgettable celebration.

Guests are then treated to a special ticketed Closing Party from 10 am until sunset on Sunday January 19th at a secret Cenote Club. It takes place in a sacred space surrounded by the natural beauty of the cenote and encourages you to reflect on the shared experiences of the previous days and celebrate the end of the magical adventure in the heart of the Mayan jungle.

Gates Of Agartha Tulum features immersive programming and the chance to truly soak up authentic Mayan culture and the wisdom embedded in this land. It will be another reactivation of an ancient culture that will leave the mind, body and souls truly enriched. 

For more information on Gates Of Agartha x Tulum, please visit: 

Gates Of Agartha: https://www.instagram.com/gatesofagartha/

Zamna: https://www.instagram.com/zamna.music/

Sign Up: https://zamnafestival.com/gates-of-agartha-tulum/

Southside 2024 Review

Friday

Back at it again at Krispy Kreme Southside. Unlike the scorching sun of yesteryear, we were treated to showers as we approached the site. However, the weather gods were kind (for now) and cleared the sky for our arrival so we had a nice soft ground for tent pegs, a dry inside tent and cool splatter paint job on the car. With provisions (earplugs, painkillers, battery pack) packed, it was time to head to the arena. So we thought. Opening was delayed by over an hour as organisers monitored the approaching storm clouds. Luckily the securities were super nice and chatty so there wasn’t much stress.

Once the arena opened the top priority was obviously merch, because there’s always a design that sells out and its usually the best one. This year it was a tie-dye shirt. And it was sold out. Shaking my fist at the Thursday arrivals. Sea Girls were delayed on the green stage so I took the chance to go round all the merch stands in the faint hope of tracking down this elusive shirt. No such luck. Settling for different design, it was time to go watch some bands.

Sea Girls had a shortened set of about five songs, including All I Want To Hear You Say and Do You Really Wanna Know? which were the two I knew. Great, upbeat opener to the festival, they seemed to have a good time on stage and were very grateful to be playing at all. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for UK dates near me. Turns out, having written that and then checked, they’re on UK tour in autumn. Wonderful.

Quick chance to grab lunch before returning to the Green Stage for IDKHOW who I did not know were American. The aviators in the rain should have given it away really. I found the song Nobody Likes The Opening Band thoroughly endearing, especially as there was a growing crowd braving the rain. They played a heavier version of Do It All The Time which worked really well. Their set was also shortened to make up for the time lost to the delayed arena opening, but the singer said he’s been on the stage crew side of things, so he got it.

The stage now had a water feature running down the front but luckily the increasingly dense crowd kept the rain exposure to heads and shoulders. As Feine Sahne Fischfilet’s pre-show songs started playing, including She’s Kerosene by The Interrupters, the crowd started moving and evaporating any rain that tried to reach us. I think there’s generally a divide about this band’s shows, personally I think they’re great and their crowds are a rowdy party in all the best ways. Endless mosh pits, smoke flares and chants. The opener was a bit of a slow one, but the second song definitely got the crowd going. From then it was full on for the set with only a brief respite while an emotional front man sang about how much he loves his parents and the fact they stuck with him through his rebellious youth. Toward the end of the set there was a generous distribution of free (plastic) bottled beer into the crowd with the encouragement to get on shoulders to catch it. Suddenly I was surrounded by a forest of people and the rain was replaced with beer showers as the bottles started flying. Beer was shared around, and the atmosphere was on point. The set was finished off with a huge wall of death with the lead singer in the middle.

Feine Sahne Fishfilet in 2019

Heading over to the Blue Stage for Editors, I realised how much Feine Sahne Fishfilet cleared out the rest of the arena, I arrived for the start of the set and walked into the second row unimpeded. The Blue Stage was not blessed with runway tarmac to keep us safe from the growing swamp, but if I’m honest it’s preferable to the dust bath of last year where breathing was precarious at times and mosh pits a guarantee for dusty lung disease. The rain was back in full force and a fuller crowd would have been nice for rain protection. Editors played a great set including old and new songs with an acoustic opening to Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors. Front man, Tom Smith, delightfully contorting himself around the stage as he is wont to do, thanking the crowd in German and blowing kisses into the mic. Unfortunately, the sound was very bass heavy and it was hard to hear the melodies at times. I think it got better as the set went on, but it was a shame as the band has some great riffs.

Editors in 2018

Arriving at Sum 41 about 20 mins into the set the crowd was jam packed so it looks like Editors got a bit unlucky with their line-up slot. Sum 41 really bought the skate-punk vibe, jumping around on stage and generally being really fun and energetic. I have to admit that I missed them in my youthful emo phase, so I’m late to this particular party, but all the better to enjoy them now. The crowd went predictably wild for the classics and there were fireworks on the stage, like next to the drummer, for Fat Lip along with fire and smoke along the front. The set included a cover of We Will Rock You with the obvious sing along from the crowd. For all the fun of the set, it was a bit anticlimactic when the band just kind of went “ok, thanks, bye” and finished quite abruptly with 5 minutes left of the time slot. But either way, a lot of energy both on and in front of the stage.

Keeping the vibe going, The Offspring were next. I’ve missed these guys, they are so much fun and their music lends itself so well to singing, jumping and moshing. All the hits were covered: You’re Gonna Go Far Kid, Self Esteem and of course Pretty Fly (For A White Guy). We were also treated to a bunch of True Facts™ like that there was a world record breaking 1.9 million people at Southside this year and that this show was the greatest thing to ever happen in rock’n’roll. Which doesn’t sound right but I don’t know enough about rock’n’roll to dispute it. There was 6 billion large beach balls thrown into the crowd during Why Don’t You Get A Job, normally great, however their mud coating meant that every time they bounced overhead you got a little mud shower and I was doing so well at keeping mud below the waist line…

The Offspring in 2019

Much of the crowd stayed in place for the Green Stage headliners Bring Me The Horizon. I recognised some of the front row from the start of the day, so one presumes they have not moved from there since 3pm. Some of the people were struggling a bit during the wait time. One young woman was handed water and a sweet by the securities, another was lifted out before things got started. The woman next to me had an impromptu whistling lesson from the guy next to her, so the wait passed quickly as the stage was set up. Red velvet curtains were draped along the edges of the three teered stage and a group of firemen got a tour of what I assume would be the ensuing pyrotechnics.

Bring Me The Horizon in 2022

The show started strong with DArkSide, front man Oli Sykes, remaining in the shadow of the stage lights. Three songs in, after MANTRA, the band suddenly walked off stage and stayed gone for a long time. The screens stayed on and the lights were cycling through as there appeared to be a mic check. Luckily, whatever the issue was, it was resolved, the band came back on stage, blamed it on gremlins and the full moon and launched into Teardrops. They had a fan on stage to sing Antivist, who was so nervous but did such a good job, death growls and all. The stage show was fantastic, but then I am a sucker for gothic church and cyberpunk aesthetics. There was plenty of pyro and fireworks, especially for the closing Throne. For the whole show, Sykes was skipping along the stage all smiley and the band were clearly having a great time, jumping and spinning around. It was an amazing show, I do have one criticism though: throughout the day I thought how much phone recording seems to have gone down, like the occasional photo or bit of song or crowd videos. The crowd for BMTH was having none of this “living in the moment” nonsense. I was a few rows from the front and had to crane my neck a lot to be able to see around the many phone screens held aloft. And I get it, you want a record of the show. But maybe not all songs and maybe less held above you.

I missed out on UK tour earlier this year but thought the band might go on tour again when the delayed NeX GEn album is out. I think the only new song to the setlist at Southside was top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd, which to be fair, is a banger. Fingers crossed for an extended album tour when they’re back from Asia and South America.

Closing out the night, Deichkind finished up on the Blue Stage midnight to 2 am. I missed the first few songs moving over in the throng of people from BMTH but there was still plenty of dancing left to do. It’s hard to describe a Deichkind show in words and do it justice. It’s more like an absurdist art project with a banging soundtrack. I can’t say for sure how many band members there are, Wikipedia says four, but there were between one and about eleven people on stage at any given time and like 15 people took a bow at the end, so who is to say. There were loose but really fun choreographies, there was a giant barrel full of band traversing the crowd, there was office chair races. There was a giant selfie stick with matching giant IPhone, there was a song sung from a climbing portaledge, there were mini trampolines. One of the band members was replaced with a robot arm at one point. Of course, the robot arm kept up with the choreography. A good amount of the songs were different from the studio recordings, with various samples or style changes that worked superbly with the live show, really getting every last bit of energy out of the crowd. To finish it all off, the night concluded with a naked, masked man in y-fronts atop a giant inflatable ring bouncing over the crowd while emptying a huge sack of feathers upon the masses. Like I said, hard to really convey the mayhem, but an absolute spectacle. Even if you don’t understand the words, Deichkind is an infectious band with a one-of-a-kind show.

Deichkind in 2022

As thoroughly drenched and partied-out crowds trudged back to the campsites, mud solemnly squelching under hundreds of feet, I picked my way back home by torchlight, around guide ropes and past camping tables laden with empty beer cans. Once I was excavated from my mud coating it was time for bed amongst the sound of gentle snoring from the neighbours, ABBA playing in the distance and (to my dismay) the dawn chorus of birds.

Saturday

Saturday morning started with beautiful weather, perfect for lazy coffee in the sun without being boiled alive in the tent. The trip for washing up and water re-fills was a fun slip and slide. Some might say walking through a muddy field in flip flops is a questionable decision, I say it’s a rejuvenating mud mask for your feet. Clouds were moving in and there was a queue of people filling up 10l+ water canisters at the taps. I made it back inside my tent just in time for the heavens to open, thwarting my plans for second coffee for reasons like “lack of airflow” and “carbon monoxide poisoning”, sounds fake, but ok. I’m glad the festival app cheerfully informed be of the sunny weather because the increasing fervour of the rain beating down on the tent would have fooled me into believing otherwise. Now trapped in the tent by what I assume was the end times, we thought it best to wait out the worst of it rather than go from 0 to 100 in the moist department. Just as the rain began to ease the app announce impeding heavy rain. I hoped it was a delayed message. It was not.

Opting today for a more rain proof ensemble, I was surprised to find that wellies and a waterproof jacket actually kept you dryer than my previous thick hoodie and trainers approach. *Meryl Streep voice* Groundbreaking.

I didn’t really know The Gaslight Anthem previously and the studio recordings didn’t grab me, but as I joined the crowd for Handwritten the high-spirited audience dancing in the rain together had that wonderful festival vibe where most music is actually great and life is too short to not enjoy yourself.

The swamp at the foot of the Blue stage had expanded and deepened into a lake by the time that Irish post punk band Fontaines D.C. took to the stage. All dancing now resembled that scene from one of the most beloved movie sequels of our time: step up 2 the streets. But with mud. Frontman Grian Chatten, rocking 90s vibes in bright green plastic sunglasses and a light blue adidas jacket, wandered up and down the little catwalk attached to the centre stage. The setlist spanned the bands discography, finishing on Starburster.

More punk vibes with working class sentiment were on offer from Idles over on the Green Stage. Truly a man of the people, lead singer Joe Talbot was sporting one of the red rain ponchos from a festival stall. Idles had a bit more of a beat going on compared to Fontaines D.C. and definitely more political anger. Correspondingly, the crowd was more mosh than dance, though lyrics like “Best way to scare a tory” may have gone over the heads of the crowd. With the guitarist rolling across the crowd when I got there and announcements like “Andale you f*cking animals” launching songs the set had a riotous energy that absolutely got the crowd moving.

As we were waiting for The Kooks it was announced that the blue and green stage headliners were going to be streamed on the other stage which was a great idea as it would reduce the massive one-sided crowding of the arena at the end of the day. The crowd was singing along joyfully with the intermission songs including Don’t Stop Believing and Sweet Caroline before the band took to the stage. Starting off with energetically with Always Where I Need to Be the set drew a bigger and bigger crowd as time went on. I never know which UK bands are well known in Europe, turns out The Kooks have a long history with Germany and Southside festival. This was evident from the amount of crowd sing alongs, especially for the closing Naïve. The band also announced a new album coming soon, playing a new song Sunny Baby. Everyone clearly had a great time, frontman Luke Pritchard showing off his best dance moves and the sound was much better than yesterday.

I can imagine the sombre sound of The National being great in the sunset, but alas we had all cloud. But at least it was dry so a good time to queue for dinner. The usual roaming beer and ice cream sellers were replaced with troops equipped with back pack hot coffee dispensers and side pouches of those little milks you get in hotels. The crowd management was really good this year, the walkway between the first and second zone was being used to fill the front of stage area from both sides very efficiently, so it was no problem getting in even though it was busy. The soulful voice with the gentle brass section accompaniment made for a calm evening performance up to the point that lead singer Matt Berninger walked into the crowd. Normally not unheard of at a festival. Berninger made it interesting by using a cabled microphone that had multiple stage crew reeling out wire while not choking anyone along the route. The second time Berninger made any indication of walking off, the roadies sprang into action immediately.

The crowd changeover between The National and Ed Sheeran was chaotic with people trying to leave while others rushed towards the middle. But once everyone was in, we settled in to wait the 75 minutes.

A group behind me were entertaining themselves with their own sing along with hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, Backstreet Boys and a fair bit of High School Musical. Ed Sheeran came on stage by himself and launched straight into Castle on the Hill, with fireworks exploding in front and behind the stage for every chorus. Sporting an official Southside hoodie he explained the loop pedal set up of the performance, how he builds up the songs bit by bit and that they are deleted after every performance. At one point he messed up a section and had to restart the whole song (“that’s how you know it’s live”). The stage was backed with a floor to roof screen that accompanied the set with bright, colourful visuals that paired perfectly with the acoustic feel of this headlining set. Besides all of his hits, the set included Love Yourself,which he wrote and gave to Justin Bieber, and Eyes Closed in memory of a close friend. I have to be honest, I was expecting an overproduced show of an overplayed radio star, but it was an endearing, earnest performance.

Kontra K in 2022

In contrast, with Kontra K finishing up on the Blue Stage today it was very hard to tell what was irony and what we were supposed to take literal. On the one hand, knuckle duster microphone and gangster rap with all the associated attitudes, on the other hand he told people to share their feelings and love one another. There were bits that reminded me of self-help podcasts but then I figured it out, what was actually happening was fairly shallow platitudes that contained buzzwords that linked to the next song title. It was certainly an impressive stage show, and I think if you turn your brain off and go with it, it’s good fun. The show finished with a costume change, donning a big coat with the correct number of buckles (more than 5) he was set alight for the final song. Like I said, impressive to look at and the crowd was definitely here for it, just not my cup of tea. The show finished with the whole extensive crew on stage as he thanked them which was sweet.

Once back at the tent, the gentle embrace of sleep was accompanied by the dulcet tones of my neighbours trying to remember the name of Wallace and Gromit and discussing how it scarred their childhood. Perfect way to end day two.

Sunday

Sunday morning started with the app informing everyone about how to get out of the thoroughly soaked car park fields, encouraging everyone to help each other push, that there’s free rescues for those who can’t get out and asking for patience. There was hope that a dry Sunday night might make it easier to leave tomorrow morning. The drizzle set in as I frantically gathered stuff together and made it into the arena just in time for Danko Jones opening appropriately with Guess Who’s Back. What followed was an invigorating 45 minutes morning (2pm) workout of classic sex, drugs and rock’n’roll complete with little circle and mosh pits. The crowd started small but grew bigger and bigger despite the rain. The band was towelling down their guitars in between songs and pointing out the precarious decision to play in in a downpour surrounded by electrical equipment. Representing the first of the Canadian contingent of today’s line up, the band loudly declared their intention to have a Good Time,finishing the set with My Little RnR.

Slowing back down a bit, Bombay Bicycle Club on the blue stage played a relaxed set to a fairly loose crowd. Their backdrop of colourful streamers was swaying lazily in the breeze and the sun briefly peeked out behind the clouds. Before I could fully form a thought about suncream the sky disavowed that notion by getting back the scheduled rain. The arena had been generously covered in straw overnight, but the most travelled paths had already returned to the primordial soup. Crew was working hard emptying wheelie bins of wood chips in front of the stage so at least the securities and photographers could keep dry feet. After my personal favorite, Eat Sleep Wake it was time to head back to the green stage for Simple Plan.

Sunday Canadian act 2 out of 3 came on to the Star Wars theme then jumped right into I’d do anything. The sun was fully back now, and the tarmac actually dry in places, perfectly timed for Summer Paradise. The accompanying beach balls still had a light mud coating though, upgraded to a thick slathering after it fell in the mud at the side of the crowd so any contact with the crowd resulted in an unceremonious shower. The muddy threats were subsequently violently rejected by the masses. Turns out I’m Just a Kid is legally an adult now, so it made sense that the lead singer’s shirt got an update with kid crossed out and adult added. The back held true though. Life is a nightmare. As a mid 2000s limewire kid, Welcome to My Life bought the teenage angst flooding back in full force. Judging by the crowd response, I was not alone there. Besides the hits the set included covers of All Star, Mr Brightside and Scooby Do. Towards the end, the drummer, sporting a German football shirt, swapped round with the singer and went for a swim in the crowd. The set finished with Perfect, first verse and chorus being played on acoustic guitar before the frontman launched it across the stage to be deftly caught by the neck by the roadie. The band clearly had a great time and the crowd even more so.

Those who had a little more foresight and packed sunscreen today kindly shared it round while we waited for Leoniden to start. The band went way heavier than I expected for the intro with the guitarist swinging his instrument wildly by the strap and then the mic by the cable to the point where it’s a miracle he didn’t take out his bandmates. The band declared that they had a day off tomorrow so they would hold nothing back today. They really weren’t lying. Part of the show took place in the crowd, with both piano and percussion being carried into the masses at different points. The set included covers of Take on Me, Teenage Dirtbag and Smells like Teen Spirit. There was plenty of crowd interaction from the classic “sit down and jump up” through to “8 jumps left and right a la Dutch football fans”. A giant pink shark was leading one of the mosh pits, so really, how could I not? The band also announced the band mobile phone number to message with pictures, comments and to get exclusive merch. The second time they read out the number the crowd joined in. Next to Feine Sahne Fishfilet, this was definitely the most ecstatic crowd and the liveliest party of the weekend. Leoniden sing in English and are coming to London in December, I would highly recommend checking them out.

Jungle was hosting the  perfect dance party in the evening sun as I went to get dinner before heading into the crowd for Avril Lavigne, giving The Hives a miss this year (they’re way more likely to be back than Avril Lavigne).  The stage was adorned with pink hearts and skulls along with a selection of different coloured bejewelled microphones, exactly what you would expect from the icon of 2k teenage girl rebellion. Rocking a stunning punk rock outfit complete with skater skirt, high boots, patches and an over sized hood Avril came onto the stage to an instrumental intro before kicking things off with Girlfriend. The set was leaning heavily on the older albums including I’m with you, He wasn’t and Loosing Grip along with all the classics: Complicated, Skaterboi and Happy Ending. Simple Plan joined on stage for I’m Addicted, completing the Canadian triumvirate for the day beautifully. The flooded arena floor still made jumping a risk, so everyone was mainly swaying and singing along but all in all it was a great show from an artist I never expected to see live.

I stopped by the toilets/water taps for one last refresh before the final straight of the weekend. Clearly that was a very original idea as the area was rammed, but everyone queued nicely, and the infrastructure held. Turnstile finished 10 min ahead of schedule, but I still caught a bit of the set sitting on the tarmac by the stage. The area was already filling up for the final headliner of Southside 2024, so respite was brief as the crowd piled in. Somehow a group had enough internet connection to put the football onto their phone which was graciously held aloft, Swiss and German audience members reaching across the aisle with amicable respect. As the sun set there were a few medical issues, but crowds parted and helped carry wherever needed. I guess the sun had come a little unexpected, so heat exhaustion probably crept up on people.

K.I.Z in 2022

K.I.Z. last played Southside 2022, moving up into the top slot this year. The stage got a do-over, now consisting of three massive crystals in the centre surrounded by smaller crystals at the base. Throughout the show the crystals were filled with smoke, contained band members or had mesmerising laser shows on or through them, it looked fantastically alien. Wasting no time, the set unexpectedly started with Ein Affe und ein Pferd, a popular older one, which whipped the crowd into a frenzy. The whole arena became a mosh pit, with more people moshing than those standing in their isolated islands of relative safety. The band’s developed a bit since the last show, still boasting a dark humour buried so deep shock value that (hopefully) no one takes it literally and the occasional straight-laced line, the newer material had a lot more biting social commentary and solemn themes still delivered with a highly sarcastic sting (eg “of course we’re pro peace, but first we have to win”). Though the crowd went hard for the pretty much the whole set, there was a levity to the performance as well, the group was joking around on stage and making each other laugh. I knew they’d be good; I was not expecting the show to be THAT good. Admittedly, the language might be a barrier to entry here and googling some of the lyrics may land you in trouble with office HR at a minimum, but to be honest, I think the crowd carries the vibe across the language barrier pretty damn well. In an incredible contrast, the show finished with hyper violent BOOM BOOM BOOM into the incredibly sombre Goerlitzer Park, a song about the disenfranchised of a famous park in Berlin.

Red taillights lined the horizon as I got back to the campsite, so it looked like cars were getting out of the mud ok. Monday morning treated us to a beautiful, crips dawn and what was possibly the best shower off my life. The ground had dried up a little, so we managed to get the car out with only minor slippage. This was probably the best organised Southside I’ve attended to date, an absolute joy. See you next year.

David Guetta, Keinemusik, Michael Bibi, Luciano & More Announced as DJ Awards Industry Award Winners

The DJ Awards’ highly anticipated 23rd anniversary event takes place on October 2nd at Chinois, Ibiza. The ceremony will see category winners announced once all public votes are counted. Ahead of that, winners of the Industry Awards as chosen by a panel of experts can now be announced. 

 

Founded in 1998 by José Pascual and Lenny Krarup, the DJ Awards have long been recognised as the ‘Oscars for electronic dance music.’ Now under new ownership and with fresh investment after a four year hiatus, the awards make a welcome return and continue to champion excellence in global dance music.

 

Doors open at 10pm with awards ceremony taking place 11.30 to 12.30. BBC Radio 1 tastemaker Jaguar returns to present the awards alongside respected electronic music personality Katie Knight, a regular face in Ibiza, who will also be interviewing artists backstage after the ceremony while the after-party kicks off in the club at 12.30am

 

The winners of each of the voted for categories International DJ Of The Year 2024, Live Act, Breakthrough, House, Tech House, Drum & Bass, Techno, Progressive House, Organic House, Afro and Trance have been chosen by the public and will be announced on the night with nominees listed below. 

 

The reboot of the DJ Awards was always planned to recreate what’s been done before but better, which is why the number of awards has been reduced to 19 with a surprise award announced on the night. The new categories reflect the new state of the scene and also lay the foundation for the DJ Awards to expand its reputation and reach beyond Ibiza and promote dance music culture to a broader global audience while returning the integrity of the brand.

 

Interspersed with voted categories, the winners of these special Industry Awards will be presented with their trophies and they have been selected by a specially assembled team of industry professionals.

 

 

Ibiza Icon
Luciano 

 

This award goes to anyone who has, over a long time, made a profound impact on the scene in Ibiza. Someone who has played multiple venues, grown with the success of the island, and given back to it in a social capacity. 

 

Cadenza boss Luciano is very much that man. He has DJed in the local prison, hosted talks at public schools, played every venue on the island, held legendary residencies, lived in Ibiza for years and made Spain his home. He has always stayed true to his art and will always be synonymous with the White Isle. 

 

Ibiza Party of the Summer
David Guetta’s F*** Me I’m Famous at Ushuaia and Future Rave at Hi Ibiza 

 

This award does what it says on the tin. The success of a party isn’t judged by the number of attendees, it’s about the commitment to creating a unique experience, the loyalty to a venue and ability to showcase a wide spectrum of creative sounds and abilities and have a real impact on dancers. 

 

The famous Frenchman is the only DJ on the island to host two of his own parties and they are the only place he plays in the summer which is a throwback to how parties used to be run back in the day. They very much showcase different sides of his sounds – FMIF is more commercial and VIP lead, while Future Rave offers up and comers a chance to shine. Both events place huge attention on the production with dancers, performers and the VIP experience  all taken care of. 

 

Ibiza Track of the Summer
Adam Port, Stryv – Move feat. Malachiii

 

Historically, this has always been a track you hear in the day, at night, on the beach, in the super clubs. 

 

And that is certainly the case this year. This track has been played by everyone from all different musical backgrounds, in beach bars and in the main room, on terraces and at villa parties. It has had  more than 200 million streams on Spotify and crossed over into so many different worlds. It’s catchy, singalong and the true sound of summer.

 

What’s Hot Global 
Keinemusik 

 

This is a new category given to a brand or artists that have elevated themselves in the last year onto a whole new level of popularity and success. 

 

Keinemusik have done just that and have been everywhere this year playing standout sets in Ibiza but also hosting their own unique events under their iconic cloud. They are able to pull in crowds of up to 35000 people at festival sized events and they always sell out, such is their appeal to a wide range of clubbers from all musical backgrounds and ages. The trio have also done lots for up and coming artists., have remained true to their core and even recently raised 100, 000 euros for charity in Ibiza.

 

Global Festival 
Defected Croatia

 

This award is given to a festival that has been newly or re-established and is doing something fresh on a global scale such as invigorating a new territory, promoting a certain sound or genre and putting a scene or place on the map. 

 

Defected’s superb three day festival in Tisno, Croatia has done just that. It is loyal to the label’s famous house roots with a wonderful mix of established, new and upcoming artists. The audience is diverse in terms of age, gender and sexuality with local and international acts all featuring in a house-centric soundtrack that is both quintessential and cutting-edge.

 

Play It Back Award
Michael Bibi’s One Life Campaign 

 

This is an award given to a person, institution or event that has bettered the scene socially, charitably or in a humanitarian fashion. 

 

After his very public battle with central nervous system lymphoma and recent return to full health, Michal Bibi has put great focus on raising awareness about the rare form of brain cancer he suffered from. He has put a real spotlight on it with his One Life campaign and deserves great recognition. He has raised plenty of money including £124,832 made from his Finsbury Park takeover in London which went to Royal Marsden Cancer Charity but also has a policy of creating awareness at his events. That one in London had a stem cell transplant charity on site to help recruit attendees to sign up to the stem cell register. This forward thinking, positive, altruistic action has all been done from the dance floor up so makes Bibi a more than worthy recipient. 

 

Eye on… USA
Gospel New York 

 

This annual award shifts the focus onto a different territory, starting with America, the birthplace of house music. 

 

New York’s Gospel club has had great success in just a few short years. James Huddleston and Juriel Zeligman are the co-founders and the venue is well run with a great mix of regular guests doing their own promotions. It’s a great throwback to how the scene was when it was first born in the 80s with serious focus on the music and residents. The club is a great modern addition to the city but one that never forgets the roots of the scene. 

 

Dance Floor Moment

 

In the run up to the awards, people all over the world will have the chance to come to Ibiza dn collect a genuine DJ Award on stage with all the other winners. People have been uploading clips of their favourite dancefloor moments to instagram and tagging @thedjawards with the hashtag #DANCEFLOORMEMORY. This is the start of an annual campaign that will see us recognise the best moments every year of the people who make it all possible, the fans and clubbers of the world.

 

 

This unmissable night marks the welcome return of the rejuvenated DJ Awards and will be a unique night of celebration for the dance music industry after another epic year. 

FULL NOMINEES ANNOUNCED ON OCTOBER 2ND

 

International DJ Of The Year 2024:
Recognising those crowd-pleasers and chart-toppers that dominate the dance floors, bringing infectious energy and universal appeal. This category includes, commercial/mainstage superstar DJs

Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Fisher
Martin Garrix
Peggy Gou
Swedish House Mafia

House:
Gorgon City
Honey Dijon
Kerri Chandler
Sam Divine
Seth Troxler
SYREETA
TSHA

Trance:
Armin van Buuren
Astrix
Dash Berlin
Infected Mushroom
Paul Van Dyk
Tiësto
Vini Vici

Techno:
Amelie Lens
Charlotte de Witte
Indira Paganotto
Paco Osuna
Nico Moreno 
Sara Landry 
Sven Väth

Progressive House:
ARTBAT
CamelPhat
Cristoph         
Eli & Fur
Eric Prydz
Franky Wah
Hernán Cattáneo
Tale Of Us.

Organic House:
Bedouin
BLOND:ISH
Jan Blomqvist
Monolink
Patrice Bäumel
Robag Wruhme
WhoMadeWho

 

Tech House:
Jamie Jones
Joseph Capriati
Marco Carola
The Martinez Brothers
Michael Bibi
Mochakk
PAWSA
Solomun
Vintage Culture

Afro: 
Black Coffee
Francis Mercier 
Kelvin Momo
KILIMANJARO
Kitty Amor 
Major League DJz
Pablo Fierro
Themba

Live Act: 
Barry Can’t Swim
Ben Böhmer
Bicep
Fred Again..
Mathew Jonson
Róisín Murphy
RÜFÜS DU SOL

Drum & Bass: 
Bou 
Chase & Status
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The Long Road Festival 2024 – Reviewed!

FRIDAY

It’s that last drip of summer, the deepening skies and smell of woodsmoke in the air. Autumn is on it’s way but we have one last hurrah in the form of The Long Road festival. Nestled in the woodland and fields surrounding Stanford Hall, these Leicestershire lands play host to a little slice of Americana once a year. Bring your cowboy boots and your Stetsons, it’s time to throwdown at the hoedown.

Friday at Long Road is a relaxed affair, with the main stage not being open today there is ample time to wander around the other areas and find our feet. We catch a little of American Aquarium over at The Interstate tent, who start off sounding a lot like punk-rock but eventually settle into a more country style. After a quick tour around the food offerings we opt to take seats on one of the many long benches set out in front of The Interstate, and choose Bayou Kitchen cajun shrimp bowls. This is my go-to food at TLR, so I’m glad to see they’re back again.

We mosey around, stopping to listen in at The Front Porch and once again I can’t help but admire the choice to theme this stage. If you don’t know, The Front Porch is a cabin with… well, a front porch. Bands perform on the porch as if you’re in their backyard, there are rocking chairs and smoke pours from the little chimney. While there is always a small standing crowd up front, this stage is the place to go if you want to have a chilled sit-down to enjoy the music, and tonight there are many doing just that – under the soft festoon lights and dwindling sun.

© A. Hyams for SFG

Taking a stroll around the various shopping stalls, boots and hats enticing us at every turn, we are drawn into the Solo Stove area where bright fires are crackling into the pink sky. The merch stall is already full of people grabbing their TLR t-shirts and caps, and this year there’s an incredible knitted blanket on offer that catches my eye. We decide to finish up our night with a pot of Crumble (incredible festival food choice) and joining in with the line-dancing class at The Front Porch. It won’t be the last time I hear Rascal Flatts this weekend, but hey – now I can Cowboy Hustle to it!

© A. Hyams for SFG

SATURDAY

Today, the arena is in full swing and we are heading in for a day of rootin’ tootin’ antics, off first in search of some lunch. Today we hit up the Brisket wagon, which is a truck that houses proper southern style smokers, for some low and slow fall-apart meat on top of cheese-fries. Heaven.

Suitably satiated we take to the main stage for Kristian Bush (yes, of Sugarland fame), who is bringing some melodic country rock and his dry humour to the proceedings, alongside his brother Brandon on keys.“You tighten one butt-cheek at a time, this is for all you men out there going “oh I have to dance?” that’s how you do” giggles Bush, as they drop into hit ‘Trailer Hitch’ – which I absolutely love for it’s lyrics.

© A. Hyams for SFG

In another smooth move, Kristian talks about loving the UK show Taskmaster, and how he’s watched all of the seasons (huge cheers from the crowd) before telling us that he should get paid more for bringing the sunshine here today and yelling “…this is for all you people who still believe in summertime!”.

“I’ve won loads of country music awards and never wrote a song about drinking. I apologise. Have you ever been at the bar and suddenly you can’t walk? It just happens…” is his leading line into ‘Flip Flops’, a song that will resonate well with anyone who has ever been on a bender… which let’s face it, is the entire UK population.

Kyle Daniel is up next, shouting “Let’s boogie” and launching into some classic country rock with ‘God Bless America (Damn Rock n’ Roll)’ which is, as you can imagine; very singable. A huge crowd has come out to see him today, probably in large part thanks to the exceptional performance he gave here a couple of years ago, albeit with a different backing band. We also get a taste of his epic collaboration with The Cadillac Three – ‘Summer Down South’, which comes with the comedic timing of a side of rain.

© A. Hyams for SFG

We take off after that to check out the Fort Worth x Weber grills area, new to the arena this year. To the side there’s a tiny bar where they’re mixing up cocktails and giving out bandanas and tiny hip flasks as freebies, as well as providing a hot-branding station for leather boots. On the other side under cover, Weber are doing the most mouth-watering cooking demos you can imagine, but there are A LOT of people waiting for taste today so we shuffle off to grab our own food elsewhere. Jonah Kagen is giving the Interstate a good giggle, saying that his British Airways pilot on the way here, sounded like David Attenborough.

© A. Hyams for SFG

The Yeti custom shop has brought back it’s very successful laser-cutter custom shop again, and a double size space to house all the amazing goodies on offer. I don’t know in what world I will ever need a travel cafetière that makes 10 cups of coffee, but I sure do want one now.

Oklahoma kid Wyatt Flores is giving a fantastically energetic performance over on the Rhinestone, but unfortunately the rain is moving in fast and heavy. We run for cover under the Visit Austin barn, and manage to snag ourselves some more freebies in the form of bandanas and tote bags – which have armadillos on them. Cute. There’s even a photobooth in there, nice swag Austin, nice.

After the downpour abates, we hop over to The Showground to watch the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest. Last year was beset by calamity in the form of Brioche buns – and the winning contestant only managed a measly three dogs. No such silliness this year, as the very standard buns are brought over in giant catering trays, to the gingham-clothed table.

Drawn from a hat, the contestants fill the tables and are told that they have 7 minutes in which to chomp as many hot dogs as they can, that there’s a sick bucket behind them, and that the ambulance service people off to the side are trained in the Heimlich maneuver. A girl named Jordan (who didn’t even enter) is filling in for her absent boyfriend, and is expertly dunking her bready buns into water cups to consume faster, Aussie Harry seems entirely unbothered and looks like he’s just there for lunch, but the winner is Miles with 8 hot diggity dawgs. Congratulations man! Although I must point out, that champion scoffer Joey Chestnut has just recently downed 83 dogs in 10 minutes at his most recent match. So, there’s that.

Brittney Spencer is our next pick, she’s rocking an incredible laced-flared 70’s floral two-piece and has the most phenomenal voice, one of my favourite performers of the weekend by far. It might be overcast and cold today, but there’s no standing still when she shouts “Get your drinks up, put your tequila whisky or water up!” for ‘I Got Time’, so we are all dancing along with her.

Following Brittney is ethereal moonchild Paula Cole, who is giving ‘next-door neighbour who is actually a witch and will help you hex your ex’. “This song is about my mother” she says about ‘Follow The Moon’ a beautiful melancholy ballad. If you like Tori Amos, Sinead O’Connor or Kate Bush – this is your jam at TLR. ‘Where Did All The Cowboys Go’ and Dawson’s Creek tv show theme tune ‘I Don’t Want To Wait’ close up the show with a big old dose of the 90’s, and it’s really interesting to hear her speak on her most well-known hit; “I wrote this for my grandfather. He came back from Okinawa with more than just physical scars. It affected my whole family.”

Afterwards we take a chance to re-fuel with some delicious chicken and gravy sandwiches from the Roaming Rotisserie, and catch Brittany Spencer taking on (extremely unsuccessfully) the buckin’ bull rodeo game – kudos for trying though, that thing looks difficult.

The ‘American Troubador’ Don McLean is tonight’s Rhinestone headliner, heading to the stage with a big ensemble and not much other fanfare, smiling in his shirt and jeans. Touring through the back catalogue ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Winterwood’ come interspersed with tales of his musical career, “…don’t know how I found myself in Nashville, but I went and I stayed there, and I have been treated so well by the country music community. I’m sort of a misfit… I have songs from here there and everywhere because I’m interested in everything”.

© A. Hyams for SFG

A cover of Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’ is lovely, but it’s clear that Don’s voice is waning as he cracks through a couple of notes. My Mum used to sing ‘Vincent’ to my sister when she was little, so we all croon along to that, but it honestly takes until the obvious choice ‘American Pie’ to get the whole arena joining in. With red white and blue strobing stage lights, Don takes the crowd’s enthusiasm for a ride – doing an extra chorus and verse to finish up. All in, I’m glad I saw him live, but I wouldn’t say it was a spectacular set otherwise.

© A. Hyams for SFG

SUNDAY

Kaitlin Butts is giving us gorgeous sunshine vocals on The Interstate as we head over to Lil’ Possum County kids area to play some cornhole and skittles, before hitting up the Weber area for a Chilli tutorial (culminating in tasters of the delicious Elk chilli, made Texas-true – no beans!).

Vincent Neil Emerson is giving a soulful banjo-picking performance in Buddy’s through the woodland walk, and we take the opportunity for a beverage and a sit down. It’s a shame the low tent stage facilitates so few people here, this is one that I wish would grow a bit for next year.

Brooke Eden is stunning in an all-white fringed outfit on the main stage, she’s enigmatic and funny, bringing her loud and proud pop-spiked brand of country to our little corner of the world.

“Have you ever fallen In love with your best friend… I did and she was a girl” she says, to cheers. “I moved to Nashville from Florida… Florida’s beautiful but you know craaazy” she laughs, before telling us “I’ve performed with my Dad’s band in country bars since I was 6yrs old… and you know I thought I’d meet a country guy there, and get married… but I met my wife.”

“They told me if I wanted to keep my career in country music I had to stay silent. Did that for 5 years and… don’t do that. I don’t recommend it. I came out 3 years ago with a music video with my wife in. I just had to scream it from the rooftops.” She says, as she leans into her Trisha Yearwood cover ‘She’s In Love With The Boy’ with altered lyrics to ‘Girl’. Her own single ‘Outlaw Love’ for “…anyone who has had to fight for their love” is the true star of the show though, it’s a cracking set. I will also celebrate anyone who has the courage to be vocal about diversity in a traditionally conservative genre.

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors sing about family and home in Tennessee, and chats to the crowd like an old friend. Some helpful fan decides to help Drew with the pronunciation  of our location and yells “It’s LESS-TAH”, to which he chuckles and says “Thank you for that, a couple of weeks ago we were in Sweden and I got their town really wrong, felt like an idiot”.

© A. Hyams for SFG


Drew also tells a story about his Grandad, who was a ‘big fish’ telling tall tales. Apparently he once told a story about being invited to a dog show at Sandringham, and accidentally getting in a car with The Queen. Years later, when his Grandfather died – they got a letter of condolences from The Queen’s office. The song ‘Dragons’ is a gorgeous tribute to him. Drew also plays the harmonica, signs the jackets of fans, and is just all-round nice. ‘Find Your People’ is maybe my favourite add-to-playlist song of the weekend, and had the whole crowd dancing along.

Bringing earlier Interstate performers The National Parks on stage for a boogie during their collab ‘Dance With Everybody’, it’s a great ending to a wonderful set. Call me a new fan.

Randall King, self-proclaimed purveyor of honky-tonk and some classic rock n’roll, is bringing deep south to the rain-spattered main stage; “Do you know what time it is? It ain’t time to go home y’all… it’s tonk time!”. ‘You In A Honky Tonk’ conjures the image of The Blues Brothers having bottles thrown at them unless they play Rawhide on repeat. Randall might be trying to re-write the honky-tonk lore, but if you’re from the UK – you were brought up on cowboy depictions from the movies. “You stood out in the wind the rain, all to listen to some of our songs… I really do appreciate it so much. I get to live the dream on this stage” he says. You can’t go far wrong if you’re nice, nice to look at, and have a great voice. Randall gets my vote.

Russell Dickerson closes out TLR’s main stage offerings with a party atmosphere, gyrating his way across the stage and dancing with his guitarists.

Referencing our bank holiday Monday; “I heard you guys have a holiday tomorrow? So we’re gonna go big tonight right?” is slightly overshadowed by the immediate and hefty downpour – which he is nicely shielded from under the capped stage. ‘Love You Like I Used To’ has everyone up and dancing along despite the soggy conditions, and new song ‘Bones’ garners a roar of approval from the arena.

© A. Hyams for SFG

Russell is a fantastic performer, it’s such a shame that the heavens have opened though, as many people are packing up and defecting to other stages or even home to campervans. There’s plenty to keep everyone occupied around the arena still, with bands continuing on other stages and entertainments all over. Despite the rain, the beautiful soft festoon lights and the roaring fires are highlighting golden joyful faces, a sign of a festival well-done. There’s no other way to describe this festival than overwhelmingly friendly and consciously chilled out.

The tagline for The Long Road is ‘Welcome Home Old Friend’ and after a few years of attending this truly amazing little festival, I fully feel in the fold. Let’s hope for sunnier climes in 2025. See you next year, old friend.