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!

SlamDunk Festival Third Wave Of Bands

by

Joining headliners Panic! At The Disco, along with the likes of Of Mice & Men, Four Year Strong and New Found Glory is yet another amazing annoucement from SlamDunk, added to the bill is…


Mayday Parade

Cancer Bats

Northlane

Hit The Lights

ROAM

Norma Jean

Hacktivist

And if that's not enough for you Yellowcard are going to be playing a SlamDunk exclusive, their album Ocean Avenue in full!

Watch this space for the fourth and final annoucement as well as stage splits and times, coming your way very soon.

 

The dates and venues for SlamDunk 2016 are as follow:

May

28 Leeds City Centre

29 Birmingham the NEC

30 Hertfordshire Hatfield Forum

For tickets and more info go to www.slamdunkmusic.com 

 

Primal Scream & Belle & Sebastian to headline OnBlackheath 2016

by

OnBlackheath Festival in partnership with John Lewis, London’s most anticipated music, food and family festival returns this year on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September. OnBlackheath is the ultimate weekend for standout live music with mouth-watering food and drink experiences along with a fun-filled program of entertainment for all ages. Tickets are on sale Friday 12 February and available via www.OnBlackheath.com 

Confirmed to headline the Main Stage on Saturday are Scottish rock legends Primal Scream who are on the cusp of releasing their latest studio album ‘Chaosmosis’ alongside Grammy Award winning electronic music maestros Hot Chip. Indie pop icons Belle & Sebastian to close the Festival on Sunday along with multiplatinum-selling James who are set to release their new album ‘Girl at the End of the World’.

Saturday’s line-up alongside Primal Scream and Hot Chip will be, Mercury Music Prize nominee Roisin Murphy and cool catLoneLady. Sunday sees Belle & Sebastian, and James on the main stage, along with local heroes Squeeze, and Mercury nominated singer songwriter SOAK. 

This year’s Second Stage will see the return of Heavenly Records with a promised killer line up, and new kids on the blockNTS Radio, who have been making big waves since they began broadcasting in 2011.

OnBlackheath, celebrating their third year, unveiled their 2016 line-up at an exclusive launch party DJ’d by Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook at the Hare & Billet pub, a stone’s throw from the festival site.

Harvey Goldsmith CBE added, “I am incredibly proud that OnBlackheath festival has reached its 3rd year returning on 10th & 11th September 2016. We’ve established ourselves as one of London’s most looked-forward to events. We pride ourselves on good music, bespoke immersive food experiences and a special day out for all the family. I am thrilled this year to introduce for the first time, the ‘Puffin World of Stories’ to the Under 12’s area, bringing to life the great Puffin authors.”

With the hottest in music and very best culinary delights, OnBlackheath offers festivalgoers a memorable experience on the historic green space of London’s Blackheath Common SE3. OnBlackheath will also feature an array of exciting attractions including the John Lewis Food Village with a  food demonstration stage coupled with celebrity chefs and an immersive dining experience. For the first time Puffin Books will be bringing to life the kid’s experience with their World of Stories across the festival. OnBlackheath embraces families as under 12s go free!

Rachel Swift, Head of Brand Marketing for John Lewis said, “For the third year running we are delighted to be supporting OnBlackheath.  It's our celebration of music, family fun and food with the John Lewis Food Village at the heart of the festival.  And if you're a my John Lewis member there's exclusive access to an array of extra treats.”

OnBlackheath has established itself as a landmark event in the London calendar and has previously presented the likes of Massive Attack, Grace Jones, Elbow, Madness, Manic Street Preachers and Kelis. Last year over 30,000 music and food lovers gathered to enjoy OnBlackheath, across the two days.

The Cribs, The Kills and more added to Isle of Wight Festival 2016 lineup

by

The Isle of Wight Festival today announces five acts for the 2016 festival, taking place 9-12th June at Seaclose Park. Joining the line up are returning indie brothers The Cribs, rock’n’roll duo The Kills, Britpop alumni Ocean Colour Scene, legendary rockers Status Quo and festival favourites Mike + The Mechanics.

Queen + Adam Lambert, Stereophonics and Faithless will all perform across the weekend along with Iggy Pop, Twin Atlantic, Busted, Jess Glynne, Sigma and The Corrs at what is the first festival of the Summer – weekend tickets are available now fromwww.isleofwightfestival.com.

Renowned for their energetic brand of indie-rock, The Cribs released their sixth album ‘For All My Sisters’ last March which peaked at Number Nine in the UK Charts. In the year of their 10th anniversary the band were honoured with the ‘Spirit of Independence’ award at the Q Awards and ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ at the annual NME Awards.

Comprised of Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince, The Kills have been described as rock ’n ’roll’s best-kept secret. Together the duo have released four critically acclaimed albums, including the 2011 release  'Blood Pressures’ which reached the Top 40 in both the US and UK. The band will be playing US shows including Coachella Festival in April.

Ocean Colour Scene will be returning to the festival for the first time since they wowed crowds in 2010. Following a sold out tour in January to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their ‘Moseley Shoals’ album, the band will be performing this classic release at The Isle of Wight Festival in its entirety. ‘Moseley Shoals’ is just one of three of the band’s albums which reached the Top Five in the Official Charts and contributed to their nine successive Top 20 hit singles.

One of Britain’s best loved rock bands Status Quo will be performing classic hits such as ‘Whatever You Want’ and ‘Down Down’ in a special performance which will be one of the last opportunities to see the band in their full set up following a recent announcement that after 2016 they will be hanging up their electric guitars for good.

Isle of Wight Festival veterans Mike + The Mechanics will once again be delighting crowds with hits such as ‘Over My Shoulder’ and ‘All I Need Is a Miracle’. Genesis founding member Mike Rutherford will be joined by one of the UK’s most prolific R&B singers Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar, who has previously toured with the likes of Rod Stewart and Paulo Nutini. 

Boomtown Fair announce the Old District lineup for 2016

by

Following BoomTown’s massive first major line-up release, the festival kicks off five weeks of artist announcements for the nine districts that make up the weird, wild and wonderful fabric of the city. First up it’s the ancient pirate port of OldTown, the festival’s longest standing district that plays host to The Jolly Dodger, a 90-ft pirate ship and the OldTown main stage.

Shivering the timbers of The Jolly Dodger is a collection of some of the world’s finest exponents of gypsy, Balkan beats, Klezmer and pirate music. In addition to the already announced Babylon Circus and Los de Abajo, prepare for the Hungarian ‘speed folk freak punk’ of Bohemian Betyars, the turbo-charged Czech-American world-fusion of N.O.H.A and arriving from France, jazz-metal trio Les Yeux d'la Tête and Balkan electro-punk pioneers Fat Bastard Gang Bastard Gang Band, plus many more…

Full OldTown Line-up

Babylon Circus / Los de Abajo /Bohemian Betyars / Les Yeux d'la Tête /Fat Bastard Gang Band / N.O.H.A. / Projekt Rakija / The Destroyers / Days N Daze / Mischief Brew / The Turbans / The Baghdaddies / Veeblefetzer / Balkan Hotsteppers / Mondo Cane / The Zen Hussies / Zorita  / Transylvania / Gypsy Unit / Ushti Baba / Tantz / The Great Malarkey / Wombo Orchestra / Gypsies Of Bohemia / Hallouminati / Barbarella's Bang Bang / Poor Old Dogs / Mr Tea & The Minions / Gadje Scum / Manushka / Biere de Luxe / Klonk

Away from the many artists gracing the OldTown main stage, the district comes alive in its magical, meandering back streets and rum-soaked taverns, where salty sea dogs and land lubbers alike revel to a soundtrack of sea shanties and pirate folktales. An unmissable theatrical spectacle comes courtesy of The Invisible Circus in their Battle for BoomTown show.

Join the OldTown online community here and keep up-to-date with all BoomTown news via Facebook and Twitter, or sign up to the BoomTown Chronicles via the website. 

LINE UP SO FAR:

Town Centre

Asian Dub Foundation, Babylon Circus, Bad Manners, Beardyman, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Leftfield, Levellers, Mad Caddies, Madness, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Molotov Jukebox, Parov Stelar, The Correspondents (Live Band), The Selecter, The Slackers

Lion’s Den

Benny Page vs Ed Solo feat. Darrison, Channel One meets Mad Professor, Congo Natty feat. Congo Dubz, Tenor Fly and Iron Dread, Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley, Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Heatwave presents Showtime, Inner Circle, Junior Kelly, Kabaka Pyramid & The Bebble Rockers, Little Roy, Morgan Heritage, Mungo’s Hi-Fi (Live), Solo Banton, Soom T, Tanya Stephens, Tarrus Riley, The Skints, Zion Train

Old Mines

Beans On Toast, Dhol Foundation, Imelda May, Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate, Lau, Los De Abajo, Mokoomba, Nahko & Medicine For The People, Ojos De Brujo, Seth Lakeman, Shooglenifty, Skinny Lister, Steve ‘N’ Seagulls

The Jolly Dodger

Babylon Circus / Los de Abajo /Bohemian Betyars / Les Yeux d'la Tête /Fat Bastard Gang Band / N.O.H.A. / Projekt Rakija / The Destroyers / Days N Daze / Mischief Brew / The Turbans / The Baghdaddies / Veeblefetzer / Balkan Hotsteppers / Mondo Cane / The Zen Hussies / Zorita  / Transylvania / Gypsy Unit / Ushti Baba / Tantz / The Great Malarkey / Wombo Orchestra / Gypsies Of Bohemia / Hallouminati / Barbarella's Bang Bang / Poor Old Dogs / Mr Tea & The Minions / Gadje Scum / Manushka / Biere de Luxe / Klonk

The Windmill

Craig Charles, Prince Fatty feat. Horseman

Psychedelic Forest

Gaudi, GMS, Hallucinogen, Highlight Tribe, Neelix, Ozric Tentacles, Shpongle, Skazi

Hidden Woods

Manudigital

Devil Kicks Dancehall

Big D & The Kids Table, Leftover Crack, Sonic Boom 6, Talco, The Dickies

Poco Loco

Foreign Beggars, Pharaoh Monche, Submotion Orchestra, Swindle Live

Mi Casa

B Traits, Derrick May, Friend Within, Jackmaster, Octave One (Live), Shadow Child, Skream

DSTRKT 5:

Bang Hai Palace

Audio, Calibre, Calyx & Teebee, Dub Phizix & Strategy, Dynamite MC, Hype b2b Hazard, Krust, Mefjus b2b Emperor, My Nu Leng & Dread MC, Roni Size, Teddy Killaz, TQD (Royal T, DJ Q, Flava D)

Sector 6

DJ Craze, Deep Medi Takeover, Derrick Carter, Diemantle, DJ Zinc, Melé, MJ Cole, So Solid Crew, Zed Bias Soundsystem and MC Trigga, Om Unit

Robotica

Koan Sound, Shades of Rhythm, The Upbeats

Muuti’s Scrapyard

Angerfist, Cause4Concern, Chris Liberator b2b D.A.V.E The Drummer, Dr. Peacock, Guigoo, The Outside Agency, Radium, The Speed freak

Jungle Syndicate

Bong-Ra, IGORRR

The first Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender line-up announced

by

Soundcrash presents… The Funk & Soul Weekender Camber Sands Holiday Camp – East Sussex, England 13-15 MAY 2016

FULL LINE UP ANNOUNCED: QUANTIC (LIVE), AFRIKA BAMBAATAA, CRAIG CHARLES, GENTLEMAN'S DUB CLUB, ROY AYERS, TONY ALLEN, MR SCRUFF, NORMAN JAY, FATIMA & THE EGLO BAND, THE MOUSE OUTFIT, RENEGADE BRASS BAND, DJ YODARUSS RYAN + MANY MORE, 30 bands and 40 + DJ's

Respected London event promoters Soundcrash are proud to announce the full line up for their very first UK festival The Funk & Soul Weekender, to take place at Camber Sands Holiday Camp Legendary funk, soul and jazz composer Roy Ayers headlines, joining 9-piece dub band Gentleman's Dub Club, American genre-defying electro DJ Afrika Bambaataa, Eglo Records' Fatima (plus Eglo Band),Tru Thoughts' Quantic, and carnival legend Norman Jay. Completing the line up, names added today include: the 23-year-old musician, DJ and record producer Catching Flies, hip-hop live band The Mouse Outfit, and the beats, rhymes and brass

From Funk to Soul, to Latin and Afrobeat to Northern Soul, Ska and Swing a touch of the right Hip Hop & House and everything in between, this new event on the festival calendar is an intimate affair, with a capacity of 3000, created for an audience that truly loves its music. Soundcrash programmer and founding director Rob Waller explains the event is in response to a renewed public interest in the funk and soul genres, with record numbers of fans attending shows for established legends such as George Clinton, Quantic, Tony Allen and Tinariwen. There's also strong and growing interest in a very vibrant new soul scene with artists such as Taylor McFerrin, Andrew Ashong, Haitus Kaiyote and Andreya Triana at the helm.

"Soul, funk, jazz, afrobeat and latin has all been at the heart of my booking for almost 2 decades; and although Soundcrash Productions – itself in its 10th year, is equally well known for itinnovative electronic, bass music and hip hop output (which crosses very well into these genres), I thought is was time to make a special event specifically within the world of funk and soul for 2016.”

Soundcrash has also announced some fun and unique experiences as part of the event, including Live Band Karaoke, DJs, Brass Bands, Music Quizzes, Northern Soul Dance Classes, South London Soul Train Stage, and Live Brass Band Soundtracked Crazy Golf Tournaments. Warming up for the festival, associated club nights and DJ’s from the country's finest Soul nights, including Move On Up and Soul 45, will be promoting parties in the lead up to the big event. This is set in the picturesque Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex, a mere hour's train journey from London. Chalet accommodation (catering for 4-6 people) is included in the price of Get your dancing shoes packed and we hope to see you in Camber!

Tickets available now: http://www.funkandsoulweekender.com

 

Soundwave Croatia – First wave line up announced

by

Sound-tracked 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, the festival is a harmonious and beatific odyssey which seamlessly merges a sublime holiday and musical escape like no other. Soundwave is revered for its eclectic range of bookings and its laid back attitude, which come together in an enchanting adventure by the sea, exploring a range of music seldom heard in the Adriatic region. It’s a journey which explores a different path to many of the region’s other festivals, a little more edifying and spiritually enriching, set under the sizzling Croatian sun and star-lit skies.

The headliners for Soundwave have now been revealed. While a member of the New York City duo Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe Monch developed a reputation as one of underground hip-hop's preeminent lyricists, crafting intricate and intelligent raps with partner Prince Poetry. He is also an incisive political and social commentator, using hip-hop as a platform for political engagement. Calibre is responsible for some of the most beautiful and sublime tracks in drum and bass. Releasing on only the most distinguished labels, including his own Signature Recordings, Calibre’s distinctive sound has progressed taking on elements of jazz, funk, dub and techno whilst losing none of its esteemed soul.

 

Many more great artists join the festival. Digital Mystikz’s Mala returns with a heavy dose of bass-shaking dubstep, whilst one of 6 Music’s lead presenters Craig Charles, a funk and soul DJ and prime instigator of good times, makes a very welcome return. Fatima & The Eglo Band perform live; soul star Fatima has worked with everyone from Floatings Points, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra) and Dam Funk, and the band are drawn from performers from the famed Eglo label. Still on the live side, Gentleman’s Dub Club will deliver their energetic and exhilarating live show, emerging from the UK reggae and bass music scene as its prime exponents. Channel One Sound System have been at the Notting Hill Carnival for over 30 years and are the UK’s most prominent and respected reggae crew; the Red Bull Culture Clash winners are set to bring ground-shaking bass to Tisno.

Back to genre-skipping delights, the Riot Jazz Brass Band bring peace-lovin’ aggro jazz, hip-hop samples, funked-up favourites and re-interpreted dubstep too, dropping drum and bass and dancefloor bangers that always have everyone dancing. Romare sublime cut ’n’ paste style blends Afrocentric beats and global inspirations, encapsulated in his brilliant Projections album; this also translates into bouncing party sets of the highest order. And the incredible voice of Harleighblu is set to enchant, the young singer and songwriter one of the UK’s brightest new names. Clap! Clap! is the project by the Italian producer C. Crisci. His focus is around sampling African tribes, bands and singers, creating tribal rhythms through drum machines and synths. And BAFTA and MOBO award winning artist Akala is a rapper with heart, soul and steel, a historian who brings a touch of lyrical grace and edge to Soundwave.

Rinse FM presenter and DJ Josey Rebelle’s house and techno spans across time and space, venturing into rare groove, soul and garage, and Eglo Record’s boss Alexander Nut brings his richly varied sounds to the festival. Henry Wu hails from 22a Records, a young label which has been causing a real stir. Their beautiful tracks are inspired by luminaries including Roy Ayers and John Coltrane to form jazzy, dubby soulful beats. Further names announced for Soundwave include Dan Shake, Jordan Rakei, Harvey Sutherland, Flo Real (Mahogani Music), Chunky, Werkha, Eva Lazarus, Bambooman, Sarah Williams White, Bobbafat, Gilla, DJ Mylz, Tehbis, Normanton Street, Chiminyo, CC Disco, Taste The Difference, So Fresh So Clean, Plates and Tuckshop.

The Garden Resort is 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, redolent of Ibiza’s formative early days. As dawn breaks and the sun slowly comes up, there is no place else like it. 

Fatima

Pharoahe Monch, Calibre, Mala, Craig Charles, Fatima & The Eglo Band live, 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, Flo Real 

(Mahogani Music), Chunky, Werkha, Eva Lazarus, Bambooman, Sarah Williams White,

Bobbafat, Gilla, DJ Mylz, Tehbis, Normanton Street, Chiminyo, CC Disco, Taste The 

Difference, So Fresh So Clean, Plates and Tuckshop

Soundwave
Thursday 4th – Monday 8th August 2016
@ The Garden Resort, Petrica Glava 34, 22240, Tisno, Croatia
£125 for 5 days (club and boat parties extra)
www.soundwavecroatia.com / @soundwavecro

Headliners announced for Kendal Calling 2016

by

Having sold out their 10th birthday edition a whopping 19 weeks in advance last year, Kendal Calling returns to the beautiful Lake District in 2016 with huge headliners Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Rudimental, Madness and The Charlatans.           

One of Manchester’s finest musical sons Noel Gallagher will be bringing a catalogue of festival-ready anthems to the fields with his High Flying Birds. Exactly 20 years to the week since Oasis’s seminal Knebworth and Loch Lomand shows, Noel will take to the stage at Kendal Calling for what is sure to be one of the festivals defining moments. Expect cuts from his two hugely acclaimed solo records plus some old favourites as a genuine musical icon graces the Lake District with his mighty anthems.

Chart-topping drum and bass crossover kings Rudimental’s high octane, party sets have cemented their reputation as one of the best live acts around.  Last year’s sophomore album ‘We The Generation’ featuring huge collaborations with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Dizzee Rascal whilst debut album ‘Home’ catapulted the band into the mainstream and captured the hearts of the nation’s youth.

Celebrating 40 years since their formation, London legends Madness are the ultimate sing along band and their hit laden set is sure to include the likes of ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘One Step Beyond’ and ‘Our House’.  Suggs, Carl and the Madness boys know how to work the crowd and these consummate showmen’s career spanning set will be a summer festival highlight.

A year on from their triumphant return with landmark album ‘Modern Nature’ and five years on from the founding of singer Tim Burgess’ festival favourite Tim Peaks Diner, The Charlatans return to Kendal Calling as special guest Thursday headliners. Expect hits galore as these North West heroes grace the stage and Tim pops up over the weekend to deliver dj sets and the finest cherry pie and coffee at Tim Peaks Diner.

Tim Burgess, Charlatans singer and founder of Tim Peaks Diner comments:

"As ever, I'm really looking forward to Kendal Calling. The sixth year in a row for me, the second time The Charlatans will have headlined and this year is the fifth year for Tim Peaks. It's going to be an extra special four days. See you there!"

Joining the headliners are indie rock sensation Catfish and the Bottlemen, quirky indie quartet Everything Everything, gritty three piece Band Of Skulls, power pop iconsAsh, incendiary Swedish rock and rollers The Hives, bombastic classic rockers The Darkness, enduring New Yorkers We Are Scientists, BBC Sound Of stars Blossoms, riotous punk upstart Ratboy, Merseyside slacker champs Hooton Tennis Club, the smoky blues of Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, fresh faced garage punkers Pretty Vicious and filling the now customary hip hop legends slot the mighty Sugarhill Gang and many more. 

Over on the dance stage will be none other than returning man of the moment Craig David’s TS5, living legend David Rodigan MBE and Radio 1 and XOYO resident Toddla T.

Full Lineup To Date:

Noel Gallagher / Rudimental / Madness / The Charlatans

Catfish & Bottlemen / Ash / Everything Everything / Band of Skulls / The Hives / We are Scientists / The Darkness / Blossoms / Ratboy / Craig David’s TS5 / Sugarhill Gang / Toddla T / David Rodigan MBE / Pretty Vicious / Hooton Tennis Club / Sundara Karma / Rag 'n' Bone / Lightning Seeds / Age of Glass / Alice Gasson / Auction For The Promise Club / Beds in Parks / Blueprint Blue / BMX Bandits / Bridges / Britpoporama Indie Disco / Buffalo Brothers / Camp Stag / Colour / Dave Rybka / Ded Rabbit / Documenta / Dorey The Wise / Dust Junkys / Fours / Gideon Conn / Grumbling Fur / Hatcham Social / Haus / Henge / Horsebeach / IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE / Kelvin / Kid Kapichi / Kismet Ryding / Liberty Ship / Marsicans / Modern Minds / Molotov Jukebox / New York Tourists / Omit Sleep / Plastic Mermaids / Publik Sektor / Puppet Rebellion / Riot Jazz Brass Band / Rosie Lowe / Shunya / Signals / Stay Beautiful Bowie Disco / Teen Canteen / The Bear Around Your Neck / The Big Moon / The Crookes / The Floodgates / The Galivantes / The Hidden Revolution / The Lottery Winners / The Mexanines / The Soul Rays / The Templebys / Thingumabob & The Thingumajigs / Thomas Turgoose (DJ set) / Tim Book Two with Tim Burgess / Too Many T’s / Too Much Love / Turrentine Jones / Viola Beach / Where Fires Are

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Madness to headline Y Not 2016

by

Winner of ‘Best Medium Festival’ at the recent Festival Awards, Y Not today reveals the legendary Noel Gallagher appearing, as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, as the first headliner for 2016’s event taking place 29th – 31st July in Derbyshire. Also topping the bill are 2 Tone heroes Madness whilst elsewhere on the line-up indie favourites Catfish And The Bottlemen, The Hives, The Cribs and many more will be taking to the stage.
 
After its 10th anniversary, sell out success and bagging ‘Best Medium Festival’ at the Festival Awards in 2015, Y Not had a tough act to follow. However, pulling out all the stops Y Not shows its worth once again with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds as grand headliners of the 2016 festival.  Gallagher is very rightly held in high regard as one of the greats of British performing and songwriting. In more recent years as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, the band have scored two number one albums, the later ‘Chasing Yesterday’ crowned as ‘Best Album’ by the 2015 Q Awards, whilst also bagging nominations for NME and BRIT Awards. This set will without doubt be a highlight of Y Not 2016.

Also topping the bill this summer will be great British pop band Madness. Camden Town’s finest head to the Peak District armed with 2 Tone guitars, keys, brass and sax sure to have festival-goers up on their feet and dancing. With 11 studio albums under their belts it’s hard to predict what may feature in a set list but it’d be a safe bet that hits such as ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘Our House’ and ‘It Must Me Love’ may very well feature.
 
Elsewhere on the line up are Catfish And The Bottlemen, the four piece have shot to success since their 2014 debut album ‘The Balcony’, the same year in which they scooped the BBC Introducing Award at the first BBC Music Awards. Next to step up to the mic will be garage rock Swedes The Hives, best known for their suave dress sense and the punk howls of hit record ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’. The Cribs, once dubbed ‘the biggest cult band in the UK’ by Q Magazine, make a welcome return to Y Not following an appearing at 2013’s festival. Further additions come in the form of Mercury Prize nominees Everything Everything and Liverpool’s indie rock outfit Circa Waves.
 
Taste maker’s favourite Rat Boy, teen punks Pretty Vicious, folk band Ferocious Dog and emo upstarts Moose Blood add further weight to Y Not’s first announcement.
 
Last but by no means least Y Not welcomes hardcore trio Gnarwolves, Sheffield’s The Sherlocks, the anthemic Sundara Karma plus The Magic Gang, Louis Berry, Cassels, New Desert Blues, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys and The Decoy.

DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 36 MORE BANDS

by

JANE’S ADDICTION, NOFX, SIXX:A.M., BURY TOMORROW,

PERIPHERY, ALIEN ANT FARM, AMON AMARTH AND MORE

 

MAIN STAGE NAMED ‘THE LEMMY STAGE’ IN HONOUR OF

LEMMY KILMISTER

 

Download Festival, the world’s premier rock and metal event, adds 36 new acts to an already meaty bill, including Jane’s Addiction, NOFX, Sixx:A.M., Alien Ant Farm and Amon Amarth. Download Festival takes place on 10-12 June 2016 in Donington Park. Tickets are on sale now; a special early bird ticket rate is available until 12 February.

Joining headliners Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden for three days of unmissable rock are the mighty Jane’s Addiction – Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney – ready to bring their dizzying blend of funk-infused rock to Donington. The band are one of the most exciting and frenetic live acts in the game, fronted by the legendary Farrell whose spellbinding power onstage is sure to transfix the masses this summer.

Whilst we’re saddened to say Motörhead will no longer be performing at this year’s Download Festival, we will honour a true rock ‘n’ roll icon who inspired so many others on the bill, Lemmy Kilmister. This year, Download Festival’s Main Stage will be named ‘The Lemmy Stage’ in tribute to a much loved and missed legend. We are working with Motörhead’s management on a tribute to the great man during the slot he would have performed on, more information to follow.

SoCal pioneers NOFX are coming to stir a hurricane-like frenzy with their politically charged punk with its tongue firmly in its cheek. Sixx:A.M., featuring former Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, will inject their brand of old school-style, high-octane rock into the hallowed grounds of Donington.  Anti-Flag will bring a blast of white hot three-chord punk this summer. The band are about to tour the US with their new album, American Spring, and Download is currently their only UK show.

South coast metalcore mob Bury Tomorrow have been busy packing out increasingly large venues across the country over the past few years, installing themselves as one of the most exciting homegrown acts to emerge in the genre. Swaggering US rock gang Escape The Fate will come to rage with their energetic, visceral live shows that are the stuff of legend. Prepare for some nu mental antics when Cally foursome Alien Ant Farm takes to the stage at Donington. Their album ANThology featuring singles ‘Movies’ and their cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ turns 15 this year.

Next up, Amon Amarth; get ready to be at the mercy of these monolithic Swedish warriors whose fist-pounding take on Viking metal is not to be missed. Periphery are also confirmed and are one of the most revered acts in the progressive metal scene. Electric Wizard, the reigning kings of doom, return with their relentless, ritualistic blackness. Rightfully regarded as one of the heaviest bands in the world, expect some hefty, deep and crushing riffs that build, consume and destroy.

Monster Truck will provide an amped-up, modern take on good old fashioned bluesy rock. The Canadian rockers pack searing guitar riffs, intense vocals and just the right amount of vintage appeal. Graveyard have been capturing the hearts and minds of the rock world over the last few years, establishing themselves as one of the best live acts on the scene. The Swedish three-piece will also bring a blast of retro-cool to Donington.

Municipal Waste will lead the thrash metal party charge. The band plays with expert precision and intensity, embracing and feeding off the crowds’ constant chaos. Japanese phenomenon, One OK Rock have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. The enigmatic four-piece have been on tour with All Time Low and have just been announced to support Issues later this year. Nottingham’s Heck, formerly Baby Godzilla, will also bring the carnage to Donington.

Pop-punk upstarts Hill Valley High are ready to rock with their energetic and infectious party vibes; Turbowolf, renowned for their debaucherous live shows, will bring some of the chaos to Donington; Grand Magus are set for one hell of an exciting live show with bulldozer riffs and powerful vocals courtesy of frontman JB Christoffersson. Southern rockers Whiskey Myers provide some straight up, booze swilling, highway-driving, great country music.

Cane Hill have been pounding the pavements since their inception a few years ago and will bring their fresh interpretation on nu metal. With a set list guaranteed to be full of huge moments, London rockers Zoax are also confirmed. Canadian three-piece Danko Jones will have crowds in the palm of their hands with a smart mix of hits, fan favourites and cuts from their latest album, Fire Music; and Shvpes, formerly Cytota, are ready for a lethal concoction of aggressive hardcore and hard-edged metal.

With a raucous mix of death and doom backed with atmospheric black metal, The King Is Blind will blow the lid off Download Festival. Buckle in for one full on live set of head bangers from these metal behemoths. Berlin trio Kadavar have quickly become one of the most prominent acts in the European heavy underground, bringing retro, blues-fuelled psychedelic grooves to the masses at this year’s festival. As Lions, the new band from former Rise To Remain members Austin Dickinson, Will Homer and Conor O’Keefe, also join the bill.

Slaves (US), featuring the show-stopping vocals of Jonny Craig, will add drama and rock dynamism to the bill. Wage War will bring their heavy hitting sound, ready for an all-out energetic, circle pit inducing set, while Palisades provide their swirling concoction of hook-laden metal for the dance club masses.

Bristol crew Ashestoangels will add to their growing legions of fans with a hearty, gothic rock-tinged masterclass; London up and comers The Kenneths will perform some unapologetic, brash and bouncy punk, and indie-rockers Muncie Girls will make a splash with their unique injection of book-smart lyrics and streetwise musical sass.

Last but by no means least, Download also welcomes newcomers Reigning Days, who have hit their thunderous musical stride with latest single ‘Friendly Fires’, released last month. Brighton born quartet Black Peaks will pack a punch with their mix of hardcore and progressive rock. Strange Bones will bring unashamedly loud guitars and a real raw edge. The Blackpool trio are turning the heads of the rock scene off the back of their debut single, ‘Sick Of It All.’ Finally Transatlantic tech-heads Good Tiger will bring their fusion of metal, prog riffs and hardcore energy. 

Download Festival is the home of rock music and takes place on the sacred grounds of Donington Park, which have been associated with rock since the eighties. The festival attracts icons of rock and metal to its main stage, plus some of the best and hottest new acts in the world. AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, Rage Against The Machine, Slipknot, Linkin Park and many more have all headlined its main stage.

  

Tickets for Download Festival are on sale now. A special early bird ticket rate is available until 12 February. For further information, please visit www.downloadfestival.co.uk

Truck Festival 2016 headliners revealed

by

Manic Street Preachers and Catfish And The Bottlemen confirmed to headline Truck Festival 2016.  Oxford’s original independent music festival also welcomes Everything Everything, Circa Waves and Young Fathers.

Iconic rock trio Manic Street Preachers and fellow Welshmen Catfish and the Bottlemen are to headline Truck Festival, 15th – 17th July at Hill Farm, Oxford. The impressive line up also includes Everything Everything and Circa Waves who are set to rub shoulders with the awesome We Are The Ocean, Gnarwolves and Pretty Vicious, just some of the names unveiled today for the 2016 line-up. Truck Festival pulled out all the stops for the event’s 19th year promising devoted festival-goers another mind-blowing year of music. Standard weekend tickets are priced at only £86.50 and are available via truckfestival.com.

Manic Street Preachers – James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore – are to  perform on Saturday 16th of July at Truck Festival as main stage headliners. Undisputed classics ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, ‘Your Love Alone’ and ‘Design for Life’ alongside more recent hits from ‘Rewind The Film’ and ‘Futurology’ will no doubt see festival-goers celebrating one of the biggest and best UK groups of the last 30 years.

Avid festival performers Catfish and the Bottlemen join Truck as headliners for Friday 15th of July. The four-piece scooped the BBC Introducing award at the first BBC Music Awards in 2014 and have been a firm fixture on the live music scene ever since. 

With their most recent album being named ‘Hottest record in the world’ by BBC Radio 1, Mercury prize nominees Everything Everything are not to be missed this year at Truck Festival. Circa Waves, Young Fathers, Jack  Savoretti and the hotly tipped Rat Boy are also joining proceedings in an indie-lovers dream lineup.

Truck is also catering to the hardcore fans out there with bands such as We Are The Ocean, Gnarwolves and Creeper providing everyone with a metal and punk injection. Truck 2016 will also bring to the table music from The Magic Gang, Formation and Hooton Tennis Club.

Completing the additions for Truck’s first announcement of 2016 are Creeper, Pixel Fix, Louis Berry alongside local favourites Willie J Healey and Esther Joy Lane. 
 
Truck also recently confirmed that for 2016 the event will expand to three days across the weekend of Friday 15th until Sunday 17th July at the Hill Farm site. A whole extra 24 hours will be on offer packed, once again, with the best indie, rock, pop and electronic acts. 

Truck Festival’s 18-year history has seen sets from the likes of Foals, The XX, Two Door Cinema Club, Biffy Clyro and Peace. Oxford’s original is the discerning go-to for credible and quality acts and 2016 is shaping up to be no less than another prime year.