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!

Jessie J and Gipsy Kings set for Henley Festival 2015

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Now the festival’s mix of musical entertainment just got even more spectacular with the addition of chart topper Jessie J on Wednesday 8th July, World Music pioneers Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes & Tonino Baliardo on Saturday 11th July and a host of top comedians. Appearing in The Salon Late enjoy the award winning Mark Watson, impressive impressions from The Only Way Is Downton, musical comedy from The Horne Section, risingstar Abandoman, Australian maestro Adam Hills and the multi talented Adam Kay.  

WEDNESDAY 8TH JULY – Bringing her inimitable vocal talent to Henley Festival’s Floating Stage is one of the UK’s most successful contemporary artists, Jessie J, whose much-anticipated performance sure to light up the riverbanks. Over in The Salon Late, TV personality and first rate stand up Mark Watson takes to the stage ready toleave the audience in stitches.

Jessie J said: “So excited to be headlining the opening night of the Henley Festival this year and performing alongside the likes of Lionel Richie!!”

THURSDAY 9TH JULY – Bringing all the hits, allnight Long on Thursday, international superstar Lionel Richie makes his Henley Festivaldebut on the Floating Stage. Comedy masterpiece The Only Way Is Downton takes over The Salon Late as impressionist extraordinaire Luke Kempner comes to Henley, plus guests can enjoy music from singer songwriter Hannah Scott and more talented performers throughout the evening.

FRIDAY 10TH JULY – For One Night Only – By overwhelming popular demand a full orchestral, classical concert headlines the festival on Friday. Celebrate the music of George Gershwin in the company of the full Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Troy Miller and Fabio D’Andrea. Vocal sensations Laura Mvula and Gregory Porter perform together alongside superstar classical trumpeter Alison Balsom and Chinese wunderkind Ji Liu at the piano. For ballet fans, Ballet Black unveils new dances to accompany the music devised by the acclaimed choreographer and performer Christopher Marney.   Plus, the UK’s finest musicians and comics come together in the Salon Late in the form of The Horne Section, a spontaneous stand-up performance with outlandish musical talent, followed by superstar DJ Krystalroxx who returns for the second year in Indigo.

SATURDAY 11TH JULY – Taking the top slot is the Grammy Award winning Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo, who have dominated the World Music charts for 25 years and sold more than fourteen million albums. After a sell out headline performance at Henley Festival in 2008, the group make welcome return to the Floating Stage. The multi Award winning Abandoman heads up the evening’s comedy in The Salon Late, creating hilarious freestyle songs at lightening speed based on audience suggestions. Also joining the comedy bill in the Salon Late Late is writer, producer, musician and comedy connoisseur Adam Kay who’s songs and performances have made him one of the most in demand comedians of the moment.

Gypsy Kings said: "We love playing Henley Festival and the audience that comes out, we look forward to the fiesta."

SUNDAY 12TH JULY – Ahead of announcing our special guest headline act, Henley Festival is proud to host one of the world’s best stand-up comics, Adam Hills.  Having achieved international success with many critically acclaimed shows, his combination of positive uplifting comedy & rampant spontaneity have seen him receive numerous of awards, glowingreviews and a legion of fans around the planet, don’t miss this special performance in The Salon Late.

Alexisonfire come together at Reading and Leeds Festival

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ALEXISONFIRE have announced they will come together for a series of summer festivals. They have made Reading and Leeds their exclusive European performance.

The classic lineup of George Pettit, Chris Steele, Wade MacNeil, Dallas Green and Jordan ‘Ratbeard’ Hastings will come back to British soil for the first time since they briefly reunited for a worldwide 10th anniversary tour in 2012.

One of the biggest bands to come out of Canada’s underground music scene, Alexisonfire released four successful albums internationally, and amassed a legion of fans all over the world.

ALEXISONFIRE play the Main Stage on Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds, joining headliners Metallica alongside Bring Me The Horizon, Royal Blood, Pierce The Veil and Marmozets.

Mumford & Sons and The Libertines will also headline the Festivals this August Bank Holiday

The Strokes headline Barclaycard British Summer Time Hyde Park

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THE STROKES, one of indie rock’s defining and most influential bands are the fifth headliner announced for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park 2015.

Since their 2001 debut, THE STROKES have been a musical inspiration for the UK’s best and brightest. They have been cited as triggering a sea change of mainstream culture. It is a testament to their influence that the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Adele, The Killers and many others have covered their work.

THE STROKES will be playing their first London show in five years on the Great Oak Stage in London’s beautiful Hyde Park on Thursday 18th June

They have sold over 5 million albums. The Strokes’ debut album, Is This It, met wide critical acclaim, and was ranked #5 on NME's 500 greatest albums of all time, #8 on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time, and #2 on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Albums of the 2000s.

Very special guest is the Grammy Award winning BECK. Since his worldwide smash ‘Loser’ in 1994, Beck has gone on to release 12 albums and is now considered to be one of the greatest modern songwriters of his generation. In addition to recording his solo work, Beck is also producer and collaborator to a wealth of artists as diverse as his songwriting, including: Childish Gambino, Sia, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Bat For Lashes. Last year saw him release his latest album ‘Morning Phase’, to widespread critical acclaim, and was crowned Album of the Year and Rock Album of the Year at this year’s Grammy Awards.

Joining The Strokes and Beck are FUTURE ISLANDS. With their stand out track ‘Seasons (Waiting On You)’ topping NME, Pitchfork, Spin, Consequence Of Sound and Guardian’s  ‘Track Of 2014’ list, they make a triumphant return to the main stage, following their spellbinding performance at last year’s Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park.

The full supporting line up also includes: Temples, Public Service Broadcasting, The Wytches, Hinds, Gengahr, Yak and Kieran Leonard.

Other headliners already announced for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park are Blur on June 20th, Kylie Minogue joined by Grace Jones and Chic feat Nile Rodgers on June 21st, The Who, with Paul Weller, Kaiser Chiefs and Johnny Marr on June 26th and Taylor Swift, joined by Ellie Goulding and John Newman on June 27th.

Dot to Dot Festival announce more acts for 2015 lineup

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Kicking off the second announcement, we're delighted to welcome Best Coast to the bill for this years Dot To Dot. The LA two-piece comprised of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno first found success with their lo-fi surf pop debut Crazy For You and have recently released details of their forthcoming third full length 'California Nights'

Having played the festival back in 2013, it’s our pleasure to bring back Birmingham bohemians Swim Deep. With their sophomore album due later this year and its first single 'To My Brother' seamlessly incorporating a new, unexpected influence of acid house to their dreamy indie anthems, theirs is surely a set to keep a close eye on.

Joining them are the much-lauded Fat White Family, winners of the NME Radar Award in 2014. Sitting musically somewhere in between the lo-fi jangles of The Fall and the more visceral howls of The Birthday Party, the band have built a fearsome reputation for their wild, unpredictable live performances.

Anthemic Glaswegian trio Prides are also welcomed to this year’s bill. They wowed a 40,000 strong crowd at the closing of the ceremony the Commonwealth games last year with their nostalgic take on synth-pop and will undoubtedly take on the D2D crowd with the same fervour

Further additions include Alfie Connor, The Amazons, Delamere, Flesh, Francisco The Man, The Griswolds, Holy Holy, Laurel, Man Made, Model Aeroplanes, Neon Waltz, Pixel Fix, REMI, Sugarmen, VANT and Walking on Cars.

Born & Bred is Londons latest summer festival, details here

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Celebrated London promoters Found are to raise their game for 2015 by announcing the first in a new Found Series of five festivals taking place throughout the summer. On Saturday 6th June in Haggerston Park, Shoreditch, Found Presents: Born & Bred will champion true London sounds forged in the Big Smoke with leading figures from across the bass spectrum including Wiley, Goldie, Zinc, Digital Mystiks, Joker, Loefah, Youngsta, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Oxide & Neutrino, Trojan Sound, Moxie, Channel One, Klose One, Paleman and many more…
 
Born & Bred will celebrate some of most exciting genres that have defined underground music in the city over the past twenty years. Looking to the grass-roots of music culture in the capital, the festival programme salutes a set of true pioneers in their respective scenes. The line-up hosts a set of artists responsible for representing the city we love on a global scale and unifying generations with genuinely game-changing sounds that look to both electronic and bass music culture.  
 
Through dub to dubstep and garage to grime, UK bass culture has consistently pushed boundaries and spread its influence across the globe. Celebrating some of the finest home-grown talent, Born & Bred’s main stage will thus be headlined by Godfather of Grime, Wiley. As notorious for crossover singles like ‘Heatwave’ and ‘Wearing My Rolex’ as he is for delivering some of grime’s most iconic independent records, Wiley’s proud East London roots make him a natural choice to perform. He’ll also be joined by Metalheadz founder Goldie – an influential figure in the world of drum & bass, regarded for helping to shape the face of the genre in the UK.
 
Pioneering DJ/producer Zinc is also set to perform – an artist instrumental in shaping contemporary club culture since the release of classic drum & bass record ‘Super Sharp Shooter’ released back in 1995 – and will be joined by dubstep icons and DMZ founders Digital Mystikz aka Mala and Coki, with Bristol’s Jokeralso set to showcase new live project ‘The Mainframe’. Bringing carnival vibes to the main stage programme are bashment crew The Heatwave – famed for their nationwide series of ‘Hot Wuk’ club nights – with Soundclash veterans Channel One and Trojan Sound showcasing a host of foundation dub classics in support. NTS Live radio show host DJ Moxie is also set to make her Found debut, with up-and-coming production duo Silas & Snare Surgeon slated to open main stage proceedings.
 
Loefah’s Swamp81 imprint will curate Born & Bred’s second arena – headlined by the label boss himself – alongside a slew of label artists. Wheel & Deal affiliate Benton, School Records boss Klose One,Swamp regular Mickey Pearce and latest label recruit Paleman – best known for 2014 underground anthem ‘Beezeldub’ – are all set to perform. Rinse FM’s Youngsta – a key figure in the expansion of dub label Tempa – will also join Loefah and friends, alongside further label associates Zed Bias, MC Chunky& Jonny Banger.
 
First established as grime-focused YouTube channel Don't Watch That TV back in 2009, London based events and music series JUST JAM are to take control of Born & Bred’s third arena with an electric custom live visual display providing the backdrop. Headlining on the day are grime crew OGz – featuring P Money, Blacks, Little Dee, Jendor, Desperado and Stormer – who are also to be joined by legendary grime MCs D Double E & Footsie, the Newham Generals.
 
Comprised of 10 members – a fluid mix of producers and emcees – Lewisham-based collective The Square represent the next generation of conscious-minded, new school grime artists and are the next to take to the JUST JAM stage. Fronted by recent XL Recordings signee and BBC Sound Of 2015 nominee Novelist, the crew can already boast a live performance at Milan Fashion Week – as well as numerous appearances on BBC 1Xtra, Rinse FM and NTS Live – since the release of debut mixtape ‘The Formula’ in 2014.
 
Leading grime DJs Logan Sama and Sir Spyro – as well as Rinse stalwart Scratcha DVA and Butterz’ grime-garage protégé Royal-T – will all represent the station alongside special guest T.Williams, who is to play under his grime moniker ‘Dread.D’ for a one-off 2002 – 2005 grime set.
 
Influential street-wear tastemakers Wavey Garms are to host Born & Bred’s fourth and final arena, enlisting a special cast of UK Garage pioneers in Scott Garcia and Sticky – who will headline asFoundation alongside MC Creed – and DJ Luck & MC Neat. Legendary garage duo Oxide & Neutrino,V Recordings label heads Jumping Jack Frost and Bryan G and Jungle icon Brockie complete the bill.

LINE-UP

BORN & BRED
Wiley
Goldie
Zinc (Jungle Set)
Digital Mystikz
Joker (The Mainframe LIVE)
The Heatwave
Channel One Sound
Trojan Sound
Moxie
Silas & Snare Surgeon
 
SWAMP81
Benton
Klose One
Loefah
Paleman
Mickey Pearce
Youngsta
Zed Bias Presents: Boss LIVE
Hosted By:
Chunky
Jonny Banger
 
JUST JAM
OGz ft P Money, Blacks, Little Dee, Jendor, Desperado and Stormer
The Newham Generals
The Square (Novelist, Elf Kid, Murkilla and The Grand Mixer)
Logan Sama
Scratcha DVA
Spyro
Royal-T
Special Guest: T.Williams Presents Dread.D x 2002 to 2005 grime set
& MORE TBA
 
WAVEY GARMS
The Foundation (Scott Garcia & Sticky) & MC Creed
DJ Luck & MC Neat
Oxide & Neutrino
Jumping Jack Frost b2b Bryan G (Classic V Recordings Set)
Brockie

Tennents Lager celebrate 20 years of T Break

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T Break began in 1996, searching for Scotland’s freshest unsigned musical talent and has been giving acts the chance to play the biggest platform for unsigned music at T in the Park – theT Break Stage – ever since.
 
Throughout T Break’s 20 year history, the T Break Stage has seen performances from the likes of Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini, Twin Atlantic and The View and entries are now open for the next 16 unsigned acts set to play the T Break Stage this summer, in the stage’s first year at T in the Park’s new home, Strathallan Castle.
 
Acts can submit their best three tracks via Soundcloud through the T Break website(www.tennents.com/tbreak) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/tennentstbreak).  The judging panel, consisting of 15 of Scotland’s most influential music industry experts including: artists, promoters, bookers, managers and members of the media, will then listen to every demo before handpicking the 16 acts to play the T Break Stage at T in the Park on 10th-12th July.
 
This year Tennent’s Lager are delighted to welcome two new faces to the judging panel: Louie, Hector Bizerk front man and previous T Break artist and Aimmi Dunsmuir manager of hugely successful Glasgow rockers, Twin Atlantic.  Both are delighted to be involved saying,
 
Louie, Frontman Hector Bizerk and previous T Break artist:
 
“I'm quite humbled to be invited to offer my opinions on T Break's next wave of emerging talent.  I think Scotland is home to some of the most innovative and exciting music in the world and I am excited to listen to all the entries.  I have first-hand experience of the buzz that artists get from playing the T Break Stage and I'm really looking forward to sharing that moment with 16 new bands."  
Aimmi Dunsmuir, Twin Atlantic Manager:
 
"I remember tuning in to the announcements of the T Break finalists on the radio when I was younger and I am honoured be a part of the judging panel for 2015. T Break is such an important platform for the unsigned acts of Scotland. Working with Twin Atlantic who have grown from T Break Stage to headlining the Radio 1 Stage on Saturday at this year’s T in the Park has me very excited to hear what Scotland's unsigned acts have to offer."
 
Tennent’s Lager passionately believe in supporting Scotland’s grassroots music scene and T Break offers an unrivalled opportunity for acts to showcase their material to industry experts and music fans alike on the biggest platform for emerging talent at T in the Park – the T Break Stage.
 
George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship at Tennent’s Lager, said:
 
“Tennent’s are so proud to be celebrating 20 years of T Break this year, T Break has been an exciting and inspiring journey over the past 20 years and something that Tennent’s has always strongly believed in. Seeing so many Scottish unsigned musicians come through the process, and in some cases go on to achieve massive success, has been the source of much pride for Tennent’s Lager as a brand and we look forward, once again, to all the entries coming in again this year” 
 
Dave McGeachan, Senior Promoter at DF Concerts and T Break Judge said:
 
“T Break has been an incredible 20 year journey, we’ve seen an amazing amount of talent come through the process over the past twenty years with some bands going on to achieve huge success. The great thing about T Break is, it’s so different every year, music styles change and fashion changes but the freshness and authenticity of Scotland’s unsigned acts remains the same, I can’t wait to hear what this year’s acts have got to offer”

Huge additions to Bestival 2015 lineup

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Currently showing just about everyone exactly how it’s done, we’re delighted to announce long-time Besti-friend, Charli XCX, is coming back to Robin Hill to blow apart our Summer of Love! Also making a triumphant Bestival return is purveyor of blissed out balladry, Lianne La Havas, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to announce Neneh Cherry is coming to Bestival, playing alongside London duo RocketNumberNine, with whom she released the album MeYouWeYou in 2013.

We’ll also have the gravelly tones of Ella Eyre, experimental singer-songwriter Andreya Triana, BBC Radio 1 raver B.Traits, and BBC 1Xtra’s ever-eclectic Monki, the stunningly brilliant SOAK, Manchester synth ace Lonelady, fuzzy Scottish duo Honeyblood, interactive audio-visual genius Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra, and California-based lo-fi duo Girlpool. Plus we’ll have music fromMoxie, Josey Rebelle, DJ Barely Legal, Ekkah, Jagaara, Throwing Shade, Laura Moody and Graceland.

And, lest we forget, we also have a star-studded array of previously announced acts including Roisin Murphy, Little Dragon, Kate Tempest, Snap!, Annie Mac, Lily Allen Presents Funlord, Hannah Wants, Lapsley, Shura and Rae Morris, amongst a veritable love-in of amazing joy that includes The Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Duran Duran, Tame Impala, The Jacksons and many, many more.

V Festival add new Dance Tent for 2015

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The Dance Tent will be the ultimate destination for dance music heads at the festival and will build on the previous dance music offering, replacing the Futures stage.

Oliver Heldens and Hannah Wants will take the headlining spots over the weekend, accompanied by UK garage sensation DJ EZ, BBC Radio 1 Xtra’s Mistajam and Monki, My Nu Leng, Alex Adair, Sam Feldt, Philip George, Toddla T, Goldie, Moxie and Marvin Humes presents Luvbug.

Taking place across the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd August 2015, across the two festival sites in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire the festival will welcome further dance acts and DJs such as Clean Bandit, Duke Dumont, Nero, Annie Mac and Andy C across its four stages.

The dance acts will be joining headliners Calvin Harris and Kasabian and the rest of the line-up which includes: Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, The Script, Hozier, George Ezra, Stereophonics, Paloma Faith, James Bay, Olly Murs, Chvrches, Imelda May, Kodaline, Ella Henderson, Nero, Reverend & the Makers, The Courteeners, Marina & The Diamonds, The Proclaimers, Tom Jones, Jess Glynne, Andy C, The Kooks, Gregory Porter, Fuse ODG, Clean Bandit, Duke Dumont, Jessie Ware, Ella Eyre, Hannah Wants, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Annie Mac.

KYGO, Tchami, Pleasure State and more added to Creamfields lineup

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First up are 5 acts all making their Creamfields debut, including Norwegian tropical house prodigy KYGO, joining the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Above & Beyond and Annie Mac, he along with fellow tastemaker Thomas George will be bringing a tropical twist to Saturdays North Stage. In a very short space of time KYGO has established himself as a household name thanks to his widely popular performances and sold out shows around the globe, his first original track ‘Firestone’ released at the end of last year has now amassed over 7 million plays across SoundCloud and YouTube and over 40 million plays on Spotify, with a hotly anticipated album scheduled for this year that will no doubt get an airing at this year’s Creamfields, prepare to be mesmerised with this new wave sound. 

Next up is Parisian future house hero Tchami who joins the likes of Axwell & Ingrosso, Robin Schulz and Otto Knows in the Cream Arena on Sunday.  As no stranger to dance music with global hits including his remix of Janet Jacksons ‘Go Deep’ and original productions including ‘Promesses’ and ‘Shot Caller’, last year he was also named as one of the Top 30 DJ’s to watch by Vice magazine.  

MK brings his Detroit label Area 10 to the UK as one of this years all new arena hosts, bringing with him an array of DJ’s and producers who are revered as the true trailblazers of the underground, as a special treat he will also be debuting his all new super group Pleasure State Live aka MK, Anabel Englund and Lee Foss, following the release of their critically acclaimed EP ‘Ghost In The System’ they will be showcasing their tripped out take on house music, Lee Foss will also perform solo.  Other acts completing the festival weekend line up are Dutch duo Bassjackers performing in Sunday’s Pepsi Max arena and Stamina MC who joins High Contrast in Saturday’s Speakerbox arena.

Camp Bestival 2015 DJ Lineup announced

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Making Bollywood his home from home, we’re massively pleased to announce a perennial favourite of our Jurassic Coast amusements, it’s the return of David Rodigan MBE presents Ram Jam, featuring a very special extra appearance from DJ Yoda, and skank-tatsic sets from Prince Fatty, Artwork & Venum Sound and the man himself. We’ll also have Bollywood-based family fun and joy-inducing beats courtesy of Norman Jay MBE presents Good Times, plus late night action with eclectic treats from The Specials’ frontman Terry Hall, and dancefloor spanking bass from Music Mondays & World of Rave with sets from Billy Daniel Bunter, Slipmatt, Rat Pack, Ragga Twins, Uncle Dugs, Jerome Hill, and DJ Faydz.

Keeping Bollywood bouncing all weekend long, we’ll also have epic sets from Camp Bestival’s wildest man Rob da Bank, house music don Ralph Lawson, world music connoisseur Andy Kershaw, and 78 specialists The Shellac Collective, plus we’ll have Big Swing Soundsystem, Balearic Brothers, DJ Dapper Dan and our old friends the Mix It UP DJ Kru.

Bollywood won’t be the only place to cut some rug during the weekend though, you’ll be able to go wild on a sound safari across the site with off the wall behaviour atCaravanserai with Chris Tofu & friends, channel hopping, sing-along-a-madness at the Silent Discos with the Sunday Best Allstars, enjoy naughty After Hours Party Tunes at the Blue Coats Clubhouse and boogie on down to the Showmany Calliope’s Daily Discos!

We know that the kids love nothing more than busting a move or fifty, so we’ve got plenty of dancefloor madness in store for them (and, let’s face it, you), too, with Kids Discos in Bollywood. Featuring daily doses of afternoon fun from Big Fish Little Fish, Friday b-boy shenanigans with Fun DMC, and a series of workshops from Carnival Dance to the lowdown from the BRIT school, it’s all going off!