SLOW MOTION – A festival within Bestival

Taking the festival experience to a whole new plane, Bestival is proud to present Slow Motion. A brand new arena dedicated to energising pursuits, from wild music runs and hugging llamas to euphoric yoga and rock climbing, it’s its own tranquil event set within the brilliant brouhaha of Bestival. A festival within a festival, Slow Motion is a realm of calm and hidden pleasures connecting the body and mind, all laid out on rolling grass with magnificent views across the rest of Bestival. It might just give you the chance to breathe; to escape.

Rob da Bank says: "Slow Motion does what it says on the tin – there's nothing wrong with raving, late nights and partying, but now there's a way of refuelling your mind and body before the next Bestival adventure!"

Bringing all the best bits of contemporary wellbeing into the same space, Slow Motion is the place to revitalise and regenerate to the maximum. Throughout the weekend you’ll be able to work that Body with Euphoric Aerobics, join one of our Wild Music Runs jumping from stage to stage to Bestival’s own soundtrack, follow an enlightened path to The Hideaway Yoga Yurt, or relish spinning with Revolution Rides in the Revolution Rooms. Feed your Mind at Bestiversity, divine your future at the Astro Village, and transcend your mental acuity with Meditation & Mindfulness workshops. Foster your Wellbeing & Spirit with radiance facials, reflexology, full body massage, palm readers and mystics, and decadent hot tubs overlooking the Bestival site.

For delicious, energising food & drink; repent your sins at the Juice Bar, or take nutritionists advice and heal your hedonistic ways with raw food, whole-foods, Kombucha and Cacao. But don’t forget, you can always enjoy the home comforts of the Women's Institute and the Solace Tea Tent, or relax with a craft beer or a glass at the Observatory Cocktail Bar.

Experience the excitement of adventure, going off-piste and leaving the festival site for an hour or two of extreme invigoration with Surf lessons, mountain-boarding, coasteering, rock climbing, paddle-boarding and mountain biking. Or take in the sights with a trip on our brand new Caravanserai inspired Land Train, and stimulate the senses cuddling the fluffy guys with some ‘Llama Karma’.

If you’re bringing the little explorers, there’s a dedicated Kids Area that will host Big Top Mania circus workshops, a bouncy castle, the soft play area, Lizzie's Way, a climbing wall, and magicians! Get involved with a variety of crafts, including woodcraft, handicrafts, textile craft, and knitting.

A hotbed of gatherings, Slow Motion will be a bewitching haven of Night Parades and Fire Pits, while the Lost & Found crew will be living it up, bringing the party to the adventure playground. The Ambient Forest will have an extravagance of Amphitheatre performances, Installations, and Close Encounters, with plenty of serene hammocks for you to loll and laze in. And, of course, there will be plenty of stirring music, too, with our brand new mesmerising Kaleidoscope stage, replete with bespoke animations, revealing a psychedelia-steeped soundtrack of soul, funk, space age electronica, beat poetry, literary happenings and a pleasingly wonky disco finale each night.

A chance to cultivate good habits or sustain your regime, Slow Motion is an expedition for the body and soul.

Seven more bands announced for Bloodstock’s Sophie Lancaster Stage

Seven more bands announced for Bloodstock's Sophie Lancaster Stage

Can you feel the festival season creeping up?!  Soon, very soon it will be time to pack up your tent and your Viking drinking horn, then you and your mates will be thrashing your way to Catton Park for BLOODSTOCK 2015!  With 17 weeks to go, here’s another 7 head-banging additions to the Sophie Lancaster stage.

Crash landing into Friday’s Sophie line-up are London-based metallers, I AM I.  Fronted by ZP Theart (formerly of Dragonforce), I AM I are currently hard at work on their new album and follow up to their ‘Event Horizon’ debut.  Check out their website at http://www.iamiofficial.com/ for video updates!   Also rocking up the bill are HANG THE BASTARD, the stoner groove road dogs who recently released second album, ‘Sex In the Seventh Circle’ via Century Media and opened for Corrosion of Conformity on their UK tour.  Check out the ‘Sex In The Seventh Circle’ video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvYvGo2CBxw.  British thrash stalwarts RE-ANIMATOR grab themselves a slot too, after reforming in 2013 after a 20-year break.  Wrap your ears round ‘Low Life’ from their ‘Condemned To Eternity’ album here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTDUUHTkcyo.  Hard rock riff-monsters, FIRE RED EMPRESS also land a spot.  You can listen to their recent ‘Paint Me The Devil’ EP over at http://fireredempress.bandcamp.com/album/paint-me-the-devil-ep.  Last (for this announcement), but not least, Denmark’s HEXIS also bring their unique blend of hardcore and black metal doom to Friday’s line up.  Friday is topped out by previously announced headliners, DELAIN!

Rock n’ roll tearaways JETTBLACK will be Saturday night’s main support to Sophie stage headliners, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE.  With their brand new album, ‘Disguises’ out this week, JETTBLACK are coming out all guns blazing with a bunch of fresh tunes!  Check out some album clips over at http://www.jettblackuk.com/.

Irish metal three-piece, DEAD LABEL also join Sunday’s bill on the Sophie stage.  Their new album, ‘Throne of Bones’ is set for release soon.  Follow their news over at https://www.facebook.com/DeadLabel.

Tickets for BLOODSTOCK 2015 are available via the 24hr ticketline at 0871 230 5584 or online at http://bloodstock.seetickets.com/event/bloodstock-2015/catton-park/809956, priced at the very reasonable £135 (plus booking fee) for a four-day Thursday through Sunday weekend ticket with camping.  VIP packages and upgrades are also available, plus pre-booked car parking pitches.  Camper van pitches are now all SOLD OUT!

All these killer bands are already announced!  Friday’s headliner TRIVIUM and special guests SABATON, Saturday’s headliner WITHIN TEMPTATION and special guests OPETH, Sunday’s headliner ROB ZOMBIE and special guests BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, plus CANNIBAL CORPSE, IHSAHN, SEPULTURA, ORANGE GOBLIN, DEATH T.A, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, 1349, NAPALM DEATH, DARK ANGEL, ARMORED SAINT, BELPHEGOR, OVERKILL, ENSIFERUM, AGALLOCH, KORPIKLAANI, PRO-PAIN, ENSLAVED, RAGING SPEEDHORN, XERATH and WOLF.  Plus over on the Sophie Lancaster stage, there’s headliners DELAIN, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, GODFLESH and ARNOCORPS, LAWNMOWER DETH, MORDRED, ETHEREAL, ONSLAUGHT, OAF, CONAN, PLANET OF ZEUS, GODSIZED, plus many more and, there’s even more bands to be announced in the coming weeks!

Films in the Forest at Bestival – Peace, Love & Harmonies

Bestival announces film schedule for late night entertainments in the Ambient Forest…

We're delighted to announce that Films in the Forest, Bestival’s late night cinema affair, returns to the Amphitheatre, welcoming with open arms and a warm celluloid hug those wandering souls who stumble across their cinematic wares deep in the Ambient Forest. Celebrating ‘Bestival’s Summer of Love’, programmers from Jersey’s Branchage Film Festival and London Short Film Festival have artfully selected nightly double bills under the banner of ‘Peace, Love & Harmonies’.

Upping the motion picture magic through the weekend, London Short Film Festival-selected short films will play each night in between the main features, and we’ll also have live pre-screening music from Brightonian folk troubadour Ben Parker, as well as plenty of cinema snacks and a bar for good measure!

Rob da Bank says: “Even though we’ve been doing it for years, I’m still totally amazed by how fantastic it is to wander into the Ambient Forest and chance upon a brilliant little cinema showing loads of ace films. This year our Films in the Forest crew have done us proud, showcasing our Summer of Love theme in all its splendour, especially with the inspirational Woodstock, and the scintillating Searching for Sugarman. So throw on your finest fancy dress and get down with us at the pictures”.

Films in the Forest kicks off on Friday with a double bill celebrating peace, tolerance and political activism, featuring a look at the granddaddy of all music festivals, Woodstock, and the extraordinary story of how two wholly different communities come together for a common cause in Pride.

Got a hot date at Bestival? You could do worse than head off on a romantic adventure into the woods on Saturday, for an evening of odd couples and kooky love affairs, as we celebrate Love. Kicking off with Steven Soderbergh’s exploration of flamboyant star of stage and television, Liberace’s secretive five-year love affair with Scott Thorson in Behind the Candelabra, the evening climaxes with mind-bending science fiction comedy-drama Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Films in the Forest concludes on Sunday with an evening of two contemporary classics, both of which will strike a chord with the music lover in all of you! The award-winning Searching for Sugarman is a must-see, charting the extraordinary and inspirational story of mysterious 70s musician Rodriguez. And Stephen Frears’ movie adaptation of Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel, High Fidelity brings this year’s Films in the Forest sessions to a triumphant close.

Van Morrison Confirmed For Cheltenham Jazz Festival‏

Fresh from releasing his globally acclaimed new studio album ‘Duets: Reworking The Catalogue’, which features collaborations with the likes of Gregory Porter, Michael Buble, Clare Teal and others, pop maverick Van Morrison has been confirmed to perform at the opening night of this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The visionary songwriter joins an already star-studded line-up that includes Gregory Porter, Beth Hart, Martha Reeves, Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Lee Konitz, Squarepusher, Laura Mvula, Sun Ra Arkestra, Tony Allen and many more.

Festival Director Ian George:

“We are obviously delighted to have been able to add Van Morrison to the programme for this year’s festival. He’s universally regarded as one of the most singular artists of all time and I can’t think of a better way to kick off proceedings.”

Cheltenham Jazz Festival runs from April 29th – May 4th and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens.

Van Morrison performs at The Big Top on Wednesday April 29th. The full programme is available to view here.

Tickets are available from www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz.

Afrojack added to T in the Park lineup

Grammy award winning DJ and producer Afrojack is the latest addition to the T in the Park bill, festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager have revealed this afternoon.
 
Afrojack has made a huge impact on the EDM scene. A talented producer and artist, whether creating club hits or producing and remixing for the likes of Beyoncé, Pitbull or Madonna, he also collaborated with fellow T in the Park 2015 act David Guetta, co-writing and producing the worldwide smash Titanium. After wowing thousands at one of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, Ultra Music Festival, last month in Miami, T in the Park organisers are thrilled to confirm that he’ll take to the decks in Strathallan Castle this July.
 
With some of the biggest names in music heading for Scotland this summer, T in the Park’s debut outing at Strathallan Castle is already shaping up to be an unmissable weekend:
 
FRIDAY 10th JULY: Kasabian, David Guetta, Sam Smith, Rudimental, Fatboy Slim, Hozier, Mark Ronson (DJ set), The War on Drugs, Annie Mac, Hot Chip, The Wombats, Afrojack, Gorgon City, Duke Dumont, Sigma, Jessie Ware, Fuse ODG, The Cribs, Hannah Wants, The Twilight Sad, Prides, Slaves, Lower than Atlantis, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Lonely the Brave, Indiana, Coasts, Blossoms, The Beaches, Fort Hope, The Riptide Movement
SLAM TENT: Adam Beyer B2B Joseph Capriati, Âme, Ben Klock, Eats Everything, Slam, Telford
 
SATURDAY 11th JULY: The Libertines, Avicii, The Script, Twin Atlantic, alt-J, George Ezra, Jessie J, Courteeners, The Vaccines, Labrinth, The Proclaimers, St. Vincent, Enter Shikari, Seasick Steve, Jungle, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Marina & the Diamonds, Idlewild, Jess Glynne, Charli XCX, Palma Violets, Circa Waves, Jack Savoretti, The Strypes, Rae Morris, The LaFontaines, Sunset Sons, George the Poet, Walking on Cars, The Coronas, Gavin James, Vaults
 
SLAM TENT: Annie Mac, Art Department, Gary Beck, Jackmaster B2B Joy Orbison, Lil Louis, Maceo Plex, Rødhåd, Visionquest
 
SUNDAY 12th JULY: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Prodigy, Stereophonics, Jamie T, Paloma Faith, Above & Beyond, Alabama Shakes, Kodaline, Catfish & the Bottlemen, James Bay, Clean Bandit, Oliver Heldens, Ella Henderson, The View, Modest Mouse, Years & Years, Peace, Everything Everything, Admiral Fallow, Ella Eyre, Marmozets, Wolf Alice, Benjamin Booker, Saint Raymond, Young Guns, Black Rivers
 
SLAM TENT: Alan Fitzpatrick, Claude VonStroke, Dense & Pika, Dixon, Dubfire, Loco Dice, Maya Jane Coles

Dizzee Rascal, Example and more added to Big Feastival lineup

The Big Feastival is excited to announce that chart topping sensations Dizzee Rascal and Example & DJ Wire will be performing on the Saturday night of the festival.  They will be joining the likes of Paloma Faith, Groove Armada (DJ Set), Ella Eyre and Grandmaster Flash on Alex James’ Farm from 28 – 30 August. Acclaimed wordsmiths Roots Manuva and Maxi Jazz (Faithless) have also been added to the Sunday bill.  The Bank Holiday Weekend extravaganza promises great music, mouth-watering food and drink experiences and a fully-charged, fun-filled program of entertainment for all ages.

The Main Stage music line-up so far is as follows:

More top music acts and special guests will be announced over the coming weeks as the line up for The Big Feastival 2015 shapes up to be the best yet.

After a successful debut last year, The Udder Stage will also be making a welcome return. Festival-goers will be invited to warm up their vocal chords in morning workshop sessions run by The Roundhouse before performing on stage as part of The Big Feastival Choir. Each afternoon will host a showcase of the best in new music with acts including Nadine ShahJake Isaac, Booka Brass Band, Rive, Object Object, Grace Savage and Pocket Club all set to grace the stage. The stage will also host Folk Idol, offering visitors the chance to don beards and play covers of folk songs as well as City Shanty Band who will entertaining the crowds with traditional sea shanties. By night, the tent will transform into a Silent Disco for visitors to enjoy.

Carl Cox, Sven Vath, Loco Dice and more added to SW4 2015

ADDED TO SW4 SUNDAY…

CARL COX VS LOCO DICE

MANO LE TOUGH

CITIZENN & EJECA PRESENTS MOUNTAIN KING LIVE

“I look back to the old days of me being on the Common and now things have obviously changed a lot, but it’s still South London, it’s still Clapham Common. It’s still true to my roots of where I came from and who I am as a DJ. I have built my career from coming from South London and I’m very proud of that. As I have built my career and become a worldwide name, it all really started from Clapham Common.” Carl Cox

“I have no idea what’s going to happen, I have no clue what’s going to happen.  The only thing I know now is there will be 100% excitement. We are ready for this show for sure. I don’t let it get to close to me otherwise it will drive me crazy. I just deal with it at the moment when I’m on the turntables. That’s the best and it’s very natural and it comes from the heart.” Loco Dice

CLICK HERE TO WATCH CARL COX & LOCO DICE SW4 PROMO FILM:

WWW.SOUTHWESTFOUR.COM/VIDEOS

Carl Cox vs Loco Dice. A meeting of minds. A meeting of masters. At SW4 2013 these two titans clashed for the very first time in the UK with a set which went down as one of the greatest in our history. Two years later they return to headline our second indoor main stage on Sunday 30th August and inflict an even greater level of destruction than they were responsible for twenty four months previously.

Carl’s relationship with South West Four is well documented. An unbreakable bond has resulted in this being his seventh performance at SW4 in our twelve year history. On every appearance Coxy has displayed the kind of mind-blowing ability that has pushed the boundaries of DJing over the past thirty plus years and illustrated why he is considered amongst the very greats of electronic music. In 2015 Carl returns to Space Ibiza to host another season of his seminal residency, interwoven by headline appearances at the world’s leading clubs and festivals and the release of his hugely anticipated collaboration with Chic’s Nile Rogers. This unrivalled crossover formula is what has kept Carl at the forefront of all that is great about our scene over the past three decades. Be prepared to have your senses pulverised. Carl Cox vs Loco Dice is coming…

When one half of Innervision’s Âme says “Thanks to Mano Le Tough, I have no fears for the future of House” you sit up and take notice. Irish born and Berlin raised, Mano Le Tough has risen to international stardom in recent years thanks to a plethora of superb productions and remixes on only the most prestigious of labels, including his own Maeve Records. He has supported this with electric performances at the crème de le crème of festivals and clubs around the world including Berghain, BPM, Dekmantel, DC10, Space Ibiza and a recent London date for Electric Minds. It’s now the time for Mano to showcase his outstanding talents with a very special performance at SW4 and show why he is the future of house music.

Debuting their live show in a world exclusive at South West Four, the forces of Ejeca and Citizenn combine to bring you Mountain King Live. Expect melodic tribal rhythms and a mysterious, dark and empathetic sonic tapestry from two of the most exciting artists currently residing in UK house music. Having recently received critical acclaim for their ‘Acidboi’ EP on Ejeca’s Exploris imprint, including tune of the month in Mixmag, Mountain King could well be the most exciting new pairing to hit the UK dance market this festival season. "It's a huge honour to be debuting our live show at such a well curated and produced festival such as SW4. We've been excited about it for a while now so we're glad we can start talking about it." Mountain King

ADDED TO SW4 SATURDAY…

SVEN VÄTH · MACEO PLEX

TODD TERJE LIVE

DANNY DAZE

Pioneer. Visionary. Legend. Superlatives like these are easily banded around in dance music circles but when you are recognised as one of the most iconic figures within the industry, as well as one of the greatest DJs to ever walk the Earth, they are fully justified. Sven Väth comfortably falls within all of these categories. As label boss his Cocoon imprint has helped launch the careers of some of the finest names in techno, whilst his Ibiza residency is unquestionably one of the most influential the White Isle has ever witnessed. Having celebrated his 50th birthday last year, 2015 will see Papa Sven embark on his sixteenth Cocoon season at Amnesia, as well as the usual array of headline appearances at Timewarp, Awakenings, Cocoon in the Park and the IMS Grand Opening. His return to South West Four for the fourth time on Saturday 29th August will rank as his most memorable as he headlines Maceo Plex’s 7000 capacity ‘Dream Don’t Sleep’ arena.

There are very few artists residing within house and techno today as beloved as Maceo Plex. Recent years has seen him destroy the world’s most esteemed nightclubs and festivals, with his past two London appearances witnessing him host an arena at SW4 2014, followed by a masterclass performance at a sold out Electric Brixton this past Easter. This summer will see Maceo headline the opening of Amnesia Ibiza and feature heavily at Hideout in Croatia, the Slam Tent at T in the Park and Tomorrowland. Recognized as one of the most respected and accomplished artists of his generation, the Miami native returns to host his own ‘Dream, Don’t Sleep’ arena at SW4 one more time on Saturday 29th August.

An artist we have practically been stalking for half a decade finally arrives on Clapham Common this summer as Norwegian DJ, songwriter and record producer Todd Terje makes his long awaited SW4 debut. In 2013 Todd was responsible for what many considered the track of the year in ‘Inspector Norse’, whilst last year he followed this up with the release of his debut studio album suitably titled ‘Its Album Time.’ This would go on to top album of the year charts across the world and resulted in Rolling Stone Magazine featuring Todd in their ‘25 DJs that rule the earth' list. If you like your disco, Todd Terje Live at SW4 is the only place to be…

Hailing from Miami, Danny Daze has championed his sound in recent years after uniquely fusing elements of Detroit techno with Italian disco to make him one of the world’s most interesting underground talents. In 2014 Danny made his SW4 debut and he returns this summer having seen his profile grow ten-fold over recent months. With non-stop tours across the world and the release of productions on the finest imprints of today including Saved, Hot Creations, Dirtybird, Future Classic and long-term friend Maceo Plex’s Ellum, Danny’s technical prowess allows him to take musical risks. This makes him one of the most exciting acts to make the trip to South London on Saturday 29th August.

No Tomorrow Festival add DJ Fresh, Hannah Wants and more

BRIT Award nominee DJ Fresh has scored multiple number 1s on both the UK singles and UK Dance charts; this summer the drum ‘n’ bass maestro brings his hits to Wollaton Park much to the delight of eager No Tomorrow festival-goers. DJ Fresh has collaborated with artists including Diplo, Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal, Ella Eyre and more.

Also joining the bill is Kwabs, an artist who featured in the BBC Sound of 2015 list and boasts 40 million YouTube views for his track ‘Walk’. Swiftly signed to Atlantic Records, Kwabs is steadily making waves with his soulful take on R&B. The eagle-eyed amongst us may spot that No Tomorrow’s next addition, Raleigh Ritchie, has also graced screens as Grey Worm in Game of Thrones. In his musical guise Ritchie also adds a spin to R&B adding in tinges of rap that sees him touted as a one to watch this year.
 
Synths, beats and breaks come hard and heavy across the latest additions to No Tomorrow. Dubbed ‘the undisputed queen of 2014’ by Mixmag, Hannah Wants shows no signs of slowing down in 2015. Wants is part of BBC Radio 1’s Residency and her bass heavy house is steadily tearing up dance floors across Europe, soon to include No Tomorrow. Local duo Shelter Point are also now confirmed and will offer up a downbeat and brooding take on all things electronic.
 
Black Butter Records have already contributed several acts to the No Tomorrow bill, now the festival welcomes yet more from the label in the form of energetic house whizz, Kidnap Kid and Bristolian rising star of the UK bass scene, Woz. Young DJ, Applebottom, aka Joe Arthur, may only have broken through two years ago but nationwide sell out shows are already a common sign in his touring schedule to which No Tomorrow has been added.
 
TCTS heads to No Tomorrow with glowing references; the DJ otherwise known as Sam O’Neil has seen support from heavyweights such as Annie Mac, MistaJam and more. Eclectic but anonymous duo 99 souls and local boy, dollop and Stealth resident D’lex are also on hand behind the festival’s decks. With a career spanning over 20 years DJ Zinc is a highly qualified addition to proceedings. Zinc’s pirate radio and DJ shows have seen the Londoner tackle drum ‘n’ bass, break, house and much more.
 
UK bass artist Shoot the Ghost, Nottingham’s boy/girl production duo Ursa Major and another Stealth regular, Strike, bolster what is fast becoming the dance and crossover line up of the summer. International flavours are to be brought to No Tomorrow by Toronto’s multi-skilled filmmaker, drum ‘n’ bass DJ and producerRene LaVice. DJs from local club nights Caramello, Afrowax and Bakery are the last but no means least from this current announcement.
 
This third wave of artists sit alongside headliners including John Newman and Jessie Ware, James Bay, Bondax, DJ EZ, Milky Chance, Gorgon City, Nick Mulvey, and SOAK. 

8:58, The Magic Numbers and more set for Standon Calling

Standon Calling has unveiled another myriad of high class talent for its 10th anniversary outing. Ex-Orbital's Paul Hartnoll will now be bringing his solo project 8:58 to the Big Top stage and platinum-selling The Magic Numbers lead live additions to The Last Dance Saloon, along with Ezra Furman, PINS and much more. Formerly known as the Lawn Stage and inspired by the 2015 Wild West theme 'A Town of Two Faces', The Last Dance Saloon has been curated by champions of new music BBC Introducing, and independent record labels Loose Music and the hugely influential Bella Union. Leading electronic talent The 2 Bears, Maribou State, Severino of Horse Meat Disco, Kidnap Kid, Jax Jones and more will be behind the ones and twos in after dark takeovers of Standon Calling's famous nightclub, The Cowshed. Hosted by Bondax & Friends, Sink The Pink and Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge, The Cowshedwill ensure Standon Calling's birthday celebrations continue from dusk till dawn.

Standon Calling is gearing up for a truly unforgettable 10th birthday by inviting revellers and its favourite musicians from around the world to join in the celebrations. Today even more artists have been revealed, joining previously announced heavy weights Little Dragon, The Dandy Warhols (UK Festival Exclusive), Basement Jaxx, Roots Manuva, Hercules & Love Affair, Ella Eyre, Kwabs, Slaves and many more.

Following the split of the formidable Orbital last year, one half of the brother duo Paul Hartnoll will be taking over Standon's Big Top stage in 2015, with his new solo project 8:58. Out this week, 8:58's first album is already turning heads with collaborations with The Cure's Robert Smith, The Unthanks and Cillian Murphy. Standon Calling is incredibly excited to be having 8:58 performing live in The Big Top, on the opening night of it's 10th birthday bash.

In keeping with the festival's Wild West and day-to-night inspired theme 'A Town of Two Faces', Standon Calling will be delivering the very best in live music during the day in The Last Dance Saloon tent, while at night, electronic music's finest take over The Cowshed

Americana label Loose Music's takeover of The Last Dance Saloon on Friday 31st July will see a special performance by The Magic Numbers. Renowned for their beautiful harmonies and blissful chorus hooks, the four-piece soared to success after their self-titled debut album. Now with Grammys, Mercury Prize nominations and four albums under their belt, the band will be unmissable in the intimate setting of The Last Dance Saloon. Also revealed for the Loose Music takeover is Danny & The Champions Of The World, who having spent much of 2014 touring around the world will be well up to the task of entertaining the crowds at Standon. They will be joined by the West Coast sounds of Treetop Flyers The Goat Roper Rodeo BandJo Rose, Canyon Ride and Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards, who's 2014 album Distance came 'hugely recommended' by The Guardian and others in praising reviews.

The impressive Bella Union welcome some of its own exciting acts in a takeover of The Last Dance Saloon on Sunday 2nd August. With rave reviews of his riotous live shows, Ezra Furman will have crowds jumping when he performs over the weekend and festival-goers will in for a treat with further performances from Manchester all-female four-piece PINSZun Zun Egui, funk maestro Clarence ClarityPeter Broderick with full live band, Bernard & Edith and the long awaited return of exmagician, formerly of Cashier No. 9.

Offering something completely different after dark, The Cowshed will be taken over each night by a different host for three very eclectic parties. Joining polysexual club crew Sink The Pink and their brand new dirty disco party Savage and providing the tunes will be one half of The 2 Bears and longtime DJ Raf DaddySeverino of notorious party-starters Horse Meat Disco, colourful MC Gaff-E and DJ/ProducerJonjo Jury.

Bondax & Friends sees the urban dance pair joined by Maribou State, another duo well known for their well crafted, melodic gems as well as Black Butter beat-maker Kidnap Kid, Grammy-nominee and Duke Dumont collaborator Jax Jones and a producer on the cusp of major success, South London's Grades

The Cowshed will also see Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge haul their massive record collections into The Cowshed to present the legendary jazz, funk and dance sounds of the original Dingwalls Sunday Sessions, established in 1987.

McBusted to headline Lytham Festival

Pop punk supergroup McBusted are today confirmed as the Saturday main stage headliner for Lytham Festival, taking place 2nd – 9th August across Lytham. Additionally, Rae Morris, Rebecca Ferguson, Scouting For Girls and Tenors Of Rock are to headline an all-new stage, the Pavilion, set to host gigs every night in the festival’s biggest year to date.

Saturday 8th August sees Lytham Festival welcome McBusted, a pop punk supergroup of stadium proportions. An amalgamation of Busted and McFly, the group have supported One Direction and consistently sold out areas in their own right since coming together in 2013. The swoon-inducing group featuring James Bourne, Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, former Strictly constant Harry Judd, and ‘I’m A Celebrity…’ winners Dougie Poynter and Matt Wills, inspire more than just a scream or two with tracks such as ‘Air Guitar’. Tickets for the McBusted event will go on sale 9am Tuesday 7th April. 

Ahead of her show Rae Morris comments:

My nana lives in Lytham so I spent a lot of time there as a child. It has a very dear place in my heart and the music events are always very special. I'm so happy to be involved.

Tuesday 4th August is to feature another soulstress in the form of X Factor runner-up Rebecca Ferguson. The critically-acclaimed singer provides a touch of jazz for the festival as she performs tracks from her record ‘Lady Sings The Blues, a tribute album to Billie Holiday released in the year that would have seen her 100th Birthday.
 
Also to crown the Pavilion stage during Lytham Festival are pop-rock trio Scouting For Girls on Wednesday 5th August. The triple-BRIT Award winning group known for hits such as the number one single ‘This Aint A Love Song’ will offer the perfect ‘feel good’ vibe at the festival. Five powerful male vocalists otherwise known as Tenors Of Rock will take to the stage on Monday 3rd; expect a high-octane performance of classics with a unique twist such as ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine and ‘God Gave Rock And Roll To You.
 
Lytham Festival Director Peter Taylor comments:

“This latest announcement is very exciting for Lytham Festival, it’s the result of a lot of hard work and planning that is being channelled into the event’s development. Lytham Festival still has elements on the Proms as is evident in the A-list headliner we’ve added, McBusted. This night at Lytham Green will be soundtracked by hits people know and love and there will be a big party atmosphere. 
 
However, in Lytham Festival’s new form we have more locations and a wider breadth of artists, the result is yet more opportunities to see even more great music. Plus it can only be a good thing that one of these amazing talents, Rae Morris, is one of Lancashire’s very own. We’re proud to be bringing her and the other stars to one of Lytham’s landmark venues.”  

Furthermore, the Pavilion stage will host after-party events for those wishing to carry on celebrating once the main stage, better know as The Proms Arena, comes to a close. Trance music pioneer Chicane will keep the dance floor filled on Thursday 6th August as the official after party for Faithless. Blackpool club night and 80s aficionados ‘Adam and Eve’ will take charge of proceedings on Friday 7th, the perfect follow on from Lytham Festival’s ‘80s VS 90s’ themed show earlier that evening.

Last but by no means least 2015 sees Lytham Festival introduce camping for the very first time. Festival goers wishing to pitch up their tents can do so at Lytham Farm for just £10 per person for Wednesday until Monday. Campsite access is free for those holding a full weekend ticket. 
 
As previously announced, this year sees Lytham Proms become Lytham Festival. The event will span a whole week from 2nd until 9th August, including an eclectic mix of music, literary and comedy suitable for all ages and tastes hosted in venues around the local area.
 
Other artists appearing over on the Proms Arena this summer will see an ‘80s vs 90s themed evening of nostalgia on Friday 7th August starring Billy Ocean, Vengaboyz, Sinitta, East 17, Chesney Hawkes, Jimmy Sommerville and 5ive. The much loved proms-style evening will once again close the event on Sunday 9th in an evening titled ‘Songs from Stage and ScreenThe Royal Philharmonic Orchestrawill expertly back performances from a number of very special performers including Elaine PaigeMarti Pellow, Jonathan Antoine and Laura Wright