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Global superstar and seven-time Grammy Award winner TAYLOR SWIFT was the first headliner announced for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park2015 bringing The 1989 World Tour to the Great Oak Stage in London’s iconic park on Saturday 27 June
Joining the most talked about artist in the world will be very special guests ELLIE GOULDING and JOHN NEWMAN.
BRIT and MTV Europe awards winner ELLIE GOULDING is one the UK’s best selling female artist having sold almost 20 million records worldwide. Her last album ‘Halcyon/Halcyon Days’ topped the UK chart, went top ten in the US and she has just had a UK top ten single ‘Outside’ with Calvin Harris. Ellie was one of the special guests Taylor Swift brought onstage in Los Angeles during her RED tour; the pair duetted on Ellie’s hit ‘Anything Could Happen’ and also her UK #1 ‘Burn’.
British soul sensation JOHN NEWMAN is currently working on the follow up to his UK #1 album ‘Tribute’ which featured the number 1 single ‘Love Me Again’ and was a top ten hit all over the world. Like Ellie, John has also worked with Calvin Harris scoring a UK chart topper with ‘Blame’ earlier this year.
Taylor Swift is the essential pop star headlining the essential event of 2015. Her critically acclaimed sell out 2014 RED worldwide tour saw her play five sold out shows at London’s The O2. With career record sales in excess of 30 million albums and almost 80 million song downloads, Taylor is the only artist in history to have an album hit 1 million plus first-week sales in the US three times (with 2010's Speak Now, 2012's RED and 2014's 1989).
As Blissfields enters the halfway point of its second decade, the festival takes a weekend to look back over its 15-year history, gaze into the curious future of the universe and permits your imagination to run free. We invite you, and all tourists from the future, to the ultimate journey in traveling across the ages with Blissfields 2015… “Somewhere In Time.”
You’ll be able to explore Blissfields four-dimensional world featuring brand new and bespoke installations and artwork, plunge yourself into living, breathing and interactive festival scenery, bathe under the stars, join themed games and get a clear perception of humanity; where we've been, where we're going, the pitfalls, the possibilities, the perils and the promise. All realised in Blissfields own vision of inclusivity, of family, of art and wonder, of music discovery and hazy inconsequentiality.
Road To Blissfields
Before then, Blissfields is pleased to announce 2015’s Road To Blissfields shows where emerging acts will compete across the country to play a slot on the main event bill.
This year the emphasis is on quality more than ever, streamlining the heats into just three shows happening in Hampshire, the Midlands and London, with just those three acts going on to play for the festival next summer.
Confirmed dates for the shows are;
The Kings Theatre, Portsmouth: 9th April.
A turn of the 20th Century jaunt held in a secret room in the rafters of the venue.
The Monarch, Camden, London: 18th April.
A jovial step back in time to a simpler idea of summer – when the coconut shy was king. Followed by Soundtracks club night until 2:30am.
The Sugarmill, Stoke-On-Trent: 25th April.
All bets are off as you’re exposed to the inexplicable future.
Judges on each night will consist of the festival’s organisers and representatives, music writers and journalists, radio presenters, promoters and industry-heads. Winners will be decided on the night, and applications are open to any artist or band wanting to register athttp://bit.ly/RTBapply15.
Having announced seminal band Ride’s long-awaited return last week, we are delighted to release the first set of acts for Field Day Saturday 6th June and Sunday 7th June 2015.
We are extremely honoured to announce that the iconic Patti Smithand her band will be joining headliners Ride on the Field Day Sunday line up. Her ground breaking 1975 debut ‘Horses’ was a landmark album whose influence grows with every year that passes. 2015 will mark the 40th anniversary of the album, and Patti, together with her band, will be performing it in its entirety on the Field Day main stage, alongside some other classics we all know and love.
Also on board for Field Day Sunday are atmospheric Brooklyn four-piece DIIV, who, lead by musical provocateur Zachary Cole Smith will be making their first London appearance in two years at Field Day – with brand new music. They will be joined by New Jersey band Ducktails, the increasingly less ‘solo’ endeavour of Matt Mondanile (of Real Estate); as well as Liverpudlian synth poppers Outfit, and conceptual pop artist Jane Weaver, who will bring her beautiful synth psych-pop and Stereolab-esque sounds to Field Day.
To headline the main Eat Your Own Ears stage on the Saturday, Field Day will be warmly welcoming back Caribou. A regular Field Day favourite since the very first edition in 2007, Dan Snaith released his sublime and critically acclaimed sixth album ‘Our Love’ earlier this autumn. We literally can’t wait to have him and his band at Field Day again – this time as the well-deserved headliner!
Caribou will be joined by an eclectic line up which includes the anticipated comeback of 2012 Mercury Prize nominees Django Django. Their closing set at FD2013 has been one of our fondest Field Day memories and we are very excited to see what 2015 will bring.
Also on board is Melbourne producer Chet Faker with his nebulous intersection of R&B and soul-influenced electronic music, as well as Kindness’ Adam Bainbridge, who will bring his sensual experimental soul grooves of his latest brilliant release ‘Otherness’ to Victoria Park.
We are very excited to welcome composer, violinist, and vocalist Owen Pallet; who is also known for his previous violin-looping live project Final Fantasy and his work with everyone from Arcade Fire, The National and Beirut, to The Brooklyn Philharmonic, The National Ballet of Canada and The Barbican Centre.
World music has always played a significant part in Field Day’s line up and we are delighted to have the brilliant Ethiopian keyboardist Hailu Mergia with us this year, joined by Tony Buck and Mike Majkowski. Mergia’s ground breaking 1977 record with the Walias (Ethiopiques) “Tche Belew”, a collection of instrumental jazz and groove recordings, has just been re-released last month by Awesome Tapes from Africa.
We are thrilled to announce that Russian techno DJ Nina Kraviz, one of dance music’s breakthrough names of the last five years, will be headlining the Bugged Out tent at Field Day 2015 with her signature raw blend of house and techno. Listening to her productions and DJ sets more than proves the acclaim she has received and we can’t wait for her to bring her acid infused sound to Field Day.
Also confirmed are rapper and multi-instrumentalist Madlib (DJ), The Guardian’s 2014 break-through actSOPHIE, a live set from the esteemed producer Clark, who just released his self-titled seventh album via Warp earlier this month; as well as Lithuanian Berlin-based Ten Walls, who shot to prominence with the anthemic brilliance of ‘Walking With Elephants’, one of the biggest tracks of last year.
Stunning Brooklyn-based Colombian Tei Shi (aka Valerie Teicher), the dazzling exponent of celestial R&B and pop electronica is also on board; as well as sister trio Jagaara, known for their soaring powerful vocals and beautifully arranged, atmospheric instrumentation. Erol Alkan’s Phantasy Sound label has a knack of picking up true talents and the acquisition of Ghost Culture is no different – we are very pleased to see him added to the Field Day line up.
We are excited to announce two very special exclusive b2b sets at Field Day 2015: Expect an epic b2b set from Berghain residents and techno mammoths Ben Klock and MarcelDettman and a one-off exclusive b2b set from the brilliant and Field Day favourite Daniel Avery and Andrew Weatherall.
After a hugely successful and unforgettable weekend event last summer, the 9th edition of Field Day will be held on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June 2015 at its home in Victoria Park in the heart of East London.
Tom Baker, President of Field Day: "After a dream-come-true last week and Ride coming back after 20 years to headline Field Day Sunday, I’m really thrilled that Caribou (someone I’ve worked with for many, many, years), will close the main EYOE stage on Saturday. It’s of course amazing to have Patti Smith and her band performing the incredible Horses, alongside so many other exciting acts over the weekend: everyone from Ethiopiques legend Hailu Mergia to Django Django, DIIV and Ducktails all back with brand new music… just so many… Bring on June 2015!”
As with years gone by, Field Day will be providing ample entertainment for those looking for respite from the music in the Village Mentality area on The Village Green. Expect traditional side stalls inspired by country pastimes and weird and wonderful fete games such as sack racing, tug-o-war, tea bag tossing, winkle picking competition and last year’s highlight: the Nettle Eating Competition.
A particularly commanding lady will again make her appearance at Werchter next summer. Florence + the Machine will perform in the Festival Park on Thursday 25 June. Other names already confirmed for Rock Werchter 2015 are Foo Fighters, Muse, Pharrell Williams and alt-J. More to follow shortly.
Florence Welch is a young woman of pedigree who has always dreamed of a musical career, full of creative twists and turns, just like that of Björk, Kate Bush and PJ Harvey. And she created a dream team to make sure it happened. The key figure is keyboard player Isabella Summers, who is nicknamed 'Isabella Machine' because of her electronic music talents. Instantly the band is much loved by the British critics and dominating the radio over here with 'Dog Days Are Over' and 'You Got The Love', a fine cover of an old soul number. In 2010 the debut album 'Lungs' (2009) led to a memorable concert at the festival's former Pyramid Marquee. The tent should have been three times bigger and was rocked so hard by the fiery Welch that it left a rip in Florence's long black dress. Two years later on the Main Stage she says 'Let's hope that happens again'. She captures the hearts of the audience with ease. It's onwards and upwards from here.
Reading & Leeds Festivals are excited to announce undisputed global superstars Metallica as the first headliners for 2015 in a UK Festival Exclusive performance. James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich and Rob Trujillo will take to the Main Stage next August Bank Holiday Weekend to provide a defining moment of the 2015 festival season.
Returning to the prestigious headline spot for a record fourth time in 2015, the band have a rich history at the Festivals, having first headlined Reading Festival 18 years ago. With a career spanning over three decades and more than 110 million records sold across the world, Metallica are undoubtedly one of the biggest and best live acts on the planet. Their critically acclaimed film ‘Some Kind of Monster’ will be re-released on December 15th, available for the first time digitally and on Blu-ray, and including ‘Metallica: This Monster Lives’, a brand new 25-minute feature following up on the last decade with the band.
Lars Ulrich from Metallica says:
“We are obviously beyond thrilled to be returning to headline the magnificent and mighty double shot at Reading & Leeds for the fourth time. We are practically the house band. Bring it!”
Festival boss Melvin Benn comments:
“I’m excited to be able to announce Metallica as the first headliner for Reading & Leeds 2015. Their amazing live show promises to be a favourite with rock, metal and genuine music fans at the UK's most important music festival, perfectly topping a bill of brilliant acts from across the genres. I’m looking forward to revealing the rest of the Festival line up, which will feature the absolute best of rock, indie, dance and hip hop and will only add to the amazing atmosphere that make Reading & Leeds so special.”
Following this year’s explosive secret set at Reading, Jamie T will make the trip to both Festival sites in 2015. Fresh from a hugely successful sold out UK tour and the release of third album ‘Carry On The Grudge’ this autumn, Jamie T is one of the hottest acts of the moment and an exciting addition to the Festival line-up.
Fresh from their highly anticipated fourth studio album, Californian post-hardcore favourites Pierce The Veil will be making their long-awaited Reading & Leeds debut in 2015.
Vic Fuentes from the band comments:
"We've been dying to do these Festivals ever since we started touring in the UK! It's such an honour to be a part of something that people wait all year round to see.”
With his set this year proving to be one of the defining moments on the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage, drum ‘n’ bass maestro Wilkinson is no stranger to Reading & Leeds. Stepping up his live show yet another notch following his ‘Lazers Not Included’ tour, he will be returning to the Festival in 2015.
Headlining The Pit Stage, Refused have become one of the most influential heavy bands of a generation. The Swedish punk band’s now legendary album ‘The Shape Of Punk To Come’ fused noisy hardcore, post-punk, techno and jazz to create an entirely original sound. Since reforming for shows in 2012, the band have returned stronger than ever with a live set that shows the true scope of their musical legacy.
With two critically acclaimed albums released in the last two years, Run The Jewels are arguably the hottest hip-hop act on the planet. Making their Reading & Leeds debut next year, rap veterans Killer Mike and El-P’s performance will be essential Festival viewing.
Manchester Orchestra will make their third trip to Reading & Leeds in 2015. Following the release of fourth album ‘Cope’ and this year’s stripped down alternate version ‘Hope’, their appearances at the Festivals will be a summer highlight for indie-rock fans.
Award-winning dance music event We Are FSTVL have announced a staggering100 names for their anticipated 2015 event, ahead of returning to the ‘Field of Dreams’ in Upminster, Essex for the third year running on Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st May 2015. Featuring the likes of Carl Cox, Loco Dice, Pleasure State (live), Hannah Wants, Sven Väth, Jamie Jones, Seth Troxler, Adam Beyer, Ten Walls (live), Dennis Ferrer, Hot Since 82, Jackmaster and many more, We Are FSTVL have curated a line-up that firmly positions itself at the very heart of the international festival circuit and paves the way for their biggest year to date.
Having made a spectacular sell-out debut in 2013, We Are FSTVL has seen a rapid rise in the space of just two years. After doubling in size in their second year following unparalleled levels of demand, We Are FSTVL has since broken through in a massive way and now attracts crowds of over 30,000 from right across the UK.
Saturday 30th May The first to grace the festival’s main stage is dance music mainstay Carl Cox. Taking the reins from the likes of Disclosure and Fatboy Slim, Carl’s debut We Are FSTVL performance will be packed full of Ibiza spirit, whilst Seth Troxler is also set to unleash his universally recognised brand of techno on the Upminster crowd.Grammy nominated producer Nic Fanciulli is set to share his driving strain of house and techno, with the larger than life force of Solomun also set to cause a stir. In-demand producers Gorgon City and Hot Since 82 will also feature, joined by Anglo-American Second City and BBC Radio 1 tastemaker Monki.
Heading up Saturday’s techno Warehouse is Loco Dice’s Used + Abused party, whose thundering brand of techno is sure to kick things off in style. Drumcode head Adam Beyer and Berlin-based duo Tale of Us will be on hand to deliver their atmospheric take on deep house and techno, with special guest Recondite providing a melodic live set of his own. Fuse-boss Enzo Siragusa also make his We Are FSTVL debuts, with Yaya set to round off the day’s proceedings.
The ‘What Hannah Wants’ takeover of Saturday’s Big Top Bass stage brings a selection of artists at the heart of the UK’s bustling underground scene. Joining Hannah is iconic DJ and one half of ‘Can U Dance’ Oneman, who’s set to perform alongside PMR signee T Williams and the duo who recently charted at #3 in the UK singles charts with their rework of R Kelly’s ‘Bump & Grind’ – Waze & Odyssey. Black Butter’s My Nu Leng and Kidnap Kid will also be joining ranks, alongside up-and-comers GotSome and the enigmatic Friend Within.
Seminal house music label Defected are also to return to Upminster to showcase the latest and greatest names in electronic music. Danish visionary Noir is set to explore the darker edges of electronic music, whilst Berlin native Oliver Dollar will also feature, having stormed the UK charts with ‘Pushing On’ earlier this year. Label upstarts Sonny Fedora and Christoph will each deliver their distinctive twist of techno, disco and italo dynamics and wrapping up the label’s ‘Very Big Top’ arena are Sam Divine and Simon Dunmore – two producers at the heart of the imprint for over two decades.
Mark Knight’s newest offering of ‘Toolroom Live’ presents the label’s core artist roster in the festival’s luxury VIP village. After his recent remix of London Grammar’s ‘Sights’ became an Ibiza staple, Dennis Ferrer is set to deliver his iconic brand of tech-house, whilst Dirtybird-affiliate Shiba San and Tensnake both make their We Are FSTVL returns. German duo Tube & Berger are next in line, with the deep house sound of Wanklemut’s “My Head is a Jungle” also guaranteed to make an impression on the dance floor. Purple Disco Machine will then add a touch of soul to the line-up, which is rounded off by Toolroom residents Dosem and Weiss.
Sunday 31st May – Main Stage announcement imminent.
Returning to We Are FSTVL for the third year running are crowd favourites Cocoon, whose stage will be spearheaded by the undisputed king of techno Sven Väth.Joining him are Cocoon heroes Ilario Alicante and Ricardo Villalobos, whilst Âmeand Dixon will play an extended back-to-back set – a recent highlight of Fabric’s 15th Birthday weekend. To top this off Ten Walls, credited with producing one of the biggest tracks of the summer in ‘Walking with Elephants’, is also set to perform live.
Drum & Bass stalwarts Hospital Records are next to call the shots of We Are FSTVL’s ‘Big Top Bass’ arena. Boasting one of the largest line-ups at the festival, the label will be out in force to showcase the likes of Camo & Crooked, Logistics b2b Nu:Tone, Lynx, Fred V & Grafix and Etherwood. Special guests will also include garage legends DJ EZ & MJ Cole, as well as the joyful Toyboy & Robin, all supported by three of the leading MCs on the circuit; Lowqui, Wrec & Dynamite MC.
Bringing his acclaimed club night ‘Paradise’ back to Upminster is Hot Creations head Jamie Jones, who will be supported by label mates Richy Ahmed, Russ Yallopand WaFF. Prolific DJ and Viva Warriors frontman Steve Lawler will also be accompanied by Mark Jenkyns and rising star Patrick Topping, who’s recent single ‘Voicemail’ has been dominating the Beatport charts. DC10 residentJackmaster is next in line, whose eclectic music taste stretches from techno and house right the way through to classic disco and grime.
Back by popular demand is one of house music’s most sought after producers MK, whose ‘Area 10’ heads up Sunday’s VIP village. Joining MK are close friends Lee Foss and Anabel Englund, who will collectively perform as Pleasure State, having recently unveiled their debut release ‘Ghost in the System’. Purp&soul boss Ben Pearce will also feature, joined by up and coming producers andhim, Kant andShadow Child. A rare father-and-son performance from Kevin Saunderson andDantiez Saunderson will round off proceedings in fitting style.
Rock Werchter is pleased to announce Muse will headline on Sunday 28 June. Foo Fighters will headline the festival in Belgium on Thursday 25 June 2015.
Foo Fighters are coming by general demand. Every year we collect the wish lists from the friends of the festival and this year Foo Fighters are right at the top. To be sure of landing the band of the moment Rock Werchter is moving its dates forward a week. This is because the band is heading back to the States at the end of June to play a huge concert in front man Dave Grohl's home base of Washington D.C. on Saturday 4 July. In 2015 Foo Fighters will play Werchter for the third time in their 20 year history. They made their last appearance way back in 2005. Put together in eight iconic recording studios, the new album 'Sonic Highways' (2014) is Grohl's homage to the rich musical history of America, of which Foo Fighters are a fine example.
Muse have released six studio albums and have sold in excess of 20 million albums worldwide. Widely recognised as one of the best live bands in the world, they have won numerous music awards including five MTV Europe Music Awards, six NME Awards and six Q Awards. They have twice been awarded "Best British Live Act" at The Brits and have also been nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning Best Rock Album for The Resistance. Their last tour commenced in October 2012 and saw the band perform to over 2 million fans worldwide. Muse's sold out show at Rome's Olympic Stadium in July 13 was the first concert film to be filmed and presented in 4K Ultra High Definition. The band are currently in the studio working on their seventh studio album, scheduled for release in 2015.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have carved themselves emphatically into the pantheon of Rock mythology with their huge choruses, unmistakable visuals and extraordinary, pyrotechnical live performances. KISS return to Donington having graced Monsters of Rock in 1988 and 1996 and headlined Download, Europe’s biggest rock and metal festival, in 2008.
Singer Paul Stanley sees Download as the ultimate measure of a rock band’s standing:
Download has become a tradition of stature that separates the pretenders from the contenders and the champs from the chimps. It will be an honour to take our turf and leave no doubt why we wear the crown.
Meanwhile, bassist Gene Simmons said:
To all our fans – our intention is to get on that stage, blow the heavens to smithereens and take no prisoners.
Main support comes in the form of the final ever UK Festival Performance by iconic hell-raising metalheads Mötley Crüe. With the Crüe due to disband for good in early 2016, Download will have the honour and privilege of bringing a truly unique festival career to a blazing conclusion.
Bassist Nikki Sixxx said:
It's always an over the top day and night at Download Festival and we’re really excited to be coming over to the UK and playing the show.
Rock legends making the ultimate festival pilgrimage don’t stop there as seminal shredder Slash polishes and shines the trusty top hat to make his second appearance at Download with one of rock’s top vocalists, Myles Kennedy, and The Conspirators.
Slash said:
Download is a very special event for me. It's been a major destination since I started and I'm always excited to be a part of it.
Headlining the second stage and representing the new kids on the block are electronicore pioneers Enter Shikari, after the January 2015 release of their massively anticipated album The Mindsweep.
Singer Rou Reynolds is looking forward to the authentic festival experience:
The thing I love more than anything is playing outside, at night. We thank Download for the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the great outdoors and engulf and deluge festival-goers with our noise. It is an honour to be closing the night and because of this we will bring with us illuminations. Do attend.
