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!

Muse announced as Saturday headliner for Download Festival 2015

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Muse will make their debut at Europe’s biggest rock festival as Saturday’s main stage headliner at Download 2015.

Considered by many to be the greatest live act in the world, the genre-defying trio will follow in the footsteps of Rock Gods past and present when they walk the hallowed fields of Donington Park for the first time.

On their impending debut the band said:

We're really looking forward to Download. We’ve never played the festival before so it’s going to be really special.

Main support will come from alt-funk-rap-metal pioneers Faith No More, returning to the festival for the first time since their long-awaited comeback in 2009. The return of the San Francisco five-piece to Donington also coincides with the release of their first album in 18 years, due in April 2015, with first single Motherf****r set to drop at the end of this month.

Faith No More said: 

Hard to believe it’s been five years already, but what’s harder to deny is that a lot has changed. The last time we played Download the focus was on bringing back the past; now it’s all about the present and the future. Where it should be.

Also making a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated return to Download as second stage headliner is Marilyn Manson, back on top form and, when he’s not jamming with Johnny Depp, back in the studio readying his new album Pale Emperor – which is set for its first UK festival outing at Donington.

Manson said: 

It's been a few years since I’ve been at download. The Pale Emperor will rise and I was born to cause chaos.

All these great bands will be joined by metallic pop-punk heroes A Day To Remember, playing Download for the fifth time and the first since the release of critically acclaimed album Common Courtesy.

The band see performing at Download as a sign of their progress up the rock ladder:

We have been playing download for years and I've always been proud to say I was just on the damn thing. So to be asked to be one of the main bands on one of the sickest rock festivals on the planet blows my mind. Haha we were a garage band…We in ADTR like to put on a spectacle, and we plan to do just that.

Acts already announced for Download Festival 2015 are Slipknot, Judas Priest, Black Stone Cherryand Five Finger Death Punch with many more to come, including Sunday’s headliner. Can you guess who it is? Go on. I bet the answer’s on the tip of your tongue…

The Who to play British Summer Time Hyde Park 2015

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One of the greatest live bands of all time, THE WHO will take to the Great Oak Stage in London’s iconic Hyde Park on Friday 26th June with very special guests PAUL WELLER, KAISER CHIEFS AND JOHNNY MARR and others to be announced. The all-day bill will feature many more brilliant acts who owe an artistic debt to one of the most influential of all British bands. Tickets are on general sale 9am Thursday 20 November.

The band, who recently released a career-spanning set and were the subject of a rapturous sold out tribute show at Shepherds Bush Empire, are about to undertake the ten date WHO HITS 50 UK tour including two shows at the London O2 Arena.  During these shows  the band will take their audience on an ‘Amazing Journey’ through their entire career from the days of THE HIGH NUMBERS to classic albums such as WHO’S NEXT, TOMMY, QUADROPHENIA, MY GENERATION, LIVE AT LEEDS up to the present day.

Hyde Park will be the final UK show of the ‘WHO HITS FIFTY’ tour which ROGER DALTREY described as “This is the beginning of the long goodbye."

Friday 26th June will see THE WHO play Hyde Park for the fourth and possibly final time (three times as headliners and once as part of Live 8) they join Taylor Swift, performing on Saturday 27th June as part of an incredible array of talent who will make Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park the greatest music experience of the summer.

THE WHO’s very special guests include PAUL WELLER, widely considered to be one of the UK’s greatest song writers, has just released his second best of compilation ‘More Modern Classics’ with a new album due in 2015. Weller has had a lifelong relationship with The Who, citing them as an early influence, covering their songs whilst in The Jam and playing with both Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey at Teenage Cancer Trust shows.

KAISER CHIEFS will also be playing on the 26th June, the band are riding high off the back of their ‘Education, Education, Education And War’ album which has been widely hailed as a return to form. The band have a long history with The Who from playing early Teenage Cancer Trust Shows, covering Pinball Wizard at the 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony and singer Ricky Wilson performing at The Who Hits 50 tribute show at Shepherds Bush Empire.

JOHNNY MARR who has just released his second solo album ‘Playland‘ will be making his Hyde Park debut. The legendary guitarist also has history with The Who, in the early days of Oasis (specifically in the ‘Live Forever’ video) Noel Gallagher used to play a 1960’s Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar lent to him by Johnny who in turn had originally bought it from The Who’s Pete Townshend.

AEG Live, The Royal Parks and Barclaycard are proud to present the third year of this unique and world-class event.  Over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of fans have been entertained and 2015 will be no exception. As well as the huge ticketed headliners the midweek activities will return with free access for park visitors to enjoy film, music, sport and literature.

Jim King, Senior Vice President Live Events, said: "The Who are THE consummate live band and we are extremely excited to bring them back to Hyde Park. In addition to Paul Weller, there will be a great bill of artists who have been influenced by The Who over the years and we look forward to what will be a full day of fantastic music.”

Penelope Boyd Head of Events and Filming at The Royal Parks, said: “Next year’s BST Hyde Park is already shaping up to be the must see event of 2015 – bringing a diverse range of entertainment to the heart of the capital with Taylor Swift making her Hyde Park debut on the Saturday night and now The Who making a welcome return on the Friday.”

Slipknot to headline Friday at Download Festival 2015

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The seven time Grammy-nominated Iowa nine have become one of the most iconic live acts in the musical world thanks to their extraordinary musicianship and dramatic, instantly recognisable aesthetic. Frontman Corey Taylor adds:

Being invited back to Download always feels like coming home. Headlining Download, for the 3rd time, feels like the culmination of a life's dream. It's an honor, a privilege and we're all looking forward to it.

Main support comes from locally-bred Metal Gods Judas Priest. The Birmingham rockers played the first Monsters of Rock in 1980 and come to Download for a second time, having previously played in 2008.

Priest are ecstatic at the prospect of renewing their longstanding acquaintance with Donington:

35 years ago Judas Priest took the stage for the first Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington!

We are thrilled to be performing at Download 2015 as the band continues its 40th anniversary 'Redeemer of Souls' World Tour that brings us home to see and hear the roar of our #priestfamily.

Headlining the second stage on Friday are Kentucky hard rockers Black Stone Cherry. Last year’s secret band return for a full set following the success of their titanic Magic Mountain album and hugely successful UK arena tour. Speaking on their return to Donington Park, guitarist Ben Wells said:

Getting the opportunity to not only return to one of our favourite festivals, but to come back as headliners of the 2nd stage, for the 2nd time is just UNREAL!  After the recent tour we just finished in the UK, we didn't know how to come back in a bad ass way and thanks to our friends at Download and the fans who keep us going, we'll be back to rock your ass and give you the best show we can!  Thank you all for this opportunity. We love you and we'll see ya in June!

Marauding alt-metallers Five Finger Death Punch also add their musical muscle to the line-up, coming to Donington for the first time since the release of last year’s blockbuster two-parter, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell.

Download has become a key part of guitarist Zoltan Bathory’s live music calendar:

Playing Download Festival is always a highlight for us as it is a bona fide global Rock n' Roll destination everyone travels to and brings their A game to….Both the bands AND the audience. You rarely see crazy crowds like this. In fact, it is vividly etched into our memories since it was the place where we may have broken the record for biggest crowd surfing in recorded history.  I think the migration of Atlantic salmon took second place.

Secret Garden Party announce 2015 theme and new website

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The Secret Garden Party is very pleased to announce the launch of its new website today, illustrated by Dave Little www.secretgardenparty.com and its theme for 2015 which will be, ‘Childish Things.’

The Secret Garden Party has also been shortlisted for ‘Best Medium Festival’ and ‘Extra-Festival Activity’ awards at the forthcoming UK Festival Awards. It won Best Medium Festival’ at the UK’s Live Music Business Awards last month.

In addition, grant applications are now open for creative submissions and luxury camping is now on sale.

‘Childish Things’ theme…

Head Gardener, Fred Fellowes explains the thinking behind the ‘Childish Things’ theme for 2015……

‘Why are we encouraged so much to grow up and leave, what adults call, the best days of our lives? Not that we needed that much encouragement; we spent our time hurtling towards the 'next stage', determined to be bigger, more grown up, older, more mature and tall enough to take the ride. And what have we found? Certainly not all of the freedoms we thought we would.

"WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPOKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT AS A CHILD: BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS." Corinthians 13:11

Join us this summer as we’ve decided it's time to get those ‘Childish Things’ out of the box again and embrace them as this year’s theme. Escape the world that wants us to grow-up (and behave); and explore what we all left behind. Next July we will create for you a 100-acre toy box of a party, complete with jelly, ice cream and sprinkles, so you can release and realise your inner child. Remember youth is wasted on the young; so here’s your second shot at it.’

Croatia Rocks arrives in 2015

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As Ibiza Rocks reaches and celebrates 10 years of bringing live events to the White Isle, the ground-breaking brand is also firmly looking into the future with the launch of Croatia Rocks Festival.  This is a festival first for Rocks and will take place on Croatia’s most famous party beach, Zrce, from Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd July 2015.

Over the last decade Croatia has been one of the hottest destinations in the world for adventurous festivalgoers and is now ready to embrace a new chapter.  Renowned for pushing the boundaries and shaking up the music scene in Ibiza for the last 10 years, Rocks will bring something new to Zrce, with a combination of established live acts and DJs plus genuinely exciting new artists and producers. As well as the main stage events with festival headliners, a hand-picked selection of credible and diverse club partners from the UK and Ibiza will join a programme of Balearic fused beach and boat parties.

Shane Murray, Brand Director, Ibiza Rocks said: “This is a genuinely exciting move for Ibiza Rocks and marks a significant new chapter in our story as we reach 10. Croatia has clearly evolved from an emerging to an established music destination and it’s long been a wish of ours to bring the spirit of Ibiza Rocks to the beach in Croatia.  We’ve got great partners onboard and look forward to becoming a part of what is already a rich and diverse festival scene.  Exciting times lie ahead in Ibiza and beyond and we can’t wait to bring the Rocks experience to such a beautiful location."

Zane Lowe, Ibiza Rocks Music Director said: “I love working with Ibiza Rocks. We're looking forward to playing in Croatia next year, as the Rocks family continues to find new audiences in new places.”

UK Festival Award final shortlists announced

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The following shortlists were decided by the online public vote:
 
Best Major Festival
 
In association with: PlugGo
 
For festivals with a daily capacity of 40,000 or above. The giants of the festival scene playing host to the world’s biggest acts, tens of thousands of people and multiple arenas across sites that sprawl for acres. Like popup small cities, the largest festivals are a regular pilgrimage and a rite of passage for many. But which one is the best of the big daddies?
 

  • Bestival
  • British Summer Time Hyde Park
  • Creamfields
  • Download Festival
  • Glastonbury
  • GlobalGathering
  • Isle of Wight Festival
  • Reading & Leeds
  • Sonisphere Festival
  • T in the Park
  • V Festival
  • Wireless Festival

 
Last year’s winner: Download
 
Best Medium-Sized Festival
 
In association with: Eventbrite
 
For festivals with a daily capacity of 10,000 to 39,999. Not as large as the giants, but by no means in their shadow, these colourful and diverse events provide a more boutique feel, and a more intimate experience. Many start life much smaller, but have grown to this size due to their popularity. Some will keep expanding and join the ranks of the majors, others will settle happily into their niche and stay there. Who will pick up the prize this year?
 

  • Beautiful Days
  • Bloodstock Open Air
  • Boardmasters
  • Camp Bestival
  • Green Man
  • Kendal Calling
  • Latitude
  • Secret Garden Party
  • We Are FSTVL
  • Y Not Festival

 
Last year’s winner: Kendal Calling
Best Small Festival
 
Often quirky, due to a personal touch and grassroots appeal, the cosiness and sense of community at these festivals is second to none for many people. This award celebrates those who stick to the mantra that small is beautiful.
 

  • 2000trees
  • Barn on the Farm
  • Bearded Theory
  • Beat Herder
  • Brownstock Festival
  • Cambridge Folk Festival
  • Festival No.6
  • Jimmy's Sausage & Beer Festival
  • Leopallooza
  • Zoo Project Festival, The

 
Last year’s winner: Bearded Theory
 
Best New Festival
 
In association with: ID&C
 
Once again, some excellent new events were launched this year, bravely taking on those with established reputations. Bringing a fresh take, new music and alternative audiences to the festival scene, which one have you already put in your diary for next time?
 

  • Mutiny in the Park
  • No Tomorrow
  • OnBlackheath
  • Red Rooster
  • Rewind North
  • Secret Festival, The
  • Somersault Festival
  • Summer Sizzler
  • Together Festival
  • UKG Fest

 
Last year's winner: We Are FSTVL


Best Family Festival
 
Growing up doesn't mean you have to stop going to festivals – it just gives you a great opportunity to bring your kids! Every year, there seems to be more and more children at festivals, with increasingly impressive areas and facilities for kids reflecting this growth. Games, workshops, kid zones and activities for youngsters all combine to make their weekend a memorable one – and often a much easier one for mums and dads. Which festival was the most enjoyable for kids and parents this year?
 

  • British Summer Time Hyde Park
  • Beautiful Days
  • Camp Bestival
  • Eden Festival
  • Green Man
  • Jamie Oliver & Alex James present The Big Feastival
  • Kendal Calling
  • Latitude
  • Leopallooza
  • Victorious Festival

 
Last year’s winner: Camp Bestival
 
Best Metropolitan Festival
 
Using the existing infrastructure of a town’s venues, this sector is growing thanks to no need for camping, very little threat from the weather and the ability to take place at any time of the year. Sold either on a show-by-show basis, or an all encompassing wristband, they give people chance to see multiple acts in the comfort of the indoors. Which one had you ditching green fields for the concrete jungle?
 

  • Blackpool Music Festival
  • Dot to Dot
  • Fusion Festival
  • Great Escape, The
  • Live at Leeds
  • Liverpool Sound City
  • MADE Birmingham
  • Slam Dunk Festival
  • Tramlines
  • Whitby Goth Weekend

 
Last year’s winner: Dot To Dot
 


Best Dance Event
 
In association with: XL Video
 
Tribes have been gathering to dance in fields for millennia. More recently, growing numbers of events solely dedicated to electronic music have been forging a name for themselves as crowds look to dance the day – and night – away to everything from techno to trance and dubstep to house. Which one had you reaching for the lasers?
 

  • Beat Herder
  • Bestival
  • Creamfields
  • GlobalGathering
  • Lovebox
  • Mutiny in the park
  • South West Four
  • The Parklife Weekender
  • Tramlines
  • We Are FSTVL

 
Last year’s winner: Creamfields
 
The Grass Roots Festival Award
 
Often the best small festivals spring from an organic labour of love and a long-time dream which has been shared by thousands more. These festivals should be celebrated, not just for the courage, vision, commitment and often personal sacrifice invested by their organisers, but also because they never forget where they’ve come from, supporting their local communities and new music along the way while retaining an independent spirit and resisting commercial saturation. All hail the grass roots festivals and their creators!
 

  • 2000trees
  • Barn on the Farm
  • Beautiful Days
  • Bloodstock Open Air
  • Eden Festival
  • Green Man
  • In The Woods Festival
  • Jimmy's Sausage & Beer Festival
  • Leopallooza
  • Y Not Festival

 
Last year’s winner: 2000Trees
 


Best Overseas Festival
 
In association with: Yourope
 
Increasing numbers of Brits are heading abroad for their festival fix, choosing a different culture, new surroundings or sometimes just more reliable weather over home events. Some have become household names the world over for their international appeal and some even have more Brits in attendance than many homegrown medium sized festivals. Which one will be voted top by the fans?
 

  • Tomorrowland (Belgium)
  • Coachella (USA)
  • Benicassim (Spain)
  • Ibiza Rocks (Spain)
  • Outlook (Croatia)
  • Splendour In The Grass (Australia)
  • Rock am Ring/ Rock Im Park (Germany)
  • Wacken Open Air (Germany)
  • Pinkpop (The Netherlands)
  • Sonar (Spain)
  • Snowbombing (Austria)
  • NOS Alive – formerly Optimus Alive (Portugal)

 
Last year’s winner: Snowbombing (Austria) 
 
Best Toilets
 
Always one of the most talked-about issues at festivals, whether it’s pongy portable loos, the lingering longdrops or the unpleasant urinals, all festival toilets tang, but some more than others. Which festival boasted the cleanest cans and quickest queues?
 

  • Creamfields
  • Download Festival
  • End Of The Road
  • Kendal Calling
  • Larmer Tree Festival
  • Latitude
  • Reading & Leeds
  • Truck Festival
  • V Festival
  • We Are FSTVL

 
Last year’s winner: ArcTanGent
 


Headline Performance of the Year
 
In association with: SnoozeBox (curated by Gigwise)
 
A killer headline performance can be talked about for years to come, etched into musical history as one of those “I was there” moments. To succeed requires energy, musicianship, dedication, creativity and a fortuitous coming together of time and space. Some acts may be regulars on the festival circuit, but which one nailed it?
 

  • Arcade Fire at Glastonbury
  • Arctic Monkeys at Reading & Leeds
  • Biffy Clyro at T In The Park
  • Foals at Bestival
  • Kasabian at Glastonbury
  • The Killers at V Festival
  • The Libertines at British Summer Time
  • Linkin Park at Download
  • The Prodigy at Sonisphere
  • Metallica at Glastonbury
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Isle Of Wight
  • Suede at Kendal Calling

 
Last year’s winner: Arctic Monkeys at Glastonbury
 
Best Breakthrough Artist
 
In association with: Last.fm (curated by Drowned In Sound)
 
New talent is the lifeblood of the festival scene and smaller events and stages are abound with fresh acts hoping to catch the ears of the masses of music-lovers, and secure their place on the road to becoming tomorrow’s headliners. This award celebrates the ones that managed to get the fans and critics to sit up and pay attention.
 

  • The 1975
  • Augustines
  • Blood Red Shoes
  • Catfish & The Bottlemen
  • Goat
  • Jagwar Ma
  • Royal Blood
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor
  • The War on Drugs
  • Wolf Alice

 
Last year’s winner: Rudimental
 


Anthem of the Summer
 
In association with: Clash Magazine
 
The ultimate test of any song is how it’s received live – and there’s no better place than at festivals. While thousands of great records have been lapped up by millions over the summer, a few stood out as true classics, creating defining festival moments and were sung all the way back to the campsite. Which was your fave?
 

  • The 1975 – ‘Chocolate’
  • Arctic Monkeys – 'R U Mine'
  • Calvin Harris – ‘Summer’
  • Dolly Parton – ‘Jolene’
  • Hozier – ‘Take Me To Church’
  • Metallica – 'Whiskey In The Jar'
  • OutKast – ‘Ms Jackson’
  • Pharell Williams – 'Happy'
  • Royal Blood – 'Come On Over'
  • Sam Smith – ‘Stay With Me’

 
Last year’s winner: Daft Punk – ‘Get Lucky’
 
 
The following more specialist awards are decided by panels of industry experts:
 
Line-Up Of The Year
 
Picking the right bill will make or break a festival – no mean feat when there are hundreds of others trying to better you and a decreasing pool of established acts to bid on. Whether it’s about securing the biggest names in the world, putting together special collaborations, or just knowing what the audience wants, our judges are looking for the festival which displayed the most vision when booking acts.
 

  • Beacons Festival
  • Bestival
  • Creamfields
  • End Of The Road
  • Festival Number 6
  • Green Man
  • Latitude
  • Liverpool Music Week
  • Liverpool Sound City
  • Love Supreme Jazz Festival
  • Lovebox
  • OnBlackheath
  • Wireless

 
Last year’s winner: Latitude
 


Best Use of New Technology
 
In association with: White Light
 
Technological innovation is one of the strongest forces propelling the festival marketplace forward at this time. Whether it’s applied to help organisers forge closer relationships with their audiences outside the event or to enhance visitor experiences and operational efficiencies on-site, many new and groundbreaking tools are entering the market, and some of these will forever change the way that festivals are produced and experienced. This award recognises the individual application of new technology at a specific event that offers the greatest promise for the future of the market as a whole.
 
Bestival – For their fan ambassador scheme using an online platform provided by The Physical Network
 
Creamfields – For its epic live Youtube stream covering every stage of the festival
 
Eden Sessions – For their live global broadcast on Youtube delivered in association with Asus
 
Liverpool Sound City – For their iOS-integrated itinerary scheduling system
 
Lovebox – For their mobile audience engagement platform delivered in association with HTC using technology provided by Airbeem
 
The Parklife Weekender – For their revolutionary substance-analysis system supplied by The Loop and working with Greater Manchester Police
 
Salford Music Festival – For its smart, integrated ‘Event1’ event management system provided by 1SecureWeb
 
V Festival – For their ‘FanPic’ social engagement application, delivered in cooperation with Ticketmaster
 
Wireless Festival – For their smart visitor tracking system provided by Crowd Connected working with Eventbase
 
Y01 Festival – For its new queue-busting electronic access control system delivered by We Scan Tickets
 
Last year’s winner: Intelligent Venue Solutions on behalf of Barclaycard at Barclaycard British Summer Time (Hyde Park)
 


Agency of the Year
 
In association with: IQ Magazine
 
Recognising the booking agency responsible for making the greatest positive contribution to this summer’s festival content.
 

  • 13 Artists
  • CAA
  • CODA
  • Echo Location Talent Agency
  • ITB
  • K2
  • Primary
  • The Agency Group
  • WME
  • X-Ray

 
Last year’s winner: CODA
 
 
Concession of the Year
 
Food, drink, cash machines, merchandise: the essentials that keep festival-goers on their feet not only provide an essential source of income for festivals, but can also make a huge difference to the overall colour of an event. Concession staff are there day and night, rain or shine, with a smile and good humour, and this Award acknowledges the hard work they do and the importance of concession at festivals.
 

  • Ghandis Flip Flop
  • Gizzi Erskine's Chefs Club
  • Goodness Gracious Healthy Foods
  • Happy Maki Sushi
  • Hot Rocks Pizza
  • La Grande Bouffe
  • Lulu's Café
  • Mocha Mania
  • Paelleria
  • Smoke Stack

 
Last year’s winner: Strumpets With Crumpets
 


The Greener Festival Award
 
In association with: Bucks New University
 
The Red Kite mark is awarded by www.agreenerfestival.com on the basis of a questionnaire and where possible an environmental assessment. All festivals must demonstrate that they have coherent green policies promoting environmental efficiency and sustainability, including issues such as CO2 emissions, waste management and recycling. Which is the Greenest of them all?
 

  • BBC Hyde Park Proms
  • Cambridge Folk Festival
  • End of the Road
  • Glasgow 2014
  • Glastonbury Festival
  • Greenbelt
  • Nozstock: The Hidden Valley
  • Shambala Festival
  • T in the Park
  • Wood Festival

 
Last year’s winner: Shambala Festival
 
 
The Extra-Festival Activity Award
 
Music may be the vital heartbeat of all our festivals, but it’s often the “extras”, such as pop-up performances, mass participation games, quirky installations or just spectacular attention to detail which fill heads and cameras with memories that last a lifetime. There are so many unique and wonderful creative elements at festivals, but which one was extra special?
 

  • 3 Wishes Faery Fest
  • Beat Herder
  • Deerstock
  • Festival No.6
  • Secret Garden Party
  • Somersault
  • The Secret Festival
  • Victorious
  • Wilderness
  • Y Not/Truck/Brownstock

 
Last year’s winner: Wilderness
 


Promoter of the Year
 
In association with: Peppermint Bars
 
Recognising the festival organiser who has produced an outstanding event, overcome adversity, or truly gone above and beyond the call of duty and pulled something phenomenal out of the bag. There’s always at least one each year, often several so this one is often a very tough call for judges.
 

  • AMust4Music (Bloodstock)
  • Count Of Ten Group (Y Not, Truck, Brownstock, Hevy, Tramlines)
  • DF Concerts (T In The Park)
  • John Giddings and Solo (Isle Of Wight Festival)
  • Red Jelly Productions (Xstatic Summer Festival)
  • Rich Bryan (Bearded Theory)
  • Rob Star (Eastern Electrics)
  • Scott Barton (Creamfields)
  • The Zoo Project Festival Team
  • Vision Nine (Boardmasters, NASS)

 
Last year’s winner: Paddy Glasgow (Glasgowbury)
 
The Outstanding Contribution to Festivals Award
 
In association with: Intelligent Venue Solutions
 
Dedicated to an individual whose personal vision and energy has propelled the entire festival marketplace forward in a dynamic, creative and positive way.
 
Winner to be announced in due course.
 
Last year’s winner: Fiona Stewart (Green Man)

We Are FSTVL announce stage partners for 2015

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Award-winning UK dance festival We Are FSTVL returns to Upminster, Essex onSaturday 30th and Sunday 31st May 2015 to showcase the latest and greatest innovators from across the dance music spectrum. Gaining international recognition after only two years on the scene, We Are FSTVL are proud to announce their 2015 official stage partners. Next year’s edition will feature a host of leading dance labels and powerful clubbing brands including We Are FSTVL, Cocoon, Defected In The House, Toolroom Live, Hospitality, Paradise, MK Area 10, Hannah Wantsand Used + Abused.

Once again playing host to the flagship main stage across Saturday and Sunday, the We Are FSTVL  stage will showcase everything that the festival stands for: the best DJ talent in the world, spectacular production and a once in a lifetime experience for all.

2015 Saturday Stage Breakdown

The first of many new additions to the field of dreams is Loco Dice's Used + Abused party, its debut appearance at a UK festival since first launching in Ibiza in 2013. For more than a decade, Loco Dice has been at the very forefront of underground electronic music, and his Used + Abused party promises to explore the darker corners of the festival’s techno warehouse.

Another first for 2015 comes from lady of the moment Hannah Wants, the face of Saturday’s Big Top Bass stage. Over the last three years, Hannah has risen to the centre of a scene that is fast becoming global and is certainly no stranger to headline slots, after gaining worldwide recognition for her summer residency at Amnesia in Ibiza and countless sets at a number of major UK festivals in 2014. With her latest collaboration alongside Chris Lorenzo, ‘Rhymes’, set to cause serious heat on UK dancefloors, Hannah will ensure that the We Are FSTVL party never stops.

After 10 years in the game, Mark Knight recently unveiled his latest clubbing concept in the form of Toolroom Live, which takes over the festival’s luxury VIP village stage. Focusing on credible and quality house music, Toolroom Live is an exciting development in the label’s history and with a new core artist roster, We Are FSTVL is proud to be part of its journey.

Defected In The House will once again host their own stage after receiving incredible reactions in both 2013 and 2014. After celebrating their 15-year anniversary this year, Defected has successfully carried house music’s legacy into the 21st century as an institution for generations of music lovers and clubbers worldwide. With the new, Very Big Top serving as their home for the day, Defected are sure to impress with an a first rate line-up of exciting house talent.

2015 Sunday Stage Breakdown

A firm favourite since the festival’s debut, world leading electronic brand Cocoon will return to We Are FSTVL on Sunday 31st May – led by the undisputed figurehead of German club scene Sven Väth – and will now feature as part of the festival’s techno warehouse.  Since its inception in 1999, Cocoon’s universally recognised brand of techno has welcomed thousands of faithful followers and remains a perfect fit for We Are FSTVL.

Reflecting the festival’s diversity, Hospitality is also back by popular demand to deliver a high-grade drum & bass experience in this year’s Big Top Bass Arena.The worldwide club event of drum & bass imprint Hospital Records, Hospitalityhas grown to become a key part of the scene’s fabric and is guaranteed to showcase the best in heavyweight producers, DJs and MCs.

Also returning to We Are FSTVL and playing host to Sunday’s Very Big Top, is Jamie Jones’ Paradise. After its launch back in 2012, Paradise has become the stand out residency of the Ibiza season, showcasing the latest and greatest in underground house and techno. With a seemingly endless list of world-class DJs, Paradise is set to deliver another hedonistic and memorable musical experience to We Are FSTVL.

Returning to the VIP Village for 2015 is MK’s Area 10, as his influence as a house pioneer continues well into a third decade. Renowned for his bouncy, peak-time groove, punchy drums and clever vocal samples, Marc Kinchen’s productions are at the heart of the biggest renaissance house music has seen in a generation. Having debuted his ‘Pleasurestate’ project with Lee Foss and Anabel Englund exclusively at We Are FSTVL this year, MK’s stage at next year’s festival is set to be even bigger and better than ever before.

Hideout 2015 announce massive 5th year lineup

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Croatia's Hideout Festival announce its long-awaited fifth outing and the most monumental year yet. Taking place from June 28th – July 2nd 2015, Hideout will return to its home on the island of Pag and will unite musical regulars from the past five years including Jamie Jones, Skream, Heidi, Loco Dice, Eats Everything, MK and Gorgon City, for an unforgettable anniversary showcase. The fifth instalment will welcome back iconic guests such as chart-topper Duke Dumont, vinyl Queen Nina Kraviz, man of the moment Ten Walls (Live), and recent Red Bull Culture Clash winners David Rodigan MBE and Shy FX. Making their debut on the heavenly Zrce Beach will be serial chart-toppers Sigma, BBC Radio 1's Monki and Jungle icon Roni Size. With Hideout 2014 selling out in just two weeks, the Croatian event anticipates smashing records yet again with another sell-out year. Registered ticket holders are able to purchase tickets immediately through the Hideout Festival website while general tickets will be on Thursday 6th November 2014. 

As Hideout Festival enters it's fifth year the week-long showcase of electronic music has become the must attend event of the summer, putting Croatia on the map as the perfect music destination. Gearing up for what will be their most exciting celebration yet, Hideout will once again take over the stunning Zrce beach to welcome the most exciting names in House, Techno and Drum & Bass, offering plenty of surprises along the way. 

From dancing until sunrise at the five breathtaking beach clubs to sailing out into the crystal clear ocean aboard one of the many boat parties, throughout the past five years Hideout Festival has defined itself as the ultimate summer retreat for electronic music fans, sun worshippers and hedonistic revellers alike. As the festival continues to go from strength to strength the five year anniversary will surpass all expectations and is set to be a talking point for years to come.

FIRST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT:

Duke Dumont / Eats Everything / Gorgon City / Jamie Jones / Loco Dice / MK / Nina Kraviz / Sigma / Ten Walls (Live)
 
Bondax / B-Traits / David Rodigan MBE / Derrick Carter / Dusky / George Fitzgerald / Hannah Wants / Heidi / Joy Orbison / Kink (Live) / Mistajam / Paul Woolford / Redlight / Richy Ahmed / Scuba / Shy FX / Skream
 
Citizen / Chris Lorenzo / DJ EZ / Dungeon Meat / Ejeca / Eton Messy DJs / Friction / Friend Within / Isaac Tichauer / Jonas Rathsman / MJ Cole / Monki / Patrick Topping / Ralph Lawson / Roni Size / Shadow Child / Special Request / Star Slinger / TCTS / Waff
 
Grainger / Mike Jones / North Base / People Get Real / The Sonic Emporium North Base / PBR Streetgang / People Get Real / Ralph Lawson / The Sonic Emporium / Simon Baker /

Taylor Swift to headline British Summer Time Hyde Park 2015

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Global superstar and seven-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift is the first headliner announced for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park 2015. The most talked about artist in the world, Taylor will take to the Great Oak Stage in London’s iconic Hyde Park on Saturday 27 June. Tickets are on general sale 9am on Monday 10 November.

‘1989’ is Taylor’s fifth studio album, inspired by the bold sounds of the 80’s, which debuted at no. 1 in the UK’s official album charts and across 95 countries worldwide on iTunes. Taylor’s infectious first single, ‘Shake It Off’, peaked at No.1 in the UK on iTunes, spending three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the radio airplay charts, ten consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the official singles chart and is nearing platinum certification.

Taylor Swift, is the essential pop star headlining the essential event of 2015. Her critically acclaimed sell out 2014 RED 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, she is the only female artist in music history (and just the fourth artist ever) to twice have an album (2010's Speak Now and 2012's RED) hit the 1 million plus first-week sales figure in the US. Taylor's album ‘RED’, released two years ago on Big Machine Records/Virgin EMI, has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide to date, including over half a million copies in the UK where it debuted at No. 1 on the official album charts, and more than 1.2 million copies in the U.S. in its first week (where it scored the highest first-week sales debut of any album in over a decade).

 

As the London date on her global tour, Taylor joins an illustrious group of headliners who have made Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park the best music experience of the summer. With a stellar line up of exciting artists to be announced soon as part of the event, Taylor’s show on Saturday 27 June is set to be an unmissable day out!

Jim King, Senior Vice President Live Events, says: 

"It is an absolute honour for AEG to announce Taylor Swift as our first headliner for 2015. As one of the World's biggest artists and one who never fails to deliver incredible live experiences for her fans, Taylor Swift performing on Hyde Park's Great Oak Stage will be a highlight of 2015 and we couldn't be more excited to welcome her back to London.”

Liz Mullins Director of Events at The Royal Parks, said: 

“Since it began in 2013 Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park has become a firm favourite in the events calendar, bringing a diverse range of entertainment and the world’s biggest artists to this iconic park. From The Rolling Stones to Black Sabbath, Lionel Richie to Tom Jones, comedy nights and family days there has been something for everyone. We are looking forward to working with our partners AEG Live to once again bring this truly unique event to Hyde Park.”

Rob Zombie will headline Bloodstock 2015

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ROB ZOMBIE is confirmed as Sunday’s 2015 main stage headliner, bringing his mind-blowing full production to Catton Park.  

ROB ZOMBIE exclaims, "I am so ready to get on a plane, and get my ass over to merry ol' England for BLOODSTOCK.  We've had some of the best shows of our lives over there and can't wait to add this to the list.  Besides, it's called ‘BLOODSTOCK' so how could it not be bloody fucking fun?”

Expect to witness a spectacular range of ROB ZOMBIE classics as well as choice cuts from the band’s most recent studio album ‘Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor’.  Check out this cut of ‘Superbeast’ from last year’s ‘The Zombie Horror Picture Show’ DVD, which captured Rob and his Zombie bandmates John 5, Piggy D and Ginger Fish on the road and get a taster of what’s in store; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsw8koMaZXU.

In addition to that big news, don’t forget that BLOODSTOCK’s ‘Rock Society’ memberships went on sale at 9am today, 31st October.  The BLOODSTOCK ‘Rock Society’ is effectively the festival’s ‘Members Club’, offering not only a 10% discount on your weekend ticket (and that’s on top of the already discounted early bird ticket if you’re quick enough!), but it offers punters all sorts of other cool benefits like priority access to the signing tent, special tours of backstage & production areas so you can see what goes on ‘behind the scenes,’ as well as access to the VIP Serpents Lair bar, plus a Rock Society laminate with your name and membership number, and plenty more besides.  The memberships are limited to just 300 and sell out very quickly every year, so don’t delay if you want to pick one up. Last year, these sold out that morning!  Full details can be found at http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/rock-society.

Bands already announced for 2015 are Saturday’s headliners, WITHIN TEMPTATION and special guests OPETH, plus DEATH TA, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, CANNIBAL CORPSE, IHSAHN, SEPULTURA and DARK ANGEL.  More bands will be announced soon! BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th-9th August 2015.