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!
The Vaccines are arguably one of the biggest names in British music, selling over a million records after the release of their debut album in 2011 and collaborating with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The Horrors and Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes. With their fourth album 'English Graffiti' set for release later this year, 2015 is set to be the year of The Vaccines. Years & Years will be another must see live act at the inaugural Croatia Rocks – the BRIT nominees and crowning champions of the BBC Sound of 2015 are seriously hot property, having sold out two headline dates at the acclaimed Shepherd's Bush Empire. Ethereal synth-pop songstress Lapsley rounds off the live additions who will all join previously announced acts Clean Bandit, Jungle, Kate Tempest, Kwabs, Shura and more.
Even more of electronic music’s finest will back up the W.A.R! stage’s almighty DJ roster that already features huge crowd favourites Rudimental, Zane Lowe, Fatboy Slim and more. Additions include Gorgon City who soundtracked summer 2014 with a slew of anthems as well as young electronic heavy hittersBondax, house hero Alexis Raphael and Digital Soundboy's Mella Dee, who's fusion of jungle, bass and ragga has had dance floors going crazy up and down the country.
One of eight districts in BoomTown Fair, May-Fair Avenue hosts Electro-Swing, Swing and Vintage Remix across its fully interactive and immaculately themed venues including The Ballroom and The Bandstand. Top of the bill for May-Fair are Parisian electro-swing superstarsCaravan Palace, the pioneer of chap-hop Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer, mash-up DJ collective Dutty Moonshine big band who lace bass heavy sets together with a vintage sound and many more.
On top of the overarching narrative to the event, each district has its own backstory and May-Fair’s involves a socially scheming husband and wife, Mr and Mrs Fitz-Sloane who pledged to uphold the area’s exclusivity by keeping out the riff-raff and ensuring that only the most well-to-do attend their famed Electro-Swing soirées! But things in BoomTown are never as they seem and as citizens step inside these glitzy façades the Fitz-Sloane’s true colours will be revealed…
Full May-Fair Avenue District Line-up:
Caravan Palace / Deluxe / Scarecrow / Dirty Honkers / Bart & Baker / Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer / Swingrowers / The Gaslight Troubadoursfeat. Professor Elemental / Odjbox / Brass Band Remix: Dutty Moonshine Big Band / The Fontanas / DJ Tofu Vs Brass Funkeys / Trans-Siberian March Band / Grant Lazlo / Smerins Anti-Social Club / Too Many Ts / Phil Mac / C@ In The H@ / Elle & The Pocket Belles / James Copeland / Don Mescal / Don Johnston / Big Swing Soundsystem Feat. Hypeman Sage / DJ Pony (Montana) / Kiwistar / The After Hours Quintet / The Underscore Orkestra / The Woohoo Revue / Formidable Vegetable Sound System / The Chicken Brothers / Jenova Collective / Rumba De Bodas / Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six / The World's Tallest Dj / The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing / Dr Schwamp /Jitterbug / Madame Electrifie / Mad Apple Circus / Alex Blood & The Diggers / Great Scott / Mr Tea & The Minions / The Rin Tins / Lounge Cat Ideals / Captain Flatcap / Rumpsteppers / Mother Ukers / Shambolique / Papa Shango / Freakeasy / Abaret / Swing Dance Classes
The award-winning 2000trees Festival has announced a wave of new acts including The Xcerts, We Were Promised Jetpacks, The Twilight Sad, Turbowolf, The Amazing Snakeheads, Feed the Rhino, Jonah Matranga and Tellison.
Headliners Deaf Havana will also be joined by Nai Harvest, Fatherson, Only Rivals, When We Were Wolves, Dead Harts, To The Wall, Cleft, Ghouls, WOAHNOWS, Samoans, Emperor Yes, These Ghosts, Goan Dogs, Jurassic Pop, George Wilding, New Palace Talkies, Bite the Buffalo, Tim Vantol, Electric River and Human Pyramids.
And with the likes of Kerbdog, Pulled Apart by Horses, SOLEMN SUN, Arcane Roots, The Computers, Rob Lynch, Big Sixes, Allusondrugs, Nothing But Thieves and &U&I already confirmed, organisers have created a buzz among fans as the best place to discover new and underground music this summer.
“The reaction to the line-up has been fantastic, especially our latest headliner Deaf Havana, mustering loads of support online and receiving plenty of media attention, which means a lot to a small festival like us,” said organiser James Scarlett.
The three-day event will celebrate its ninth year in the picturesque Cotswolds when it returns on July 9-11. It features the very best new and underground music on six stages, plus comedy, DJs, a silent disco, quality food and drink and children’s entertainment.
Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns at the end of April with a bold programme featuring a range of exclusive one-off performances, unique collaborations, special commissions and debut UK appearances from a heady mix of established stars and emerging talent.
Taking place across 6 days from April 29th – May 4th, this year’s festival will present a smart balance of classic and contemporary jazz, blues, soul and pop from a string of pioneering acts including million-selling singer-songwriter Rumer, Dutch superstar Caro Emerald, experimental producer and composer Squarepusher, one of the queens of soul Martha Reeves, world-renowned DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson, former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, Californian blues-rocker Beth Hart, and consummate jazz singer and broadcaster Clare Teal.
Once again returning as Guest Director is Jamie Cullum who, alongside handpicking a selection of events for this year’s programme, will perform with trailblazing US jazz funk jam band Medeski, Martin & Wood. Other high profile acts on the bill include venerable jazz-fusion star John Scofield, whose collaboration with German pianist Pablo Held’s trio is currently receiving rave reviews (“a fascinating fresh setting for a unique guitarist who always means business” The Guardian), the mystical sounds of the Sun Ra Arkestra, master ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate, the UK premiere of jazz heavyweight Lee Konitz’s new quintet featuring virtuoso trumpeter Dave Douglas, and a treat for fans of Afrobeat in the form of two contrasting but equally outstanding concerts – a Saturday afternoon show from legendary African drummer Tony Allen, who performs music from his acclaimed 2014 album Film of Life, followed that evening by Joe Lovano’s Village Rhythms Band, an inventive 7-piece outfit which explores the connection between West African music and jazz.
BBC Radio 2 continues its long-term association with the festival and has confirmed a range of activity across the week. Alongside live festival-themed shows recorded onsite by Jamie Cullum on Saturday May 2nd and Clare Teal on Sunday May 3rd, the network will air Caro Emerald’s concert on Thursday April 30th, a Frank Sinatra-themed ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’ featuring appearances from Kurt Elling, Clare Teal and Anthony Strong on Friday 1st, and a world premiere to close the festival on Monday 4th, a celebration of the music of George and Ira Gershwin featuring Laura Mvula and Gregory Porter.
Justifying its reputation as one of the most forward-thinking festivals in Europe, a varied collection of the next generation of global jazz stars are represented this year by the likes of Anglo-French trio In Bed With, Suiss trombonist and composer Samuel Blaser, Spanish singer and multi-instrumentalist Andrea Motis, the first ever UK performance by the inimitable Surnatural Orchestra, and European trio Phronesis, whose Pitch Black project will be performed in total darkness.
A wide range of top UK-based talent will appear on the bill including East London’s unique take on the brass band Hackney Colliery Band, Mercury-nominated piano trio GoGo Penguin, who will join Gilles Peterson at the festival’s much-anticipated club night, funk favourites Average White Band, Neil Cowley Trio, the Rachael Cohen Quartet featuring Phil Robson, soul diva Natalie Williams, a double bill featuring the soulful vocals of Si Cranstoun and Purdy, and the Julian Arguelles Septet, a band formed especially for the festival.
Headlining will be none other than UK festival favourites Rudimental who will be performing live. From their chart storming, number one album ‘Home’ through to Brit and MOBO Awards they are truly one of the most exciting acts in the UK. Coming to Sundown as one of only a very small number of shows this year, they are certainly not to be missed!
Following on from the roaring success of 2014, Sundown Festival is back for 2015 with another larger than life lineup! Hosting only the biggest and best in pop, dance and urban acts, Sundown is the perfect way to close the festival season with one last party in the sunshine.
If the first headliner wasn’t enough, Sundown are also excited to announce the incredible Ella Henderson for the festival. With debut single ‘Ghost’ already certified platinum and debut album ‘Chapter One’ flying straight in at number one on the UK Album Chart she is undoubtedly one of the UK’s hugest stars!
Drum and bass royalty Sigma will be performing live alongside performances from Clean Bandit collaborator Jess Glynne and afrobeat trailblazer Fuse ODG.
As well as this the Andy C Presents Ram stage will play host to electronic production wizard Sub Focus and the multi-genre DJing of the amazing Jaguar Skills.
Campers get even more with an exclusive Saturday night after party with none other than garage superstar DJ EZ on the decks keeping the vibes going until 1am!
All these and many, many more including a second huge headliner will descend onto Norfolk Showground for a weekend not to be missed!
“Hear this as the first of the whispers… the festival returns to its roots. A salute to the original muses: Music, Freedom, Peace, Love and Euphoria. In the year 2015, Bestival acknowledges its ancestry with the theme, 'Bestival's Summer of Love'.
“At the zenith of the season, Bestival invites you to join the great revival, lose your inhibitions and join our gathering of the peoples. Reject the hum-drum, the material and the system! Come to the island, and for a weekend, take heart in the art, the ideals and the madness.
“Turn on, tune in, peace out”.
Rob da Bank says: “Our theme for 2015 is the Summer of Love… it’s a simple theme and hopefully one that’s easy to embrace. It's largely a positive reaction to all the bad news and downright evil going on in the world. We're not hiding our heads in the sand and pretending everything’s rosy and laid-back but we can, as a big family of 50,000 people, come together, listen to music, party and spread love, even if it’s just for the weekend. That has always been at the heart of Bestival and its year-round community. Hate out, love in!”
We just couldn’t help ourselves. The unadulterated disco vibes of last year’s spectacular Bestival stirred something deep inside us, reconnected us to our purpose, and stoked the flames of our burning passion; we know now that in essence, we’re here for the love. The love of the music, the love of the adventure, the love of the unexpected, but most of all, it’s the purest love – the love of the party. From the 10th-13th September, we’re taking our Robin Hill adventures on the Isle of Wight back to the one simple thing that started our crazy story – this year it’s all about Bestival’s Summer of Love.
We’re not just talking about bell-bottomed hippies with flowers in their hair, or red-jeaned ravers circumnavigating the M25. It’s deeper and wider, and even longer than that. It’s about positivity, peace & love, and bananas not guns. We want all people, all sexes, all ages, all cultures to come together and to share the good times, to celebrate the simple joy of unity, to feel the unparalleled pleasures of dancing shoulder to shoulder with wonderful strangers and loving every second. We want the greatest party of all time. And we know you do, too.
Boardmasters 2015 has confirmed its first wave of acts that will perform at the festival this summer. Joining headliners Bastille and Rudimental will be Clean Bandit, De La Soul Live, Duke Dumont, Nick Mulvey, Lower Than Atlantis, Reef, MNEK, Sunset Sons, DJ EZ and The Darkness.
Making their Boardmasters debut, Clean Bandit make a very exciting addition to the festival’s line up this year and will be sure to wow the crowd with hits including 2014 anthem and #1 single 'Rather Be’. Fresh from celebrating their 25th anniversary, American hip-hop trio De La Soul will also be bringing the party to Cornwall this summer with their high energy live performance. DJ Duke Dumont joins the bill alongside teenage wonder-kid MNEK. The pair co-wrote Dumont’s hugely successful and Grammy nominated single ‘Need U (100%)’ featuring A*M*E*. Re-reformed Brit Award winners and glam rockers The Darkness will also be appearing at the festival as will singer songwriter and Mercury Prize nominee Nick Mulvey. Completing the first wave of acts announced today is rockers Lower Than Atlantisand Reef, Cornwall favourites Sunset Sons and garage music’s DJ EZ.
Cornwall’s own surf and music festival welcomes festivalgoers to enjoy five days of thrilling surf competition at Fistral Beach as well as a weekend of explosive live music on the stunning headland, Watergate Bay. New for 2015, Boardmasters camping at Watergate Bay has now been extended and will open from Wednesday 5 August, meaning surf fans, beach bunnies and music lovers won’t have to miss a single day of the festival. Those looking for the ultimate Boardmasters experience should purchase the new bumper ticket package – the ‘Charger’ ticket, which includes everything from bus pass to parking, VIP camping, Beach Session gigs, After Parties and a Boardmasters t-shirt and tote bag!
Electronic party-starters Basement Jaxx are to headline Truck Festival, 17th – 18th July at Hill Farm, Oxford. Up-and-coming artists including Saint Raymond and Slaves are set to rub shoulders with the iconic Peter Hook & The Light, just some of the names unveiled today for the 2015 line-up. Now in its 17th year Truck Festival is an independent stalwart of festival season, this summer is in store for another mind-blowing year of standout music. Standard weekend tickets are priced at only £79.50 and are available via truckfestival.com.
Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, along with a chic-freak cast of guests collectively known as Basement Jaxx are to descend on Truck Festival’s main stage as headliners. Top 10 hits ‘Redez-Vu’, ‘Red Alert’ and ‘Where’s Your Head At’ will no doubt have festival-goers up on their feet and dancing in a performance sure to electrify.
Currently competing in the MTV Brand New poll, Saint Raymond boasts a sold out UK tour commencing this week, come summer the singer-songwriter will make his way to Truck Festival. Joy Division and New Order co-founder Peter Hook, along with his band The Light, are also joining the bill. Feisty punk duo Slaves along with Rae Morris are yet more names confirmed today. Morris may be recognised for her guest vocals with Bombay Bicycle Club and Clean Bandit however with the recent release of her debut album, 2015 could be her year.
Completing the additions for Truck’s first announcement are Pulled Apart by Horses, Jaws, The Amazing Snakeheads, Baby Godzilla, Honeyblood, Blaenavon, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys and ODC Drumline.
Since last summer, Boardmasters’ family of fans have been crying out for this bands return and Cornwall’s own surf and music festival listened. Back by popular demand, BRIT Award winners, Bastille will be making an epic return to Boardmasters 2015. After missing out on their headline performance last year because of the effects of ex-hurricane Bertha, festival favourites Bastille plan on taking care of unfinished business, playing an unforgettable headline performance as the sun sets over arguably the most beautiful festival setting of the summer.
Click here for the Bastille announcement video
Bastille, who’s highly acclaimed debut album ‘Bad Blood’ made them one the biggest selling British debut acts, is the second act confirmed to headline Boardmasters 2015. They join fellow BRIT Award winners, Rudimental who are also announced to headline the festival. The third and final headline act will be announced soon and will surely cement Boardmasters with one of its best line-ups to date!
Bastille’s front man, Dan Smith said this about the band’s upcoming return to the Boardmasters stage: "We're all incredibly excited to be coming back to Boardmasters for, barring anymore hurricanes, an amazing night in the west country. Growing up in the southwest, Boardmasters was a festival I always wanted to play so when it was cancelled last year I was devastated. Hopefully coming back this year will help make up for it and we'll be able to play some material from our new album as well. We can't wait to see you all in August."
Love Saves The Day are delighted to announce their line-up for 2015. Taking center stage as Saturday's headliner will be the soulful South Londoner and 'Wildest Moments' singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. Tale Of Us, the Berlin-based musical duo who are currently re-writing the rule-book for deeply moving, emotional electronic music will also be present, whilst Fabric resident Craig Richards takes over the Futureboogie stage, alongside Brighton deep house producer Leon Vynehall, the exceptional German duo Âme, and Maxxi Soundsytem, known for his classic house vocals and catchy grooves.
Other names on the bill for Saturday include London duo Gorgon City, fresh off the back of recent hits 'Ready For Your Love' and 'Here For You', plus Hannah Wants, a lady who has taken to the forefront of the hard-hitting bass house scene, with recent hit 'Rhymes' alongside Chris Lorenzo. Also joining the Wide Eyes stage will be Tourist, the producer who made waves with his remake of HAIM's 'The Wire' and Bristol based house and bass production duo GotSome.
Love Saves The Day also welcomes ManMakeMusic label owner George Fitzgerald to the Second Stage, alongside the hugely popular Newcastle-based Patrick Topping. Elsewhere festival goers will be able to catch Bristol's very own Julio Bashmore, 'Heart On Fire' singer Indiana and Crazy P, an electronic group renowned for using slinky underground disco, deep electronic throbs, shimmering pop moments. Bristol based club night-turned-label Just Jack will also be hosting their very own stage on Saturday, showcasing Dyed Soundroom, Soundstream, K15 and recent signings Will Martin and John Barera.
Other names on Saturday's bill include: Artwork, Bodhi, Christophe, Disciples, Felix Dickinson, Kidnap Kid, Lapsley, Matt 'Jam' Lamont, Rae Morris, Session Victim, Shanti Celeste, Sly One, Tayo, TCTS, Vaults, Waifs & Strays, Work It and Woz.
Sunday 24th May…
Day two of the Festival welcomes New York rapper, singer and songwriter Azealia Banks, who catapulted to fame following her universally popular 2012 hit '212'. Also gracing Sunday's main stage will be American recording artist and one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing Grandmaster Flash, as well as the gorgeous R&B vocals and chilly, metallic production of Kelela.
The CRACK Stage will host an impressive array of dance music heavyweights including the diversely eclectic Four Tet, Phantasy label owner and BBC's Radio 6 Mix Resident Erol Alkanand renowned vinyl specialist Floating Points. Daniel Avery will also bring his mind-bending, psychedelic sounds to the stage, alongside the extremely talented Ghost Culture.
Rapper and grime artist Skepta will be present on day two of the festival, alongside drum & bass and jungle legend Shy FX. Bristolian Redlight will bring his mixture of house, breakbeats and dubstep to the Trap stage, also joined by the multi-award winning garage DJ EZ and the Black Butter crew's My Nu Leng.
Other names on Sunday's bill include: Babyhead, Barely Legal, Champion, Dark Sky, Dazee, Dismantle, Dr. Meaker, Hodge, Joker, Jus Now, Kiko Bun, Klose One, Loyle Carner, New York Transit Authority, Newham Generals, Pinch, Rat King, Stormzy, Typesun and Wiley.
