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!
Set in amongst the beautiful surroundings of the isle of Gozo-Malta, Sunscape today unveil over 20 new acts who represent some of the most infamous names in electronic music. As one of the most revered and iconic clubs of all time, Watergate will make its way to the shores of Gozo for a rare opportunity to see the likes of Marco Resmann, La Fleur and Lee Jones outside of their Berlin home. Having recently been inaugurated into the illustrious Resident Advisor podcast series, Dana Ruh plays alongside Ilario Alicante and already announced Pig & Dan under the Cocoon Records banner. While Mobilee Showcase includes Lee Van Dowksi and Dean Demanuele, and Valentino Kanzyani of Cadenza will perform at the week-long celebrations. The festival opens its doors to an intimate crowd of 3000 like-minded revellers from 3-10 September and have announced yet more exciting adventures taking including Why Not? Dome's eclectic and empowering workshop programme featuring drum lessons, fire dancing, astrology, permaculture and conscious living, whilst also playing host to an Electroswing Day Festival, Full Moon Party and fire dancing tournament making it an incredible finale to the summer.
As one of Europe's most famous clubs, Berlin's Watergate has welcomed through it's doors some of the biggest names in house and techno and is appropriately recognised as the home of modern house music with an unchallengeable reputation. Featuring a mix of residents past and present, the showcase will firstly welcome Berlin native Marco Resmann, a regular fixture of the city's club scene for over 20 years. As head honcho of Power Plant Records, La Fleur blurs the line between soulful house, techno and electronica, and will take to the decks under the Watergate banner alongside Aus Music's Lee Jones.
When it comes to electronic music there are few names bigger than Cocoon. Since it's creation by the legendary Sven Vath at the turn of the millennium, Cocoon has grown to become a haven for electronic music the world over. Taking their residency on the Mediterranean isle, Sunscape welcome three of the biggest acts ever to adopt the Cocoon name. Joining the previously announced electro-duo Pig & Dan, Ilario Alicante will perform having achieved great success with his first track 'Vacaciones En Chile' and gaining the attentions of Richie Hawtin and Ricardo Villalobos, he has grown to become one of the most in-demand producers and label figureheads in electronic music. Dana Ruh, who has seen releases on Ostgut Ton as well as her own Brouqade imprint, will also take to the stage for what will be one of the most memorable events of the summer.
While Sunscape delivers one of the most exciting line-ups of the summer, the festival will also host yet more activities taking place over the week-long celebration. Catering for every kind of adventurer the Why Not? Dome programme presents a number of eclectic and empowering workshops, talks and meditations throughout the festival. Fresh, invigorating and transformative, the programme is designed to inform and host a wealth of ideas that aims to change the way people think. Topics include astrology, sound & energy healing, conscious living, working with energy, permaculture, scuba Diving in the Med and much more.
In addition Sunscape unveils an Electroswing Day Festival, a dedicated Fire dancing tournament, Fire jamming and an infamous Full Moon Party celebration for revellers to enjoy. More than just a music festival, the programme ambitions are to provide a truly one-off and unique experience that captures the mystical island of Gozo in all its glory.
Adding to line-up will be Defected Records regular Noir, who will be performing alongside Sankeys resident The Element, Loco Dice heralded Camiel Daamen and Mobilee Music's Dean Demanuele. As founder of Zombie Soundsystem, Shane Watcha brings his unique style to the Mediterranean while Cesare vs Disorder showcases his new side-project 'Azimute' at the festival, which is becoming a hot ticket for music fans across the globe.
The opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the best European festival, will be held by the Pet Shop Boys who are coming to EXIT’s Main Stage with an exquisite blend of unique stage set, lasers, extraordinary costume changes, original dance choreography and a plethora of hits.
The prodigious pop duo Pet Shop Boys, with over 50 million records sold, are entrenched in the Guinness book of records as the most successful duo in the history of British music. Their colossal career entails 12 studio albums, six Grammy nominations, over 20 music awards three of which are sacred Brit awards. Their stunning hits “It's a Sin", “West End Girls”, “Heart”, "Paninaro", "Domino Dancing" and "Se A Vida E" influenced a host of generations of music fans and gave pop music a distinct shade it exhibits today.
Reputable British Newspapers, The Telegraph and The Guardian wrote smashing five-star reviews of the duo’s show and album Electric, citing their “theatrical pop” performance. Neil McCormick even wrote for The Telegraph “Pet Shop Boys are moving forwards, taking their retro synths into a brave new digital age.”
The critically acclaimed “Electric” album is graced by almost unanimously favourable reviews worldwide and represents PSB’s return to dance music, as well as the best possible message to young bands playing electric music today – it’s not just about beats! Their melodies carry an almost haunting beauty, their lyrics are bustling with humour and subtle notes of nobility, and their entire show is set as an impeccable celebration of the ceremonious victory of spirit and mind over life’s not-so-pretty moments. These are the same values that EXIT has, and continues to, uphold and promote all these years.
Pet Shop Boys' show is designed by Es Devlin, a multi-award-winning artist, with extensive experience and projects under her belt in theatre, dance, film, opera, television, and concert. She has also worked with pop, rock, and rap artists – her lengthy list of performing artists includes, apart from Pet Shop Boys, stars such as Kanye West, Muse, Lady Gaga, Shakira, Miley Cyrus, Lenny Kravitz, Goldfrapp, Take That…The collaboration between Pet Shop Boys and Devlin will provide EXIT this year with an incredulously one-of-a-kind, novel and epoch-making opening performance!
The Brooklyn hip-hop artist will perform on Friday 8th August on the atmospheric Balloon 360° Stage, which will also host jazz artists such as the U.S-based Roy Hargrove Quintet, along with Finnish groups Mopo and Antti Lötjönen Quartet East.
Mos Def, born Dante Terrell Smith, appeared in his early career on De La Soul's ‘Stakes Is High’, before cementing his name in the mainstream with hip-hop giants Black Star. Since then, he has forged a successful solo career and sold millions of albums, with his record ‘Black on Both Sides’ certified Gold in U.S. sales and latest album, 2009’s ‘The Ecstatic’, earning a Grammy Award nomination. Mos Def has also enjoyed Emmy and Golden Globe nominations from his successful acting career.
Jazz is well-represented in the Balloon 360° line-up, whose audiences can enjoy gigs in an intimate setting around the full 360 degrees of the platform. On Friday, the stage will be set for Roy Hargrove Quintet, led by Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Having started his career in the 90s, where he played a major role in crafting the sounds of the likes of D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, Hargrove’s time has been recently devoted to developing his own jazz style, which combines Afro-Cuban rhythms and hard bop.
On Saturday the stage will be graced by Mopo, the hottest trio on the Finnish jazz scene, who take their inspiration from jazz, 70s punk and the Finnish nature. Sunday’s stage will then present Antti Lötjönen Quartet East, led by double bass player Antti Lötjönen: the only person to have played every single Flow Festival from 2004 until 2014. This summer he will bring his fresh new jazz quartet to the festival to perform his own compositions along with carefully selected covers and some solo bass improvisation.
We are excited to reveal that Hoodie Allan, James Arthur, Neon Trees, Kiesza, Fuse ODG, Neon Jungle, Sheppard and James Bay are confirmed to perform at this year’s festival, which takes place 16-17 August in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire.
With over 30 Number One selling artists on the bill, these exciting acts join headliners Justin Timberlake and The Killers, plus Paolo Nutini, Ed Sheeran, Bastille, Foxes, Sam Smith, Tinie Tempah, Blondie, Lily Allen and more for one incredible weekend of live music.
Joining Alan Carr and Adam Hills in the Glee Club comedy bill, Boothby Graffoe, Dana Alexander, Mark Oliver and Allyson Smith are all announced for one of the most acclaimed comedy line ups to date.
No circus is truly complete without a touch of magical miscellany, curious attractions and inexplicable distractions. And so, Camp Bestival’s most aberrant roustabouts have not only created an inspiring world of discovery with Oberon’s Observatory, the LEGO Imagination Factory and the Science Tent, but they’ve also brought together a breathtaking collection of oddities like Caravan of Lost Souls and Britain’s Not Got Talent that will enthral the whole family at Lulworth Castle this July 31-August 3.
Rob da Bank says: “We’ve got all sorts of incredible curiosities coming to Camp Bestival this year. From off the wall circus treats in the Caravan of Lost Souls, LEGO and their brilliant Imagination Factory, and surveying the site with a camp-bestiscope in Oberon’s Observatory to the mayhem of Britain’s Not Got Talent and amazing experiments in the Science Tent, there’s loads of ace stuff for all the family to discover. See you at Lulworth Castle!”
Starting with some curious circus fun, we have a true delight for the ears and eyes. Igor Rasputin’s Caravan of Lost Souls is an incredible ape-powered pop-up circus providing wondrous entertainment for your delectation and appreciation. Witness magic, contortion, hula hoop, mime, an amazing array of circus skills and more from this cabaret of curiosity, popping up in all four corners of Camp Bestival!
Entering a world of discovery, we are extremely excited to announce that LEGO will be joining us to kick off the summer holidays in style, with the Imagination Factory. A celebration of ‘free build’, this magical environment will immerse you in the LEGO belief in the power of each individual’s imagination. Doubters might see a pile of bricks and accessories but ‘we’ see a jet fighter, a beautiful flower, an alien monster, our dog called Spike or the skyline of New York. The golden rule of The Imagination Factory is that there are no rules – no rights or wrongs – just inspiration to let LEGO enable you to build anything that your imagination can conjure up.
In 2014, the year that modern man will try and harpoon a comet, Camp Bestival is proud to present Oberon's Observatory. A ramshackle but beautiful edifice with a stargazer's viewing platform, there will be camp-bestiscopes for studying the curiosities happening across the festival and searching for the stars. Hidden in the heart of Oberon's Observatory is an old projection room where Camp Bestival will screen 21st century windows into other worlds, space and art. For the period of one lunation only, Camp Bestival invites you to come and explore this extraordinary building.
Leaping headlong into the truly odd, the Showmany Calliope is mixture of traditional fairground showman heritage, pyrotechnics, a full independently powered 4K sound system and a bowtop caravan themed stage, that will play host to the devilish Mosschops and Sidewicket’s Britain’s Not Got Talent. So, do you want to perform on the craziest stage of all time? Have you got a talent? Have you not got talent? We don't care, because we haven't; so anything goes! From Dutch didgeridoo dancing to skateboarding budgerigars; panpipe duets to five-year-old Frank Carson impersonators (keep it clean please), we need you! Terms and Conditions do not apply.
And combining amazing discovery with the downright bizarre, the Science Tent is certainly not for boffins only and is definitely not to be missed! It’s a glorious mix of science-based performances like now>press>play and Rock Guitar in 11 Dimensions, timetabled science including programming robots, 3D printing your favourite Minecraft designs, being amazed by a Rapsberry Pi and lots, lots more and drop in sessions where you can make video games with Play-doh, power an alarm clock with fruit, pre-programme a robot arm and so much more. There’s tons to stimulate and fascinate every age group! And that includes you mums and dads!
Taking place in The Scottish Sun Big Top across the weekend. With big names, rap battles and the best in upcoming Scottish comedy talent, the laughs will ring out across the festival site.
Russell Kane is a multi-talented writer and performer who has firmly established himself as one of the best comics in the UK today, winning The Edinburgh Comedy Award and Australia's prestigious Barry Award. Currently touring the UK with his brand new live show “Smallness”, which poses the question “What is it with us and smallness?” he’s sure to delight the T in the Park crowd.
Lee Nelson’s Well Good Festival Hangover Cure takes to the stage on Sunday inThe Scottish Sun Big Top tent – the household name has hosted Live at the Apollo, sold out his three times extended live tour, had over two million people watching BBC Three’s Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show and is now heading to T in the Park with quality jokes, games and banter.
Award-nominee and star of the Edinburgh Fringe, Andrew Maxwell makes his way toT in the Park with a fantastic new show of mischievous charm and boundary-nudging wit. As seen on BBC’s Live at The Apollo, Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You, plus ITV’s Celebrity Juice, RTE’s The Panel and so much more he’s bringing his cutting edge comedy and intrepid social commentary to the fields of Kinross.
Catch the host of Scotland's Capital Breakfast Show, Des Clarke, as he stops by The Scottish Sun Big Top tent for an unmissable set. As well as being a familiar voice on the radio, Des is also a familiar face on TV from his STV hosting days and charity appeals. One of Scotland’s best and sure-fire punchline makers!
The world’s only stand up/improv/chat tattoo comedy show, Show Me Your Tattoo, returns re-inked and ready to run down the hilarious Highway of Human Graffiti in one of the most unique comedy shows ever. Host Billy Kirkwood invites audiences to share and chat about their tattoos in a show jam-packed with blisteringly funny stand up and audience interaction, as well as taking a good hard look at the weird, silly, dirty, sexy, brilliant, bad and often awesome world of tattoos from all around the world.
Fans can experience Comedy Rap Battles on Friday night, a concept show which garnered 5 star reviews, where comedy and hip-hop clash and street cred is put on the line as some of the country's best comedians compete to see who exhibits the most swag when it comes to hip-hop wits. MC’d by Neil ‘The Weeman’ Bratchpiece it’s filled with comedic verbal jousting and, with street cred on the line, who'll choke and who'll gain respect?
Also featuring over the festival weekend will be John Cooper Clarke, The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek, Gary Little, Iain Stirling, Mark Nelson, The Wee Man, Keir McAllister, Scott Gibson, Ray Bradshaw, Gus Lymburn, Liam Withnail and Jellybean Martinez.
Originally booked to perform for the 2012 event, HUNDRED REASONSreformed in November that year to celebrate the decade anniversary of their 2002 “Ideas Above Our Station” album. Such was the demand that a second show had to be added in London, Manchester was upgraded, and every ticket was snapped up.
Roll on two years, to a chance meeting between Team Sonisphere’s Alan Day and HR guitarist Larry Hibbitt in a bar, who politely enquired why they weren’t on the 2014 Sonisphere line up after the cancellation two years previously. With no valid answer to provide, Alan offered them the final slot on the Saturn stage, where they will finally perform “Ideas Above Our Station” in full on the Saturday. Larry explains:
"We said we'd never do it again, but the cancelled Sonisphere of 2012 left a big hole in that summer for us. So when our shorts-wearing, crowd-surfing, festival-promoting comrade Alan Day came up with a slot for us this year we just couldn't say no. And we didn't. Don't get used to this. We say no A LOT so this is not going to happen often, if ever. But when it makes sense it makes sense and we're there. Like we will be on 5th July. See you at the front".
Featuring chart topping singles including “If I Could”, Silver” and “Falter”,HUNDRED REASONS date with destiny at SONISPHERE will be truly unmissable.
Ex-The Wildhearts bassist Danny McCormack brings his rock’n’roll band THE YOYOS to SONISPHERE for a very special one-off appearance. “Cant wait to catch up with some old friends and see some new faces.” Says the four-stringer. “It’s a great line up this year and I’m counting the days. It’s an honour to be a part of it all. See you down the front”
Taking over BOHEMIA late on the Friday night will be Rocktronica trioMIXHELL. Boasting live percussion from ex Sepultura sticksman Iggor Cavalera, MIXHELL will do whatever it takes to make you dance, combining elements of dance, electronica, electroclash, hip hop and rock’n’roll, and mixing a live drum and bass section with samples and loops to unique effect.
Recently seen out on the road with Katatonia, London’s own MESSENGER join the SONISPHERE 2014 line up to mesmerize and captivate the uninitiated. Dwelling equally in the earthy realm of folk music and the celestial void of progressive psychedelia, the five piece never fail to drop jaws – expect many wide open mouths at the Satellite stage on Friday.
"We're extremely excited to have the opportunity to perform at this amazing festival.” States drummer Jaime Gomez. “We look forward to playing to some new people and hopefully seeing some familiar faces there as well."
London loud-louts DRIPBACK make their SONISPHERE debut, with their only UK festival appearance this summer. Recently seen touring with Crowbar,DRIPBACK specialise in loud, aggressive noise and highly energetic live shows.
“This is gonna be immense, we can’t wait.” says bassist Adam Da Rat.“Metallica and Maiden together for the first time, dozens of the most awesome bands ever, Chas & Dave, a World War 1 Dog Fight… I was wondering how this could get any better, and now we get to play too. Safe!”
Melbourne rock trio CALLING ALL CARS join the festivities hot off the back of some recent UK shows including Camden Rocks. Enjoying regular rotation on huge Aussie radio station Triple J, the band have recently relocated to the UK, and are gearing up for the release of their new album “Raise The People” via Cooking Vinyl on July 28th.
"Holy fuck we are playing Sonisphere” they exclaim. “Before we were booked to play we were so stoked on the line up. It's a real honour to be included in that company."
Industrial punks PROTAFIELD come to work up the crowd on the Jagermeister stage. With an album out next week via Caroline/Universal that boasts guest appearances from Queen’s Roger Taylor and fellow Sonisphere artist Gary Numan, this new band are clearly already moving in high circles. Singer Jayce Lewis states:
“Sonisphere being back with a line up like this is testament to its quality, We are so excited to be a part of it this year. Gonna be LOUD!”
Heavy Metal marching band BLAAS OF GLORY will also be doing the rounds at Knebworth this July. A regular fixture on the international festival scene, this hilarious mobile act surprise unsuspecting metalheads with classic hits such as Running With The Devil, The Final Countdown and Highway To Hell, armed with sousaphone, saxophone, flute, glockenspiel, banjo, accordion, acoustic guitars, snare and bass drums.
The return of the hugely popular Temple Island at this years Bestival will be powered by SBTV and they have an almightly lineup to boot.
Temple Island curator, and director of The Physical Network, Liam Negus-Fancey says “We’re really excited to be back at Bestival with Temple Island after its phenomenal debut last year. The acts reflect our audience, they go above and beyond what others expect, constantly evolving to produce the best environment possible. We’re teaming up with the Bestival creative crew to build a brand new venue to host this exciting pool of fresh, boundary pushing talent to ensure you’re partying late into the night!”
Temple Island host and SBTV founder Jamal Edwards says: “I’m a massive fan of Bestival, it was one of the very first festivals I went to, and the experience was unreal. So partnering up with them this year is an honour for me. I'm a big supporter of the electronic dance scene, so I'm really happy that Bestival has given me an opportunity to put on an area that has got such great names like Kidnap Kid, T Williams, Preditah & many more”.
Out of the traps and ready to spank the dancefloor from the word go, Temple Island goes big from the off with a Thursday night line-up that includes Austrian chart-botherers Klangkarussell, epic house purveyor Kidnap Kid, bass heavy Bristolian Woz, Bestival’s top castaway Rob da Bank going up against Robin Hill regular Tayo for a touch of Purple Rave and the Monkeylove Stunt Team.
Friday’s dancefloor indulgences include jacking action from T Williams, monstrous manoeuvres from Shadow Child, gigantic grimey garage finesse from Preditah, cut-up vocal comforts from Lxury, divine duo Maribou State going b2b with audio-chisellerPedestrian, triple trouble on the double from Spoils And Monkey Wrench and siblings on a mission Star One.
Saturday’s look goes for chart-toppers Sigma dropping the big hitters, garage vibes from Shift K3Y, heavyweight attitude from Ed Solo, genre-mashing deeds from My Nu Leng, rave behaviour from Friend Within, London Grammar’s Dot Major, predestined vibrations from Karma and a live set from sultry soul chanteuse Purple Ferdinand.
And, bringing Temple Island’s second Bestival outing to a triumphant close will be Sunday servings from the Eton Messy crew who are back for another takeover, with their top boys’ own Blonde, fast rising Lancashire duo Bondax, Leeds twosome Wayward, Electric Minds’ skipper Dolan Bergin and Southern Fried’s own Kashii.
Minchin takes to the 'Great Oak Stage' following his headlining stint as Judas Iscariot in the sell out arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and off the back of the huge Broadway and West End success of his multi award winning musical Matilda – which scooped a record breaking 7 Olivier Awards. Going back to his day job of stand up musical comedy, this will be his first time performing in the historic Royal Park.
Having released six CDs, three DVDs and performed sell-out international live shows, Tim Minchin has also become a fixture on TV and radio in his native Australia, here in the UK and even guest starring in the US drama Californication. His legions of fans from comedy, drama and musicals will have the opportunity to see him perform his full show live on 10th July in Hyde Park.
Tim will be performing on the main stage, so bring along your picnic blankets and chairs and claim your spot on the grass in London’s Hyde Park. If you’d rather though, there will also be unreserved seating in the Grandstand area for an evening of the best outdoor comedy entertainment offered anywhere in London.
Joining Tim will be the cream of UK comedy talent:
Milton Jones is the king of the one-liners, a regular on BBC Radio 4 and TV’s Mock The Week where his quick fire humour gives audiences several laughs a minute. This summer he's in between national tours with some classics and plenty of brand new one-liners. Clever and stupid. No, mainly stupid. "No-one can touch Jones when he hits his stride" The Guardian. "He's fast,absurd and very funny" Radio Times
Newly crowned ‘Queen Of Comedy’ at the British Comedy Awards 2014, ventriloquist extraordinaire Nina Conti will be unpacking her suitcase of friends as she brings her puppet sidekicks to Hyde Park. White-haired Scottish Granny, the cynical monkey, Monk and of course the hilarious face-mask that lets Nina interact with terrified members of the audience!
Since playing Jonathan Creek in the late 90’s, Alan Davies has become a star of both television and screen, an actor and comedian whose laconic style is as at home in comedy clubs as on TV panel shows. A regular team captain on BBC2’s QI, playing Stephen Fry’s loveable sidekick, catch him perform this one-off show, before he heads out on a UK tour later this year.
Gina Yashere is the outspoken Londoner who the Guardian has called “one of the best comics in the world” and the first Briton to appear on the Def Comedy Jam in the US. Gina won both 'Best International Comedian' and 'Best Comedy DVD' at the Black Comedy Awards in 2014.
Holding the whole show together is one of the most popular British comedians ever. Jasper Carrott is famous the world over for his hilarious observational comedy, one man TV shows and global tours, not to mention his chart success with the spoof hit ‘Funky Moped’. He has received the Lifetime Achievement accolade from the British Comedy Awards and this is a rare chance to see him live in action.
Latitude is absolutely ecstatic to welcome the universally acclaimed and much loved Alison Moyet, one of Britain’s most successful female music stars ever, to the Film & Music Arena this year. Renowned for her famously sultry vocals that have seen her nominated for a slew of awards and propelled her into the spotlight; Moyet has enjoyed a wonderfully diverse and creative career to date; from reinventing British dance music in Yazoo to touring with Academy Award-winning French composer, Michel Le Grand. In 2013 Alison returned to her electro roots with the release of her first Top 5 album in 26 years and eighth solo album the minutes. Moyet’s electro performance will bring festival goers of all ages together for a sensational set.
Taking to the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage after four hugely acclaimed, much loved albums with the award-winning band Doves, Jimi Goodwin will perform as a solo artist. Embarking on a solo career, Jimi’s debut album Odludek showcases his trademark, doleful, baritone and twanging melodic bass lines. Playing almost every instrument on each track, spectators can look forward to a performance highlighting that award-winning talent. Bath Garage rockers Archie Bronson Outfit are back with entirely new material. Recently releasing their new LP Wild Crush, it is packed with raw-romance, brutal hooks and groovy soul reflections. Following on from release of their last LP Coconut, which won recognition and reverence around the globe, their latest music venture is a journey of sonic re-discovery and a simultaneous new adventure.
Following Latitude’s stellar line-up of exclusive festival performances and eclectic range of music, the avant-garde pianist Hauschka will set the iArena ablaze with a selection of his experimental, prepared piano pieces. Hauschka is celebrated for his compelling live shows that reimagine the expressive possibilities of the piano through an array of imaginative ‘preparations’ on its internal mechanisms. Also performing on the iArena will be dance fusion sensation Phantogram. The duo, comprising of childhood friends Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, first burst on to the scene with a unique fusion of hip-hop meets dream-pop. Since the pair’s inception, they have gone on to collaborate with music heavy weights Big Boi and Outkast and promise to wow audiences with a lush and evocative performance. London's most intrepid and adventurous psychedelic troupe have traversed a whole new plateau of synapse-shredding euphoria in the wake of their cataclysmic third album MASTER. Blurring the synth and disco odysseys of the 70s, the guitar-noise fuelled infernos of the 80s, horrorscore schlock and a whole mess of other cathode-ray and speaker-stack birthed epiphanies into one futuristic and fearsomely compelling whole, Teeth Of The Sea continue to spin in their own unique orbit.
New Zealand’s acclaimed sibling duo Broods will take to The Alcove with music form their debut EP Bridges. With a profound talent for emotional storytelling, the pair’s music mixes distant instruments with stammering beats and synthesisers to create a unique brand of alternative pop. Following Broods’ performance in The Alcove, will be the exciting Swedish songstress Seinabo Sey who will enthral festival goers with her euphoric blend of soul and pop music. Leeds based artist Joseph Lyons aka Eaves also joins the line-up on the stage. He has swiftly evolved from self-releasing a bunch of demos online into providing one of the most engaging live sets taking place in London, supporting Nick Mulvey, Slow Club and Keaton Henson.
Music company Transgressive is hitting its 10th Anniversary and celebrating in style with a host of its own events and parties, curated by the team. Hijacking the Film & Music Arena on Saturday night, the event will feature exclusive sets from electro veterans Simian Mobile Disco, the massively tipped Snakehips, a total festival exclusive from Two Inch Punch, as well as DJ-ing courtesy of the Transgressive and Bless teams. Live visuals on the night will be provided by Fay Milton from the band Savages. More surprise appearances are guaranteed on the night!
Keith Allen returns to Latitude this year with Keith Allen’s Establishment Club on TheAlcove with very special guests,23 Skidoo, DJ & producer Richard Norris, post-punk band Vic Godard & The Subway Sect, punk poet Jinx Lennon,soulful Thabo & The Real Deal folk rock band The Raglans, rock ‘n’ roll brothers The Hot Sprockets, left-wing comedian and author Mark Steel and Keith’s inimitable Latitude’s Got Talent.
BBC Radio 6 Music is proud to host the Sunday night closing party In the Woods. For over 12 years, Craig Charles has set the groove on 6 Music on Saturday evenings with his legendary Funk and Soul Show, he returns to Latitude with his Trunk of Funk – featuring the best in funk and soul from the roots of black music through to the current club sounds. Renowned UK house duo X-Press 2 are regular hosts of the 6 Mix on 6 Music. DJs Rocky and Diesel first rose to underground prominence in 1993, with their tracks Muzik Express and London Xpress; and later enjoyed mainstream success with their Number 2 smash Lazy, which featured David Byrne from Talking Heads. On playing Latitude, the duo said'We're pretty excited to be playing at Latitude this summer, and to be a part of the BBC 6 music crew- doubly excited!'
Lance Horne and Nigel Richards will perform The Night Of My Wedding, with words by Neil Gaiman. This spectacularly poignant piece uses the words of the love poems Neil Gaiman wrote to his wife, Amanda Palmer. Lance Horne set Neil’s unpublished poetry to an original score for the stage, which will debut in the Film & Music Arena. The National Portrait Gallery’s choir in residence, The Portrait Choir, will be joined by a team of actors and New Century Baroque to performAnonymity, an exploration of the themes of isolation and loneliness within wartime. Performed under the striking backdrop of images from the National Portrait Gallery, this multisensory event combines the evocative and powerful music of Handel with poems and correspondences from soldiers, politicians and members of the public dating back from the Great War up until the present day. The National Portrait Gallery’s Choir in Residence Programme is the first ever in-house music programme at a UK Gallery or Museum.
BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction returns to Latitude this year on the LavishLounge. Beginning on Friday with anarchic Mancunian experimenter Paddy Steer; vocal harmony trio Lady Maisery with their take on the English folk tradition; and a rare visit from psychedelic Cumbia band Meridian Brothers, direct from Bogota. Saturday features Mariam the Believer, one half of Swedish alt-pop duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums; Late Junction’s very own Mara Carlyle in collaboration with electronic composer Anna Meredith and a set from MOBO Award-winning jazz quartet Sons of Kemet. Finally on Sunday expect Balkan brass from London’s Balkanatics; the gorgeous voice of singer-songwriterEska performing material from her new album; plus Italian duo Satelliti bring their heady mix of krautrock, jazz and electronica. Highlights from all these sets will be broadcast on Late Junction the week after the festival, along with sessions and interviews recorded on site.
An icon himself, Latitude is delighted to welcome David Bailey, photographer of some of the most iconic images of the last five decades, to the Film & Music Arena to talk about his work with Tim Marlow, art critic and director of artistic programmes at the Royal Academy. Bailey’s work and recent exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Stardust,includes revealing, intimate and unforgettable portraits of the faces that have defined multiple generations, from the infamous Kray Twins and the starlets of the 60s, to the faces we see everywhere today; Kate Moss, Jack Nicholson and Damon Albarn. Beyond photography, Bailey is a filmmaker, sculptor and painter, and his appearance at Latitude will offer the audience an insight into the mind of a man whose work has shaped our image of the world. Multi-award winning filmmaker Nick Broomfield also joins the Arena to discuss his work, including his new documentary film Tales of the Grim Sleeper, examining the apartheid and class system in the US.
Additions to the film programme include Sheffield Doc/Fest who present Love is All, a climatic journey through the 20th-century, exploring the themes of love and courtship on screen in a century of unprecedented social upheaval. This is the celluloid story of love and courtship since the birth of the movie camera; told with spellbinding footage from the British Film Institute archive. Directed by Kim Longinotto, edited by Ollie Huddleston and set to a stunning Richard Hawley soundtrack.
Film 4 presents a number of film shorts across the weekend. Pitch Black Heist by John McLean – BAFTA winner for Best Short Film, starring Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender as professional safe crackers who meet on a simple job to relieve an office safe from its contents. Jonah by Kibwe Tavares – a big fish story set in Zanzibar about a beach boy with big dreams and the human cost of progress written by Jack Thorne and directed by Kibwe Tavares, starring Daniel Kaluuya. Dr. Easy by Shynola – the first fiction short from music video collective Shynola, sees Michael (Tom Hollander) as a broken man with a gun, surrounded by armed police. A robot with a medical degree is dispatched – but can it save him? London Short Film Festival will present a programme including shorts from Matt Kirkby, Felix Massie andLouise Paxton. Other short films across the weekend come from Brian Crano, Ben Bee, Eleonore Pourriat, Josie Long & Doug King and Tim Key & Tom Basden.
Latitude is incredibly excited to announce that everyone's favourite grumpster, and two-time Comedy Award winner Jack Dee will appear at Latitude, taking a break from moaning about the smallest of annoyances to help his fellow festival goers. In Jack Dee's Helpdesk the grouchy comic is joined by a panel of brilliant comics including Jeremy Hardy, Seann Walsh and Katherine Ryan to offer advice on audience members’ problems. He promises that “in no way'” will your issues be “ridiculed in front of a live audience”. Here’s hoping!
Also joining the comedy line-up is comedian, author, sports pundit and husband Mark Watson, duly recognised for his endearing wit and quirky remarks, and multi-talented comedian, actress, singer, musician and winner of The Soho Theatre One Night Stand Up Award Vikki Stone. Up and coming stand-up Ed Gamble started out doing sketches at university and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, going on to co-present the Peacock & Gamble Podcast. A permanent presenter on BBC Radio 4 Extra, festival goers can look forward to his ad hoc material.
Winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year in 2012 the Welsh wonder that is Matt Rees joins the eclectic mix of award winning performers in the Cabaret Arena. The Pin bring their reformed double-act to Latitude. Comprising of Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen the pair have enjoyed a sell-out run at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won theBest Show award at the 2013 London SketchFest. Having generated a huge buzz on the comedy circuit with his unique brand of well-crafted gags and acerbic delivery, Matt is deserved of high praise from audiences and critics alike. Making waves on the plateau of eccentric comedy sketches Massive Dad might just be the funniest thing you ever see and they make their festival debut on the Saturday morning. The Monster Comedy Shed, perhaps the smallest comedy venue in the world, will set up base hosting its own concentrated line-up to an intimate crowd of 3-4 people. Rising star Sean McLoughlin who, referred to as the “Albert Steptoe of stand-up” (Chortle), is a rare and humble breed of comic also joins the bill and Fancy Chance, one of the UK's premier burlesque clowns and performance artists, and the reigning Alternative Miss World comes to Latitude with I heart Bush: The Kate Bush Movement.
On the beautiful Waterfront Stage will be winner of eight Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and a Grammy, the Broadway smash hit musical Once heading to Latitude with highlights from the musical, having reached worldwide recognition. Each actor doubles as a musician bringing the soaring score to life, including Falling Slowly, the Oscar-winning song from the original film. The combination of the show’s heart-warming story and exuberant tunes is sure to warm you through and through. Audiences will be further mesmerised by the sultry performance of German Cornejo & Gisela Galeassi in a contemporary rendition of the Argentinean Tango. Specially commissioned by the prestigiousSadler’s Wells, their critically acclaimed performance promises to be one of the highlights of Latitude’s dance programme. Showcasing an intricate and beautifully delicate piece Historic Royal Palaces: Glorious Georges is an intriguing performance of the secrets revealed through dance in the Georgian era.
Added to the ever-expanding Theatre programme at the festival is a Paines Plough and Birmingham Repertory Theatre production, Hopelessly Devoted by Kate Tempest. Chess is in prison. Facing a lengthy sentence, her cell mate becomes her soul mate, but when Serena is given parole, Chess faces total isolation. Hope comes in the form of a music producer looking for a reason to love music again. She finds a powerful voice in Chess, but to harness her talent, Chess must first face her past. Lyrical fireworks. Live music. This is a story of love and redemption. Inspired by a dream, the revelations of whistleblower Edward Snowden, and the debate surrounding State Surveillance, Theatre Ad Infinitumcreates a nightmarish future where the state is secretly watching citizens’ minds in the Theatre Arena with Light, the codename given to metadata. Fusing graphic novel and cinema inspired sci-fi visuals and sound with non-verbal physical storytelling, Light brings to life a very disturbing future. In accordance with the arresting themes of other theatre performances, audiences are invited to delve into the Kafka-like world of Strike! and explore man’s desire to break free from bureaucracy and the constraints of work. Directed by Keziah Serreau and devised with a company of five highly skilled performers, Strike! uses intense physicality and humour, innovative aerial structures and a deluge of cardboard boxes to blur the boundaries between circus and theatre.
In Pandora’s PlaygroundForward Theatre Project presents BIRD – a piece of outdoor theatre about flight, freedom and the relationship between humankind and nature. A lonely young boy makes friends with a fledgling bird, and his eyes open to the natural world around him. An unusual and heart-warming modern fable, appealing to adults and children alike. In line with Latitude’s theme of Secrets & Lies Meridian, an immersive theatre experience by Cross Collaborations for Theatre Delicatessen's SPACED2014 invites, challenges and dares you to enter a new world. Inhabited by an eclectic array of performers they will take over Pandora’s Playground in an elegant and exquisite performance. Renowned for its iconic Black Box theatre installation for an audience of one, Bootworks Theatre will present a specially commissioned piece titled The Redboxes for Latitude this year.
This summer, chance upon a unique, celestial experience in The Faraway Forest as the award-winning Undeb Theatreshares a magical tale under the night sky. Comets is a play about love, lies and the expanse of the galaxy, following two teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, how growing up is changing their present, but the profound and unchangeable effect their relationship and life together has had on them. Also attending Latitude will be the non-government funded charity Stonewall who are renowned for campaigning and lobbying for the equal rights of gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the UK. Recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships.
Joining the Literary Arena will be Executive Director of Greenpeace Jon Sauven, Frank Hewetson one of the Arctic 30 activists who was arrested in international waters off northern Russia after staging a protest against oil exploration and the much loved British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood with her strong passion for ecological issues and protecting the planet. They will host an event on Save The Arctic, the Greenpeace campaign launched by Westwood which hopes to create a global sanctuary in the Arctic and to ban offshore oil drilling and industrial fishing in the wider Arctic region.
In partnership with Latitude the New Statesman will host a panel discussion across the weekend on the subject ofSecrets & Lies, starting with Literary Dystopias. The panel features Meg Rosoff, award-winning young-adult author best known for the brilliant post-apocalyptic novel How I Live Now, which went on to be made in to a film, New Statesman columnist, author, and sci-fi fan Laurie Penny; and winner of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists 2003 Toby Litt,whose repertoire of books include Journey into Space. Chaired by Tom Gatti, New Statesman’s Culture Editor, the second panel on gaming will include the Associate Features Editor at Eurogamer Ellie Gisbon, Kotaku UK's new Editor, writer and author on video games Keza McDonald, Media Molecule’s Siobhan Reddy and Barry Meade from Fireproof Games.
Joining the roll of prominent authors in the Literary Arena Josh Cohen will be taking part in the WHO ARE YOU? panel. With some fascinating insights into the way that the modern world, with its 24 hour media, social networks and reality TV, is altering the way we think of ourselves. Also in the Arena will be the prominent journalist, author, documentary maker and broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor chairing a panel of Extraordinary Women with author of Mrs Hemingway Naomi Wood, and New Statesman TV critic, journalist and author Rachel Cooke.
In the Shed of Stories author of Moondust and Totally WiredAndrew Smith will talk about the Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Winner of The Thwaites Wainwright Prize for UK Nature and Travel Writing 2014Hugh Thompson brings excerpts from his award-winning book The Green Road into the Trees. Having written books about Peru, Mexico and the Indian Himalaya, Hugh sheds light on the most exotic and foreign country of them all – his own. In partnership with Latitude Litro Magazine, publishers of literary short fiction, nonfiction and poetry, will host enlightening talks throughout the weekend, starting with editor-turned-writer Luke Brown in a conversation with his contemporary James Miller. Joining them in the shed will be author of the dystopian novel Fallen LandPatrick Flanery talking with historian and TV presenter Kate Williams and finally the novelist, editor, publisher and translatorBen Fergusson in discussion with new literary voice Rebecca Swirksy.
