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!

British Summer Time announce McBusted & Neil Young

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The 2014 summer season in London's Hyde Park will see the return of the 10 day concert series British Summer Time this July.  This years headliners include McBusted, Backstreet Boys, Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

Joining headliner Neil Young and Crazy Horse and special guests The National are; Half Moon Run, Lucy Rose, Ethan Johns, Tom Odell, Caitlin Rose, Phosphorescent, Flyte and a special guest to be announced AS SECOND STAGE HEADLINER soon.  

The Vamps, Lawson, FIVE, Neon Jungle are joining the UK’s #1 pop supergroup, McBusted and US pop sensations Backstreet Boys.

Also set to perform are The Webb Sisters, Jack Savoretti, To Kill A King and Hero Fisher.

Considered one of the greatest songwriters ever, Neil Young – who will headline the event on Saturday 12th July – has been one of the most influential artists of the rock age, both as a solo artist and part of the legendary Buffalo Springfield and not to mention Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.  Twice inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his music ranges from the beautiful acoustic country of 'Heart of Gold' to the marauding rock of 'Down By The River.'  This Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park gig will be doubly anticipated as Young and his band Crazy Horse had to cancel some of their UK dates this year due to an injury to guitarist Frank Poncho Sampedro.

Always remaining relevant, Young recently published his acclaimed autobiography ‘Waging Heavy Peace’ and continues to be heavily involved in environmental issues – championing electric cars, alternative fuels as well as farmers’ rights with his annual Farm Aid concert.

He releases new album, ‘Live At The Cellar Door’ on December 11th, a collection of intimate gigs he played at Washington D.C.’s Cellar Door Club in 1970, just after he released the classic album ‘After The Goldrush.’ In January, Young plays two shows at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall.

McBusted caused hysteria selling out tickets in a heartbeat for their 2014 dates at The O2 Arena.  McBusted is the coming together of two of the UK's biggest acts – Busted and McFly, who throughout their career have combined their winning, infectious pop and rock songs with their irresistible personalities and humour. Between them, they have an arsenal of hits to unleash, including Busted's 'Year 3000' and 'What I Go To School For' combined with McFly's 'Shine A `Light' and 'All About You'.  McBusted’s gig at Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park in 2014 will be the 10th anniversary of Busted's last ever gig in Hyde Park and the perfect setting for a pop super summit!

The Backstreet Boys are one of the biggest selling boyband in the history of pop, rising to power in the mid 1990s and selling a staggering 130 million records around the world. They have enjoyed a career renaissance after reforming in 2012 and releasing a new album this year, whilst they will be touring the UK in March and April 2014.  With the back up of mega hits like 'I Want It that Way', 'Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)' and  'Everybody' (Backstreet's Back), your summer of pop is in truly safe hands.

New stage for Live at Leeds 2014 announced

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This years exciting addition of the Leeds Town Hall as a new venue for Live At Leeds brings with it one of the finest home grown lineups going! In a city full of musical heritage, few buildings hold as much cultural gravitas as the Town Hall. Built between 1853 and 1858 and opened by Queen Victoria, the beautiful structure has been a hub for music, film and education for many years making it a true cultural mainstay of the city.
 
The inimitable ¡Forward Russia! will be reforming to headline proceedings and bring with them their famed and oh too missed angular, jarring post-punk. Having last performed as a one-off to celebrate the 100th birthday of the legendary Leeds Brudenell Social Club at the tail end of last year they’re a true part of the city’s music scene and a more than welcome addition to this year’s Live At Leeds lineup.
 
"After playing the 100 year anniversary at the Brudenell last year there was really no intention to do anything else. We never played Live At Leeds the first time around, but the opportunity to headline such a great venue with great friends was too good to turn down. We played with I Like Trains loads and I played live with Sam." – Whiskas, ¡Forward Russia!
 
Joining them will be Leeds locals I Like Trains. The brooding post rock quartet recently celebrated ten years as a band and continue to captivate audiences with their fascinating and brilliantly original music. Having joined headliners ¡Forward Russia! in celebrating the Brudenell’s centenary by performing and re-releasing their debut EP Progress/Reform, the band know Leeds better than most and their historically rooted songs are a perfect match for both the venue and the festival.
 
“Not only are we excited to be playing such a grand old venue in Leeds for the first time, we also get to share it with friends and co-conspirators Forward Russia and Sam Airey.  Throw in Lanterns on the Lake and there is no reason for people to leave the Town Hall.  Our 10 year history is inextricably linked with Forward Russia.  Tom and Whiskas were working at our very first show, Whiskas put out our first single on Dance to the Radio and we've remained good friends and collaborators ever since.  It is great to see them doing their spiky thing once again." – Dave Martin, I Like Trains
 
Part of the ever-excellent Bella Union stable, Newcastle’s Lanterns On The Lake find inspiration in the sprawling coastal scenes of the North East and this is reflected in their brand of sometimes grand and cinematic, sometimes introverted and anxious but always beautiful post-rock.
 
With a debut album on the way Sam Airey’s BBC 6 Music championed music has placed the folk wunderkid as a true one to watch. The Welsh-born but Leeds residing musician will be bringing his full band show to the Town Hall and with it songs from his acclaimed ‘A Marker & A Map EP’.
 
"Truth be told, I'm excited! I'm fairly certain it'll be the biggest Leeds show we've played as a full band, and pretty wonderful to be sharing the stage with bands who are not only are musicians I admire but also mates of mine (ahhhhhhhh). FR and ILT were the first bands I was really aware of when I moved to Leeds a few years ago, and I look up to them not just musically but in terms of their ambitions, and also their attitudes towards making music and creating a sense of community amongst their fanbases. I played with Lanterns on the Lake a couple of times around when I was first starting out so it'll be fun to join them once again – they're one of my favourite bands in the UK right now and their latest record is really great" – Sam Airey
 
Check out the full lineup here:
ALBERT HAMMOND JR / BLOOD RED SHOES / CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN / CHLÖE HOWL / CIRCA WAVES / CLEAN BANDIT / COURTNEY BARNETT / DRENGE / ELLA EYRE / FORWARD RUSSIA / FUCK BUTTONS / HUDSON TAYLOR / I LIKE TRAINS / JOHNNY FLYNN / KING CHARLES / KODALINE / LAUREN AQUILINA / LIZZO / LOS CAMPESINOS! / NEUROSIS / NINA NESBITT / PULLED APART BY HORSES / ROYAL BLOOD / SAY LOU LOU / THE HOLD STEADY / THE MIDNIGHT BEAST / WOLF ALICE / YUCK
 
AMBER RUN / ARC IRIS / ARTHUR BEATRICE / AUTOBAHN / BAT AND BALL / BLAENAVON / COASTS / CRYSTAL SEAGULLS / CYMBALS  DARLIA / DENAI MOORE / DIVE IN / DOLOMITE MINOR / EAVES / ELIZA AND THE BEAR / FAIR OHS / FLYTE / FRANK HAMILTON / FRED PAGE  FYFE / GAMBLES / GEORGE BARNETT / HAPPYNESS / HERO FISHER / HIGHASAKITE / HOLY MOUNTAIN / HONEYBLOOD / INDIANA / JACK GARRATT / JAMIE ISAAC / JAWS / JOEL BAKER / KHUSHI / LANTERNS ON THE LAKE / LAURA WELSH / LOLA COLT / LOVE ZOMBIES / LYGER / LYLA / FOY / MARIKA HACKMAN / MAUSI / MENACE BEACH / MELT YOURSELF DOWN* / NORMA JEAN MARTINE / PALACE / PARAKEET / PAWWS PRIMITIVE PARTS / PUP / RAINER / RHODES / ROSIE LOWE / SAM AIREY  SAN FERMIN / SHY NATURE / SIVU / SNARKY PUPPY* / SOLIDS SOUTHERN / SPRING KING / SUPERFOOD / TELEMAN / THE AMAZING SNAKEHEADS / THE BOHICAS / THE CREASES / THE SCENES / THE TEA STREET BAND / THE WYTCHES / TOURIST / VUKOVI / WE THE WILD / WE WERE EVERGREEN / WILD CUB / YOUTH MAN
 
ALASKA / ALLUSONDRUGS / APOLLO JUNCTION / BEARFOOT BEWARE / BLUE LAUREL  CARNABELLS / CHARLIE STRAW / CITY OF LIGHTS / DISRAELI GEARS / ENGINE / FANS  FAWN SPOTS / GLASS CAVES / GLASSBODY / GOODBYE CHANEL / HARRY RIDGWAY  IMP / JONNY QUITS / MARSICANS / MODO STARE / MUNICH / NARCS  OTHERPEOPLESLIVES / PIP MOUNTJOY / QUENTINS BASEMENT / SAMUEL S.PARKES  TABLOIDS / THE MEXANINES / THE VENDETTAS / THEN THICKENS / WE WERE FRONTIERS / WEIRDS / WITCH HUNT / WHITE ROYAL
 

Takedown Festival Twenty 14

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Takedown Festival 2014 is being held at Southampton University on Saturday March 15th. Its a one day event that offers a alternative style of music to the south coast.

Bands are spread out over 5 stages throughout the day. In the time Takedown festival has been running it has been host to many great bands such as The Blackout, While She Sleeps, Don Bronco, Skindred, and many more, Takedown also been host to many local bands in the area such as, Our Hollow Out Home, Upon The Shore, Saint The Sinner, and lots more.

This years event will be host to Funeral For A Friend, Kids In Glass Houses, Yashin, Lostalone, and also local bands such as Saint The Sinner, Seasons In Wreckage, Our Hollow Our Home.

Bands to keep a look out for Heart In Hand, Feed The Rino, Hacktivst, Our Hollow Our Home and Saint The Sinner!

So if your up for a mosh and head banging this is the festival to be at this March!

Kendal Calling announce Outer Space fancy dress theme

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This years Kendal Calling have announced their theme for 2014 which will be Outer Space.  Expect the grounds of Lowther Deer Park to bhe transformed into a dazzing alien world!

Without giving away the festival's plans too much, festival-goers can beam themselves into the Calling Out tent after the bands go home to watch some of the best space films ever made and some that might surprise!  
 
Once again an attempt will be made to smash another world record. This year Kendal Calling hope to break the record for the largest moonwalk! No, we're not sending people into space!  Instead festival-goers should don their sparkly white gloves and embrace their inner MJ as they attempt to 'beat it.'                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
As always, Saturday will be fancy dress day and festival-goers are encouraged to suit up in keeping with the space theme, whether it be a character or object from across the galaxy such as Darth Vader, Spock, Barabella, Dr Who, Ziggy Stardust, Neil Armstrong, Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Michael Jackson or even a planet. Be as creative and as wacky as you like! In years gone by revellers have demonstrated brilliant ideas and imagination in designing and donning costumes transforming the ancient, tranquil Deer Park into a surreal, bouncing wonderland.  
 
As well as the overall space themed décor, Kendal Calling will once again have a wide variety of the very best music and performance art to excite, enlighten and entertain throughout the weekend. Keep an eye out for many more Kendal Calling announcements in the near future as this multi award winning festival continues to provide the perfect backdrop for a weekend of musical merriment in the fields.  
 

Watchet Live Festival 2014 first lineup announcement

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This years Watchet Live Festival has announced the first wave of artists that will perform, it includes Toploader, Bad Manners, Eric Faulkner's Bay City Rollers and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

With their trove of of hits including Dancing In The Moonlight and Achilles Heel, Eastbourne's Toploader are the perfect sing-a-long festival headliner for Saturday night. Saturday's 2nd headliner is yet to be announced.

The line-up for Friday's main stage include a host of legendary acts. Buster Bloodvessel's legendary Ska band Bad Manners will headline, supported by the No.1 60's soul man, Geno Washington and his Ram Jam Band. Tartan scarves will be out in force for Eric Faulkner's Bay City Rollers, and the unique retro-pop sound of Dance Rock Revivalists Joywride will open the festival main stage.

Both Sunday headliners are yet to be announced, but as always 'house band'The Wurzels will perform in the afternoon, alongside Company B and Land Of The Giants.

Taking place for the 8th time on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th August, Watchet LIVE Festival will showcase the very best music, food and entertainment from the Westcountry and beyond.

Camping and Campervan option early-bird tickets are on sale at last year's prices until March 2014, when the remaining three headliners will be announced. 

Watchet LIVE is a not-for-profit family-friendly festival with amazing views of the stunning West Somerset coastline and beyond. Three live stages will host more than 50 live acts, bringing a wide range of high-calibre musical acts not normally found performing in West Somerset, at a very affordable price. 

Following the success of last year's sold out event, Watchet LIVE Festival has made financial donations to local groups including The Children's Hospice South West, West Somerset Brass band, and the local "Stand Against Speed" young driver's awareness campaign. 

2014 will see more emphasis on youth-oriented daytime and evening entertainment & workshops; a shuttle bus from the main town to the festival site in the afternoon and evenings on each day has been introduced, plus more walk about street entertainers, more showers in the camping area and an extended family camping area.

Alongside a wide variety of high quality food stalls, the extensive in-house Cider and Real Ale Bar prices are always kept as low as possible, providing one of the best-value refreshments offerings to be found at any event in the UK.

Darkside, Four Tet and more added to Melt Festival lineup

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Having performed to sold out crowds all over Europe, Melt! goers will have yet another chance to see Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington a.k.a. Darkside live. Four Tet will make a welcome return to the City of Iron to bring us the latest tunes from his 2013 release, ‘Beautiful Rewind’ and the UK band, Bombay Bicycle Club, will celebrate their Melt! debut raising the indie quota with their guitar-laden sound. In 2013, SBTRKT got behind the decks in Ferropolis. This year, festivalgoers can see him live on stage with brand-new material. Clean Bandit, who have been topping charts all over since the release of their hit single, ‘Rather Be’, will also be on hand get party revellers in the mood with their charismatic electro pop tunes.

Performances and sets by DVS1, George Fitzgerald, John Grant, Ja, Panik, John Talabot (DJ-Set), Jungle, Markus Kavka, Kid Simius (live), Of Montreal, Pantha du Prince (live), Planningtorock, Pretty Lights, S O H N, Son Lux, Tale of Us, Tourist, WhoMadeWho and Wolf Alice have also been confirmed.

 

More acts announced for 2000trees Festival

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Electronica showstoppers Public Service Broadcasting will bring their unique visual and musical performance – including TV sets, sampling and live video – to this summer’s 2000trees Festival.

Itch, Blitz Kids, Hawk Eyes, The Virginmary’s, Winter Villains and Verse Chorus Verse have also joined the 100-strong line-up, with organisers promising ‘the best year yet’ for discovering new favourite bands.

Organiser James Scarlett said: “2000trees has won national awards for encapsulating what many music fans want – a wide selection of new and underground British music in an affordable, fun and friendly environment, not to mention the beautiful Cotswolds countryside.

“Our line-up is strongly influenced by fans’ input as well as our own experiences as music fans, so we are proud to say this will be the best year yet for variety and strength in depth of acts.”

Already announced acts are: Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Jamie Lenman, Tall Ships, Wolf Alice, Canterbury, Arcane Roots, Gnarwolves, Johnny Foreigner, Ben Marwood, Lonely the Brave, Natives, Dad Rocks!, &U&I, Slaves, The Retrospective Soundtrack Players, Oxygen Thief, Radstewart.

Acts now announced:

Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Public Service Broadcasting, Jamie Lenman, Tall Ships, Wolf Alice, Canterbury, Arcane Roots, Itch, Blitz Kids, Hawk Eyes, Gnarwolves, Johnny Foreigner, Ben Marwood, Lonely the Brave, Natives, Dad Rocks!, &U&I, Slaves, The Virginmary’s, The Retrospective Soundtrack Players, Oxygen Thief, Radstewart, Winter Villains, Verse Chorus Verse.

Jamie Jones, Sasha & Magda added to SW4 lineup

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The legendary and SW4 regular Sasha joins the SW4 bill along with SW4 first time performers, Jamie Jones and Magda.

A man who needs absolutely no introduction joins the Clapham Common festivities for the very first time in 2014, as Jamie Jones finally makes his South West Four debut. Widely regarded as the leader of the new house sound that has dominated dancefloors worldwide over the past five years, Jamie’sslick and sexy adaptation of the 4×4 beat has resulted in his rapid catapault to global superstardom. Jamie’s pioneering sound has been instrumental in the success of his cross genre band Hot Natured and iconic label Hot Creations. This, along with his role as the face of Ibiza’s seminal nightclub DC10, has paved the way for a warmer and more melodic side of techno to emerge. Adding to this the recent launch of his second label HOTTRAX, plus his superb ‘Planets and Spaceships’ EP and its clear that Jamie joins us at SW4 at the very pinnacle of his career.

A true SW4 legend makes his welcome return in 2014. That legend is Sasha. Having previously headlined South West Four three times (more than any other artist), Sasha’s exploits on Clapham Common are the stuff of folklore. His unrivalled ability to evolve and adapt to the ever changing world of electronic music has resulted in his international reputation as one of the greatest DJs to have ever walked the planet. The past twelve months have seen Sasha demonstrate his ground-breaking status further through the release of Involv3r, recently nominated for Beatport’s Album of the Year, a Mixmag front coverand a simply unforgettable headline appearance on New Years Eve at Brixton Academy as part of his Last Night Night On Earth label takeover.With recent standout performances serving to raise the benchmark of Sasha’s genius even further, we look forward to welcoming back one of SW4’s favourite sons with open arms.

Conistently cherished as the world’s finest and most infleuntial female DJ, Magda makes her SW4 debut in 2014. The Detroit-raised artist joined the M_Nus family back in 1998, soon establishing herself as one of the most revered DJs in the world today. Her performances alongside long standing friend Richie Hawtin have obliterated the world’s leading clubs and festivals for over a decade and we look forward to similar wild scenes at SW4. Now steering her own label Items & Things along with co-owners Troy Pierce & Marc Houle, the imprint has provided an ideal platform for many other world class producers toshowcase their sound. As an artist that prides herself on developing within such a fast-paced scene, her constand demand has led to one of the most impressive touring schedules around. South West Four get ready to be blown away by Magda.

Over fifty acts announced for End of the Road Festival

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Hosted in the wonderful surroundings of Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset, this years End of the Road Festival will be headlined by Flaming Lips and Wild Beasts.

Along with the announced headliners, check out the fifty other artists that have been added to the lineup.

Festival founder Simon Taffe: "I am very excited to have finally got the Flaming Lips, one of the best live bands in the world today, playing End of the Road on Saturday night. It's also a great honour to have the Wild Beasts back to play a headline spot, plus some of the most interesting live bands around at the moment – White Denim, John Grant, Yo La Tengo and many more."

The full A-Z list of artists confirmed today is:

9 Bach
Adult Jazz
Alexis Taylor
All We Are
Andrew Combs
The Barr Brothers
Benjamin Clementine
Bird Courage
British Sea Power
Cate Le Bon
Cold Specks
Connan Mockasin
Deer Tick
Drenge
Eagulls
Ezra Furman
Flaming Lips
Gruff Rhys
Hookworms
Horse Thief
Houndstooth
John Cooper Clarke
John Grant
John Smith
Johnny Flynn
Juana Molina
Mark Kozelek
Marissa Nadler
The Melodic
Nick Waterhouse
Oliver Wilde
Perfume Genius
Peggy Sue
Pink Mountaintops
Radiophonic Workshop
Richard Thompson
Rosie Lowe
St Paul and the Broken Bones
Stealing Sheep
Sweet Baboo
Temples
The Horrors
Three Trapped Tigers
Tinariwen
Tiny Ruins
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Wave Pictures
White Denim
Wild Beasts
Woods
Wytches
Yo La Tengo

 

Sunsplash Festival announces line up for 2014

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This year Sunsplash Festival moves to a new summer hotspot, the sun soaked shores of Bodrum in Turkey.

We have the first lineup announcement for this years festivals which includes Zara McFarlane, Gilles Peterson, Osunlade, Karizma, Lefto, Phil Asher, Rainer Trueby and many many more below.

ARTISTS CONFIRMED SO FAR:
 
Zara McFarlane
Zara McFarlane’s debut album, 2011’s Until Tomorrow, came garlanded with rave reviews and a MOBO award nomination heralding a major new talent in the world of British Jazz. SunSplash welcomes her with open arms. Read More
 
Osunlade
For the first time at SunSplash! Osunlade is an artist who personifies art. His music creates unified melodies manifested with balance, life and wisdom. Read More
 
Gilles Peterson
One of the residents of SunSplash, rocking it year after year and needing very little introduction. Read More
 
Karizma
One of the most in-demand DJs on the worldwide house circuit, his productions are a must-check for any self-respecting house lover, and his remix talents are sought out by some of the biggest names in the music business.Read More
 
Phil Asher
One of London’s finest. DJ, producer and a much loved SunSplash resident. Bringing good time boogie and deep club cuts. Read More
 
Rainer Trueby
The Root Down legend from Germany returns to grace the turntables. What can we say? The man is pure class. Read More
 
Patrick Forge
First time at SunSplash! A familiar name on the London DJ scene for the last 25 years, his radio show, The Cosmic Jam, ran for twenty one years on Kiss FM, the longest running programme in the station’s history! Read More
 
Alex Attias
A long established and well loved house, funk and disco and later ‘broken beat’ DJ who has produced some of the most memorable tracks of the movement, working with the likes of Dego, Mark De Clive Lowe, Bembé Segué, Vanessa Freeman and others. Read More 
 
Kev Beadle
DJ, radio presenter and producer Kev Beadle’s bio reads like a journey through the halcyon years of the jazz, jazz funk and soul scene in the UK from the late 70’s through to todays musical manifestations. Read More
 
Ruben Estevez (BrukBoogieKru)
Ruben started as a DJ in 1994 in Lausanne, Switzerland, spreading a selection of sounds from hip hop to soul funk and electronica, progressing to drum and bass and broken beat/nu jazz. Read More
 
FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITES:
 
Yoga
Start and finish the day with Yoga; sunrise and sunset sessions are on offer daily and included in the package fee. 
 
Kate Magic – Raw Living
In keeping with the festival’s good music and good living concept, the scrumptious Kate Magic comes to SunSplash in 2014 with her workshops on Raw Food and Raw Living. There will also be a stool to buy delicious raw cakes and chocolates, so it’s not all talk! Read More
 
Phil Asher – Beats
One of London’s finest. DJ, producer and a much-loved SunSplash regular Phil Asher will take a music production seminar for ‘headz’, other interested parties and budding producers. Read More