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!

The Coronas, Dot Rotten and more added to T in the Park

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Platinum-selling Dublin based four piece The Coronas will perform at the festival on Sunday 8th July. Currently the biggest-selling independent group in Ireland, the band are renowned for their high-energy live shows. New single Addicted to Progress  is from forthcoming album Closer to You, produced by studio legend Tony Hoffer (Air, Beck, The Kooks, Belle and Sebastian) and showcases the boys at their best – it remained in the top 5 Irish Airplay charts for over 13 weeks!  This follows platinum-selling 2009 albumTony Was an Ex-Con, which went straight to No.1 in the Irish Indie and iTunes charts and won the guys a prestigious Meteor Award for album of the year, beating the likes of U2 and The Script. With an ever-growing fan base, the band have sold out Dublin’s Olympia 6 nights running, had a string of sold out UK wide shows and will firmly hold their own at T in the Park this summer.

Danny O’Reilly, The Coronas said: “We're so excited about getting to play T in the Park this year. The reception we get in Scotland has always been amazing and to play at such a historic festival is going to be a highlight of our summer. We promise to give every ounce of energy we have!"
 
London rapper Dot Rotten was nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2012 poll and his forthcoming third single Overload’ (sampling the 1996 hit ‘Children’ by Robert Miles) was selected as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record in the World – this is certain to become one seriously hot summer anthem. American rapper Meek Mill was included in MTV’s ‘Hottest MCs in the Game’ list and has racked up collaborations with T.I., Lil’ Wayne and Drake. He recently released the second instalment of his Dreamchasers series and signed a management deal with Roc Nation, which will ensure he rockets to the top in 2012. Fans can catch the new ‘must see’ rappers on the block at T in the Park this summer.
 
London based band Dry the River have had a phenomenal year. They sold out Camden’s Electric Ballroom three months in advance and landed a coveted slot on the BBC’s Sound of 2012 poll. The band were a big hit at SXSW and their debut albumShallow Bed has secured excellent reviews across the board.
 
Teengirl Fantasy are Logan Takahashi and Nick Weiss – electronic visionaries who met at Oberlin College, Ohio and first made noise with the release of their critically acclaimed album 7AM  in 2010, which was praised for its creative use of samples and experimentation and made numerous year-end lists including FACT, Pitchfork, XLR8R. Festival Director Geoff Ellis was reminded of their innovative talent when a friend posted one of their tracks on Facebook, and promptly booked them for the last remaining slot on the Slam Tent bill. Last year they toured with Crystal Castles, and the Amsterdam based boys are heading to T in the Park to complete an incredible Slam Tent line-up and showcase tracks from new album Tracer this summer.

Machine Head confirmed for Bloodstock 2012

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MACHINE HEAD first graced UK shores in the wake of their landmark debut album “Burn My Eyes” in 1994 as main support to Slayer.  Fan reaction to MACHINE HEAD’s signature brand of crushing metal was so intense that the band would return immediately afterward to headline their own sold-out shows at many of the same venues, launching a massive swell of passionate fan support that continues to this day.

Machine Head

Seven albums, a Grammy nomination and countless tours later, UK fans continue to champion and support MACHINE HEAD as feverishly as they did at those first shows, and this year, at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012, they will be given the unprecedented opportunity to influence MACHINE HEAD’s set list!

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of MACHINE HEAD’s first-ever live performance at their roadie Mike “Scum”’s getting-evicted-from-his-house party – for which they performed five songs – ticket holders will be given the opportunity to vote for the five “Burn My Eyes” songs they most want to hear MACHINE HEAD play during their headline set Saturday night, with the five that receive the most votes included in the set list (details to follow)!

Anyone that’s ever witnessed MACHINE HEAD live will attest to the fact that the raw, unbridled energy of their performance is unlike anything else you’ll ever see.  With countless legendary UK performances already on record, and a first-ever fan-influenced setlist, it goes without saying that MACHINE HEAD’s headline set at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 is going to go down in metal history as one of those festival performances that you’ll forever be glad you got to see.

WOWfest 2012 cancelled

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Following consultations and full consideration, it is with heavy hearts and much regret that we have been forced to announce the postponement of WOWfest 2012.

Putting the festival together, in what is proving to be a very challenging year and with damage inflicted by anti-festival lobbyists, was more difficult than we anticipated. We have spent the last year fighting hard to establish and keep WOWfest in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that this is no longer possible to achieve in 2012.

Although great confidence had initially been shown by the Isle of Wight Council to grant a Premises License for 18,000 rising to 22,000 capacity over a three year period and to further grant permission to run an event of that size under the Isle of Wight Act there are many forces trying to prevent the event happening. There is no doubt of the WOWfest team operational capabilities to deliver such an event.

However, the Isle of Wight Act conditions imposed by the council on the 18th May required a lump sum payment of over £140,000 for Council and Emergency Services to be brought forward to the 31st May. The conditions also stipulated the need for a financial bond of an unspecified and potentially unlimited amount to be made to the Isle of Wight Council.

WOW Festivals Ltd informed the Isle of Wight Council and responsible authorities, before the payment deadline for over £140,000 under the Isle of Wight Act fell due, that WOWfest would revert to run a downsized event – under the size (5,000) at which the Isle of Wight Act is invoked. However, the Isle of Wight Council rejected a minor variation application to voluntarily reduce the capacity and hours of operation on our Premises Licence and the Police decided to call for a full licence review, at the start of the Jubilee weekend. Undue and untimely pressure has resulted in one of the organisers suffering a stroke over the Jubilee weekend.

The planned event for 2012 will need to be postponed. Alternatives have been briefly assessed but time is against us and therefore the only sensible decision is to cancel WOWfest 2012 on the Isle of Wight and look to the future in 2013.

Ticket holders for WOWfest 2012 will be refunded.

Whilst we will be in touch with them all separately, in addition to this announcement, we want to openly express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the people, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proved to be a monumental task when there have been so many people determined to destablise the event with negative publicity and actions. We also want to send a huge thanks to the partners and people who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can’t fulfill what we set out to do in 2012.

WOW Festivals Ltd

Nicolas Jaar, Miike Snow and more added to this years Berlin Festival

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These new acts join an explosive bill of artists that includes Grimes, Sigur Rós, Franz Ferdinand, Orbital, Little Dragon, Friendly Fires, The Killers, Metronomy, SBTRKT and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. The who's who of indie and electronic music will take to the stage at Berlin’s historic Tempelhof Airport on September 7th and 8th 2012.

Now one of the most talked about artists of his generation following the release of his crotically acclaimed album 'Space Is Only Noise', New York-based musician Nicolas Jaar will conquer the stage at Berlin Festival with one of his acclaimed live performances challenging the genre boundaries of electronic music. 

The hugely talented Stockholm-based three-piece, Miike Snow will also perform at Berlin Festival. Whether they’re working with Madonna, Kylie or Britney, it’s hard to disagree that Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg make very addictive music and they're certainly no stranger to the indie crowds. We can't wait to see them whip the crowd at Tempelhof into a dancing frenzie with tracks from their sophomore album Happy To You.

Mike Snow

The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble will be the first act to play at Berlin Festival this year. TheBerlin-based trio will play a matinee show with a techno orchestra in tow before performing a live set at Club Xberg the same night.

Next up, Crocodiles. Massive guitar sounds the forte of the San Diego-based combo, formed by various punk band members which certainly explains the heavy noise pop influences.

Great melodies crash with ecstatic feelings when the boys from When Saints Go Machine lure the crowd with sophisticated electro pop and „avant-garde dance“. The band from Copenhagen will perform at Club Xberg.

And finally, as part of the current wave retro trend, the Brooklyn-based duo Light Asylum is one of the hottest newcomers around. With singer Shannon Funchess' unique voice and edgy synth sounds, the band will surely mesmerize the crowd on 8th September.  

All confirmed acts so far…

Friday, 7th September

Berlin Festival @ Tempelhof Airport

Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble * Clock Opera * Daughter * Friends * Frittenbude * Grimes * The Killers * Miike Snow * Michael Kiwanuka * Nicolas Jaar * Little Dragon * Major Lazer * Kate Nash * Of Monsters And Men * Orbital * Sigur Rós * Tocotronic * We Have Band and more

Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin

Brandt Brauer Frick * Crookers * Dada Life * Dumme Jungs * Etnik * Metronomy * When Saints Go Machine and more

Saturday, 8th September

Berlin Festival @ Tempelhof Airport

Bonaparte * Jamie N Commons * Cro * Crocodiles * Django Django * First Aid Kit * Franz Ferdinand * Friendly Fires * iamamiwhoami * I Heart Sharks * Junip * Paul Kalkbrenner * Kraftklub * Morning Parade * SBTRKT (live) * Sizarr * WhoMadeWho and more

Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin

Junior Boys * Light Asylum * The Magician * Modeselektor live * Slagsmalsklubben * Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and more

More acts announced for The Secret Garden Party

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LINEUP:
MAIN STAGE / WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE /THE CROSSROADS

ORBITAL – EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS  CARAVAN PALACE – LITTLE DRAGON – ALABAMA SHAKES

TIM MINCHIN – LITTLE ROY – LAMB – LIANNE LA HAVAS

BAXTER DURY – THE JIM JONES REVUE – KING CHARLES

KT TUNSTALL – DERRICK MORGAN & DENNIS ALCOPONE

DUKE SPIRIT – I BLAME COCO – FUJIYA & MIYAGI

WE HAVE BAND – VINTAGE TROUBLE – SUMMER CAMP – TASHAKI MIYAKI

CLEAN BANDIT – DAUGHTER – JENNY O – BIGKids – WILLY MOON

BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY

KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS – HYDE AND THE BEAST

PALMA VIOLETS – MARQUES TOLIVER – NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS DUO – ZULU WINTER – LERA LYNN – JODIE MARIE – JAKE BUGG – KARIMA FRANCIS -SOKO -PEARL AND THE BEARD – CITIZENS! – BASTILLE – VIOLET –

JUAN ZELADA – LIAM BAILEY – LEGENDARY TIGERMAN

LOUISE AND THE PINS – LAUREL COLLECTIVE – MAD DOG MCREA

DYLAN LE BLANC – POPPY AND THE JEZEBELS – FOXES – SCANNERS – ELLEN AND THE ESCAPADES – DOLLAR BILL – TOM WILLIAMS AND THE BOAT – THE JESSIE ROSE TRIP – WE WERE EVERGREEN – L.A. SALAMI –           RUBY AND THE RIBCAGE – LAS KELLIES – AHAB – ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS JOHNNY CAGE AND THE VOODOO GROOVE –STEVE SMYTH – THE MOONS – GRASS HOUSE – THE CAEZARS FLAP! – THE LADYKILLERS – KASSIDY –  PROFESSOR PENGUIN – JOE ROBBINS – KIRSTY ALMEIDA – BEANS ON TOAST –

BROTHER & BONES – THE PINE HILL HAINTS – THE SPECIALS KS’  TRAVELLING BAND – THE MAD OX BROTHERS – SUBURBAN DIRTS – BIRD RADIO – IAN M HALE – DIRTY GENTLEMAN – DJ RANDY GROOVER

THE TEMPLE OF BOOM
CURATED BY EDDY TEMPLE-MORRIS

JACQUES LU CONTE – UTAH SAINTS

KRAFTY KUTS & A SKILLZ WITH DYNAMITE MC

ADAM F – SCROOBIUS PIP (LIVE) – NIKI & THE DOVE (LIVE) – DANNY BYRD & MC RISKY -MISTABISHI (LIVE) – HERVE – ADAM FREELAND – MIXHELL (LIVE)

JON CARTER – GET CAPE WEAR CAPE FLY – HIGH RANKIN (LIVE)

TRUE TIGER – RACK & RUIN – MONSTA – TC (LIVE)

SHOCK ONE – FREQ NASTY  – WILKINSON – EDDYTM & MAJESTIC

LOSERS (LIVE) – AYAH MARAR (LIVE) – RUSS CUBAN – CUT LA ROC

DAVID DUNNE – AKIRA KITESHI – SKISM – REDNEK – CAAN (LIVE)

ENGINE EARZ EXPERIMENT (LIVE) – MARIBOU STATE – C.R.S.T – BAXTA

AFGHAN HEADSPIN – PATHAAN – EFFECT MODE & ILLAMAN (LIVE)

2 BIT THUGS – HIATUS AND SHURA – KRY WOLF – STE-V-SOMETHING

DISQO CONQRETTE – SWIFTY B – FEELING GLOOMY – RAWKUS NOIZE

MCS: MAJESTIC, KRAFTY MC, ILLAMAN, BAD MANNERS, MC GAIKA

THE LIVING ROOM
The garden’s home to the finest acoustic artists and bands…

ANNIE DRESSNER – BY THE RIVERS – CARA SEBASTIAN – CHARLENE SORAIA – CHASING OWLS – COZI – DAN CLEWS – ECKI – ELLIE LAWSON ETHAN ASH – EVI VINE – FAIR AND SQAURE – FREDS HOUSE – GERARD AND THE WATCHMEN – ISOBEL ANDERSON WITH RUBY – COLLEY – JEAMES MORELY – JAMES FROST – JAMIE FREEMAN – JAY JAMES PICTON – JAY LEIGHTON – JODIE MAY – LEDDRA CHAPMAN – LEE MITCHELL – LEO ALTERELLI – LIANNA LE HAVAS – MAMAS GUN – MATTHEW P – MR AUTUMNAL – PARK BENCH POET – PAUL GOODWIN – RACHEL SERMANNI – RAPHAELLA – RYAN KEEN – SAY GRAY – SERENITY ZEST – SUPER LOVE GIANT – THE SHELLAC COLLECTIVE – DJs –THE WILLOWS TOM COPSON – WILL ROBERT

The Cabaret Club comes to T in the Park

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The Cabaret Club is all set to give T in the Parkers a unique, unexpected and unrivalled festival experience.  Crammed with the cream of the cabaret, burlesque, circus and comedy crop, and open from the Thursday night for campers, fans can catch sets from internationally renowned cabaret acts and an impressive array of hilarious stand-up comedians.  For the high-energy thrills of the late night variety shows, the Cabaret Club will provide an escapism into another world of glamour, intrigue and infectious laughter, fuelled by performances from five-star, award-winning acts that have dazzled audiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Melbourne Comedy Festival, the World Fringe in Perth, and all around the world. 

The very best in Burlesque will tempt and tease T in the Parkers into the Cabaret Club across the weekend. Rock ‘n’ Roll burlesque bombshell Daiquiri Dusk will deliver a deliciously dark and decadent alternative burlesque show.  Miss Burlesque World Nominee Miss Hell’s Belle is a heady mixture of sweetness and sensuality but with a very wicked side. With a love of the dark side and old time Hollywood glamour, this glittering starlet will spellbind and bewitch. Mixing burlesque with trapeze is Vendetta Vain who boasts a unique image fusing vampy drag stylings, traditional glamour and pop-culture sensibilities – her work is contemporary and underscored with an effortless and bold sexuality. 
 
Leyla Rose is Scotland’s most famous burlesque star and evokes the classic elegance of a Golden Age Hollywood star performing sultry stripteases, but is equally at home as a bumping, grinding, tassel twirling rock ' n' roll showstopper.  Then there’s burlesque and fire star Cat Aclysmic – the ultimate Southern Bell gone bad – born and raised in the heart of Dixie, this tattooed temptress left her homeland to raise a little havoc on UK shores.   Alongside the burlesque beauties, hula hoop extraordinaire Stakatto Blue, all-girl fire performance troupe Spitfire, circus and fire performance duo Mia Et Philippeand solo fire star’s Ammie Jay and Mia Meow are also sure to turn up the heat in theCabaret Club across the weekend.
 
Festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager are thrilled to announce that smash hit comedy superstars Frisky & Mannish will headline theCabaret Club on Friday.  Since 2008, Frisky & Mannish have been peddling their unique brand of seriocomic-mashparodic-bapsbotty-infotainment all over the world, as well as appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to great acclaim.  Declared as“Superb and uncontrollable" (The Times),  “Comedy gold" (The Guardian), "Seriously talented" (Observer) and "Fully blown superstars" (Time Out), Frisky & Mannish are clearly a big hit with the critics and will be a big hit with T in the Park fans on Friday 6th July.
 
Frisky and Mannish said: “There’s nothing quite as scintillating as playing songs to a rammed tent of Scottish revellers…T in the Park is a particularly raucous festival experience and we love it.”
 
Saturday’s headline slot has been secured by East End Cabaret.  After finding themselves in London’s East End (via the Eastern Bloc) with only a suitcase of Bolshevik puppets and an accordion to their names, they did what any enterprising and narcissistic person would do, and started a cabaret show.  Aided by the erudite Mr. Little Red Book, Bernadette’s penchant for salaciousness and Victy’s assortment of musical instruments, they are armed with their own batch of original songs (and some shamelessly re-appropriated ones from Radiohead to Right Said Fred) to shock, amuse and enlighten the audience.  Described as “Musically adept, marvellously funny, genuinely naughty and utterly in control” (The Scotsman) it will be quite the show on Saturday at T in the Park in the Cabaret Club.
 
Rayguns Look Real Enough headline Sunday at the Cabaret Club. High quality musicality meets insane mash-ups – this is a show about a huge talent coming to terms with mediocrity, and one man’s struggle with his inner tiger.  Taking only the best bits of the best songs, coupled with all of the bravado and peacock strutting of a massive stadium band, Rayguns deliver unrivalled entertainment whilst subjecting all who see them to their infectious, catchy, sing-along rock anthems. 
 
Throughout the 4 day Cabaret and Comedy spectacular, an array of the best in the business will also take to the stage. The Horndog Brass Band’s drum ‘n’ brass repertoire is made up of fresh originals by musical directors Tom Pickles and Tom Donaldson, augmented by a selection of brassed-up cover versions ranging from Aerosmith to TV  theme tunes, and some more ‘traditional’ funk with a New Orleans twist.  Rufus & Ben are an edgy, funny double act steeped in the art of music hall, vaudeville and classic comedy repartee.  Original songs and sketches merge with classic comedy and the odd homage to the great comedy acts that inspired them.  Joe Black – Sex, Drugs & Vaudeville will drag festival-goers kicking and screaming on a song-filled journey, showing how bitter, jaded and indecent one can become. One of the pioneering personalities in neo-cabaret, Joe Black is the unmistakable Vaudevillian, real-life Disney villain and the one and only waltzing cynic, headlining arts and music festivals across Europe.
 
The Creative Martyrs perform cabaret songs, physical comedy and speciality acts in music halls, circus, travelling shows and public houses in Glasgow and London. A sinister, neo-political musical cabaret that manages to be funny at the same time. Caught in the Rollers is the first full length show from Glasgow’s music-cabaret girl group, The Redettes.  The show combines a high-energy set list of contemporary pop hits, mashed with humour and skill into classic favourites, with a live five piece band and original script.  Stand-Up Comedy Magician, Contortionist & Escapologist, Chris Crosstravels the world performing his anarchic side-show performances. Described as a punk-magic superstar, Chris will amaze with the things he does with his body!
 
The Stand Comedy Club will wow the crowds on Saturday and Sunday with a special comedy hour courtesy of the world famous Stand Comedy Club featuring some of the best stand-up comics in the UK.
 
Listings so far below, with more still to come…
 
THURSDAY 5th July
Daiquiri Dusk, Leyla Rose, Mia et Phillipe, Chris Cross, Ammie Jay, Cat Aclysmic, Edd Muir, Flash/Bang, Lucille, Mia Meow, Miss Hell’s Belle, Spitfire, Stakatto Blue, Vendetta Vain
 
FRIDAY 6th July
Frisky & Mannish, Daiquiri Dusk, Mia et Phillipe, The Redettes, Ammie Jay, Cat Aclysmic, Edd Muir, Lucille, Mia Meow, Miss Hell’s Belle, RwP Cabaret, Spitfire, Stakatto Blue, Vendetta Vain
 
SATURDAY 7th July
East End Cabaret, The Stand Comedy Club, Daiquiri Dusk, Desmond O’Connor, Mia et Phillipe, Ammie Jay, Bumble Tree Cabaret, Cat Aclysmic, Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, Edd Muir, Lucille, Mia Meow, Miss Hell’s Belle, RwP Cabaret, Spitfire Blue, Vendetta Vain
 
SUNDAY 8th July
Rayguns Look Real Enough, The Stand Comedy Club, Daiquiri Dusk, Mia et Phillipe, Rufus & Ben, Teen Canteen, Joe Black, The Creative Martyrs, The Redettes, Ammie Jay, Bumble Tree Cabaret, Cat Aclysmic, Edd Muir, Lucille, Mia Meow, Miss Hell’s Belle, Not So Secret Society, Spitfire, Stakatto Blue, Vendetta Vain

Bingley Music Live announce Razorlight

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Taking to two of our three stages in Myrtle Park from 31st August to 2nd September, they’ll be joining: Nero, DJ Fresh, The Pigeon Detectives, Hard-Fi, The Charlatans,Maverick Sabre, Delilah, Kids in Glass Houses, Katzenjammer, The Idiot B*stard Band, StooShe, Yes Sir Boss, Miles & Erica, Skinny Lister, Citizens, King Charles,The Chevin, Sadie and the Hotheads, Ellen and the Escapades and The Lancashire Hot Pots.

Razorlight

Razorlight secured their headine status shortly after the release of debut album Up all night in 2004. Since then Johnny Borrell’s band continue to make an impact on the indie rock scene with their brilliant pop songs, exceptional live performances and confident swagger. Expect Razorlight to tear the place up with a stream of massive hit singles including America, In the morning, Golden Touch and many more that are guaranteed to get the Bingley Music Live audience fired up.

Next up, we have one of the world’s truly great performers, Detroit’s finest diva and Motown legend Martha Reeves. A sensational vocalist with undeniable star quality, Martha continues to delight audiences with an incredible back catalogue consisting of some of the 60’s most enduring hits including Nowhere to Run, Jimmy Mack and Dancing in the Street.  Her live appearances during 2010 earned her two nominations for the UK Festival Awards, as ‘Best Headliner’ and ‘Feel Good Act of the Summer’. Come to this year’s Bingley Music Live and catch some of that feel good vibe for yourself.

Recently reunited after a 6 year break, Liverpool’s Space are set to make a triumphant return to the stage at BML. Bringing their unique brand of darkly humorous pop to the proceedings you can expect all your favourite 90’s hits such as Female of the Species,Neighbourhood, Avenging Angels and The Ballad of Tom Jones as well as new material from their new album Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab. Brilliantly bizarre!

For those looking for a much rock-ier tip there’s the Sheffield based Black Spiders.  Their debut album Sons of the North released in 2011 received plaudits across the board, with Rock Sound Magazine proclaiming “their apocalyptic… axe assault is awe-inspiring.” They’re busy thrilling audiences across the UK and mainland Europe and have up coming gigs at Sweden Rock festival, Download as well as BML. One of their tour highlights so far was being selected to open for Ozzy Osbourne.  We look forward to some serious moshpit action.

New kid on the block, Jake Bugg, has had an already impressive musical adventure since his appearance at Glastonbury last year at the tender age of 17. A confident singer-songwriter, Jake recently featured on ‘Later with Jools Holland’ performing his new singleLightening Bolt. We highly recommend you check out Jake’s distinctive voice and mature lyrical content. 

Also confirmed for the Raise the Roof stage we have We Were Evergreen. This Parisian, alternative folk-tinged, indie-electro-pop trio are currently creating a huge buzz in the UKwith The Evening Standard hailing them as “the rarest of things: a band with something new and brilliant to offer.” Listen out for new single, Baby Blue, which is due for release on 4 June.

PlayFest 2012 Preview

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So to my surprise another early week inbox confirming my attendance at a festival which had totally slipped my mind, Play Fest!

Play Fest has only been running a single year and returns once again this year building its previous years success. Consisting of a comprehensive bill of musicians, bands and artists across various stages, the genres of music on offer are largely Rock, Indie and Dance which should accommodate to the majority of tastes.

Held over the jubilee bank holiday weekend & taking place at New Eccles Hall, Quidenham, Norfolk it’s expected to draw in excess of 4,000 each day.

With three main arena’s packed with major artists including Ash, Feeder, Roots Manuva, The Correspondents, DJ Zinc and Sub focus certainly makes for an impressive line-up.

My two personal highlights for the festival which have been on my wish list to see for a while will be Toddla T who has been a late night DJ on BBC Radio 1 for a number of years and has had recent chart success with the single “Take It Back” and also Hip-Hop duo Scroobius Pip with a number one UK Indie single “"Look For The Woman".

Let’s hope the weather holds out and we have another hot weekend, not a typical British wet and muddy one. Either way come rain or shine the people and music will make for a scorching weekend.

By Dan Wheatley

Final additions to Truck Festival announced

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Hard to believe that this is the 15th installment of Truck Festival – some of its founders were barely more than 15 years old themselves when it started back in 1998! This year sees a return to the classic format, under the new management of the team from the award-winning Y-Not Festival, with the main Truck stage back where it always was and the legendary barn stage re-opened for business, only now with a new roof decked with solar panels to provide green energy to power the stage within. The team have put together a splendid line-up for you at Hill Farm, with a mix of returning favourites,including The Mystery Jets, British Sea Power, 65 Days of Static and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, and exciting acts new to the festival: The Temper Trap, Villagers, The Low Anthem, Guillemots, Little Comets, Three Trapped Tigers and many more. And perhaps the biggest coup of all: we've got Matilda-soundtracking, Jesus-Christ/A-List-Superstar TIM  MINCHIN!

Tim Minchin

 

This being Truck, local acts and labels are heavily involved with the event, from established names like Fixers, Spring Offensive, and This Town Needs Guns to those playing Truck for the first time, including Old Grinding Young, the Black Hats and Kill Murray. The Big Scary Monsters & Alcopop labels present an afternoon of bands in the barn and BBC Introducing in Oxford will also be on-site once more. And the stars of last year’s Rumours performance will be back – Michele Stodart, Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou, and The Dreaming Spires. In breaking news, Fresh Out The Box DJs return to close things off in the Barn both nights for the traditional ‘cowshed rave’!

There's also a large Big Top stage and the Ladybird tent providing kids' activities by day and entertainment by night. There are two distinct camping areas: one for families in one end of the market field, and the larger main campsite in its usual spot. The Didcot Rotary Club and friends are here once more, serving hearty food, smoothies (and of course donuts) and raising substantial funds for good causes. Keep an eye out for some new flavours this year, we hear rumours they'll be trying their hand at pizzas this year!

For the first time this year the festival takes place on Friday and Saturday, giving you Sunday afternoon to head home and recover before work on Monday- we've expanded the bar to provide a splendid range of ales, beers and ciders, as well as the addition of some of your favourite top-shelf drinks, and even a few cocktails: we hope this 15th anniversary event provides plenty of opportunity to celebrate! Saturday is also the first fancy-dress day, and after a public vote Truckers chose wild animals as the theme: we'll look on with interest to see what they come up with! speaking of wild animals, keep an eye out for the legendary and elusive Truck Monster: He (or she?) will be appearing around town in the run-up to the event and on the official Truck T-Shirts and Hoodies, of course, available from the Truck Store on-site – which will also be selling merchandise and albums by most  of the acts appearing at the festival.

In a year with no Glastonbury and a summer royal and sporting overload, it’s down to the likes of Truck to keep the flag flying for the true spirit of festivals. Truckers have responded well to what is being called Truck’s best line-up ever, and we’re cautiously confident of an advance sell-out for the 4,500-capacity event. Tickets are available for the astonishingly reasonable price of £69 for a weekend ticket, with under-12s free (with a responsible adult), making it a great destination whether you’ve just finished your exams and are attending your first festival or you’re a family with young kids looking for a good value weekend in the country. It’s often forgotten how lovely it is down at Hill Farm and you can’t beat walking down the Causeway in Steventon to get there.

 

Kendal Calling add new Kube Stage with DJ Yoda and more

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The GLoW dance arena is set to get even hotter with DJ Zinc joining the bill. The legendary drum and bass producer is responsible for the all time Jungle Drum & Bass anthem Super Sharp Shooter and the massive drum and bass remix of the Fugees Ready or Not. Tipped as one of Timeout Magazine’s ‘DJ Stars Of 2012’, DJ Meléis also in line to take to the dance tent throne. The hype surrounding this Merseyside DJ just keeps on growing. His rhythmic inventiveness and virtuoso touches really set him apart and to say the future looks bright for this young DJ would be an understatement! The unique sounds of DJ and sampler extraordinaire Fingathing is a welcome new addition, their live drum pad and sample mayhem with live double bass and visuals will blow the Glow crowd away. Another huge crowd pleaser is big beat master Earl Gateshead & Superfour, an integral part of Britain's sound system culture, Earl Gateshead's involvement in reggae spans over two decades. Besides his Trojan Sound System commitments Earl is a regular reggae guest at infamous London club Fabric. There’s some phenomenal homegrown talent on the bill too, AIM (a.k.a Andy Turner) is one of Cumbria’s biggest exports and will be dropping by the Deer Park for a much-loved DJ set and welcome return to the festival after his set back in 2007. His set includes a live PA from Niko. With more acts in the pipeline to be added to Glow the Cumbrian fields have one mighty party in store!

DJ YodaCut and paste master DJ Yoda will be topping the Kube bill treating Kendal revelers to not one but two of his incredible sets renowned for originality. After taking the spoken word scene by storm this year and with great support from BB6Music, rapper Ghostpoet will also be spinning some tunes. Fingerlickin’ Records finest dance exports, A Skillz will be dropping by the Kube for an additional set, as will AIM, Olugbenga (Metronomy DJ) and D/R/U/G/S.

Festival-goers can also sign up for Hip Hop Karaoke, and Saturday will be an honorary Disco Day that includes a live DJ Disco Battle plus a set from Luke Unabomber (Electric Chair). Renowned Manchester clubnights El Diablos Social Club and Cutloose will also add to the stages’ disco and Balearic vibes.

Mixing a heady atmosphere of dancing, cider, sunshine, party music, hip-hop, house, disco and a surprise appearance or two, the Kube Stage will be the place to be.

More acts are still to be announced across the festival… so watch this space!