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!

RockNess adds Jeff Mills, Rob Da Bank and more!

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As one of the biggest names in techno, it is impossible to love the genre and not be familiar with the name JEFF MILLS. And if there wasn’t a word like “Wizard” to describe him it would be necessary to invent one. A founding member of the noted Detroit techno collective Underground Resistance, along with “Mad” Mike Banks and Robert “Noise” Hood, as well as past resident of New York’s legendary Limelight, signed artist on Berlin’s acclaimed Tresor label and creator of Chicago’s Axis Recordings, plus countless other groundbreaking achievements of note, JEFF MILLS is revered as a demi-God by electro purists the world over.

Jeff Mills

Now in a very special appearance, an absolute must for techno connoisseurs, RockNess is thoroughly delighted to announce the maestro will join the exceptional line up of this year’s SUB CLUB SOUND SYSTEM 25 Years celebrations. Expect an unforgettable set as JEFF MILLS, under the moniker of ‘The Wizard’, whips up a storm of unparalleled ferocious intensity playing a set of funk, soul and extremely rare early electro classics.
 
Inspired at the outset by the likes of Nirvana, Mudhoney and The Pixies, Irish rock group ASH have notched up five studio albums (and a mini album) and countless top 40 hits. ‘Girl From Mars’, ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘Burn Baby Burn’…ASH make great pop songs. Heralded as the ultimate singles band, the 3-piece turned their back on the traditional route of recording an album every couple of years and set up their own studio and label, Atomic Heart Records. This newfound freedom enabled the band to record and release songs at will. Thus was born the A-Z Series – a collection of 26 songs released fortnightly for an entire year. 2011 saw Charlotte Hatherley return to join the band for a one-off tour to much acclaim. 2012 sees the 20th anniversary of ASH with an appropriate celebration stop off at Dores.
 
RockNess favourite ROB DA BANK is Highlands-bound again this year too, back to thrill as always no doubt with a big heaving box of stupendously tasty audio delights. ROB DA BANK’s shows are a colourful corner of the musical universe where you're as likely to stumble into stripped down techno as you are woozy weird folk, bootleg covers, brand new dubstep to oddball electronic so expect the unexpected!

The rise of Yorkshire indie rockers THE PIGEON DETECTIVES is one based on strength of tunes – launched with hit drenched debut Wait For Me, and a relentless approach to touring. Feted by the likes of Steve Lamacq and Jo Wiley, three albums in and with a fourth scheduled for an autumn 2012 release, the platinum selling five piece are set to bring their sound of sculpting guitars and scudding choruses to the festival following a highly successful European tour.

Pigeon Detectives

ERRORS is a four piece band from Glasgow with a unique take on dance music. Signed to the brilliant Mogwai’s Rock Action label, they have to date released a series of singles, EPs and their debut album “It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever” and these releases have brought them acclaim across the board from MTV, Zane Lowe and Vic Galloway along with sessions at Maida Vale for Mary Anne Hobbs, Rob Da Bank and Huw Stephens, magazines such as NME, Dazed and Confused and Rock Sound as well as tours and live dates with bands as varied as Underworld, Franz Ferdinand, Explosions In The Sky, Gary Numan and Mogwai. NME has hailed them as “one of the most interesting bands in the country”. Don’t miss ERRORS at RockNess this June.
 
SOUND OF GUNS return to RockNess once again with their sure-fire power and raw energy. Hailing from Liverpool, SOUND OF GUNS have blazed a trail since they formed in 2008 cementing their deserved reputation for delivering searing rock with their second album, Angels and Enemies picking up support  from Zane Low and Xfm along the way.
 
THE CORRESPONDENTS take a large helping a swing, jazz, cha-cha-cha and much more from the history of music and add a large helping of fat drum and bass and electro beats to create something that’s unique in the current musical landscape. And with frontman Mr Bruce’s high voltage performance depicting the trials and errors of love, lust and loss they have consistently destroyed crowds on the festival circuit marking them out as a must see act.
 
A plethora of exciting new breakthrough talent is announced for the line up too. Young Scottish singer songwriter NINA NESBITT has been generating much interest after being spotted by ED SHEERAN and Example (both of whom she subsequently supported on tour). With comparisons to Laura Marling and Kate Nash, check out her set to see just why all the fuss.
 
Former Groove Armada collaborator Becky Jones AKA SAINT SAVIOUR has a captivating vocal style that has seen her compared to Kate Bush and Sinead O’Connor. Having recently toured with Hurts, she has her debut album ‘Union’ due for release a fortnight after her appearance at RockNess.
 
ALL THE YOUNG are Britrock revivalists whose sounds ooze the feel good factor of classic 90s indie. Mixing brains and brawn the band have come to smash 2012 into a brave new frontier of indie rock n roll, honing their craft with a series of support slots for the likes of Morrissey, Kaiser Chiefs, The Courteneers, The Wombats, Hard-Fi and The Pigeon Detectives.
 
Brooklyn rapper THEOPHILUS LONDON built his reputation with a series of must-have mixtapes making him one of the biggest buzz acts on the planet.  His debut album Timez Are Weird These Days was critically acclaimed when it was released last summer and Theophilus is sure to rock the crowds with his take an alternative hip-hop.
 
Commenting on these latest announcements, Festival Director Jim King said: “We're delighted with this announcement. Jeff Mills closing his stage on the Sunday night is going to be something special”

Fun Lovin Criminals Fast and Frank Benbini for One Love Festival

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According to an interview that FLC drummer Frank Benbini the album is a true labor of love. We’ve done a lot of remixes for a lot of people. “Why don’t we do the soundtrack to ‘Purple Rain’?”  I started to approach different people and one person I approached was Sinéad O’Connor. She hasn’t sung a Prince song since ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ which was an international number one so I didn’t think she’d go for it. But she did, and did a version of ‘I Would Die 4 U’. Amazing. Then we’ve got Plan B, he’s doing one, Madness are doing one, the singer from UB40’s doing one.

Jumping Jack Frost
One of the original drum'n'bass DJs and subsequently one of the most legendary, Jumping Jack Frost played an important role in the early-'90s development of drum'n'bass as both a DJ and as the co-owner of V Recordings. In particular, Frost's V Recordings label has been central to drum'n'bass' development throughout the '90s and into the 2000s, releasing records by some of the U.K.'s leading producers: Roni Size, Krust, Dillinja, Lemon D, Ray Keith, and others. Despite his devotion to the V label with co-owner Brian Gee, Frost continued to be one of the U.K.'s most visible drum'n'bass DJs, championing the latest V releases as well as many of the genre's classics.

Nikky Blackmarket
Is one of drum & bass' most faithful servants. His early experience of DJing was as a teenager playing electro in the 80s, however, after discovering dance music he got involved with a Soho record shop, Blackmarket Records, and as the scene began to split, he set up the basement to cater specifically for the hardcore and breakbeat sounds.  This basement became the epicentre of the drum & bass scene, with Nicky at the helm.  His legendary partnership with Stevie Hyper D in the mid 90s made his name synonymous with the genre, whilst his label Kartoonz was responsible for some all time anthems, not least the unforgettable '2 Degrees'. Nicky is most approachable big name DJ on the planet!

Emmy the Great, Lucy Rose and more set for Truck Festival

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The multi-talented Emmy The Great will be at Truck this year – she's worked with everyone from Tim Wheeler of Ash to Noah and the Whale and is a super solo performer in her own right as well as a terrific writer. What's not to like? We think she last appeared in Truck in 2008, and also in 2006. Welcome back  Emmy!

Lucy Rose

Lucy Rose is perhaps best known for singing on the song and album 'flaws' by Bombay Bicycle Club (she's also on the new one). Lucy Rose toured the UK and the US with the aforementioned BBC and Noah And The Whale in early 2012, and according to Vogue is "one of indie music's breakout stars for 2012"; come and see for yourself- and see whether she really does hand tea and jam out to festival-goers.

Kill It Kid, from down the M4 in bath, are fronted by the vocals of Chris Turpin and Stephanie Ward and boast a blues-heavy sound, emotive vocals and a spot of fiddle (though not so much on the new record). Looking forward to this one- and nice to see a band naming themselves after a song by Blind Willie McTell!

This Town Needs Guns are well known to Oxfordians, as well as audiences around the world, so should need no introduction here. Math-rock? possibly. Built around impossibly complex guitar patterns, their music has been released on the Sargent House and Big Scary Monsters labels amongst others. Their line-up has change but no doubt the passion inspired in the Truck audience will remain the same.

Michele Stodart is of course bass player of The Magic Numbers and this year releases her debut solo album, which follows her recent single "Take your Loving Back". She's been on the road all year spreading the word. She appeared at Truck festival 2011 where she also joined in the very memorable performance of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours which closed the festival.

Josh Kumra  is from just down the road in Swindon, and is best known for co-writing and appearing on UK Number One single "Don't Go" by Wretch 32. How about that! He's about to kick off a residency at the Social in London and cites Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and the two Bobs (Marley and Dylan) among his influences- catch him now and say you were there.

Gabriel Minnikin & the Fast Country. Let's just quote Manchester Evening News from last week: "There are many ways to describe Parakeets With Parasols, the third and latest album from Manchester-based singer-songwriter Gabriel Minnikin: an orchestral country-pop masterpiece; a monolith of intricately carved pop classicism; the work of a modern day Phil Spector; the best album by a Manchester-based artist in 2012." High praise, but deserved!

Björk cancelled for this years Sonar São Paulo

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BjorkAfter medical studies performed, Bjork's specialist doctor advised her immediate rest of her voice due to an  inflamed nodule. Following Björk having to cancel two shows in Argentina when this condition emerged, it is on doctors advice, too soon to try and sing again, as this could bring a permanent damage to her voice. Even though Björk wants to perform, she won't be able to continue with the show.

We wish Björk a quick and full recovery to continue enjoying her talent soon.

Final lineup’s announced for this years Play Fest

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Roots ManuvaJust added to the bill are UK Garage legend and Kiss FM stalwart DJ EZ on Saturday, and drum’n’bass supremeo Sub Focus on Sunday. The latest additions join an already full to bursting bill of acts that include Ash, The Pigeon Detectives, Reverend and the Makers, Roots Manuva, The Correspondents, Shy FX, Zinc, Toddla T, and Jaymo & Andy George.  This means the full line ups for Saturday and Sunday have now been revealed, so it’s nearly time to don the Play-suits, dust off the wellies and get on down to Play Fest!

Kick starting Saturday night in the POW! Dance Arena, is a DJ widely considered to be one of UK Garage’s greatest talents, DJ EZ! Honing his craft on London’s pirate radio stations in the early 90s, DJ EZ rose to prominence in the late 1990’s when he was offered a permanent show on Kiss 100. Over the years, DJ EZ has hosted a variety of different radio shows, mixed a bucket load of Pure Garage compilation albums that have sold over 1.7 million copies, and won a sack full of accolades and awards; including ‘Best Radio Show’, ‘Best Old Skool DJ’ and ‘Best DJ’ at the People’s Choice Awards. Play Fest revellers will be taken on a trip through the archives of UK Garage by one the best tour guides there is!

Sunday in the POW! Dance Arena welcomes even more shining lights of the electronic scene and Play Fest can now reveal that supporting Toddla T at the top of the bill for Sunday night will be Sub Focus. Having been on the scene for nearly a decade, Sub Focus is somewhat of a boy wonder of drum’n’bass. He became one of the leading practitioners within only two years of his emergence whilst his debut single ‘X-Ray’ was awarded Single of the Week on Zane Lowe’s Radio One show. In 2010 he produced the track "Kickstarts" for British singer/rapper Example, which peaked at number three on the U.K. singles chart, and last year he signed a deal with Mercury and has a new album due for release at the end of 2012. With so many strings to his bow and a sack full of heavy tunes to delight the party animals out there, Play Fest are ecstatic to have such a D’n’B heavyweight overseeing the run up to the final hours of this year’s festival!

Other additions to the Sunday POW! Dance Arena include: the musical knowledge and surefire selections of Numbers co-founderSpencer, the contrasting styles of Foamo and Bondax, while Oli D.A.B and Robin will be on hand with their particular breed of house. Rounding off the bill will be hometown hero Joshua Roberts and the techno and house vibes of Josh 2084 and BoaBoa & Fazhands.

Over in the Asylum Stage additions include the mega brass extravaganza of Gypsy Hill and Norwich home-grown reggae talent Jah Head, with Murphys Lore on Sunday and Saturday welcomes Kodeta and Woodland Creatures to the lunatic bill of the Asylum Stage!

A limited number of tickets are still on sale via the Play Fest website: www.playfest.co.uk

LINE UP SO FAR:

MAIN STAGE:

Saturday: Ash, The Pigeon Detectives, Reverend and the Makers, The Big Pink, Little Comets, Tellison, Tripwires, Solko,

Sunday: Feeder, Delilah, Scroobius Pip, Natty, Spector, Lonsdale Boys Club, Ria Ritchie, Dumbfoundus, Lee Vann

Big Top: 

Saturday: Roots Manuva, Sonic Boom Six, Killamonjambo, Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun, Alloy Ark, Kamilla Lovett, The B Goodes, Eyes, Under The Influence, Dingus Khan

Sunday: The Correspondents, Federation of the Disco Pimp, Juan Zelada, Boat To Row, Deers, Rory Mcvicar,  Model Staggs, The Soft, Underline The Sky, Ill Murray

POW! Presents: Dance Arena

Saturday:

Zinc, Shy FX, Melé, DJ EZ, B.Traits, Urban Nerds, DJ Cable, Get Low Cartel, POW! Party Boys

Sunday:

Toddla T, Sub Focus, Jaymo & Andy George, Spencer (Numbers), Foamo, Bondax, POW! Party Boys, Joshua Roberts, Oli DAB & Robin, Josh 2084, Boa Boa & Fazhands,

Asylum Stage

Friday

Double Drop, Cabaret show – Chantelles Wedding

Saturday

Sam & the Womp, The Vagabond, New Town Kings, Swingball,  Kodeta, Feral Mouth, Woodland Creatures, The Harvs, Mc chrome + Illinspired, Cielo, Gael, Julia Jenkins, Inlay.

Sunday

Gypsy Hill, Jah Head, Nimmo and the Gauntlets, Murphys Lore, Project Multivitamin, Eliza Shaddad, Josh Doughty, Askala Selasse, Slightly Off Steve, The Proposition, Scott Wright, Andy Kirkham

 

The Mighty Doonans and more set for The Beverley Festival

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The Doonans have a deserved reputation for their imaginative and innovative interpretations of traditional songs and ability to introduce other genres of music and dance to their thoroughly entertaining performances. The line up includes Mick Doonan, Phil Murray, Kevin Doonan, Stu Luckley, Ian Fairbairn, Rosie Doonan, Jamie Luckley, Ben Murray and Frances Doonan.

Rosie Doonan has been touring with Peter Gabriel as part of his band and support – she was recently spotted on BBC2 adding vocals when they performed on ‘Later with Jools Holland.’ She will be joining him again for dates this year – no doubt including again the stunning duet on the classic ‘Don’t Give Up.’

From the USA comes the amazing Abigail Washburn with Kai Welch who will be performing on Friday night along with popular Scottish band Shooglenifty who will be treating festival goers to their special brand of “acid-croft.”

Other artists include , Martin Carthy, Chumbawamba, Coope Boyes & Simpson, Henry Priestman, and Peter Robinson, author of DI Banks series of books as featured on ITV with Stephen Tompkinson, and poet extraordinaire Ian McMillan and Luke Carver-Goss.

Many more great acts can be found by going to the festival’s website – www.beverleyfestival.com

A wide range of concerts and activities for those attending the event, with a special emphasis on families and children, makes the event a perfect weekend for all.

Performing artists for 2012 include: Joe Brown, Steeleye Span, Peatbog  Faeries,

The Mighty Doonans, Chumbawamba, Martin Carthy, Coope, Boyes & Simpson, Shooglenifty,

Abigail  Washburn with Kai Welch (usa),ahab, Furnace  Mountain (usa), Henry Priestman,

Ian McMillan and Luke Carver Goss, Elvis Fontenot and the Sugar Bees, The Toy Hearts,

The  Carrivick Sisters, The Whiskey Dogs, The Tom Townsend Blues Band, Lady Maisery,

Peter Robinson (author),Habadekuk (denmark), Elfynn, Roger Davies

Area 2 Youth Programme – Kirsty Bromley, Indigo Heights , Jim Molyneux Trio, Blind Panic, King Cole, Raj Raj Raj, Simon Stephenson, Hase Waits, The Tea Cups, Alice Burn & Emily Hoile, Dominic Hook, Beth Chamberlain & Grace Smith, Paul Liddell, Jaywalkers, Horizontal Sunday, Sail Pattern, Mark Wynn, Darcy DaSilva, Fran Smith, Tangletree, Area 2 Big Band.

Moonbeams Sessions – David Ward Maclean, Plumhall, Holly Taymar & Chris Bilton, Gerry McNeice, Something Nasty in the Woodshed, Dan Wilde, Rich Stephenson, Union Jill, Jessica Lawson, Sarah Horn & James, Cudworth, Mark Wynn, Martin Peirson, Andy Stones, Circus Envy plus lots more artists and Dance Teams ….

The Killers to headline Sizget Festival 2012

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Besides them, a solid electro-package will arrive on the A38 stage, while maybe the best news is that it’s less than 100 nights to sleep before the start of the 20th Sziget between 6-13 August in Budapest, Hungary.

It is all confirmed, America's most exciting contemporary rock band, The Killers will perform at Sziget, as they will be the headliners of the final festival day. Probably they are the most significant production of the entertainment industry from the Sin City of Las Vegas, even booked by US President Barack Obama for a gig at the White House. They sold over 15 million copies of their 3 unforgettable albums around the world. Currently, they are working on their fourth album, which will come out in the second half of 2012, and they will probably perform a few of those new songs at the 20th edition of Sziget Festival.

The Killers

A notable electro-package is also confirmed for the festival’s A38 stage, which moves to a central place and will become bigger. Not to mention a new program feature: 2 world-renown DJs will throw a party there every night. Part of the package is Borgore, the golden boy DJ and producer from Israel who at the age of just twenty-four is already well known in the international network of dubstep.

The dynamic Italian grand masters of electro and fidget, the Crookers will also get to Budapest, while the Parisian drum’n’bass and electro house squad, Dirtyphonics will be here to present their unstoppable, unbelievably energetic live act.

The genius of Dj Fresh stems from his ability to connect with the underground drum and bass fans and come out with a radio friendly pop hit in the same time – if you were not aware, discover this at Sziget. Another great name in the line-up is Dope D.O.D, a Groningen-based hip-hop formation of three MC’s, Dopey Rotten, Skits Vicious and Jay Reaper, all of them with African and British origins. They play massive, crazy hardcore hip-hop music, but their sound of wicked groove and bizarre tone finds its own way in the horrorcore sub-universe.

Lincoln Barrett is a progressive drum’n’bass artist, DJ and producer, known by the name High Contrast in the scene. He will team up with MC Dynamite, one of the most popular MCs of this genre, so their joint Sziget party is something no one should miss. Tiga, the Canadian Juno award winner DJ and producer is one of the most renowned electronic musician of his country who reformed the North-American club culture in the 90’s. Half of his family is Hungarian, so he knows exactly what we need for a great electro party in this country. Azari & Ill, messengers of the resurrection of 80’s disco, swift electro, deep and Chicago house will also appear on Sziget this year. And the electro package wouldn’t be complete without the legendary German electro duo Modeselektor, right from Berlin, the heart of the European e-music scene.

The name  Kakkmaddafakka is probably the best choice to represent the swift, cocky and unique music of twelve musicians whose performances are full of energy as they entertain the audience. E-musician-producer Andy Barlow and songstress Lou Rhodes form Lamb, creating the most ambitious and attractive downtempo music of the late 90’s and the early years of the millennium.  Their numerous fans will be able to see them again after nine years at Sziget. Also in the line-up are The Black Seeds with their light, modern reggae music, reflecting positivity and optimism that helps to get the sweetest vibe at their shows.

The Wild Beasts are also gearing up for the festival with their slightly folk-rock influenced, sophisticated, fine and elegant guitar music, best defined as art-rock or even dream-pop – depending on the mood. And lovers of the Scandinavian metal scene will surely be happy with the crazy, energetic, yet melodic death metal played by Amon Amarth – now confirmed for Sziget.

We have new names in the Party Arena program as well, amongst them Flux Pavilion, a music-titan who made it to BBC's list of most promising bands and musicians this year. Also confirmed, British group Saint Etienne, who have been active for over twenty years without showing any signs of growing old, proving year after year that they are full of fresh and convincing ideas. This time they will fill a live slot at the Party Arena's electronic megatent.

And the list of new additions to our lineup wouldn’t be complete without Anti-Flag, an ultra-provocative, uncompromising punk band form Pittsburgh, famous for their fast paced songs with unsubtle social criticism and political activity. They will be pumping up the crowd of the Main stage in the early afternoon. Similarly, the seven female and four male member of Gocoo, today's strongest taiko-collective, will entertain the crowd with their set of fourty traditional Japanese drums.

Wychwood Festival announce BBC Introducing…in Gloucestershire stage

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Fans of the 70 submitted bands plus fans of the festival could vote on their favourite acts from across the seven BBC radio regions and having been combined with the votes of the judging panel has been counted and verified to create three days of the finest programme of emerging talent seen on the festival circuit. The festival is also thrilled to announce comedy genius Robin Ince and his Robin Ince Science show plus music from dazzling acoustic roots duo Show Of Hands, You Tube sensation Danny Shah, Tallulah Rendall, Gemma Hayes and much more. Taking place 8th-10th June on Cheltenham Racecourse, tickets for Wychwood Festival are on sale via the website.

BBC Introducing presenters from BBC Radio Gloucestershire and the six surrounding regions, including BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Oxford, BBC Radio Wiltshire and BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire each submitted 10 emerging acts that are currently being championed on their stations. These 70 bands were uploaded into a bespoke Facebook application to be judged by the public, BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson, Wychwood Festival Director Graeme Merifield and The Independent's Music Editor Elisa Bray and today Wychwood can announce the 28 outstanding acts that will make up the BBC Introducing…in Gloucestershire line-up:

BBC INTRODUCING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE AT WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL:
BBC Gloucestershire
GEORGE MONTAGUE | HARBOUR | PINK CRUDGE CARAVAN | THE FLEX

 

BBC Hereford & Worcestershire
A POETIC YESTERDAY | THE BLACK ACID BAND TBC | I AM RYAN | TBC

 

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
SATSANGI | SIXTYFOURS | STYLUSBOY | THE MOONSHINES

 

BBC Bristol
DUPPY BEATZ TBC | KATEY BROOKS | PHANTOM LIMB | ROZI PLAIN

 

BBC Wales
SHY & THE FIGHT | JOSHUA CAOLE | HEAVY PETTING ZOO | ERIC UNSEEN TBC

 

BBC Oxford
GUNNING FOR TAMAR | HALF DECENT | SECRET RIVALS | WILD SWIM

 

BBC Wiltshire
CRASH & THE BANDICOOTS | SUPER SQUARECLOUD | THEO ALTIERI | DAINE & MYLES TBC

Wychwood Festival is also delighted to announce that award-winning comedian Robin Ince will be leading a session of light-hearted scientific antics combining music, experiemnts and hot sums to create a unique and exciting set of science and comedy. In line with people's increasing interest in the world of science, Robin Ince Science is a collaboration between Steve Mould, Helen Arney and Matt Parker, all of whom are members of the Festival Of The Spoken Nerd, a hugely successful new group of scientists who's credits include everything from Blue Peter to the Infinite Monkey Cage. Also taking to the stage will be Bruce Hood hot off the back of presenting the 2011 Royal Institute Christmas Lectures and his second book The Self Illusion. Space enthusiast and star of BBC Radio 4 series It is Rocket Science, Helen Keen will be combining experiments, bangs, whizzes and film. Also appearing will be Gavin Osborn, who writes and performs the songs for Dan Kitson's shows.

New additions to arguably the best world and folk music line-up on the festival map already featuring the likes of Bellowhead, Francois & The Atlas Mountians, Dodgy, James, The Damned, Duke Special, The Cuban Brothers and much more includes the legendary Show Of Hands who are widely regarded as the finest accoustic roots duo in England and were awarded the prestigious double accolade of Best Duo and Best Original Song at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Joining Show of Hands on the Sunday line-up will be Simon Friend's Seismic Survey. The Seismic Survey is a collaboration between Simon Friend (Levellers), Mick Doyle (No Right Turn, Neverland, Bloodsimple), Paul Miro (Apes, Pigs & Spacemen) and Andy Cooper (No Right Turn), bringing to Wychwood collection of their individual material. 

Friday night's offering is bolstered by singer-songwriter and BBC Introducing favourite Jenny Hallam bringing her piano-pop style, mixing folk and indie with soulful vocals. Mila Falls returns to Wychwood fresh from a run of shows supporting Ringo Starr and boasts collaborations with the likes of Tim Baxter (Britney Spears), Charlie Holmes (The Saturdays) and with Jono Buchanan (remixes for Whitney Houston, Shania Twain).

Saturday's programme further develops with incredible live performances from Celtish, renowned for their passionate, lively and emotive performances; 21 year old Scottish internet sensation Danny Shah, who's famed for creating his hugely clever pop video for his song We Are Connected, featuring Rihanna, Katy Perry & Justin Bieber that saw support from the likes of Chris Moyles, Lauren Laverne and Andi Peters; The Jar Family who will be performing a vast array of indie-folk songs and recently toured with Alabama 3, opened for Ocean Colour Scenes' Steve Cradock and are set to play alongside Babyshambles duo Mik Whitnall & Drew McConnell and The Charlatans. Plus festival revellers will dance the day away to Keston Cobblers Club, acoustic folk duo The Dual and opening the day's music will be Tallulah Rendall who is known for her theatrical, beautiful and mesmerizing performances.

Famed for delivering a truly family-focused festival experience, Wychwood leads the way with innovative programming designed to delight children as well as wonderful music from around the world to entertain the adults. Since launching in 2005, Wychwood has become one of the UK’s most successful independent arts events of the summer season and been nominated in the ‘Best Family Festival’ category at the UK Festival Awards every single year. Taking place at Cheltenham Racecourse from 8th-10th June and set against the picturesque backdrop of the Prestbury Hills, Gloucestershire, Wychwood Festival is charming in both setting and content and one not to be missed. Tickets are now on sale and available from the official festival website.

Galtres Festival 2012

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Widely regarded as the UK’s foremost folk singer songwriter, Mercury Prize nominee, Seth Lakeman is Sunday co-headliner, alongside Adam Ant, Billy Bragg and The Men They Couldn’t Hang. Friday night delights include Buzzcocks, and an acoustic set from Ocean Colour Scene and we are thrilled that BRIT Award nominated indie rock band Guillemots headline on Saturday.

The ‘local’ talent in support of our headliners this year is amazing, and we are lucky to have Leeds guitar maestro Jon Gomm hosting a master class – Jon’s talent was recently ‘endorsed’ by Stephen Fry on twitter, causing a media frenzy! – Ellen And The Escapades are topping a Leeds stage, The Talks headlining the Hull stage and York’s Chris Helme, Littlemores and the inspired Arts Barge Project make a welcome return.

This year, sees another first: Galtres Festival falls on the final weekend of the York Mystery Plays, and we have got together with Script Yorkshire and the York Settlement Players to bring modern versions of the plays to the festival. 

Continuing the festival’s medieval theme of Dragons & Knights, there will be jousting, archery and a whole range of creative family activities centered upon a medieval village, including falconry and a Dragon Ball!

As ever, dozens of workshops and activities will hopefully keep families and children happy and within the festival is a Yorkshire beer and cider showcase with more than 100 different varieties – from Ampleforth Abbey Cider to Black Sheep Ale.

Galtres is a festival with admirable environmental and conservation policies that continues to pride itself as among the greenest, run by volunteers and raising money for local charities, it appears to have found the perfect balance featuring major headliners and making room for local artists – never too big for its boots and unlikely to sell-out to the music promotion equivalent of Tescos.

NASS announce final lineup!

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SUM41

Rock band Sum 41’s career has been filled with highlights that extend well beyond the traditional ‘punk‘ band. Not to mention, they’ve sold over 12 million albums and toured the globe countless times.  

Since their inception in 1996, Sum 41 has been relentless, unapologetic, and unconcerned with musical boundaries.  In the past, their music style has been described as an “eclectic meld of raucous punk-rock, thunderous heavy metal and straightforward rock.”   Sum 41’s new album, Screaming Bloody Murder, feeds off this past and expands on it. With tracks including 'Blood in My Eyes', 'Jessica Kill', 'Holy Image of Lies' and 'Happiness Machines', Screaming Bloody Murder is an evolution if the brand's metal and punk-rock influence, but continues to blend musical styles as they have done in the past. 

Andy C

Andy C is undisputedly the biggest name in Drum and Bass as well as being a NASS legend. 2012 will see Andy C unveil his groundbreaking new state of the art show, ALIVE. The multi-media audiovisual experience will feature bespoke technology, including new interactive audio and visual elements created especially for ALIVE. The ALIVE concept is about taking DJ shows to a new dimension, capturing the energy of Andy C’s DJ set and translating that to an audio visual experience that fills the room and invites audience interaction. As ever, the heart of the set up, Andy will be using 3 turntables, but with added edge technology to produce a spectacular visual event and software to remix the tracks ‘on the fly’.

DJ Fresh

DJ Fresh set the standard with an incredible set at Relentless Energy Drink NASS 2011 and he saw enough there to convince him to make a return with his new live show for 2012. Dan ‘DJ Fresh’ Stein has taken another step up in his illustrious career by launching his incredible live show. FRESH/LIVE will amplify the experience by incorporating a full live band to perform Fresh’s latest and greatest tracks in authentic fashion.

RoniSize

Bristol native Roni Size is one of the UK jungle scene's most respected name with production credits spanning dozens of labels, projects and releases. Size's influence as a producer, label owner and committed underground magnate figured him as one of the emerging sound's true pioneers. The breakout success of his debut album New Forums finally confirmed his stature and vaulted him to a greater degree of popularity than any other drum'n'base producer. 

Datsik

If you don’t know Datsik by now, you best be learning. Datsik has been taking the dubstep scene by storm, blowing up dance floors around the globe with his original style of hip-hop future-tech bangers. In 2009 alone, Datsik had over 7 number one releases on Beatport, and vinyl sales through the roof on many other sites such as Chemical Records, Red-Eye and Juno. Aside from that, he has also done remixes for some of the biggest names in the scene such as the Crystal Method, Freestylers, Bassnectar, Noisia, Diplo, the Wu-tang Clan, and Apex from the critically acclaimed Lifted Music label; not to mention countless collaborations with some of the hottest producers in the scene. With multiple anthems under his belt, countless plays from some of the biggest DJ’s, and an endless perseverance to reach that next step, it is safe to say that Datsik has proven himself to be one of the best dubstep artists around… and he is here to stay.