Festivals

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Sven Vath, Andy C, Rusko and more for Glade Festival 2012

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Glade Electronic Arts Festival – 14,15,16,17 June 2012
Houghton Hall, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
www.gladefestival.com 
Tickets: £135 + BF / Capacity 10,000

GLADE IS BACK… YOU BETTER GET READY.

Sven VathThe UK’s most diverse and creatively delivered electronic music event, Glade returns with a bang in 2012. Having endured several well documented venue changes in 2011, the owners of Houghton Hall in Norfolk were so blown away by last year’s event they have thrown open their land and welcomed the festival back. This year Glade will be a much bigger and better event, set to take place over four beautiful days in spectacular English countryside. With an incredible site and a stellar lineup, consisting of hundreds of DJs and live acts from around the globe, Glade 2012 is set to become the must-go-to festival for all lovers of underground electronic music.

As anyone who attended in 2011 will agree, this unique venue (which has not been used for any other music festival) is without a doubt the perfect new home for Glade. With a world-class line up of the most exciting names in electronic music alongside the award-winning Secret Productions team (promoter of the year in the 2011 Festival Awards) taking care of the production, Glade 2012 is back to show every other UK dance festival how it’s done. 

HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED!

GLADE STAGE

SVEN VATH
ANDY C: ALIVE, RUSKO, VITALIC (Live), PRETTY LIGHTS (Live)
FOREIGN BEGGARS (Live), MARC ROMBOY (Live) 
TODDLA T & MC SEROCEE, EXTRAWELT (Live), 
TRICKA TECHNOLOGY (KRAFTY KUTS, A SKILLZ & DYNAMITE MC), GAUDI (Live), DUB PISTOLS (Live), ROBERT BABICZ, 
DRUMSOUND & BASSLINE SMITH,
FREQ NASTY, DON LETTS, KILLAFLAW, BEN & LEX

PSYCHEDELIC VILLAGE

Live Acts & DJs playing across Origin Stage, Liquid Stage & InSpiral:

LIVE 
KILLERWATTS, TRISTAN, MAX COOPER, AVALON, MASTERBLASTERS, LAUGHING BUDDHA, LOUD, ALLABY, COMMERCIAL HIPPIES, SCREEN, ZEN MECHANICS, ELECTRIXX, SOLAR FIELDS, PSYMMETRIX, RINKADINK, BURN IN NOISE, HIBERNATION, ACE VENTURA, SLACKBABA, POGO, LIQUID SOUL, AMD, CIRCUIT BREAKERS, DIGITONAL, EITEN RIETER, MONK3YLOGIC, ATOMIC DROP, TWENTY EIGHT, BEARDY, OOOD
DJ 
DR ALEX PATERSON, ANS VS REGAN (NANO RECORDS 10 YEAR SPECIAL!), DICKSTER, JAMES MONRO, LIQUID ROSS, LUCAS, HEDFLUX, ALIJI, TSUBI, IPCRESS, GORGO, NAKED NICK, NOVA, ADE LAUGEE, SHANE GOBI 
+ MANY MORE NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED ACROSS MANY MORE ARENAS

GLADE STAGE

Featuring the best electronic talent around, the cross-genre Glade Stage is headlined by German techno-legend Sven Vath. Having enjoyed a hugely successful worldwide career spanning over 30 years, Sven is one of the founders of German techno and a driving force behind electronic dance music with his infamous Cocoon label, parties and nightclub. Famous for his marathon club-sets at Berlin’s notorious Dorian Grey to weekly parties in Ibiza to a non-stop global tour schedule, we are very pleased to welcome Sven to Glade. 

Sven Vath said of performing: ‘I'm really looking forward to performing at this year's Glade Festival! I've heard a lot about this event, that it is a serious music lovers' festival with a great line up and most of all I'm looking forward to DJing in the great English countryside.’

Joint headlining is Drum & Bass hero Andy C who presents his jaw-dropping Alive stage show. Having spear-headed the scene since the early 90’s, Andy and his Ram Records label have been at the forefront of this UK dance explosion. His Alive show will see a unique audio / visual extravaganza closing the festival on Sunday. Joining these two prolific artists and rounding off our headliners is French techno don Vitalic, a man who has been decimating dance floors across the globe since the late 90s with his unique brand of electronic funk on labels such as International DJ Gigalo and PIAS.

Elsewhere on the line up we see a quality mixture of proper electronic music taking in the progressive from the sublime Robert Babicz, techno from German scene-leaders Marc Romboy and Extrawelt. Drum n Bass is represented by UK duo Drumsound and Bassline Smith whilst Rusko brings the Dubstep and Radio 1 DJ and Sheffield’s pin up Toddla T joins Don Letts for a dub, reggae and beyond set on Sunday. 

The Glade Stage also represents live music with US sensation Pretty Lights performing alongside festival stalwarts The Dub Pistols and British hip-hop, grime and dubstep super group Foreign Beggars.

With plenty more talent performing and another exclusive headliner yet to be announced, expect nothing but the best, whatever the genre – all weekend. 

PSYCHEDELIC VILLAGE

The Glade is proud to call itself the UK’s spiritual home of psychedelic culture and the Psychedelic Village is a celebration of this. With the mighty Origin Stage at the heart of this area playing host to Nano Records 10th Birthday Party and much more powered by glorious Funktion 1, this stage will be banging come rain or shine. This year we are more than chuffed to welcome back the Liquid Stage, which will run from dusk til dawn in our beautiful new forest area (more on that below…) and playing host to the cream of the UK scene. Providing respite from the onslaught of EDM no Glade would be complete without InSpiral who this year focus on chillout with a superb line up to make your journey complete.

This year we also welcome the team that built the incredible Ozora festival over the past seven years to join us. They will be helping with the décor and production throughout the Village and much more. 

Elsewhere expect healing areas, a psychedelic cinema, World Shift, talks, art, food and so much more… Come and join us. This is going to be proper… it really is.

NEW WOODED AREA!

That’s right… we’ve got a lovely wooded area for you to play in this year! The wooded area will play host to two stages; the Liquid Stage and our new open-air dance floor The Meteor that lies in a crater inside the forest. More on that to follow in future announcements! Elsewhere expect hot tubs, spas and many more treats. 

OTHER ARENAS ANNOUNCED 

OVERKILL RETURNS!

The Overkill Arena returns to play, bringing with it the brashest, loudest drum & bass, gabba, dubstep, hardcore, rave, experimental …and beyond. Last year this venue played host to some of the most exciting and just plain bonkers names in electronica and 2012 will be no different… keep your eyes and ears open for future announcements. 

BETA

Our new talent stage plays host to some of the most exciting new talent in the land. We’re keeping this one under wraps at present but think outdoor, pyramid, DJ… more to come.

BASSMENT

This year Bassment is hosted by South West crews Rinse Out, Beatz & Bobz and London’s favourite bass-heavy warriors Chew The Fat. With a line up of quality drum and bass, dubstep, bass and beyond laid on by these three prolific promoters, this will be THE place to pull your bass face.

THE RABBIT HOLE

One of the highlights of 2011, The Rabbit Hole played host to chaos all weekend long. Imagine a backstage bar where anything goes, for those festivalgoers who ventured down the hole this arena was THE party within the party. Running until dawn every night and featuring live music and DJs with very special secret performances, this is the place where anything goes. 

AND THERE’S MORE…

Still not satisfied…? Well there’s a roller disco, spa, healing, a feast of food courts, art and not forgetting the burn! There are lots more nooks and crannies that will be confirmed soon, applications are still being accepted for performance and our Nano venues…

… PLUS MANY MORE DJ’s AND LIVE ACTS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED!!!

Drake, Wiz Khalifa and Example added Barclaycard Wireless Festival 2012

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DrakeUK superstar Example, Pennsylvanian rap lyricist Wiz Khalifa (this will be his only UK show of 2012) and London rap star Professor Green will also join the bill. With Rihanna already confirmed to headline Sunday 8 July, Barclaycard Wireless Festival is set to be an unmissable weekend in London’s iconic Hyde Park. 
 
Canadian born rapper Drake is a bona fide superstar. His recent critically acclaimed album ‘Take Care’, released late last year, debuted atop the Billboard Top 100 chart whilst in the UK it went in at number five with the biggest first week sales figure of any US hip hop artist in the UK last year. His spring UK arena tour also sold out in an incredible 24 hours, shifting more than 100,000 tickets in the process! A dynamic and passionate performer renowned for his energetic performances and creative stage designs, Drake’s Barclaycard Wireless Festival performance is sure to be a powerful and visual spectacle.
 
Example will be back in full force this summer, hitting Barclaycard Wireless Festival for his forth year in a row. His latest studio album ‘Playing in the Shadows’ released in September last year, debuted at number one on the UK Album Charts and has already spawned two number one singles – ‘Changed The Way You Kiss Me’ and ‘Stay Awake’.  Example says:

"This will be my 4th year in a row at Wireless. We must be doing something right! I feel like part of the furniture now. Over the years I've moved up from stage to stage and played bigger slots but I can honestly say every one of them was equally epic. Whether it was opening the main stage or closing one of the smaller tents the crowd was always packed and buzzing with energy. The backdrop of Hyde Park adds a certain air of heritage and great tradition to the whole event. I can't wait."
 
Wiz KhalifaPittsburgh’s hottest export, rap lyricist Wiz Khalifa, will bring his East Coast hip-hop to Hyde Park, this will be his only UK performance of 2012.  A rising star with a young bravado and a charismatic execution of rhymes.  His smash hit single ‘Black and Yellow’, taken from his debut album ‘Rolling Papers’, went top five in the UK last year and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
 
Professor Green will make a return to the Barclaycard Wireless Festival stage in 2012. The Hackney rapper’s debut album ‘Alive Til I’m Dead’, went to number two on the UK charts and included the smashes ‘I Need You Tonight’ and ‘Just Be Good To Green’. His latest album ‘At Your Inconvenience’ was released late last year with the recent single ‘Read All About It’ hitting number one, cementing him as a bonafide weapon in the UK music scene. Professor Green said:

"I'm really excited to be performing at Wireless again. Wireless 2010 was a real highlight of that year. The tent was a roadblock and it was lively. I'm confident that this year it will be bigger and better and I can't wait to get back on that stage in Hyde Park. Roll on the summer…"

New Order, Buraka Som Sistema and more for Exit Festival 2012

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EXIT are excited to announce New Order as one of the first headliners for the Main Stage. Formed after the demise of Joy Division, New Order are one of the most critically acclaimed bands of our time and have influenced the music scene for years. Combining rock and pop with electronic and dance music, and the energy of underground clubs, New Order has consistently pushed the boundaries creating a unique sound to lift and inspire. With a string of hits under their belt including Blue Monday, the best selling 12” vinyl single of all time. New Order’s music never fails to get the party started and their performance on Friday 13th July is sure to a night to remember being their first time to play at the fortress.

New Order

“I can’t express how thrilled I am that New Order will be playing at this year’s festival” says Bojan Boskovic, General Manager of EXIT. “Who can forget timeless classics like “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, “Bizarre Love triangle” and of course all time great “Blue Monday”. I can’t wait for New Order to perform at EXIT 2012 and I know fans will be excited too.”

Over on the Fusion Stage, through the cobbled streets and ramparts Portuguese world music sensation Buraka Som Sistema make a welcome return to EXIT. Effortless blending techno beats with the African kuduro genre, Buraka Som Sistema are renowned for their energetic and explosive troupe of dancers and MCs. The band have also won an MTV European Music Awards and released their second album ‘Komba’ in 2011.

Gearing up to take to the decks in the legendary Dance Arena for 2012 are Luciano, Reboot Live, Kenny Larkin, Robert Dietz, Maayan Nidam for a special Cadenza Records showcase on Friday 13th July.  The Dance Arena, renowned for its incredible energy and set within a moat of the fortress walls. From techno to electro to dirty house to house with a disco twist, the Dance Arena covers all tastes and will keep you dancing all night long. Pushing cutting edge new talent and tipping its hat to the old school, the music in the arena never disappoints and the experience of dancing with 20,000 people as the sun rises over the fortress walls is truly mind blowing!  2012 is set to be another year of unadulterated electronic music of the highest calibre and these names are a taster of what’s to come.

Swiss-Chilean DJ and producer Luciano who worked his way up the ranks alongside many of the initiators of the Latin Merican electronic music scene. Now living in Switzerland his mixed Chilean and Swiss identity shows in his music with a mystical blend of deep techno and electro and a colourful splash of rhythms alongside his trademark groovy and minimal beats. Reboot is another returning artist to look forward to, with another awe inspiring live performance from the German musician whose DJ sets incorporate the whole spectrum from deep minimal sounds to driving electronic-tech vibes and old school house. Kenny Larkin is one of the world leaders of Detroit techno in the electronic music industry and has mesmerized crowds across the globe for nearly twenty years with his music and he will do the same the summer in the EXIT Dance Arena. Hailing as one of Beatportals’ artists to watch in 2009 Robert Dietz has honed his musical prowess on the Frankfurt club scene to create his own hypnotic, sexy, nuanced take on electronic music. And last but by no means least is Maayan, whose global upbringing has resulted in the creation of a diverse sound that includes an ass friendly sense of the groove and a bubbling sense of funk with a wooly low end and crystalline highs. 

About EXIT
Taking place from Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th July, in the magical Petrovaradin Fortress overlooking the river Danube, EXIT continues to deliver the most adventurous and value for money festival experience, with a diverse and cutting edge line up, cheap food and drink onsite and the best campsite entertainment whilst bathing in the hot Balkan sunshine. 

Getting to EXIT is all part of the fun, taking place in Serbia one of Eastern Europe’s hidden gems. By plane, train, coach or camper van it’s well worth the effort and you won’t be disappointed. EXIT is a non-corporate event with a unique history, having started as a student protest against the communist Milosevic regime. EXIT has proved that music is a universal language that can connect and bring people together to make the world a better place.  Be part of something that is more than just a music festival, where hedonism meets activism as EXIT continues to evolve and bring like-minded people together. "Party hard and remember – apathy is the enemy”

The picturesquese city of Novi Sad also has lots to offer with a bustling cafe culture.  Spend your days leisurely cafe hopping enjoying the Serbian sun and hospitality with plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and shops to choose from.

The EXIT Village is the best way to experience the festival, make new friends, dance on the beach or make a splash in the water.  The EXIT Village is a short walk from the festival site and has it’s own entertainment and facilities.

With more entertainment, easier and cheaper travel options, unique location, stunning weather and an atmosphere unlike any other festival, EXIT offers a 4 day extravaganza costing much less than a UK festival ticket, giving the festival goer more value for money.

Tickets:
Early Bird Tickets: £85 plus booking fee – SOLD OUT
Loyalty Club Tickets: £89 plus booking fee
Standard Tickets: £95 plus booking fee 
Camping Tickets: £25 plus booking fee
VIP Tickets: £220 plus booking fee  

Feist to headline Green Man Festival 2012

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The Canadian singer-songwriter will play the 10th anniversary Green Man Festival on Sunday August 19, and heads the first wave of amazing acts confirmed for the most varied and exciting line-up in our decade-long history.

Feist’s Grammy-nominated 2007 solo breakthrough The Reminder sold over a million copies worldwide, while last year’s superb follow-up Metals was declared the best album of 2011 by The New York Times.

A long-standing member of acclaimed music collective Broken Social Scene, Feist has also collaborated with the likes of Wilco, Beck and Grizzly Bear, and this month received a 2012 Brit Award nomination for Best International Female Solo Artist.

What better way to end Green Man’s 10th birthday bash than in the company of one of the most beguiling voices in modern music? Heavenly…

Tickets for Green Man 2012 went on sale at 9am this morning!
http://www.ticketline.co.uk/green-man

If that wasn’t enough, the following astounding artists are joining Feist at Green Man 2012, in the heart of Wales’ breathtaking Black Mountains, from August 17-19:
 
The Walkmen
The Felice Brothers
Yann Tiersen
Jonathan Richman
Junior Boys
Damien Jurado
The Time & Space Machine (Live)
Cass McCombs
Scritti Polliti
Slow Club
Ghost Poet
Pete Paphides – Vinyl Revival
Peaking Lights
Dark Dark Dark,
Cashier No. 9
The Wave Pictures
Islet
Rocketnumbernine
Alt-J
Teeth of the Sea
The Perch Creek Family Jug Band
Richard Warren
Goodnight Lenin
Sweet Baboo
Alaska

Trust us, this is just the beginning – we’ve got TWO more brilliant headliners and over 100 other acts yet to announce!

Butserfest to host four Live and Unsigned acts

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Butserfest is an alcohol/drug-free festival that takes place at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire, the festival features two stages of music, as well as free activities. Previous years have included bungee runs, laser tag and inflatable table football.

Butserfest 2012

Butserfest is now in its sixth year and aims to feature the best local and national up-and-coming bands. Previous acts have included You Me At Six, The Blackout, The King Blues, Funeral For A Friend, Bury Tomorrow and Young Guns.

Lucy Soal, band organiser at Butserfest, said; ‘It’s great to be working with Live and Unsigned once again. We pride ourselves in giving opportunities to unsigned acts and the national winner in the rock category will be a welcome addition to our line-up.’

How to win

Three acts will be hand-picked by Butserfest organisers in Portsmouth along-side the winner of the Rock category from the national Grand Final at The O2.

Live & Unsigned is the biggest unsigned music competition for original unsigned bands and artists in the UK. It offers the finalists the chance to play at The O2 in London alongside some of the UK's best musicians at Live Fest, London’s biggest indoor festival. There’s also £100,000 worth of prizes to be won, including an additional new main cash prize of £10,000 for the winning act to spend on development.

Auditions will begin in January 2012 and all acts in the competition are auditioned live. Acts that make it through the audition stage will get to perform to industry judges, A & R associates and celebrity guests. Judging last year’s competition and hopefully set to join the panel again in 2012 include; Radio 1 DJ’s Annie Nightingale, Ras Kwame, Tom Deacon and Daniel P Carter; Kerrang’s Alex Baker; and Happy Mondays star Bez.

To keep up-to-date with Butserfest, go to www.facebook.com/butserfest or visit the website: www.butserfest.co.uk.

Wireless 2012 adds J Cole, Rizzle Kicks, Kaskade and more to Sunday lineup

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J ColeUS Rap phenomenon J Cole will make a welcome return to Barclaycard Wireless Festival.  The first ever artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, J. Cole made a name for himself with mixtape ‘The Warm Up’, he also guested on ‘A Star Is Born’ on Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3.  His debut album ‘Cole World: The Sideline Story’ went straight in at number one on the US Billboard Top 200 chart last year whilst his November UK tour was a total sell out.

Brighton duo Rizzle Kicks have had an incredible six months.  Their debut album “Stereo Typical” was released late last year and went straight into the top ten whilst singles ‘Down With The Trumpets’ and ‘When I Was A Youngster’ were instant chart smashes, they also scored a number one single featuring on the Olly Murs hit ‘Heart Skips A Beat’. Their latest single, ‘Mama Do The Hump’, is currently at two on the UK Top 40 and A-listed at Radio One.  
 
Voted “America’s Best DJ” by DJ Times late last year Kaskade is a welcome addition to Sunday’s line-up, Barclaycard Wireless Festival will be his only UK festival performance of 2012.   With a string of hit singles to his name including ‘I Remember’, his collaboration with Deadmau5, Kaskade will bring his uplifting sounds to the Hyde Park stage.  Flux Pavilion (aka Joshua Steele) has been a dubstep pioneer in the UK since early 2009.  His undeniable musicality and gift for production was recently verified en masse when his single ‘I Can’t Stop’ was sampled for the standout track ‘Who Gonna Stop Me’ on Kanye West and Jay-Z’s epic ‘Watch the Throne album’. His recent collaboration with Doctor P ‘Superbad’ was R1 Zane Lowe’s  ‘Hottest Record in the World Right Now’ whilst R1 Fearne Cotton made it her ‘Record of the Week’.  Taking a place on the prestigious Sound of 2012 BBC poll in January Flux Pavilion is certain to have an epic year.  

Barclaycard Wireless Festival is a dazzling open-air live music festival in the heart of bustling London. Hosted in Hyde Park it offers a chance to experience the excitement of watching the best in popular music right on your doorstep; with many more acts and details still to be unveiled, Barclaycard Wireless Festival 2012 is certain to be the biggest and best event on the summer’s musical calendar.

Ticketing Information:

Tickets are priced at £52.50 plus booking fee.

Tickets & VIP Packages available at www.wirelessfestival.co.uk

Hot Chip, Cool & The Gang, Earth Wind & Fire and more for Camp Bestival 2012

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Friday Night Headliners: 
Hot Chip 

Camp Bestival's Saturday Night Fever with:
Kool & The Gang / Chic featuring Nile Rodgers /  
Earth Wind & Fire Experience featuring Al McKay 

Festival Exclusives: 
Mr Tumble / Silly Olympics with Lost & Found / Shrek the Musical / Fantastic Mr Fox / 
The Bopps / English National Ballet / Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals /  
Camp Bestival Panto / Roundhouse Street Variety Show / Truth About Youth

Food Glorious Food: 
Young British Foodies / Underground Restaurant & Many More Fine Food Emporiums 

Even More Amazing Live Performances: 
Jimmy Cliff / Rizzle Kicks / Adam Ant & The Good The Mad and The Lovely Posse / Little Dragon / The Gruffalo / Bellowhead / Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs / 
The Cuban Brothers / Breakfast With Henry (Henry Rollins Spoken Word) Deliliah / Spector /  Lianne La Havas / Stooshe / P Money / Youngman / Jaipur Kawa Brass Band / Dub Pistols / 
DJ Yoda & The Transiberian Marching Band / Jaipur Kawa Circus / 
Clement Marfo & The Frontline / Scroobius Pip / Random Impulse / Frankie Rose / Liz Green /
3 Bonzos and a Piano / Prince Fatty /  We Were Evergreen / 2:54 / Gabrielle Aplin /
Pearl And The Beard / Blues Brothers UK / Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo / 
The Moonflowers / Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer / Duke special / This Is The Kit / 
Folk Idol presents The Folk Olympics 

Showtime!
Gruffalo / Wall of Death / Stefan Gates The Gastronaut / Wookey Hole Circus / 
Square Peg Circus / Howard Marks Kids Stories / Being 747 / Morris Dancing

DJ Sets From:
David Rodigan MBE presents RAM JAM / Jaguar Skills & His Amazing Friends / Warm & Electric Minds / The Japanese Popstars / Camo & Krooked / Greg Wilson / Zed Bias / Shellac Collective / Mosca / Ben UFO / Stopmakingme / Balearic Brothers  

Plus:
Soul Bird Gardens Healing Area / Rob da Bank Youth Club / Big Love Inflatable Church / The Secret Emporium 
 

Festi-holiday frolics ahoy, the time has come to unveil the first of the myriad magical treats we have in store for July 26-29 at Camp Bestival 2012! Of course, we’ve got a seriously hip-shaking musical line-up at the best family festival holiday around but that’s not the only thing that will be keeping you on your toes as our Bang on theme, we'll hosting our own Olympic shin-dig with a screening the opening ceremony live in the Big Top on Friday night complete with a Camp B torch! And our favourite wallies Lost & Found will also be back as the loveable Camp Bestival Blue Coats to host our 2012 Silly Olympics. From pea shot-put to their signature binocular football, you’ll be going Olympics-crazy for their games! And, as ever, Lulworth Castle will be brimming with incredible spectacles, moments of pure joy, amazing food, luxury camping and tons of fun for all the family with over 100 free things for kids to do and lots and lots of brand new attractions at our landmark fifth Camp Bestival!
 
Rob da Bank says: ‘'I can’t believe it’s still only January yet my heads firmly entrenched in a field in Dorset in July thinking about all the mighty musical offerings and other fun and games we have lined up for Camp Bestival. From Chic to Hot Chip, Jimmy Cliff to Little Dragon and Mr Tumble to Rizzle Kicks it's another very diverse line up reflecting all the different ages and tribes that descend on Lulworth Castle each year! I hope to see you there."

As firm favourites of our entire crew, we are extremely pleased to announce that Hot Chip will be making their debut headline appearance at Camp Bestival.  And things are set to get funky fresh on Saturday night with Camp Bestival’s Saturday Night Fever! So get your glad rags on for a disco spectacular the likes of which has never been seen on Dorset’s Jurassic coastline with Kool & The Gang dropping the Jungle Boogie, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers taking us on an epic journey through one of the most booty-shaking back catalogues known to man – watch Mr Nile Rodgers himself talking about coming back to Camp Bestival here:http://youtu.be/fO5cxfcpvIA – and there will be dazzling glitter ball behaviour from the Earth Wind & Fire Experience featuring Al McKay .

It’s not all about our astounding music line-up though because we have more festival exclusives than you can shake a stick at for Camp Bestival 2012, including the one and only Mr Tumble! We can almost hear the rumble of anticipation from our youngest audience members already! 

Those exclusives just keep on coming as we are jumping for joy to be welcoming Fantastic Mr Fox! Shrek and Princess Fiona fromShrek The Musical are making a spectacular return exclusively at Camp Bestival! Better yet, this time they will be bringing their wise-cracking sidekick Donkey with them for an exclusive Camp Bestival sing-a-long! 

In yet another festival exclusive, the lovely people at English National Ballet have chosen Camp Bestival as their FAVOURITE festival and we are delighted that they are coming back for the 4th year to host brilliant ballet classes and much more!

Food is bigger and better than ever at Camp Bestival 2012 with lashings of lovely grub on offer, our tummies are already rumbling in anticipation. We are beside ourselves with excitement to announce that we’ve got the country’s finest young chefs, street food vendors, bakers and mixologists all under one roof in the Young British Foodies Tent! Winners of the nationwide search for the most talented Young British Foodies will be joined by the YBF all-star foodie judges to create a never-been-done-before, spectacular eating experience.

We are also extremely honoured that the author of 'Supper Club', food blogger and chef, MsMarmitelover will once again host The Underground Restaurant, an extraordinary theatrical dining experience at Camp Bestival. The theme and decor will be shipboard, pirate, South Seas with a creative adult and children’s menu. Better yet, you will able to gather up a delectable selection of edible goodies for making your camp meal at the new Underground Farmers Market!  From cheeses, chutneys, sausages and fresh bread, this gypsy style encampment will be your ultimate onsite grocery stop!

With a jam-packed weekend on the cards there be live performance aplenty with a staggering line-up that includes reggae legendJimmy Cliff, Brightonian hip-hop wunderkinds Rizzle Kicks and Adam Ant & The Good The Mad and The Lovely Posse plus Little Dragon, Bellowhead, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, The Cuban Brothers, Breakfast With Henry (Henry Rollins Spoken Word), Deliliah, Spector, Lianne La Havas Stooshe, P Money, Youngman, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Dub Pistols, DJ Yoda & The Transiberian Marching Band, Jaipur Kawa Circus, Clement Marfo & The Frontline, Scroobius Pip, Random Impulse, Frankie Rose, Liz Green, 3 Bonzos and a Piano, Prince Fatty, We Were Evergreen, Gabrielle Aplin, 2:54, Pearl And The Beard, Blues Brothers UK, Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, The Moonflowers, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, Duke special, This Is The Kit and Folk Idol presents The Folk Olympics.
    
And there will be plenty of action on the ones and twos with Warm & Electric Minds teaming up to present sets from Horse Meat Disco, The Revenge, Mark E. Tim Goldsworthy, Auntie Flo and Warm & Electric Minds residents.  We’re also incredibly excited to announce David Rodigan MBE Presents Ram Jam! We can’t wait to give him some signal! Plus there will be lots of hands in the air escapades from The Japanese Popstars, Jaguar Skills and his Amazing Friends, Camo & Krooked, Greg Wilson, Zed Bias, Shellac Collective, Mosca, Ben UFO, Stopmakingme and the Balearic Brothers to keep the party rolling.

The Gruffalo show is also back by unprecedented demand, with a magical theatrical adventure on Sunday morning on the Castle Stage. And there’s even more! Being 747 will be performing their new scientific rock opera ‘The Clockwork Universe’ and we’ve also got masters of slapstick comedy The Bopps!, featuring Housemartins founder Stan Cullimore. 

Hold onto your hats for the amazing new Wall of Death! Our daredevil ‘Hell Riders’ will astonish you with their terrifying motorbike tricks, zooming in circles around their vertical Wall of Death whilst barely holding on! Jaw-droppingly amazing! 

Stefan Gates The Gastronaut is another new recruit who will be demonstrating his fantastic gastronomical experiments in the Little Big Top. And we’ve got circus treats galore! Wookey Hole Circus are all under the age of 18 and are an unbelievably gifted bunch making their Camp Bestival debut in 2012! Plus Square Peg Circus will be gracing us with their new spectacular outdoor show, ‘Rime’. 

More brand new stuff comes courtesy of Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals, plus we are mega excited to announce our very first Summer Panto: Beauti and the Beast of Lulworth Castle! Another Camp Bestival premiere is the brand new Roundhouse Street Variety Show a specially devised show featuring 20 young performers (all aged 12 – 16 years) who have created a variety show like no other! 

Camp Bestival wouldn’t be the same without bedtime stories from the wonderful Howard Marks, so be sure to rally the kids into sleepy-mode with the help of his dulcet Welsh tones. What’s more, the Ovalhouse’s Truth About Youth London will performing a unique theatre show called ‘Bussin It’ on a real double decker! 

Are you a rock star in the making? Well you can now head to Rob da Bank’s Music Club to find out! This project, set up on the Isle of Wight in partnership with the Youth Trust, is coming to Lulworth to offer up a brilliant selection music and arts workshops

Plus you can now get (nearly ;-) hitched at Camp Bestival in our Big Love Inflatable Church! And we’ve also got dancing with bells on! Hot stepping around Lulworth Castle, catch our troops of Morris Dancers jingling and stick bashing in trad English stylee. 

And when all that fun gets too much and you’re in need of a glorious oasis of calm, look no further than our newly expanded healing area, Soul Bird Gardens. With massages, wood fired hot tubs, relaxation and mediation with the David Lynch Foundation, this is our favourite place to shake off the world and unwind. 

Or shop till you drop in the new Secret Emporium for some seriously classy retail therapy! With the hottest milliners, jewelers, fashion designers and artists this side of Jupiter, you can hand pick some goodies from some of the best British designers.

And don’t forget, there are plenty of camping options too from Camping Plus to Tipis, Yurts, Podpads and beyond there’s something for everyone.  Check here for the down low: http://www.campbestival.net/#/camping

With some much amazing stuff going on and lots more to announce you’ll have to hurry to make sure you grab your tickets for this year’s Camp Bestival and amazingly everyone who buys their Early Bird tickets before February the 8th will be entered into our spectacularCamp Bestival Tombola with 100 festi-tastic prizes to be won from a Luxury Furnished Tipi in our Boutique Campsite to lots of Sunday Best goodie bags – click here for more information: www.campbestival.net/#/news/early-bird-tickets-the-camp-bestival-tombola-100-festi-tastic-prizes-to-be-won

And don’t forget to check www.campbestival.net for all the up to the minute news about our fifth Camp Bestival!

Ticket Info:
Ticketline: www.ticketline.co.uk/camp-bestival // 0844 888 4410 
Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thursday) – £180 
Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Friday) – £170 
Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 18 or over on 26/07/2012

Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thursday) – £105 
Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Friday) – £100 
Age 15 to 17 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 15 to 17 on 26/07/2012. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 30 * 

Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thursday) – £90 
Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Friday) – £85 
Age 11 to 14 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 11 to 14 on 26/07/2012. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 30 * 

*NB : All teens (aged 11 to 17) MUST camp in the same area as their families with a maximum of 2 teens per adult (over the age of 30) 

Age 10 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – FREE (but ticket still required) 
Age 10 and Under Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 10 and under on 26/07/2012. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21 
Advance Car Parking – £10 per car (or £15 cash on arrival) 
Campervan Ticket – £80 per vehicle

Dizzie Rascal, Katy B, and Levellers set for Splendour Festival 2012

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Nottingham City Council is pleased to be working again with DHP to bring Splendour back to Nottingham for a fifth year.

 Joining Dizzee Rascal on the mainstage will be BRIT award winners Razorlight and rising UK garage/dub-step starlet Katy B. Headlining the second stage at this year’s festival will be alternative favourites The Levellers. 
 
Splendour’s full line up across three live music stages and comedy stage will be announced soon and festival goers can expect another special day for all the family with entertainment for children, fairground rides, food and craft stalls and bars.
 
Once again Splendour is teaming up with NUSIC.org.uk, who helps young Nottinghamshire musicians get exposure and experience within the music industry, with a competition for a local act to take the opening slot on the main stage at Splendour. Details of how to enter will be available shortly.
 
Splendour saw its most successful turnout last year with capacity topping the 20,000 mark. The festival has sold out for the past three years so those wanting to get their hands on tickets are advised to buy sooner rather than later!
 
Tickets go on sale next week – from 1st February (Wednesday) from 9am and again there are excellent discounts for city residents with a valid Citycard.
 
Tickets are available online at www.splendourfestival.com or in person from the Rock City Box Office on Talbot Street or the Royal Centre Box Office. Tickets will also be going on sale at all City Council leisure centres from 1st March.

2012 ticket prices are:

£27.50 adult city residents (with a valid Citycard)

  • £15 11-17 year old city residents (with a valid Citycard 360)

  • £27.50 11-17 year old non city resident (with an NG postcode)

  • £37.50 standard entry

  • FREE for all children 10 years and under 

Set in the stunning grounds of Wollaton Hall, the festival has grown to become one of the region’s biggest music events, attracting over 20,000 people of all ages.
 
Previous headliners to grace the stage include the Scissor Sisters, Blondie, Pet Shop Boys, Madness, Calvin Harris, The Pogues, The Charlatans, Paolo Nutini and Ash.
 
City residents buying online will need to enter their Citycard number so have this ready.
 
If you are a city resident – and that means that you pay your Council Tax to Nottingham City Council – and haven’t yet got a Citycard, you can call in at the NCT travel centre on the Old Market Square with proof of address and age (for the Citycard 360). You can also get the adult card at any Council leisure centre or library.
 
Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council said: ‘Being able to bring Splendour back for a 5th year is great news for the City Council and great news for the City. It’s become one of the region’s most popular and high profile music events and attracting such a world class headline act shows that Splendour is making waves nationally and internationally. It’s a great event, in a great location, with great music, a great family feel and at a really great price. We’re really pleased to be able to work with our partners DHP to put on such a good show for Nottingham.’
 
George Akins Chairman of DHP said: “We are really excited about this year and feel that this is the strongest line up we’ve put together to date with even more diversity for the whole family.  We expect this year to sell out in record time.”
 
Mark Del, founder of NUSIC and Splendour’s main stage host said: "I'm really excited NUSIC have managed to once again secure that Splendour main stage slot for a Nottingham artist, its such an incredible opportunity, last years's Future Sound of Nottingham winners The Money are still buzzing up the walls from last year."

To keep up to date with all the latest Splendour news visit www.splendourfestival.com or like Nottingham Splendour Festival on Facebook. 

Chase & Status and 30 more acts set for Hideout Festival 2012

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Chase & StatusHideout Festival now boasts a DJ set from one of the biggest acts in drum & bass and dubstep – Chase & Status, who have recently been nominated for Best British Band at the Brit Awards. Now joining his counterpart Skream at the event is the other half of one of the most legendary Duo’s in dubstep – Benga. The new BBC Radio 1 ‘In New DJ’s We Trust’ DJ will be stepping up to the plate and spinning some innovative dubstep sounds alongside his long-standing musical collaborator.

German act Loco Dice is now set to add his unique take on house and techno to the line-up, while Resident Advisor’s 2011 2nd best DJ in the world Seth Troxler has also been confirmed.

Dubstep favourit SBTRKT will be bringing big beats from behind his mask, while Canadian act and owner of Turbo Recordings Tiga will also be stepping up to the plate.

Ticket holders can also now expect to hear one of the original pioneers of drum & bass Shy FX, head honcho of Digital Soundboy, as well as Redlight, who’s recently released single ‘Get Out My Head’ is set to storm into the charts this week.

Simian Mobile DiscoHideout is also welcoming into it’s elite assembly the likes of huge Canadian talent Art Department, global electronic leaders Aeroplane, Scuba, Simian and Mobile Disco to name but a few. The full and final line-up can be viewed below and is also available on Hideout Festival’s Facebook page and all-new website.

With all this confirmed and yet more added extras to come, Hideout Festival 2012 really is proving itself to be the essential festival of this summer and is in place to surpass the caliber set by last year’s event. Not for the faint-hearted, Hideout Festival 2012 will once again combine the beautiful setting of a beach holiday with the intense euphoria of the most turbo charged electronic festival.

2012 early bird tickets have already sold out and despite the unbridled sell-out success of last year’s inaugural festival, standard tickets remain at a mere £99 for all three nights.

Stay alert for updates on boat parties coming soon, which will be announced on Hideout Festival Facebook and Twitter pages, plus sign up to the Hideout Festival newsletter to avoid missing out www.hideoutfestival.com

 

LINE-UP

NEW ADDITIONS:

CHASE & STATUS DJ SET
LOCO DICE / SETH TROXLER
SBTRKT DJ SET / BENGA / TIGA

AEROPLANE / ART DEPARTMENT / FRICTION / HIGH CONTRAST
JACKMASTER / NINA KRAVIZ / REDLIGHT / RUSTIE / SCUBA
SHY FX / SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO / SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER

BEN UFO / BLAWAN / BORGORE / CITIZEN / DOORLY
EATS EVERYTHING / GAVIN HERLITHY / PAUL WOOLFORD / RALPH LAWSON
SIMON BAKER / STOPMAKINGME / SUBB AN

FULL LINE UP:

RICARDO VILLALOBOS / CHASE & STATUS DJ SET
LOCO DICE /ANNIE MAC / SKREAM & BENGA
JAMIE JONES / SETH TROXLER
SUB FOCUS DJ SET / SBTRKT DJ SET
SPECIAL GUEST: SKRILLEX

ANDY C / CLAUDE VON STOKE / DJ FRESH / EROL ALKAN
FOUR TET & CARIBOU B2B DJ SET / MACEO PLEX
MAYA JANE COLES / SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO / TIGA

AEROPLANE / ART DEPARTMENT / ARTWORK / BEN KLOCK
BREAKAGE / BORGORE / DAMIAN LAZARUS / FRICTION / HEIDI
HIGH CONTRAST / HYPE / JACK BEATS / JACKMASTER / JULIO BASHMORE
KERRI CHANDLER / NINA KRAVIZ / PEARSON SOUND
PRINS THOMAS / REDLIGHT / RUSTIE / SCUBA / SHY FX / SOUL CLAP
SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER / TODDLA T / ZINC

BEN UFO / CAMO AND KROOKED / CITIZEN / DOORLY
EATS EVERYTHING / GAVIN HERLHY / GEDDES / KYLE HALL
PAUL WOOLFORD / RALPH LAWSON / RICHY AHMED
ROBERT JAMES / SIMON BAKER / STOPMAKINGME / SUBB AN / YOUNGMAN

BOWSKI / CERA ALBA / DEATH ON THE BALCONY / ESKIMO TWINS
KRYSKO & GREG LORD / MAK & PASTEMAN / MATT LONG / MATTHEW HOAG
MIKE JONES / NORTH BASE / PEOPLE GET REAL / PERO FULLHOUSE
STEPPA / THE SONIC EMPORIUM / TONN PIPER

MC’S DREAD, DRS, GQ, IC3, ID, RAGE, SGT POKES, TONN PIPER, WREC

BOAT & POOL PARTIES HOSTED BY BIGGER THAN BARRY / CHIBUKU

CROSSTOWN REBELS / DROP THE MUSTARD / FACE / HOT CREATIONS / JAUNT
JUST JACK / METROPOLIS / MONO CULT / MULLETOVER / SONIDO / WAX:ON
WE OWN / ZUTEKH

TICKETING INFORMATION:

EARLY BIRD TICKETS: £80 plus booking fee – SOLD OUT
DEPOSIT SCHEME: £49 plus booking fee / Full balance payable by 1st April 2012 – Available from www.skiddle.com

Mumford & Sons, Biffy Clyro and deadMau5 to headline Rockness 2012

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deadMau5The achievements of MUMFORD & SONS since the release of debut album ‘Sigh No More’ has been a success story rarely matched in recent times. A story, written and mapped out on the road. From a live adventure across India, to sold-out arenas in America and Australia, and from the festival fields of Europe, to impromptu parks on the Railroad Revival Tour in America, each and every town and city that has welcomed the band has been treated to a jubilant performance, regardless of the size of venue. With countless acknowledgements across the Grammy’s, Brits and Mercury Prize, the music of these multi instrumentalist marvels is real, authentic and simply stunning . 

Now this band of brothers is preparing to unveil album number two and hit their spiritual homes on the road once again. A little wiser, a lot more experienced, but ready to take their electrifying live show to the masses. RockNess is thoroughly delighted to announceMUMFORD & SONS as the first of this year’s headliners.

Intense and inspiring, to witness a DEADMAU5 live show is to experience shock and awe.  A dazzling spectacular of technical wizardry and kaleidoscopic visuals that has seen the Toronto-born behemoth (aka Joel Thomas Zimmerman) garner acclaim from both critics and fans alike, and continue his ascent as one of the very biggest names in electronic music.  Famed for his brand of progressive dance that has been shaking enormodomes across the planet, the Grammy-nominated, Billboard-topping superstar DJ and producer is seriously hot property and his RockNess headline assault will be a major festival highlight of 2012.  

Biffy CylroAs one of the very best live bands around, BIFFY CLYRO are at the top of their game.  A decade long assault on the globe’s live music circuit and a five album-strong catalogue heavy on blistering, fist pumping anthems has seen to that.  The trio’s unique sound, brought to glorious fruition on platinum selling albums ‘Puzzle’ and ‘Only Revolutions’ is well honed – a mix of off-kilter tempos, thumping guitar riffage and soaring vocals – and has steered the Ayrshire trio’s well earned rise to rock glory. 

Now with studio album six well under way, BIFFY CLYRO are heading to Dores to unleash their seriously big sound in the band’s first ever Scottish festival headline slot. Unmissable!

Speaking about the announcement, Simon Neil, Ben Johnston and James Johnston of BIFFY CLYRO said ''We are thrilled to be returning to RockNess in June, and this time we'll be headlining. The location is amazing and the enthusiastic crowd made for a memorable experience in 2009, so we're counting down the days until our return in 2012.''

As one of the UK’s most critically lauded new artists not to mention biggest domestic successes, ED SHEERAN’s rise to the top has been stratospheric.  A triple platinum album, three sold out tours and a clutch of award wins and nominations – including four that sees him leading the way at this year’s Brit Awards, SHEERAN is hot.  This one man, DIY phenomenon blurs timeless song writing with bang current hip hop, and he counts various collaborations including those with grime rapsters Wiley and Wretch 32 to his credit. ED SHEERAN’s RockNess appearance follows hot on the heels of a much anticipated and soon-to-begin three month US tour. 

Annually topping the wish list of fans as their must-see live act at RockNess, it is with huge excitement that Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay, aka JUSTICE, will be bringing pummelling levels of intensity to the festival.  The prospect of the French house duo – whose electrifying live shows have all who witness reaching for the superlatives – hitting up Dores is sure to generate elation.  

The now seminal debut album ‘Cross’ saw JUSTICE widely revered as chief dance floor crusaders.  Now with the release of long awaited second album ‘Audio, Video, Disco’ – an inspired push-pull friction of lush prog rock decadence underpinned with brutally executed beats – the dance floor is theirs for the taking once again. 

In what will surely be the most fun journey of the summer, THE ROCKNESS EXPRESS makes its exciting debut this June and marks the Year of Creative Scotland. This specially chartered train will depart from London Euston, picking up festival goers at Birmingham, Derby, York and Newcastle, before delivering the up-for-it party people to their final destination of Inverness. 

Expect a full scale shindig on board THE ROCKNESS EXPRESS with top music, surprise guests, the best of Scottish food, cocktails, games and goody bags.  What’s more, RockNess Expressers will get priority access on site before anyone else arrives AND a private party!  If that isn’t enough, the unbeatable price of £225 is sure to impress.  For this, revellers will get a VIP weekend ticket with campingPLUS travel from any of these UK destinations (only £16 more than a VIP ticket on its own), and be boosting their green credentials while having heaps of fun at the same time. All aboard! 

Packing a punch of originality, METRONOMY have creative vision and style in spades.  Originally championed by Erol Alkan, this Devonshire electro pop four piece founded by Joseph Mount deliver a proper live electro proposition that’s as authentic and compelling as any rock band.  Latest album ‘The English Riviera’ was one of 2011’s defining albums and Mount is also the prestigious remixer-of-choice for acts including Gorillaz and Franz Ferdinand, while collaborations with Florence & The Machine and Roots Manuva reinforce his musical crossover credentials. 

Noah and the WhaleWith their shiny, radio ready melodies, NOAH & THE WHALE have moved into mass appeal territory with very good reason.  Riding on a wave of euphoria generated by three consecutively impressive albums, including most recently ‘Last Night on Earth’, expect a brilliantly breezy set from these nu-folk popsters led by charismatic frontman Charlie Fink.

WRETCH 32 is one of the UK’s most talked about new hip hop artists. Smash debut album ‘Black and White’ incorporates diverse aspects of the hip hop genre from old school American funk through to contemporary grime and dub step, and guests include Example, Ed Sheeran and Chipmunk. WRETCH 32’s phenomenal success of 2011, which spawned consecutive top five hits including ‘Don’t Go’, ‘Traktor’ and ‘Unorthodox’ looks set to propel further with album number two due for a 2012 release.  And he can cut it live too, vocally, instrumentally and visually…as the RockNess audience will bear witness to this June!

FRESH / LIVE aka DJ FRESH is one of the most influential figures of the UK’s drum ‘n’ bass movement.  Having cut his teeth on the illegal rave and pirate radio station scenes of the 90’s, he went on to found the label BC Recordings and the genre’s most popular website Dogs on Acid as part of the drum ‘n’ bass collective Bad Company.  Fast forward to a prolific solo career punctuated along the way with remixes for Pet Shop Boys, DJ Shadow, Pendulum, Grooverider and Apollo 440, plus the co-founding of the seminal Breakbeat Kaos label, and the output of FRESH / LIVE is as impressive as it has ever been.  

Topping the NME Cool List for 2011, accorded third place in the BBC Sound of 2012 and championed by the industry’s mightiest star makers, twenty year old Harlem rapper AZEALIA BANKS, is without question, the hottest new name in music.  Thrust into the spotlight with ‘212’ – her brilliant, bouncing, dripping-with-attitude debut, BANKS exudes wit and energy while her music walks a tightrope between fruity humour and outright controversy.  Early stage position advised! 

Following his barnstorming beat boxing onslaught last year, RockNess is over the moon to welcome back the stupendously talentedBEARDYMAN!  As one of the planet’s foremost exponents of all things outrageously insane yet brilliant, Dores will need the next five months to prepare.

DEATH IN VEGAS are back. Richard Fearless is back. And sounding like a man with purpose. New album ‘Trans Love Energies’, recorded in Andrew Weatherall’s Shoreditch studio is a house inspired electronic rhythmical treat. Weird and wonderful lyrical medleys, supremely well crafted psychedelia and sometimes plain spooky vibes, expect bodies to move en masse come June. 

Next up…cue disco-tastic fanfare…it is with monumentally huge excitement for RockNess to proudly announce that CHIC featuring NILE RODGERS, the funkiest band on the planet, are heading to Dores!  

Founded by the legendary NILE RODGERS, these peerless purveyors of booty shaking beats, whose roll call of all time dance classics include ‘Good Times’, ‘I Want Your Love’, ‘Le Freak’, ‘Dance, Dance’ Dance’ and ‘My Forbidden Lover’…to name just a few…promise to deliver what will surely be one of the summer’s defining feel good sing-along, disco dancing moments.

Staying on a disco vibe, albeit the underground deep house version, ETIENNE DE CRECY (aka Motorbass, Super Discount and La Chatte Rougee) is the epitomy of the original ‘French sound’ and one of the best house music makers ever.  A key figure behind the French capital's rise as a leading dance music hub during the 1990s, the quality of DE CRECY’s output remains fierce and well deserving of the respect he continues to generate.

Having recently put out only his third EP, albeit one on Joe Goddard from Hot Chip's Greco-Roman label, and continuing to rack up countless fans including RockNess favourite Annie Mac, Orlando Higginbottom aka TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS's star is rising.  Bouncing in true one-man-band style between laptop, keyboards, drum machine and live vocals, don’t be surprised if the speakers literally and metaphorically get so hot they catch fire (again) by the boundary breaking brilliance of this new talent.

Last time he descended on Dores the party-o-meter went off the scale, so RockNess is extremely pleased to announce the return of the brilliant BUSY P for more outrageously good music and vibes. As owner of the sublime Ed Banger Records, home to Justice, Feadz, Uffie, Sebastian and Mr Oizo to name a few, BUSY P’s parties are legendary as RockNess will once again witness! 

A string of releases played out by the likes of 2 Many DJs, Boys Noize and Erol Alkan has brought the work of French maestroGESAFFELSTEIN recognition and acclaim as one of electronica’s undisputed hottest forces.  Now aligned to Brodinski’s Bromance label,GESAFFELSTEIN makes perfect art soundscapes for purveyors who like their beats on the deeper, darker side but still with enough danceable allure.  Also joining the bill is Newcastle born DJ, musician and Ed Banger friend RITON.  With a new album due for release in 2012 with Surkin and AlunaGeorge, following hot on the heels of his recent output at the end of 2011 on his label Riton Time, expect an artist on suitably impressive fine form.

Cuban BrothersAnd RockNess just wouldn’t be complete without the irrepressibly entertaining and absolutely magnificent THE CUBAN BROTHERS, heading back to Dores for a weekend long mix of madness and mayhem. 

Last but certainly by no means least, RockNess is thrilled to reveal the homegrown electronic heroes from The Scottish Highlands who complete this first announcement for 2012.  Operators of the biggest club night in Inverness and winners of ‘Club Night of the Year’ at Scotland’s ICA Awards, FILTH djs Ross Lyle and Andrew McGibbon are on fire . They are joined by POLYMATH aka Martin Gowans.  This talented rising star whose own tech house productions have featured on the playlists of Radio 1’s Kissy Sell Out, Tiga and Wolfgang Gartner will be right at home at RockNess.  Completing the trio of talent is COUNT CLOCKWORK, Khalid Hussain & Louis Buick.  This duo are the freshest, young talent to come out of Inverness in recent times with support slots to Dem Slackers and Dillon Francis under their belts plus a forthcoming Fake Blood gig.  Having reached the shortlist stage of MTV’s Brand New for 2012 and with a track featured on NME.com, the future is bright.

Speaking about RockNess 2012, Festival Director JIM KING commented, “I'm so happy with the list of acts we're announcing today that I now just can’t wait for the first tent peg in the ground and for the party to start.

It was only a matter of time before we got lucky and were able to welcome Biffy Clyro back to Loch Ness. Since their debut they've gone on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the UK and on home turf you know they're going to produce something extra-spectacular. 

Mumford and Sons. Wow. I am over the moon they agreed to play our show. They could have played anywhere but they chose The Highlands. It’s going to be special.

The Mau5 needs no intro.  He was close to appearing last year but the good news for us is that the live show has just got bigger and better and he follows in some hallowed steps at RockNess as a true electronic headliner, something you can't experience anywhere else in Scotland.  His show is just so good and he’s already got plans to make this one of the best shows we’ve ever seen. I promise you will not have seen a main stage production like this. It’s massive!

Justice is the act everyone has been asking us to book since we started the festival.  French house music holds a special place at RockNess and these guys are simply the best.

There’s so much quality across the rest of the bill from Ed Sheeran who’s arguably the biggest rising star of the last twelve months with Wretch 32 on to absolute legend Nile Rodgers who brings his seminal band Chic to the main stage in what will be for me a highlight of the festival. The only question remains is can he out funk and out dance the Cuban Brothers.

This announcement is just the start. We have heaps of great bands and DJs still to be revealed and the comedy headliner this year is an absolute corker! 

So, I’ll call it first then…. Mon the Biffy!  Mon the ‘Ness!" 

TICKETS GO ON SALE 9AM THURSDAY 26TH JANUARY. FOR DETAILS ON TICKET AGENTS GO TO WWW.ROCKNESS.CO.UK
3 day weekend camping – £159
3 day weekend non camping – £149 
3 day weekend camping / non camping student ticket – £145
3 day VIP weekend camping ticket – £209
3 day VIP weekend non camping ticket – £199
3 day Disabled weekend camping – £79.50 – please email [email protected]
3 day Disabled weekend non camping – £74.50 – please email [email protected]
The RockNess Express – £225
Additional travel packages available.