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!

House of Fun Weekender

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25th-27th November 2011
 
Madness said of the event. “Life is a series of beautiful moments, this weekend is a moment in time where you can, we hope take some beautiful moments home with you. Please endeavour to introduce yourself to as many as possible, make new friends, dance, sing, laugh, give support, create joy, be decent, spread the love and most of all enjoy yourselves as much as you think is possible, you know it makes sense”
 
Madness
 
With their tenth album currently in the works, Madness will be playing a career-spanning extravaganza over the weekend, with a few extra-special surprises up their sleeves.
 
The weekend will be packed with top class performances from the likes of the mighty los hermanos Cubanos, The Cuban Brothers, DJ Jerry Dammers, beatbox superstar Beardyman and a set from eclectic powerhouse DJ Andrew Weatherall. Heavyweights The Whip will bring the party, and Norman Jay MBE will be providing yet another classic set. Mr Scruff will grace us with more than three hours of freestyle beats,whilst Squeaky Hill, Marc Roberts and Toddla T & MC Serocee will provide the bass driven rhythms. Check out some arcade-electro rhymes from Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, and digital-ska maestros Man Like Me.
 
We have a wealth of comedy acts on show, who will provide side-splitting entertainment just for your pleasure! The amazing talent we have for you includes Bob Mills, Junior Simpson, Nick Wilty, Al Barrie, Kevin McCarthy and Ben Norris with 8-piece horn and percussion ensemble, Brassroots, Wagontails. As if our stellar musical line-up wasn’t enough, we’re also treating you to some of the best comedians around!
 
The amazing ex-Housemartins and Beautiful South singer Paul Heaton will be one to see, along with Marcus Birdman, Gordon Southern, Michael Smiley and incredible improv-rapping with Abandoman. Halifax Hospital Radio’s very own Barry Peters will make a special appearance, with zoot suited soul flavours from The Milk, electro-swingers The Correspondents and Radio 1’s leftfield master Rob da Bank. Don’t miss DJs,Justin Robertson & Greg Wilson or Brit-Rock Poppers Missing Andy. Watch legendary darts players Wayne Mardle & Peter Manley for something a little bit different, or check out late night treats from Marc Roberts and a ninja-mash-up from Jaguar Skills. DJ sets from Don Letts and erstwhile Specials kingpin Jerry Dammers are sure to get you dancing.
 
Future garage don Doorly will be unmissable, along with Marc Roberts and Craig Charles’ Funk and Soul Show. We are in for a treat from El Thommo in the form of Lee Thompson’s Ska Orchestra and the Irish Bar will host odd-ball merriment from Squeaky Hill and sing-along japes with Rockaoke all weekend long. You can score a strike with the Bowling Disco plus there will be a very special Madness Pool Competition.
 
To book the House of Fun Weekender, or for more information, call 0845 070 4730 or visit www.butlins.com/madness (The maximum call charge is 2p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may vary)

 

Saturday Day Tickets sell out at the Just So Festival

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The Just So Festival was the brainchild of two mums with a love of the arts and a desire to create a shared experience for families through participation, discovery, wonder and play.
 
Director Sarah Bird says ‘Day tickets for the Saturday have now completely sold out but we still have weekend camping tickets available as well as day tickets for the Sunday. Our programme of events has more than doubled since last year and there are many performers, workshops and events taking place on both days as well as a great many which are exclusive to the Sunday. Tickets will not be available at the gate, so we would recommend that families planning to come along this year snap them up quickly!’
 
Co-Director Rowan Hoban continues, ‘The response to this year’s festival has been truly amazing. Our early bird tickets and glade camping tickets sold out incredibly quickly after last year’s festival and we are unspeakably excited about welcoming our families into the festival to share what promises to be an extraordinary line up of events.’
 
Some of the many varied highlights of this year’s festival include music from the Zen Hussies and Polly and the Billets Doux; workshops by bestselling authors Adele Geras and David Lucas; a beach installation; circus and pirate training; a midnight feast; digital camera workshops; baby yoga; multisensory and food sculpture as well as appearances from both The Gruffalo and Elmer the elephant.
 
Rowan Hoban says, ‘This time last year Just So Festival had only existed inside our heads and we couldn’t quite believe it was really happening. We’re so happy that we’re here again; that we’re allowed to call this festival organising lark our job. We think 2011 is going to be even more magical than last year and are ever so grateful to our festival families for coming along and making it what it is.’

Boomtown Fair 2011 SOLD OUT

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The organisers released an extra 2,500 tickets just a month ago and now all the passes have been snapped up by bass hungry ‘Boomtowners’ who are revving themselves up for a solid four-days of pure escapism, entertainment and intrigue! With the 2011 festival doubling in size and ambition after the highly successful 2010 festival, this year is promising to be the best yet.
 
Lak Mitchell, co-director and co-founder of Boomtown says:
“We are over the moon at the support and enthusiasm we’ve had for this year’s festival. Thanks to everyone who has bought a ticket and helped keep the Boomtown dream alive! We can’t wait to open the town gates, the crew have been working solidly for the past 5-weeks to create this alternative, interactive and immersive world and now we just can’t wait to share it with everyone!”
 
On top of the excellent news that the festival has sold out, it is with sadness that Boomtown also have to announce the cancellation of Barrington Levy, as he has pulled out of several upcoming scheduled dates. Barrington Levy is now unable to keep to his confirmed shows for both Boomtown Fair and Outlook festival. Both festivals have tried everything in their power to ensure the booking was committed to but due to circumstances out of the festival director’s hands the shows have been cancelled. The good news in all this is that Gentleman’s Dub Club, who smashed their show last year and left the crowd pleading for more are now bumped up the bill and will be headlining the Lion’s Den on Saturday night for some high-octane, knee bashing skanking moves!
 
MAIN STAGE LINE UP:
GOGOL BORDELLO / BAD MANNERS / THE SELECTER WITH PAULINE BLACK / [DUNKELBUNT] / THE TOASTERS / GOLDIE LOOKIN CHAIN / THE APPLES / THE KING BLUES / BABYHEAD / SMERINS ANTI SOCIAL CLUB
 
DANCE STAGE LINE UP: 
DJ ZINC / BLACK SUN EMPIRE / FOREIGN BEGGARS / TODDLA T & SEROCEE / MS DYNAMITE / THE BUG & FLOWDAN / REDLIGHT & MC DREAD / EMALKAY / RATPACK / ED SOLO b2b JFB / HIGH RANKIN / FEED ME / PYRAMID / WARRIOR ONE / RACK N RUIN / TAYO / SQUIRE OF GOTHOS / KOAN SOUND / THE MCMASH CLAN
 
LIONS DEN (REGGAE STAGE) LINE UP:
CAPLETON / CUTTY RANKS / TIPPA IRIE AND FAR EAST BAND / GENTLEMANS DUB CLUB / SOOM T AND JAHTARI / CONGO NATTY / TOPCAT / ABA SHANTI / IRATION STEPPAS / BONGO CHILLI / SOLO BANTON / BENNY PAGE / JINX IN DUB / DADDY FREDDY / FRIENDLY FIRE BAND / JACKY MURDA / KENNY KEN / LION DUB AND DAVID BOOMAH / PRINCE FATTY / THE RAGGA TWINS / THE HEATWAVE / YT / LAID BLAK / MILLION DAN / MR BENN / DUBKASM / ONLY JOE / CAPLETON / THE DROP / SERIAL KILLAZ

Fringeopolis, the 2011 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival

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Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of some of the world’s biggest festivals? How does it all come together and how do you get a community on board?

All year round, Edmonton’s festivals celebrate a variety of artistic disciplines including music, visual arts, dance, performing arts, sports and film and create endless possibilities, shows and performances for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. This wide variety includes the internationally renowned Folk, Fringe and Street Performers festivals.

Fringeopolis, the 2011 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, takes the city’s centre stage from August 11 to 21 in Old Strathcona and beyond. Including more than 200 acts on indoor and outdoor stages, this international event is the first and largest theatre event of its kind in North America.

In the following video we look at how Edmonton has become one of the world’s most creative cities thanks to its all year round festivals and we speak to Shelley Switzer the Artistic Producer of one of the most popular events on the calendar – the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival.

SW4 2011 Saturday completely SOLD OUT

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Demand for tickets has been nothing short of incredible and we would like to thank everyone who has helped SW4 Saturday sell out three weeks in advance. All that remains now are the tickets to day two at SW4, with these now down to the final allocation and expected to sell out imminently.
 
Headlining day two of South West Four will be the musical juggernaut that is Pendulum, playing their only London show of the year. They will be joined by dubstep powerhouse Magnetic Man, with further main stage performances coming courtesy of Annie Mac, Digital Soundboy Soundsystem, Wretch32 and many more. Techno legend Richie Hawtin takes care of proceedings in the Together arena alongside the likes of Modeselektor, Sub Focus and Andy C, whilst the greatest Sunday clubbing institution on the planet, the mighty We Love…, host an arena at SW4 for the very first time. Sasha headlines their stage with a greatly anticipated V_rtek performance, supported by very special DJ sets from Simian Mobile Disco, Steve Lawler and Ellen Allien. Swedish techno sensation Adam Beyer brings Drumcode to South West London with an exclusive label showcase, featuring a one off performance from Eric Prydz under his Cirez D guise, plus live sets from Slam and Paul Ritch. With many more acts playing across four stages we cannot wait and we’re sure you can’t either. Be sure to get your tickets now if you want to be a part of SW4 2011.
 
SATURDAY LINE-UP SO FAR…
SW4 MAIN STAGE HOSTED BY MINISTRY OF SOUND:
UNDERWORLD [LIVE]
 (2011 LONDON EXCLUSIVE)
JOHN DIGWEED / LAIDBACK LUKE
PETE TONG (RADIO 1) / JAMES ZABIELA
HERNAN CATTANEO / SOS
DJ MAGAZINE PRESENTS THE GROUP THERAPY ARENA:
ABOVE & BEYOND
JUDGE JULES
ANDY MOOR
SUPER8 & TAB
MAT ZO
JAYTECH
+ VERY SPECIAL GUEST
FERRY CORSTEN
COCOON ARENA IN ASSOCIATION WITH VIEW LONDON:
SVEN VATH
LOCO DICE
TIEFSCHWARZ [LIVE]
GUY GERBER
TOBI NEUMANN
TIM GREEN
+ VERY SPECIAL GUEST
JOSH WINK
SHAKE IT! ARENA IN ASSOCIATION WITH PARIS FG RADIO:
LAURENT GARNIER
presents L.B.S. [LIVE BOOTH SESSIONS]
TIGA
LAYO & BUSHWACKA! / M.A.N.D.Y.
SPENCER PARKER
 



SUNDAY LINE-UP SO FAR…
SW4 MAIN STAGE HOSTED BY UNION:
PENDULUM [LIVE]
 (2011 LONDON EXCLUSIVE)
MAGNETIC MAN [LIVE]
(2011 LONDON FESTVIAL EXCLUSIVE)
 

ANNIE MAC (BBC RADIO 1)

 

WRETCH 32 / TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS YASMIN / UNION
+ VERY SPECIAL GUEST
DIGITAL SOUNDBOY SYSTEM
FEAT. SHY FX , BREAKAGE, B.TRAITS WITH DONAEO,
YOUNGMAN & STAMINA MC
LAST.FM ARENA HOSTED BY TOGETHER:
RICHIE HAWTIN
SUB FOCUS [LIVE]
ANDY C
JOKER / MUMS OF DEATH
+ VERY SPECIAL GUESTS
MODESELEKTOR
GAISER [LIVE]
 
 
 
DJ MAGAZINE ARENA HOSTED BY WE LOVE:
SASHA
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO
ELLEN ALLIEN
MONIKA KRUSE
TECHNASIA
MAT PLAYFORD
+ VERY SPECIAL GUEST
STEVE LAWLER
DRUMCODE ARENA IN ASSOCIATION WITH MIXCLOUD:
ADAM BEYER
SLAM [LIVE]
 

PAUL RITCH [LIVE] / BEN SIMS / ALAN FITZPATRICK

IDA ENGBERG
+ VERY SPECIAL GUEST
CIREZ D

Flow Festival 2011 lineup changes

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DOOM (previously MF Doom), ranks among the most highly-regarded MCs around. The masked hiphop villain has released several classic-status albums, such as Operation: Doomsday and MM… Food, and collaborated with Madlib and Danger Mouse, to name but a few.

Hailing from Yorkshire, Blawan is one of the hottest newcomers in electronic music lately. His early releases for labels such as Hessle Audio have earned the up-and-coming producer/DJ a steady following as one of the key artists to keep an eye on.

The new additions will take on the performance slots previously occupied by the artists who have cancelled their appearance, so DOOM will perform at the Main Stage on Friday 12 August at 9:15 pm and Blawan at Voimala on Friday at 11 pm.

The Main Partner for Flow Festival: Nokia 
In Cooperation: Helsingin Sanomat / NYT, JCDecaux, Radio Helsinki, Brand Factory, Diesel, Heineken, Marimekko, RGB, UPM Timber and Viinimaa.

Flow is supported by City of Helsinki Cultural Office and Ministry of Education and Culture.

Tickets: Tiketti www.tiketti.fi, tel. +358 600-1-1616
1 day 70 € (FRI / SAT available)
(+ booking fees)
Other ticket types sold out.
Age limit 18. On Sunday 2pm–6pm chlidren of 0-6 years allowed on site with parents.

Public Enemy join the Berlin Festival 2011 lineup

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Legendary techno temples and indie clubs, hipsters and punks, underground and mainstream, street art and galleries, Mitte and Kreuzberg, designer labels and second-hand – all this is Berlin! And one weekend in September, festivalgoers get all this packed into one event: all facets of a metropolis under the banner of Berlin Festival 2011, spread out to over 60 clubs, Club Xberg @Arena Berlin and Tempelhof Airport.
 
Public Enemy 
 
Line-up, running order + stage setup
First of all, we have another ace up our sleeve, which will make hip hop fans and indie nerds alike jump for joy: besides Beginner, Primal Scream, Suede, and Beirut performing at Tempelhof, we now have Public Enemy, the legendary East Coast rappers Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and Professor Griff, taking over Club Xberg with their massive hip hop tunes. Daniel Wang and Discodromo are also confirmed to DJ at Arena Berlin’s Glashaus (Club Xberg) besides the already confirmed Andy Butler (Hercules & Love Affair) as well as Boy George & Marc Vedo.DJ Feadz rings in the final hours at Club Xberg.? So our line-up is almost complete. Our running order as well as our running order tool is available on our web page as of today.
 
Like last year, our acts will perform in hangars 4 and 5 in addition to our main stage. This year though, the huge doors of the former aeroplane hangars will be entirely opened so that the hangars maximum capacity can be used. Additional barriers in front of the hangars due to capacity restrictions (the hangar doors couldn’t be opened entirely in 2010 due to sound pollution laws) won’t be necessary this year.? Berlin Festival at Tempelhof will end at midnight but the festival programme will continue with Club Xberg at Arena Berlin. Tickets for Club Xberg are included in the Berlin Music Week Ticket. Single tickets are also available.
 
Berlin Music Week Clubnacht?
Imagine Berlin without its overwhelming club scene. It’s almost impossible. And our festival would hardly do the city justice without incorporating the metropolis’ debaucherous nightlife. Under the banner of Berlin Music Week Clubnacht, a co-operation between Clubcommission Berlin e.V., Kulturprojekte Berlin, and Berlin Festival, holders of Berlin Music Week Tickets, Berlin Festival 2-day and day tickets will gain free entry to 60+ Berlin-based venues. At Alte Malzfabrik, for instance, Bar25 DJs will spin records besides performances by Tok Tok vs. Soffy O, electro fans can dive into techno, deep house or dubstep tunes at Brunnen 70, Club der polnischen Versager, frannz, M-BIA, Matrix, Icon, Ritter Butzke, Tresor orZurmoebelfabrik . Fritzclub, Lido, Magnet, White Trash, Lovelite, SchwuZ, and Kaffee Burger cultivate sounds from rock to pop to indietronic to urban, and venues like A-Lounge, Ballhaus Berlin, Bassy, Blumenbar, Calabash Club, Club 23, Columbiaclub, Comet, Goya, Kiki Blofeld, Festsaal Kreuberg, KingKongKlub, Monarch, HBC, Levee, Paloma, Rosi’s, Roter Salon, Silver Wings Club, Schokoladen, Soda Club Berlin, Sophienclub, Spindler & Klatt, Steinhaus, Suicide Circus, Tresor, West Germany, Yaam and many more are participating as well. The entire Clubnacht programme will also be available in our running order soon. If a club reaches its maximum occupancy, there are plenty of other options waiting for festivalgoers. For holders of a Berlin Music Week Ticket and a Club Xberg ticket, entry to Club Xberg @Arena Berlin is guaranteed at all times, however.
Six more weeks to go! We are ready and can hardly wait. To get in the mood, check out our new festival trailer, and watch out for more audio-visual highlights on our webpage as well as Facebook. Berlin Festival, here we come!
 
For more information on admission, travelling to and from the festival and where to stay click HERE.
  
All confirmed acts so far
A-Trak * Alex Winston * Aloe Blacc * Apparat Band * Austra * Bag Raiders * Battles * Beginner * Beirut * Berlin Battery * The Black Angels * The Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77 * Boy George & Marc Vedo DJ-Set * Boys Noize * Brodinski * Andy Butler DJ-Set * Buraka Som Sistema * Casper * Clap Your Hands Say Yeah *  CSS * Daniel Wang * dEUS * Discodromo* Diplo * The Drums * Dry the River * Feadz  * Firefox AK * Florrie * G.I. Disco * Gesaffelstein (live) * Greco Roman Special * Health * DJ Hell * Hercules And Love Affair * Housse de Racket * Jimmy Edgar * Kruder & Dorfmeister * Last Days of 1984 * LFO * Mogwai  * Mount Kimbie * Mr. Oizo * The Naked And Famous * Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All * Oh Land * Pantha Du Prince * Primal Scream present Screamadelica * Public Enemy * Rainbow Arabia * The Rapture * Relish Recordings Special * Remmidemmi * Retro Stefson * Santigold * Skrillex * Suede * Tune-Yards * The Waters * Wire * Yelle * Yuksek (live)

Blingley Music Live update

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Regardless of the temperamental summer weather, you’re going to have to dig out your Ray Bans to get your peepers round the glittering line-up of acts heading to Bingley Music Live this summer – from reggae-metal, blistering alt-rock and indie to bubblegum pop, Motown soul, grime and chart-topping dubstep.
 
This all-embracing attitude to great music is what makes Bingley Music Live so unique. Where else are you going to find SKINDRED and ELIZA DOOLITTLE on the same bill? Answers on a postcard, please…
 
So let’s see. Who’ve we got? First and foremost, there are the headliners. New York funk-rockers FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS will top the FREE Friday night bill. Saturday night sees Geordie art-rockers MAXIMO PARK apply some pressure, and the mighty CHASE AND STATUS will bring the weekend to an explosive close.
 
Dishing out the beats over the weekend will be rising grime star DOT ROTTEN and collaborator RUSSO, British hip-hop heroes STEREO MCs, Example’s Unorthodox pal WRETCH 32 and Brighton’s wild style hip-pop guitar-rockers THE GO! TEAM.
Then there’s the sun-kissed pop of ELIZA DOOLITTLE, young soul sensation DIONNE BROMFIELD and the psychedelic pop-rock delights of ALICE GOLD.
 
Plugging in and rocking out will be YOUNG GUNS and SKINDRED, and  FEEDER, THE CORAL, ATHLETE, MYSTERY JETS, THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND, and JON FRATELLI will provide the indie hits.
 
Scooby Snacks? Connected? Wires? Buck Rogers? Dreaming Of You? Skinny Genes? Going Missing? Warning? Time? Whoever helps you get your groove on, there’s going to be a huge sing-along festival moment in there for everyone.
 
Over the last four years, music legends like THE BUZZCOCKS, HAPPY MONDAYS, JAMES, and PUBLIC IMAGE LTD and upcoming new artists and some of today’s hottest acts like EDITORS, THE BLACKOUT, EXAMPLE, THE FUTUREHEADS and KASSIDY have played to crowds of around 15,000 each day at Bingley Music Live.
 
We dare you to find a festival which focuses as much on family-friendliness and value for money as it does on the great acts to grace its stage. Bingley Music Live is about getting together and having a great time before the summer calls it quits once again.
 
Weekend tickets are available from HMV stores around Yorkshire, Crash and Jumbo in Leeds, Attick in York, Leeds Visitor Centre and TICs around Yorkshire, and online at www.seetickets.com, priced £35 (plus booking fee).  For more information, visit www.bingleymusiclive.com
Bingley Music Live

The first Persil Pass on the Love Picnic at Camp Bestival is a storming success

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Jo WhileyDJ and mum-of-four Jo Whiley hosted the first ‘Persil Pass on the Love Picnic’ at Camp Bestival on the weekend. Mums and kids were encouraged to hold a picnic and bring newly washed soft toys for another child to love – for fun family picnic ideas and more visit www.netmums.com/persilpassonthelove
  • The traditional teddy bears picnic is set for a refresh this year thanks to Jo Whiley and Persil 2in1 with Comfort
  • We all know that kids quickly grow out of their teddies, so rather than throw them away, Jo is encouraging mums to bring their old (but clean!) soft toys and then pass them on for another child to love – either by swapping with a friend or donating them to charity partner Oxfam who will sell them on
Festival-lover Jo Whiley says “As a mum, I know how difficult it can be to find family activities over the summer, which is why I think the fresh take on once-retro teddy bear’s picnics is such an inspiring idea. Toys will not only be given a new lease of life but with Oxfam, they can be passed on for other children to enjoy. Please host your own ‘Persil Pass on the Love’ picnic with friends and family this summer and let us know how you get on!”

RockNess launch incredibly priced weekend tickets for 2012

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This exceptionally priced ticket will allow Festival Fans to experience as described by the NME ‘the UK’s most eye-wateringly gorgeous festival site’ without breaking the bank!  
 
Even better still, fans that want to come to a festival but find it difficult to find the funds all at once, will have the option to buy their £99 ticket in 3 instalments at the ridiculously low price of £33! 
 
Jim King, Festival Director commented, “We’re delighted to be able to offer this amazing ticket price.  When you think of the quality line ups that RockNess has every year there can’t be a more value for money 3 day festival ticket in the UK. The offer will be limited so we advise everyone to try their best to find the 1st instalment of only 33 quid and book as early as they can.”
 
RockNess 2011 saw historic headline performances from Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers and Paolo Nutini, drawing the biggest main stage crowds ever seen at the festival.  With stand out moments from Groove Armada, Magnetic Man, Glasvegas, Boys Noize, Emeli Sandé and Lucy Rose, to name just a few.  
 
The cogs are already turning in RockNess HQ to make sure that 2012 will be even bigger and better!
 
The £99 launch tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday 4th August via WWW.ROCKNESS.CO.UK