Festivals

Looking for the latest lineup, date, ticket information or latest news about your favourite festivals, look no further.  Summer Festival Guide’s Festival News section covers all your needs!

The Big 4 set for Sonisphere 2011

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Already joining headliners Biffy Clyro and Slipknot, the announcement that Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax are all set to join is massive news for the rock festival for 2011.

METALLICA drummer LARS ULRICH explains:

“As soon as the Big 4 gigs started rolling across Sonisphere Festivals in Eastern Europe last summer, we all felt we were part of something special. The vibe within the bands was more than anyone had anticipated and the vibe with the fans was so next level, it completely blew our minds . . . there was no way this should not happen again!!! So I am beyond psyched that the first Big 4 show in Western Europe will take place on the hallowed grounds of Knebworth, where so many unique and special gigs have happened over the years.”

Last summer saw the live debut of THE BIG 4 – as this collective of Thrash legends are commonly known – marking what was possibly the most significant event in the history of metal. Fans all over Europe could barely contain their excitement, as over 500,000 metalheads bore witness to the show they thought they’d never see.

THE BIG 4 fever did not stop at Europe, as fans the world over eagerly anticipated the possibility of seeing the historical show for themselves in their own countries. Such was the demand that a live cinecast of the Bulgarian show saw over 130,000 people turn out to local cinemas, with reports of mosh pits breaking out in movie theatres across the globe. The recently released DVD of the event, which features all four bands collaborating on a cover of Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil” as well as their individual sets, has only added fuel to the BIG 4 fire, with a frenzied demand for more performances in the countries not fortunate enough to play host last summer.

Now, SONISPHERE brings the titanic combo of METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX to the UK for the very first time, at this exclusive performance at KNEBWORTH. The legends themselves declare their delight at taking the greatest metal show on earth back out on the road:

“There is simply no better venue for a European round two of the Big 4!!” METALLICA’s LARS ULRICH begins. “Put your dancing shoes on, this is gonna be fun!”

“Always excited to do big 4 shows” says SLAYER’s KERRY KING. “Now England is in line to be devastated by this heavy metal powerhouse! Can’t Fucking wait!!!”

MEGADETH mainman DAVE MUSTAINE states; “The Big Four Concerts are the most important, most exciting event to happen in the history of live concerts in our genre, and perhaps the entire music industry. I am glad to be a part of this enormous celebration of thrash, speed, and good ole heavy metal!”

“OH YEAH!!!” proclaims ANTHRAX drummer CHARLIE BENANTE. “Here we Come England! The Big 4 BABY! Can’t wait to Get Metal Thrashing Mad for you Thrashers!”

ANTHRAX bandmate, guitarist SCOTT IAN concurs “Merry early Xmas present for us… more BIG 4 shows!!! The shows we did together with our brothers in Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth were not only the high point of 2010, but also some of the best shows Anthrax have ever played. Getting to share this with our friends in the UK will be amazing”.

Given that 2010’s event had sold out before IRON MAIDEN took to the stage, and the hugely exciting headliners set for next year, SONISPHERE can not guarantee that day tickets will be available for 2011, so fans are advised to get their tickets early to ensure they don’t miss out on what is already shaping up to be SONISPHERE’s most exciting year yet.

Tickets for SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH 2011 are now on sale. Beat the VAT increase – and get your application in to become a SONISPHERE TOURIST with your free ticket for POLAND and CZECH REPUBLIC or AUSTRIA (subject to availability) – by snapping your ticket up quickly.

SONISPHERE KNEBWORTH takes place 8th – 10th July 2011 at KNEBWORTH HOUSE. For tickets and more info go to www.sonispherefestivals.com

Kasabian confirm new material to be heard at Rockness 2011

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Speaking to NME, Serge Pizzorno said fans should expect some new additions to the setlist. When asked if Kasabian would be playing new songs at RockNess, Pizzorno replied: “Definitely. There may even be something out by then too. I’d like there to be. I’d love to have something out because it always gets you going when you’re playing the new shit.“

Pizzorno was speaking around the release of London Boulevard, the British film he has composed the soundtrack for. He said that some of the material from the soundtrack may influence new Kasabian songs.

“There may be a tune or so from the film that could surface too,” he said. “In some ways, the film and the score might be almost a little glimpse into what will happen with the band in the future.“

With a feast of swaggering anthems and the best pulsating, semi psychedelic grooves on the planet, Kasabian at RockNess is set to be an unforgettable show as the Leicester heroes power their way through a stomping trajectory of anthems sure to stir even Nessie.

RockNess Festival Director Jim King commented, “It’s very exciting news as there’s nothing better than hearing your favourite band’s new material. It really sounds like the band are making RockNess a must see gig for their fans.”

Joining KASABIAN, is an act that can well and truly call RockNess home – THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS. Last time Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands played the festival, they unleashed a colossal visual and sonic assault of such magnitude it reverberated the length of the Great Glen. Now in news that is generating elation with fans, they’re heading back for the first gig in Scotland since 2008. Ed and Tom said “it’s really exciting to be headlining one of our favourite festivals. RockNess is an amazing place to play and we can’t wait to be back there again”. Expect heaps of arms-aloft euphoria come June!

Completing the Main Stage headliners is PAOLO NUTINI who promises to bring RockNess to a spectacular close on the Sunday in a massive landmark homecoming gig. Nutini’s reputation for blistering, crowd rousing live performances has seen him electrify audiences across the globe and festival organisers are inviting fans the length and breadth of the country to do whatever it takes to join this unmissable, once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

As the first major UK festival of the summer, RockNess will also be one of the first opportunities for fans to hear tracks off Paolo’s much-anticipated third album, which is being recorded at present and scheduled for a 2011 release. Commenting on his headline gig at iconic Loch Ness Paolo Nutini said, “I am buzzing at the prospect. I don’t know what to expect but everyone I know has come back with loads of stories to tell. I hope I will be the same!”.

RockNess 2011 takes place 10-12 June, 2011 in the village of Dores, close to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

The festival won ‘LINE UP OF THE YEAR’ at last month’s UK Festival Awards for its 2010 extravaganza which saw appearances from a raft of incredible acts including The Strokes. Leftfield and Fatboy Slim.

Music lovers are being encouraged to ‘Respect the ‘Ness’ by taking advantage of ‘GO GREEN’ tickets on sale that include FREE COACH TRAVEL FROM ALL MAJOR CITIES IN THE UK. This follows the instant sell out of the festival’s outrageously good value, computer crashing £99 weekend ticket and amazing Early Bird deal that also sold out!

GO GREEN ticket prices:

£149 – 3 day weekend camping / non camping
£159 – 3 day weekend camping / non camping with coach travel
£135 – 3 day weekend camping / non camping student ticket
£145 – 3 day weekend camping / non camping student ticket with coach travel
£189 – 3 day weekend camping / non camping VIP ticket

 

V Festival 2011 tickets on sale at midday today!

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V Festival, sponsored by Virgin Media, will be releasing a pre-sale for next year’s V Festival at noon on Thursday 9th December for 24 Hours until noon on Friday 10th December. Strictly limited to only 10,000 per site, this is the last chance to purchase V Festival 2011 tickets at 2010 prices and you’ll also beat the VAT rise!

If you miss this opportunity, you’ll have to wait until Friday 4th March 2011 when tickets will go on general sale. If you’re a Virgin Media customer, you will have the opportunity to purchase tickets through the Early Bird Offer in February 2011.

We’re working hard on putting together what we think could be one of the most exciting line ups of recent years so don’t miss out on this great opportunity to secure tickets for 2011. V Festival 2011 is on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August.

Please only purchase tickets through the outlets listed below. Packages will include V Style luxury camping at Hylands Park and Weston Park and Big Green Coach ticket and coach travel. Please note that some of the outlets listed below are for Weston Park only.

See Tickets www.seetickets.com
Big Green Coach www.biggreencoach.co.uk
Star Green www.stargreen.co.uk
Ticketline www.ticketline.co.uk 
Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.uk

 

 

Linkin Park confirmed as second headliner for Download 2011

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A limited amount of weekend with camping tickets for the Download Festival 2011, plus RIP packages, are on sale now from www.downloadfestival.co.uk. This ‘early bird’ offer ends 5pm Monday 20 December, and includes 3 day and 5 day camping tickets. Organisers have also confirmed that prices will remain the same for Download 2011 as they were in 2010.

Organisers have also confirmed that Grammy award winning musician / producer and director Rob Zombie will perform at next year’s Download – an incredible 16 years since he last played the Donington Park site with his then band White Zombie.

Since forming in 1996, Linkin Park have gone on to win two Grammy awards and sold over 50 million records worldwide, and they recently released their fourth studio album A Thousand Suns which went No. 1 in 10 countries as well as No. 2 in the UK. Known for unique collaborations with alternative and hip hop artists, Linkin Park’s headlining performance at this year’s Download will be a true highlight of the weekend.

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington said: “We are very excited to be playing Download again next year. It’s one of the best festivals in the world and it’s always an honour to play in front of such a great crowd. We can’t wait!“

Rob Zombie founded the metal band White Zombie and has since carved a successful career as a horror producer and director, notably for movies House Of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects. He released his new album Hellbilly Deluxe 2 earlier this year.

Live Nation VP of Promotions Andy Copping commented, “It’s great to have LINKIN PARK back at Download next year. They’ve always put on a great show and following the success of their recent sold out UK tour, it was essential to have them at Download, where they will deliver their full-on live show.“

Over 100,000 fans descended onto Download this year to celebrate 30 years of rock at Donington, making Download the second biggest festival in the UK after Glastonbury. It has the largest Facebook community for a UK festival coming top of the list with a huge 156,000 followers, overtaking the likes of V Festival (133,000), T in the Park (92,000), Glastonbury (90,000), Leeds (25,000) and Reading (21,000). Overall Download’s Facebook community is only second in the world to the I LOVE TECHNO event in Belgium.

Reading and Leeds Festival 2011 Pre-sale tomorrow morning!

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World famous Reading and Leeds Festival 2011 will go on sale from 9am Friday 3rd December.

A limited number of tickets will be available and festival fans will not be hit by the VAT increase in the new year. 

With a suspected massive lineup to be announced for both Reading and Leeds, this is the perfect Xmas present for any discering music lover.

Lineup and General tickets will be available in Spring 2011.

Visit www.readingfestival.com and www.leedsfestival.com for tickets!

Foo Fighters confirmed for T in the Park 2011

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Direct from the T in the Park website was the following statement:

Geoff Ellis said: “Once again we are proud to bring one of the world’s biggest and most influential rock bands to Balado.

“As well as being a personal favourite and a band that T in the Park fans continually praise, Foo Fighters are one of the best festival headliners on the planet and I’m delighted we have them for T in the Park 2011.”

Earlybird tickets are onsale Friday 3rd December at 9am

Sónar Barcelona Tickets on sale now!

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Steve Reich, a key figure in repetitive minimalism, takes centre stage at the inaugural concert of Sónar 2011 in Barcelona’s L’Auditori. The North American artist will be performing accompanied by bcn 216, L’Auditori resident instrumental group, and the British vocal group Synergy Vocals.

Magnetic Man will perform both in Sónar Barcelona and Galicia. The British trio, consisting of the producers and Djs Benga, Skream and Artwork, is considered the first group providing dubstep for the masses, and threatens to dynamite the star system of dance music, the true pop culture of our age.

Barcelona, A Coruña, London and Tokyo, the dates of Sónar 2011

Sónar 2011 will take place in Barcelona on the 16th, 17th and 18th of June in the usual venues for Sónar by Day (CCCB and MACBA) and Sónar by Night (the Auditori and the Fira Gran Via).

The second edition of Sónar Galicia will take place the 17th and 18th of June in A Coruña. Sonar Galicia comes back next year with a simultaneous edition to Sónar Barcelona. Sónar strengthen its ties with its second venue in ExpoCoruña after a successful first experiences of doubling up the festival in two different cities in Spain during the same weekend.

In 2011, Sónar will celebrate again in London on 19th of March at the Roundhouse the sixth helping of ‘A Taste of Sónar’. Each year, the event is a preview of the line-up of the festival in Barcelona.

On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of April, Tokyo will be the next stop before Sónar Barcelona and Galicia. Sónar returns to Japan for the 4th SonarSound Tokyo edition. After five years away, the event will take place in the ageHa / Studio Coast venue and is preparing for the touchdown of over 20 artists over the three days.

Passes and the special 2-Night Ticket for Sónar Barcelona 2011 on sale now

Sónar Barcelona passes are now on sale at the special price of 130€ (155€ from the 16th of January). Tickets for access to the two nights of Sónar by Night in the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona are also available through the usual sales channels.

The Sónar passes and night tickets are not valid for the L’Auditori access. Tickets for the inaugural concert on the 16th of June at L’Auditori are on sale for the price of 30€.

Buy tickets

The Sónar Galicia tickets sale will start soon.

The Cure set for Bestival 2011

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Yes! One of the most influential bands around, The Cure will be crossing the Solent to join us at the festival season’s last hurrah for their only European show of 2011! From their debut album ‘Three Imaginary Boys’ to 2008s critically acclaimed ‘4:13 Dream’, The Cure has inspired countless bands in the last three decades and whilst most of their contemporaries have fallen by the pop wayside they remain as relevant and vibrant as ever. As one of the Bestival crew’s collective favourite bands of all time, we’re all jumping for joy that The Cure is coming to the party to headline Saturday night at Bestival. September really can’t come quickly enough for us.

A gleeful Rob da Bank says: ‘I’ve spent the last twenty years of my life listening to The Cure and the last five attempting to persuade Robert Smith and the crew to hop on a ferry to our magical Isle. I’m still not sure what we’ve done right but I’m overjoyed that they are coming as Saturday night headliners. Few bands have had such a massive impact on my life (and hairstyles) so I’ll see you down the front!‘

Iconic Cure frontman Robert Smith commented: “I am delighted and excited that The Cure’s only European festival performance in 2011 will be at Bestival… We will do all we can to help make it a weekender to remember!“

Topping this year’s Best Major Festival Award winning show will be no mean feat but Rob da Bank and the ever-trusty Besti-crew have left no stone unturned to make our 2011 show even better than ever ensuring that Bestival will be the festival for music lovers! Bestival’s eighth outing – taking place at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight from the 8th to the 11th of September 2011 – is all set to be truly legendary. And here’s why!

Fresh from their triumphant Olympia gigs we can announce that the mighty Primal Scream will be presenting their landmark album ‘Screamadelica‘ in its entirety, headlining the Big Top on Saturday night. ‘Screamadelica’ transformed the musical landscape in the early 90s and with the band’s current run of shows celebrating the album completely sold out this is a golden chance to catch a pioneering band performing their meisterwerk in all its coruscating glory. The legends keep on coming for Bestival 2011, with Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson set to bring his baroque surf-pop to Robin Hill. Brian’s song writing prowess and production ingenuity has made him one of the most deeply revered figures in pop music and one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. With a litany of timeless hits that can’t fail to ignite the main stage crowd, it’s a complete honour to have him onboard.

With the big hitters lining up thick and fast, Bestival’s reputation as the place to catch the freshest, best and most exciting music all spread across 14 stages continues with a host of acts, both old and new, currently causing a stir, including bass futurists Magnetic Man. The super-group that has brought Dubstep culture to the mainstream, Artwork, Benga and Skream will be unleashing a speaker smashing, rug cutting assault for your pleasure. Swedish chanteuse Robyn will be bringing her blend of pop nous and electro cool to the party. Described by the Guardian as the missing link between Abba and Orbital, Robyn’s boundless energy is sure to be infectious. The blogosphere’s biggest band right now Crystal Castles will deliver their synth punk stylings like only they can. Currently riding high with their ‘Not In Love’ single in collaboration with Robert Smith, Crystal Castles are at the top of their game ands an unmissable live act.

Fat beat brilliance at Bestival will come in the form of DJ Shadow who is currently slaying audiences on his Live from the Shadowsphere tour. DJ Shadow has consistently blown us away, so we really can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us. Bass-heavy Techno purveyors LFO will be on hand for some heads down action. One of Sheffield’s greatest exports LFO mainman Mark Bell keeps on pushing the envelope, so expect some proper heavy frequencies. Syrian superstar Omar Souleyman will be unleashing his ecstatic vibes, wild arpeggios and soaring synths on an unsuspecting crowd, the UK’s most exciting new pop star Katy B will be on a mission with added soul and bass, glitch-rockers 65daysofstatic will perform a live film score, Portsmouth’s finest Cranes will be playing their dadaphonic future songs, Berlin wunderkind Boys Noize will be cutting up the digital mayhem, Diplo will be smashing together eclectic rhythms for maximum impact, the youngest ever DJ to win a World DJ Battle Championship, A-Trak will be terrorising the turntables and Norman Jay will be bringing the good times like only he can.

Hip Hop stalwart and all round party starter Grandmaster Flash will be rocking some dope beats, illustrious reggae and dancehall selector David Rodigan will be dropping the irresistible riddims, 2 Bears featuring Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard will be turn loose the burly beats, DJ Mehdi and Riton’s Carte Blanche project will supply the weekend weaponry, minimalist techno don Pantha du Prince will be rolling out the low end acid-throb and just to keep the Bestival flavours brewing the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will return to wow one and all.

There are still plenty more stellar acts to be announced, including two more headliners, plus there will be lashings of trademark Bestival off-the-wall behaviour with merriment, magic, mayhem and plenty of lovely tea and cakes. We’ve listened to all the feedback from you and have made a few little tweaks so that there will be some changes to the wondrous landscape of the UKs most creative festival courtesy of Josie da Bank’s eye-catching expertise that are going to make Bestival 2011 the greatest show on Earth! So what are you waiting for?

Commenting on Bestival 2011 Rob da Bank added: ‘This year felt like a landmark year for Bestival. There’s no avoiding the fact that we’ve become a large festival but I still feel we’re more intimate than any of the other shows our size and, crucially, we’re 100% independent. That means we book who we want to book, choose all the food stalls and traders ourselves and listen to our messageboards and fans 365 days a year to make sure we keep Bestival the best. Things we’re focussing on for Bestival 2011 are keeping Besti as the place to see new bands, making the campsites much more of a community with better roadways to clear litter and make finding your tent easier, we’re also starting to put stages at the other end of the site so it’s not just one long tunnel of stages. Hope you can make it in 2011!‘

Remember to keep checking www.bestival.net for all the latest action.

Ticket Info:
www.ticketline.co.uk/bestival-tickets / 0844 888 4410

Ticket only or ticket and ferry packages:
www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival / 0844 844 9988
www.wightlink.co.uk/Bestival / 0871 376 1000

BESTIVAL 2011 PRICES
Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £160
Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £150
Age 13 to 15 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £80
Age 12 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – FREE (but you must obtain a ticket)**
Campervan Tickets: £65 (per vehicle)

All Tickets:
– include camping.
– will incur a booking fee.
– there are No Day Tickets.

T in the Park 2011 tickets on sale from 9am tomorrow!

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As we head into the cold of winter, things are hotting up in the Summer Festival Guide office with the announcement that there is a presale for T in the Park 2011!

Starting at 9am tomorrow morning (Wednesday 1st December), there will be a limited number of tickets for sale.

General sale for T in the Park 2011 will then start on Friday 3rd December from all the usual ticket outlets.

Also be tuned for a massive announcement for T in the Park 2011 later this week!

Evolution Festival 2011 dates and headliners announced

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More Bands for your Buck™, the ticket price remains the keenest and best value of any utdoor music event in the UK calendar at £35 + bf for a Weekend ticket!

The biggest cultural event in the North East, Evolution attracts 33,000 people per day.

Get your tickets as of Tuesday 30th November at noon – The perfect stocking filler – for details of where to buy tickets visit www.evolutionfestival.co.uk

Ticket info: £35 +bf for the weekend / £25 + bf day ticket

“I’ve always liked the north. I like the bands too. I’m ready to get down and rave like a Geordie. I’m really happy we get a chance to play at Evolution. We are all deranged spitfires. Do you wanna dance?” – Iggy Pop

“Really looking forward to Evolution Festival – every time we have played Newcastle it has always gone off!” – Plan B

Evolution is proud to announce their headliners for the 2011 show. First up on Saturday it’s the legendary Iggy and the Stooges whose raw power and incendiary live performances are the stuff of rock n’ roll legend. Iggy Pop is a genuine musical icon and an influential innovator of rock n roll so expect Iggy and the Stooges sound to reverberate all over the North East.

Sunday’s headliner is Plan B, the hottest property in pop music right now. The antidote to X Factor wannabees, his critically and commercially successful album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks showcased his street wise swagger and cutting edge lyrics and he’s sure to have the masses singing along to his razor sharp, soul tinged anthems.

“It’s a testament to the growing international profile of Evolution that we are able to secure and announce our 2011 headliners so early. Iggy & The Stooges will own the mainstage on the Saturday night – Iggy’s unparalleled energy makes him one of the finest front men ever to grace the stage and the North East is in for a real treat with this headline performance. Plan B has become a huge phenomenon over the last year – his 21st century soul is the perfect way to close the festival on Sunday night. The live show is an incredible journey through the album and beyond. It’s fantastic to have him on board”. – Jim Mawdsley and Dave Stone – Evolution Promoters

Full supporting cast to be announced in early 2011.