Just So Festival News – Pirates, laughing and Flying Machines‏

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The last few additions for Just So Festival have been announced, and you can now see the whole programme over at www.justsofestival.org.uk

Laughing Yoga master and guru of giggles Robin Graham invites all comers to a laugh off competition. In keeping with the sock theme contestants will need to enter a pair. Warning: Laughter is infectious and there will be no antidotes available on the day. This is just a tantalising slice of programming from a brand new area at Just So. Watch this space for all the details of ‘All over the place’.

Avast! And welcome to the world of the Mirth, a group of debauched and maniacal buccaneers that have been plundering the British Isles far and wide for the last several years. Combining hilarious live shows with pounding dance music, Seas of Mirth are a band unlike any other around. With high speed gypsy beats, a thrashy folk influence and some majestic bellowing, they even manage to throw in a bit of old- school hip-hop for good measure. They’ll be whipping up a frenzy of excitement at the grand finale of the Tribal Tournament, and following it up with the most piratanical performance.

Making sure that the Just So Tea Dance goes with a swing, Dixie, Tallulah and Scarlet are the glamorous members of the close-part harmony swing group The Polka Dot Dolls.  With seamed stockings and victory rolls in place, The Polka Dot Dolls will be on hand with toe-tapping swing numbers and romantic love songs of the 1930′s and 1940′s.

They’re back, they’re back, of course they’re back. The marvellous Pif Paf theatre will be hitting the High seas in 2013 in their fantastical flycycle… Come away with us on a journey of your wildest dreams, aboard our famous traveling machine, The Flycycle! Choose a traveling companion, find the Departure Lounge and we’ll take care of the rest. We take two at a time and dress you in hats so sublime. With Captain Bigshot, you’ll fly up up and away, crossing continents in turbulent adventures.Together we’ll weave unforgettable stories.

2013 Festival Tickets…

…are, of course, on sale now. Weekend tickets are selling more quickly than ever before. Don’t leave it too late this year or they will all be gone!

Wychwood, Beer, Cheer and Bubbles.

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This is the 9th Wychwood festival to take place, which is a tragedy for me as it means I have missed 8 years of this fun filled, family friendly, yet modest event, that gently launches you into the summer festival period.  Set in the grounds of Cheltenham race course and overlooked by the Cotswold Hills, this venue is used to horseplay of a four-legged nature, but with neigh a nag in sight, Prestbury Park comes alive with a wide spectrum of characters.

The first days sound track set the pace for what would shape up to be quite the eclectic mix.  Early evening The Beat proved how they secured their rightful place high up the Ska tree. With Rankin Roger & Son getting the crowd stomping to the ever popular Ska beats. Toploader followed with their breezy, sing a long songs, that keep the crowd on a high.  Friday night headliners Soul II Soul with their blend of R&B, Soul and Electronica, surprised many who thought them a one song band (Back to life). With each song played you couldn’t help regret not paying more attention 25 years ago. But better late than never!! They exit the stage, leaving the crowd craving for more.

Saturday sees the music shift to a broader range. Unfortunately the delectable Kate Nash pulls out poorly. The Wedding Present are a crowd pleaser as they work through some of their phenomenal body of work. A French twist next from festival favourites The Caravan Palace, who’s zany Gypsy Jazz, Electro swing, is a sight and sound to behold, a big band wall of music fronted by the mesmerising stage presence that is Zoé Colotis a must see. The night’s headliners are 80’s Electro New Wave sensation The Human League and with a catalogue of hits, the crowd were on their feet from the opening “Mirror Man” to the ever popular “Don’t You Want Me” ending another great night with “Together in Electric Dreams”. The set and backdrop pay homage to the futuristic approach of the 80’s, that seem just as futuristic and relevant today, Little wonder so many artists since, have voiced this Flamboyant and eccentric group as an influence.

Sunday becomes a field of laughter with the humorous yet skilful take on classical and popular songs by the Ukele Orchestra of Great Britain.  Smiles a plenty but with admiration from this musically talented troop.  The laughter continues as Bill Bailey and his side splitting comedy take over.  Nobody being prepared for the music, jokes and insanity of this middle-aged madman. This massive force could have easily have been the finale for the main stage, but the organisers decided to bring the evening to a close by treating an appreciative crowd to the Dub Powerhouse that is Dreadzone.  This reggae tinged set was the perfect end to a fabulous weekend, having the crowd bounce and groove out the evening.

 A couple of standout performances on the smaller but no lesser stages included Becky Rose, with her one gal, synth based beats and Craig Charles funk and soul show, where the crowd were whipped up in to a frenzy to match that of the energetic, multi-talented showman.

When the main attractions have finished and the majority of the crowd have turned in for the night, one stage is determined to party on regardless. As I approach the big top tent with strobes escaping from the entrance I can’t help but think that there is something missing?   Upon entry I am handed a pair of wireless headphones and as I walk on through to a sea of crazy revellers it is apparent that I have entered a nut house.  This is the silent disco, a room full of clubbers and two DJ’s but no music through the loud speakers.  I put the headphones on and find myself instantly condemned to the madhouse as I flick between the two DJ’s and adjust my dancing style accordingly.

Music for all genres means that young or old you will at some point find your dancing shoes and at the very least discover new and exciting sounds.  There are over 100 workshops to choose from, complimented with cuisine from the four corners of the world.

A lasting memory of the festival will be that of a  man releasing  another wave of bubbles they glisten like the northern lights as they pass over the light filled stage.  Wychwood really captures the essence of what a festival is about with a great energy and atmosphere.

 

Evolution Festival 26 & 27 May 2013

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Since 2002 Evolution Festival, known locally as “Evo” has changed format several times starting as a multi venue event and moving locations around the Quayside.

Evolution is now a two stage event based around the Spillers Wharf area of the Quayside next to the River Tyne.  This means everything is closer together and there is less walking time between the Spillers Wharf stage and the Ballast Hills stage which is great when there are so many acts to enjoy!

Arriving in Newcastle on Sunday, the festival location was easy to find as there were large groups of people wearing UV paint to follow!  The weather set the scene for a beautiful and rare sunny Bank holiday Sunday in the UK and helped make a brilliant atmosphere even better!

After walking through the main entrance, the first thing I noticed was the lively atmosphere, the fun vibe and smiling faces.  There were plenty of places to eat and drink, we headed straight for the pork and stuffing batches and then found an area amongst the revellers to enjoy our food and check out what was going on around us before deciding it was time for the bar.  The main bar served a selection of wine, beer and cider and the Keglevich Cocktail tent was next door if you fancied a fruity alternative.  The bar service was excellent and there were no large queues like you would normally experience, this remained the same whenever I went to get a drink during the two day festival.   

Opposite these, was the Red Bull tent where DJ’s spinning some great sets in between bands stopped people in their tracks and created an impromptu dance floor!

We then made our way to the Ballast Hill stage to enjoy Loadstar, the atmosphere at this stage was really lively with dancing and moshing, everyone was there to enjoy themselves and make the most of the music.  Other acts we enjoyed at the Ballast Hills stage on Sunday were Lethal Bizzle and Modestep who if possible, got the crowd going even more!  I couldn’t help but smile being around all these people having such a good time.

As we moved to the Spillers Wharf stage, the crowd were slightly older and there was no moshing but still an amazing atmosphere.  We enjoyed Rudimental who played all of the best songs from their album and surprised the crowd with a brilliant cover of the Fugees “Ready Or Not” halfway through their set.

Next up was Ellie Goulding who, playing at the festival for the second time opened her set with 'Figure 8' and sang her rendition of Elton John’s 'Your Song'.  Ellie finished her set with some more of her well known songs: Lights, Starry Eyed and I Need Your Love accompanied by the majority of the crowd singing every word with her.

Headliners The Vaccines who recently performed to a sell-out crowd at Newcastle’s O2 Academy were extremely popular, it seemed as though the majority of people who sang along and danced throughout had come specifically to see them.

When we left the festival at around 11pm the atmosphere was still buzzing with everyone still wanting to dance, probably heading to Digital in Times Square where the official after party was held.

The weather not quite as sunny on the Monday but that didn’t dampen anyone’s sprits as we enjoyed a breakfast on the Quayside and watched the UV painted crowds of people heading towards the festival site. 

We arrived in time to see Gorgon City on the Ballast Hills stage and the atmosphere today seemed to be even crazier than it was on Sunday!

We switched between the Spillers Wharf and Ballast Hills stages a lot on Monday as there were so many acts we wanted to see, this was made possible due to the great layout and organisation of the festival.

Considering I hadn’t heard of Lulu James, I thought she was one of the best acts at the festival.  She enjoyed a great reception from the crowd and looked amazing in a legless black leather body suit and an enormous collar.

AlunaGeorge, made up of Aluna Francis on vocals and George Reid on the decs were probably less well known than other acts on the Spillers Wharf stage but they still played to a good sized crowd who really came to life when they performed White Noise, recognising their most well-known track.

Zinc and Mista Jam were both brilliant acts to have on the Ballast Hills stage as they played exactly what the crowd had come to enjoy with almost everyone singing along to all the tracks they played.  Mista Jam filmed the crowd doing the Newcastle version of the Harlem Shake, even getting an eager young lad on stage to dance alone until the beat dropped.  It was great to be part of the crowd for this one and I will be watching it back on You Tube.

Bastille drew a large crowd and finished their enjoyable set with a cover of 90s dance classic 'Rhythm is a Dancer'.

Jake Bugg followed, playing almost everything from his debut album. Jake really knew how to work the crowd alternating his slow and lively songs.

We just made it in to the Ballast Hills area for Sub Focus just before it reached capacity, their set was energetic and despite the fact most of this crowd had been dancing all day they still went crazy

Paloma Faith’s headline performance on the Spillers Wharf stage was a delight to watch and listen to.  She had great stage presence and chatted easily between songs, at one point stopping for a cuppa, commenting on the cold and the amount of denim knicker wearers in the crowd!  Also performing a cover, Paloma sang her version of INXS 'Never Tear us Apart'.

Overall, Evolution Festival was well organised with good security and police presence.  Despite the festival attracting a slightly younger audience than others I’ve been to, it is still an enjoyable place to be with a friendly vibe, plenty of big names to watch and brilliant music to dance to!

Slamdunk Slam-dunks!

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With so many festivals spread over whole weekends, Slamdunk offers something a little different. With seven stages, both indoor and out, and bands playing throughout the day, Slamdunk Wolverhampton offers the younger generation a chance to experience the excitement of a punk rock festival without the hassle of camping.

The crowd immediately gravitated towards the Monster Energy stage at the far end of the arena, a­s it boasted the first act of the day, Heart in Hand. The British hardcore act kicked off the festival with a bang, exhibiting the spirit that set the precedence for all the bands that followed them.

After exploring outside through all the assorted merchandise tents, the flow of the crowd swept me inside in time to see what the main stage had to offer. With bands such as Tonight Alive and Sleeping with Sirens on throughout the day, there was constantly a lively crowd leading up to the big headliners, the fantastic All Time Low. I don’t think I’ve ever heard screams like those leading up to the entrance of the US four piece. As the lights went out after the final sound checks, the screams were beyond deafening and many of those ladies had their bras at the ready to throw. And throw them they did! Lead guitarist, Jack Barakat, had quite the extensive collection hanging from his mic stand by the time the first song peaked. And with their bright, energetic performance, they didn’t disappoint, with crowds spilling into the hallways straining to get a glimpse of the famous foursome.

If you preferred a closer encounter with your favourite bands and were willing to explore the more hidden stages, you were rewarded with two more stages, each offering their own unique take of the festival experience. The Tiger stage alone offered a more intimate setting, giving bands like Yashin and Cancer Bats, a chance of a far more personal performance. In fact Harry Redford, one of the two lead singers of Yashin, couldn’t keep himself away from the crowd.

It wasn’t exclusively for the younger generation of punk rockers though. Heading back outside to the Vans stage, there was an impressive  line-up of 90s punk bands to greet the more old school punk in the crowd. Throughout the day there was a gathering of brightly coloured mohawks to be seen, and as soon as the bands announced their arrival the ‘hawks made their way forward, like shark fins heading towards their next victim.

With the likes of [Spunge] proclaiming “We are not dead!” and MC Lars stating out loud to the crowd that skanking is still cool, with his post-punk laptop rap inviting members of the crowd onto the stage to get down and dance.  There were even brass instruments, some more steampunk than others, making an appearance with the likes of Streetlight Manifesto and the recently reformed King Prawn.

All in all, beers, bands, bras and some bloody scary 10ft aliens walking around. This bank holiday Monday, Slamdunk Wolverhampton was the place to be!

Check out the photos here

Sam Smith announced for Latitude 2013

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Latitude is delighted to announce one of the UK’s current hottest talents Sam Smith will be performing as a special guest on The Lake Stage at this year’s festival, taking place at Henham Park, Suffolk from 18th – 21st July. Smith’s amazing vocals featured on one of 2012’s biggest tracks, Disclosure’s Latch and he’s back at the top of the charts again featuring on hot producer, Naughty Boy’s smash Number One single La La La, currently the fastest selling single of the year. Curated by Huw Stephens, The Lake Stage has played host to countless ‘next big things’ including Alt-J, The xx and Everything Everything and as one of 2013’s most exciting artists at just 21-years-old, Sam Smith is no exception.

Also on The Lake Stage this year will be the master of beautiful folk balladry  Benjamin Francis Leftwich, London indie-pop quartet Veronica Falls and hotly tipped Manchester foursome The 1975. Other must see sets include art-noise masters Bo Ningen, UK folk and grunge blend Wolf Alice, Australian rave revivalists Jagwar Ma and tropical pop reggae artist Hollie Cook.

 

 

OBELISK ARENA

Friday
Bloc Party
The Maccabees
Cat Power
Yo La Tengo
I Am Kloot
Stornoway
Tim Burgess

Saturday
Kraftwerk (3D Show)
Hot Chip
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Jessie Ware
Steve Mason
Efterklang
Charles Bradley And His Extraordinaires 

Sunday
Foals
Grizzly Bear
James Blake
Local Natives
The Tallest Man On Earth
Junip

BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC STAGE

Friday
Modest Mouse
Calexico
Villagers
Richard Thompson Electric Trio
Beth Orton
Akron/Family
Willy Mason
James Skelly & The Intenders 

Saturday
Alt-J
Mark Lanegan Band
Everything Everything
Daughter
White Denim
Duane Eddy 
Matthew E. White

Sunday
Beach House
Disclosure
Cocorosie
Rudimental 
MÚM
IamamIwhoamI
Austra
Laura Mvula

New acts for V Festival 2013 – Steve Angello, 5ive, The Saturdays

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V Festival 2013, sponsored by Virgin Media, has announced a host of amazing new acts set to join the weekend line-up. Former Swedish House Mafia star Steve Angello is confirmed to headline the Arena stage whilst The Saturdays, Katy B, Mark Owen, Lissie, Conor Maynard, The Pigeon Detectives, Jaguar Skills, McFly, Everything Everything, 5ive, The Eels, The Heavy, Netsky Live!, The Original Rudeboys, Nina Nesbit and K-Koke have also been confirmed to play across the weekend.  V Festival have also announced The Futures stage, headlined by Jamie Cullum and Benjamin Francis Leftwich, V Festival takes place across the weekend of August 17 & 18 at Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire.

 
The Futures stage will showcase the very best in upcoming talent alongside a very special performance by Jamie Cullum, other acts confirmed to play the stage across the weekend are as follows:
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – The singer songwriter from York released his critically acclaimed debut album in 2011, he is currently working on his eagerly awaited follow up.
Monsta – Described as having the melodic synth of Flux Pavilion, the tech-soul vocal drops of Moby and the reverberant snares of trip hop act U.N.K.L.E, Monsta have become a popular regular on the club and festival circuit.
James Skelly & The Intenders – Having just finished writing with Paul Weller, James Skelly, former front man for The Coral, is back with his debut album ‘Love Undercover’.
Lewis Watson – Oxford’s twenty-year-old singer songwriter, will be bringing his guitar folk rock to the festival after successfully topping the iTunes singer songwriter chart with his EP ‘It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW’.
 
Misha B – Her debut album will be out in July and features the recent hit singles ‘Home Run’ and ‘Do You Think of Me’.
Hoffmaestro – The Swedish electronic act have built up a fantastic reputation for their sensational live shows.
Sam Smith – The British singer-songwriter recently featured on Naughty Boy’s massive UK number one single ‘La La La’.
A*M*E – Nominated for the BBC Sound of 2013 poll in January A*M*E has already had an amazing year, she featured on the recent number one single ‘Need U (100%)’ by DJ Duke Dumont and will release her debut album later this year.
Goldie Lookin Chain – The Welsh rappers have been creating sensational comedic rap since 2004.
The Skints – Fresh off their UK tour, The Skints will be showcasing their unique mix of reggae, ska, dub, punk & hip-hop to the stage, along with a little of their self dubbed ‘East London Reggae’ sounds.
Lucy Spraggan – Her debut album which mixes acoustic, folk and hip hop will be out later this year, she recently confirmed that her first single will be ‘Lighthouse’.
Nell Bryden – US singer-songwriter Nell Bryden has received high praise in the UK for her latest album ‘Shake The Tree’, lead single ‘Buildings and Treetops’ was A –listed at Radio 2.
Ed Drewett – Best known for his collaboration with Professor Green on ‘I Need You Tonight’ Ed is currently preparing to unleash his debut album.
Diana Vickers – Her debut album ‘Songs From the Tainted Cherry Tree’ was out in 2010 and reached the number one spot on the UK album charts.  Follow up album ‘Music to Make Boys Cry’ will be out in July.
Moya – The London based singer songwriter has recently toured with Rod Stewart, Andy Burrows and Mick Hucknall.
John Newman – The British soul singer is best known as being a featured artist for Rudimental's number one single "Feel the Love" and top 20 single "Not Giving In", his debut single ‘Not Giving In’ will be out in June.
Exit Calm – The south Yorkshire four piece are renowned for their epic indie-rock.
Silouette – They will be bringing their high energy alternative pop laced with flavours of darkness, hope and desire to the stage.
 
V Festival, prides itself on the quality of artists that perform each year, aside from headliners Beyonce and Kings of Leon other incredible acts already on the line-up include Stereophonics, The Script, Emeli Sandé, Calvin Harris, Beady Eye, Jessie J, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines, Basement Jaxx, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith, Jesse Ware, James, Rita Ora, The Courteeners, FUN., Labrinth, Ellie Goulding, Rudimental, James Arthur, Little Mix, and Laura Mvula.  More acts will be announced in the coming weeks across the stages at the two festival sites.

V Festival is now in its 18th year and is renowned for bringing the very best in popular music together for one epic summer weekend. It is now established as the biggest festival in the UK with over 170,000 fans attending across the two sites and was the first festival to establish rotating acts across two sites.
 
V Festival is one of the hottest dates on the UK cultural calendar.  From the moment the gates open each area of the festival comes alive and a truly remarkable weekend of music and enjoyment ensues. V Style camping is set to return this year giving festival fans the chance to get the best of both worlds. They can dance the days away with their favourite artists and then chill out in luxury in ready built Pod Pads, Cloud Yurts, Hearthworks Tipis and pop-up hotel rooms.

2013 once again sees a wide spectrum of acts playing across the stages, guaranteeing yet another year of unforgettable appearances.  The popular Glee Club Comedy Tent will also makes a return this year, with side-splitting performers to be announced in the coming weeks.  With many more great artists to be announced, there is something for everyone at V Festival.

Keep up to date with all the latest news and ticket outlet information at www.vfestival.com
 

The Enemy confirmed for Jersey Live

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Jersey Live Festival with JT celebrates its 10th anniversary:
31st August – 1st September at the Royal Jersey Showground, Jersey

SUBJECT TO ORGANISERS GAINING THE BAILIFF'S PERMISSION

Jersey Live Festival returns this summer, supported for the 8th year by headline sponsors JT, for its 10th anniversary event. Following the recent announcements that Bastille and Gabrielle Aplin will join the Sunday (1st September) Main Stage bill, they announce the latest wave of artists that complete the Main Stage line up for that day.

 

First up are Coventry indie rockers The Enemy, who return to Jersey Live after having first appeared here at the 2007 event. The trio return as seasoned indie stars, with three UK Top 10 albums under their belt (2007’s We’ll Live and Die in These Towns, 2009’s Music for the People and last year’s Streets in the Sky) and more than their fair share of sell out tours, unforgettable festival performances and tours alongside British rock legends to speak of. Fronted by Tom Clarke, The Enemy’s Jam, Oasis and Rolling Stones-influenced brand of rock n’ roll has rightly gained them a reputation as one of the most ferociously exciting and honest bands plying their trade in the UK today.

Completing Sunday’s Main Stage line up are Los Angeles guitar n’ drums duo Deap Vally aka Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards, whose blistering brand of scuzzy, in-your-face garage rock has drawn comparisons with The White Stripes and Led Zeppelin. Since exploding on to the UK scene in 2012, Deap Vally have gone on to perform at the Reading and Latitude festivals, support The Vaccines on tour and in December the band opened for Muse on several dates of their European tour. Their debut single ‘End of the World’ was selected as Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record in the World’ on his Radio One show, and their debut album Sistrionix is released on Island Records on June 24th.

With the Sunday Main Stage line up now complete, we can also announce the latest addition to the Hospitality Stage line up. Joining John Cooper Clarke, Craig Charles and many more is comedian Simon Evans. A mainstay on the UK standup circuit, his appearances on Mock the Week, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Live at the Apollo have made him a household name in recent years, and a cynical, sarcastic style has seen him lauded by influential comedy review site Chortle for his ‘sharp, acidic barb’ and as ‘a rich delight’.
 
Keep your eyes peeled for line up announcements, to be made in the coming weeks! For more information, please visit www.jerseylive.org.uk

Tickets are on sale now from jersey live.org.uk

FULL INTERNATIONAL LINE UP TO DATE:

FATBOY SLIM / EXAMPLE
BASTILLE / THE CRIBS / THE ENEMY / PETE TONG / TOM ODELL
GABRIELLE APLIN / DEAP VALLY / NETSKY & MC DYNAMITE
JOHN COOPER CLARKE / NEVILLE STAPLE BAND / HOWARD MARKS
 SHLOMO / ZEDS DEAD / DOCTOR P / DUSKY / HOT SINCE 82
CLEAN BANDIT / WAZE & ODYSSEY / LEWIS WATSON / RUSS CHIMES
SIMON EVANS / CRAIG CHARLES / KANKA / COUNT SIZZLE
MANY MORE TBA

Deer Shed Festival: New acts announced

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Having announced the bulk of the music, comedy and arts programmes for Deer Shed Festival 4, now’s the time to focus on the other activities and adventures taking place, along with a few additional acts including CBBC’s Big Howard Little Howard, the return of the Beer Festival and exciting new partnerships with Sunderland City Council and legendary toy company, Meccano. With the music headliners consisting of Edwyn Collins, House of Love, Darwin Deez and Gaz Coombs, a whopping PG rated comedy line-up, cinema showcases and an extensive arts programme; Deer Shed Festival provides a fully immersive and interactive holiday for the whole family to enjoy together in a beautiful site, set to the soundtrack of top quality music.

 

New for the Big Top Comedy tent are the award winning Big Howard Little Howard, stars of CBBC's Little Howard’s Big Question, The Royal Variety Performance and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, will be hosting and evening of variety and stand up in The Deer Shed Big Top. Expect a joyful mix of wonderful stand up and variety as Big Howard and his animated partner in mirth Little Howard introduce the uber daft Duncan Oakley (world travelled comedian, musician, actor and one man band from Radio 4's 'Shappi Talk'), Steve Best (brilliant visual comedian from BBC1's 'The Stand Up Show' and Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned' ITV1) and Justin Moorhouse (from the seminal Phoenix Nights C4, 8 out of 10 Cats C4 and his own stand up special on Dave). Music, variety, stand up and live animation to truly tickle the funny bone and ease away a hard day of festival going, and all PG rated! For more info on Big Howard Little Howard have a look at their Royal Variety performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bngu7p0_gks

 

Late comers on music line up are Velcro Hooks, a raw four piece, garage rock band from Bristol that will be bringing their now notorious full on, in your face explosion of pure rock in their live show.

 

Tickets for Deer Shed Festival are available from just £89 (plus BF), with the child (6-15) tickets coming in at a supremely reasonable £25. http://www.deershedfestival.com/tickets/

Line-up 2013:

Darwin Deez / Edwyn Collins / House of Love / Gaz Coombes / King Creosote / The Unthanks / Tubular Bells for Two / Eugene McGuinness / Willy Mason / The Milk / The Phantom Band / Public Service Broadcasting / Stealing Sheep / To Kill a King / Zervas and Pepper / Smoove and Turrell / Velcro Hooks / Deaf Club / Novella / Moulettes / Blood Relatives / Blue Rose Code / Sweet Baboo / Luke Sital-Singh / Death at Sea /  Deep Sea Arcade / Dancing Years / Marconi Union / AlascA / David McCaffrey

 

 

OsFest 2013 Shropshire’s biggest Music Festival

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OsFest is now in its 3rd year, with previous acts like Goldie Looking Chain, Tinnie Tempah, Razorlight and many more this up and coming festival always delivers. This year for May bank holiday we had another great line up. JLS were to headline along with James Arthur, The Enemy, Lawson, The Pigeon Detectives, Lucy Spraggan and many more to come. 

*With short notice James Arthur had to drop out with commitments made in the US which regrettably meant he couldn’t be at Osfest this year. To fill the main stage spotlights  Britain’s got talent finalists  – The Lovable Rogues took up the arena. Fridays DJ set from Monki Radio 1’s 1XTRA DJ set the crowd right from the start. The crowd at this point was only small due to most people arriving Saturday, as with the crowds the weather was the same. When waking up Saturday I was amazed to see perfect blue sky and sunshine! unlike previous years where the weather had dominated this set up the weekend perfectly and added so much atmosphere to the main arena. 

Leading to Saturdays main acts I was delighted to see TICH and A*M*E perform who gave a great performance and with the amazing lighting setup on the main stage. This gave me the opportunity to snap away and get some really amazing images. With the crowd starting to really build heading into the afternoon, along with the drinks flowing and the sounds of the Mega Spin and bumper cars in the background Wiley took the stage. With Wiley’s great line up of songs such as ‘Rolex‘ and ‘Can You Hear Me?‘ the crowd were so reactive to his words, jumping down from the stage at one point to meet his fans security had to pull him back from being eaten by the front rows of the crowd. The side of the area had a cut-out section for people to walk in and out, near the side of the main stage and the with the sun starting to set projected beams of orange and amber light hit the crowds hands as they sang along to Wiley’s chants; This really highlighted the incredible success of this festival and was a very euphoric experience!

As the sun was about to set, the next performance was from Lawson, a true success in the music industry over the past few years their fan and crowd numbers have shot up with their success and great vocals performed by Andy Brown. Singing songs from their very popular  2012 album Chapman Square, the crowds were at their peak! My favorite song performed by them I think had to be their Swedish House Mafia cover of ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ the crowds reacting singing along with them Andy really pushed the crowd to sing their hearts out. 

OsFest

With a short break it was time for the undoubtably the crowds number one act at this point, JLS had arrived and were backstage waiting to come on. Peoples camera phones were out and the crowd from the back of the arena was a sea of mobile LCD screens. I think I even saw an iPad involved! Starting their performance with ‘Beat Again’ you could hear the younger girls screaming! I thought that Wiley’s performance would be hard to beat due to his off stage performance and energy with the crowds, I think by the end of JLS performance it was a level pegging. The lights from the main stage were being hammered and the strobes and house lights were being switched around to illuminate the crowds. I know many of the younger crowds had gone to sleep easy that night after having such an exciting hot day in Oswestry. 

Sunday

Another sunny day to come at OsFest 2013 acts the Enemy, Pigeon Detectives, The Lovable Rogues and Lucy Spraggan to play main stage along with many more, with the sun shining the main arena area was the only shade the amusements surrounding the main tent became busy once again. Lucy Spraggan was a great favorite of mine from the  Sunday at OsFest, she had risen from the Live and unsigned category at the age of 20 to being a very good competitor in X-Factor and due to illness she didn’t get chance to perform all the way through the show as she was forced to quit the X-Factor due to illness. 

She references all of her songs from real world experiences and it was like listening to her telling multiple stories as she sang, her song about Jeremy Kyle as she wakes up was a great one for me, the crowds again loving her great on stage performance of singing and story telling. 

With the Lovable Rogues performance, the crowd really started to get involved and more and more people from the surrounding amusements started to make their way into the tent area. Performing their great new single ‘What a Night’ the main arena was pounding! The speakers and acoustics from the main tent were really impressive! wherever you were inside the tent you got a great sound and even form the back of the crowd you could still enjoy the performance of any of the acts due to the high stage and great lighting setup, perfect for the little ones who found them selves being hoisted onto their parents shoulders to get the perfect view. I saw a grown women on someones shoulders who wanted an even better view from the back of the arena area. 

Though the day different acts performing at OsFest had been interviewing in the Specialized Media Tent and were scattered around the VIP area for those with the right wrist bands was a perfect way to see some of the acts up close. I saw The Pigeon Detectives interviewing along with The Enemy and Lewis Watson who performed in between Lucy Spraggan and The Lovable Rogues. 

Heading towards the close of the festival this year, we were just waiting on The Pigeon Detectives and The Enemy I have to say OsFest ended on such a high after watching The Pigeon Detectives perform. The lead singer for The Detectives Matt Bowman had more energy and control of the crowd than I had ever seen from an artist on stage before! His command of the crowd due to his energy was presented as pure respect from the crowds in the main arena. He was poring water of his head while performing ‘Im Not Sorry’ from their 2007 album ‘Wait For Me’ I think they set the mark for the entire festival at that point. Matt was squirting water all over the front of the crowd, jumping from the drum kits and bouncing around in the press pit! I think these guys should have been last on at OsFest as it was very difficult for The Enemy to top such an energetic performance. They did very well and I really enjoyed their performance! I got some great shots and while watching them interview they really seemed to be a really down to earth group of guys. While performing they played my all time favorite cover ‘sit down’ and ‘Away From Here’ They were great to see live and some of their guitar work was awesome! I remember being below Tom Clark (Lead Singer) as he thrust his guitar up with one hand and slammed down a chord on a few areas of the stage. 

OsFest

Overall I had a great great time this year and will be heading back up next year with no  doubt in my mind. With the great reception from all staff, security and for the line up this year. Im hoping with the continued publicity of this little (Big) festival they will grow and grow on the map. 

SATURDAY PHOTOS

SUNDAY PHOTOS

SKEPTA, KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES, IDIOM AND MIC RIGHTEOUS ADDED TO NASS 2013

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Four new additions to the billing at the NASS Festival 2013 have today been announced. Skepta, Kids In Glass Houses, IDIOM and Mic Righteous are all joining an already star studded line up that is promising to surpass all expectations.

The Main Stage already boasts a lineup chock full of serious musical heavyweights including the incredible Nas making an all too rare UK appearance as well Hadouken! Katie B, Zane Lowe and We Are The Ocean.

Skepta’s popularity as an MC and producer has generated a fan base of loyal followers that have witnessed his career take him from pirate radio stations in North London to one of the first names in any informed shortlist of grime artists. Skepta’s formidable reputation in the grime circuit was affirmed when he became a founding member of Boy Better Know, a collective that is commonly referred to as the grime super group. His roots are underground, anti mainstream, but his fluid delivery and irrepressible presence on stage meant he was always destined for the big stage.

 

Kids In Glass Houses know exactly what it takes to ignite any crowd. Their hotly anticipated UK headline tour could well be seen as a warm up for the NASS Festival that awaits them at the end. Having toured alongside the likes of Paramore and Fall Out Boy, their appetite for raucous live has seen them move out of the shadows and into the limelight. Their latest single, ‘Drive’ will no doubt raise the roof though ardent fans will be also hoping for a sneak preview of their next album, ‘Peace’.

IDIOM, a DIY quartet of veracious males from the South West of England who began life as a band with a simple mission statement: “Whether they find themselves playing to Ten or Ten Thousand people, the aim is to bring the house down every time”. Based in Exeter, the four-piece were at the forefront of the welcomed rock-rap revival at the end of the noughties. Formed in 2005, the hard-working collective take influence from bands as diverse and eclectic as Incubus, Rage Against The Machine, SiKth, System Of A Down and Deftones. They’ve spent the last 3 years finding their way on to the cover mounted album of Metal Hammer, performing a live session on XFM and staking their claim at the forefront of the British live music scene.

The mainstream came calling for Mic Righteous in 2012 as his reputation as one of the hottest young stars in UK rap saw him open for the likes of Wretch 32, Wiley, K Koke and Lethal Bizzle. With over 10 million Youtube hits to his name, Mic Righteous now enjoys favourable airtime on BBC 1XTRA, SBTV and Grime Daily. Featuring on Ed Sheeran’s ‘Give Me Love’ go some way to show just how far he has come in such a short time.

The buzzing atmosphere, 5 stages of world class dubstep, drum & bass, punk and rock, exceptional action sports and art installations showing street culture at its best, guarantee that NASS will be a festival experience like no other.

New for 2013 is the opportunity for Thursday entry, offering the chance to beat the crowds, pick the best camping spot and enjoy an extra night of this mind-blowing festival. Thursday night tickets are limited so make sure you book now to avoid disappointment.

Book your ticket and check out the incredible full line up at www.nassfestival.com