I, like many others, do not live in London – in fact it’s about a three and a half hour drive from where I live, as the 02 is quite difficult to get to and always has hordes of traffic. This makes it increasingly difficult to commute back and forth for anyone who isn't local. So how do you solve a problem like commuting? Hotels of course!
The best hotel to stay at is a question raised with many who go to the O2 for an event. Where is the nearest hotel? Which is the cheapest? Which is the best value for money? Which hotel is nearest to public transport? I have raised these questions myself. I have also stayed in various locations as well as commuting to and from home for the O2 Arena.
Last year, 2016, I stayed over the river and, whilst it seemed like a good idea, it was actually quite stressful.
Now it does depend on the individual. You have to ask yourself what do you want to go to the O2 for? Late night event? An event over a couple of days?
Now I know that there are many factors to consider here, such as affordability – or just not wanting to spend more on a conveniently located hotel, when you can stay slightly farther out for a lot less. I had these exact same thoughts. However, I chose to stay at The Intercontinental this year during a festival at the O2, mostly as I wanted to be in certain places at certain times to catch interviews, press conferences and signings – and to see as many of the shows as I could manage. There is no way I could have seen half of what I did, had I stayed elsewhere.
The Intercontinental really should have a sign up in flashing lights that reads
‘If You Were Staying Here, You Would Be In Bed By Now.’
That would have me sold.
So, budget aside, let's break down why The Intercontinental is a good proposition.
We’ve mentioned location. That’s a given as it is located right at the 02 and there is a walkway that leads you directly to entrance H of the main arena, which means you will be there or back to your hotel in less than five minutes. Why else is it good to be staying so close? You buy things. You know those moments when you have absolutely no intention of buying anything? Then you get soaked up in all the event goodness and atmosphere and end up buying loads of merchandise. When this happens, nothing is more irritating than having to lug them about all day. So ask yourself, do you really want to carry that around? I don't. What a pain, especially in the main arena where you have little leg room as it is. I found being able to leave things in my room and go back and get things was a godsend.
Then we have the option of being able to get changed. If you are at the O2 all day and plan on going to dinner or drinks after your event, you may want the option to go and change your outfit- or even have a shower. How about a nap? You may find you have some free time, maybe an hour or so and think, ‘You know what? I have a long night ahead of me. I can squeeze in some sleep’.
Also, FOOD!!!! How many of you are sick of the ridiculous queues at every food outlet? It consumes half your free time and by the time you get a table, order and food arrives, you are lucky to have even five minutes to eat it.
In the lobby of The Intercontinental, you will find Meridian Lounge. Set similar to that of a French Patisserie, this quaint lounge has glorious, mouth watering cakes and macaroons that you simply could not say no to. The macaroons in particular were delicious, delightful and light with flavours that melted in your mouth and a taste you never wanted to replace.
The prices aren't even excessive when you consider the quality of food and the service you will get, not to mention the absence of crowds or queues and, better yet, you can dine in any of the hotel’s dining areas without being a hotel guest.
Having breakfast included in your stay is a great idea, as it is a buffet. I was in my element. The selections were out of this world. You had everything you could think of and more. What a great way to fill yourself up if you know you won't have time for lunch. There was unlimited tea and coffee brought to your table. You could have any kind too – Latte, Cappuccino,anything. There are also unlimited fruit juices and smoothies. You can have various cereals, yoghurts, cold meats, pastries, cakes, fruit, boiled eggs and pancakes with maple syrup or compote. Then of course a Full English breakfast. Two types of bacon, two types of sausage, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, scrambled egg, fried egg -everything. You can even ask for an omelette. I haven't even named half of what was available but I went for pancakes and mango yoghurt one day, Full English the next and so on. The staff at the breakfast buffet are the friendliest people. They are so welcoming and always ensure you have what you want. They always check if you need more tea or coffee too.
The views are also wonderful. Ask for a window seat and have your breakfast overlooking the river, beautiful. Also….you never quite know who you may bump into at breakfast. Let's just say that I may have seen a star or two, or three or maybe even four? Perhaps, more?
The Hotel also offers a Pre Show Menu in their restaurant. This includes two courses for £28 or three courses for £35.You also have the Clipper Bar which has every alcoholic drink you can think of, including a custom Gin of their very own, and a bar menu.
Eighteen Sky Bar Menu right at the top on the 18th floor has wonderful views, especially at night and is a great place to socialise. It also has a selection of light bite snacks. If you are a smoker, there is also a smoking area. The bar has floor to ceiling windows for amazing views – even the bathrooms do which, by the way, are immaculate with luxurious soap gel and moisturiser.
Peninsula Restaurant A La Carte/Tasting Menu – offers another option, slightly more expensive but probably the best quality food in the area.
As far as facilities and service are concerned, the hotel has a wide, immaculate and openly lit lobby which is immediately inviting. Staff are quick to welcome you and assist you where needed. We were offered help with our bags as soon as we arrived and every staff member even greeted our 14 month old son.
There are complementary drinks in the lobby – fresh water and juice, which was a wonderful touch, especially if you were waiting in line or simply waiting to meet a friend or colleague.
I felt as if I belonged there – just as important as the next guest and everyone was equal. It was certainly clear that every guest was incredibly important.
The entire hotel was spotless, not a speck of dust or overflowing waste basket in sight. No empty glasses or bottles laying around, no clutter. Every inch of the hotel had wide open spaces ensuring that no one had to squeeze past anyone or anything.
There is a Concierge, newspapers and tourist information in a stacked trio of old style suitcases and welcome seating areasfor guests to relax or have a conversation with family or friends.
If you have time or are staying with people not too interested in much of the daytime activities, well then why not visit The Swimming Pool? Open to all guests, the pool is relaxing, stress free and almost always empty apart from one or two people.
You also have The Spa – granted treatments cost, but if you want to, then the option is there.
Finally – the rooms. These are all beautifully furnished, withbeds which are some of the most comfortable I have ever slept on. The pillows are lush and so very soft that when you leap into bed – and yes leap – they are that comfy, you sink into the large pillows and just drift away…..
Each room has a mini bar, at cost of course, and they all have:
Body Wash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body Lotion
Shower Cap
Vanity Kit
Nail Kit in the bathrooms.
Bathrobes
Slippers
Hairdryers
Ironing Board and Iron in the room.
In addition to this, Studio Suites, 1 bedroom Suites, 2 Bedroom Suites and the Penthouse also have:
Dental Kit
Shaving Kit
Mouth Wash
Bath Salts and a comb.
The guests that I saw were all very happy and many came up to me saying such things as:
“We stayed at the Holiday Inn last year but booked the Intercontinental to avoid the cold walk back over a main roadand because we wanted to be able to pop back in between day time activities and just before the main show”
“Yes, it costs more than hotels over the river, but with my daily schedule, I was able to get to every signing, every performance and every surprise meet and greet that was announced last minute” (C2C Festival)
“I wish that I could take the breakfast room home with me. There is so much choice – I wish I could eat like this every day”
There is also secure parking which is much cheaper than the arena parking fee.
Ellen – "The time of year I look forward to the most. I count down the days after each festival for the next."
Andrew – "There is no festival or event quite like C2C, it is such a great community with amazing artists "
Amy – "I am a huge supporter of UK country music and C2C always showcase UK talent as well as the US which i love"
Helen – "We come here every year and have been since the very first one, I will always come here it is the best event in the world"
Country Music isn’t a genre you hear about a lot in the UK. In fact it's one of those genres that as a fan, if you hear someone else is a fan, you get really excited. Most people I have met think of Cotton Eyed Joe or really traditional country when I mention that I love country music – but just when you thought that Country Music was of the past or stuck in the US, there were and are a huge fan base that you probably never even knew existed, probably people you work with, are related to or maybe even a close friend who just never told you.
Country Music is family. It is one of the most friendliest and warming genres to be a fan of or even an artist of. It doesn't quite gain the credit it deserves though, especially outside the US – but if country wasn't cool then how does it sell out the entire 02 Arena for three days straight?
In 2013, some people got together and came up with the greatest idea UK country music fans will forever be grateful for – a festival bringing US country artists to the UK stage. Gone are the days when we would save our pennies to fly to Nashville to catch our favourite artists in concert. Gone are the days when we would listen to country music on our devises and never see the artists live and gone are the days where we would be the only one in our circle of friends that listened to this genre.
Ever since Country 2 Country Festival began, fans have emerged from all over and have gathered together under one roof. The first year kickstarted with a jaw dropping line up of Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, Kristian Bush, Vince Gill and Brantley Gilbert and the festival has gone from strength to strength every year since with appearances from Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Andrew Combs, Maddie and Tae and Miranda Lambert to name but a few.
Over the years the festival has gone from being a two day festival to a three day festival and has added various stages across the O2 during the day that non arena and arena ticket holders can attend. These stages have enabled fans to see performances from artists such as Sam Hunt, Charlie Worsham, Striking Matches, Maren Morris, Nashville TV Show Cast, A Thousand Horses and many more.
This year has been the biggest festival yet. Not only has the main event taken place over three days but the thursday hosts a CMA Songwriters Series where some of Nashville's finest songwriters gather together to sing in the round. This year we had Maren Morris, Drake White, Liz Rose, Mac McAnally and Kristian Bush.
The main stage this year was fairly diverse, catering for fans of all ages and tastes. The headliners included Brad Paisley, Reba McIntyre and Zac Brown Band with artists such as Marty Stuart, Maren Morris, Hunter Hayes, Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Brothers Osborne, Jennifer Nettles and Chris Young further down the billing but all equally brilliant and deserving of a headline slot.
This year also welcomed back the addition of The Yamaha Stage which is a small stage at the back of the arena to showcase up and coming talent in between main stage acts. Not all the artists on that stage were exactly new though as most of the artists already have an amazing career and huge fan base that the majority of the audience, myself included, felt they were robbed of a main stage slot as were more than deserving of so. Those artists were Cam, Cassadee Pope, Jana Kramer, Drake White, Lucie Silvas and then up and coming rising stars such as Bailey Bryan, Seth Ennis and Chase Bryant. However, all of The Yamaha Acts had various sets across the weekend on other stages, giving fans plenty of opportunities to see them, especially when not every attendee had main arena tickets.
One of the things that is so great about C2C Festival is that as soon as you arrive, everyone is the same as you. Everyone shares the same passion. You find yourself looking around at all the other fans and getting excited over their t shirts or cowboy boots and hats. A conversation will never run dry between two people who don't know each other at C2C, there is so much common ground that you make friends instantly, in fact, so many people already know each other via social media and meet up in a huge organised pub meet up before hand and no, not just for lone attendees but groups of friends and families too. At C2C even if you do go alone, you aren't alone for long as everyone looks out for each other and everyone is welcoming. Out of all the thousands of attendees, you soon come to know a huge percentage of people even just by face.
When Country 2 Country is on, the whole of the O2 is transformed into our closest version of Broadway in Downtown Nashville. The Restaurants become Honky Tonks, there are pop up stages all over the walk ways and inside other venues within the dome. There is an area which is sectioned off and named The Town Square and holds stalls of food, clothes and music stores and another slightly larger pop up stage. This area is also a booth which hosts artist signings. Some of the other venues do require tickets though such as The Bluebird Cafe. Throughout the weekend the venue NY-LON is transformed into a similar setting of Nashville's Bluebird Cafe where songwrters and artists sing their songs in a round just the same as the above mentioned CMA Songwriters Series. There were four sessions in total and each session cost £25 a ticket. For that price, you get to see about three or four of some of country music'/ finest songwriters. This year included Josh Osborne, Mac McAnally, Seth Ennis, Charlie Worsham, Cassadee Pope, Chase Bryant, Logan Brill, Jeff Cohen, Canaan Smith and Lucie Silvas. There were also also shows inside the Indigo and Building Six as well as other venues. After each main stage act had finished, you could also buy tickets for an after party in Building Six which would have a live show followed by a live DJ. This year, the after parties artists were Cam, Drake White and Jana Kramer followed by DJ Bad Ash. Those who could not obtain a ticket or did not want to go had an alternative of a free afterparty in the Indigo with artists of equal calibre such as Canaan Smith and Lucie Silvas.
Those of us who go to many County Music gigs start to see familiar faces wherever we go during the festival and it’s also nice to see some of the pop up artists such as Ward Thomas, Temecula Road and The Worry Dolls just walking around at their own leisure amongst all the festival goers.
There is something about walking in to the O2 Arena when Country 2 Country Festival is on that is like no other event. Although it is only on its fifth year, it already feels like home. As soon as you enter the Arena you get a sudden feeling of excitement and that isn’t just over the artists or over the many stalls full of Country CD’s, Cowboy boots and Southern food, its also the excitement of the overall atmosphere.
This year was one of my favourites despite having repeat performers from previous years. The general atmosphere was more relaxed but at the same time buzzing and I think that a huge part of that is because it is like family now for both fans and artists.
Highlights weren't just the headliners but acts from the pop up stages too. I walked away with wonderful memories from Temecula Road, Cassadee Pope, The Wandering Hearts, Cam, Drake White and Jana Kramer from the pop ups and main stage acts Brothers Osborne, Marty Stuart, Zac Brown Band, Maren Morris and Darius Rucker.
Artist Reviews
Brad Paisley
Brad has played the 02 Arena twice before this years festival, once before as part of C2C and once as part of his headline tour with Darius Rucker as his support, now that was a show!
There is something very special about a Brad Paisley show, in fact there are many things that are special. Brad has the ability to make anyone a fan of his, even if it is just of his performance and not his music. This man is an entertainer and the very best at it. Not only is Brad a fantastic singer and a phenomenal guitar player but he is one of the funniest musicians to ever grace the 02 stage or perhaps any stage. It is obvious much Brad loves the UK and his British fans. He comes across so overwhelmed by his UK fans and the fact we make the effort to come out and see him. Well of course we come out to see him, he is Brad Paisley.
Temecula Road
Temecula Road are a newly signed trio to Hollywood Records and consist of sisters Maddie and Emma Salute and good friend Dawson Anderson and they may just be the most exciting new act to emerge into the country music scene today. Having recently released their debut single ‘What If I Kissed You’ and recorded a series of Country music mash ups, as well as a killer cover of The Chainsmokers’ ‘Closer’, Temecula Road created quite a lot of buzz amongst C2C fans as soon as they were announced to play.
Temecula Road gave one of the most memorable performances of the weekend, winning over fans of all ages with their talent, wit and like able personalities. If you are not a huge fan of country, don't worry as Temecula Road have got you covered with their pop infused country songs that are so well written and so well sung with their perfect, sweet-sounding harmonies, that they belong on the mainstream charts.
Drake White is one of those soulful singer/Songwriters that should not be overlooked. One of the most phenomenal male artists I have ever heard in my life, he even gives Chris Stapleton a run for his money. Drake’s vocals are so insanely good that he doesn't even need instrumental accompaniment. His debut album Spark is without a doubt a contender for next years Grammys and his songs Story and Making Me Look Good Again are two of the most mind blowing live performances I have ever witnessed. His vocals are projective, emotive and you could hear a pin drop when he sings live. This man will not bore you live, he delivers such a steller performance that is chilling, emotional, passionate amd mesmerising.
http://https://youtu.be/ju4YPyhVDqc
Cassadee Pope
Cassadee Pope is a country music singer who previously was lead singer of the rock band Hey Monday! Since then she auditioned for the US version of The Voice, had every chair turn, chose Blake Shelton as her mentor and won the whole show. This crown earned her a recording contract with Big Machine Records where she released her debut album Frame By Frame – one of my favourite country pop albums of all time. Cassadee has one of the most distinctive and pure, sweet-sounding voices with a rocky edge that you will ever hear.
Cassadee is quite the talent on stage. Her voice was even more flawless than her recorded sound. For me and many others, Cassadee was a highlight of the entire weekend and she wasn’t even on the main stage. Having Cassadee perform with Chris Young on the Friday night on the main stage as part of their hit single Think Of You certainly set an atmosphere for just how excited fans were to see her and people who did not know her were without a doubt going to catch one of her shows and buy her music. That performance was so insanely good that it showed the C2C audience that Cassadee has one of the best vocals in country music today. Her solo set was highly entertaining with hits such as I Wish I Could Break Your Heart, Summer and Wasting All These Tears.
http://https://youtu.be/ByGmQn1uxJw
Cam
Hailing from Sol-Cal Country- Cam, has taken the country music industry by storm with her breathtakingly beautiful debut single Burning House and has become one of country musics finest singers to ever grace the modern country scene. An old soul, Cam has so much to offer. Her flawless voice has a hint of Dolly Parton and a tone so pure and honeyed that she bridges the gap between traditional and modern so perfectly.
Cam is not only a delightfully refreshing artist but she is also such a joy to watch, speak to and listen to when she talks and sings. Her adorable personality is so infectious that you just want to be her best friend. She really does seem like the nicest person in the world. Cam is like sunshine, I think she could make the saddest person smile and she could light up the darkest room.
Cam began her set with My Mistake taken from her current and debut album Untamed. Beaming with delight throughout her performance and constantly smiling and slightly skipping – Cam yelped with a happy yelp each time the audience sang back to her when she held out her microphone.
Cam’s song Burning House is quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Inspired by a dream she had about how she hurt an old flame, the melody, instrumentation, vocals and lyrics to this song are breathtakingly stunning and wonderfully perfect. The song is so chilling in the most gorgeous way and live, it is even more so and her performance was flawless and the entire arena sang back making it quite the emotional performance.
http://https://youtu.be/uyGSe76rAJc
Darius Rucker
Formerly the lead singer of 90's band Hootie and The Blowfish, Darius has become one of the most loved artists in country music, bringing a wonderful and grunge sound to country music with his unique, soulful and tangy tone that is one of the best in the entire music industry. You will never get a bad show with Darius Rucker. He is such a tough act to follow and many (and I spoke to a lot of people about him) said he was the highlight for them and no one could top his performance and I would be inclined to agree. His set was beaming, energetic, homey, warm, inviting, soulful, Jazzy and it felt like he united each and every person in the arena.
Darius' moves on the stage are one of his trademarks and everyone always looks forward to them. He is not exactly a dancer but when he sways his hips, he brings a smile to every face. His song Alright is always a favourite as are Come Back Song and Southern State Of Mind. Darius always ensures to have a couple of Hootie songs in the mix and treated fans with Only Wanna Be With You and Hold My Hand which had the entire arena singing along. It is his version of Wagon Wheel that gets the crowd really going though, but the show stopper was his cover of Prince's Purple Rain which was an emotional tribute to all the great musicians we lost last year. If you ever get the opportunity to see Darius Rucker live, then you must go.
http://https://youtu.be/etr7UtnUflM
Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes is another country artist that I feel can easily break into the mainstream charts. His music is country pop but so infectious and melodious that he would out sell artists such as Justin Bieber and Similar in a heart beat.Hunter Hayes is probably one of the most talented musicians in the world right now. A multi instrumentalist which not many people realise, this guy has a huge, long lasting career ahead of him. Hunter’s music can often be misunderstood. A lot of country fans see him as the teeny bopper of country music but if they really listened to him and if they saw him live, then I think their opinions would change quickly. Fortunately, having a slot on the main stage at C2C Festival gave Hunter the opportunity to show exactly what he is made of. Quite a few people came up to me after saying how they never realised just how good he was and had no idea that he played so many instruments or wrote his own music. Songs such as I Want Crazy and Tattoo always go down a treat as does his epic ballad Wanted.
http://https://youtu.be/XvtXgNtYFMs
Reba
Reba was an artist I never thought would be on the C2C line up. One of two traditional artists across the weekend, Reba caused a divide in the audience – you either loved her show or found it boring. I don't think performing straight after Darius Rucker helped as for many, he stole the show. Regardless, I loved every minute of Reba’s set and felt honoured to be there. The atmosphere in my block was buzzing full of hardcore fans which made it that much more fun. Reba is the Queen of Country Music after Dolly Parton and she certainly showed us why. She played old hits, new songs, covers and ended the set with an absolutely epic performance of her massive hit song Fancy, which made my night.
Brothers Osborne
Country duo – Brothers Osborne were electrifying. Their musical stylings lean more towards an alternative country sound blended with roots, bluesy and southern rock and they gave us a solid performance that will last in peoples memories for a long time, if not forever. Everything about their set was mesmerising, especially the insane guitar/fretwork from John Osborne which blows your mind and you stand there thinking what was that? That was crazy! Their set was rocking from start to finsish with their strong southern sound and one of the most memorbale moments was when they performed their single Rum.
Providing a very satisfying set list for such a short time slot and finishing with Stay A Little Longer and That Ain’t My Fault, they left us wanting them to stay a little longer.
http://https://youtu.be/h7wWinwIKnI
Maren Morris
From pop up stage act to main stage star in just one year, Maren Morris is quite the fire cracker and certainly a force to be reckoned with. With a career that most can only dream of even over years, Maren has proven to be one of the most gifted and exciting artists of our generation. Her debut album Hero having so much success that it earned Maren four Grammy nominations at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. The album was nominated for Best Country Album, “My Church” won Best Country Solo Performance and was nominated for Best Country Song. Morris was also nominated for the all-genre honor of Best New Artist.
With a unique sound, Maren has a blend of many genres, not just country and deserves to be recognised as not just a country singer, but a mainstream artist too. Maren could quite easily fit alongside artists such as Adele, Beyonce, Rihanna and more if the mainstream radio would only play her. I have every faith that in the UK, if she got Radio 1 airtime, she would be a number one selling artist in no time.
Maren is a phenomenal performer with real attitude, sass and allure, she commands her stage with such confidence and power and delivers a groundbreaking, show stopping set. She did not disappoint on the main stage as she strutted around commanding her stage and filling the arena with her soulful, unique voice with songs such as 80's Mercedes, Second Wind and My Church.
http://https://youtu.be/m9md97nN_SQ
Marty Stuart
Marty Stuart was the most surprising act of the weekend for me. Being a more traditional artist, I expected his set to be more relaxing than the rest of the Sunday line up which consisted of Brothers Osborne, Maren Morris and Zac Brown Band. I initially thought they had placed him on the wrong day as assumed he would bring the vibe down but I couldn't have been more wrong. Marty is old school yes, but he is without a doubt the coolest cat in town and I dare you to question that. He is such a smooth, slick and bad ass performer that he is an artist other artists look up to, idolise. His music is the rocking side of country, the dark shadow, western, Johnny Cash, outlaw sound. He made his mark on the O2 Arena stage, setting the bar really high and gaining an even bigger fan base than he already had. Even the younger audience were in awe of his performance as he showed the world how it was done and showed us that traditional artists are here to stay and his music will never die, never go out of date. This man, Marty Stuart is truly a legend and I feel privileged to have seen him live.
Zac Brown Band are not only one of the best country bands in the world but one of the best bands in the world. This eight piece band of multi talented instrumentalists always give one of the best live shows you will ever see. Their music is country, it’s rootsy, it’s bluesy, it’s alternative, rocky, poppy, everything. If you want to see a phenomenal show, then these are your guys. I have never heard a crowd roar so much as I did during their set at C2C this year. The crowd were stomping, chanting and refusing to leave their seats as they demanded more. Zac Brown Band brought the festival to a close with one of the most steller performances of the weekend. What a way to end an epic weekend, everyone left more than satisfied and excited to grab their tickets for next years festival.
http://https://youtu.be/e4ujS1er1r0
So if you were ever in doubt about country music, I urge you to not just look up the artists mentioned but delve into the genre and discover even more artists as there are so many great ones out there and even more to come.
If you want to experience a festival like no other then this is the festival to expolre. Even if you go for just the free stages during the day then it will give you a sneak peak into one of the greatest genres of all time. Forget the stereotypes behind country music and be the first out of your friends and family to be converted. Country Music is hitting the big time, so don't be the last to jump on the band wagon. C2C is one of the most amazing festivals and experiences out there. How many other festivals make you feel at home and how many other festivals can you truly connect with the artists even on a one to one basis?
A juggernaut of the electronic music, Sub Focus is undoubtedly one of the key players in the dance music scene and his constant output of top class productions and performances has meant that he is on the way to world domination! He first debuted his critically acclaimed live show a few years ago and it went onto dominate festival stages all across the globe. He is now back with version 2.0 and you can expect a LARGER, LOUDER and MORE COMPLETE version of this outstanding LIVE set up that put Sub Focus on the map as one of the most in-demand artists on the planet today! His return to the festival will see him play on the main stage for the very first time alongside the likes of Deadmau5 & Knife Party. His brand new album is set to take the London man to another level and we’re hugely excited to be a part of it!
NEXT SW4 SATURDAY STAGE HOST ANNOUNCED
Being one of the biggest labels of a hugely competitive drum & bass scene is no easy feat but Playaz are firmly in the elite. Since it’s inception twenty years go, Playaz have stuck to their values and are constantly bringing a new generation of producers and artists through the ranks. The seminal brand has been in the forefront of UK club land for years and has hosted countless sold out shows at the world-renowned Fabric. A recent move to the illustrious Electric Brixton has demonstrated that the iconic label is ready to take the next step in their decorated history. We cannot wait for PLAYAZ to showcase this host one of the biggest ever drum & bass line-ups we have ever showcased in our fourteen-year history!
A sensational talent, 27-year old Netsky is adored by his fans worldwide with his abilities knowing no limits. From his humble beginnings to selling out stadiums in his native country, Netsky has become a firm favourite across the globe. Recently announcing his own stage at the mammoth Tomorrowland and selling out a series of tours with his live and DJ shows, Netsky has never been more in demand. He effortlessly moves through the gears as he hypnotizes any audience he is put in front of the and the crowd on the common will no different!
Known by many to be an absolute wizard on the decks, DJ Hype is one of the most respected drum and bass DJs to ever step foot on this planet. His all-domineering Playaz label has gone from strength to strength each year with standout and sell-out events across many high-profile clubs. Joining the main man will be his protégé himself, Hazard! In a few short years Hazard has knocked out an abundance of anthems and proven himself as an outstanding producer and ultimate force to be reckoned with. He has recently collected the BEST DJ award at the coveted Drum&BassArena awards, knocking off Andy C off the top! The pair of them will perform a London festival exclusive set as the both of them come together to destroy the common!
Wizards of Drum & Bass Camo & Krooked are one of the most prolific acts in one of the most competitive and ever-evolving movements in electronic music. Their latest album has received rave reviews from far and wide and the duo are showing no signs of slowing down. They tore SW4 to pieces last year and are set to do the same in 2017 as they return to the common for some electrifying drum & bass!
BBC Radio 1’s Friction’s rise to becoming one of the most-revered Drum and Bass producers and DJs in the world is nothing short of glorious. Being one of the few DJs to use three decks to mash up his mixes immediately set him apart from the rest as he is able to create a highly individual sound and has collaborated with some of the world’s most popular artists. The Brighton man has been a regular at SW4 and bringing him back in this very exclusive way is hugely exciting for us!
VERY SPECIAL GUESTS:
GOLDIE VS MY NU LENG
With a career spanning over two decades Goldie is regarded a true legend. His OBE recognition is instrumental in inspiring not only aspiring artists but industry peers too! Fitting then this household name makes a SW4 debut on Saturday, for one of the Capital’s most anticipated festival appearances this summer. But don’t forget the best things come in pairs! So to form an ear splitting ensemble, Goldie is joined by My Nu Leng – current trailblazers in bass music for a B2B of epic proportions! The Bristol based duo may be relative newcomers but are cherished within the scene for production skills second-to-none and an incomparable sound. Earning regular airtime on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, this exposure has led to global recognition in record time.
ALSO PERFORMING ON THE PLAYAZ STAGE ON SW4 SATURDAY: (A-Z) CONGO NATTY – DIMENSION (A/V SHOW) – FABIO & GROOVERIDER B2B MARKY – HEARTLESS CREW – HIGH CONTRAST – SASASAS – TAXMAN B2B SUB ZERO – TURNO B2B ANNIX
When Congo Natty speaks, people listen. One of the stalwarts of the reggae movement worldwide, the Jamaica native has become one of the most respected voices of the scene. He has dedicated is whole life to the craft and his unique and one of a kind approach to performing has made him one of the most popular artists of modern times. His success has seen him become a regular headliner at high profile events across the globe and we can’t wait for him to make his debut at SW4!
Dimension is one of the most exciting and brightest talents coming through drum & bass at the moment. His exceptional talents and raw sound caught the eye of giant CHASE & STATUS’ label MTA records with Saul & Will snapping up the young gun instantly. His unique ability to fuse sounds from the spectrum of electronic music has made him stand out from the rest of the others and that’s why we love him so much. His latest banger “UK” has been making waves and dance music stalwart Skrillex producing an epic remix which has made the track go stratospheric. He will be debuting his brand new Audio/Visual show at SW4 and is tipped to be one of the most exciting live set ups around!
The godfathers of drum & bass Fabio & Grooverider are arguably the most decorated artists in drum & bass! Beginning their trade over 25 years ago, the duo have pushed the boundaries of the genre and are hugely responsible for where drum & bass is today. The pair’s raw energy and passion for their craft has seen them tour for years and 2017 is no different with a hugely successful 25 years of Fabio & Grooverider event at Electric Brixton which saw fans from all across the city come together to celebrate such a great achievement. Their performance at SW4 will witness them play back-to-back for the first time in their history and it will be with none other than the legendary Marky! The Brazilian wizard is one of the most respected names amongst his peers and his soul & jazz infused approach to drum & bass makes him totally unique compared to any other artist around. An inspired performance at Brixton Academy on NYE reminded people why he is one of the best around. This very exclusive back to back has not been done anywhere else so put your seatbelt on and get ready for the ride!
Heartless Crew’s dedication to their music has led them to become a widely loved and respected name across the UK, representing one of the UK’s most dynamic and charismatic street-reared collectives in recent years. At the peak of the garage unstoppable emergence into the mainstream, Heartless Crew stood alongside the likes of EZ, So Solid Crew, Craig David and Ms. Dynamite to bring the genre to the forefront of British music, selling out venues from London to New York and arenas all across the world.
Modern Drum & Bass hero and industry figurehead High Contrast has been making waves in the drum & bass world since he signed to Hospitality Records in 2002. His obsession with manipulating synthesized sounds to create the soft reverberating beats and soulful melodies he loves have manifested in an extraordinary career. Dedication, limitless depths of talent and technically floorless production abilities honed through years of repetition have taken Lincoln to the top of his game. His laundry list of chart topping records released through Hospitality and his own label, The Contrast, have cemented his reputation as a dance music legend and his assault onto SW4 this summer will be nothing short of magnificent, bring it on!
What do you get when combining six of the slickest MCs and DJs in Drum and Bass? Think a sonic boom of energy and explosion of intense sound, an unrivaled experience that’s not to be missed! The collective consisting of Harry Shotta, Stormin’, Shabba D, Skibadee, Macky Gee and DJ Phantasy (SASASAS) have already performed a host of recent sell out shows and specifically chose SW4 as next on the hit list. An ever-growing fan base and unbelievable buzz meant we had no option but to duly accept!
If you’ve been anywhere near a drum & bass dance floor in the past couple of years then you know Taxman’s productions, and you’ll have been throwing your arms up and calling for DJs to reload his tracks on more than one occasion! Now with his own distinctive sound and a string of huge releases including ‘Original Ninja’ and ‘Scan Darker’ under his belt, Taxman is all about facing the future; no doubt his dance floor killing tracks will be taxing your spare income for years to come! With the man making his debut at SW4, we are sure to invite him along for many years to come after this!
As much inspired by the sounds of old school jungle and LTJ Bukem, Sub Zero is famous for his signature dance floor smashing style, making music predominantly to be played in clubs. Despite this, experimenting with sound, pushing the boundaries and doing something a bit different has, and always will, be very important to Jake. And, as he climbs higher and higher into the upper echelons of D&B production, we can only expect more great things to come from Sub Zero.
One of the brightest stars of the jump up scene, Turno is on a one-way mission to the top! His dynamic-approach to his sets leaves the crowd gasping for air and his uncompromising approach to his productions are not for the faint-hearted. Going back to back with Turno will be young guns Annix who most recently supported giants Noisia at their hugely successful Electric Brixton show last year. Blessed with an ear for great sounds, this pair is destined for great things and we are looking forward to hosting them at SW4 for the very first time!
ALSO JOINING MC’s (A-Z) MC GQ, DADDY EARL, EKSMAN, IC3, UNKNOWN
WEEKEND TICKETS INCREASE IN PRICE TUESDAY 21ST MARCH AT MIDDAY
The response to our weekend tickets have been the best we’ve ever seen with more of you than ever committing yourself to both days of SW4. With the Saturday headliners including Pendulum Live, Eric Prydz, Sigma Live, Solomun & Sunday showcasing Deadmau5, Marco Carola, Knife Party, Sven Vath, Loco Dice & many more across the 10 stages, this is our most complete edition yet!
SW4 SATURDAY SO FAR…
Pendulum [Live] Eric Prydz Sigma [Live] Solomun
plus in alphabetical order: Andhim Andrea Oliva CamelPhat Camo & Krooked b2b Friction Claptone Congo Natty Dimension (A/V) Duke Dumont Fabio & Grooverider b2b Marky Goldie vs My Nu Leng Hannah Wants Heartless Crew High Contrast Hype B2B Hazard Julio Bashmore KC Lights Kungs MK Maya Jane Coles vs Heidi MistaJam Netsky (DJ set) Patrick Topping Sam Feldt Live Sasha vs Joris Voorn SASASAS Sonny Fodera vs Low Steppa Taxman b2b Sub Zero Turno b2b Annix Wilkinson [Live] + many more across five stages…
SW4 SUNDAY SO FAR…
Deadmau5 Marco Carola Knife Party Sven Vath Loco Dice Sub Focus Live
plus in alphabetical order: Andrew Bayer Audion Aka Matthew Dear Live B-Traits Carl Craig Present Versus Synthesizer Ensemble Chris Lorenzo vs DJ Zinc Cosmic Gate Dusky [Live] Ferry Corsten Gareth Emery Ilan Bluestone Laidback Luke Markus Schulz presents Dakota Mar-T Matador [Live] Nicky Romero Pan-Pot Paul Oakenfold The Martinez Brothers + many more across five stages…
BLOODSTOCK is powering ahead with even more bookings for 2017! We’ve four more to get you excited for August’s best metal weekender…
German thrash legends KREATOR shred their way on to BLOODSTOCK’s main stage this Summer in Saturday’s special guest spot! Vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza declares, “We are happy to finally return to BLOODSTOCK! KREATOR will give you the full treatment this time. WE SHALL KILL.” The band released their fourteenth studio album, ‘Gods of Violence’ in January via Nuclear Blast. Check out the video for the title track at: https://youtu.be/xeUBJ2Ha-FM and get up to speed on all things KREATOR over at: https://www.facebook.com/KreatorOfficial/.
Flint firebrands KING 810 land a Ronnie James Dio main stage slot on Saturday in a UK festival exclusive, so will be your only chance to catch the band on these shores this summer! Their genre-busting album, ‘La Petite Mort (Or A Conversation With God)’ was hugely lauded upon release last year, with leading US outlet, Metal Injection pronouncing it “2016’s best example of what an album should be”. Check out their visceral video for ‘Alpha & Omega’ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcLmQDr7GGw. This happened in Flint this week… https://youtu.be/QsmoWV_HQII.
Black metal marauders INQUISITION will headline the Sophie Lancaster stage on Friday. The duo of Dagon and Incubus released their seventh album, ‘Bloodshed Across The Empyrean Altar Beyond The Celestial Zenith’ via Season Of Mist last August. Listen to ‘Wings Of Anu’ from that disc at https://youtu.be/UGdbsGFrvbY and prepare for a ferocious finish to Friday night.
Lastly, KING PARROT fly in from their Aussie homeland for a Sophie stage slot. The self-dubbed “grindin’, thrashin’, punk wrecking machine” are on the road in support of their Phil Anselmo-produced disc, ‘Dead Set’. Lend your ears at https://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/dead-set, or watch their 2012 video for ‘Shit On The Liver’ at https://youtu.be/cinvIr-O1k8 – it was a finalist in the Australian Music Video Awards and has racked up nearly half a million YouTube views! Learn more Parrot at www.facebook.com/kingparrotband/.
The multi award-winning Secret Garden Party, the event that set the creative benchmark for festivals in the UK and around the world, announced today that this year’s event, July 20-23, will be the final instalment in its illustrious 15-year tenure as one of the most celebrated events on the summer festival calendar.
From humble beginnings as a gathering with a few hundred friends the passionately independent Secret Garden Party has grown organically over the years. Its fun-loving friendly outlook, its much-loved eccentricity, and its meticulous attention to detail has inspired and enabled a generation of creative artists, musicians and performers to develop and thrive, whilst embracing the core values of friendship, participation and ownership with its audience. It has also been a major hub for leftfield, like-minded people who were eager to ‘escape to reality’ through the counter-culture. It can be proud of a legacy that inspired so much (and so many) as well as having been the setting for such a collection of wonderful memories and lifelong friendships.
There is never a perfect time to announce this as either too early or too late would have consequences for the loyal gardeners.
Founder and Head Gardener Freddie Fellowes says:
“15 years ago I started out with a set of ideas as to what makes a good party and the most perfect venue for it. But with no set idea of what the destination was for this venture the ‘festival’ was, at that time, the perfect medium through which to explore these ideas. But rather than getting too excited and telling you about the phoenix we are going to raise from all of this, it bears explaining why we are lighting the fire.
Much has changed since our first Garden Party, when there was nothing else like it in the UK: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter had yet to be invented and no one knew what a boutique festival was, let alone Glamping.
Since then the Garden Party has defined and redefined outdoor events in the UK; we have done so as a collective of truly independent outsiders.
We have never compromised our principles and we never will. SGP has always been a beacon of what you can do within those terms and, as imitation (being the sincerest form of flattery) proves, it has set the bar for everyone else going forward.
But it is exactly because of those principles, and the love of those who have made the Garden Party what it is, that we are committing this senseless act of beauty.
What better way to honour the love that has been given to this project and wholly demonstrate this principle than finishing now? This isn’t some principled self-immolation: this is opening up it for the future. So this summer will be the almighty send-off that the Garden Party deserves and whilst that is going to cause some tears to be shed, think of it more as ‘Dylan goes electric’ than our Altamont.
Because after all you can’t be avant-garde from within an institution and lest we forget: the frontier always moves.”
V Festival have annouced their two headlinders for this years festival and its none other then P!nk and JAY Z along with a storm of other artists to grace the festival over the weekend.
Tickets on sale 9:00am Friday at vfestival.com and all other information regarding Tickets can be found below.
Today, The Isle of Wight Festival 2017 announces 18 new acts to be added to the bill: The Pretenders, The Kooks, Imelda May, Razorlight, Alison Moyet, Starsailor, Space, Melanie C, Scouting For Girls, Tom Chaplin, Alex Francis, Lucy Spraggan, Bang Bang Romeo, Paradisia, Wild Front, The Slow Readers Club, Showhawk Duo and Victoria.
They join headliners Arcade Fire, David Guetta, Run DMC and Rod Stewart as well as recently announced acts Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Bastille, Kaiser Chiefs, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Zara Larsson, Clean Bandit, The Vamps and The Amazons.
Of the exciting new additions to the bill, John Giddings says: “This makes it one of the best line-ups we have ever had. Roll on June!”
Legendary English-American rock band The Pretenders are fronted by the unstoppable Chrissie Hynde. Originally forming in the late ‘70s, The Pretenders’ self-titled debut album soared straight to #1 on the UK chart, paving the way for an iconic career spanning almost four decades.
Chrissie Hyde from The Pretenders said: ”I'm absolutely over the moon to be playing the Isle of Wight Festival; it is one of the most iconic festivals of our time. I'm so humbled to be playing a festival that so many legends have performed at. I cannot wait."
The Kooks will celebrate a decade together as a band with their 'Best Of' UK tour taking place this year. Their 2006 debut album ‘Inside In / Inside Out’ was recently certified five-times platinum and is still engaging new fans today. The band now have three more studio albums, a number of massive world tours, awards and critical acclaim under their belts as well as over 3 million monthly Spotify listeners, while their seminal single ‘Naive’ remains in the Spotify Top 200 playlist.
Imelda May has become one of Ireland’s most celebrated female artists in history. Discovered by Jools Holland, who asked Imelda to support him on tour, Imelda has gone on to perform alongside legendary artists including Lou Reed, Bono and Smokey Robinson. Her previous album ‘Tribal’ debuted at #1 in Ireland and #3 in the UK.
Razorlight’s 2006 self-titled album topped the UK Album Chart and went on to be certified multi-platinum, spawning the huge singles ‘In The Morning’, ‘Before I Fall to Pieces’ and UK #1 ‘America’. Over their 15-year career, the band have played shows alongside Queen, Oasis and The Who and have become a staple of the British indie movement.
Alison Moyet’s career is in its fourth decade. Her earliest hits as a solo artist include ‘All Cried Out’, ‘Is This Love?’ and ‘Love Resurrection’. Moyet has released five UK Top 10 albums, including two #1s, and most recently Top 5 album ‘The Minutes’ in 2013.
Alison Moyet said: “I’m really thrilled to be invited to perform at the IOW Festival again. It really is something to play this legend of a festival that boasts such an authentic history. I am expecting grand larks.”
Britpop four-piece Starsailor have released ten Top 40 singles and two Top 10 albums since debuting in 2000. Not only have they toured the world extensively the band have also enjoyed more than their fair share of prestigious gigs, supporting the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Police, The Killers, and U2, and have sold over 3 million albums worldwide. The band are currently recording a new album to be released through Cooking Vinyl in 2017.
James Walsh from Starsailor said: “We're really excited to be returning to the Isle of Wight festival. It's a fantastic line-up this year & we're extremely proud to be a part of it.”
Space first rose to prominence in the ‘90s for their eclectic blend of alternative rock, hip-hop and neo-psychedelia. After disbanding for 10 years, the band returned and immediately sold out their reunion show at O2 Academy Liverpool, solidifying their status as a cult band on the Liverpool music scene. Space’s new studio album, Give Me Your Future, is being released early 2017, followed by the bands Anthology Boxset release date late 2017.
Tommy Scott from Space said: “The Isle of Wight is the most iconic festival and we are so excited to playing it this year. Best present for 2017 that we could have wished for. Can't wait to see the fans over on the Island.”
Melanie C is an international pop icon and founding member of Spice Girls, the best-selling girl band of all time. Since Spice Girls’ disbandment in 2000, Melanie C has gone on to establish herself as a hugely successful solo artist, selling 20 million records worldwide and collaborating with Bryan Adams and TLC’s Lisa ‘Left-Eye’ Lopes. She released her latest solo album, ‘Version of Me’, in 2016.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to playing the Isle of Wight in June. It’s one of my favourite festivals and a great way to start the Summer.”
Scouting For Girls released four UK Top 10 singles and four UK Top 10 albums since their debut in 2007. The three-piece’s 2010 single ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’ debuted at #1 and spent a whopping 22 weeks on the UK chart. In December 2016, the band announced a ballot for their 10th anniversary show, which received 20,000 applicants for just 300 tickets.
Tom Chaplin is the frontman of anthemic, multi-million selling British band Keane, who scored 5 number one albums between 2004 and 2013. A successful solo artist in his own right, Tom released his debut solo album ‘The Wave’ in 2016 which entered the UK Album Chart at #3. The Wave features eleven incredibly honest and ultimately uplifting songs written by Tom and produced by Matt Hales.
Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Alex Francis is gearing up to release his debut EP in 2017. The budding talent was named one of Time Out’s ‘Rising Stars’ in 2016, followed by live shows with Samm Henshaw and Luke Sital-Singh. Having already gained the support of British breakthrough James Bay, Francis is set for big things this year.
Alex Francis said: “I’m beyond thrilled to be part of this year's Isle of Wight Festival alongside so many amazing, legendary performers. It's a real honour to be asked and I absolutely cannot wait to get on stage!"
British singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan recently released her fourth studio album, ‘I Hope You Don’t Mind Me Writing’ in January 2017 and achieved an incredible no.12 in the Official UK Album Chart. Spraggan is that rarest of things – a genuine singer/song-writer to emerge from the TV talent show scene and was the first contestant in the show’s history to score a Top 40 single and album before the live shows even aired.
Bang Bang Romeo are a British rock four-piece who draw influence from the likes of Jefferson Airplane, The Mamas and the Papas and Smashing Pumpkins. Described as a ‘hard edged Fleetwood Mac’, the band have been praised by BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens as ‘the best in new music’ and ‘one of the most exciting new bands in the country’.
Bang Bang Romeo said: "Isle of Wight Festival will always be special for us, the place is steeped in History from Hendrix to The Rolling Stones, Bowie to Fleetwood Mac and you can feel the magic in the air around the place. It has such a feel good factor that a lot of festivals fail to grasp and forever will be important to us as the first major festival that gave us a chance to perform. It plays a leading role in the BANG BANG ROMEO story and we can't wait to be back on the Island this summer."
Paradisia are a female trio from London who combine vocals, keyboard and harp to create a unique, ‘70s-infused sound. The band have previously supported Paolo Nutini on tour and played a Hyde Park show with Bruce Springsteen, whose classic track ‘Dancing In The Dark’ they covered and released as their debut single.
Breaking indie four-piece Wild Front whose self-released tracks have already amassed an impressive 175,000 streams on Spotify. The band’s eclectic tracks – which draw influence from everything from ‘80s rock and indie folk to West Coast hip-hop – have all received huge support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing.
Lead singer Jack Williams from Wild Front said: ’'It's one of the big ones, with a lot history, so it's a privilege to be playing.’'
The Slow Readers Club describe their sound as ‘indie-electro-doom-pop’. The band have supported James on their UK tour, including a date at London’s Forum, and recently sold out their own headline show at Manchester’s O2 Ritz two months in advance. The Manchester Evening News recently described the band as ‘one of the most exciting sounds coming out of our city’.
The Slow Readers Club said:"We are really excited to be playing IOW festival. This year’s lineup looks amazing. Love that it has so much history too. We've all seen the old IOW footage from the 70s with acts like The Who, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, Hendrix and Leonard Cohen. It was so mysterious and mystical following the peace movement. Feels like the most natural and musically relevant festival to play."
Mikhail Asanovic and Jake Wright together make Showhawk Duo and have gained recognition internationally for their unique combination of classical guitar and electronic production. The duo began as buskers but quickly built a cult following, culminating in slots on Nick Grimshaw’s BBC Radio One Breakfast Show, festival appearances across Europe and a sold out UK tour.
Showhawk Duo said: “We can't wait to bring ADM (acoustic dance music) to the Isle of Wight! We're honoured and humbled to make our debut at a festival where so many great artists have played over the years."
Victoria are an up-and-coming indie pop group, who have already garnered acclaim from the likes of Clash for their ‘crisp electronic production matched to a real pop nous.’ The group recently released their new single ‘Souvenir’ and announced a string of headline dates across the UK, including Nottingham, Manchester, Bristol, Brighton and London.
This year’s chapter of Lovebox is set to be even more special than usual. East London’s favourite festival are celebrating their 15 year anniversary – 15 years of music, 15 years of good vibes and 15 years of love.
This landmark occasion calls for the best line-up yet, and Lovebox have delivered. Having already announced Friday’s headliner – the global phenomenon that is Frank Ocean – Lovebox unveils their second headliner, the explosive Chase & Status, and further musical programming.
FEATURING:
FRANK OCEAN (FRIDAY) CHASE & STATUS (LIVE) (SATURDAY)
WITH
JAMIE XX – JESS GLYNNE – SOLANGE – ANNIE MAC – ANDY C – MAC MILLER – RAG’N’BONE MAN – SAMPHA – KAYTRANADA – KURUPT FM – ANNE-MARIE – AJ TRACEY – RAY BLK – MIST – RAYE
KINK (LIVE) – JAZZY JEFF – RICHY AHMED – SOLARDO – JESSE ROSE – CRAIG RICHARDS – TERRY FRANCIS – HORSE MEAT DISCO – MICK JENKINS – SOULECTION – MIKE SERVITO – LEWIS BOARDMAN – DREEM TEEM – KLOSE ONE – LATE NITE TUFF GUY – WORK IT – JAZZIE B – CLUB DRIVE
XL RECORDINGS PRESENTS NEW GEN & FRIENDS
ARTIKAL – DR PACKER – ELLIE COCKS – FORT ROMEAU – SÄLEN – GW HARRISON – HAMMER – JACK SWIFT – JIMMY SWITCH – REX ORANGE COUNTY – LINDSEY MATTHEWS – WILL TAYLOR – HOT BLOOD
FRIDAY
Friday’s headliner, Frank Ocean, speaks for itself. The enigmatic singer-songwriter was catapulted to fame in 2012 with the release of his debut Channel Orange, which was greeted with universal acclaim. After four years of countless memes and think pieces about Ocean’s “disappearance”, questioning when his second album would arrive, it finally landed in 2016 in the form of a visual LP – Endless – followed by the album proper, Blonde. It was well worth the wait.
The Friday also sees one of the hottest producers on the planet, Jamie xx, open for Frank Ocean on the Main Stage. His debut album In Colour has been the soundtrack to our summer since it was released in 2015, and his new album with band The xx is an instant classic. Jamie XX says: “I'm looking forward to playing at Lovebox this year and sharing the stage with Frank Ocean who headlines directly after my set!”
Elsewhere on Friday is US rapper Mac Miller, whose latest, soul-infused album The Divine Feminine was lauded by critics upon its release, fast-rising star Rag N’ Bone Man, the runner-up in this year’s BBC Sound of 2017, and London synthpop trio Sälen.
The peerless Solange headlines the Noisey stage, fresh from the release of her landmark album A Seat At The Table. The younger Knowles sister’s third album was named by Pitchfork as their Album of the Year, and bagged her her first US No 1. February has also seen her win her first Grammy for Best R&B Performance for her stunning track ‘Cranes In The Sky’. This performance at Lovebox is set to be extra special.
Joining Solange on the Noisey stage is London’s own Sampha, whose distinctive vocals and confessional lyricism have propelled him to global fame. Initially emerging as a frequent collaborator of SBTRKT back in 2011, Sampha has collaborated with the likes of Drake, Beyoncé and the aforementioned Solange, and released his highly anticipated debut album Process in 2017.
Elsewhere on the Noisey stage is the talented super-producer Kaytranada, who we’re thrilled to welcome back to the Park to perform tracks from one of the best albums of 2016 – his debut LP 99.9%. His affiliate Mick Jenkins will also appear – the rising US hip hop artist released his dazzling debut album The Healing Component in 2016 – as well as BBC Sound of 2017 winner Ray BLK and rising star Rex Orange County.
Lovebox are thrilled to welcome fabric back for their second year in the Park as a festival exclusive. The news is all the more exciting considering the iconic’s club loss of license, which thankfully they have now won back after outcry from the global music community. London wouldn’t be the same without fabric, and we’re glad they’re back and bigger than ever. fabric say: "Lovebox gave us the perfect entry into being part of a festival last year and it left us wanting more. To be invited back to build on the foundation we made in 2016 is a prefect to develop something bigger and better than last year across the weekend. Expect something different to last year but with the same calbire of artists and our exclusive audio partner Pioneer."
fabric have programmed a fittingly explosive lineup to mark their festival return. Arguably one of the best DJs on the planet, the inimitable Seth Troxler headlines the Friday. Raised in Detroit, the house and techno master will bring a flavour of Chicago to the Park. Preceding Seth will be Bicep, playing their trademark mix of obscure anthems and club classics spanning a kaleidoscope of genres. Elsewhere, there’s experimental producer KiNK performing a live set, disco master Hammer, and fabric resident Terry Francis.
Finally, Lovebox are extremely excited to introduce a brand new structure for 2017. The Transistor stage will resemble a giant radio set, and feature explosive flame pyros throughout the day – it’s not to be missed. Taking over Transistor on the Friday are Abode, the deep house promoters running the hottest nights in London. Headlining Abode will be the reigning king of underground house, Eats Everything, who will be joined by Hot Creations rising star waFF, the dynamic Jack Swift, and B2B sets from Will Taylor and GW Harris, Ellie Cocks and Jimmy Switch, and Artikal and Lindsey Matthews.
SATURDAY
Saturday’s headliner comes in the form of one of the UK’s best live acts, and a Lovebox favourite. Chase & Status’ ferocious live sets are truly a sight to behold, whether they’re storming through classics from their 2008 debut More than Alot or the bestselling homage to 90s dance, Brand New Machine. 2015 saw the release of EP London Bars, featuring some of the UK’s finest MCs, and their much-anticipated fourth album drops this year.
Expect new material, a brand new show and extra special guests at what is set to be a masterful headlining slot – which was unveiled via a mysterious social media campaign and a billboard portraying a countdown hangman spelling out ‘Lovebox’ in London. Chase & Status say: "We’re blessed to be back headlining Lovebox again. It’s always special playing at home in London & at such an iconic festival."
Lovebox also welcomes Jess Glynne to the Park. One of the UK's most promising pop talents, she originally found fame lending her distinctive vocals to chart smashes such as Clean Bandit's 'Rather Be' and Route 94's 'My Love’. Jess introduced her own sound with the release of her 2015 debut album I Cry When I Laugh. With a follow-up scheduled for release in 2017, this year looks set to build on Jess Glynne's solid reputation as one of the best on the scene. Also on the Saturday is rising star Anne-Marie, whose infectious singles ‘Karate’ and ‘Do It Right’ have led to her being nominated for British Breakthrough Artist at the Brits.
Lovebox favourite Annie Mac will also be back in the Park, and R&B singer Raye plus rising four piece Club Drive will also perform.
Over at the Noisey stage, there’s the most fierce of UK talent, both rising and legendary. DNB icon Andy C headlines, and the RAM Records co-founder is set to destroy his slot. Andy says "First time at Lovebox! Heard some amazing things, I can’t wait to get involved!"
Joining Andy C are comedy rap crew Kurupt FM (stars of the BBC hit show People Just Do Nothing), as well as respective performances from two fast-rising grime MCs – Birmingham’s Mist and London’s AJ Tracey – both deservedly much-hyped in their own right.
For the grime fans there’s a special showcase from XL Recordings. New Gen continues the theme of fresh homegrown talent on The West Stage. This performances follows the compilation album of the same name, which features contributions from the scene's rising stars (Ray BLK, Kojey Radical).
fabric’s Saturday lineup is equally as stacked as the Friday. The legendary Ricardo Villalobos returns to London to head up the billing. Elsewhere, returning to Lovebox after last playing back in 2010, is Berlin’s Dixon (who came No 1 on Resident Advisor’s Top DJs 2016 Poll), Bunker resident Mike Servito, and fabric’s own Craig Richards.
On Saturday Transistor will host a lineup featuring some of the finest names in techno. The multi-faceted Kölsch is set to headline, and will be joined by Richy Ahmed, Jamie Jones, Jesse Rose, Solardo and Lewis Boardman.
It wouldn’t be a celebration of 15 Years of Love without some Lovebox favourites on the decks. Norman Jay MBE, Jazzie B OBE, Horse Meat Disco will all be appearing across the weekend
Sziget Festival, the Island of Freedom, has a lot of to offer when it comes to music from all genres and an endless variety of music running non-stop. The 7-day festival hosts more than 500.000 Szitizens coming from more than 100 countries. This year, at the 25th Sziget, Kasabian, Major Lazer, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Flume, PJ Harvey, Alt-J, Interpol, Billy Talent, Two Door Cinema Club, Jamie Cullum, Rudimental and many more names will perform.
Sziget Festival is on the European festival radar for 25 years now, bringing music and art from all genres to the huge island. Programs never stop, one can always find music or any activity non-stop during the 7 days. There are more than 50 program venues where contemporary circus, art, dance and many more entertain the Szitizens, apart from the music acts. This time, besides the already announced names, we can find PJ Harvey, Alt-J, Rudimental live, George Ezra, White Lies and Dubioza Kolektiv on the Dan Panaitescu Main Stage. One of the favorite venue of the festival, the huge A38 tent, will host once again music for all like The Naked and Famous, Mando Diao, Anne-Marie, Andy C, Watsky, Nothing But Thieves, Léon, Bear’s Den, Chef’Special, De Staat, Valentino Khan, The Strypes, Rone and Weval among the already announced names. The electronic party central of the island, the giant tent of Arena, is happy to have Steve Aoki and Nervo this round.
All names announced so far in alphabetical order:
Alt-J Andy C Anne-Marie Bad Religion Bear's Den Billy Talent Cashmere Cat Charli XCX Chef'Special Clean Bandit Crystal Fighters Danny Brown De Staat Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike DJ Shadow Dubioza Kolektiv Flume Fritz Kalkbrenner George Ezra GTA GusGus Interpol Jagwar Ma Jamie Cullum Kasabian Kensington Leningrad León Mac Demarco Major Lazer Mando Diao Maurice West Metronomy Nervo Nothing but Thieves OH Wonder Oliver Heldens PJ Harvey Rone Rudimental live Steve Aoki Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano The Kills The Naked and Famous The Pretty Reckless The Strypes Tom Odell Two Door Cinema Club Vince Staples W&W Watsky Weval White Lies
Reading and Leeds have confirmed Eminem as the final headliner for this year’s festivals, taking place on 25 – 27 August 2017 at Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds. Tickets are available here.
Consistently seen as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Eminem is not only a titan in hip-hop but in modern culture itself. One of the biggest selling artists of the 21st century, his razor-sharp wit and impeccable larger than life anthems continue to defy boundaries, with the likes of ‘Lose Yourself’, ‘My Name Is’, ’Not Afraid' and ‘The Monster’ all storming charts and record collections around the world. His return to Reading and Leeds marks an extremely rare opportunity to witness an icon in the flesh, with a set that’ll add another legendary chapter to the story of Eminem.
Melvin Benn commented: “Eminem returning to Reading and Leeds is beyond exciting. His 2013 headline performance was incredible and I can’t wait to have him back. In addition to our third and final headliner (joining Kasabian and Muse) we’ve announced over 70 additional acts to this year’s line up – it’s looking stronger than ever.”
‘Bad and Boujee’ hip-hop superstars Migos will return to the UK this summer, with a huge appearance lined up at Reading & Leeds. One of the most talked-about groups of the year; the trio have become global symbols of a new wave of modern rap following the release of their latest album C U L T U R E. Expect a swagger-filled performance as Migos make their way to Reading & Leeds.
South London rapper Giggs will continue his march to the top with an unparalleled set at this year’s festivals, bringing the gritty sounds of latest album Landlord to the fields, in a crowning moment for one of the genre’s most defiant voices.
One of the most hotly anticipated returns of the year, HAIM are set to land at Reading and Leeds this summer with a sun-soaked guitar-pop filled performance. Delving into classics from their 2013 debut Days Are Gone and sure-to-be hits from their upcoming new record, it’ll be unforgettable set as rock’s beloved sensations take to the Reading and Leeds stage.
British arena-rock kings You Me At Six will continue their rich history at Reading and Leeds, packing in anthems from their career along with the heavy kicks of latest album Night People. A band born for the biggest stages, Reading and Leeds is set to bear witness to a landmark step from a band that stand head and shoulders above the rest.
A standout success story of 2016, Blossoms have established themselves as national treasures with the release of their self-titled debut, storming to number 1 in the charts and leading to sold-out venues and huge stages wherever they go. Stockport’s finest are set to bring their pop-laden anthems to Reading and Leeds this summer in a performance that marks the next generation of arena-sized icons.
Stand-out alternative pop performances will reign supreme at Reading and Leeds this summer, with Halsey set to bring her powerful electro-tinged hits to the festivals, marking a rise that has seen her become a vital voice for an entire generation. Pop will be in abundance as the voices behind many of the biggest club anthems in the past year, Becky Hill and Charli XCX,head to Reading and Leeds,delivering in-your-face performances that blend cutting-edge electro beats with singalong favourites.
One of the most indisputable voices in British rock, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes will continue their incredible rise with another festival-stealing slot at Reading and Leeds this summer. After turning the Main Stage into a crowd-surfing punk masterclass at last year’s festivals, Frank Carter arrives loaded with the runaway success of latest album Modern Ruin, packing even more stadium-sized moments into the Bank Holiday weekend.
Lead by the unmistakable voice of Taylor Momsen, The Pretty Reckless will return to the festivals this year, armed with heavy blues-laden anthems of latest album Who You Selling For. Joining them in triggering mass singalongs at Reading and Leeds this summer are Blush emo-soarers Moose Blood, melodic-rock five-piece Mallory Knox, and punk smashers Marmozets who areset to unveil their invigorating new era after the riotous success of debut album The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets.
The always-seismic presence of explosive Canadians Billy Talent will leave their mark on this year’s festivals, bringing an acclaimed live show that has seen them remain at the top of their game for nearly 25 years. Blistering punk risers Counterfeit will perform at Reading and Leeds this summer, fresh from the release of their hotly anticipated debut album Together We Are Stronger,which sees frontman Jamie Campbell Bower in full voice. They’ll be joined by London trio Puppy,who are set for a true standout moment at this year’s festivals.
Joining them at Reading and Leeds 2017, and set to define an entire summer with anthems are Mancunian art-rockers Everything Everything who willdeliver a captivating set of electronic ground-shakers from across their stunning career. Reading hometown heroes Sundara Karma will be bringing indie tales of youthful abandon to the festivals this summer, with Oh Wonder geared to stun the Reading and Leeds crowds with tracks from their mesmerising self-titled debut album. Sheffield’s finest indie upstarts The Sherlocks will continue their journey from packed stage to packed stage with a huge set at Reading and Leeds this summer. Watford squad The Hunna will heat things up on their return to the festivals, and riotous Cabbage will deliver another onslaught that confirms why they’re seen as one of the most exciting new bands in the country. Mesmeric indie-pop groovers Fickle Friends will return to the festivals with their sun-laden anthems, with breakthrough festival moments to come when genre-morphers Inheaven, German ‘Stolen Dance’ songwriters Milky Chance,Ed Nash of Bombay Bicycle Club’s new project Toothless,and stripped-bare electro wizard Tom Misch all take to the Reading and Leeds stage across the weekend.
The explosion of grime and hip-hop will continue to flow through Reading and Leeds, as the festivals once again play host to legendary favourites and the ground breaking voices of the future. Brooklyn’s Flatbush Zombies channel the best of the 90’s East Coast rap era and are set to take on the festival this summer, with hits from last year’s debut album A Laced Odyssey. ‘Pow’ don Lethal Bizzle is set to send festival-goers into a rapturous spin with an explosive set of London grime, while the chilled vibes of Rejjie Snow and BBC Sound Of winner Ray BLK will be dousing the crowds with electric and soulful R&B.
From the down-to-earth freestyle sounds of Dave to the home grown swagger of MIST, the vibrant voices and future favourites in grime, rap and hip-hop can all be found at Reading and Leeds this summer. Avelino, Cadet, MoStack,
J Hus, Angel, Mic Righteous, Geovarn, The Manor, Young T & Bugsey and The Heatwave will all make theirunforgettable appearances at the festivals over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Punchy and gritty in everything they do, Black Lips are set to deliver their distinct brand of punk for a stage show that has to be seen to be believed whilst folk-rock duo Bear’s Den promise panoramic-sized grooves from last year’s Red, Earth & Pouring Rain along with classic favourites from their wistful debut Islands.Ferocious live shows will also come from Tom Grennan, Shame, Phantogram, The Amazons, Louis Berry, Grouplove, King Nun, IDLES, Yonaka, Eden, Prose and Picture This, as they all leave their own stamp on the weekend.
The most talked-about names in current electronic dance music will be heading to Reading and Leeds this summer. International sensation Marshmello,who’s huge remixes of Jack Ü and Zedd, along with sun-kissed anthem ‘Summer’ will make for an electrifying performance. Unmissable beats and sets are also guaranteed from drum ‘n’ bass titan High Contrast,masked heavyweight Jaguar Skills,London jungle king Shy FX with Stamina MC and Katy B who’ll be delivering a storming DJ set. Dillon Francis, Sam Divine, Majestic, Claptone, CamelPhat, TOKiMONSTA, James Organ, Chris Lorenzo, Mullally, Klose One and Star.One will all bring big room DJ sets, alongside a very special performance from acclaimed Dutch trio Noisia and their Outer Edges concept show also confirmed, the latest and greatest are set to take Reading and Leeds as their own this summer.
These names join a stellar bill already confirmed for Reading and Leeds 2017, joining previously announced headliners Muse and Kasabian, with Major Lazer, Bastille, Two Door Cinema Club, Flume, Fatboy Slim, Wiley, At The Drive In, Architects, Korn, While She Sleeps, Tory Lanez, Glass Animals, Circa Waves, Against The Current, Danny Brown and many more set for a weekend that brings together the most exciting sounds and artists from across the musical spectrum, capturing a year in music like no other.
