Alt-Fest 2014 to showcase Peter Hook and The Light

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Alt-Fest is very pleased to announce that the legendary Peter Hook will be joining the line-up of the debut festival in 2014. His band Peter Hook and The Light will perform seminal album ‘Unknown Pleasures’ in its entirety as part of his set. In keeping with the ethos of Alt-Fest, Hook has agreed to open the remainder up to Alt-Fest fans who will be able to decide which tracks he’ll play for the rest of his set. Fans will be able to vote from a selection of Joy Division tracks online via facebook.com/AlternativeFest, with the top six making Hook’s final playlist.

Peter Hook Alt-Fest 2014

 Hook commented: "Having played some 200 gigs with The Light now, I've found that the fans all have their own particular favourite tracks which they want to hear live. It's a great idea to throw some of the set list over to the people at Alt-Fest to see what they most want to hear us play. It will be interesting to see what they come back with". 
 
Dominic Void, Alt-Fest Festival Director said: “This is perfect for us! Inviting the people that have paid to come to the festival to have their input in what songs they want to hear is exactly what we’re all about and we’re very grateful to Peter Hook for agreeing to this. We want everyone to have their say on Facebook and urge as many people as possible to get involved!”.
 
Also added to Alt-Fest’s speaker-blowing line-up are Killing Joke. The post-punk outfit has been back in business for just over 10 years now and is enjoying some of the biggest successes of its careers. Having pioneered a genre, Killing Joke not only boast an ardent fanbase that will travel across the globe to catch a glimpse of their heroes but also a plethora of contemporary alternative bands who cite them as an influence.
 
In a UK festival exclusive, melodic death metal six-piece Arch Enemy will join the rapidly expanding line-up. The Nordic band, which was formed from the remains of bands including Carnage, Armageddon and Spiritual Beggars, are guaranteed to receive a rapturous response appropriate for their lineage at next summer’s Alt-Fest.
 
A raft of further line-up additions, including electronic trio Attrition, Goth metallers 13 Candles, punk Goths Cold in Berlin, New Wave act Christine Plays Viola and rockers New Device, span an array of ‘alt’ genres and will appear across one of Alt-Fest’s seven bespoke areas.

Giles Peterson, Robert Cray and more set for Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2014

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A host of world class musicians will once again descend on the Cotswold town of Cheltenham in May 2014 for the return of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Although full details of the line-up are yet to be disclosed, the organisers have made an initial announcement which hints that the programme will again feature the festival’s trademark mix of jazz icons and up-and-coming new artists interspersed with unique, one-off performances from established international stars.

Amongst the first names confirmed for next year’s festival are five-time Grammy-winner Robert Cray; world renowned DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson, who will perform a DJ set at a late night club event featuring a live performance from a very special guest band; and the first show in 24 years from acclaimed ‘80s big band Loose Tubes, who are reuniting to mark their 30th anniversary.

“That Loose Tubes have chosen to perform their reunion gig at Cheltenham Jazz Festival is a real coup for the Festival and for Cheltenham” commented Festival Director Ian George. “Loose Tubes were the first ever jazz orchestra to play the BBC Proms and jazz fans round the world have been eagerly hoping for this reunion.”

“Programming for the 2014 Festival is well under way – 2014 will see the return of the popular club nights and we already have some very big names scheduled to appear in the Big Top. The free stage will also return, giving local artists a chance to perform in front of a hugely appreciative jazz crowd, and we will be launching a new talent search for an emerging jazz artist.”

BBC Radio 3 in association with Jazz on 3 have commissioned new pieces from Loose Tubes original members Chris Batchelor, Steve Berry, Eddie Parker and Django Bates. These will be premiered at Cheltenham Jazz festival alongside classic repertoire from the band’s back catalogue including Yellow Hill, Shelley, The Last Word, Sticklebacks and Sunny.

The 2014 Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place from 30 April -5 May and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’sMontpellier Gardens, featuring a Big Top stage, the Jazz Arena, and a food, drink and market area.

Circus theme announced for Camp Bestival 2014!

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, get ready for the greatest family show on earth! It’s all systems go for Camp Bestival 2014, taking place from July 31st to August 3rd, as we unleash the incredible all-action theme for our lucky seventh show, plus we’re launching our fun-tastic Advent Calendar packed with Christmas goodies that you won’t want to miss. And that’s not all, as we also have news of our ace Christmas promotion, and Camping Plus tickets too! 

Camp Bestival Ringmaster Rob da Bank says: “Roll up, roll up, it’s circus time at Camp Bestival! Right from the start of putting on parties, back in the old days, we’ve always loved a bit of circus ballyhoo, no party is complete without a juggler or an acrobat, a hula-hooper or a contortionist and we promise that Camp Bestival 2014 won’t disappoint. We can’t wait here at Camp Besti HQ to get into the ring, so grab your greasepaint, get your costumes ready and we’ll see you at the end of July to kick off the school summer holidays in style. In the meantime, make sure you open all the doors on our brilliant advent calendar, there are some amazing Christmas surprises in store for some lucky Camp Bestivalites!”

That’s right! Camp Bestival 2014 is all about the Circus! A subject that’s always been close to our hearts with our very own ringmaster, Rob da Bank, leading the charge, we’re taking our circus love to where it truly belongs, Lulworth Castle for a full on takeover! The Camp Bestival roustabouts have been performing astounding acrobatics of their own to bring you an array of spectacular attractions and awesome shows that will bring the unmistakable thrill of traditional and mind-bogglingly modern circus to our four-day festi-holiday paradise. And we want you to get involved too, from moustachioed musclemen, lion tamers and high wire trapeze artists to performing seals, ringmasters and clowns, there’s a whole universe of possibilities to dress up and join in the fun, so get your thinking caps on. And just to get you in the mood, check out Marawa the Amazingrevealing the Circus theme here.

We’re getting super-excited already and we hope you are too. So, if you’re anything like us you won’t be able to wait until we frolic in the fields once more, but that’s OK, you’re in luck as we’ve lined up our amazing Camp Bestival Advent Calendar!  A fun-packed 24-day extravaganza, our Advent calendar is brimming with exciting and exclusive content behind each door, including money can’t buy prizes, upgrades, brilliant activities, videos and competitions that will bring merry mayhem to the festive season. Make sure you don’t miss out and head to the Camp Bestival Advent Calendar from December 1st.

Following this year’s brilliant sell out show, tickets for 2014 are already flying, so as the festive season is properly upon us, why not treat your loved ones to a lovely Camp Bestival ticket for Christmas? And just to make it even more Christmassy, we’re offering a super-festive and exclusive Camp Bestival Christmas Card with all tickets ordered between now and Christmas, so get your skates on! 

Striving to make Camp Bestival as good as it can possibly be, we are very pleased to be able to announce that the hugely popular Camping Plus will be on sale from Friday 29th November from 9am. Our own unique initiative designed to give a bit of peace of mind to Camp Bestival-goers who want to make sure they’ve got themselves a corking camping plot reserved, Camping Plus gives you a prime 5m x 7m pitch and has its own dedicated car park and entrance, with very easy access to showers, nice loos and a brilliant café. Camping Plus plots cost £125.00 (max of 2 adults and 4 children per plot – Early Bird price available for a limited time only) and are perfect not only if you know you won’t be arriving as soon as the gates open but also if you just want the comfort of knowing that you’ve got your camping space sorted.

And don’t forget that you can use our pioneering Payment Plan to purchase your tickets, meaning that an adult ticket can now be bought at a payment of just £7.80 per week over 25 consecutive weekly payments. Once you have signed up to the payment plan, which basically means giving your agreement by ticking the bank mandate form on Ticketline’s website, we will automatically debit your card on a weekly basis.

News of the music line-up, the comedy, poets, spoken word, attractions & activities, theatre & shows and lashings of circus action will be announced very soon, so make sure you get the inside track on our website and our Facebook and Twitter.

Camp Bestival 2014 Tickets:

Ticketline / 0844 888 4410

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £195
Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 18 or over on 31/07/2014

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £180
Student Tickets are for Students with valid ID between 31/07/2014

Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £113
Age 15 to 17 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 15 to 17 on 01/08/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 30*

Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £88
Age 11 to 14 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 11 to 14 on 01/08/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 26*

* NB: All teens (aged 11 to 17) MUST camp in the same area as their families with a maximum of 2 teens per adult (over the age of 26)

Age 5 -10 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £20
These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 4 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – FREE (but ticket still required)
Age 4 and Under Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 4 and under on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Camping Plus Plot – £125

Advance Car Parking – £11

Campervan Ticket – £72 per vehicle

Caravan/Trailer tent ticket (includes a car parking space) – £83

Disclosure, Rudimental and more set for Hideout 2014

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Today Hideout announce a plethora of stellar artists on 2014's bill including the young and unstoppable duo, Disclosure, Black Butter’s runaway outfit Rudimental who will be returning to the show as is Hideout favourite, Loco Dice. Hideout also welcomes new artists to the show such as house music veteran Sasha and king of the groove, infamous for his exceeding popular Ibizan residencies, Solomun. New for this year are VIP tiered tickets, offering attendees access to exclusive events in the area, queue jump access onsite and merchandise. There is also new ‘Hideout experience’ including accommodation, airport transfers and more to take any pain away from the booking process, all available from the Hideout website. 
 
Rudimental @Hideout Festival 2014

As Hideout enters its fourth year, the week long event created by Sound Channel has established itself as the forerunner of electronic music festivals. Last month they announced a new registration system for tickets, and today some of the huge number that signed up are in with a chance of gaining entry to the revered event that last year sold out in the record time of eight weeks. Dance music’s grandest talents and sharpest stars play both during the day at beachside pool parties and intimate boat sailings as well as through the night on the infamous Croatian Zrce beach strip.

Spanning over sixty artists, four venues (with major improvements for this year), extended boat and pool events and offering guaranteed sun exposure on a beachside-setting, Hideout is the obvious choice for dance music devotees in search of the ultimate festival experience.
 
FULL PROGRAMME

Disclosure (DJ Set) / Rudimental (DJ Set)
Loco Dice / Solomun / Sasha

Ame / Andy C / Apollonia / Bicep / Bondax (DJ Set) / Breach / Cassy  / Davide Squillace / Dusky / George Fitzgerald / Guti (Live) / Heidi / Jackmaster / John Talabot / Joy Orbison / MK / Redlight / Scuba / Skream / Tale of Us / tINI / Wilkinson
 
Artwork / Ben Pearce / Boddika / B-Traits / Camo & Krooked / Daniel Avery / David Rodigan MBE / DJ EZ / Ejeca / Fred V & Grafix / Friction / Gerd Janson / Gorgon City / Huxley / Hype / Justin Martin / Laura Jones / Mano Le Tough / Oneman/ Ryan Elliot / Shy FX / Subb An / Ten Walls (Live) / Waze & Odyssey
 
Funkineven / Kowton / Last Magpie / Matt Long / Mike Jones / North Base / PBR Streetgang / People Get Real / Ralph Lawson / Route 94 / Simon Baker / The Sonic Emporium / Trevino / Waifs & Strays

Wychwood Festival announces Boomtown Rats, Craig Charles and more

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Wychwood Festival is delighted to confirm the first wave of stellar acts to kick off 2014’s celebrations in style! Boomtown Rats will headline Sunday night's festivities including the legendary Bob Geldof, as well as icon Craig Charles who will be returning to the Big Top after a fantastic performance this year. Soul superstars The Real Thing have also been confirmed as Friday night performers and will set the bar high for the rest of the weekend. Traditionally one of the first festivals of the summer, Wychwood's home lies on Cheltenham Racecourse beneath the idyllic Prestbury Hills and taked place over the weekend 30th May – 1st June 2014. This year promises to deliver the biggest program to date in celebration of ten phenomenal years. With word already spread Early Bird Tickets have sold out in record time, however the festival will be offering a very special 10% discount on full price tickets in 2013 to hail the imminent birthday and festive period. Discounted Standard Tickets are available from the Wychwood Festival website from 10AM today.
 
Not many festivals can boast a ten-year anniversary but Wychwood Festival is no ordinary occasion. As one of Britain’s first and most-loved family weekends, it has seen some of the biggest current and heritage acts grace the stage from this year’s The Human League, to songstress Duffy and Supergrass. Not to mention an enriched standalone Children’s Literature Festival, partnerships with the Roald Dahl Museum and the Book Trust, a late-night comedy schedule and fine beer and ale festival from the Wychwood Brewery, making Wychwood one of the most humble, friendly and fun events in the country.
 
To celebrate this landmark occasion Wychwood is committed to providing an unforgettable 2014.  Renowned Irish New Wave band Boomtown Rats will headline Sunday's main stage with Wychwood being their only 2014 UK festival appearance announced to-date. The band, complete with singer  Sir Bob Geldof, reformed this year playing together for the first time since 1986 to sell out crowds. With hits such as ‘I Don’t Like Monday’s’ the group’s classic collection will no doubt be a phenomenal headline performance for the Wychwood audience.
 
Boomtown Rats
 
Back by popular demand is funk and soul purveyor Craig Charles who smashed the Big Top at Wychwood Festival 2013, armed with his extensive record collection containing dancefloor classics. Charles comments, "Double happy to be returning to Wychwood festival to celebrate it's 10th Birthday with them – roll on the summer and lets blow the roof offfff!!" Northern soul masters The Real Thing also hailing from Liverpool will be performing on Friday night's main stage. The ‘You to Me are Everything’ singers have enjoyed a sustained career dating back to the 1970’s and their catchy melodies are the perfect festival soundtrack.
 
Lastly other artists added to the 2014 bill include modern folk-rock band Merry Hell who's high energy performances sprinkled with a dusting of punk attitude make them a favourite in this popular genre. Meanwhile four-piece band Polly and the Billets Doux will also be performing over the weekend bringing their distinct genre-defying sound to the hearts of Wychwood.

The Offspring, Status Quo, Steel Panther and more for Download 2014

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Download Festival’s 12th year is shaping up to be one of its best as the 2014 line up for Europe’s biggest rock festival continues to swarm over every inch of the rock, metal, punk and alternative music landscape like a zombie crusade.

Pop Punk royalty The Offspring will be returning to Download after a long absence from the festival, having appeared just once before in 2008.

The Offspring @ Download Festival 2014

Guitarist Noodles commented: It's been six years since we first played Download and we can't wait to return and rip it up. Stoked!

Rock legends Status Quo, who released their 100th single in 2013, make their Download Festival debut after over 50 years of producing some of the biggest guitar anthems in history and will be performing a purely greatest hits set.

On the prospect of returning to Donington, frontman Francis Rossi said: When Status Quo once again take to the Donington stage, it will have been 32 years since we headlined the Monsters of Rock Festival on August 21st 1982. That year saw the Falklands War, the launch of the Commodore 64, Aston Villa winning the European Cup and the raising of the Mary Rose. You might say a lot has changed since then but we are still rocking, and still playing the Quo hits. See you there.

The Quo will be joined by Metal titans Trivium who return to Donington for a very special performance of the set they played at their legendary first Download Main Stage appearance in 2005.

Bassist Paolo Gregoletto said: We are thrilled to be returning to Download for our 5th time. In honour of both the festival and fans that embraced Trivium first, we have decided to play our 2005 set list from start to finish, preceded by a set of some our other festival favourite tunes.  However, to make it all the more unique,  we will be playing this "one time only" set on the Red Bull Stage,  the most intimate and intense setting possible for revisiting this special moment in time.  We have had some of our best experiences as a band on the hallowed grounds of Donington, and this is shaping up to be one of our most exciting ones yet!  Do not miss it!

Swedish metallers In Flames will also be joining the bill. Speaking on their return to the Home of Rock, frontman Anders Friden, added:

It has been a while since we last played the UK, so we are all excited and looking forward to coming back to play at Download Festival 2014.

Covering the classic metal end of the spectrum will be Steel Panther. A firm fan favourite, the spandex-clad, Sunset Strip rockers will be storming the sacred Donington stage for a fourth time.

Drummer Stix Zadinia said: Fish and chips. Tea and biscuits. Monty and Pythons. Steel Panther and Download Festival. These are four examples of how nature has been able to strike the perfect balance of harmony and elegance between two glorious and powerful things. We are so excited to come back and play Download Festival 2014. This was the place where we were truly introduced to the UK and it always feels like a homecoming to us. We in Steel Panther, are going to attempt to rock you so hard, that it will take you approximately one whole year to recover, only to muster enough energy to come back to DL2015 the following year to try to handle the power again! Roll on June!

Also joining the bill are melodic death metallers The Black Dahlia Murder,  Sheffield’s finest While She Sleeps, Arizona’s Blessthefall, Japanese electro metalcore outfit Crossfaith, Californian soul punks Letlive, Metalcore giants Miss May I and, of course, after the phenomenal demand of #whynotdyingfetus Dying Fetus .

All of these huge bands will join headliners Aerosmith, Avenged Sevenfold and Linkin Park – playing their celebrated debut album Hybrid Theory in full –  as well as special guests Alter Bridge, Rob Zombie and Fall Out Boy – all of whom were announced earlier this month.

Also check out Download’s latest viral campaign, Download Family Album. This crowd sourced photography collection will allow members of the scariest non-Addams family on the planet to share awesome rock iconography and Download memories over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Download team will use a tailored #Hashtag to set a new project every week, with themes including Thrash Tats, Air Guitar Antics, Rock Kids and Main Stage Mayhem, so get involved and get snapping!

Union J announced for Osfest 2014

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Get UNION J in your Christmas Stocking, the chart topping boy band our the first act to be announced for Osfest 2014! 

OSFEST HQ is excited to announce that we have released 750 Early Buy Tickets Today (Friday 22nd November). 

Union J @ OsFest

Tickets are available to buy online at www.osfest.co.uk or buy calling 01691 680468.

Early Buy Prices:

EARLY BUY WEEKEND CAMPING ADULT £64.50

UNDER 16 £54.50

UNDER 10 £10.00

Osfest takes place on May Bank Holiday Weekend:

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May 2014.

Oswestry Showground, Shropshire.

Unknown Croatia 2014 Earlybird Tickets onsale now!

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Today Unknown Croatia announces its return for 2014 as earlybird tickets go on sale. The highlight event of the summer will once again invite thousands of revelers to its stunning Adriatic setting with an ultimate soundtrack to match. Between the 8th and 12th of September the world's leading Live musicians, DJs, underground talent and artists will be brought together again for what promises to be yet another amazingly eclectic experience. Fans can now buy limited earlybird tickets from the Unknown Croatia website for just £109.
 
This year Unknown Croatia curated one of the most unique line-ups of the summer as well as embracing all things mystical and creative with art installations by Kid Acne, Mad Ferret's Mirror World, pop-up folk bands and giant glitter fuelled walking octopuses. Thousands made the journey to the beautiful resort on Croatia's coast to see the likes of Django Django, Disclosure, Jessie Ware, Jagwar Ma, The Horrors, TEED, Lulu James and Jon Hopkins perform unforgettable live shows on the main stage. Not to mention mind blowing sets from DJs including Richie Hawtin, Four Tet, Kerri Chandler, Dixon, Tiga, Nina Kraviz, Michael Mayer,Daniel Avery, Scuba, Cryil Hahn and so many more!
 
Unknown Croatia 2014
 
Revelers took advantage of the resort's crystal clear waters and stunning beaches and delved into the Unknown, discovering intimate forest performances, amazing pool and boat parties, pop up boutiques, large scale games and not to mention the world's first ever Boiler Room Island. Unique collaborations with leading promoter’s such as Bugged Out and Eat Your Own Ears, as well as respected labels Kompakt and Phantasy, further cemented Unknown Croatia's position on the festival calendar.
 
Having sold out well in advance this year, anticipation is hotting up for Unknown Croatia 2014 and those not wanting to miss out can secure their earlybird tickets now. Sound Channel, creators of Unknown, are urging fans to visit the Unknown website to secure their place for 2014 plus ticket holders can also get a taste of what to expect with rolling highlights footage from this year.

Trentemøller, Diplo and more added to Sonar Reykjavík 2014

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Trentemøller, Diplo and FM Belfast added to the Sónar Reykjavík line-up

We’re proud to announce the latest additions of artists to perform at Sónar Reykjavík 2014, February 13-15.

Since his storming DJ set Sónar Reykjavík earlier this year Trentemøller has released his third full length album, the critically acclaimed Lost, and a Live in Copenhagen compilation of some of his best works. The Danish electronic icon will be making a return to the festival in February, this time bringing his band and full live show experience to Reykjavik!

The line-up to Sónar Reykjavík car park stage, the underground dancefloor we’ll set-up beneath the Harpa, is also getting bigger and better. Latest add-on of DJs to its programme being no other than worldwide star producer, DJ virtuoso, Mad Decent label boss and Major Lazer forerunner; Diplo.

Diplo Sonar 2014

Iceland’s friendliest band, FM Belfast, which among others includes Örvar Smáreyjarson Þóreyjarsonof Múm and has earned a reputation to be one of Iceland’s most energetic live acts, will be performing at one of Harpa’s main stages. So will President Bongo of GusGus and DJ Margeir, who, along with guests, come back to the festival with their arsenal of rotating musical mass as Gluteus Maximus.

Others from the vibrant local music scene now added to the bill include; Iceland’s techno wizard Exos, the minimalistic yet intricate Tonik, local hip hop pioneer CELL7 and the debut the unique approach to composition of multi-instrumental musician Högni Egilsson making his live debut under his alias HE.

The final line-up will consist of more than 60 artist, bands and DJs, so there is more to come!

Sónar Reykjavík 2014 takes place at one of Europe's most unique concert venues; Harpa – with five different stages; Silfuberg, Norðurljós, Kaldalón, Flói and the underground car-park, which will quickly become a classic.

Bilbao BBK Live announces first acts for 2014

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Bilbao BBK Live festival is proud to announce that Phoenix, The Lumineers, The 1975, Elliott Brood and Spanish bands Dorian, Los Enemigos and El Columpio Asesino are the first bands confirmed for the ninth edition of the festival, scheduled to take place from the 10th to 12th July, in the northern Spanish city of Bilbao.

The Lumineers @ Bilbao BBK Live 2014

3 day early bird tickets (incl camping) have now been released and are available for £76 + booking fee on Ticketweb and Eufest.