Standon Calling 2014 Super Earlybird Tickets on sale now!

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A 5000-strong crowd enjoyed Standon Calling’s first ever sell out event over the weekend of 2nd – 4th August 2013 in Hertfordshire. To celebrate the success Super Early Bird tickets to 2014’s festival are now on sale at only £85 for an adult/youth weekend pass via the Standon Calling website.
 
The festival’s most successful year to date saw performances across the spectrums of pop, indie, dance and hip-hop. Headliners Digitalism, Band Of Skulls and the legendary De La Soul crowned the mainstage, whilst the Big Top saw bill-topping turns from The Joy Formidable, DJ Yoda & Trans-Siberian Marching Band and AlunaGeorge. Elsewhere fans gathered for chart-toppers Bastille and the up-and-coming trio London Grammar. Night owls who flocked to the ‘Cowshed’ and Big Top stages in the small hours were in the safe hands of Nina Kraviz, Simian Mobile Disco, Gilles Peterson and many more.
 
Standon Calling
 
Elsewhere Gorilla Circus’ trapeze school ran sold out classes for hundreds on their outdoor rig and 30 people became part of the show themselves in Standon Calling People’s Circus.
 
2013 saw the first implementation of RFID wristbands and a completely cash free site. Speeding up bar service and improving safety for all the system was fault free throughout the weekend and used, without major issue, by all festival-goers over the weekend. Standon Calling’s RFID system was installed and managed by Glownet.
 
Those wishing to sign up early for next year’s event, taking place 1st – 3rd August 2014, can now do so at Super Early Bird price. For a very limited time tickets will be £85 for an adult/youth weekend pass (12+ years) and £10 for a child weekend pass (4-12 years), infants (0-3 years) will remain free when accompanied by an adult weekend ticket holder.
 
Festival Founder Alex Trenchard said of this year’s event:
 
"Standon Calling 2013 was a huge success and the first time we've ever sold out the festival. We've received amazing feedback from festival-goers and a lot of enquiries from people asking when they can secure their 2014 tickets, so we've put them on sale earlier than planned. I want to thank everyone who made this year's festival what it was: the artists, production and art crews, local residents for their support as well as the security and Herts police who did a great job of getting the balance right to ensure that the festival went off with only two minor incidents."

Watchet Festival Camping SOLD OUT

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WATCHET LIVE, West Somerset’s largest outdoor music event, have announced that all camping ticket options for this year’s event have sold out in advance for the second year running. Campervan tickets are also sold out. 

A very limited number of day and weekend non-camping tickets are currently still available in advance, and an allocation have been reserved for purchase on the gate.

Returning for its seventh consecutive year, Watchet LIVE is a not-for-profit family-friendly festival with amazing views of the stunning West Somerset coastline and beyond. Three live stages, including the brand new “Udder Stage” host more than 50 live acts, bringing a wide range of high-calibre musical acts not normally found performing in West Somerset at a very affordable price. 

Watchet’s biggest and best ever line-up has been confirmed and includes performances from The Hoosiers, Dreadzone, Neville Staple Band; The Skints, Showaddywaddy, 3 Daft Monkeys, Dr & The Medics, Subgiant and festival ‘house band’, those ever-popular local heroes, The Wurzels.

Dreadzone

In addition, an Open Mic venue, the infamous Something Else Tea Tent, a Silent Disco, The Griffin Tent featuring dance workshops and a large Festival Market ensure there really is something for everyone. There are also all the usual festival amenities you would expect: a large campsite with a reserved families-only zone; secure on site car parking; an extensive Food Court, Real Ale and Cider Bar and free kids-zone.

Summercamp announces free access to Street Food Market and Outdoor Stages

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For their debut year, Summercamp will be opening up part of the festival to the public for free from 11:00am until 11:00pm on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle Area. Two stages of music and a bountiful street food market will be open for all to enjoy over what is set to be the city’s best bank holiday yet.
The Summercamp Street Food market will satiate every appetite this bank holiday whilst also acting as a showcase for the North West’s best street food talents. Feeding the masses will be Dirty Dogs, Fire & Salt BBQ, Streatza, The Moocher, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, Tio's Snack Shack, Las Paelleras, Pancake Corner, Honest Crust and Can Cook. Thirst will be quenched thanks sponsors Thwaites, serving their best Wartiener and Kaltenberg brews.
 
The Johnny Sands and The Kazimier Krunk stages provide Summercamp’s alfresco music, so when guests are not eating they should certainly be dancing. The stages include Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band, Silent Cities and Hey Carrianne amongst many more.
 
A limited number of tickets for the full Summercamp experience will be available on the door starting at just £20. With a ticket guests can enjoy not only the outdoor activities but also a whole host of premium music, food, art, film and family fun inside host venue, Camp and Furnace.
 
Now added to the feasts on offer inside Summercamp is a menu from Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purrnell. A winner of ‘The Great British Menu’, Purrnell’s feast is the opportunity to add fine food to quality music and more for only £75 (including Summercamp day pass). Diners can expect Cured organic salmon, wasabi crumble, slow cooked Ox cheek and more.
 
Musically, Summercamp boasts Martha Wainwright, Ghostpoet, Mount Kimbie and many more including the latest addition of Artic Monkey-endorsed duo Royal Blood. Add to that an art programme from Liverpool Biennial and film as chosen by FACT and Summercamp shapes up as the best choice for August Bank Holiday weekend.
 
The Line-up so far
 
MUSIC
 
The Joy Formidable, Delphic, Mount Kimbie, Steve Mason, Martha Wainwright, Dutch Uncles, Ghostpoet, Ed Harcourt, Merchandise, Wave Machines, The Staves, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Eagulls, Jack Savoretti, We Were Evergreen, Fair Ohs, Marika Hackman, Josef Salvat, Poltergeist, Spectrals, Lunar Modular, Le Carousel, Roscius, Royal Blood
 
Plus DJ sets from: 2 Bears, Ewan Pearson, Nathan Fake, Optimo, and more.
 
ART
 
The Experimental Music School, curated by Liverpool Biennial featuring: Yuri Landman, Ex Easter Island Head, Juneau Projects, Yuri Suzuki , LINE-OUT, Vicki Bennett/People Like Us, Leo Chadburn, a.k.a. Simon Bookish

FILM

Ho Tzu Nyen's 'Earth' – soundtrack by Mugstar, Viktor Turin's 'Turksib' – soundtrack by Bronnt Industries Kapital
 
FOOD
 
Ticketed dinners from two-time Great British Menu winner and Michelin starred chef Glynn Purnell: Tree Huggers Banquet, No Knives or Forks, Fridgeraiders, Midnight Feast. Plus the Street Food market featuring Dirty Dogs, Fire & Salt BBQ, Streatza, The Moocher, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, Tio's Snack Shack, Las Paelleras, Pancake Corner, Honest Crust and Can Cook.
 
KIDS
 
Just So/Wild Rumpus present feather headdress and lantern making workshops, performances from FinkSoup, Woodland Creatures Disco, Storytelling and the Lantern Parade – plus the Teddy Bears Picnic

Strawberry Fields Festival 2013 – Saturday Review

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As if the acts from Friday night didn't leave us excited about the rest of the weekend at Strawberry Fields, Saturday nights music was host to a few hidden gems of talent.

After being approached by the lead singer of These Mortal Cities asking if we could go and take some photos of them playing in the big top stage, we headed down in the afternoon to see what they had in store. Playing under the BBC introducing recommendations, we had high hopes that these were going to be something special, and we were right. The further into their set they got, more people began to fill the tent; dedicating one song to a little girl who was dancing around to their songs. Having a pop feel to their music, reminding me of a young one direction, these guys really got the crowd going, and seemed like genuinely nice people. I have high hopes for them in the future.
 
Later on came Lucy Rose on the main stage, the act performing prior to headliners 'The Enemy'. Sitting gracefully on a stool with her guitar, dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and jeans, she reminded me of an up and coming Taylor Swift; she was certainly a different to the other acts that had been performing throughout the afternoon. Her voice was incredible, with an acoustic chilled out feel, she really captured the audience and the crowds began to flock around her, enticed by her presence on the stage.
 
To follow Lucy were headliners The Enemy. Running 20 minutes late, the crowd was still in good spirit, and it escaped most people's attention that they were yet to appear. It was only one security guard I heard who seemed disappointed in them keeping the crowd waiting. But they appeared, a huge projection of 'The Enemy' filled the background of the stage, and the smoke began to create a rocky atmosphere. Not saying anything to the fans, they went straight into their set, probably aware they were running behind schedule. Their set set included 'Gimme the Sign' and 'Away from Here', to which the crowds were going crazy and a mosh pit began to form. Overall their performance was outstanding.
 
The Enemy @ Strawberry Fields Festival
 
I spoke to a group of people afterwards about what they saw and they said 'They were amazing, definitely worth coming for!'. Lets see what Sunday has to offer now after incredible performances over the last 2 days.

Strawberry Fields Festival 2013 – Friday Review

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The place was getting dark, and as the crowd began to gather round the main stage, eagerly awaiting jaguar skills, what earlier looked like a reasonably empty festival scene soon became a place of chanting and cheering, excited people running to get a spot at the front of the stage ready for the headliners to begin.

As the video game style booth set got wheeled onto the stage, the crowd began to go crazy as the wait for Jaguar Skills was almost over, and the night was about to kick off. The chanting began, people began stamping their feet and clapping their hands; he enters the stage, arms in the air, face covered with a black Balaclava, his opening line 'put your mother fucking hands up'. The party had started.

His set list included some chart toppers, including Kanye West Niggas in Paris, love me again and rhythm is a dancer. About half way through he shouted to the audience 'this is an illegal party'. People began screaming, drinks were sent flying towards the stage and people got on others shoulders and began singing along with the next song 'woo woo that's the sound of the police.' The choice to have Jaguar Skills headlining the Friday definitely got everyone ready for what was in store for the rest of the weekend, and with their outstanding performance, the crowd loved the show they put on,begging for another song at the end of the set.

Jaguar Skills @ Strawberry Fields Festival

Boat Party lineup unveiled for Croatia’s Unknown Festival

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Set to be one the many highlights of Unknown Croatia, the first wave of boat parties have now been announced, featuring an amazing series of collaborations between promoters, labels and DJs. Setting sail daily during the week, the boat parties will be a truly intimate experience with big name artists taking to the decks as revelers party out in the open water. Respected electronic labels and promoters renowned for putting on the best nights will ensure that each boat party hits the water with a line-up of leading and emerging DJs, all ready to provide the soundtrack for the ultimate summer setting.

Taking the helm for the maiden voyage will be Nicola Bear, Tom Grainger and The Straight Up DJs, while that evening will see The Sonic Emporium and The Last Waltz delivering an elcectic mix of house and techno. Festival-goers are invited to board the 20 Years of Kompakt boat party as Michael Mayer and DJ Koze celebrate the legendary record label with a night of German electronica. Phantasy fans will be delighted as the London label will be hosting a boat with head honcho Erol Alkan alongside Daniel Avery and Justin Robertson. Jackmaster is joined by fellow Numbers' founder Spencer for Tweak-a-holic, which faces fierce competition when Jamie xx, Four Tet and Floating Points head out into to water with Wax:On. AME and Dixon will be out in full force as they curate their own boat party with the pair's Innervisions label. With a serious passion for cutting edge, electronic dance music Bugged Out round off the week in true style with Julio Bashmore and Paul Woolford, while John Talabot, Pional and Marc Pinol climb on board for the Hivern boat party. Boat party tickets are available here.

Unknown is the brand new event from the creative minds behind Hideout Festival in Croatia, The Warehouse Project Manchester and Field Day London. Delivering eclectic and cutting-edge live and DJ performances, the debut collaboration promises to be both inspiring and diverse with a line-up that includes The Horrors, Jessie Ware, TEED, Jagwar Ma, Lulu James, Disclosure, Ame, Jamie XX, Richie Hawtin, SBTRKT and many more.

The simple booking system at unknowncroatia.com can facilitate purchases of all accommodation and tickets at the debut Unknown event. This includes many options from camping to five star luxury apartments available on the inclusive site in Rovinj, Croatia, on the serene and undiscovered Adriatic coastline that will soon host a special and memorable week of musical adventures for Unknown.

Django Django

BOAT PARTIES HOSTED BY:
20 Years Of Kompakt / Beats In Space / Bugged Out / Ene & Esp / Hivern / Innervisions / Phantasy Boat / Tweak-A-Holic / Wax:On
 
BOAT PARTY DJ SETS FROM:
Ame / Chida / Daniel Avery / Dixon / DJ Kent aka The Blackwoods / DJ Koze / Erol Alkan / Floating Points / Four Tet / Jackmaster / Jaime xx / John Talabot / Julio Bashmore / Justin Robertson / Love Fingers / Michael Mayer / Optimo / Paul Woolford / Pional / Spencer / Tim Sweeney

PROGRAMME
LIVE: Clean Bandit / Disclosure / Django Django / Dutch Uncles / East India Youth / Factory Floor / Four Tet / Henrik Schwarz / Jagwar Ma / Jessie Ware / John Talabot / Jon Hopkins / Lindstrom / London Grammar / Lulu James / Moderat / The Horrors / Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

 
DJ: Ame / Craig Richards / Cyril Hahn / Daniel Avery / Daniele Baldelli / Death on the Balcony / Dixon / DJ Koze / Erol Alkan / FCL / Floating Points / Geddes / George Fitzgerald / Giles Smith / Jackmaster / James Holden / James Priestley / Jamie XX / Joy Orbison / Julio Bashmore / Justin Robertson / Kerri Chandler / Last Magpie / Maceo Plex / Man Power / Mark E / Mediate / Michael Mayer / Nicola Bear / Nina Kraviz / Oneman / Optimo / Paul Woolford / PBR Streetgang / Prins Thomas / Richy Ahmed / Richie Hawtin / Ryan Elliot / SBTRKT / Scuba / Subb-an / Tale of Us / The Sonic Emporium / Tiga / Tim Sweeney / Todd Terje / Trevor Jackson / Waze & Odyssey
 
Bad Passion Project / Bill Brewster / Chida / Coyote / Domenic Capello & Harri / Hardway Brothers / Eskimo Twins / Joe Hart / Last Waltz / Lock Tavern DJs / Lovefingers / Mike Jones / People Get Real / Renato / Scott Fraser / Shacklewell Arms DJs / Timothy J Fairplay / The Backwoods AKA DJ Kent / Toby Tobias / Tom Grainger / Youandewan
 + More to be announced

Camp Bestival 2013 Review

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The sixth annual Camp Bestival came to a close this weekend, and married with ideal weather, a fantastic array of food stalls, and a friendly vibe, the musical line-up far exceeded expectations.

The action kicked off on the Castle Stage on Friday with the Jaipur Brass Band playing their infectious traditional Indian music among a splash of colour, followed by the impressive Kate Bush imitator Fake Bush.

The main stage action really picked up with a string of top performances; The Correspondents, Camp Bestival favourites, whipped the crowds up with their zany mix of hip-hop, drum 'n' bass and funk; The Farm took the whole field back to 1990 with a set including 'Stepping Stone' and the anthemic 'All Together Now'; and Irish rock royalty Ash played a fantastic career spanning set of hits including the wide-eyed innocence of early breakthrough 'Girl From Mars', 'Shining Light' and the all-out stomper 'Orpheus'.

Camp Bestival

Getting out of the welcome sun, we headed to the Big Top, and caught Max Romeo, late replacement for Toots & The Maytals, mid set. A raucous crowd lapped up the Reggae legends set, and the roof nearly came off for 'I Chase The Devil'.

Staying in the Big Top, London Grammar, the first of the weekend's true up-and-coming new bands, took to the stage, and the three-piece's beautiful and moody set was one of the highlights of the festival. Hannah Reid's vocals reminiscent of Florence Welch, and a musical undercurrent with hints of The XX and Massive Attack, their impending album is now a must buy.

Veering away from music for a while we stayed to watch John Cooper Clarke, and while the legendary Punk Rock Poet was in fine form, his set was slow to begin, blighted by a bleed of sound from the Bollywood Dance Tent – a disturbance which blighted many of the acts in the Big Top.
Friday's headliner was guitar icon Richard Hawley, fresh from having headlined Bridport's Electric Palace the night previous. We went back to the main stage with muted expectations, and it made what followed even more special. Hawley's languid and soulful vocals, and sublime guitar, made for a low energy but fully engaging set, with 'Tonight The Streets Are Ours' a real festival moment.

On the way back to the tents we stopped off for a late night treat in the form of the dark and humorous Filthy Boy, the young group show a sound and style beyond their teenage years, and single 'Waiting on the Doorstep' was a particular stand-out.

Saturday, as usually is the case, had the strongest line-up. The day began with kids' hero Mr Tumble delighting the packed main stage field, followed by the Horrible Histories show. Using the kids entertainment as an excuse to explore the other entertainment and food on offer, we took in some of the extreme sports in the Freesports Park; walked through the Dingly Dell; cleared our heads with fresh coconut water; and proceeded to eat brunch at the incredible Young British Foodies. The tent was a popular stop for meals at any time of day, offering everything from smoothies and waffles, to sushi and venison burgers.

Saturday's musical offerings kicked off with american songstress Lissie, whose bluesy LA rock was the perfect accompaniment to the rapidly rising sun.  Next up was one of the sets of the weekend. Gabrielle Aplin, who last year played the bandstand stage at Camp Bestival to around 100 people, has jumped into the public eye following a Christmas advert hit, and subsequent number 2 album. The 20-year-olds main stage set included a breath-taking cover of 'The Power of Love', as well as hit singles 'Panic Cord', 'Home' and brilliant cover of the Fleetwood Mac favourite 'Go Your Own Way'.

Camp Bestival favourites The Cuban Brothers were next up, mixing hilarious quips from frontman Miguelito with high energy latin-flavoured party funk. The rapidly growing Castle Stage crowd were at once laughing hysterically and dancing madly!
Spinning his wheels of steel, Grandmaster Flash took the generation-bridging crowds hip-hop, jazz, rock and more.
The church silence allowed for a break from the searing heat, and on the way back to the tent from Grandmaster Flash, I managed to catch the last few songs from country blues newcomer Valerie June. The Tennessee native performed some of the fantastic roots-inspired tracks from her brilliant debut album 'Pushin' Against a Stone'.

Returning to the main stage, Camp Bestival's 'special guest' Mark Owen mixed songs from this new album 'The Art of Doing Nothing' with Take That classics, including what has become his signature tune 'Shine'. Surely a highlight for many of the mums in the field!
Heading to the Big Top for the last time on Saturday, Clean Bandit produced a set of set of unique dance music, incorporating huge club beats with classical string parts. The Cambridge quartet had the crowd eating up every track, and seem destined for big things.

Closing off the main stage on Saturday, Kid Creole & The Coconuts return to the Camp Bestival stage for a 30s and 40s inspired party set, channelling the spirit of Cab Calloway, and leading into main headliner Levellers.
The festival favourites produced a set of high-energy folk-rock, with 'Beautiful Day' a soundtrack anthem for a sun-drenched Saturday.

The Castle Stage kicked off with cider swilling old boys The Wurzels, and was followed by the shanty-singing Skinny Lister, who joined the crowd in a drink and a good dance.
Sunday afternoon really got going and went back to the 80s with Nik Kershaw, playing hits including 'The Riddle', 'I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me', and 'I Am The One and Only', the hit Kershaw wrote for Chesney Hawkes. Heaven 17 followed Kershaw, performing a rapturously received set kicking off with '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang' and also featuring 'Penthouse and Pavement', and huge hit 'Temptation'.

Camp Bestival favourites Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip return for their first performance for three years in the Big Top next. Their unique combination of Pip's spoken word/rap/poetry and Le Sac's bass and beats went down a storm, although the set was slightly marred by the Bollywood bass once more.
Before closing act Labrinth, we stayed after Dan Le Sac v Scroobius Pip for comedy headliner Alan Davies, and support from Ian Stone. Stone's near-the-knuckle repertoire was well received, and Davies' hilarious parental anecdotes were the perfect material for 'family-friendly' Camp Bestival.

Labrinth @ Camp Bestival

The finale for the 2013 event began on the Castle Stage with Labrinth, – Sunday's musical headliner – who delivered a surprisingly good set featuring singles 'Earthquake', 'Beneath You're Beautiful' and a cover of Tinie Tempah's 'Pass Out' (a track Labrinth collaborated on). The Castle Field was at full capacity at this point, awaiting the always popular firework spectacular, and the show didn't disappoint. Son Et Lumiere's show, projecting a wonderful animation based on the festival's 'Around The World' theme, was brilliantly interspersed with a pyro display to match any other.

By Rob Larcombe

Photos by Simon Emmett

Karybdis Interview

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The Summer Festival Guide caught up with Mitch from Karybdis before their performance at this years Bloodstock.  See what they had to say about festivals, and what they have in store for the crowd on the New Blood Stage.

SFG: What was the first thing you did this morning?
Karybdis: Kissed my girlfriend!

SFG: What will be the last thing you do tonight?
Karybdis: Have a shower

SFG: What item do you most regularly put on your festival rider?
Karybdis: Water!! Cold water. If we get a rider at all that is.

SFG: What is the strangest thing you have seen at a festival?
Karybdis: A woman with pink hair on pink stilts walking around clutching an enormous bag of weed chatting to a police officer.

SFG: What is your pre-performance ritual?
Karybdis: Stretches, warm-ups, and we all cross swords and recite the pledge of allegiance.

SFG: What has been your favourite festival of the year so far?
Karybdis: Tech fest was a lot of fun, but I think Bloodstock will be the best!

SFG: What gig are you most looking forward to next?
Karybdis: Bloodstock baby!

SFG: What would be your dream place to play a gig?
Karybdis: Sydney opera house

SFG: Who would you love to tour with?
Karybdis: Me personally? LOG. Chris Adler is the reason I started playing metal 5 years ago.

SFG: To those that don't really know you, sum up the band and what it represents in one sentence
Karybdis: A mixture of melo-death, metalcore and groove metal, with big epic choruses and black dahlia style vocals.

SFG: How did you come up with the name Karybdis?
Karybdis: Thinking about amazing stories – Homers 'Odyssey' came to mind.

SFG: What surprises are the crowd in for this year at Bloodstock?
Karybdis: If we told your they wouldn't be surprises!

SFG: When can we expect the next album and what can you tell the fans about it?
Karybdis: We have just completed a new single, which sounds incredible. We are in a writing stage at the moment, and we are surprising ourselves with the stuff we are writing! We are still shopping around for studios and producers, but once that is decided it won't be long!!

Be sure to catch Karybdis at Bloodstock 2013 on Friday at 4.00pm performing on the New Blood Stage.

Betraeus Interview

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We caught up with Betreaus before their performance at this years Bloodstock where they are performing on the Sophie Lancaster Stage.  Check out what they had to say about festivals, what the fans can expect at Bloodstock and more!

SFG: What was the first thing you did this morning?
Betreaus: Set my alarm to snooze.

SFG: What will be the last thing you do tonight?
Betreaus: Finish prepping for Bloodstock!

SFG: What item do you most regularly put on your festival rider?
Betreaus: A stripper, but we never get one.

SFG: What is the strangest thing you have seen at a festival?
Betreaus: Our roadie nearly cutting his ear off trying to squeeze his head under a fence.

SFG: What is your pre-performance ritual?
Betreaus: Trying to order a stripper.

SFG: What has been your favourite festival of the year so far?
Betreaus: Techfest.

SFG: What gig are you most looking forward to next?
Betreaus: The lineup for Euroblast 10 looks pretty damn tasty,

SFG: What would be your dream place to play a gig?
Betreaus: Wembley Stadium.

SFG: Who would you love to tour with?
Betreaus: Gojira.

SFG: To those that don't really know you, sum up the band and what it represents in one sentence
Betreaus: We're a young british metal band, writing the music that we want to.

SFG: How did it feel to win the BOA 'Metal to the Masses' comp?
Betreaus: It felt like all of our hard work up to that point had paid off, amazing!

SFG: What can the fans at Bloodstock look forward to for your performance on the Sophie Lancaster Stage?
Betreaus: New material; heavy, atmospheric and progressive.

SFG: What is coming next for Betraeus?
Betreaus: Finishing and releasing our debut full length album! Watch this space…

Tennents Vital lineup get bigger with The Undertones, Naughty Boy and more added

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The biggest ever Tennent’s Vital just got bigger… With one week to go until tens of thousands of music fans descend on Boucher Road Playing Fields for three days of incredible live music, Tennent’s Lager and MCD are thrilled to reveal that Northern Irish legends The Undertones, the hugely in-demand rapper/songwriter/producer sensation Naughty Boy and Dublin rockers The Minutes will complete the Tennent’s Vital 2013 line-up. Organisers have also announced that the gates will open at 4.30pm each day over 14th – 16th August.
 
The three acts announced today complete an ultra-impressive bill bursting with the hottest acts on the planet. Tennent’s Vital 2013 kicks off on Wednesday 14th August, when Kings of Leon, The Vaccines, The Undertones and The Minutes take to the stage on the opening day. Snow Patrolplay a massive homecoming show (their only European date this summer) when they headline Day 2 of the festival, which also features Jazon Mraz, Kodaline and Foy Vance, with Avicii, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental, Naughty Boy and Tommy Trash continuing the party on Day 3.
 
Avicii
 
Iconic punk/New Wave legends The Undertones are sure to receive a rapturous reception when they play Day 1 of Tennent’s Vital. The Derry band reformed in 1999 to the delight of music fans across the globe, winning over a new generation of fans with classics from their seminal back catalogue such as Teenage Kicks and Here Comes The Summer. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the release of their seminal debut single Teenage Kicks, and fans can look forward to hearing all the hits in Belfast next week.
 
After spending years penning and producing hits for the likes of Rihanna, Wiley, Professor Green and Chipmunk, Naughty Boy (aka producer Shahid Khan) deservedly emerged into the spotlight in his own right with the smash hit Wonder feat. Emeli Sandé. Its chart-topping follow-up La La La is currently dominating the charts as the tune of the summer, and has well and truly cemented his status as one of the hottest new rapper/producer stars around. Having co-written and produced Emeli Sandé’s record-breaking, million-selling Our Version of Events, the unstoppable pair team up once again on his hotly anticipated forthcoming single Lifted, with the Scottish songstress also lending vocals to his debut album Hotel Cabana, which also features a guest spot from fellow Tennent’s Vital act Tinie Tempah.
 
Dublin rockers The Minutes complete the line-up. Channelling raucous, high voltage garage rock ‘n’ roll with elements of the blues and gospel, they went down an absolute storm at Tennent’s Vital last year and will make a welcome return to Belfast this summer when they play Day 1 of the festival.
 
The countdown to the biggest ever Tennent’s Vital continues tonight at The Limelight in Belfast at the second of two official Tennent’s Vital warm-up parties. Fans can register for tickets for the warm up parties on facebook.