Brand new festival Together The People comes to Brighton

November 18, 2018July 9, 2015 by Summer Festival Guide

Together The People (TTP), a brand new addition to the UK festival scene, reveals its debut line-up today. Taking place in Preston Park in Brighton on Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th September 2015, TTP is a 5,000 capacity, non-camping music and arts festival founded by local music promotions company One Inch Badge. Together ThePeople’s primary focus is to celebrate Music, Food, Community, Film and Arts within the city of Brighton by delivering a high quality, creative, family friendly and socially aware flagship event accessible to all.

With great music very much at the heart of the festival, TTP’s debut line-up reflects an eclectic mix of new talent, beloved legends and contemporary stars. Headlining the main stage on Saturday are irreverent Welsh pop collective Super Furry Animals. Fronted by Gruff Rhys, the SFA’s are celebrated not only for their exceptional song-writing and spectacular live shows, but also for their sheer creativity and imagination. With a back catalogue of countless classics from throughout their over-20-year career, this headline slot looks set to be a highlight of the festival season.

Joining the Super Furry Animals on the main stage on Saturday are Brighton folk-rock stalwarts The Levellers, political poet and master singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, Mercury-nominated producer/MC Ghostpoet, talented local rising star Chris Simmons and emotive and spirted pop from popular X-Factor finalist Lucy Spraggen.

Sunday will see 1960s Motown legends Martha Reeves & The Vandellas take to the main stage, along with instrumental duo Public Service Broadcasting, folk songstress Lucy Rose and Roots Manuva who was recently dubbed “England’s greatest rapper” by The Independent. More Brighton talent will be represented with psychedelic hip-hop outfit Dizrali & The Small Gods and local party providersCarnival Collective opening the stage. The very special guest headliner for Sunday at Together The People will be revealed soon!

The second stage will also host several exciting musical acts over the weekend with headline sets provided by Brakes and Scott Matthews. Other slots over the weekend will come courtesy of Brakes, The Xcerts, Horrible Histories, Half Crown, Mok, Carnival Collective, on the Saturday. Followed by Scott Matthews, Jako Hooper, Yonaka, Kudu Blue, Cat in the Hat, Normanton Street, Neon Saints Brass Band.

The Soapbox Stage will offer a platform for other creative arts such as literature, spoken-word, poetry and dance. Also welcoming local focus groups and charities to talk about their work, this stage is the place to see cutting edge arts performances and engaging with lively discussions and Q&A sessions. The line-up so far includes:Hammer & Tongue, Beach Hut Writers, Sea Shepherd UK, Brighton Housing Trust, Future Brighton Debate (featuring local focus groups & MP’s), Revolution #10 by Joseph Young. Plus comedy, kids programming and much more to be added.

The Folkore Stage will showcase Brighton's excellent array of acoustic talents, as well as artists from all over the country. Programmed by local musician Jacko Hooper who hosts a monthly night of the same name and has recently toured with the likes of James Bay and James Blunt, acts playing across the weekend include:Mike Dignam, Jack Watts, Deidre Faegre, George O’Gilvie, Daisy Jean Russell,Bella Spinks, Aniseed Treats, Oxtoba, Sam Jordan, Bess Atwell, Christopher Matthewson, Josh Mac, Paper Hawk and Matthew the Oxx.

There will also be plenty of family fun on offer! On the main stage on Saturday afternoon audiences will be treated to one of the wildest family theatre shows round:The Cat In The Hat, based on the much loved book by Dr Seuss. Expect towering hats, mischief and an imagination recharge! Ever popular book and TV series Horrible Histories will also be taking to the stage with their brilliantly funny educational theatre show ‘Barmy Britain’; a breakneck rollick through 1,000 years of our great land that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages!

With a wealth of exciting producers on their doorstep, Together The People will offer festival-goers the very best in local independent food and drink. Street Diner will present ‘Street Food Revolution’ including Dead Good Burrito, Ahimsa, Fries Guys, Guerrilla Grill and Sultans Delight. There will also be several bars serving beverages from local breweries. More information on the food and drinks TBA!

There will be plenty of other areas to explore and exciting experiences to be had atTogether The People’s debut outing. Art Installations and exhibition spaces curated by Studio 45 and Cassette Lord, with a number of workshops including spray painting and street art, screen printing, pottery, lino-cut, woodblock printing and circus skills plus, interactive fun for kids.

With so many brilliant local business based on their home turf, TTP have partnered with several of their friends to provide festival-goers with a taster of Brighton’s best-loved cultural institutions. The UK’s leading independent record store Resident will present a Music Pop Up Shop selling some of the worlds best records and hosting meet & greets and signing’s from artists performing at the festival. The oldest cinema in continuous use in Britain, Duke of Yorks Picture house will also be programming an eclectic and entertaining choice of moving pictures in an environment we can guarantee you have experienced before! Plus lots more interesting local retails TBA!

New musical talent will also be strongly represented over on the BIMM Stage (British and Irish Modern Music Institute). Full line-up to be revealed soon but expect a stage packed with performances from the most talented musicians in the city of Brighton right now including folk, rock, electronica, reggae, punk, dance and everything in-between!

TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend Tickets
£70 + booking fee – Adult Weekend (16+)
£37.50 + booking fee – Child Weekend (11-15 yrs. Must be accompanied by adult 18+)
£0 – Infant Weekend (under 11yrs. Must be accompanied by adult 18+)

Day Tickets
£39.50 + booking fee – Adult Day (16+)
£20 + booking fee – Child Day (11-15 yrs. Must be accompanied by adult 18+)
£0 – Infant Day (under 11yrs. Must be accompanied by adult 18+)

Disabled customers are asked to purchase their tickets via Ticketmaster & call the dedicate line (0800 988 4440) to arrange a carer ticket and obtain further information.

Blissfields 2015 Review

November 8, 2018July 8, 2015 by Mickey Cole

Rural Hampshire is an unlikely location for a lively, music filled party, yet Blissfields Festival proved once again that it’s the perfect setting for this festival for all ages. With over 4000 attendees, Blissfields manages to retain the charm of a small festival, yet provides musical acts that rival much larger and longer running events. Friday 3rd was packed full of musical highlights, including Dub Pistols who have become a resident act since playing in 2013. Drawing in a huge crowd, their upbeat fusion of sounds was a perfect accompaniment to the summer sun. Other stand out acts included Ghostpoet who’s spoken word-esque tracks provided something extremely unique. Rhodes, due to release his highly anticipated album in September, also received a great reception, with powerful tracks such as ‘Breathe’ providing the crowd with an excuse to sing along. The main stage closed with The Horrors, which was a thoroughly enjoyable way to end the night. The Den, a smaller stage, hosted an array of emerging artists, with my firm favourite being Leader whose charisma and catchy songs were contagious.

Saturday was equally as fun filled, with Karen Harding lighting up the stage with her chart topper ‘Say Something’. Grandmaster Flash was as amazing as expected, being a strong contender for the biggest crowd. Simian Mobile Disco closed the final day on a high, with their electronic beats gathering the crowds for one last time.

Blissfields is the epitome of a broad appeal festival. For the young ones, a hungry hippo popping out tennis balls kept many entertained for hours! When the sun became too much, many resided to the indoor cinema, showing classics such as Wall-E. There is also areas to try out hula hoops, bubbles and diablos. Teens are also well catered for as it’s the perfect first festival, with plenty going on late in to the night yet. Adults of all ages were well catered for, with a stag and hen party being put to the test in the main arena in a battle involving lots of water and flour! The Blisscotheque proved popular with all, providing a non stop torrent of DJ’s blasting out hits, supplying the revellers with plenty of dancing material. The Hidden Hedge was also popular with those staying out after dark, featuring obscure art installations, light shows and dj’s – what more could you want! Families were made welcome with separate camping areas away from the noise which proved very popular. Blissfields offers much more than just music, with stalls such as Far Out Studios selling beautifully hand screen printed posters created commissioned by a selection of musicians. A ‘give it a go’ tent allowed you to try out circus acts too. When the sun became too much, lounging in the hammocks was an extremely popular choice. Plenty of trees also provided some much needed shade whilst still being in earshot of the main stage.

Food stalls were not in short supply, with delicious dishes on offer ranging from packed chicken burritos, to vegetarian sushi rolls. Dessert came in all shapes and sizes, with my favourite being the a huge nutella pancake, a steal at £4. No summer day is complete without a glass of Pimms which was readily available from the main bar.

Overall, this really was a great weekend for numerous reasons. It's rare to find a festival this small that still packs a punch. I will definitely be returning next year, and as early bird tickets are currently on sale, so can you!

Wireless Festival 2015 Full Review

November 8, 2018July 7, 2015 by Kya Esnard

Thousands flocked to Finsbury Park this weekend for popular festival – Wireless. Each year the festivals line up is spectacular, Summer Festival Guide headed over to check things out. With over 40 acts on both Saturday and Sunday; including Ciara, Jessie J, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Avicci and Kendrick Lamar, Wireless was sure to be a festival not to be forgotten.

With the sun beating down on Finsbury Park Saturday's sold-out show, started to fill out almost immediately. As the crowd flooded through the gates of Finsbury Park, they were greeted by a high-spirited Conor Maynard who kicked started Saturday on the main stage, whilst KStewart and Ady Sulieman took to the other two stages.

Raleigh Ritchie and Tinashe later took to the main stage and both performed equally good sets. Raleigh got the crowd jumping around and seemed to genuinely enjoy it just as much as they were enjoying him. Tinashe performed a great up beat set from her latest album Aquarius. Summer Festival Guide caught up with Raleigh Ritchie back stage where he told us about his love for performing, festivals and Game of Thrones.

Indiana took to the Pepsi Max Arena where she slowed things down a bit and performed a very mellow set. Fans swayed as the singer performed tracks from her latest album – ‘No Romeo’ and she drew in the crowd however the singer sped things up a bit towards the end of her set and the crowd loved it.

Whilst waiting for Mary J Blige crowds flocked to numerous food vans to refuel. Ranging from Chinese to Mexican, Vegan to Steak Grills and Lebanese to Caribbean food the crowd were definitely spoilt for choice. Mary J Blige dived straight in to her set list starting with her hit song ‘Just Fine’. The crowd immediately jumped to their feet and started dancing. Mary J had the crowd dancing for the whole 45 minutes of her set. With a great set list and her high-spirit Mary J had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hands.

Gorgon City and Childish Gambino later took to the main stage. Whilst Stormzy took to the RE: WIRED stage. Gorgon City's up beat set had the crowd dancing with range of hits including 'Stronger', 'Rather Be' & 'Real Love'.

The mult-talented Childish Gambino ran out onto the main stage next and it wasn't long before he was shirtless and belting out 'Crawl', 'Worldstar' and more from his back cataloge of albums.

Stormzy had a huge crowd for his highly anticipated set performing his latest tracks to a very appreciative crowd who sung their hearts out word for word.

As the crowd waited for Kendrick Lamar yet again they headed for the food vans and the bars to refuel and rehydrate. Kendrick took to the stage performing many tracks both old and new including 'Backstreet Freestyle', 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe' and 'Swimming Pools (Drank). The crowd loved Kendrick and Kendrick loved the crowd. Avicii wowed crowds when he later took to the stage and saw what had been an amazing day off with an equally amazing set and a spectacular light and firework display.

Sunday afternoon saw Wretch 32 kick start the day off on the main stage with an impressive performance. Also kicking off the day around the park was Samm Henshaw on the Re: WIRED stage and Kiko Bun in the Pepsi Max Arena. Summer Festival Guide caught up with Samm Henshaw backstage and he was just as happy and full of energy off stage as he was on.

Charlie XCX, August Alsina and Clean Bandit were the main stage line up for the afternoon. Whilst Arrested Development, Ciara, Pusha T and Rae Sremmurd took to the Pepsi Max Arena. Leaving Damage, Jacob Plant, Tove Stryke, Jaden & Willow Smith, Elliphant and Shakka to entertain those at the RE: WIRED stage.

Charli XCX with her trademark Sucker heart prop and full band on stage rocked the crowd with her hits 'Sucker', 'Breaking Up', 'I Love It'. Full of energy and with the sun pelting down on Finsbury Park, Charli had the crowd singing with her throughout her entire set!

Ciara was off to a rocky start with her mic being switched off for the first 15 minutes of her set. However that did not stop the crowd from singing along to the popular singer's songs and enjoying the show Ciara provided. Jaden and Willow left the crowd slightly befuddled with a rather unusual performance. However the crowd soon perked up when willow performed popular hit 'Whip my Hair' and Jaden shared a new track with the Wireless crowd. The sibling duo were full of energy and provided a good performance, aiding each other throughout.

As night began to fall, crowds were left disheartened when the festival organisers shamefully admitted that Nicki Minaj was running late due to travel complications and that they had lost touch with the award winning female rapper. It was later announced that Nicki and David Guetta had mutually agreed to share the set time which crowd's responded to with boos.

When David Guetta took to the stage half an hour after the announcement crowds went wild as he started his set. The light show Guetta provided was spectacular and he managed to win back the crowd with popular tracks, smoke, confetti and fireworks. David Guetta continued for a further 40 minutes before Nicki Minaj finally made her entrance and crowds seemed to have forgiven the female rapper within an instance.

Nicki continued to work the crowd and performed popular songs including 'Truffle Butter', 'Only', 'Moment for Life' and 'Anaconda'. Adoring fans sang and danced the night away enjoying the all-round amazing show Nicki delivered. Nicki Minaj was the perfect act to round off the Wireless weekend she left the crowd on a positive high and closed the show with a tremendously great performance.

Photos from Saturday at Wireless Festival

Photos from Sunday at Wireless Festival

Beat Herder tickets sell out as it celebrates its 10th year.

June 10, 2020July 6, 2015 by Jane Anderson

Northern England’s most cherished festival, Beat-Herder in Lancashire, has sold out of all 12,000 tickets with 2 weeks to go.

Selling out in advance has become something of a given for the festival, which celebrates its landmark 10th anniversary this year. This will be the 9th year in a row that all tickets have gone in advance.

In other exciting news, legendary British electronic-duo Leftfield have been announced as Sunday night headliners. They will be closing the festival on Beat-Herder's main stage and replace Sugarhill Gang, who have sadly had to postpone due to health issues.

From humble free party origins to an annual three-day 12,000 capacity bonanza with a legion of devout fans, Beat-Herder is a rare find in today’s climate: a staunchly independent festival that stays true to its roots, completely shunning all corporate sponsorship or branding.

"We're over the moon about having yet another sell out event; our 9th in a row! We're looking forward to an amazing and very special 10th birthday with some surprises in store, and which is looking set for, dare I say it, great weather too." Nick Chambers, Beat-Herder Festival founder.

beatherder.co.uk

Kendal Calling add new area to showcase Arts, Music & Culture

June 10, 2020July 6, 2015 by Summer Festival Guide

Inspired by folklore of the Eden Valley, Kendal Calling presents something completely new for 2015. Wander into the woodlands and discover a whole new level of escapism a world away from the main stages. Expect stampedes led by opulent stags, weird encounters with mythical creatures inside giant, bespoke installations, and so much more—in short, expect a hotbed of art, music and culture nestled among four acres of beautiful woodland. Lost Eden will be home to new performance spaces with packed programs of audio-visual content, as well as a host of other artworks and leftfield experiences throughout the weekend.

If you dare to journey through this rabbit hole, you must prepare to be taken on a journey from a state of nature to a tribal metropolis. Kendal Callers are cordially invited to co-author the story of the Carvetti, the lost inhabitants of the Eden Valley, through costumed parades, spontaneous gatherings, workshops and encounters with newly commissioned installation art. Lost Eden at Kendal Calling is supported by the Arts Council England and curated with outdoor arts experts and NPO Walk the Plank.

A fully immersive experience, Lost Eden presents 10 new art commissions, with high calibre works in a range of media, including projection-based and sculptural work. From intricately carved automobiles to mesmerising video art, the unique and beautiful installations at Lost Eden are not to be missed!

With costumed processions through to giant puppets and gut-shuddering drum troupes, Lost Eden will play host to an abundance of performance too: watch out for glowing stags, ballroom dancers, topiary-headed ladies and larger than life jellyfish—to name just a few.

Lost Eden artworks at Kendal Calling are supported by the Arts Council England. They are curated in association with outdoor arts experts Walk The Plank, a creative force in cultural events and NPO also supported by the Arts Council England. Alison Clark, Director Combined Arts, Arts Council England said, ‘Kendal Calling has grown to be one of the most important festivals in the UK and Lost Eden will give people attending the chance to experience some great visual art alongside the music. I’m really pleased that we have been able to fund the initiative through our National Lottery funded Grants for the Arts programme and look forward to seeing the work myself.’

Catch over 100+ acts spread across the newly introduced stages, with sounds encompassing a cosmic blend of psychedelia, electro-swing, acid jazz, live techno and acid house in the evenings. Highlights will include Dub Pistols DJ set, Aziz Ibrahim (ex Stone Roses) and Wolfie Razzmatazz. Expect world music, bluegrass, folk and acoustic sounds to relax to in the day (watch out for Fiona Clayton, John Fairhurst, Wilf Stone and Bird to Beast). Keep your eyes peeled for panel discussions, lifestyle talks, spoof happenings and literature from our spoken word residents at Bad Language, every afternoon throughout the weekend.

ART & CULTURE

NEW COMMISSIONS – OUR PICK

Eden Avenue by Sound Intervention: Sound Intervention, an acclaimed arts company founded by Cumbrian artist Dan Fox, specialises in sonic art. For Kendal Calling 2015 Sound Intervention presents Eden Avenue, an installation of urban lamps flickering with light and the ephemeral sounds of forest wildlife. http://www.danfox.net

Paradise Found by Mick Stephenson: Light artist Mick Stephenson is best known for his beautiful sculptures crafted from upcycled materials and vibrantly lit with LEDs. Drawing upon this expertise and the vision for Lost Eden,Mick presents a piece that plays upon the interaction between nature and our technologically advanced society. Expect a large-scale collection of clocks, computers and other devices bathing in artificial light while sprouting with lush vegetation. http://www.mickstephenson.net

Liminal by Christopher Helson: It will be hard to miss the eye-catching contribution of Christopher Helson, as an enormous 8m diameter video sphere. Liminal will feature newly commissioned film as abstract depictions of Cumbrian lakes, mountains and forests. http://helsonandjackets.com/index.php/liminal

PERFORMANCE ART – OUR PICK

Spark! Five mysterious characters made of light and sound will take you on a unique and mesmerising journey. High impact drumming, beautiful lighting design, dynamic choreography, incredible costumes, and strong characters: this is a show not to be missed. Watch out for some surprising audience interactions too! http://worldbeatersmusic.com

The Lantern Company. This world-class company will be furnishing the woods of Lost Eden with illuminated costumed characters, creating amazing and memorable events across the weekend. The Lantern Company play with light and dark, giant puppets, lanterns and performance, with theatrical installations, walkabout characters and carnival processions. Expect something mysterious, beautiful and absurd, often all at the same time!

http://lanterncompany.co.uk

Thingumajig: Unmissable performances by Thingumajig will include Jellish and Sunbirds; larger than life puppetry that will leave you smiling, if not a little stunned. Spectacular, uplifting and colourful, watch out for these unique creatures at dusk and at night in the Lost Eden woodland.

www.thingumajig.info/projects/jellish

MUSIC

The Carvetti Stage: A mixed stage featuring a roster of sounds from laid back acoustic to bespoke cabaret and thumping brass ensembles. The Carvetti Stage also features lectures, spoken word and Q&As with must-see speakers throughout the day.

The Lost Stage: Expect an industrial sculpture-come-stage crafted and part-curated by the Invisible Wind Factory, our good friends behind Liverpool’s Kazimier. This is an after-hours party of electronic sounds encompassing experimental house, live techno and gut-shuddering dub.

REGIONAL FOCUS

Lost Eden will also showcase Eden Valley artist Fiona Clayton who returns to the live stage after a break. Browlin sees the return of Linton Brown under a new guise. Beachmaster will perform their ever evolving folk punk and Martin Allinsons (The Raged) premiers his new project Lost Colours, an exciting mix of Psychedelia & electronica. Along with other Cumbrian artists Hardwick Circus, Fading Face & Sykamore Sykes will be making their first appearance at the festival.

FULL LOST EDEN LINE-UP

ART & CULTURE: ‘Nature Delivers’ Dan Rawlings / ‘Treeple’ Paul Calsey / ‘Liminal’ Christopher Helson / ‘Eden Avenue’ Sound Intervention / ‘Wild Life Strip’ Simon Williams / Spoken Word with Bad Language / Aziz Ibrahim Q&A / Lifestyle Talks with Betternotstop / Festival Culture Panel with Professor George McKay / Swing dance classes / Live art with John Pearson / ‘Paradise Found’ Mick Stephenson

PERFORMANCE: Spark! / Kitsch & Sync / the Artful Badger / the Lantern Company / Sound Intervention / ‘Birdcage’ Caustic Widows / ‘White Stag’ Rhiannon White

MUSIC (LIVE): Aziz Ibrahim (ex Stone Roses) / The Church / Dogshow / The Age of Glass / Twisted Tubes / Hermigervill / John Fairhurst / Wilf Stone (Pikey Beats)/ Bird to Beast / Fiona Clayton / Fading Face / Hardwicke Circus / Henge / Purple Heart Parade / Ric Birtill / Strange Collective / Sykamore Sykes / Killer Computers / Beachmaster

DJS: Dub Pistols DJ set / Wolfie Razzmatazz / Culture Cuts / Mike Freear / Ki Creighto / Lucid Dream DJ set / Mixmonster Menno / Mortisville / Vinyl Revival / Uber / Faux Queens / Engine DJs / DJ Mime / Lost Colours / Rubrick’s Crumpet Funk / Browlin / Understate / DJ Storm.

With its own real ale festival, comedy, kids activities, gourmet food and drink alongside artists such as Elbow,Snoop Dogg, Kaiser Chiefs, Vaccines, James and hundreds more, the multi-award winning Kendal Calling is the perfect summer festival..

David Guetta and Nicki Minaj Headline Wireless 2015

November 8, 2018July 6, 2015 by Kya Esnard

French born DJ David Guetta and Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj took to the stage of Wireless Festival last night and did not disappoint. Due to travel issues Nicki had missed her spot but had mutually agreed with David that they would share the set. David Guetta started on stage with a number of classics including dance and hip hop tubes which got the crowd dancing and singing along. David constantly remind the crowd of his love for for London and wasted no time in letting off the fireworks, smoke and even confetti. Throughout his performance David engaged with the crowd, hyping them up for both his performance and for what was up to come.

About 20 minutes into his set David teased the crowd with a song he and Nicki had recorded together. However it wasn't for a further 20 minutes that Nicki Minaj finally graced the adoring crowd with her presence. Nicki wasted no time in getting started and had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hands. David and Nicki performed one song together and then Nicki was left to take over. Nicki jumped straight into songs off of her latest album The Pink Print. Including only and anaconda. Both of which she performed with backing dancers both male and female which sent the crowd wild. Nicki moved on to older songs from previous albums including Pink Friday.

Nicki continued to engage with the crowd asking her 'fellow West Indians' if they had prepared any Ox tail soup or Curried Goat for her. She continued on to joke with the crowd and fully engage with them throughout her set, whilst continuing with songs both old and new.

All in all it is safe to say that although Nicki had missed her own set, she made up for it with the performance she provided for her fans. She did not fail to deliver an amazing set, with amazing song choices and a positive vibe despite the complications she had finished. It is safe to say that Nicki Minaj was a perfect way to end the weekend and Wireless Festival 2015.

MADE BIRMINGHAM AFTER PARTY & SECOND DAY ADDED

November 18, 2018July 5, 2015 by Jane Anderson

With only 3 weeks to go and the hot summer weather well and truly here Made Birmingham announce after parties – Made… My Night – More details TBC!

*ADDITIONAL SECOND DAY WITH FOOD PROGRAMMING FROM DIGBETH DINING CLUB*

*LINEUP ADDITIONS: LOW STEPPA, 99 SOULS, JASPER JAMES + MORE*

Returning to The Digbeth Triangle for 2015, MADE Birmingham debuted last year to huge success, being nominated for Best Metropolitan Festival in the UK Festival Awards. With an already stellar programme of both live music and DJ performances confirmed for Saturday 25^th July – including a headline set from MK who described the event as having "Such an organic vibe to it, I sometimes wish that more promoters from the US would come here to experience what a great time it is” as well music from Wilkinson, Claude VonStroke, Heidi, Julio Bashmore, Beardyman, David Rodigan and Norman Jay – the festival is proud to reveal that a second day (Sunday 26^th July) will be added with food host, the multi award winning, Digbeth Dining Club as well as further additions to the lineup including local hero, Low Steppa and rising house duo 99 Souls.

SECOND DAY ADDED TO THE FESTIVAL, SUNDAY 26TH JULY

Presenting MADE Birmingham's second day; a celebration of food, beverage and artistic talent from the Midlands and beyond. Digbeth Dining Club, award winning street food event which has revolutionised the scene in Birmingham, returns to host the food programming on the day whilst a selection of independent breweries, distilleries, street art from Digbeth's City of Colours, live music, spoken word, retro gaming, and more will be on offer. Proceeds will go to local charities.

LINEUP ADDITIONS; LOW STEPPA, 99 SOULS, JASPER JAMES, THE HEATWAVE, TOM SHORTERZ + KURUPT FM

* * *

LINEUP

SATURDAY 25TH JULY

MK, WILKINSONBEARDYMAN, BLONDE (LIVE), CLAUDE VONSTROKE, DAVID RODIGAN,

DOORLY, DORSIA, DUSKY, FONO, FRICTION, THE HEATWAVE, HEIDI, JASPER JAMES, JULIO BASHMORE, KURUPT FM, LEE FOSS, MATRIX & FUTUREBOUND, LOW STEPPA, NIGHTMARES ON WAX (DJ SET), NORMAN JAY MBE, PALEMAN, PHILIP GEORGE, PLEASURE STATE (LEE FOSS, MARC KINCHEN, ANABEL ENGLUND), STANTON WARRIORS, SUBB-AN & ADAM SHELTON, TOM SHORTERZ, TROJAN SOUNDSYSTEM (DEX N FX), 99 SOULS & MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

SUNDAY 26TH JULY

FOOD PROGRAMMING FROM DIGBETH DINING CLUB:

PLATINUM PANCAKES, MEAT SHACK, CANOODLE, ESMIE'S, SAVANNA GRILL, BIG, DADDIES DINER, DELIZIE ITALIANE, BUDDHA BELLY, HABANERO, FYBIN AND LOIN, BAKED IN BRICK, MEATHEADS, FAT DUCK SPUDS

Tickets are available at http://www.madebirmingham.com

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds brings London Calling to a close

November 8, 2018July 5, 2015 by Ed Jacobs

With the former Hard Rock Calling Festival boasting some of the biggest acts in music history, the newly relocated pint-sized Calling Festival brought a seemingly placid crowd to London's Clapham Common on Saturday 4th July.

Oasis icon Noel Gallagher saw to it that the crowd weren't disappointed, bringing forth a selection of tracks from High Flying Birds' latest album and a number of 90's classics including 'Champagne Supernova', 'Fade Away' and 'Whatever'. Happily engaging with his fans in classic Gallagher fashion, the crowd of midsummer anorak-wearing, Paul Weller haircut-donning post-mods showed their gratefulness by launching cups of overpriced festival beer (or similarly coloured liquid) into the air.

Whilst there was no hope of brother Liam surprising fans with an appearance, Noel brought the festival to a close in style with 'Don't Look Back in Anger'.

Photo by Justin Trickett courtesy of Calling Festival

Highlights from the day included Swedish rockers The Hives smashing their performance before handing over the Main Stage's surprisingly small crowd to a lack-lustre Modest Mouse. Luckily New Yorkers Bleachers were able to pick up the pace and entertain with their punk-pop-esque energy and sax solos. Ryan Adams was at hand to cater to his UK fanbase whilst Wolf Alice seized the opportunity to warm up the crowd with an energetic and emotive selection of songs from their small yet undeniably impressive catalogue.

See below for the full setlist for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Calling Festival, Clapham Common on 4th July 2015:

Shoot a Hole Into the Sun
Everybody's on the Run
Lock All the Doors
In the Heat of the Moment
Fade Away (Oasis cover)
The Death of You and Me
Riverman
You Know We Can't Go Back
Champagne Supernova (Oasis cover)
Dream On
Whatever (Oasis cover)
The Mexican
(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach
AKA… Broken Arrow
Digsy's Dinner (Oasis cover)
If I Had a Gun…

Encore:
Do the Damage
The Masterplan (Oasis cover)
AKA… What a Life!
Don't Look Back in Anger (Oasis cover)

Kendrick Lamar headlines Wireless festival 2015

November 8, 2018July 5, 2015 by Kya Esnard

American rapper Kendrick Lamar took to the stage of wireless festival last night and did not disappoint after a long day of the crowd eagerly awaiting his performance. With the sun shining down on Finsbury Park, Kendrick wasted no time in getting the crowd up on their feet, chanting "Oh Kendrick Lamar" clapping and cheering. Kendrick started out with an old classic of his, Temptation before swiftly moved on to crowd pleasers such as Backstreet Freestyle, I, Money trees and many more from a combination of his albums. Kendrick continued to work the crowd and had them eating out of the palm of his hands. In turn the crowd continued to feed Kendricks set by singing along, dancing and chanting, the crowd and Kendrick struck up an immediate bond. Kendrick constantly reminded the crowd of his love for London leading to an eruption of cheers every time.

Kendrick connected with fans and even suggested bringing one dedicated fan, who knew all the words, up on stage. Before deciding to give her a shout out instead. Kendricks constant interaction with the crowd as well as the set of good songs he chose lead to an amazing atmosphere. Many had waited eagerly all day to see Kendrick and he did not disappoint.

All in all it is safe to say after a long hot day of waiting to see Kendrick Lamar, he did not fail to deliver exactly what the crowd wanted and it was a great way to end the day.

Cocoon in the Park Preview – Who to look out for

November 18, 2018July 2, 2015 by Nicole Douglas

For one unforgettable day and night, the back garden of the quaint, scenic and peaceful setting of Temple Newsam will be transformed into an electronic, beat-heavy haven. A place where thousands of music fanatics can listen to hour-upon-hour of highly-charged techno, with a heavy-duty line-up with no trace of a weak link. This is, of course, Cocoon in the Park; so be prepared for a day witnessing a consistent view of pumping fists to the likes of Sven Väth, Dixon, Seb Zito and the almight Carl Cox – and that’s just to name a few.

I saw Enzo Siragusa play alongside tINI just a couple of weeks ago, and to say it was incredible would be an understatement. The dancefloor was packed with a typical array of sweating bodies, all of us wonderstruck with his stripped down tech house style beats that whet our appetite so well. His appearance at Cocoon at the Park should be no different, and he’s definitely one who you should get down – whether early in the day or not – to witness.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Sven Väth is, quite frankly, a legend amongst men. His style and passion knows no boundaries; it has influenced many and has truly revolutionised electronic music, so to hear he’ll be leading an army of music fanatics at Cocoon is music to everyone’s ears. Expect deep, indulging sounds and chasm of rich interludes – and more than anything, one hell of a set.

Ricardo Villalobos minimal percussion styling might not be to everyone’s taste, but at a festival like Cocoon, even the most unsold of revellers will be given the chance to see what the half Chilean has to offer. His sets have differed, sometimes containing blends of solid down to acid house, other times something completely different; but he is simply a pioneer, a DJ so different and exciting, it’s almost essential to catch a glimpse of him at Cocoon.

Carl Cox is a name that simply exhumes that dark, exciting, fist-pumping atmosphere when said out loud. You don’t need to be told of the talent; it’s almost become agiven, just common knowledge – this guy is an enigma. I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to someone who has seen Carl Cox for them to respond ‘that was average’; he delivers a spectacle of progressive, atmospheric beats to a crowd that come back, time and time again, to see him reign once again. To have him at the forefront of the Cocoon ship this year is a choice welcomed by many, and definitely a set that will be unmissable.

Cocoon in the Park returns to Temple Newsam on July 11^th. For tickets, visit www.cocooninthepark.com.