Download Festival 2012 – Friday – The Prodigy Review

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Despite the day's earlier setbacks – road closures, 6-hour traffic waits to get into the site, the arena opening being pushed back 2 hours, bands missing their slots entirely (Europe) and all the campsites looking more like the bog of eternal stench than a home away from home, it's Friday night, the day has been full of rawk and it's time for a bit of a rave yeah?

Like mudcrabs scrabbling in a swamp the main stage arena is filled with dirty Downloaders heading towards the front for Friday headliners The Prodigy. 30 minutes late, the band ignite the stage with 'World's On Fire' and Keith's red trouser/white leather jacket combo can be seen jerking around a mile off.

With a cosmic ripple from the front, Breathe drops with all the force of a clubland superhit, there's no doubt The Prodigy deserve to be here – the crowd is loving it. Hits from their most recent album, the aptly named for the weather 'Thunder', and 'Omen' go down a storm with fans glow-stick dancing in a 90's rave fashion, but it's still the iconic 'Firestarter' which gains the biggest roar from the crowd.

Over on the Encore stage Slash is ripping it up with the obligatory 'Paradise City' and a shred-tastic version of 'God Save The Queen' to an absolutely rammed arena. I mean like, people standing shoulder to shoulder right up to the food stands kind of rammed. The kind of rammed where you can not only smell, but taste the person next to you. Oh and every single hand is up in the air saluting the rock.

However, The Prodigy's hit parade of 'Smack My Bitch Up', 'Diesel Power' and an encore including 'Take Me To The Hospital' is the full force finisher to the night, with lasers strong enough to bring down the East Midlands Airport planes and a barrage of strobe lighting, swampy Download goers have clearly forgotten that it's cold and wet and are just having a fucking great time.

Download Friday

Review by Anna Hyams

Photo courtesy of Jessica Gilbert

Tulisa joins V Festival 2012 lineup

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The N Dubz star will make her V debut as a solo artist at this year’s festival, which takes place across the weekend of the 18th and 19th August.

The ‘Young’ singer will join headliners Stone Roses and The Killers and a veritable feast of musical talent including Snow Patrol, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Lawon, Rita Ora, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Tinie Tempah, Wretch 32, Ed Sheeran as well as her NDubz band mate Dappy.

The addition of Tulisa to the bill comes after the news that US folk singer Lissie will sadly no longer be appearing on the V Festival line up.

 With the festival weekend drawing ever closer, fans are being asked to stay tuned for further announcements over the upcoming weeks.

The Cheeky Girls, The Popes and more added to Watchet Festival

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The Cheeky Girls are one of the most recognisable girl duos in pop, and will be bringing their catalogue of cheeky hits to the main stage on Saturday. They will be followed by Bristol’s finest 8-headed ska, hiphop, dub monster, Babyhead, one of the Westcountry’s most popular live bands. 

The Popes are a tour-de-force of the London-Irish folk rock scene. Formerly the band for Shane McGowan, they have a reputation as one of the most energetic live bands in the business and are the perfect act to close the festival main stage on Sunday night.

Multimillion-selling British Soul legends The Real Thing are as the final headliner to be revealed. The three original singers, joined by a 5-piece band, will turn Friday night into Party night, performing their Number One hit singles including "You To Me Are Everything", "Can't Get By Without You", and “Feel The Force” alongside a medley of other Seventies classics.

The recently announced acts join a Watchet LIVE Festival line up that already includes The Blockheads, Mad Dog Mcrea; The Wurzels; N.U.M.B; Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls (from The Wonder Stuff); Tom Hingley & The Lovers, Dan Donnelly, Ferocious Dogand over 50 others. 

Watchet LIVE Festival is a not-for-profit family-friendly festival with amazing views of the stunning West Somerset coastline and beyond. Three live stages, including Glastonbury’s famous Croissant Neuf solar powered venue will host over 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. 

In addition to the main stages, the festival features, an Open Mic venue, the new-for-2012 Griffin Tent, the infamous Something Else Tea Tent, a Silent Disco, Music and Arts workshops, Mr Mommett’s late night adult Punch & Judy Show, and a large Festival Market. 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 a hugely expanded children’s area, Yankee Jack’s.

With a host of internationally renowned artists performing, a friendly 'small festival' vibe, stunning views across the West Somerset coastline, and a full range of tickets and camping options, Watchet LIVE Festival is the perfect place to spend the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Weekend Tickets with camping are £60 (Adults), £35 (Youths 13-17), Under 12’s are free. A Family Weekend Ticket for 2 Adults & 2 Youths is just £125. 

Weekend Tickets without camping are priced at just £45 (Adults), £25 (Youths 13-17), Under 12’s are free. A Family Ticket for 2 Adults & 2 Youths is £110. Day Tickets also available (£17.50/£12.50). Car parking is £5.
Tickets are available from www.watchetfestival.co.uk

The Coronas, Dot Rotten and more added to T in the Park

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Platinum-selling Dublin based four piece The Coronas will perform at the festival on Sunday 8th July. Currently the biggest-selling independent group in Ireland, the band are renowned for their high-energy live shows. New single Addicted to Progress  is from forthcoming album Closer to You, produced by studio legend Tony Hoffer (Air, Beck, The Kooks, Belle and Sebastian) and showcases the boys at their best – it remained in the top 5 Irish Airplay charts for over 13 weeks!  This follows platinum-selling 2009 albumTony Was an Ex-Con, which went straight to No.1 in the Irish Indie and iTunes charts and won the guys a prestigious Meteor Award for album of the year, beating the likes of U2 and The Script. With an ever-growing fan base, the band have sold out Dublin’s Olympia 6 nights running, had a string of sold out UK wide shows and will firmly hold their own at T in the Park this summer.

Danny O’Reilly, The Coronas said: “We're so excited about getting to play T in the Park this year. The reception we get in Scotland has always been amazing and to play at such a historic festival is going to be a highlight of our summer. We promise to give every ounce of energy we have!"
 
London rapper Dot Rotten was nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2012 poll and his forthcoming third single Overload’ (sampling the 1996 hit ‘Children’ by Robert Miles) was selected as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record in the World – this is certain to become one seriously hot summer anthem. American rapper Meek Mill was included in MTV’s ‘Hottest MCs in the Game’ list and has racked up collaborations with T.I., Lil’ Wayne and Drake. He recently released the second instalment of his Dreamchasers series and signed a management deal with Roc Nation, which will ensure he rockets to the top in 2012. Fans can catch the new ‘must see’ rappers on the block at T in the Park this summer.
 
London based band Dry the River have had a phenomenal year. They sold out Camden’s Electric Ballroom three months in advance and landed a coveted slot on the BBC’s Sound of 2012 poll. The band were a big hit at SXSW and their debut albumShallow Bed has secured excellent reviews across the board.
 
Teengirl Fantasy are Logan Takahashi and Nick Weiss – electronic visionaries who met at Oberlin College, Ohio and first made noise with the release of their critically acclaimed album 7AM  in 2010, which was praised for its creative use of samples and experimentation and made numerous year-end lists including FACT, Pitchfork, XLR8R. Festival Director Geoff Ellis was reminded of their innovative talent when a friend posted one of their tracks on Facebook, and promptly booked them for the last remaining slot on the Slam Tent bill. Last year they toured with Crystal Castles, and the Amsterdam based boys are heading to T in the Park to complete an incredible Slam Tent line-up and showcase tracks from new album Tracer this summer.

Machine Head confirmed for Bloodstock 2012

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MACHINE HEAD first graced UK shores in the wake of their landmark debut album “Burn My Eyes” in 1994 as main support to Slayer.  Fan reaction to MACHINE HEAD’s signature brand of crushing metal was so intense that the band would return immediately afterward to headline their own sold-out shows at many of the same venues, launching a massive swell of passionate fan support that continues to this day.

Machine Head

Seven albums, a Grammy nomination and countless tours later, UK fans continue to champion and support MACHINE HEAD as feverishly as they did at those first shows, and this year, at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012, they will be given the unprecedented opportunity to influence MACHINE HEAD’s set list!

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of MACHINE HEAD’s first-ever live performance at their roadie Mike “Scum”’s getting-evicted-from-his-house party – for which they performed five songs – ticket holders will be given the opportunity to vote for the five “Burn My Eyes” songs they most want to hear MACHINE HEAD play during their headline set Saturday night, with the five that receive the most votes included in the set list (details to follow)!

Anyone that’s ever witnessed MACHINE HEAD live will attest to the fact that the raw, unbridled energy of their performance is unlike anything else you’ll ever see.  With countless legendary UK performances already on record, and a first-ever fan-influenced setlist, it goes without saying that MACHINE HEAD’s headline set at BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2012 is going to go down in metal history as one of those festival performances that you’ll forever be glad you got to see.

WOWfest 2012 cancelled

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Following consultations and full consideration, it is with heavy hearts and much regret that we have been forced to announce the postponement of WOWfest 2012.

Putting the festival together, in what is proving to be a very challenging year and with damage inflicted by anti-festival lobbyists, was more difficult than we anticipated. We have spent the last year fighting hard to establish and keep WOWfest in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that this is no longer possible to achieve in 2012.

Although great confidence had initially been shown by the Isle of Wight Council to grant a Premises License for 18,000 rising to 22,000 capacity over a three year period and to further grant permission to run an event of that size under the Isle of Wight Act there are many forces trying to prevent the event happening. There is no doubt of the WOWfest team operational capabilities to deliver such an event.

However, the Isle of Wight Act conditions imposed by the council on the 18th May required a lump sum payment of over £140,000 for Council and Emergency Services to be brought forward to the 31st May. The conditions also stipulated the need for a financial bond of an unspecified and potentially unlimited amount to be made to the Isle of Wight Council.

WOW Festivals Ltd informed the Isle of Wight Council and responsible authorities, before the payment deadline for over £140,000 under the Isle of Wight Act fell due, that WOWfest would revert to run a downsized event – under the size (5,000) at which the Isle of Wight Act is invoked. However, the Isle of Wight Council rejected a minor variation application to voluntarily reduce the capacity and hours of operation on our Premises Licence and the Police decided to call for a full licence review, at the start of the Jubilee weekend. Undue and untimely pressure has resulted in one of the organisers suffering a stroke over the Jubilee weekend.

The planned event for 2012 will need to be postponed. Alternatives have been briefly assessed but time is against us and therefore the only sensible decision is to cancel WOWfest 2012 on the Isle of Wight and look to the future in 2013.

Ticket holders for WOWfest 2012 will be refunded.

Whilst we will be in touch with them all separately, in addition to this announcement, we want to openly express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the people, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proved to be a monumental task when there have been so many people determined to destablise the event with negative publicity and actions. We also want to send a huge thanks to the partners and people who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can’t fulfill what we set out to do in 2012.

WOW Festivals Ltd

OsFest 2012 by Bethany Dabbs

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The three day festival started on Friday 1st June with a performance from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Britain's Got Talent finalists, Lovable Rogues, with entertainment going on late into the night.

Smaller acts – some of which were chosen to play in connection with Live and Unsigned UK – performed throughout the Saturday and Sunday, playing on the smaller stage from 10.30AM, through to 8PM when a DJ took over for the last slot of the night before the headliners. A steady crowd of people stood to watch the acts, despite the rain!

The event was sponsored by Levi Roots who used the opportunity to promote his new soft drinks, giving them away for free out of a camper van painted red, green and yellow (reggae colours), outside the festival arena. He also took the main stage on Saturday where he performed his infamous song about his product 'Reggae Reggae Sauce', also showcasing his daughter – one of his backing singers – giving her the opportunity to perform her own song to the audience. After this we saw performances from Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Stooshe and Delilah, before the final act of the night, Dappy.

Dappy was late for his performance, not taking to the stage until 11.30PM; which is when that days festivities were meant to finish. He performed with rapper Baker Trouble, bringing a great show including confetti cannons and fireworks.

OsFest

Other things that were available to do all weekend included a roller disco, a dance area and a silent disco; also sponsored by Levi Roots.

Sunday started off at the same time of 10.30AM, with the rain still going strong from the night before. The main body of people were gathered in the undercover bar, as opposed to by the stages; where the ground had turned into large a mud bath (wellies needed). More unsigned acts performed with the main attraction in the day time coming from Singer/Songwriter Maz Totterdell, who performed a cover of Amy Whitehouse's Back to Black on the main stage, while expressing how sorry she was for the people stood out in the mud.

Goldie Lookin' Chain were one of the first main headliners of the night, with an entertaining performance full of immature jokes and well known tracks, including “Guns Don't Kill People”; definitely managing to lift peoples spirits and get them back into the festival mood. Up next were The Big Pink, Missing Andy and Hard-Fi, with Razorlight closing the festival, drawing in a large audience despite the mud.

OsFest

The festival exceeded my expectations.Being a smaller event I wasn't expecting such a good vibe from the audience and performers; I'm sure everyone who attended this year will agree with me, and will look forward to a bigger, better festival next year (with hopefully better weather)!

Click here to view photos from OsFest 2012

Photographs and Review by Bethany Dabbs. 

 

PlayFest 2012 Review by Dan Wheatley

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Saturday was looking to be a scorching day with the weather forecast to be bright and sunny and a huge line up to keep the majority of tastes in music happy with the likes of ASH, Pigeon Detectives, Shy FX and Roots Manuva playing late into the night.

Throughout the early afternoon the seven stages took host to some of the smaller and local artists with a very chilled-out atmosphere in the crowds of people that were starting to form, the only place where this was an exception was the bright fluffy neon pink mobile disco booth ingeniously named the “Porta Party”, Throwing out cheesy and classic disco tunes, it seemed that more people where dancing here than everyone in the Dance Arena.

As the evening progressed and the sun started to set was when the headliners came out to play for the evening and the chilled out atmosphere changed to more of a concert vibe, Roots Manuva completely filled the Big Top tent with people spilling out left, right and centre and certainly getting the party going. Ash being the last act on the Main Stage on Saturday night did not disappoint with everyone at Play Fest going wild right up till the last song.

Sundays day was not the best of starts, Waking up to a flooded tent due to the torrential downpours throughout the night, But what’s a UK Festival without a little bit or even allot of rain, after a quick stop off at the car to put on a dry set of clothes it was time to head back to the stages and see what todays festivities bring.

Due to the sporadic rain, the open air main stage stayed very quiet for the early afternoon, with the dance tipi being a big hit with both old and young. Dumbfoundus managed to change this filling up the main stage during their performance and even inviting a festival goer who was dressed as Chewbacca onto the stage for the entirety of their set, their party vibe defiantly made people forget about being cold and wet and put a smile on everyone’s faces.

PlayFest

The main stage acts continued where Dumbfoundus left off,  Scroobius Pip in my eyes being the best act of the entire weekend, his mix of electronic bears with hip-hop spoken lyrics making for a very rowdy crowd, exacerbated by him deciding to go crowd surfing.

The Correspondents, being the last act in the Big Top, provided a very visual and energetic performance; I’ve never seen anyone with as much energy on stage and not keep still for anything longer than a split second for the entire time being on stage.

PlayFest

Despite the rain, Sunday easily matched if not beating the expectations left by the sunny Saturday already amazing day.

I’m sure everyone who was at PlayFest over the weekend is already looking forward to “Playing” again next year.

Click here to view the photos from PlayFest Saturday June 2nd

Click here to view the photos from PlayFest Sunday June 3rd

Photos and Review by Dan Wheatley

Nicolas Jaar, Miike Snow and more added to this years Berlin Festival

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These new acts join an explosive bill of artists that includes Grimes, Sigur Rós, Franz Ferdinand, Orbital, Little Dragon, Friendly Fires, The Killers, Metronomy, SBTRKT and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. The who's who of indie and electronic music will take to the stage at Berlin’s historic Tempelhof Airport on September 7th and 8th 2012.

Now one of the most talked about artists of his generation following the release of his crotically acclaimed album 'Space Is Only Noise', New York-based musician Nicolas Jaar will conquer the stage at Berlin Festival with one of his acclaimed live performances challenging the genre boundaries of electronic music. 

The hugely talented Stockholm-based three-piece, Miike Snow will also perform at Berlin Festival. Whether they’re working with Madonna, Kylie or Britney, it’s hard to disagree that Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg make very addictive music and they're certainly no stranger to the indie crowds. We can't wait to see them whip the crowd at Tempelhof into a dancing frenzie with tracks from their sophomore album Happy To You.

Mike Snow

The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble will be the first act to play at Berlin Festival this year. TheBerlin-based trio will play a matinee show with a techno orchestra in tow before performing a live set at Club Xberg the same night.

Next up, Crocodiles. Massive guitar sounds the forte of the San Diego-based combo, formed by various punk band members which certainly explains the heavy noise pop influences.

Great melodies crash with ecstatic feelings when the boys from When Saints Go Machine lure the crowd with sophisticated electro pop and „avant-garde dance“. The band from Copenhagen will perform at Club Xberg.

And finally, as part of the current wave retro trend, the Brooklyn-based duo Light Asylum is one of the hottest newcomers around. With singer Shannon Funchess' unique voice and edgy synth sounds, the band will surely mesmerize the crowd on 8th September.  

All confirmed acts so far…

Friday, 7th September

Berlin Festival @ Tempelhof Airport

Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble * Clock Opera * Daughter * Friends * Frittenbude * Grimes * The Killers * Miike Snow * Michael Kiwanuka * Nicolas Jaar * Little Dragon * Major Lazer * Kate Nash * Of Monsters And Men * Orbital * Sigur Rós * Tocotronic * We Have Band and more

Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin

Brandt Brauer Frick * Crookers * Dada Life * Dumme Jungs * Etnik * Metronomy * When Saints Go Machine and more

Saturday, 8th September

Berlin Festival @ Tempelhof Airport

Bonaparte * Jamie N Commons * Cro * Crocodiles * Django Django * First Aid Kit * Franz Ferdinand * Friendly Fires * iamamiwhoami * I Heart Sharks * Junip * Paul Kalkbrenner * Kraftklub * Morning Parade * SBTRKT (live) * Sizarr * WhoMadeWho and more

Club Xberg @ Arena Berlin

Junior Boys * Light Asylum * The Magician * Modeselektor live * Slagsmalsklubben * Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and more

More acts announced for The Secret Garden Party

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LINEUP:
MAIN STAGE / WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE /THE CROSSROADS

ORBITAL – EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS  CARAVAN PALACE – LITTLE DRAGON – ALABAMA SHAKES

TIM MINCHIN – LITTLE ROY – LAMB – LIANNE LA HAVAS

BAXTER DURY – THE JIM JONES REVUE – KING CHARLES

KT TUNSTALL – DERRICK MORGAN & DENNIS ALCOPONE

DUKE SPIRIT – I BLAME COCO – FUJIYA & MIYAGI

WE HAVE BAND – VINTAGE TROUBLE – SUMMER CAMP – TASHAKI MIYAKI

CLEAN BANDIT – DAUGHTER – JENNY O – BIGKids – WILLY MOON

BETH JEANS HOUGHTON AND THE HOOVES OF DESTINY

KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS – HYDE AND THE BEAST

PALMA VIOLETS – MARQUES TOLIVER – NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS DUO – ZULU WINTER – LERA LYNN – JODIE MARIE – JAKE BUGG – KARIMA FRANCIS -SOKO -PEARL AND THE BEARD – CITIZENS! – BASTILLE – VIOLET –

JUAN ZELADA – LIAM BAILEY – LEGENDARY TIGERMAN

LOUISE AND THE PINS – LAUREL COLLECTIVE – MAD DOG MCREA

DYLAN LE BLANC – POPPY AND THE JEZEBELS – FOXES – SCANNERS – ELLEN AND THE ESCAPADES – DOLLAR BILL – TOM WILLIAMS AND THE BOAT – THE JESSIE ROSE TRIP – WE WERE EVERGREEN – L.A. SALAMI –           RUBY AND THE RIBCAGE – LAS KELLIES – AHAB – ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS JOHNNY CAGE AND THE VOODOO GROOVE –STEVE SMYTH – THE MOONS – GRASS HOUSE – THE CAEZARS FLAP! – THE LADYKILLERS – KASSIDY –  PROFESSOR PENGUIN – JOE ROBBINS – KIRSTY ALMEIDA – BEANS ON TOAST –

BROTHER & BONES – THE PINE HILL HAINTS – THE SPECIALS KS’  TRAVELLING BAND – THE MAD OX BROTHERS – SUBURBAN DIRTS – BIRD RADIO – IAN M HALE – DIRTY GENTLEMAN – DJ RANDY GROOVER

THE TEMPLE OF BOOM
CURATED BY EDDY TEMPLE-MORRIS

JACQUES LU CONTE – UTAH SAINTS

KRAFTY KUTS & A SKILLZ WITH DYNAMITE MC

ADAM F – SCROOBIUS PIP (LIVE) – NIKI & THE DOVE (LIVE) – DANNY BYRD & MC RISKY -MISTABISHI (LIVE) – HERVE – ADAM FREELAND – MIXHELL (LIVE)

JON CARTER – GET CAPE WEAR CAPE FLY – HIGH RANKIN (LIVE)

TRUE TIGER – RACK & RUIN – MONSTA – TC (LIVE)

SHOCK ONE – FREQ NASTY  – WILKINSON – EDDYTM & MAJESTIC

LOSERS (LIVE) – AYAH MARAR (LIVE) – RUSS CUBAN – CUT LA ROC

DAVID DUNNE – AKIRA KITESHI – SKISM – REDNEK – CAAN (LIVE)

ENGINE EARZ EXPERIMENT (LIVE) – MARIBOU STATE – C.R.S.T – BAXTA

AFGHAN HEADSPIN – PATHAAN – EFFECT MODE & ILLAMAN (LIVE)

2 BIT THUGS – HIATUS AND SHURA – KRY WOLF – STE-V-SOMETHING

DISQO CONQRETTE – SWIFTY B – FEELING GLOOMY – RAWKUS NOIZE

MCS: MAJESTIC, KRAFTY MC, ILLAMAN, BAD MANNERS, MC GAIKA

THE LIVING ROOM
The garden’s home to the finest acoustic artists and bands…

ANNIE DRESSNER – BY THE RIVERS – CARA SEBASTIAN – CHARLENE SORAIA – CHASING OWLS – COZI – DAN CLEWS – ECKI – ELLIE LAWSON ETHAN ASH – EVI VINE – FAIR AND SQAURE – FREDS HOUSE – GERARD AND THE WATCHMEN – ISOBEL ANDERSON WITH RUBY – COLLEY – JEAMES MORELY – JAMES FROST – JAMIE FREEMAN – JAY JAMES PICTON – JAY LEIGHTON – JODIE MAY – LEDDRA CHAPMAN – LEE MITCHELL – LEO ALTERELLI – LIANNA LE HAVAS – MAMAS GUN – MATTHEW P – MR AUTUMNAL – PARK BENCH POET – PAUL GOODWIN – RACHEL SERMANNI – RAPHAELLA – RYAN KEEN – SAY GRAY – SERENITY ZEST – SUPER LOVE GIANT – THE SHELLAC COLLECTIVE – DJs –THE WILLOWS TOM COPSON – WILL ROBERT