Beacons Festival adds Ghostpoet, Roots Manuva and more!

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GhostPoetROOTS MANUVA / JUNIOR BOYS / GHOSTPOET / ERRORS / FACTORY FLOOR / PEARSON SOUND / CASS MCCOMBS / WILLY MASON / D/R/U/G/S / PEAKING LIGHTS / XXXY / STAR SLINGER / SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA / BOK BOK / 2:54 / JAM CITY / KING KRULE / MAZES / STILL CORNERS / STAY+ / GROSS MAGIC / BOS ANGELES /GRASS HOUSE /

NEW SITE : A message from Beacons Festival regarding the cancellation of Beacons Festival 2011:

“Last year, due to extreme flooding, Health and Safety Executives made the decision to cancel Beacons Festival. We were devastated to have to cancel your party but were left with no choice. This year, we have moved the site away from any potential flood areas, still in the fantastic setting of Carleton.  The new location is even more picturesque than the previous site and we feel it can only enhance people’s experience of what will be a truly amazing festival.”

Beacons Festival is set in the heart of the Yorkshire countryside; an affordable festival brought to you by a collective of tastemakers who, for years, have been bringing the best music to reputable Northern venues such as Leeds’ Nation of Shopkeepers and Brudenell Social Club, Sheffield’s Bungalows and Bears, Club Pony and the Shipping Forecast. We’ve also got the organisers of London-based festivals and events like Underage and Field Day and the Shacklewell Arms venue on board. This year, the main stage acts are presented in association with The Stool Pigeon magazine.  The people behind Manchester’s coolest band nights, Now Wave are on board, as are London’s Eat Your Own Ears. Beacons will be bringing together the cream of the cities finest club nights and gig venues for one weekend in Yorkshire.

Factory Floor

Beacons is a three-day, four-night festival and for a short period, tickets are available at just £60 for the weekend, including camping (£55 for students). A limited number of early bird weekend tickets will be available from 9am Wednesday 15th February. Tickets will be available to purchase from the Beacons Festival website, HMV, Seetickets, Gigantic, Leedstickets.com, Jumbo Records and Crash Records.

We’re thrilled to welcome Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva to Beacons this year. Following the release of last year’s 4everrevolution – his most powerful work since Run Come Save Me – the UK hip-hop legend will be bringing his innovative sound to the Yorkshire countryside this summer. And one of UK hip-hop’s rising stars will also be playing. The Mercury Music Prize-nominated Ghostpoet will be laying down his laconic beats and baritone drawl and you’ll get the chance to see why Factory Floor have made a fan of Joy Division / New Order’s Stephen Morris and had the likes of Pitchfork and Quietus touting them for bigger things.

Beacons represents a side-step from the usual treadmill of festival bands and burger vans. We book the bands we love, because we know that our visitors will love them too. As we announce more artists over the coming weeks and months, we will also be revealing our exclusive cinema programme. In addition to this, there will be children’s entertainment from the Ladybird Project, spoken word, theatre and dance.

Hot Chip, Magnetic Man and more announced for Lovebox 2012

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Magnetic ManThe most iconic names in dubstep, hip-hop, drum & bass, house, techno and indie will team up with some of the capital’s most cherished club nights to deliver a 3 day weekender poised for the musical history books.

London’s biggest dance floor opens early on Friday with Hot Chip, Magnetic Man, Sub Focus Live, and Crystal Castles throwing down the gauntlet alongside a selection of arena hosts that include the return of East London's unstoppable, genre-defining radio station, Rinse 106.8FM¸ and all for a recession busting price of less than £30.

Little time to breathe, as Saturday rolls out an all-encompassing sonic mash up of hipper than thou rockers Friendly Fires, Brit Awards Critic’s Choice Winner Emeli Sandé, Swedish electro hipsters Little Dragon while New York City’s finest are represented in the form of Harlem’s hottest lyricist, Azealia Banks, and back by very popular demand Kelis, whilst the now traditional “Lovebox Legends” slot will be filled by the great Bobby Womack.

The main stages are set against the bone shaking soundscape of drum & bass' number one club night and record label, Hospital Records, plus house and techno institution Warm and international mad-hatters Crosstown Rebels who will be throwing a notorious Rebel Rave .

Patrick WolfOn Sunday things hot up considerably as Lovebox’s incredibly successful polysexual “Out and Out Fierce” party takes over proceedings with hi-energy disco and electro sounds dominating the site.  Holly Johnson takes to the main stage to deliver a “greatest hits” set spanning his days with Frankie Goes to Hollywood through to his solo career. Described by the NME as “the most influential dance act in the world right now” Azari & iii return to Lovebox after their sensational performance last year and there is a debut performance from BBC Sound of 2012 nominee’s Niki & The Dove as well as performances from The Rapture and Patrick Wolf on the Sunday Superstore Live stage hosted by East London’s favourite venue Dalston Superstore.

"By amazing grace I have survived to perform at Lovebox 2012…My first London stage appearance in the 21st Century… Hollylujah!" – Holly Johnson

Meanwhile the many arenas across the site will be working clubbers into a state of submission led by  DJ Hell who will be serving up a final flourish of closing party euphoria on a birthday to remember.

As the after parties across town roll on into Monday, organisers will consider their job done, knowing that Hackney will be left with a lasting legacy of love for 2012. 

Wolfmother, Gossip and more set for Exit Festival 2012

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On Thursday 12th July the charismatic Beth Ditto will return to Novi Sad with the Gossip for an opening night to remember. Combing soul, punk and Beth’s incredible vocals, the Gossip have gained an army of fans worldwide with their infectious brand of powerful and seductive post-punk rock music. Their third album "Standing in the Way of Control" brought them international critical acclaim, from which “Music for Men" was the follow up release in 2009 and their first with a major label.  With hits such as "Heavy Cross" and "Long Distance Love", the Gossip will once again turn the Main Stage into an electrifying dance cauldron with their extraordinary energy.

Australian band Wolfmother will perform on Sunday 15th July with their exhilarating brand of no nonsense rock. Having been famously described as “what you’d get when Mars Volta, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin and White Stripes collided in space” their performance will not to disappoint. In their relatively short career the band have won with a plethora of international awards, including a Grammy for their hit single “Woman” taken from the band’s 2005 debut self-titled album. Rapidly becoming a mainstay on modern-rock radio stations around the world, EXIT is excited to welcome such a globally acclaimed band to the main stage.  

The mighty Dance Arena line up is also hotting up with some of the biggest and coolest names in the electronic music scene including Richie Hawtin, Miss Kitten, Art Department and Maceo Plex.

Richie Hawtin needs no introduction as one of the world’s top DJ’s and producers who is a leading exponent of the minimal techno scene and an influential player in second wave of Detroit Techno. Also known for his abstract, minimal works under the alias Plastikman and head honcho of the Minus label, Richie is always an artist to push the boundaries and he makes a welcome return to the EXIT Dance Arena onSaturday 14th July with his new and exciting LED show with visuals by Ali Demirel.

Joining Hawtin on the 14th July will be the devine Miss Kitten, who will perform at EXIT for the first time.  Having honed her skills and progressed her sound into the more leftfield, electro and electronic realm, Miss Kitten has an uncanny and intuitive sense of selection that not only flows but also maintains that primary sense of the party. As a producer with her long time partner the Hacker she produced tracks such as "Frank Sinatra" and "1982" which launched her to the electronic elite, and collaborations with the liked of Felix Da Housecat and Sven Väth strengthened her newly established status. This year, Miss Kittin is preparing her third solo album, so we can expect exclusive premieres at Dance Arena.

Crosstown Rebels sensation Art Department will make their first ever performance on the Dance Arena on Sunday 15th July. The duo consisting of Canadian techno/house star Kenny Glasgow and the biggest Canadian rising star Jonny White. Kenny’s career goes back to the 80s, when he released for Narcotic, Jinxx, Turbo as well as his own Method 11/11 label, and White’s label, No. 19, which has a discography growing at ultra-speed, currently stands at the leading place of the international scene. Separately, they have a great number of critically acclaimed releases, and currently they are recognized as the most advanced underground producers of North America.

Also confirmed for the 15th July is Maceo Plex, one of the many rising starts of the Crosstown Rebels label. After many years of prolific works on such labels as Treibostoff, Dumb Unit, Audiomatique, to name a few Maceo aka Maetrik travelled the word playing in some of the best clubs such as Rex, Cocoon, Fabric, Womb etc. Since then Maceo has begun to strip back his robotic Armor to expose a more musical and groove based side with his music shining brighter than the star Sirius and his set at EXIT will be one of galactic proportions.

The Dance Arena is renowned for its incredible energy and set within a moat of the fortress walls. From techno to electro to dirty house to house with a disco twist, the Dance Arena covers all tastes and will keep you dancing all night long. Pushing cutting edge new talent and tipping its hat to the old school, the music in the arena never disappoints and the experience of dancing with 20,000 people as the sun rises over the fortress walls is truly mind blowing!  2012 is set to be another year of unadulterated electronic music of the highest calibre and these names are a taster of what’s to come.
 
LINE UP SO FAR:
New Order, Wolfmother, Gossip, Buraka Som Sistema, Richie Hawtin, Luciano, Miss Kitten, Reboot live, Art Department, Maceo Plex, Kenny Larkin, Robert Dietz and Maayan Nidam.

Y Not Festival lineup

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The WombatsThe Wombats
The Pigeon Detectives
The Subways
Summer Camp
Juan Zelada
Masters In France
Jim Lockey & the Solemn Sun 
Boat To Row
Son Of Eagle
 
The theme so far is indie, rock, alternative, folk with elements of electronica. We will be in touch to let you know what the other kinds of music will be on offer.

About Y Not:
 
The Y Not Festival is a small, intimate three-day music festival held in the heart of the Peak District countryside in August. It is moving into its seventh year now.
 
Y Not is a showcase for all that is fresh and exciting in global music. From emerging talent and breaking bands to established acts, if you want to catch a band on the cusp of success this is your chance. Many of the acts across the weekend will be camping right there with everyone else, giving the whole weekend a sense of intimacy hard to find anywhere else. www.ynotfestivals.com

Swans, Battles and more for Off Festival 2012

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Swans 
Swans’ 2010 return to the studio and stage was inevitable. Few bands in rock history have had as much influence on guitar-driven music from the mid–90s onward: from My Bloody Valentine, Godflesh, Neurosis, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor to Sunn O))); from shoegaze and post-rock to industrial metal and drone — the Big Bang that took place in New York in the mid–80s left its mark on innumerable projects. Many years have passed since Swans’ full-length debut Filth, and the term No Wave is now familiar mostly to avid readers of popular music history textbooks, but one thing hasn’t changed: the inspired determination and divine insanity with which noise prophet Michael Gira and his bandmates perform their onstage ritual. It’s likely that OFF Festival audiences will hear tracks off the group’s upcoming album, currently in the works, titled The Seer. If you do decide to venture up close to the stage — Swans’ magnetic pull is hard to resist — take our advice: don’t forget your earplugs.

BattlesBattles
Rare is that band that can worthily be called a leader and a true innovator on the alternative scene after the release of just two albums. This New York group, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year, has succeeded in this difficult art. On the one hand, the musicians in Battles have brought in their virtuosity and the experience gained in previous projects (such as Helmet and Don Caballero), and on the other hand, they’ve assumed an attitude of complete openness to new challenges, as made evident by Battles’ second release Gloss Drop (2011) and the concerts that followed, including the latest edition of the legendary festival All Tomorrow’s Parties, curated by Battles.

Kurt Vile and The Violators
No, “Kurt Vile” isn’t a cheap pseudonym. Hailing from the suburbs of Philadelphia, this long-haired bard owes his perfect combination of first and last names to his music-loving dad, who also gave him his first instrument: a banjo, so that Kurt could play bluegrass and country. But while the influence of these genres is still evident in his music, Kurt’s latest work is more reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen. Not literally — the similarity lies in their eclectic approach to music. On the one hand, Kurt has remained faithful to folk traditions, but on the other, his arrangements and styles reveal sounds more rooted in the world of alternative guitar music. No wonder his latest album, Smoke Ring For My Halo (2011, Matador Records), won universal acclaim from fans and critics.

Baxter Dury
Perhaps things would have been easier if he had just followed in the footsteps of his famous father, Ian Dury, but Baxter isn’t one to take the easy way out. His latest and third album, the critically-lauded Happy Soup, is an intimate confession by a mature and sensitive guy. Maximum results with a minimum of means. “With each listen you’re more and more absorbed by and into his own world,” warns one BBC reviewer.

Spectrum
After the disbanding of the cult group Spacemen 3, one of the most important projects in the history of psychedelic rock, Jason Pierce went his own way under the name Spiritualized, while Peter Kember began recording and performing under such names as Sonic Boom, Experimental Audio Research, and Spectrum. The OFF Festival will host that last incarnation. The group’s noisy yet colorful sound and astonishing formal range — from catchy pop tunes to improvised drones — led My Bloody Valentine to choose Spectrum as the perfect support band for their 2009 comeback tour.

Container
Ren Schofield has been sparking the interest of astute experts on American underground music since he launched his own label, I Just Live Here, to self-release cassette tapes filled with original, lo-fi electronic music, but it wasn’t until until he came out with an album, simply titled LP (Spectrum Spools), that the whole world took notice. Ren hails from Nashville, but he sounds like a native of Detroit. If Burial’s far-out sounds were a distant echo of rave, then Container offers a similarly detached reminiscence of Detroit techno. It’s hard music to dance to, but it’s easy to forget where and whom you danced with.

Pre Party
Unfortunately Diamond Rings will not be performing at the August 2 before party and taking their place will be Nils Frahm, the Berlin-based composer and producer known for his melancholy, meditative music based on austere piano sounds. True nighttime listening for fans of ambient and contemporary music.
Pre Party Line Up: Matthew Herbert (One Pig) + Alva Noto (Katowice Centre of Culture), Nils Frahm + Sleep Party People (Hipnoza Club). Please note that the capacity of the Hipnoza Club is limited and entry is on a first come first served basic.

Tickets
Four Day OFF Pass – 32 EUROS
Pass for all concerts (2nd-5th August 2012 – no camping)

Four Day OFF Pass + Camping – 41 EUROS
Pass for all concerts (2nd-5th August 2012 – including camping)

Pre Party – 18 EUROS

Pass for all concerts on 2nd August only. Matthew Herbert (One Pig) + Alva Noto (Katowice Centre of Culture), Nils Frahm + Sleep Party People (Hipnoza Club). Please note that the capacity of the Hipnoza Club is limited and entry is on a first come first served basic.

Buy tickets here http://off-festival.pl/en/2012/shop.html

The Black Keys, Ane Brun and more for Flow Festival 2012

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Some twenty acts, including both international and domestic names, have been added to the bill, which already includes Björk, Feist and Bon Iver. With the announcement, the remaining ticket types also go on sale at Tiketti outlets.

New international artists on the Flow Festival program include the blazing hot American rock group The Black Keys, the Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun, the Philadelphia-based indie rock band The War On Drugs, two innovators of electronic music in Flying Lotus and Nicolas Jaar, contemporary rap trailblazer A$AP Rocky, indie pop up-and-comer St. Vincent, reggae legend Horace Andy and the award-winning jazz pianist from New York, Jason Moran, who will host a very special residency over two days at the stage built for Flow in co-operation with the "Wastelands" architectural assembly.

Other acts on the Valentine's Day program release are soul star Charles Bradley And His Extraordinairies, Four Tet & Cairbou, performing a unique back-to-back DJ set together, one of the highlights of the album release year 2011,Oneohtrix Point Never, dubstep innovator Pinch, the South African dance phenomenon Shangaan Electro and the ambient duo of two composers, A Winged Victory For The Sullen.

New Finnish artists confirmed for Flow are Jukka Poika, Gracias, Siinai, Verneri Pohjola Quartet, Black Twig, Bendagram and Kuusumun Profeetta.

More acts will be added to the line up during the spring.

With the new release, the remaining Flow tickets will be released on sale, namely two-day ticket combos and single day passes for Friday and Saturday.

Glade Festival 2012 lineup additions

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GLADESTAGE LATEST ADDITIONS

EXCLUSIVE UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE from PLANTAGE 13:
STEPHAN BODZIN,OLIVER HUNTEMANN
STANTON WARRIORS, SYSTEM 7 (Live),
THE CORRESPONDENTS (Live), LEWAH

Glade continues it mission to show the UK’s dance music festival scene how it’s done. Following our first line up announcement two weeks ago, we’re proud to give you a second wave of headliners for the main stage at this summer’s event. If you love experiencing some of the most upfront and exciting electronic music around in a glorious countryside setting, this 4-day event is a REAL festival for serious music lovers. Having blazed the trail for non-commercial dance music events since 2004, Glade is back and you’d better be ready.

EXCLUSIVE UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE:
STEPHAN BODZIN & OLIVER HUNTEMANN

Stephan Bodzin became a firm fixture on the international techno scene in 2008 with a career that initially began with producing music for several prestigious European theatres. Bremen-born Bodzin’s experimental club sounds saw his mind-blowing talent discovered by Thomas Schummacher and fellow Glade guests Huntemann and Marc Romboy. Due to his exceptional production sound and knowledge of music he has remixed artists like Depeche Mode, Booka Shade andThe Knife whilst releasing on labels such as Get Physical, International DJ Gigalo, Datapunk and Systematic. He describes himself as a melody man going on to say “after all it’s the melodies that endure.” The responses to his productions seem to confirm this and his sounds are greatly loved in clubs worldwide.

Our second headliner announced is Oliver Huntemann. Hailing from northern Germany, Huntemann discovered electronic music as a ten-year old in the late seventies having being influenced by a new wave ofartists hitting European shores likeAfrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash and Whodini. Aged fourteen, Oliver started spinning discs and had his eyes set on becoming a DJ. In the late 80s Huntemann spent six years training and working as an electronic engineer with the German Navy whilst keeping his eyes and ears firmly on the evolving electronic music scene. Following the acid house explosion he began experimenting with his own sounds. It wasn’t until the early Naughties that Oliver began producing under his own name alongside H-Man and Rekorder monikers (the later with Stephan Bodzin) as well as founding and releasing on his own label Confused Recordings, which was followed by Ideal Audio. Over the years Oliver’s work has appeared on fellow Glade headliner Sven Vath’s Cocoon imprint, Anthony Rother’s Datapunk label and DJ Hell’s International DJ Gigalo’s.

In early 2007 alive DJ set recorded at D-Edge club in Sao Paul, Brazil was released under the title Play! 01, followed by Play! 02 recorded at The Rex Club in Paris in 2008; both mixes saw Oliver placed firmly at the top of the international techno elite. Follow this with remixes of Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, Depeche Mode and releasing four artist albums, the later of which, Paranoia, dropped in December 2011, Oliver is one of the most exciting artists working in his field.  

STANTON WARRIORS, SYSTEM 7 (Live)
THE CORRESPONDENTS (Live) AND LEWAH

Joining the dots between UKG, breaks and booty bass, UK-duo The Stanton Warriors AKA Mark Yardley and Dominic B have been delivering party-shaking anthems since the late nineties. It was their single Da Virus which saw them achieve wide-spread success which was quickly followed by a mixtape titled The Stanton Sessions Vol.1. This saw them explode big time, headlining clubs and festivals across the globe. Add to this a Fabric Live mix, an album and a whole selection of party smashing anthems, theStantons appearance at Glade 2012 will see energy levels fly.

Techno / trance crossover act System 7 have been extremely influential on the international music scene. Having had a strong impact at the birth of psychedelic dance music and throughout its journey up to present date, they have forged an unique and contemporary identity in the space where techno, progressive and trance meet. Having collaborated with Detroit luminaries Derrick May and Carl Craig and many other international icons including The Orb, Laurent Garnier, Jam El Mar, A Guy Called Gerald and Son Kite, their most recent album, Up, released last year, sees the duo deliver a techno and tech house sound inspired by time spent in Berlin. Their live sets are inspirational and we’re glad to have them onboard.

Our last live act, The Correspondents AKA Mr Bruce and Chuck, completely blur the lines, mashing up the history of dance music from Jazz to 60’s Beat, Electro to Dubstep to Drum N Bass and back again. The live shows explore the flamboyant structure of the DJ / MC set-up, with Chuck hurling tracks at the crowd whilst Mr Bruce, dressed in outlandish costume,whips the crowd into a frenzy with his speed-scatting and incredulous dancemoves. Last year’s festival season saw them share main stages with a brass section, an infra-red sensored light box together with their trusty conveyor-belt dance platform. This has earned them The Telegraph’s Top Ten Highlights of Glastonbury two years in a row.

Joining them and kick-starting Sunday’s dub-session is South West fast-rising star Lewah, whose excellently crafted dub and chill-step sets have earned her the opportunity to open for Don Letts.

GLADESTAGE FULL LINE UP

SVEN VATH
ANDY C: ALIVE (Live), RUSKO, VITALIC (Live),
PRETTY LIGHTS (Live)

EXCLUSIVE UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE from PLANTAGE 13
STEPHAN BODZIN, OLIVER HUNTEMANN

FOREIGN BEGGARS, TODDLA T & MC SEROCEE,
MARC ROMBOY (Live), EXTRAWELT (Live),
TRICKA TECHNOLOGY
(KRAFTY KUTZ, A SKILLZ & DYNAMITE MC)
STANTON WARRIORS, DUB PISTOLS (Live),
DRUMSOUND &BASSLINE SMITH,
ROBERT BABICZ, SYSTEM 7 (Live),
DON LETTS, FREQNASTY, GAUDI (Live),
THE CORRESPONDENTS (Live),
KILLAFLAW (Live),
BEN & LEX, LEWAH

New Order to headline Saturday night at Bestival 2012

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BESTIVAL’S SATURDAY NIGHT HEADLINER REVEALED
New Order

LIVE:
Friendly Fires
Death In Vegas / Django Django / Daughter / Drums of Death /  Zulu Winter

PLUS:
Brainfeeder presents 
Thundercat / The Gaslamp Killer / Teebs / Lapalux  / Jeremiah Jae /  DJ Kutmah

DJs: 
Doctor P / Pearson Sound / Borgore / Flux Pavilion / Max Cooper /
Gemini / Pangaea / Pariah / Billy Daniel Bunter / Trolley Snatcha / Blawan / KOAN Sound / Warm & Electric Minds

AND:
Amphitheatre Stage:
Max and Ivan are Holmes and Watson / The Unexpected / Four Screws Loose / About a Bench / Soundbites / Lizard Lounge with Scroobius Pip  / Roundhouse Poetry Collective / RSA talks 

Around the Woods: 
David Lynch Foundation Meditation and Yoga / 
Gideon Reeling's Theatrical Wanderings 

The excitement never stops at Bestival HQ! Following our first line-up announcement, which included the amazing Sigur Rós, The xx, Two Door Cinema Club, Justice, Hot Chip, 2manydjs, Annie Mac Presents and loads more, plus the acts that have been announced on Twitter in the last week, we’re beside ourselves with joy to be able to let you know just who our fantastic Saturday night headliner is and we’ve got even more tasty treats to boot!

New Order

Rob da Bank says: “So I've got Blue Monday blaring out of the Bestival HQ office speakers as we unveil our iconic Saturday night headliner New Order. It doesn't get better than that… but it does! True Faith, Bizarre Love Triangle, Fine Time, Regret – so many amazing records i grew up listening to and still listen to now and they still sound immense, pioneering, legendary. See you down the front!”

One of the UKs most enduring bands, we are truly delighted that our Saturday night headliner will be New Order! Since the band’s reformation in August last year, with Gillian Gilbert back among their ranks, interest in the band has been at fever pitch so it’s an absolute coup that they’re coming to Robin Hill to play a headline set at Bestival! With an armoury of anthems stretching back three decades, New Order live is an essential experience and one that we can’t wait to share with you all!

Friendly FiresNot only have we got such a glorious headliner for you but we also have live appearances from Friendly Fires who will be unleashing their trademark live spectacular in their own inimitably vibrant and widescreen way, psychedelic electro-rockersDeath in Vegas, super-hot eclectic art-pop quartet Django Django, the brooding and brilliant Daughter, rave horn aficionado Drums of Death and the anthemic indie-dance of Zulu Winter.

We’re extremely excited to be welcoming superfly LA beats stable Brainfeeder who will be presenting leftfield loops fromThundercat, The Gaslamp Killer, Teebs, Lapalux, Jeremiah Jae and DJ Kutmah. Plus we’ve got plenty more DJs to keep your feet moving long into the night, including a sweet shop smash and grab with Doctor P, breakdown madness fromPearson Sound, Israeli Dubstepper Borgore and one-man orchestra Flux Pavilion. Plus there will be stark techno fromMax Cooper, bass chaos from Gemini, slow burning jams from Krystal Klear, organic electro from Pangaea, soulful sinewave action from Pariah, upfront rave action from Billy Daniel Bunter, woofer-worrying mayhem from Trolley Snatcha, drum magic from Blawan, Zen riddims from KOAN Sound and the twin bliss of Warm & Electric Minds.

We’ve delved even deeper into the Ambient Forest this year and are very excited to be presenting a brand new performance stage: the Amphitheatre. Nestled under a canopy of trees, this beautiful spot will be home to a host of eclectic treats, from live film scores, to comedy sketch shows, to theatre and poetry.

In the daytime we’ll be showcasing a vast array of the very best spoken word maestros in Scroobius Pip’s Lizard Loungesessions. We’ve also got some seriously funny sketch groups unleashing their hilarity for our chortling pleasure. In Max and Ivan are Holmes and Watson, history’s greatest detective tackles Chicago’s mobster underworld in this thrilling escapade! Next up are The Unexpected, the creators of the hugely popular YouTube sensation ‘Gap Yah’. And then there’s Four Screws Loose: officially the tallest (not to mention the sexiest) sketch comedy group on the circuit! 

In the theatrical offerings, we have the delightful Owdyado Theatre, presenting ‘About A Bench’, a funny, surreal and playful show of ten stories taking place on a park bench. Then newcomers Soundbites will be bringing some of the most hotly tipped theatre makers and musicians face to face to create new short plays that feature live music on stage. Kinda like a live music video. But better. And for mind expanding musings, don’t miss our series of talks from the mighty RSA, who will be presenting ideas and thoughts from some of the leading enlightened thinkers of our time.

As night falls, we’ll be turning to the silver screen. In a first for Bestival, we’ll be teaming up leading DJs and musicians with a handpicked selection of your favourite films, to offer some brilliantly unique live score cinematic collaborations. Rob da Bankwill be leading the way with an unmissable rescoring of the 1930s King Kong! 

And that’s not all that’s going on in the Ambient Forest. Back by popular demand, you can start your day in a secluded clearing in the woods, with a very special meditation or yoga session, presented by leading experts, the David Lynch Foundation. And if you are wandering around after dark, look out for the extraordinarily talented interactive theatre company Gideon Reeling, who’ll be popping up along the trails when you least expect it! Already firm favourites at Camp Bestival, prepare to be enchanted, surprised, enlightened and bewildered by your assortment of encounters with this fabulous gang.

If you like the sound of the Ambient forest then you might just like The Wild Copse, since we’ve announced it, tickets have been selling like the proverbial hot cakes, so if you fancy a bit of a luxury Bestival experience, you’re going to have to get in there quick. More info about the Wild Copse can be found here: http://2012.bestival.net/info/camping/the-wild-copse

Lady Rock Festival details

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Founded and directed by Jackie Crozier, known for her four year reign as Manchester Pride’s festival director (2008 – 2012), LadyRock will showcase female musical talent, from world-class headliners to unsigned, up-and-coming acts.

Jackie Crozier said: “I’m a firm believer in Girl Power, and I think a lot of people are too shy to try and bring that sense of female togetherness back to the 21st century. LadyRock Festival is a fresh and exciting new event that is more than overdue.

“Females are ready for a musical revolution and, for the first time in a while, women seem to be dominating the airwaves. It’s about time this was celebrated in the live music and festival circuit – and where better to start a musical revolution than Manchester?”

The open air site will give the perfect festival atmosphere for LadyRock, which will offer two stages of music and comedy, in addition to on-site activities for the day. A shuttle bus service will operate between the venue and the city centre, as an optional part of ticket purchase.

VIVA Manchester & Cheshire Magazine has become the first official media partner of the festival. Its Editor in Chief, Emma Wilkinson, said: “VIVA is always involved with Manchester’s hottest parties and events, and we love our festivals…  Getting involved with LadyRock Festival just seemed right, so the men better watch out this May, because here come the girls!”

Tickets for LadyRock Festival 2012 will be on sale from 1 March. For more information on LadyRock Festival please see: www.ladyrockfestival.com.

Chase & Status to headline South West Four 2012

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Tickets on general sale Friday 17th February at 9am from:

www.ticketmaster.co.uk/sw4 / 0844 847 2467

“It's great to be headlining a festival in our home town, London. SW4 always has a killer line up and a great atmosphere and I'm sure it'll be one of the highlights of our summer.” Will Kennard (Chase & Status)

Chase & StatusFor the first time in our nine year history, the Clapham carnage will cease at 10pm. That’s an extra hour to indulge in the scintillating sights and sounds of the UK’s premier inner city music event. So with an extra sixty minutes to play with, this year’s line-up will be our biggest ever, showcasing an array of prime international artists on a scale never before experienced at SW4. Inspirational talent synonymous with South West Four’s success, are joined by a host of DJ debuts and manic live acts. Furthermore with improved sound levels, a freeze on 2011 ticket prices and numerous other enhancements, SW4 2012 will bring to the English summer an even greater festival experience.

For Saturday’s coveted headline slot we’re privileged to welcome the world’s most exciting live electronic act, the enigmatic Chase & Status. For this emotional homecoming, expect an intense immersive ethos incorporating raging riffs andhigh octane breakdowns. This frenetic formula earned their acclaimed album ‘No More Idols’ double platinum status and a ‘Best British Group’ nomination at The Brit Awards 2012.

Their baffling, on-the-fly manipulation of dirty, ferocious beats, has also attracted a devoted global fan base, who live and breathe that tumultuous bass driven sound. It’s no wonder, Mixmag nominated Chase & Status for their ‘Greatest Dance Act Of All Time.’ But let’s cut to the chase! With a status as one of the most innovative producers of their generation, this homecoming is preceded by a host of monumental global gigs.

Before shaking Clapham to the core, Chase & Status will headline Miami’s ‘Ultra Music Festival’ and Australia’s flagship ‘Future Music Festival.’ The ten thousand mile distance symbolic of their present standing. Iconic postcode SW4 falls nicely in the centre, a subliminal message maybe as this will be the focal point for Chase & Status’ shining summer activities. A must attend gig for fans of the band and electronic music lovers alike, we look forward to welcoming you all to SW4 2012.