No More Secrets – An obituary to Secret Garden Party

29 July 2004 – 24 July 2017

As the mud settles in Huntingdon and we readjust to normality, it’s those moments where we find ourselves alone with our thoughts where we reflect on a whirlwind weekend that chewed us up and spat us out, kicking and screaming, back into the real world. Billed as the last ever (though rumours flood those conversations as the rain flooded our tents) this review inevitably strikes a more consolatory tone of what has to go down as one of the best festivals this country has seen.

I’ll crack on with my actual review of this year’s SGP. The one that’s a compromise between what the festival was like and what I actually got up to (which is probably best reserved for a private audience) in a language we can all understand. If you’re familiar with my festival review style, which is unlikely, you’ll know that I prefer to relay the festival as an experience, not a blow-by-blow account or detailed description of a particular set. I hate writing generic baloney like so-and-so stole the show with their trademark blend of floor-ready Venezuelan techno beats and signature Botswanan ukelele riffs, reminiscent of their first few albums before they went mainstream, and they mixed their music in their gran’s greenhouse using samples recorded from the humming churners at an early industrial cheese factory. If you want that, you’ve come to wrong little crevice of the internet.

Line-up

In another festival this would probably be the biggest section. Whilst credible and enjoyable, the strength of SGP lies beyond the list of names on the payroll. Acts ranged from Akala to Eats Everything, Toots and Maytals to Metronomy. None of which were particularly inspiring on paper but I enjoyed every set one I took in.

Musical highlight

The absolutely fucking radical set of fanny-out, bass heavy anthems from Peaches. Dick, dick, balls, 2000-and-dick… and Sucking on my titties like you wanting me… She was incredible, from start to finish. An unexpected treasure; defiant, empowering and spectacularly unapologetic.

Peaches

Lowest moment

The rain on the Friday night [this is when Paul's camera broke!]. I left for the Main Stage area in a t-shirt, shorts and a jacket of optimism but by the time to main acts kicked off I was riddled with drizzle and my motivation to slide through the puddles speedily fizzled. There were welcome breaks from the black clouds as day broke. The sun poked its head out to brown my mud-specked skin before applying another level of slippy slop to the festival floor pretty much from thereon-out. 

Setup, setting and organisation

As always impeccable. Originally conceived as an antidote to the increasing commercialisation of the UK festival scene (and that was in 2004) the way I always pitched SGP to my friends was an unrivalled setting with a unique and genuine approach to the finest of details.  A festival that embraced it’s rural surroundings; that simultaneously allowed the locals to celebrate their environment, and culture, but also people from across the country to immerse themselves in a world that blended the pastoral and the fantastical, or magical. It’s something which has been embedded in our culture for thousands of years, both reaffirming and reconnecting with a past. Everything from Stonehenge to Narnia is woven into this place they created to escape from the grind of daily life – our relationship with nature, through the looking glass. 

I tell my friends about the stage design; the Pagoda on the lake, the Drop cut into the verge, the Lost Woods, the boxing ring and its terrace of hay bales. The world they have created through the years is immersive, authentic, full of surprises and most importantly, believable.

The sound was underwhelming, never quite loud enough to get lost in. I guess sound is more of an issue to some than others but it was universally noticed. Personally it didn’t kill my buzz as much as the rain but there were several occasions where I could found boogieing pretty much inside the speaker boxes at Pagoda.

Pagoda stage

Vibe

As good as it gets. Perhaps a victim of its own success, the broadening of the crowd added a few extra elements that I hadn’t noticed in previous years but there was never an edge. Our gang of three snowballed into diverse bunch of dispersed groups within 24 hours. We flicked between and clung to these guys the whole rest of the time; a cracking bunch of maybe twenty people – unbelievable characters. In my head it felt like our age and experience framed us these mythical role models; heavenly manifestations of reprobatory shenanigans. In reality they probably just kept us within sight like loco parentis guardians of lost children. In the name of balance we’ll just leave it at a group of absolute sick guys that found another two kindred spirits and joined forces gloriously, and effortlessly. Every random encounter and interaction ranged from entertaining to uplifting; weirdness, coolness and just a general unguarded approach by nearly everyone I came across.

Best food

We quickly got word of a stall known colloquially as ‘Buttermilk Chicken.’ I don’t eat meat, but let me tell you, their buttermilk, deep fried hallumi burger with a hash brown on top was probably the best burger I’ve ever had the pleasure of hamming.

Personal highlight

Personal highlight for me was just the people I met and whom I shared the whole experience with; from Thursday morning to Monday afternoon. A real festival experience should be a story in of itself – a deeply personal one, much deeper than simply following an itinerary and wandering between stages at specific times on specific days to specifically have a specific laugh. So many good people. We met a few first timers, who’d never done a festival before, and the way the embraced it for me was an inspiring cocktail of expectation and nostalgia. It’s hard to explain without sounding like a complete twat, but I’m willing to sprinkle a little twattery on top at the expense of integrity, so chiggedy check this one: as a seasoned festival head, I knew what to expect in terms of the camaraderie and connections you can make at such places, but seeing it spark for the first time in someone else filled me with a bittersweet ambivalence. It was beautiful to see people’s minds being opened, and blown while at the same time being acutely aware that although for them, it was the start of the incredible journey that is your twenties, and your youth, it was also the end of mine. There were parallels between myself and Secret Garden Party itself. An unwavering commitment to celebrating the weekend as if it was my last, and the knowledge, that actually, maybe it was my last, at a festival.

Summary

In the end, a great send-off and a particularly poignant one for me because it was also a send-off for my best friend and photographer/general partner in crime at all these festivals we’ve done over the last decade, starting with Exit ‘07. It also turned into a send-off for my new friends, and in many ways, the remaining part of my own youth. All these goodbyes – old friends, new friends, a fair few clothes and trainers, Huntingdon and SGP. This is an obituary of sorts and I have to give thanks to SGP, the organisers, the people who worked it, the people who went, everyone, for giving me everything I wanted from it to such a significant extent. It was a complete festival experience undoubtedly. I gained a part of me on those fields and I left a part of me on those fields and I guess that’s as big a compliment as you can pay to a festival. It will be missed.

I’m still sad now. I’ve got a bad dose of festival blues. Midnight blues not by-the-beach-at-high-noon blues. I got back Monday night. The next 48 hours are a blur of nostalgia and social, physical and emotional withdrawal. I was holding back tears at Grey Worm and Missandei’s sex scene when I finally got round to catching up on GoT. I had to get a ten hour flight to Vegas on Thursday and cried at the inert and sterile performances in Rogue One, a true testament to the serotonin splurged in that incredible weekend (and I’m usually one of those ‘if the milk turns out to be sour’ cool af mf’s). Even in the cold, wet reality of Monday morning, I didn’t want to leave. But life is not a festival (I write this on a road trip across America) but I couldn’t imagine life without them. At 31 I’m coming to terms with some melancholy realities but if I have any advice it’s as follows. Go to festivals. Go to as many as you can. Meet as many people as you can and soak up as much as you fucking can, while you fucking can. You’ll be a better person for it. I heard someone describe Secret Garden Party as ‘Glasto-lite’ by the kind of person whose personality slid quicker than my old Reeboks in the Cambridgeshire mud but it has been a true great in a superficial, over-commercialised scene and the perfect platform for me to express myself outside of the boxes and hoops we navigate in our day-to-day.

Special shout-out to the tepee wankers and the ‘Secret’ girls and of course man like Paul Taylor, best of luck in the Big Apple my g x

 

words: lloyd w

photos: paul taylor

Secret Garden Party announce amazing full lineup for their last edition

The Secret Garden Party is pleased to announce the full line-up for its Grande Finale. For those in any doubt, this is categorically the final edition in its illustrious 15-year tenure as one of the most celebrated and fun events on the summer calendar. Tickets are about to sell out so SGP has issued a strong ticket warning for those who may be still undecided. Don’t miss out on the ultimate send-off for this much-loved slice of eccentricity. Because when it’s over there will be nowhere quite like it again….ever.

Throughout the 4-day event, 15 stages and venues will feature some incredible live music and dj sets, including many unique collaborations and b2bs. Plus, there’s a whole host of theme-based hilarious and very naughty VIP activities and games to get involved with. As ever, the devil is in the detail, and SGP promises to deliver one of the most idiosyncratic and original parties on the planet to celebrate this final send-off.  Sweet dreams indeed.

The full line up for Secret Garden Party 2017 is as follows (there will be a few unannounced secret special guests so ears to the ground). 

 

THE GREAT STAGE  

METRONOMY / CRYSTAL FIGHTERS / TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS

JAGWAR MA / PEACHES / WILD BEASTS  / JEREMY LOOPS / HONNE

JORJA SMITH / KATE NASH / DEAP VALLY / DMA'S / FICKLE FRIENDS 

 TOM MISCH / RAY BLK / REJJIE SNOW / DAVID  RODIGAN  / CHARLOTTE OC / WILL JOSEPH COOK /

TOM GRENNAN / THE CORRESPONDENTS  / ANTEROS / BEANS ON TOAST

~~~~~~~~

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

JAIN / AKALA / BONZAI /THE MOONLANDINGZ / ZAK ABEL / PUMAROSA / ALL THEM WITCHES / CLEAN CUT KID / MABEL / ETTA BOND / BE CHARLOTTE / TOOTHLESS / NORTH DOWNS / LET’S EAT GRANDMA / SERAMIC / BOXED IN / LAUREL / AINE CAHIL / CROOX / COSMO SHELDRAKE / ALICE JEMIMA / MONT JAKE / WOWH / OSCAR MIC / LOST COLOURS / MALKA / SASHA BROWN / GECKO / MR VAST / NED DYLAN / EARL OKIN / ALL ABOUT TOBE

~~~~~~

THE LIVING ROOM

THE WANDERING HEARTS / HONEY & THE BEAR / SKUFF & INJA / SIVU / ETHAN ASH / MORGANWAY / SUNDAY DRIVER  / OPAQUE  / WILL ROBERT / KYAN / THE INEXPLICABLES / PARK BENCH POET / LAURA OAKES / AMETHYSTS / SAMUEL JACK / CRINKLE CUTS / MATT MALTESE / SONNY / TOM LUMLEY/ FLINT MOORE /GOLDEN BANTIC / ANNABEL ALLUM / ISAAC GRACIE / KERRY DEVINE MAHALIA / THE KINGS PARADE / SONIA STEIN / HEAVY SUGAR DJ'S /  PIXEY / RICKY BOOM BOOM  plus SUPER SECRET SPECIAL GUESTS

~~~~~~~~

THE COLOSILLYUM 

RINSE FM TAKEOVER

TEMPLE OF BOOM PRESENTS:

EXAMPLE & DJ WIRE / NERO / ALEX METRIC / HERVE + MC JDP / MAJESTIC / UTAH SAINTS / EDDY ™ + MC ANGEL / 1991 / DOCUMENT ONE / SHAPES /THE DANDADDA / MISTRESS MO + MC BOOGIEMAN

HOSPITALITY VS RAM:

SUB FOCUS VS METRIK /  CAMO VS KROOKED / SPY VS RENE LA VICE /

FRED V & GRAFIX VS CULTURE SHOCK

NU:LOGIC VS DC BREAKS /  KEENO VS CHORDS / FRANKEE VS KRAKOTA /DAXTA RUTHLESS ID / CARASEL

 

STANTON WARRIORS

 FISH SEEKS BICYCLE PRESENTS: THE CRAFTY RASCALS

~~~~~~~

THE DROP

VERY SPECIAL GUEST: MATHEW JONSON LIVE

 

EATS EVERYTHING PRESENTS EDIBLE

 

JACKMASTER / SKREAM / DJ TENNIS / NASTIA / CRAIG RICHARDS B2B NICOLAS LUTZ

BUSHWACKA! / BAMBOUNOU / SOUL CLAP / TOM TRAGO / PEGGY GOU / WAZE & ODYSSEY /JONAS RATHSMAN / B.TRAITS  / ARCHIE HAMILTON /

FELIX DICKINSON / DEWALTA / ALEX & DIGBY / MR PRICE / MELE / DENNEY B2B WAIFS & STRAYS  / ELLIOTT ADAMSON / COUSN / KRANKBROTHERS /

MAZE & MASTERS / JESSE CALOSSO / JAKE HODGKINSON & HARRY MCCANNA /

WILD SIRRENDA (LIVE) / CHILDREN OF THE DUST / DAX LEE / BANOFFEE PIES / SHAPES / NICK GYNN /

JESS FARLEY / MANAMI BABA / SARAH FRENCH / TAMMY MILES

 

….and many more secret special guests

~~~~~~~~

THE LABYRINTH

GEORGE FITZGERALD /MARIBOU STATE (DJ SET) / WAZE & ODYSSEY /SOUL CLAP / JONAS RATHSMAN / CRAIG RICHARDS /MAN POWER  / HONEY SOUNDSYSTEM / MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM /LUKE SOLOMON / PEDESTRIAN /FELIX DICKENSON / MATT TOLFREY / ADAM SHELTON / DAVE HARVEY / WAIFS & STRAYS / CHRISTOPHE /BOBBY PLEASURE / ITCHY RICH / CHARLIE MCFARLEY / OLLIE MUNDY / ASHLEY WILD / SLEAZY WONDER / FOR BETTER OR WORSE

~~~~~~~

LOST WOODS LIVE  – CHAI WALLAHS

K.O.G & THE ZONGO BRIGADE / SHEELANAGIG / SMASH HI FI /HORSEMAN & THE UPPERCUT BAND / HONEYFEET / GYPSIES OF BOHEMIA / ABSTRACT ORCHESTRA  KOFFIE /GALLOWSTREET / SOCCER 96 / THE URBAN FOLK QUARTET / LAKUTA  LIAM BAILEY / MAMMAL HANDS /NEW ORLEANS SWAMP DONKEYS / YUMI & THE WEATHER  / LAZY HABITS / TIME FOR T / ME AND MY FRIENDS / DOJO / SOLA ROSA / OLAH BLISS /HOLLY HOLDEN / Y SU BANDA / DAKHLA BRASS / BALAPHONICS /MORE LIKE TREES / SOLANA / FEELGOOD EXPERIMENT / KIOKO / TOKIO MYERS / VOJTA / ASH WALKER

~~~~~~~~

LOST WOODS DISCO

 

ANDHIM / JONAS RATHSMAN /STEVE DAVIS & KAVUS TORABI /ADAM FREELAND FLAMINGODS DJ SET / JONO MA / ZERO 7 DJ SET /OLAF STUUT LIVE

MOJO FILTER / POLYNATION DJ SET / UONE / SAM GOKU / MARIBOU STATE DJ SET / HEAD GARDENER / LANCELOT / AUDLEY LEELAND WILD LIFE) / GENTLE MYSTICS SOUND SYSTEM / DOM SERVINI (WAH WAH 45s) / QASH / LU:SID / TIMANTI /SLUG RAVE / RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW / DAVID MINNS

~~~~~~~~

THE PAGODA

WAZE & ODYSSEY PRESENTS:

 

LORD LEOPOLD / DUSKY / EDU IMBERNON / WAIFS & STRAYS B2B ITCHY RICH /MELE / EATS EVERYTHING / HUXLEY / EJECA  / MELLA DEE / JONAS RATHSMAN /STEVE HUERTA / URULU / CITIZENN / THEO KOTTIS / DENNEY / BUCKLEY / FRANK TOPE / RED RACK'EM / SOUL CLAP / HONEY SOUNDSYSTEM / KRYWALD & FARRER / HOUSE HUSBAND / MAZE & MASTERS / THE BAY DJS / ED KARNEY /DOM CHUNG / JAMIE MORRISON / ALIE HORTON / CHARLIE MOORE / MR PRICE / JAY KARIM / MICHAEL PALMER / SOPHIE LLOYD / TOSH OHTA / BEDLAM DJS

~~~~~~

LITTLE GAY BROTHER

ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK / CRAIG CAMPBELL / FAT TONY / FRANK CO. / JAMES PHILLIPS / JIM WARBOY / JONATHAN BESTLEY /JONJO JURY / LEWIS BURTON /MANSUSHI / MAZE & MASTERS NIC FISHER /OLI KEENS / PAUL HERON /SPACESTATION /TERRY VIETHEER /THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS / TIM FANUCCI /TWICE SHY PRESENTS GAY GARAGE /WAX WINGS /ZENZERO

~~~~~~~~

THE TEMPLE OF EXCESS

THE PLUMP DJS / SHADES OF RHYTHM / EVIL NINE / DUKE SLAMMER / HEAD GARDENER / VIGI / MR B / PAUL DARKING / MARGARET SCRATCHER / CAPTAIN STEARNE / SAM GREENWOOD / PIRATE / KONTROVERSI / C-UNIT / S. SEAGULL / ANDY BARLOW / EUAN SIMPSON / SIMON HOME BOY HOLMES / QVC / SMYLEY JAY / BONGO TED / EMBER / PUKA 1 UP /  SILVER SURFER & THE GENERAL DEALER / MARK HOUSDEN / BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THE ORDER OF THE VELVET NOSTRIL CURTAIN / SISTERS COLLEEN & SUZIE BROTHERS JULIAN & PAUL / BEYOND MONKEY / IRRELEVANT DISCO / GRANDADS BACKROOM ANTICS / DEREK INCOGNITO

~~~~~~~~

THE KITSCH INN

THE CORRESPONDENTS / SAM AND THE WOMP /THE SKA VENGERS /THE BAGHDADDIES / LAZY HABITS /SWING ZAZOU / THE DESTROYERS / CUT CAPERS / THEY SAY JUMP / EMPATEE DU WEISS / TOKYO SEXWAIL / WORLD’S TALLEST DJ CABARET SPECIAL / DJ CHRIS TOFU / BEATING HEART /BAKERS BROTHER’S FUNKY FAREWELL / TWO FOR JOY TAKEOVER / WOODBURNER TAKEOVER

~~~~~~~~~

THE COCKTAIL BAR

HALF BAKED / FLUX /  SHAPES / GIN & JUICE /  SO FRESH SO CLEAN /

FUNK FROM THE TRUNK / WONKY DISCO / B.A.R.E  / HOUSE OF CLEARANCE HOUSE PARTY / KITE HIGH  /

JONNY CADE / SKINNY & SELECTA / MISS T / MAX HAGENBACH / ALGY STRUTT

~~~~~~~~~~

THE LIDO

THE HEATWAVE /FELIX DICKINSON /JOE LYE & KATIE BARBER

 

CLASH MAGAZINE PRESENTS: ANNA WALL + NIMMO

CHRISTOPHE / PETE LUNG / KENNY WISDOM / CRAIG CHRISTON /JENNY JEN /ANDY ALLDAY /MORPH & SANKY / WAYWARD / SOPHIE SKY /REMI /CASA VIDA

~~~~~~~~

THE LAKE STAGE

PRAWN CRACKER / LYNX AFRICA / DJ CHEEKY

SECRET GALS PARTY PRESENTS: ANNA WALL /  COLLYER TWINS /  EDA /  E11E / EMERALD /  GEORGIE ROGERS / GI JAMES / HAZE / LOU ELLIS / SWEET LEMONADE 

 ~~~~~~~~

Secret Garden Party will close it curtains for good in 2017

The multi award-winning Secret Garden Party, the event that set the creative benchmark for festivals in the UK and around the world, announced today that this year’s event, July 20-23, will be the final instalment in its illustrious 15-year tenure as one of the most celebrated events on the summer festival calendar.

From humble beginnings as a gathering with a few hundred friends the passionately independent Secret Garden Party has grown organically over the years. Its fun-loving friendly outlook, its much-loved eccentricity, and its meticulous attention to detail has inspired and enabled a generation of creative artists, musicians and performers to develop and thrive, whilst embracing the core values of friendship, participation and ownership with its audience. It has also been a major hub for leftfield, like-minded people who were eager to ‘escape to reality’ through the counter-culture. It can be proud of a legacy that inspired so much (and so many) as well as having been the setting for such a collection of wonderful memories and lifelong friendships.

There is never a perfect time to announce this as either too early or too late would have consequences for the loyal gardeners.

Founder and Head Gardener Freddie Fellowes says:

“15 years ago I started out with a set of ideas as to what makes a good party and the most perfect venue for it. But with no set idea of what the destination was for this venture the ‘festival’ was, at that time, the perfect medium through which to explore these ideas. But rather than getting too excited and telling you about the phoenix we are going to raise from all of this, it bears explaining why we are lighting the fire.

Much has changed since our first Garden Party, when there was nothing else like it in the UK: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter had yet to be invented and no one knew what a boutique festival was, let alone Glamping.

Since then the Garden Party has defined and redefined outdoor events in the UK; we have done so as a collective of truly independent outsiders.

We have never compromised our principles and we never will. SGP has always been a beacon of what you can do within those terms and, as imitation (being the sincerest form of flattery) proves, it has set the bar for everyone else going forward.

But it is exactly because of those principles, and the love of those who have made the Garden Party what it is, that we are committing this senseless act of beauty.

What better way to honour the love that has been given to this project and wholly demonstrate this principle than finishing now? This isn’t some principled self-immolation: this is opening up it for the future. So this summer will be the almighty send-off that the Garden Party deserves and whilst that is going to cause some tears to be shed, think of it more as ‘Dylan goes electric’ than our Altamont.

Because after all you can’t be avant-garde from within an institution and lest we forget: the frontier always moves.”

 

Come join us for the grande finale!

 

Secret Garden Party announce new addition to 2017 lineup

The Secret Garden Party is very pleased to announce new additions to its live music line up for 2017. They are as follows:

 

CRYSTAL FIGHTERS

WILD BEASTS / PEACHES

JORJA SMITH / FICKLE FRIENDS / BONZAI

THE MOONLANDINGZ / ALL THEM WITCHES / KATE  NASH / JAIN/ PUMAROSA

WILL JOSEPH COOK / TOM GRENNAN / MABEL / BE CHARLOTTE / TOOTHLESS

NORTH DOWNS / SERAMIC / CHARLOTTE OC / LAUREL

AINE CAHILL / COSMO SHELDRAKE

 

Combining Basque folk instruments and melodies with modern dance beats, Crystal Fighters bring a joyous mix of sunshine sounds, psychedelia and rave to the Party. Their new and third album, ‘Everything is My Family,’ continues to win plaudits across the board for its uplifting celebration of life, love and family. Live they guarantee an all-out energetic, pulsating assault on the senses. The perfect third headliner for this year’s Secret Garden Party.

Line up announced so far is:

CRYSTAL FIGHTERS / METRONOMY

TOOTS & THE MAYTALS

WILD BEASTS / PEACHES / RAY BLK / HONNE / JAGWAR MA

REJJIE SNOW / JEREMY LOOPS / TOM MISCH / AKALA / JORJA SMITH /  FICKLE FRIENDS / BONZAI /THE MOONLANDINGZ / DEAP VALLY / ALL THEM WITCHES /  KATE NASH / JAIN / PUMAROSA / ZAK ABEL  / WILL JOSEPH COOK / TOM GRENNAN / MABEL / ETTA BOND / BE CHARLOTTE / TOOTHLESS / NORTH DOWNS / LET’S EAT GRANDMA / SERAMIC / CHARLOTTE OC / LAUREL / AINE CAHILL / COSMO SHELDRAKE / MONT JAKE

…with many more artists, djs and parties still to be announced

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FAME GAMES & WONKY RACES

This year’s theme ‘Sweet Dreams…are made of this?’ takes a wry and humorous look at the fame game. . Is being a celebrity it all it’s cracked up to be? Or, do we want to change the world…together?  Secret Garden Party takes you on the ride of your life.

 

Peaches, Optimo and more added to Lovebox Sunday

With newly added performances from massive acts such as Optimo, The Juan Maclean and Jodis Harsh’s Circus and previously announced Beth Ditto, Blondie, Scissor Sisters, Robyn and Kelis, Sunday promises to be a wickedly exciting and compelling day out, and a fittingly rambunctious and outrageous finale to a fantastic weekend.
 
PeachesWe’re also pleased to announce a new arena – The Bacardi Get Together, which will provide surroundings perfectly encompassing both a place to soak up the festival atmosphere together over a BACARDÍ cocktail, and the ultimate place to party. Crowds will see 3 DJ greats join forces behind the decks for a one off – never before heard ‘BACARDÍ Together Set’. Sunday-goers can expect to see performances from founders of legendary Glasgow club night and celebrated DJs in their own right, Optimo, DFA RecordsThe Juan Maclean and Holy Ghost! andpurveyors of the New York Disco scene In Flagranti.
 
Sunday in the Relentless Energy Drink Arena will be taken over by Jodie Harsh’s Circus, where she will be bringing her famous parties out of the warehouse and into the park. The London icon and life and soul of the party will be joined by an immense line-up of friends, including Filthy Dukes, Fred Falke and Style Of Eye.
 
This year, Trailer Trash are teaming up with The Lovely Jonjo’s ‘Hot Boy Dancing Spot’ – together, along with Hannah Holland, Mikki Most and Ian Robinson, and Rory Phillips, they’ll be bringing their ferocious parties to Lovebox.
 
Legendary monthly party in deepest Dalston, Disco Bloodbath will team up with filthy spiral techno, jungletech drum & bass crew, Dirtbox (who were runner-up in the recent Boyz Awards for ‘Best Alternative Club Night) to host a Sunday stage. DJs Ben Pistor, Damon Martin, Gibson are just some of the heavy hitters representing on the day, ready to melt eager festivalgoers into a sweaty puddle with their inimitable quest for debauched thrills and spills on the dancefloor. 
 
Previously announced artists to the Out and Out Fierce programme include lead singer of The Gossip and NME’s “Coolest Person in Rock,” flamboyant indie-rocker Beth Ditto whowill play the main stage, Italian Disco duo Retro/Grade, Disco House posers Monarchy and model/singer/songwriter/stylist Viktoria Modesta. Some of Jodie Harsh’s Circus’ already added acts are “Sultan of Scando techno” Style of Eye, DJ Fred Falke, synthpoppers Filthy Dukes, DJ/Producer Kris Di Angelis (live), Bowski, Warboy, and Scottee will be hosting his infamous alternative cabretclub Eat Your Heart Out.
 
As if that isn’t enough, Lovebox 2011 will also see the return of NYC Downlow, the infamous US import which fuses cabaret, performance and music in one strikingly unmissable individual space and which can only be witnessed in all its eye-popping glory here. Horse Meat Disco residents James Hillard, Jim Stanton and Filthy Luka, will be throwing a gloriously messy party alongside Tensnake, Severino and The Shit Robot Show (Live)
 
SUNDAY 17th JULY – LOVEBOX FESTIVAL
 
MAIN STAGE:
SCISSOR SISTERS
2MANYDJS (CLOSING MAIN STAGE DJ SET)
BLONDIE
BETH DITTO
MARC ALMOND
AZARI & III
HARD TON
FERAL AKA MC KINKY
JONNY WOO
DR NOKI FASHION SHOW
 
GAYMERS STAGE:
ROBYN
KELIS
MEN
BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB
PLANNINGTOROCK
RETRO/GRADE
MONARCHY
VIKTORIA MODESTA
 
RELENTLESS ENERGY DRINK ARENA HOSTED BY CIRCUS:
JODIE HARSH’S CIRCUS
STYLE OF EYE
FRED FALKE
FILTHY DUKES
KRIS DI ANGELIS
BOWSKI
WARBOY
SCOTTEE’s EAT YOUR HEART OUT
 
THE BACARDI GET TOGETHER
OPTIMO
THE JUAN MACLEAN
THE GLIMMERS
VILLA
IN FLAGRANTI
PSYCHEMAGIK
BICEP DJs
DAN BEAUMONT
 
TRAILER TRASH/HOT BOY DANCING SPOT
PEACHES
JOE AND WILL ASK?
THE LOVELY JONJO
RORY PHILLIPS
HELLO MOZART
HANNAH HOLLAND
MIKKI MOST
IAN ROBINSON
 
DISCO BLOODBATH/DIRTBOX
BEN PISTOR
DAMON MARTIN
GIBSON
THE DUCHESS OF PORK
PRINCESS MICHAEL OF C*NT
 
DOWNLOW / HORSE MEAT DISCO
JAMES HILLARD
JIM STANTON
LUKE HOWARD AKA FILTHY LUKA
SEVERINO
TENSNAKE
THE SHIT ROBOT SHOW LIVE