Bestival and Common People present: The World’s Biggest Bouncy-Castle!

The Bestival family has a long and august history of going that extra mile, making the world of festivals bigger, better and brighter. And this year is no exception, pushing the boundaries of bobbing up and down to the very limit, we’ve teamed up with our old muckers, Cardiff-based Something Creatives to make what we think is the world’s biggest bouncy castle! Aiming to add to our accolades for the world’s largest fancy dress party, the biggest busk ever and our colossal disco ball, this could well be the greatest inflatable on Earth, and it’s making its debut at Common People in Southampton this coming bank holiday weekend!

Rob da Bank says: “We do love breaking a record and this is one of our funnest builds so far. Me and my mate Matt from the infamous Inflatable Church had a pipe dream about five years ago of building the world’s biggest bouncy castle, and this summer we’re making that a reality. So polish your socks and step up for what will be one of the most innocent of pleasures – bouncing up and down with gay abandon with your mates, family or friendly strangers. See you on the castle!”

Something Creatives’ Matt the Hat commented: “I’ve always been the first kid in the sandpit and consider play a fundamental part of everyday life. Everyone should find the time to play. The playful spirit of creating joy and fun is shared by Rob da Bank and all of the Bestival family and has made this brilliantly bonkers idea a reality. Whether you’re young or old, what could be more fun than jumping around inside the biggest bouncy castle in the world?  Just watch out for the ‘bouncers’, and remember if you’re wearing shoes then you can’t come in!”

Everyone loves a bouncy castle. That’s a fact. And we’ve got even more facts about our blow up bastion that could see us heading for the record books once again. Smashing an almost 20-year-old record and measuring a frankly epic23.8 metres long and 20.7 metres wide our bouncy castle stands 12.8 metres tall at its highest point; the side turrets are equal in height to the walls of Cardiff Castle, making it taller than the Great Wall of China and roughly three times the size of the Berlin Wall! Filled with 1143 cubic metres of air it can comfortablyaccommodate 100 pleasure-seeking festivalgoers at one time.

Quite simply massive, it’s an inflatable legend in the making, don’t miss the chance to have a jump around on our historic bouncy castle at Common People, Southampton this 28th & 29th May, and then at Camp Bestival 28th-31stJuly and Bestival from 8th – 11th September.

Bouncy Castle Comparison:

                                                            Length          Width           Height         

 

Word’s Biggest Bouncy Castle:          23.8m          20.7m          12.8m                 

 

Previous Record Holder:                    19m             19m             12m            

The clock is ticking and Common People tickets are flying so grab yours now at www.commonpeople.net

Common People announce Uncommon Stage line-ups

Continuing our mission to connect like-minded party people on common land, the Common People team are very pleased to announce the line-ups for our Uncommon Stage. Flexing his all-encompassing musical muscles Rob da Bank has joined forces with legendary, longstanding music publication Nightshift in Oxford and acclaimed venue The Joiners in Southampton, to bring you the cream of the up-and-coming music scene, featuring some of the most exciting new and underground bands, this coming May Bank Holiday at South Park and Southampton Common. 

Common People curator Rob da Bank says: “The beating heart of all our festival adventures is getting people to discover new music and uncover new bands. Our curators, Ricky from The Joiners in Southampton and Ronan from the seminal Nightshift magazine, are experts in these matters, so please be upstanding and make much noise for The Uncommon Stage.”

 

Nightshift’s Ronan Munro says: “It’s fantastic that so many local acts are getting the opportunity to play at Common People, with the opportunity to play to a whole new audience, and it’s great that we get the chance to show the variety of music that comes out of Oxfordshire – from hot jazz, reggae, hip hop and blues to doom metal, electronica, punk and even pirate pop. I’ve always tried to make musicians proud to come from Oxfordshire, and Oxfordshire be proud of its musicians and this weekend is proof that Oxfordshire is home to a wealth of music talent”.

The Joiners’ Ricky Bates says: “We at the Joiners are utterly thrilled to be directly presenting the Uncommon Stage this year with some of our favourite touring acts of old and new in one space! Plus, we have some amazing home grown local talent throughout the day covering everything from ska to metalcore to indie rock n’ roll across the weekend, it’s going to be the most righteous fun weekend, don’t stay in! See you down the front”.  

Saturday in South Park, Oxford will see the Uncommon Stage shake to the sounds of local seven-piece vintage r ‘n’ b and hot jazz outfit Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, east Oxford’s roots-inspired Zaia, the glistening pop hooks of Neverlnd, Chipping Norton’s Esther Joy Lane, the doomladen Undersmile, and Cowley’s Cameron A.G. who recently scored a Hottest Record in the World Right Now on Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show. There will also be rum-soaked fun from Peerless Pirates, gothic blues pop sounds from Death of the Maiden and looped vibes from mind-blowing cellist Duotone. 

Sunday’s super-fresh action will see Oxford-based, pan-European gypsy-ska-punks The Balkan Wanderers heading up a coruscating line-up that will include local electronic types Maiians, electro rockabilly blues from Vienna Ditto, Witney’s Little Brother Eli, Oxford-based beats cooperative Inner Peace Collective, Chipping Norton sibling duo Cassels, purveyors of porch folk with attitude The August List, Cowley’s Young Women’s Music Project and the experimental, ethereal sounds of Oxford via Stockholm’s Julia Meijer.

On Southampton Common, Saturday’s dazzling new sounds will come courtesy of much admired Cambridge five-piece Lonely the Brave and experimental Brightonians Tall Ships, with sets from singer-songwriter Sean Mcgowan, stadium-ready post rockers New Desert Blues and BBC 6 Music-supported Bel Esprit, all of whom hail from Southampton. There will also be live music from the Isle of Wight’s math-pop four-piece Signals and the home turf triumvirate of Our Hollow, Our Home, Elixir and Vicki Musselwhite, with the first of our soon to be announced I Want to Play at Common People winners also making an appearance. 

Sunday will see NME-championed Palma Violets topping a bill that will include garage rockers Pretty Vicious, Portsmouth’s Kassassin Street, and a cavalcade of local heroes including Science of Eight Limbs, The Rising, Bigtopp, These Septic Stars and Cassava, with two more I Want to Play at Common People winners completing the line-up.

Showcasing the very best in ambitious new music, don’t miss discovering your new favourite band at Common People’s temple of innovative sound, The Uncommon Stage.

Common People Announce Big Top Line-ups

Revealing a gargantuan cavalcade of delicious music for your dancing feet coming to Common People, we’re extremely excited to announce our Big Top line-up and lots more dance-based beatniks, who will be joining Duran Duran, Primal Scream, Craig David, Gaz Coombes, Public Enemy and many more at Oxford’s South Park and Southampton Common on Saturday 28th May and Sunday 29th May.

Common People curator Rob da Bank says: “Well, what can I say? Some of my favourite DJs, new and old, are coming to our joint Common People shebangs in Southampton and Oxford. Rodigan is a legendary party starter and reggae god, Kurupt FM are the funniest, funkiest garage crew ever and Hospitality promise to bring the jungliest ruckus… See you down the front”.

Hitting the Big Top in Southampton on Saturday and heading on to Oxford on Sunday we will have pure murkage and bare reloads from Brentford’s finest pirate radio crew Kurupt FM, plus there will be a sublime Hospitality Takeover featuring Camo & Krooked, London Elektricity, Fred V & Grafix, Etherwood and Dynamite MC, Wrec, with 130bpm bomb selection by Amy Becker.

Making good in South Park’s Big Top on Saturday and bound for Southampton Common on Sunday is reggae big gun David Rodigan MBE who will present his legendary Ram Jam with My Nu Leng, David Rodigan MBE, DJ Zinc, Prince Fatty and Venum Sound, plus there will be bassline business from recent chart stars 99 Souls, plus soulful and classy club business from local boys made good Housewurk in Oxford.

In Southampton our iconic Bollywood Cocktail Bus will play host to Junk: “Not Your Thing” on Saturday with rising Glaswegian star Denis Sulta ramping up the energy, and speaker smashers from Jordan McKinlay, Luca Pilato, Ronnie Spiteri, Caruana & Daniel O’Rourke, while Sunday’s sounds come courtesy of Deaf By Disco, Pete Callard, Foor and Little Chief.

There will be plenty of beats and bass in Oxford at the kaleidoscopic Sugar Skulls Cocktail Bar with Ben Gomori, Cornerstone Soundsystem, Ghettospheric, Mims & Thirsty, DJ Giles, Joel Kane and DJ Hecktick providing the flavour on Saturday, while on Sunday Simple Presents club wunderkind and Glaswegian house maverick Jasper James, with soundsystem fire from Em Williams, James Weston, Xavier, Time Gore, Tom Baker, Stav, Dan Gascoyne and Burt Cope.

Oxford’s South Park will also have the exalted Disco Shed on hand to keep you dancing long into the evening with Count Skylarkin (Trojan Records), Kerry & Casio, DJ FU (Freerange), Harvey K-Tel, Greg’s Greats (The Shellac Collective), Alex 19 from Wigan and Jason ‘The Cat’ King on Saturday and Peepshow Paddy, Del Gazeebo, Em Williams (Simple), Dapper Dan, Trol23, JJMaurage’s Reggae Bingo and Miss Splinters on Sunday.

Drake closes Wireless Festival’s 10th anniversary with a bang

Canadian rapper Drake finally made it back to London's Wireless Festival after a cancellation last year and it was well worth the wait!  With the sun shining down on London's Finsbury Park and the crowd at full capacity, Drake wastes no time in getting into his new single Legend off his latest album 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' and instantly reminded the crowd what they were missing.  With vocals in full swing and the crowd bopping up and down, Drake trawls through his massive catalogue of tunes including, Trophies, We Made It, Crew Love, Tuesday, The Motto, Hold On Were Going Home, Started From the Bottom, Take Care, Energy and more!

In full swag mode and working the crowd into the palm of his hand, Drake connects with the fans by constantly reminding them of his love for London, his second home he pronounces.  Covering the stage floor and giving the entire crowd love, Drake's showmanship is like no other!  There is no ego, and its plain to see that he is as happy to be here as is the adorning crowd.  With a set full of pyrotechnics and the stage transforming to a Jungle midway through, Drake is clearly in his element commanding the stage solo for the majority of his 80 minute performance.

All in all, it was quite a fitting end to what was brilliant day at the 10th anniversary of Wireless Festival, with Rita Ora, Katy B, Chance the Rapper & Public Enemy all playing amazing performances. 

Photo by Andrew Whitton courtesy of Wireless Festival

Drakes full set list is here:

  1. Intro
  2. Legend
  3. Trophies
  4. We Made It
  5. Headlines
  6. Over
  7. Crew Love
  8. Star 67
  9. 6 man
  10. No Telling
  11. Blessings
  12. Tuesday
  13. My Way RMX
  14. Motto
  15. Truffle Butter
  16. 6 God
  17. Worst Behaviour
  18. Jungle
  19. How About Now
  20. Find Your Love
  21. Take Care
  22. Hold On
  23. 0 to 100
  24. All Me
  25. HYFR
  26. Started from the bottom
  27. 10 bands
  28. Know Yourself
  29. Energy
  30. Legend

 

 

New Look Wireless 10th birthday party feat Drake, Rita Ora and more

This year New Look Wireless Festival brings together a host of massive names for a warmup party to mark the decade long Wireless Festival in London.  Coming to London for Wireless 10 on Sunday 28th June will be headliner Drake who will pull a double and headline New Look Wireless Festival as well the following weekend.

Joining Drake will be Rita Ora, Katy B, Chance the Rapper, Public Enemy, Kid Ink, Big Sean, Black Star, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah, De La Soul, Jhene Aiko, G-Easy & ILoveMakonnen!

Following this massive party will be New Look Wireless which takes place from the 3rd July to 5th July.

FRIDAY 3RD JULY

Drake
A$AP Rocky
Major Lazer
Labrinth
Nero
Duke Dumont
PARTYNEXTDOOR
Joey Bada$$
Maverick Sabre
Fuse ODG
Krept & Konan
Lethal Bizzle
Klingande
iLoveMakonnen
G-Eazy
Collie Buddz
Travi$ Scott
Ms. Dynamite
Little Simz
OCD: Moosh & Twist
Jermain Jackman

SATURDAY 4TH JULY

AVICII
Kendrick Lamar

Mary J Blige
Knife Party
Childish Gambino
Gorgon City
Jess Glynne
Netsky
DJ Mustard
Robin Schulz
Tinashe
Raleigh Ritchie
Indiana
Stormzy
MNEK
3LAU
OWS
Bad Rabbits
Sinead Harnett
Ady Suleiman
Nick Brewer
Etta Bond

SUNDAY 5TH JULY

David Guetta
Nicki Minaj

Jessie J
Clean Bandit
Stromae
August Alsina
Charli XCX
Wretch 32
Rae Sremmurd
George The Poet
Logic
Grandmaster Flash
Arrested Development
Pusha T
Shakka
Damage
Jacob Plant
Tove Styrke
Tori Kelly
Special Performance by Jaden & Willow Smith

Public Enemy to headline NASS 2015

Straight from the Terrordome, hip-hop pioneers Public Enemy will be headlining the outdoor main stage at NASS 2015. The godfathers of political rap return to the UK to 'Bring The Noise’ with a full live show featuring the deep and resolute rhymes of Chuck D, the euphorically delivered hype of Flavour Flav and the militant dance moves of the S1Ws. Smashing out hits including ‘Fight The Power, Shut Em Down, Public Enemy #1 and Yo! Bum Rush The Show’ and with a catalogue spanning over 26 years, Public Enemy deliver an intense and electrifying performance every time they rock a crowd. 
 
Public Enemy join already confirmed headliners ENTER SHIKARI on the main stage – watch this space for a further third headliner still to be announced… 
 
Joining Public Enemy at the top of the bill is D’n’B duo Sigma; fresh from collaborations with Ellie Goulding, Groove Armada and Skepta, the boys will be turning it up with their carefully selected tunes.  
 
Next up is UK based Hannah Wants. Notorious for her hard hitting and unique live-shows, self-taught DJ, Hannah Wants will be dropping bass heavy bangers from behind the main stages’ decks. Hannah’s sets feature an extensive, genre-crossing music collection combined with raw talent, creativity and an impressive ability to read the crowd. 
 
Also just added to the huge 2015 line up are renegade futuristic skankers the Dub Pistols who have been adding a much needed rock & roll swagger to the UK dance scene for years. Their full live shows have a tendency of tearing the roof off and more often than not they bring a few ‘friends’ along for the ride..not to be missed! 
 
Then we have UK institution Mike Skinner. Bringing his unique style and intelligent lyricism to the main stage – the rapper/dj/producer will be dropping a set filled with classics, new material and his unmistakeable blend of UK garage, grime, hip hop and d’n’b. 
 
Rodney ‘Roots Maunva’ Smith will also be exploding onto the stage with his unique dub and ragga influenced hip hop sound. With recent performances including full live bands and a string of collaborators from across the globe – we are excited to see what Roots  Manuva brings to this year’s NASS

Standon Calling Review 2014

Standon Calling – The Best Bits

1. THE MUSIC 

This small festival situated in Hertfordshire had a line-up rivaling that of larger festivals. Running from the 1st – 3rd of August, Standon Calling offered music to suit all ages and tastes. Headliners Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Public Enemy and Maximo Park ensured evening on the main stage ended on a high. Other highlights included Beans On Toast’s performance amongst the crowd, Amber Run inviting members of the audience dressed as a Taco and Paddington Bear to join them during their set and Charli XCX igniting the Big Top with her latest single ‘Boom Clap’. Other standout performances came from Clean Bandit, The Cuban Brothers, Grandmaster Flash and personal favourite Saint Raymond. Unfortunately the highly anticipated Ella Eyre could not attend due to illness. 

 

2. DOGS

Its the first time I’ve been to a festival where dogs are allowed in, its literally the best thing ever. I made some lovely canine friends and owners, who are surprisingly happy to have a million people a day ask to stroke their dog! There was even a dog show which drew in a massive crowd including categories; Best Trick, Waggiest Tail and Owner most like their Dog. Attractions like this are what separates this festival from others and provided light entertainment on Sunday afternoon. Amidst the chaos in the ring, Nigel was the standout dog. 

3. THEME

‘Lost in Latin America’ was this years theme. The attention to detail across the festival blew me away; there was not a single area that hadn’t been decorated, even behind the bar the theme continued. The cowsheds which held the afterpartys had hidden rooms, which had been fantastically decorated, including a Day of the Dead shrine.

4. JOSE CUERVO

Standon Calling offered a brilliant selection of stalls across the festival. The ‘Jose Cuervo’ bar ran margarita making competitions over the 3 days, giving partakers the chance to win a £500 bar tab for making the quickest drink. I gave it ago on Sunday, and managed it in 19 seconds, I was the current champion, only to return in half an hour to see someone had smashed my time and completed the challenge in 13 seconds! Absolutely gutted, but it was so much fun and it attracted a crowd full of competitive spirit! (You also got to keep the drink you made, bonus!)

5. SWIMMING POOL

What more could you ask for? The swimming pool is something that definitely stands out at Standon Calling; they are the only UK festival offering this experience! Suitable for children and adults alike, music by poolside DJ’s provided a relaxing retreat from the bustling crowds. 

6. FOOD

Standon Calling also offered a great selection of food, excellently priced. Barnaby Sykes – Pie Maker was a personal highlight, selling pie, chips, gravy, peas and a drink for £9, satisfying you for the entire day. The pulled pork burrito by Luardos was also delicious and worth the long queue. 

7. FANCY DRESS

The theme provided excellent inspiration for fancy dressers, there really was a top notch effort by all, everyone looked amazing and it added to the atmosphere of the weekend. Costumes ranged from Sally the Llama to bottles of tequila. There was a fancy dress competition for both adults and children on the main stage, with the winners chosen by the crowd. 

8. ENTERTAINMENT

During breaks in the music, there was always something else on offer to keep you entertained. Mexican wrestling was very unexpected but so entertaining, with the wrestlers taking on different characters within the ring giving the crowd someone to cheer or boo. Trapeze lessons were also available, for either £8 for a solo swing, or £35 to swing and be caught by a professional. Crowds watched below as the festival goers took the leap of faith!

Festival goers were able to buy tickets for 2015 at a hugely discounted price, and although this offer has now ended, I would definitely pay full price to return next year, it has been a highlight of my summer. 

Photos by Mickey Cole 

Public Enemy join the Parklife Weekender lineup

Already playing a packed festival circuit calendar, Public Enemy add the Parklife Weekender to their agenda as well.  The New York hip hop legends will headline the Collonde arena on Sunday joining headliners Foals and more.

Check out the brand new stages announced and more below:

Today the Parklife Weekender releases news of four more additional stages including the Treehouse Stage, an exclusive VIP arena, plus The Smallest Club in The World as tickets sell-out for Saturday. Limited spaces are still available for Sunday 8th June which features Foals, Bastille, London Grammar, Disclosure and more. As continuous supporters of UK promoters, Parklife announces over 50 DJs and brands to the burgeoning bill in addition to iconic hip-hop legends, Public Enemy and more.

Not content with offering the best value for money festival in the UK, Parklife yet again raises the bar as it offers  more for revellers to enjoy across the weekend than ever before. A regular highlight the Treehouse Stage will reach sky high altitude with a host of uplifting beats across the weekend including Manchester renowned Mute and Content DJs

2014 welcomes an VIP explosion as Parklife adds a plethora of pampering for those with VIP tickets, an exclusive VIP arena will offer up a tantalising mix of DJs from Leeds based Matt Everson to student champions Gold Teeth, plus revellers will also enjoy a private viewing platform, beautiful loos, access to the gourmet food and that all important place to relax during the two day party.  

New York seminal hip-hop group Public Enemy are added to an already astounding Sunday line-up which features Crosstown Rebels father Damian Lazarus and Manchester favourite, Heidi who returns to the festival with The Jackathon, one of the most popular stages of 2013. 

DJS AND BRANDS ADDED TO THE PARKLIFE WEEKENDER:

Abandon Silence | Adapt | AJ Christou | Angus Jefford | Ape-X | Archive | A.S.S.H.  | AV Verde | Bane | Bass Face | Bass Jockeys | BEAU | Bekuz GRRD | Bocuma Djs | Bootleg | Butter Side Up | C//A//S//A | Cassini DJs | Clarkes | Coded Rhythm | Content DJs  | Covert | CYNT | Davey Asprey | Darka | De:Bug | Departure | DJ Future | DOLCE | Dom Lev | Drop the Mustard | Dusted | D-Tached | EXHiBiT | Flux Groove | FRANK | Frontin' | Get Down | Giraffe, the Pelly & Us | Gold Teeth | Half Full | Heavy Rain | Hot Milk | Henry Campbell Bird | Idiosync | JAM | Jay Gregory | Just Skank | Kids Nowadays | Kinyume | Knee Deep | Lauren Lo Sung | Lo-Fi | Mark Ryan + Frank McWeeny | Matt Everson | MC Vybe | MDNA | Means&3rd | Meat Free | Motion DJs | Movement DJs | Mr Brown | MURR | Mute! | MVSON | N.A.N.C.Y | Nanny Banton | Ninjury | Noggo | OLDBOY | One Fifteen | Ouse DJs | Pasquale (DBE) | Pause | PEDRO | Platoon | Play It Down | Rikki Humphrey | Sam Graham | Selective Hearing | Shell Zenner | So Flute | Soul Boutique | Spin-Start Artists | Stevie Wonderland | Strictly Underground DJs | Szajna | Teknicolor | Thick as Thieves | True & False | The Tuesday Club | The Underground | Under | Voodoo | Walk The Horse | Zutekh | 808

Public Enemy and many more added to Secret Garden Party lineup

The Summer Festival Guide has another massive lineup announce from the Secret Garden Party's HQ.

This years Secret Garden Party have announced another headliner in the form of the legendary hiphop group Public Enemy who will be performing around Europe this summer.

Joining them on the lineup announcement today as well are New York based collective Hercules & Love Affair as well as the following:

Foreign Beggars – King Charles – Alabama 3 – Big Deal – Say Lou Lou

         Big Gigantic – Rae Morris – The Skints – Thumpers – Koven – John Fullbright – The Hics

Lxury – TCTS – Jacob Plant – Josef Salvat – Eagles For Hands

Nimmo And The Gauntletts – Ted Zed – Mad Professor – Coves – Jon Batiste – Melt Yourself Down – The Ramona Flowers

Losers – Arkon Fly – Ekkah – Killsonik – Wara – Plump Djs – Too Many T's

Max Cooper – Miraculous Mule – Rag 'N' Bone Man – Norma Jean Martine

Devon Sproule  – Gorgeous George – Si Cranstoun

Palace – Dandaluz – Cable Street Collective – Longy – The Future Dub Project – Beans On Toast

Animanz – Feral Mouth – The 45's – Cut Capers – The Meow Meows – Crinkle Cuts – Alexia Coley – Myles Sanko – General Skank

Public Enemy to headline Standon Calling

Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Public Enemy have seen over 20 years in the music business including hits such as ‘Don’t Believe The Hype’ and ‘Fight The Power’. Members Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Khari Wynn, DJ Lord and Professor Griff will  bring  the  beats  of  Long  Island,  New  York  to  Hertfordshire  for  Standon Calling this summer. A similarly pioneering figure of hip-hop and fellow member of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame also confirmed for the festival is Grandmaster Flash. Internationally acclaimed live dance act Shapeshifters are set to take to the stage, they may be a long way from their New Zealand home but are sure to receive a rapturous welcome. 

East India Youth aka William Doyle counts Brian Eno amongst his fans, and now Standon Calling is in for a treat with his heady mix of Krautrock and ambient electronic sounds. Further hip-hop will be on offer courtesy of Young Fathers, their alternative take on the genre has received support from the likes of BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, NME and Drowned In Sound. A twin sister musical duo hailing from both Australia and Sweden, Say Lou Lou achieved a place of the BBC Sound of 2014 poll and are now the perfect ‘dream pop’ addition to the festival’s line-up.  

Elsewhere Standon Calling has bagged alternative-pop courtesy of Eliza & The Bear and duoThumpers. Indie from Norwegians Team Me, plus rock n’ roll from Domino records signing The Bohicas completes the additions for the second announcement.