Rob da Bank

Clean Bandit, Groove Armada, Eton Messy and more set for Corona Sunsets

by

After a triumphant debut, Corona SunSets will be making its way back to the stunning shores of Weston-Super-Mare on the 11th July. This next edition will see chart toppers Clean Bandit headlining the beach-fronted festival with a whole host of amazing electronic acts!

One of the planet’s biggest selling dance acts, Groove Armada, are set to make their Griffin Stage DJ debut at Corona SunSets festival. Groove Armada have been a staple to the electronic scene for the past 20 years and will be bringing their sublime sound to the west coast. Rocketing to fame in recent years, new kids on the block and tastemakers of modern clubland, Eton Messy, are also joining the bill along with Bestival boss Mr. Rob da Bank, Berlin’s Claptone and Janis Jakobsons AKA Uppfade.

Groove Armada said “If you like a GA sunset with a twist of lime, Weston super-Mare is the spot. Join us beachside, July 11th”

The Crown Stage will be hosted by a combination of Bristol's finest party starters, Motion, Team Love andThe Blast who will bring some of their favourite acts to the stage to party into the night, including the mightyCrazy P, legendary disco don Greg Wilson, carnival king Toddla T feat. MC DRS and a very special live performance from Jus Now.

Corona SunSets Festival at Weston-super-Mare will not only showcase an impressive line-up, but will also offer unique tastes and flavours courtesy of globally-renowned chef Andre Amaro, with his delicious wood-fire-based cuisine, and the Shaker Boys who will concoct Corona-based cocktails.

Festivalgoers attending SunSets will also have the opportunity to visit a festival marketplace offering local crafts and clothing, experience relaxing activities, including therapeutic massages, and encounter creative characters such as Corona Goddesses and Nymphs who embody the spirit of SunSets.

Corona Sunsets kicked off in the brand’s home of Mexico to a sold out crowd in Playa del Carmen on May 2. The event, held at Mamitas Beach Club, was a unique experience for fans in that market and featured global and local music artists such as Laidback Luke, DJ Robin Schulz and Mexican Institute of Sound. In addition to Mexico and the upcoming festival in the UK, SunSets will be introducing four additional large-scale, but still intimate and laid-back, festival experiences in Italy (July 25), Spain (Aug 13), China (dates TBC), and Australia (dates TBC).

Corona SunSets will additionally bring over 150 SunSets events in more than 20 markets including Rio de Janeiro – Brazil, Santiago – Chile, Toronto – Canada, Goa – India, Okinawa -Japan and Dubai. “Music is a passion for our fans – along with travel, food and culture,” said Steph Okell, Marketing Director UK for Corona. “The Corona SunSets platform gives us an opportunity to combine all four into an immersive experience around the world.”

Bestival announces Invaders of the Future stage lineup

by

The very lifeblood of Bestival is new music. A passion that runs deep within the entire Bestival team, our head honcho Rob da Bank’s knack for spotting the most exciting new bands known to humanity is legendary, and has seen Bestival history littered with debut, or very early, festival appearances by some of what are now the world’s biggest acts. These days cunningly entitled the Invaders of the Future Stage, our new music mecca is where you need to be this September 10-13 at Robin Hill, if you want to see the next big thing before they become stadium-filling mega-stars.

A very modern Rob da Bank says: “OK, so this has to be my favourite stage at Bestival. It’s the beating heart of what Bestival is about – breaking new talent and exposing the undercard. It takes me about six months to book, on and off, wondering who the next wave of breaking bands are going to be, and trying to get the right mix of electronic, folk, soul and indie, dub and grime… and already I can see loads of these acts being on much bigger stages next year. Everyone from Ed Sheeran and Alt-J to Kate Tempest have played early gigs on this stage. So, from the wildly different sounds of Ratboy and Lion Babe, to The Skints, Clarence Clarity and the Island’s very own Plastic Mermaids, I promise you, this is the sound of the future”.

 

 

Currently causing a stir for those in the know there will be music from West London’s forward thinking alt. rockers All This Noise, our BBC Introducing twin Bearcubs, quirky funkers Boxed In, Ventnor duo Champs, singer-songwriter Clarence Clarity, Leeds five-piece Eagulls, folky grunger Eaves, gothabillys Eighteen Nightmares at the Lux, funk-inspired twosome Ekkah and sibling double act Formation.

We’ll also have punk rockers Girlpool, Norwich’s own Graceland, Glasgow pair Honeyblood, future-soulsters Honne, North London sisterly trio Jagaara, Manchester folky JJ Hodari, synth classicists Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra, rude boy Kiko Bun, BRIT school alumni Kimberly Anne and erstwhile Late of the Pier dude LA Priest.

Don’t miss out on fiery electro-ravers LIA:Life Imitates Art, singing cellist Laura Moody, Pharrell Williams collaborators Lion Babe, beat slayer Mura Musa, the woozy, bluesy Palace, Isle of Wight sons Plastic Mermaids, and Polar Maps, NYCs Ratboy, soulful popsters Real Lies, the super-seductive Secaina Hudson and intricately melodic people Shelter Point.

And be sure to catch those down-to-Mars girls Skinny Girl Diet, Bridie Monds-Watson AKA SOAK, Grime MC Stormzy, ambitious rockers The Bohicas, reggae-ska-dub-punk-hip-hoppers The Skints, indie troubadours The Slow Show, alt. popster Thomston, stratospheric-folk five-piece To Kill A King, Irish pop-rockers Walking on Cars and south coast psyche-surfers Wild Smiles. Giving a leg-up to the stars of tomorrow, the Invaders of the Future stage is where you might just discover your new favourite band.

Bestival’s newest wave of acts announced – Skepta, Wiley, Drenge and The Chuckle Brothers

by

EVEN MORE ACTS JOIN OUR SUMMER OF LOVE

WILEY / SKEPTA / RONI SIZE REPRAZENT (LIVE) / DRENGE / JAGUAR SKILLS / DJ YODA PRESENTS: BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS / KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS / GABRIELLE APLIN / DUB PISTOLS / DINOSAUR PILE-UP / DODGY / KERO KERO BONITO / LLOYD YATES / SEAFRET / XOCKHA / YRSLF

Plus To Me, To You Behaviour From The Legendary: CHUCKLE BROTHERS

www.Bestival.net / Facebook /  Twitter / Instagram / Tumblr

#Bestival15 / #SummerofLove

With over 25 stages, revolutionary soundsystems, zombie love-ins, psychedelic woodland adventures, 24-hour free haircuts, and a host of dazzling new attractions, Bestival’s Summer of Love is already looking pretty damn fit. But as ever, we want to get everyone we love involved, including this rather sultry bunch of musical marvels that will have you rockin’ Robin Hill all weekend long this September 10-13.

Love commando Rob da Bank says: “I’m well excited with this new batch of acts we’re announcing tonight. With so many identikit festivals about with similar acts and bills I’m proud that 12 years on we don’t go with the flow. If the indie amazingness of Drenge isn’t your bag then grimy faceslaps from Skepta and Wiley might be, and if you’re insane and don’t like the legendary junglist brilliance of Roni Size and his live Reprazent show then perhaps, just perhaps, you’ll be singing ‘to me, to you, to me, to you’ whilst dancing in a pair of ill-fitting tropical shorts to the Chuckle Brothers. No matter what, there’s plenty more fish in the sea to come, as our Summer of Love really starts to heat up. See you down the front.”

 

Bringing on the love with big fat beats, we’ll have main stage appearances from grime pioneer Wiley, who completely smashed it as our secret guest in 2012, plus the unstoppable skank machine, Dub Pistols.

Dub Pistols legend Barry Ashworth commented: “The Highlight of the year for us will always be playing Bestival, this year we are back on the main stage, it doesn’t get bigger than that, and if that’s not enough you can always catch me spinning tracks and drinking in the Sunday Best Cardboard Record Shop! There’s only one Bestival!”

Not quite true, Barry, there are two Bestivals, but we know what you mean! Big love to all our Canadian brethren! More Isle of Wight-based Bestival main stage action will come from cool chanteuse Gabrielle Aplin, sing-along faves Dodgy, and the Isle of Wight’s own Xockha and Yrslf.

Old blue, Bestival’s beloved Big Top will be playing host to some mighty sounds this summer, too, including the much requested return of Joseph Junior Adenuga AKA Skepta and an absolute must-see live set from drum n bass hero Roni Size & Reprazent. We’ll also have recently expanded noiseniks Drenge, our favourite scratch master DJ Yoda Presents: Breakfast of Champions, with his brand new hip-hop band busting up the Big Top live, and then the man himself will be taking on Bollywood for a typically special DJ set, and we’ll have one of the coolest bands ever to grace a festival, Sunday Best favourites, the utterly incomparable Kitty Daisy & Lewis.

Commenting on their latest Bestival appearance, Kitty Daisy & Lewis uttered as one: “We’re so excited to be coming to Bestival again this year, we always have a great time. Sunday Best know how to throw a festival!”

The Big Top will also welcome a high-voltage rock assault from Dinosaur Pile-Up, plus sets from Kero Kero Bonito, Lloyd Yates, Seafret and – we’re not sure it’s possible to express quite how excited we are about this – The Chuckle Brothers! Yes, it’ll be history in the making with be-mulleted slapstick to me, to you. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

As if all that wasn’t enough to get you all giddy with joy, he was one of the smash hits acts that started our summer in finest style at Common People, so we’re extremely pleased that turntable ninja, Jaguar Skills, will be joining us to destroy the dancefloor at The Port.

New stage announced for Bestival – The Kaleidoscope

by

       

 

BRAND NEW FOR OUR SUMMER OF LOVE

THE KALEIDOSCOPE

A STEPPING STONE TO COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS

LIVE MUSIC LOVE-INS:

47SOUL / ALICE JEMIMA / ANDY VOTEL PRESENTS TWISTED NERVE / BADOW / COCO AND THE BUTTERFIELDS / ESTHER JOY LANE / FICKLE FRIENDS / FLIGHT BRIGADE / GALLOWS GHOST / GECKO / GOLDRAY / L.A SALAMI / LAZLO / LAUCAN / LUCKY ELEPHANT / MISPERS / PORT ISLA / SAMUEL WALWYN / SHANTY / SOLKO / SOLAR BEARS / THE EPHEMERALS / THE FONTANAS / WILL VARLEY / XYLAROO

AMBIENT FOREST & WONKY DISCO DJs:

APIENTO / BALEARIC GABBA SOUNDSYSTEM / CHRIS COCO / DANNY WHITEHEAD / DAVE SEAMAN / FLYING WHITE DOTS / MOJO FILTER / NICK WARREN / OLAF STUUT / PAUL GODFREY (MORCHEEBA) PETE GOODING / PHIL DOCKERTY / PHIL MISON / PHIL SOUTH / STEVE COBBY / STILL:LIFE / THYTHE / TOM MISCH

MORNING CHAKRA SHAKE-DOWNS WITH SESSIONS BY FRAME:

BOXFIT / 80s AEROBICS / DANCEFIT / JANE FONDA TRIBUTE / DYNAMIC STRETCH / ASS & ABS / GET LEGGY / YOGA-LATES / HIP-HOP AEROBICS

PLUS: ACROYOGADANCE

www.Bestival.net / Facebook /  Twitter / Instagram / Tumblr

#Bestival15 / #SummerOfLove

Our brand new arena, Slow Motion, is all about taking the festival experience to a whole new plane, creating a festival within a festival dedicated to connecting mind and body. As part of that trip we’re super-excited about our brand new psychotropic stage attraction, The Kaleidoscope. Featuring energising morning pursuits, pastoral musical vibes by day, wonky disco joys into the night and rapturous bespoke animations to amuse the mind’s eye, the Kaleidoscope stage will add a whole new dimension to Bestival’s bag this 10-13 September at Robin Hill Country Park.

Summer lover Rob da Bank says: “I’m more excited about our new Slow Motion festival within a festival than I have been about a new area at Bestival for years. Add to that the fact that Mrs da Bank has invented a new, insanely cool audio-visual stage called The Kaleidoscope, and I’m ready to pop… The Kaleidoscope will be populated by a mix of the best ambient, electronica and chill-out DJs known to man, offset by folk, soul, psychedelia and new wave electronic rhythms. Prepare to get horizontal and vertical all at the same time…”

 

Brimful of prismatic pleasures, by day the Kaleidoscope will be the place to catch synesthesic sounds from right across the musical spectrum, including sets from 47Soul, Alice Jemima, Andy Votel presents Twisted Nerve, Badow, CoCo and the Butterfields, Esther Joy Lane, Fickle Friends, Flight Brigade, Gallows Ghost, Gecko, Goldray, L.A Salami, Lazlo, Laucan, Lucky Elephant, Mispers, Port Isla, Samuel Walwyn, Shanty, Solko, Solar Bears, The Ephemerals, The Fontanas, Will Varley and Xylaroo.

When night falls, it’s woozy does it, by way of the Ambient Forest, as our consciousness-expanding circle of selectors take charge of the ones and twos at Wonky Disco time. Geared up to induce epic mind excursions, bathed in psyche-twisting light projections, our vibrantly vivid visions will be soundtracked with polychromatic inspiration from Apiento, Balearic Gabba Soundsystem, Chris Coco, Danny Whitehead, Dave Seaman, Flying White Dots, Mojo Filter, Nick Warren, Olaf Stuut, Paul Godfrey (Morcheeba), Pete Gooding, Phil Dockerty, Phil Mison, Phil South, Steve Cobby, Still:Life, Thythe and Tom Misch.

And for the truly enlightened Bestivalites, the Kaleidoscope stage will host morning gatherings to warm up your senses and get that all-important chakra shake down with sessions by Frame, including Boxfit, 80s Aerobics, Dancefit, a Jane Fonda Tribute, Dynamic Stretch, Ass & Abs, Get Leggy, Yoga-Lates and Hip-Hop Aerobics, plus the wonderful AcroYogaDance.

A varicoloured world of joy at the heart of Slow Motion, the Kaleidoscope is a mesmerising delight not to be missed.  

Bestival announces Grand Palace of Entertainment lineup

by

FROM SINK THE PINK & SCOTTEE’S CAMP

TO LOVE-INS, BLIND DATE & RAVE KNITTING…

THE GRAND PALACE OF ENTERTAINMENT LAID BARE

FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVES FROM:

SINK THE PINK / SCOTTEE'S CAMP

BRAND NEW FOR 2015:

BIRTHDAY GIRLS / BACK DOOR BOYS (& THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF POP) / RAVE KNITTING / GOSPELOKE / DANCE OF THE DEAD / HI-BROW MARISA CARNESKY'S FINISHING SCHOOL

BESTIVAL SPECIALS FROM:

MASSIVE IN CHINA / CUSHION COLLECTIVE / WRONG PONG / KAT & MATT DO THAT: EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION / BRASS FUNKEYS / MUSICAL BINGO / EUPHORIC FITNESS WITH FRAME / BLIND DATE / TINA T'URNER TEA LADY / JAYDE ADAMS / LEGS AKIMBO

OPENING NIGHT PARTY WITH: THE LOVE-IN LOCK-IN

www.Bestival.net / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Tumblr

#Bestival15 / #SummerOfLove

Defining breath-taking flamboyance on an epic scale, we’re tickled pink to announce that our audaciously tongue-in-cheek adventure-land, The Grand Palace of Entertainment, will be gracing Bestival’s Summer of Love with more than just a splash of bawdy bacchanalia. A hive of fun and brilliance, if you seek the astonishing or unexpected this September 10-13 at Robin Hill Country Park, then look no further than the Grand Palace.

Summer lover Rob da Bank says: “Where else can you find Rave Knitting sitting alongside the outrageous camp overload of Sink the Pink and Scottee? I’m not sure, but what I do know is The Grand Palace is one of the funnest and funniest places you’ll find at Bestival – non-stop cabaret, outrageous camp, and one of the most flamboyant arenas at any festival. Don’t be shy – dive in!”

 

 

In a festival exclusive, we’re overcome with joy that Sink the Pink are back for their seventh year at Bestival. A party force keeping our minds blown and our lives fabulous until dawn, you can expect huge stage shows, interactive performance madness and the best party DJs. Also returning exclusively for us is Bestival favourite Scottee, who has rounded up his gang of the truly unusual, to present another startlingly limp-wristed edition of his infamous variety knees up – CAMP!

Keeping things swoonsomely amazing, we have lots of brand new turns joining the palatial party, too. So brace yourselves for sketch comedy trio Birthday Girls, boyband disco action and debauched dancing with Back Door Boys (& the 10 Commandments of Pop), the unholy alliance of acid house and wool that is Rave Knitting, and church-fuelled sing-along mayhem from Gospeloke. Plus we’ll have Dance of the Dead, Hi-Brow and the all-action Marisa Carnesky's Finishing School, all making their Grand Palace of Entertainment debuts.

The libertine liveliness doesn’t stop there though, as Bestival brazenness runs all day with Massive in China who will host all manner of daylight revelry from the likes of The Roundhouse’s resident performance art troupe, Cushion Collective, who will be exploring love in its many guises, crazy table tennis types Wrong Pong, interactive comedy duo Kat & Matt Do That: Education, Education, Education, New Orleans style hip-hop brass band the Brass Funkeys, and melody-based ball manipulators Musical Bingo. Plus there will be Euphoric Fitness with Frame, Blind Date, and Massive in China’s comperes Tina T'urner Tea Lady, Jayde Adams and Legs Akimbo .

And, kicking it all off in the exquisite style that we’ve come to expect from our off-the-wall cabaret kingdom, don’t miss an avalanche of emotion, power ballads and throbbing beats at our opening night party The Love-In Lock-In. Welcoming in the weekend with a saucy, sexy smile, make sure you start your Bestival endeavours with love.

Bestival Announces Toronto Event

by

Bestival curator Rob da Bank has announced that the festival, until now exlusively held in the south of England, will host an inaugural international event in Toronto, Canada this summer, with a two day event in Hanlan's Point Beach Toronto Islands scheduled for June.

"We have waited 12 years to decide to launch another Bestival outside of the UK and our beloved Bestival, on the Isle of Wight, which has grown into one of the most important festivals on the global calendar." says da Bank. "It took a really special city and an even more exciting site, with Toronto and Toronto Island, to make us take the leap.

"So the waiting is over and we are so excited to be launching in North America in June, with a classic Bestival line-up waiting to thrill, intrigue and party."

I'd like to thank all of our partners, friends, new and old, and supporters in Toronto for making this happen. We cannot wait!"  

Bestival Toronto will take place on June 12th and 13th, further details to be announced soon.

V-Dub Island Festival Review 2014

by

V-Dub Island Festival – The Summer of Love, took place last week, running from 14th-18th August, at East Afton Farm, the former site of the legendary Isle Of Wight Festival that started in 1970.

Now in its fourth year the festival is still cutting its teeth on the circuit but growing in popularity each year particularly with VW lovers.  Previously held at the County Showground,  the new site with its views over the Solent to the New Forest and Lemington Spa, as well as panoramic views of the Island and coast line are worth the trip alone. But if like us, you like a bit of nostalgia, partying on the famous site where the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, The Who and The Doors all played together really made it that little bit more special.

V-Dub Island is unique for many reasons not least it community spirit amongst its organisers and supporters. It is an affordable and family friendly festival, where even dogs are welcome and life on the road is celebrated by Volkswagen enthusiasts, travelling from all over the country and abroad. Campervans, beetles and VWs of all shapes and sizes filled the site creating a beautiful scene from the surrounding hills, with thousands in attendance who come to show, view and even sell their beloved motors.

This year the campsite opened the week prior to the festival, allowing families to camp out under the stars for a few extra nights at ‘Carry on Camping’. And yes there were showers, and even a very helpful shuttle service taking you across the Island to play tourist or just to grab some essentials for just £1 as well as music in campsite café/bar each night.

Created by VW enthusiast for VW enthusiasts, the festival is first and foremost a VW show but it still boasts a great line up of music. Three stages played host to hundreds of bands and artists,  including highlights from  Rob Da Bank, and the Dub Pistols, The Skatonics, Jess White, Save the Dinosaurs and tribute bands Wight Floyd and the Jimmi Hendrix Tribute to name a but a few.

Other entertainment came in the form of Cabaret performances by Painless Parties, fun fair attractions, a giant water slide with extra bubbles and even a best dressed pet competition.  Our personal favourite was the Sheep Dog (Pictured). And that’s just for the big kids, the organisers make sure it is as family friendly as possible with magic shows, swings, story time, Bushcraft and Lego tents and a beach, known as Fantasy Island in the middle of the arena for all to enjoy.

Thursday saw the main arena open up to hundreds of Festival goers checking out the trade stands and entertainment while Friday saw hundreds more arriving in an array of colourful campers just in time for the Soap Box Derby trails, a terrific traditional event for all the family.

Saturday played tribute to sites famous beginning with a Summer of Love 1970s fancy dress theme, as well as the annual drive out and run to the surf where hundreds of camper vans, Beetles and VW Transporters drive in convoy to Colwell bay, famous for its views and surf. We spotted headline act Rob Da Bank in his camper amongst the crowds joining in the fun ahead of his Sunday night set, which saw the main stage area rammed with people of all ages dancing the night away.

We loved this cute family focused festival, it’s totally chilled out, and you can do as much or as little as you like and still soak up the atmosphere from the camp site or take part in in adventure activities on the Island minutes away. Can’t we live in a field filled with beautiful Campervans and beautiful people forever?

Pictures 1-14 by Rob Schaverien Photography copywright images.

The Port returns to Bestival with Sven Vath, Chase & Status and more

by

One of the most imaginative stages ever built, The Port returns to Bestival 2014 to host some of the biggest DJ's!

Heading up the first of three full-on days of big sounds is Cocoon kingpin and techno protagonist Sven Väth, who, for over 30 years, has been transporting dancefloors to rapturous new lands and will no doubt baptise 2014’s Port crew with his boundary pushing brilliance. Friday will also see sets from uncompromising genius Damian Lazarus, bass heavy groove merchant Eats Everything, rave detonator Boys Noize, driving techno type Bella Sarris, sine-woven tech head South London Ordnance, and our very own chief castaway Rob da Bank.

Saturday action comes courtesy of the amazing Annie Mac Presents, with sets from Annie Mac, the incomparable Green Velvet, 1-800-DINOSAUR (ft James Blake / Dan Foat / Airhead / Mr Assister), stripped back beats architect Route94, underground house duo Bicep, Hot Natured resident Richy Ahmed, mutant house purveyorKrystal Klear and BBC Radio 1’s Monki.

Wrapping things up at The Port for 2014 is an almighty beats blitzkrieg featuring a DJ set from soul-stirring bass lords Chase & Status, plus drum n bass legend Andy Cwill present Ram, with firing sets from Wilkinson and Loadstar and MCs 2shy, Adapt and Jakes. We’ll also have dancefloor action from beat ninja Jaguar Skills, Foamo and RackNRuin in their Gorgon City guise, soul infused pair Dusky, wildly experimental riddim wizard Kaytranada, divinely deep duo Âme and techno twosome Dense & Pika.

Gold Panda & Willy Moon to headline Festibelly 2012

by

Headlining Saturday, sharp suited Willy Moon fuses rock'n'roll and hip-hop; or “Bo Diddley as imagined by Timbaland” says Q Magazine. 

Gold Panda headlines Sunday, whose magnificent debut LP ‘Lucky Shiner’ scooped accolade after accolade (“a masterclass” – Dazed & Confused, “stunning” – Q Magazine, “blissful” – NME) and went onto win The Guardian’s First Album Award. 

Gold Panda

Also joining the bill is BBC Radio 1 DJ and Bestival host Rob Da Bank, rave heroes Ragga Twins, perennial ‘Belliers Man Like Me and many hotly tipped bands including Clock Opera,Bluebell and Bastille. 

Amongst those already announced are three-piece rock ’n’ roll family band sensation Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, folk group Skinny Lister, who won the title of 'Hardest Working Band in Britain' following their record number of festival appearances last year, Mr Nice aka Howard Marks, rising French band We Were Evergreen and London collective Reggae Roast. 

Festibelly, now in its fifth year, is a hidden gem on the festival calendar. Nestled among the woodland on the edge of the New Forest, there is something for the entire family. For the first time it opens its doors as a two day party, a double dose of the intimate charm it had become known for. 

As well as the usual dazzling selection of musical talent on the main stage, the Festibelly field will play host to a number of venues and attractions including Terrapin Station, Le Disco, brand new Le Roller Disco, Massive In China and Autumn Shift – together creating a kaleidoscope of psychedelic gypsy to dirty disco, wrong cabaret, circus performance, wonky gameshows, cosy cafés, poetry, painting and more. This year Festibelly flings its arms wide open to those with young Festi Critters, bringing new kids entertainment area The Owlery to site. 

As ever, Festibelly stays close to its grassroots ethos and remains brand and sponsorship free and is always guaranteed to have friendliest Festi-goers to be found. Previous artists to play Festibelly include The Big Pink, New Young Pony Club, Ghostpoet, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Rob Da Bank, Drums Of Death, Man Like Me, Hollie Cook, James Yuill, She Keeps Bees, Greco Roman Sound System, Psychemagik, Reggae Roast, Oh Ruin, Johnny Flynn, King Charles, My Tiger My Timing, Tek-One, O Children, Skinny Lister and Toy.

Festibelly also throws several warmup events this summer at London’s The Lock Tavern, Bournemouth’s 60 Million Postcards, Southampton’s The Orange Rooms and Festibelly Local events in its hometown of Lymington, Hampshire. 

15th July – Kitty Daisy & Lewis (DJ), Draper @ The Lock Tavern, Camden
21st July – Festibelly Vs Durty Sound System, Chichester
3rd August – Man Like Me @ Orange Rooms, Southampton
11th August – 60 Million Postcards, Bournemouth
12th August – Festibelly presents Terrapin Station @ The Lock Tavern, Camden

Editors Notes: 
Event: Festibelly 2012
Location: Undershore, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5QA
Date: Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th August 2012
Times: Gates open 9am 25th August – close 2pm 27th August
Ticket Price: Weekend ticket: £55 // Sunday ticket: £38 – on sale via festibelly.com
Capacity: 3,000

RockNess adds Jeff Mills, Rob Da Bank and more!

by

 

As one of the biggest names in techno, it is impossible to love the genre and not be familiar with the name JEFF MILLS. And if there wasn’t a word like “Wizard” to describe him it would be necessary to invent one. A founding member of the noted Detroit techno collective Underground Resistance, along with “Mad” Mike Banks and Robert “Noise” Hood, as well as past resident of New York’s legendary Limelight, signed artist on Berlin’s acclaimed Tresor label and creator of Chicago’s Axis Recordings, plus countless other groundbreaking achievements of note, JEFF MILLS is revered as a demi-God by electro purists the world over.

Jeff Mills

Now in a very special appearance, an absolute must for techno connoisseurs, RockNess is thoroughly delighted to announce the maestro will join the exceptional line up of this year’s SUB CLUB SOUND SYSTEM 25 Years celebrations. Expect an unforgettable set as JEFF MILLS, under the moniker of ‘The Wizard’, whips up a storm of unparalleled ferocious intensity playing a set of funk, soul and extremely rare early electro classics.
 
Inspired at the outset by the likes of Nirvana, Mudhoney and The Pixies, Irish rock group ASH have notched up five studio albums (and a mini album) and countless top 40 hits. ‘Girl From Mars’, ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘Burn Baby Burn’…ASH make great pop songs. Heralded as the ultimate singles band, the 3-piece turned their back on the traditional route of recording an album every couple of years and set up their own studio and label, Atomic Heart Records. This newfound freedom enabled the band to record and release songs at will. Thus was born the A-Z Series – a collection of 26 songs released fortnightly for an entire year. 2011 saw Charlotte Hatherley return to join the band for a one-off tour to much acclaim. 2012 sees the 20th anniversary of ASH with an appropriate celebration stop off at Dores.
 
RockNess favourite ROB DA BANK is Highlands-bound again this year too, back to thrill as always no doubt with a big heaving box of stupendously tasty audio delights. ROB DA BANK’s shows are a colourful corner of the musical universe where you're as likely to stumble into stripped down techno as you are woozy weird folk, bootleg covers, brand new dubstep to oddball electronic so expect the unexpected!

The rise of Yorkshire indie rockers THE PIGEON DETECTIVES is one based on strength of tunes – launched with hit drenched debut Wait For Me, and a relentless approach to touring. Feted by the likes of Steve Lamacq and Jo Wiley, three albums in and with a fourth scheduled for an autumn 2012 release, the platinum selling five piece are set to bring their sound of sculpting guitars and scudding choruses to the festival following a highly successful European tour.

Pigeon Detectives

ERRORS is a four piece band from Glasgow with a unique take on dance music. Signed to the brilliant Mogwai’s Rock Action label, they have to date released a series of singles, EPs and their debut album “It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever” and these releases have brought them acclaim across the board from MTV, Zane Lowe and Vic Galloway along with sessions at Maida Vale for Mary Anne Hobbs, Rob Da Bank and Huw Stephens, magazines such as NME, Dazed and Confused and Rock Sound as well as tours and live dates with bands as varied as Underworld, Franz Ferdinand, Explosions In The Sky, Gary Numan and Mogwai. NME has hailed them as “one of the most interesting bands in the country”. Don’t miss ERRORS at RockNess this June.
 
SOUND OF GUNS return to RockNess once again with their sure-fire power and raw energy. Hailing from Liverpool, SOUND OF GUNS have blazed a trail since they formed in 2008 cementing their deserved reputation for delivering searing rock with their second album, Angels and Enemies picking up support  from Zane Low and Xfm along the way.
 
THE CORRESPONDENTS take a large helping a swing, jazz, cha-cha-cha and much more from the history of music and add a large helping of fat drum and bass and electro beats to create something that’s unique in the current musical landscape. And with frontman Mr Bruce’s high voltage performance depicting the trials and errors of love, lust and loss they have consistently destroyed crowds on the festival circuit marking them out as a must see act.
 
A plethora of exciting new breakthrough talent is announced for the line up too. Young Scottish singer songwriter NINA NESBITT has been generating much interest after being spotted by ED SHEERAN and Example (both of whom she subsequently supported on tour). With comparisons to Laura Marling and Kate Nash, check out her set to see just why all the fuss.
 
Former Groove Armada collaborator Becky Jones AKA SAINT SAVIOUR has a captivating vocal style that has seen her compared to Kate Bush and Sinead O’Connor. Having recently toured with Hurts, she has her debut album ‘Union’ due for release a fortnight after her appearance at RockNess.
 
ALL THE YOUNG are Britrock revivalists whose sounds ooze the feel good factor of classic 90s indie. Mixing brains and brawn the band have come to smash 2012 into a brave new frontier of indie rock n roll, honing their craft with a series of support slots for the likes of Morrissey, Kaiser Chiefs, The Courteneers, The Wombats, Hard-Fi and The Pigeon Detectives.
 
Brooklyn rapper THEOPHILUS LONDON built his reputation with a series of must-have mixtapes making him one of the biggest buzz acts on the planet.  His debut album Timez Are Weird These Days was critically acclaimed when it was released last summer and Theophilus is sure to rock the crowds with his take an alternative hip-hop.
 
Commenting on these latest announcements, Festival Director Jim King said: “We're delighted with this announcement. Jeff Mills closing his stage on the Sunday night is going to be something special”