Joining the Open'er line-up are the ever exciting, live champions Foals and the UK’s premier live dance act – Rudimental. The new electronic Beat Stage will also have its inaugural year, hosting only the best in international talent with Julio Bashmore as the first DJ/producer for the lineup.
Foals
A sold-out concert and their reputation for an ever exciting live show meant that Foals simply had to return to Open’er festival. The band came onto the UK musical scene in 2007, when they met David Sitek, the founder member of TV On The Radio, which led to him producing their debut album “Antidotes". On 2010’s “Total Life Forever”, the band moved in a different direction, this also marks the first occasion that they brought their tunes to their Polish fans at Open&'er 2011, playing a show so intense that the guitarist's fingers started to bleed. In October 2012, Yannis Philippakis, Jack Bevan, Jimmy Smith, Walter Gervers and Edwin Congreave announed the title of their following release. "Holy Fire” which was released early last year. With its release, NME announced that "the Oxford art-rockers cast off their spiky, mathletic shackles and head for the big league", and The Line of Best Fit simply called it Foals' "masterpiece".
Rudimental
There's a strong history of the studio pioneers of British dance music becoming household names in Poland; from Basement Jaxx to Groove Armada, Massive Attack to Chase & Status. The hottest new collective making their mark are the East London quartet Rudimental. With support coming from the likes of Zane Lowe, The XX, Mistajam and Fearne Cotton, they're set to dominate dancefloors and airwaves in the coming months. Adding to that, Rudimental have been nominated for three awards at this year’s Brit Awards: Mastercard British Album of the Year, British Single – „Waiting All Night” feat. Ella Eyre, and British Group. Their debut “Home” went platinum in the UK. It comprises songwriters and producers Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden and Amir Amor, together with DJ Locksmith. Rudimental play the newly founded Here and Now Stage.
Julio Bashmore
Julio may have appeared to have burst onto the scene in late 2009, but the lead up to his eponymous EP for Claude VonStroke's highly influential Dirtybird label was essentially a lifetime in the making. Over the next three years, he rounded off a string of stellar EPs and singles on an array of labels. His vital eclecticism was showcased in his mighty contribution to the Essential Mix series on BBC Radio 1 at the end of the year. Bounce to blissed-out Garage of "Footsteppin", lose your mind to his Mosca remix, or turn out the lights for "Batak Groove" and you'll realise, simply, that it's just something you feel. He did 3 cuts on Jessie Ware’s debut album, including ‘Running’ and ‘110%’, and Ware returned the favour with guest vocals on a version of “Peppermint”. With fresh music for his newly imprinted label Broadwalk Records and a debut album coming in the next months, this might be the most incredible year for him.
A masssive new release of artists have been added to Spains Sonar Barcelona. Pretty Lights, Flux Pavilion, Rudimental, DJ Harvey, The Martinez Brothers, Machinedrum, Tiga, Laurel Halo, Ben Frost, Yelle and showcase from New York label L.I.E.S. are among the new additions to Sonar Barcelona 2014.
Known as Pretty Lights, Derek Vincent Smith will present a lush visual show at Sonar performing "A Color Map Of The Sun" his fourth album, nominated for best dance / electronica album at the Grammy Awards. Pretty Lights samples and combines hip-hop, glitch and also revives funk and soul samples, all of which make him the most organic artist within the explosion of electronica in the US.
Rudimental and Flux Pavilion are two of the UK’s most popular champions in today’s commercial dance music. Rudimental, are a London quartet focused primarily on fusing pop and drum'n'bass. They are comprised of composers, DJ 's and producers Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden Amir Amor and DJ Locksmith. To add to their long list of UK and European chart successes is their new, 2014 Brits Awards, triple nomination for: Best Group, Best Album and Best Single (for "Waiting All Night"), the spearhead of their meteoric rise, achieved in less than three years. Their powerful live show at Sonar will feature 12 musicians, MC's, organs, synthesizers, guitars, percussion and MPC 's.
Meanwhile, Flux Pavilion, aka Joshua Steele, one of the most in demand dubstep producers and DJ’s in Britain, will present live, his sonic palette of sweeping hyperbolic bass lines. As well as remixing the likes of M.I.A. and Skrillex, the 24-year-old Flux Pavillion also sings and plays a variety of instruments. Over the last five years this versatility has seen him perform around the world, earning him the respect from both the industry and public alike.
With a completely new show the awe-inspiring Yelle aka singer -songwriter Julie Budet (a genuine star of electro-synth pop and one of the most internationally successful modern French artists) will present her charismatic personality during the live performance of her much-anticipated third album. She will do so in the company of her band composed of DJs Grand Marnier (Jean François Perrier) and Tepr (Tanguy Destable).
Exemplary careers in the history of electronica
There will be no shortage of DJ heavyweights: Tiga, (one of the most important figures of electronica to come out of Canada) has been given the responsibility of closing this year’s festival on Saturday night. DJ Harvey wizard in the realm of disco, house, garage, electro and cosmic rock will present his usual master class, and The Martinez Brothers, the new ambassadors of New York house music, who are responsible for revitalising the genre.
Also from the Big Apple the raw and minimalist electronica labelL.I.E.S. will present their showcase. In just three years L.I.E.S. has built an impressive catalogue, already an international benchmark for low-fi house and techno. Label chief Ron Morelli will perform his first album live. Meanwhile, Svengalisghost, (alias of Marquis Cooper) will present its dystopian, paranoiac and noir sound that includes flawless hooks of acid, house, techno and EBM. Cooper manipulates cassette tapes and uses old editing techniques and methods to distort the sound from a turntable.
Ben Frost, the renowned Australian experimental electronic artist living in Iceland has directed operas, composed music for the theatre, dance, visual arts and cinema. At Sonar he will present his new album supported by his on stage band, providing guitars, several large amplifiers and various electronic devices in order to share his post- classical, noise, post-rock, drone and dark metal music.
Sonar 's commitment to new talent
Emerging artists like Machinedrum, UZ, Recondite and Alizzz will also represent new talent.
American Travis Stewart, better known as Machinedrum (who has reinvented drum'n'bass and is one of the main advocates for the revival of jungle and it’s hybridization process with the Chicago footwork sound) will come to Sonar to present his "Vapor City Live Show" the live version of his new album. A visual concept album released on Ninja Tune, each track represents an imaginary city district. "Vapour City" transports itself to the stage with Machinedrum’s own vocals and guitar, with percussion by Lane Barrington and visuals from the Weirdcore collective.
In recent years, American Laurel Halo has created her own unique sound: lush, avant-garde, electronic and experimental, inspired by the minimalist music of Steve Reich, Detroit techno, science fiction and experiences from 6 months spent in Thailand. Halo experiments and shifts between techno, ambient, synth pop, drum machines, samplers, her voice, pianos, guitars and violins, among many other elements. "Quarantine", released on Hyperdub in 2012, was selected as ‘album of the year’ by the prestigious magazine, Wire. In 2013 there followed EP "Behind The Green Door" and the album "Chance of Rain". It was material in which she abandoned her more experimental vocal treatments to concentrate in more depth, on the techno roots of her music.
The mysterious UZ is a true icon of trap, not only for his incredible talent but also for the mystery surrounding him. Never showing his face, his identity is unknown. His tracks are raw and minimalist, powerful and magnetic and his dexterity with bass lines sets him apart from other same genre artists.
Visionist, also known as Louis Carnell, has for some time been earmarked by the specialised press, as one of the most promising and intriguing artist’s in today’s British electronica. At Sonar he will present his unique take on the grime sound, including the ethereal elements, which place him at the forefront of the genre.
Recondite, aka German Lorenz Brunner is a staple artist of the current Berlin scene and a producer noted for his sensitivity to the deeper, melancholic and intimate side of electronica. At Sonar he will present "Hinterland", his second album, inspired by the ecosystem of Bavaria and released on Ghostly International. It is an album of slow techno and house, with frozen and bleak textures.
From the global sound arena, the Angolan DJ Nigga Fox is an artist exploring contemporary electronic music produced in the suburbs of Lisbon. It is dance music that draws ancient influences from Portuguese – African Diaspora like Funaná (a rapid accordion driven rhythm), Kizomba or Tarrachinha (slow and sensual) as well as the more contemporary sound of Kuduro, a type of tribal house with MC’s rapping vocal parts.
On a local level, Barcelonan Alizzz (alias of Cristian Quirante) is already one of 2014’s rising stars. With an EP release on none other than Diplo’s Mad Decent label, he is one of the most talked about names of the year. Counting influences as diverse as techno and 90’s hard rock, his music adds vitality and excitement by merging hip-hop and r&b, to produce an entirely contemporary, epic and danceable sound.
Headlining the Main Stage on Friday 13th June, we’re proud to announce the return of the award winning, anthemic rock trio Biffy Clyro, who we’re excited to say are appearing in an English festival exclusive! We’ll also be joined by another Scottish great who’ll be closing the night, the one and only international superstar, Calvin Harris. Both artists have risen through the ranks with phenomenal shows and chart topping music, so get ready for a very special weekend. Prior to their performances, electronic outfit Rudimental will take to the stage for much anticipated guest set. Not only that, Passenger, The 1975 and The Waterboys will also all be appearing over the weekend.
The Early Bird gets the worm, so bag your tickets for only £170, from 9am on ThursdayDecember 12th with our special offer running through to January 16th. There are also amazing ticket and travel packages available, to be there head to www.isleofwightfestival.com.
Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro said: “We are over the moon to announce that we will headline the Main Stage of the Isle of Wight Festival next year, on Friday June 13th. To follow the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam is an honour.We cannot wait to get back to this iconic Festival, and this beautiful island!”
John Giddings, the Festival’s promoter said: “Friday night is going to kick it out of the park with Biffy & Calvin and special guests Rudimental – I can't wait…. having Passenger and The 1975 already on board we’re set for one of our mostcontemporary years – with the class of The Waterboys complementing the young guns nicely….”
Bringing together two of the biggest acts in the world, with two huge shows, Biffy Clyro and Calvin Harris will make Friday night at the Isle of Wight Festival the place to be. Biffy Clyro’s mind-boggling mix of off-kilter tempos, unpredictable guitars and soulful choruses have won over a legion of fans and now they take the top slot with an English festival exclusive. The man with the Midas touch, Calvin Harris has worked with a spectrum of massive names, racking up numerous number 1’s along the way. Mercury nominees and very special guests Rudimental, join the bill on Friday 13th June, playing to the Main Stage crowd for the first time.
Passenger said: “I can't wait to play at the Isle of Wight Festival. I played there on a small stage a few years ago and had an amazing time. It'll be great to get back there!”
Matthew Healy from The 1975 said: "The Isle of Wight Festival has such a rich musical heritage. We can't wait to play there in the summer."
Singer songwriter Michael David Rosenberg, aka Passenger has had the biggest year of his career with his single ‘Let Her Go’, storming the charts worldwide. He will be heading to the Festival for the first time, alongsideManchester’s finest The 1975 and influential group The Waterboys.
It’s all about 2014 and we’re fit to burst with a truckload of new stuff happening across all four corners of Seaclose Park. Expect an incredible mix of fun, surprises and hidden treats ready to be discovered. Plus, it wouldn’t be the same without the return of some old favourites, so watch this space…
Today Hideout announce a plethora of stellar artists on 2014's bill including the young and unstoppable duo, Disclosure, Black Butter’s runaway outfit Rudimental who will be returning to the show as is Hideout favourite, Loco Dice. Hideout also welcomes new artists to the show such as house music veteran Sasha and king of the groove, infamous for his exceeding popular Ibizan residencies, Solomun. New for this year are VIP tiered tickets, offering attendees access to exclusive events in the area, queue jump access onsite and merchandise. There is also new ‘Hideout experience’ including accommodation, airport transfers and more to take any pain away from the booking process, all available from the Hideout website.
As Hideout enters its fourth year, the week long event created by Sound Channel has established itself as the forerunner of electronic music festivals. Last month they announced a new registration system for tickets, and today some of the huge number that signed up are in with a chance of gaining entry to the revered event that last year sold out in the record time of eight weeks. Dance music’s grandest talents and sharpest stars play both during the day at beachside pool parties and intimate boat sailings as well as through the night on the infamous Croatian Zrce beach strip.
Spanning over sixty artists, four venues (with major improvements for this year), extended boat and pool events and offering guaranteed sun exposure on a beachside-setting, Hideout is the obvious choice for dance music devotees in search of the ultimate festival experience.
Ame / Andy C / Apollonia / Bicep / Bondax (DJ Set) / Breach / Cassy / Davide Squillace / Dusky / George Fitzgerald / Guti (Live) / Heidi / Jackmaster / John Talabot / Joy Orbison / MK / Redlight / Scuba / Skream / Tale of Us / tINI / Wilkinson
Artwork / Ben Pearce / Boddika / B-Traits / Camo & Krooked / Daniel Avery / David Rodigan MBE / DJ EZ / Ejeca / Fred V & Grafix / Friction / Gerd Janson / Gorgon City / Huxley / Hype / Justin Martin / Laura Jones / Mano Le Tough / Oneman/ Ryan Elliot / Shy FX / Subb An / Ten Walls (Live) / Waze & Odyssey
Funkineven / Kowton / Last Magpie / Matt Long / Mike Jones / North Base / PBR Streetgang / People Get Real / Ralph Lawson / Route 94 / Simon Baker / The Sonic Emporium / Trevino / Waifs & Strays
An overnight wash out and soggy campsites do nothing to calm the excitement of the campsites, particularly not the shock-and-awe naked guy who leapt into our front garden (code for hangout area in between tents) yelling loudly that he wanted everyone to join him in being “Tattooed and handsome”, but the sun is peeking out here and there as the dressed up masses head towards the main arena. Walking around, it’s clear to see the rain hasn’t dampened the British love for dressing up, as mer-men, sailors, jellyfish and sharks roam freely. We asked one enterprising soul if her freezer was now full of fish fingers, as she’d fashioned a costume from Birdseye boxes, she replied “Yeah, we’ll be eating them all winter…”.
2013 debut album smash-hitters Bastille turn out in style dressed as members of Team Zissou and play all the favourites to a packed out arena. ‘Bad Blood’ and ‘Icarus’ go down a storm but it’s ‘Flaws’ that really packs a punch and a cover of ‘Rhythm of the Night’ is weird but kind of brilliant at the same time. Ending with ‘Pompeii’ Bastille do themselves justice, with the whole crowd singing along.
Following Bastille is A-Yo featuring Mark Ronson Vs. Zane Lowe with a Bestival party-mix, and over on the big hill, the Bandstand is playing host to the Zee Guveya Heritage Band. Getting up for ‘The Pizza Dance’ whilst a cardboard Viking longship (with a Viking hoarde aboard) sails/walks past is extremely bizarre, but sipping our Bestivale’s and sampling the amazing food on offer provides a little Bestival downtime. We munch our way through fresh grilled corn on the cob and the most delicious lobster and chips (which were caught just round the corner in Ventnor apparently) before dragging ourselves to the peak of the hill for a look across the site. The magnificent scale of Bestival is only surpassed by it’s colour, from the tents to the arena areas, the flags and the works of art – Bestival really is a beautiful place.
At the top of the hill is the secret hideaway for lost souls known as The Solace Tent. The interior is all leather chairs and wicker sofas, comfy cushions and tables you can write messages on – enough of a sanctuary in it’s own right, but the lovely bods there will give weary travellers a cup of something hot and a tasty bit of cake (baked by IOW churches)… for free! Re-energised by the Solace saints, a trip to tiny town is a giggle – the kid sized village which you can take amusing photographs in, before heading back down the hill via a rummage in the second hand tents (nanna-knits everywhere) and a few cheeky tasters at the Crabbies bus.
On the main stage, Rudimental are showing off their status with an absolutely packed arena, busting out big hit ‘Right Here’ accented by a weird burst of what tasted like flavoured smoke (?!) before a cover of Fugees’ ‘Ready or Not’ and closing with the huge ‘Feel The Love’, with everyone pogo-ing like mad. Next up are Glaswegian punk-pop rockers Franz Ferdinand with a blast of hits starting with ‘No You Girls’. ‘Do You Want To’ is only slightly marred by the enormous downpour that drops in, but as the skies clear, the boys of FF bring it home with ‘Take Me Out’. They might be accused of being a bit samey sometimes, with jarring chords over marching-band beats, but they do what they say on the tin, and perform well. It’s probably a shame for them that they’re playing right before their practical antithesis – Snoop Dogg.
With giant red, yellow and green Rasta banners and posters of his own face – it was inevitable that Snoop Dogg would roll out with as much swagger and self-confidence as he displays on screen. Rocking a leather jacket and Adidas sweatpants, The Doggfather churns out hits ‘PIMP’, ‘Gin and Juice’ and Katy Perry cover ‘California Gurls’ featuring the dancing skills of some scantily dressed ladies giving him a lapdance. ‘Next Episode’ and ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ prove Snoop to be a great showman, and he finishes Saturday night on a high (probably quite literally in his case). See the full headline review for more details!
Sunday is a soggy morning too, but everyone seems determined to go full out for the last day of this truly special festival, so it’s on to do a bit of dancing with Bestival mascots The Cuban Brothers. With quite a lot of swearing, manly gyrating and costumes that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination (fringed, metallic lycra jumpsuits to be precise) they’re probably not the act to take your kids to, but damn are they good fun. Guest vocalist Mica Paris belts out ‘So Sweet’ which is from the new Cubans album ‘Yo Bonita’ (which we later got signed by Miguel and Kengo-San over at the Sunday Best tent) and breakdancing skills are busted out by Archerio, Kengo and newbie ‘One-Erection’. Miguel gets suitably excited about all the dancing (after having a broken foot and not being able to participate last year), takes off his white captain’s pants and thrusts the mic-stand like a pro. After telling a story about their times at Bestival… “We were in the woods eating philosopher’s stone mushrooms and we were lost… we were so cold we had to set our socks on fire to keep warm” and stuffing the mic into his spangly undercrackers, it’s time to say goodbye to the crazy Cubanos for another year.
Next up, Tom Odell croons his way into the ladies hearts with his soulful piano laden music, but it is a bit of a comedown after the hype created by The Cuban Brothers, but everyone warms up again for Chic feat. Nile Rodgers and a bit of boogying on down.
Disasterously scheduled at the same time as the Sunday headliner – Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip’s Swamp Shack appearance has nevertheless garnered a pretty massive crowd around the strange run down house style stage, and as the smoke billows from the beat-up cars that set the scene, the duo drop right into classic ‘Beat That My Heart Skipped’, sending fans wild. Calling out “I’m all adrenaliney, I’m all shaky” Dan busts out the beat for ‘Sick Tonight’ and Pip launches into it with power, swinging on the (actually quite fragile) porch of the shack. After being handed two curly wurlys by some odd gentleman in the front row, Dan and Pip give us a tasty treat back in the form of new tracks ‘Stunner’ and ‘Gold Teeth (feat Flux Pavillion)’, the latter played for the very first time ever. Taking on a darker side the songs have everyone getting rowdy with Pip swishing water off the Shack’s decking to the beat.
Heading over to join the biggest crowd of the weekend at the main stage, Rock Royalty, Sir Elton John is giving us a tour through his vast collection of hits, wearing a trademark sparkly jacket. Elton’s packed set includes ‘Candle In The Wind’, ‘Crocodile Rock’ and ‘Rocket Man’, with the crowd singing along to closing ‘Your Song’ (See the full review for more details!). As the stage goes dark, Bestival’s closing ceremony commences, with an even bigger firework display than last year, a giant circular 10 being set alight and ticker tape explosions from the stage. Way to go out with a bang.
As usual, it doesn’t end there – Knife Party are playing at The Port and Easy Rider is on in The Amphitheatre… the night is young at Bestival, and we intend to make the most of it before we have to leave it behind for another year, but it’s safe to say that Rob and co. went all out this year, it truly has been a spectacular celebration and we would like to doff our captain’s caps and say HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY BESTIVAL!
Photos by James Bridle for the Summer Festival Guide
This year’s V Festival came to a close this weekend, with the event displaying perfectly how to showcase some of the biggest chart stars in the world, as well as give some exciting up and coming artists a platform to shine.
The festival kicked off on Saturday afternoon and despite the unsettled weather, a buzz filled the air and the main stage began to fill up early with people eagerly awaiting the performance of a lady that goes by the name of Beyoncé.
First up on the main stage were The Fratellis, who played a triumphant set to seal their comeback to the music business. They helped set the tone for the day and had the crowd up on their feet and singing along to popular hit Chelsea Dagger amongst others.
After this I headed to the 4music stage, stopping along the way to grab a drink and meet a group of lads who were dressed as power rangers. Here I had a little wait before the next act, so I chatted to a pair of girls who had been watching Gabrielle Aplin serenade the crowd at the arena stage, with her “gentle tone and heart-warming lyrics.”
Finally, out came Maverick Sabre who provided the crowd with a laidback soulful sound to accompany some late afternoon sun. He was shortly followed by Of Monsters and Men who continued in the same fashion by mixing an inviting atmosphere with some uplifting melody’s to get the crowd going.
With about 40 minutes to spare before Labrinth took to the 4music stage I darted off to the arena stage where I saw Jessie Ware get lost in the moment as she delivered a faultless set. Then I was quickly back to the 4music stage to see the previously mentioned Earthquake singer bring down the house with an electric set that included hits Express Yourself and Sunshine. Not to mention some onstage flames which lit up the crowd as the sun slowly started to set.
I, like many other people then made my way to the main stage where a huge crowd gathered to see Jessie J do her thing. Rocking her recently famous short bleached blonde hair and dressed in a unique skimpy black and white ensemble, fitting of her personality, the singer delivered the only way she knows how, with a punch. Popular tracks Price Tag, Do It Like A Dude and Domino were accompanied by fist pumping and strutting from the 25-year-old as she got the crowd in the mood for the rest of the night.
The penultimate act to grace the main stage on Saturday evening was The Script. Despite the mellow rockers trying their best to hype up the crowd, many used this time to head to the bar and stock up on as many drinks as they could carry, or stuff their face with something from one of various food vans. However the crowd did all come together to sing along to The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, whilst frontman Danny O’Donoghue took the opportunity to connect with one of his many female fans by getting hold of her phone and singing to her ex-boyfriend, ‘Am I better off dead?’
As darkness descended on the Chelmsford site, it was finally time for what most people had been waiting for. The crowd, a mixture of Single Ladies and men too, were all there waiting to see the woman they adored, and wait they did. The delay of 25 minutes consisted mostly of fans chanting ‘Beyoncé Beyoncé’, as rain started to fall on the huge crowd. Leaving some wondering whether they should be over at the 4music stage watching as one of the world’s biggest DJ’s, Steve Angello, made an awesome replacement for Beady Eye.
The former Swedish House Mafia star absolutely smashed it with an amazing laser light show alongside dropping massive hits like, Don’t You Worry Child and Save The World,to get the respectable sized crowd raving the night away.
Back at the main stage and at last the music hit. Run The World (Girls) blasted out of the speakers and the crowd went crazy as out stepped Beyoncé. Dressed in a beaded leotard and sporting a new blonde bob hairstyle, Queen Bee dazzled the masses not only with her colossal hits but with her sophisticated video interludes, leaving them in awe. With the crowd all singing along to Love On Top, Irreplaceable and Halo, Beyoncé took the opportunity to show off a number of amazing outfits which just demonstrated that she really does know how to put on a show. All this combined with her fantastic all-female band and faultless dancers left people talking about the brilliant performance well into the early hours of the morning.
Sunday morning rolled around and with the sun shining in the sky, many people emerged from their tents looking a little worse for wear after last night’s antics. This however didn’t stop the lively atmosphere and many people were quickly back on the booze, including a large group of men spending the festival dressed as women.
I started off the day at the 4music stage where Lawson quickly got the crowd going with an excellent cover of Don’t You Worry Child. I then made the long trek to the arena stage to roll back the years and have a good ole sing-song with Five. A bigger crowd than was probably expected gathered to watch the 90’s boy band relive their youth with hits Keep On Moving and Everybody Get Up.
After stopping to grab a drink and an overpriced pizza, I headed to the main stage where I caught the end of the Jason Mraz set before getting amongst the crowd for Essex’s own Olly Murs. He provided the audience with plenty of opportunities to find their dancing feet, but it seemed like most were after a more exciting sound.
Luckily this came at the 4music stage as Rudimental’s late afternoon set attracted a large and energetic audience. Songs Waiting All Night and Feel the Love got the approval of the masses as most were going for it with their drinks being sent flying.
Later the early evening mellow atmosphere was accompanied by the elegant Emeli Sandé, who graced the main stage with her delicate vocals providing the crowd with the perfect opportunity to sit and take a break from the tiring day. Beneath Your Beautiful echoed amongst the audience as many joined in with the chart hit.
Having spent a couple of hours at the main stage, I once again made the long walk to the arena stage where I watched a very enthusiastic Ellie Goulding wow the crowd with not only her excellent voice but her ability to play multiple instruments.
With night fast approaching, it was left to two huge acts to fight out for the attention of the party-goers. Calvin Harris was in charge of headlining the 4music stage whilst Kings of Leon were given the same responsibility at the main stage, I was lucky enough to catch both.
The superstar DJ attracted a huge crowd as he closed the 4music stage in spectacular fashion, with a set of immense tunes including, Drinking From The Bottle, We Found Love and new song, Under Control. Combining this with lasers and an abundance of fireworks he was able to perfectly captured the spirit of the festival.
Meanwhile at the main stage Kings of Leon were keen to prove they were back on form ahead of their new album release, and they did just that. With new single Supersoaker and with a number of festival favourites like Sex On Fire and Use Somebody they had the crowd in raptures. With everybody singing at the top of the voices to the raw and exciting sound of the American rockers, the festival came to a close for yet another year.
All in all, V Festival again did what is does best, showcasing the best chart toppers in the business, and with its friendly vibrant atmosphere it is easy to see why the festival is so popular among a variety of age groups. The organisers yet again managed to attract some of the biggest stars in the music industry, all of whom delivered to put on one hell of a show.
So after a successful 2013, festival expectations for next year are high, and with confidence that V will deliver it will be a weekend you won’t want to be missing, I know I won’t be.
Brownstock Festival is an independent boutique style festival held on the Brown Family's farm in Essex on the weekend of the 30th, 31st Aug and 1st Sept. The festival was due to be headlined on Saturday by Rudimental (dj). In the last few hours the festival has been informed by Rudimental's management that they will not be able to perform at this year's festival. They have released this statement:
"It is with regret that Rudimental have to cancel their forthcoming appearance at Brownstock. This is through no fault of the promoters of the event, and is due to a major US touring commitment. We are hoping to make it up to everyone in 2014"
Saturday night's headline slot will now be taken by Professor Green, one of the largest acts ever to appear at Brownstock Festival. The Brown Family have released a full statement on the situation here
Full line up:
Professor Green (pa), The Fratellis, Mark Ronson, Tom Odell, Duke Dumont, The Pigeon Detectives, Benga, Delilah, Beardyman, Jaguar Skills, Devlin, Hadouken, Ron Size, King Charles, Krafty Kuts, Doorly, DJ Yoda, The Milk. Full line up here
Since hearing the news regarding Rudimental's cancellation The Brown Family have been making it their business to make sure this cancellation doesn't take anything from the festival experience and have worked to bring the 2013 festival a new Saturday night headliner.
Fresh from his appearance at Glastonbury they welcome Professor Green to the 2013 line up. He will headline Saturday at the festival on the main stage. With a back catalogue with hit singles, a double gold certified album, a Facebook and Twitter following bigger than some counties, you can rest assured he will be performing a memorable set.
Adam Brown Festival Director said: "We were obviously extremely disappointed to receive the statement from Rudimental. It was a massive shock to the team. As a small independent event fighting for the best line up possible is always a challenge, but we are so excited to have been able to replace them with such formidable name. Professor Green will be an amazing finish to Saturday, one that the whole team will make sure they don't miss."
Tickets info
Going into its 9th year the festival has seen unprecedented sales which are 100% up on this point before. The festival has sold out of all but its last tier of tickets and there will be no tickets for sale on the gate.
Tickets are currently £74. This covers all 3 days of the festival and includes camping.
A limited amount of remaining tickets can still be bought online here:
The biggest ever Tennent’s Vital just got bigger… With one week to go until tens of thousands of music fans descend on Boucher Road Playing Fields for three days of incredible live music, Tennent’s Lager and MCD are thrilled to reveal that Northern Irish legends The Undertones, the hugely in-demand rapper/songwriter/producer sensation Naughty Boy and Dublin rockers The Minutes will complete the Tennent’s Vital 2013 line-up. Organisers have also announced that the gates will open at 4.30pm each day over 14th – 16th August.
The three acts announced today complete an ultra-impressive bill bursting with the hottest acts on the planet. Tennent’s Vital 2013 kicks off on Wednesday 14th August, when Kings of Leon, The Vaccines, The Undertones and The Minutes take to the stage on the opening day. Snow Patrolplay a massive homecoming show (their only European date this summer) when they headline Day 2 of the festival, which also features Jazon Mraz, Kodaline and Foy Vance, with Avicii, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental, Naughty Boy and Tommy Trash continuing the party on Day 3.
Iconic punk/New Wave legends The Undertones are sure to receive a rapturous reception when they play Day 1 of Tennent’s Vital. The Derry band reformed in 1999 to the delight of music fans across the globe, winning over a new generation of fans with classics from their seminal back catalogue such as Teenage Kicks and Here Comes The Summer. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the release of their seminal debut single Teenage Kicks, and fans can look forward to hearing all the hits in Belfast next week.
After spending years penning and producing hits for the likes of Rihanna, Wiley, Professor Green and Chipmunk, Naughty Boy (aka producer Shahid Khan) deservedly emerged into the spotlight in his own right with the smash hit Wonder feat. Emeli Sandé. Its chart-topping follow-up La La La is currently dominating the charts as the tune of the summer, and has well and truly cemented his status as one of the hottest new rapper/producer stars around. Having co-written and produced Emeli Sandé’s record-breaking, million-selling Our Version of Events, the unstoppable pair team up once again on his hotly anticipated forthcoming single Lifted, with the Scottish songstress also lending vocals to his debut album HotelCabana, which also features a guest spot from fellow Tennent’s Vital act Tinie Tempah.
Dublin rockers The Minutes complete the line-up. Channelling raucous, high voltage garage rock ‘n’ roll with elements of the blues and gospel, they went down an absolute storm at Tennent’s Vital last year and will make a welcome return to Belfast this summer when they play Day 1 of the festival.
The countdown to the biggest ever Tennent’s Vital continues tonight at The Limelight in Belfast at the second of two official Tennent’s Vital warm-up parties. Fans can register for tickets for the warm up parties on facebook.
Rudimental and Tom Odell have been added to the line up for Brownstock Music Festival in Essex.
Latest line up: The Fratellis, Rudimental (dj), Mark Ronson, Tom Odell, The Pigeon Detectives, Benga & Youngman, Duke Dumont, Jaguar Skills, Roni Size, Doorly and DJ Yoda.
Brownstock Music Festival is an independent boutique festival run by the Brown family on their farm near Chelmsford, Essex. All the family's personalities combine to create this varied and intimate small festival. It will be held this year for the 9th time on the weekend of the 30th Aug -1st Sept 2013.
Dance floor sensations, Rudimental, will headline the main stage on the Saturday night at the Essex festival. With two number ones and a Brit award nomination under their belt, this should be one of the weekend's most memorable performances. At Radio 1's Big Weekend they were "The most watched act of the weekend". They also boast YouTube hits in excess of 20 million. "Waiting All Night", featuring Ella Eyre, reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on 21 April 2013. Two weeks later, Home debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart. Their latest single "Right here" was released on the 5th of July.
Also added to the festival's main stage line up on Saturday 31st July will be singer song writer Tom Odell. Odell won the coveted BRITs Critics' Choice Award in early 2013 with "Another Love". His debut studio album, Long Way Down, was released on 24 June 2013. He was discovered by Lily Allen, who said "his energy on stage reminded me of David Bowie". Odell's debut album, Long Way Down, was released on 24 June 2013 and reached No. 1 in the UK Official Chart.
Brownstock Music Director Mat Dixon said this about the latest additions:
"We are incredibly excited to welcome two of the hottest acts in not just the UK right now to our family shindig in South Woodham Ferrers. Rudimental were a no brainer booking and their high energy show and catalogue of top ten hits guaranteed to have the crowd bouncing along. Tom Odell on the other hand represents the incredible singer song writer talent this country consistently produces following on in the footsteps of Ben Howard and James Blake, set to be one of the absolute highlights of Brownstock 2013."
Other main acts for the 3 day festival include:
The Fratellis will play at Brownstock as part of only a handful of UK festival performances. The Glaswegians had sold over a million copies of their debut album, 'Costello Music', in the UK alone. The peak of their achievements was picking up the Best British Breakthrough Gong at the Brit Awards, as voted by listeners of BBC Radio 1.
Mark Ronson: will play in the Essex festival's dance tent. Ronson started his career as a hip hop DJ. He is now a Grammy and Brit Award winner, famous for his extremely successful work with good friend Amy Winehouse.
The Pigeon Detectives: The platinum selling indie rock band have 3 top 40 albums. Their first, "Wait for Me" debuted at number 3 in the album charts. They have also previously supported The Fratellis, playing alongside them and the massive Kasabian.
Benga & Youngman: Benga widely thought of as one of the pioneers of dubstep. One third of Magnetic Man, half of Radio 1 DJ duo, Skream & Benga, and producer behind Katy B's first string of hits. He even has the claim to fame of playing dubstep for Prince William and Harry!
Duke Dumont: Veteran DJ and producer. Recently reaching the UK number 1 spot with the song " Need U (100%)". The official music video for the song, directed by Ian Robertson, has over 2.5 million YouTube views.
Jaguar skills: Famous for DJing in a ninja mask which continues to add mystery to his persona as his name, age and hometown remain unknown. He is the king of crossover and mash up sets. He has a weekly 10 minute mix on Radio 1 for Trevor Nelson and gives a big festival DJ performance which will not leave people disappointed.
Roni size: Roni Size is a veteran DJ of drum and bass and Mercury Music Award winner. The well renowned Brown paper bag is still an institution of a track!
Doorly: As a Brownstock ambassador this will be Doorly's 3rd appearance at the festival after hosting his own stage in 2012. More recently he's gone on to play some of the biggest shows the scene has to offer, including a Nokia launch in Times Square, New York, alongside Nicki Minaj in New York.
2013 has been an unprecedented year for GlobalGathering with a bigger, better and bassier lineup of world-class artists, production concepts and more tickets sold than ever before!
This year at Global we’ve overhauled the site at Long Marston Airfield to create the ultimate immersive EDM experience. 2013 sees the unveiling of an all new Main Stage arena stripped down and supped up by production supremos 250K. With one of the biggest Main Stage line-up’s at any UK festival this summer including performances from Plan B, Example, Nero, Disclosure, Annie Mac, Katy B, Rudimental, Netsky and Modestep this is sure to be a truly unforgettable experience for all our GlobalGatherers.
In true GlobalGathering style we didn’t stop there and we’ve commissioned three further 250K arena overhauls including our brand new Global Freight Depot, soon to be the warehouse style home of both the Toolroom and Born Electric stage across the weekend. This year on Friday 26th July the Born Electric arena will host a stellar roster of acts including James Zabiela, Eats Everything, Dusky, George Fitzgerald, Spectrasoul and Pedestrian. The Global Freight Depot will then transform into our Toolroom 10 arena featuring Mark Knight, MK, Doorly, Mihalis Safaras, Rene Amesz, Prok & Fitch, Filthy Rich and Matt Small Wood. Click here for more info.
If that wasn’t enough, team Global have uncovered an exciting new stage addition: The Bunker. Our secluded, subterranean space long forgotten and unseen arena hidden in the depths of Long Marston Airfield. The never-before-seen arena, The Bunker, will be christened by an incredible mix of up-and-coming, fresh new talent including Last Night In Paris, Dubvision, Alex Niggemann, Tripmastaz, Kidnap Kid, Ozzie, Etherwood, Hauswerks, Stooki Sound, Knox Brown and so many more across the weekend.
This year Long Marston is primed for a very special arrival. The UK debut of the Godskitchen Fusion Cube. Never before unveiled on British soil the Fusion Cube is an awe-inspiring aural feast dripping with over 130 lighting fixtures, 460 metres of LED strips and 150M2 of LED screens. Not to mention sets from Dash Berlin, Markus Schulz, Ferry Corsten, John O’Callaghan, Orjan Nilsen, Aly & Fila, Cosmic Gate, Richard Durand, Simon Patterson, Tenishia, many, many more and last but not least, special guests Infected Mushroom and Paul Oakenfold.
Not only is GlobalGathering bringing some of the most cutting edge music arenas to site in 2013, we’re also providing some great new chill out areas for some much needed downtime between dancing. We’re delighted to announce the Container Compound: with the perfect place to grab a drink, refuel, meet up with friends and recharge for more raving. Click here for a sneaky peak.
These unprecedented production innovations will come together to create an awe inspiring atmosphere comfirming GlobalGathering’s place as the UK’s Best Dance Event. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya!
