FRIENDS, THE STAVES, THE D.O.T., THEME PARK, MAN LIKE ME, DUB PISTOLS, SAM SMTIH, DRENGE, THUMPERS, ARLISSA and more.
Performing a unique and special late night festival show, the legendary Mike Skinner and The Music frontman Rob Harvey who make up exciting new electronica duo The D.O.T. fuse Skinner’s meticulous dance production with classic pop songwriting, the results heard on debut album And That celebrated for it’s lairy, heady balance of style and genre, while it’s follow on lands this summer. As part of The Streets, Skinner enjoyed huge success with five top-ten albums including the number one records The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living and A Grand Don’t Come For Free which featured the number one single ‘Dry Your Eyes’. Last month he also received an NME Award for his memoir The Story Of The Streets.
Folk trio The Staves make their Blissfields debut this summer, the Atlantic Records signings bringing the kind of contemplative, delicate serenity that guest featured on Tom Jones’ Praise And Blame to the Hampshire countryside this July. Championed by Bon Iver who they recently joined on tour, the much revered band have also found the ear of Jools Holland fans following a performance on Later.
They’re joined by Brooklyn dance-pop troupe Friends who following a year of support from people like Huw Stephens for their mutant disco funk carnage, were one of last year’s most talked about live acts. Their greatly admired debut record followed soon after the New Yorkers landed on BBC’s Sounds of 2012 poll, and was surrounded by months of hugely entertaining party shows in the vein of Tom Tom Club and ESG. Now readying a new album, expect brand new material in their celebratory Blissfields show.
Fresh from touring with Bloc Party, the bright and quirksome leaders of British indieTheme Park join the line-up this year, their intelligent, modern use of groove and guitar on their self-titled debut album likening them to a festal Talking Heads or Fine Young Cannibals, restlessly running wild in the school yard at break time. With playlist support from Radio 1, and a sell-out UK tour recently tucked under their belt, their return to Blissfields will celebrate an exciting year for the band.
Thursday night will see a performance from Man Like Me, returning to the festival to headline its opening night alongside winners of the Road To Blissfields competition happening in 13 venues across the country, from The Sugarmill in Stoke-On-Trent to The Monarch in Camden, throughout Spring. Man Like Me are renowned for their fun live performances that have previously soundtracked some of the biggest party crowds at Blissfields, their piercing pop complimented by sharp stage antics and hip-hop bravado.
Featured on BBC’s Sounds of 2013 list, hungry young star making huge headway in the pop world Arlissa’s music has been described by the Guardian as “stirring, valedictory anthems about discontinued love, mournful but not nostalgic”. She also joins the corral of diverse and exciting artists that comprise this year’s Blissfields music bill as festival fans will welcome the return of Dub Pistols.
Along with Drenge, Sam Smith, Thumpers, Blaenavon, and Jim Lockey, who are also confirmed, these additions follow in the great Blissfields lineage of emerging talent, the festival having previously showcased the likes of Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Ben Howard before their meteoric rise to popdom, while more recently Jake Bugg and Charli XCX, who appeared in 2012, have both seen chart and critical hype respectively. Blissfields commitment to providing the most exciting all-round line-up in such an intimate environment remains at the heart of its ethos.
Blissfields Festival
Charlotte Church to play special performance at Blissfields 2012
With a capacity of just 2,500 and boasting a line-up that consistently features every buzz indie band of the moment, Blissfields Festival will be Charlotte's most intimate festival performance ever, and a chance for her to showcase a raft of new material with a full band in a truly unique environment.
Having won a Classical BRIT Award for Artist of the Year, a British Comedy Award for Best Female Newcomer, a GQ Award for Woman of the Year, and following six acclaimed, top 40 albums as well as a career in television – it’s safe to say that the 26 year old Church is as big a household name as Stephen Fry or cucumber sandwiches. Organizers have said they are“delighted when Charlotte approached us to preview new material at the event. We’ve always upheld the belief that Blissfields should be a place for all kinds of music, both emerging and established, and we know she’ll put on a quality show that everybody will enjoy. We’ve already confirmed pretty much all of our bill, but found a way to make this work – and of course we’re really excited by the announcement”.
Also announced is 12 year old Lauren Thalia. A local to the festival, she stole the judge’s heart in the audition stages of the competition, and performed at the live semi-final to a television audience of 7 million people with her own version of ‘Earthquake’.
Blissfields Festivalare proud to add Charlotte and Lauren to a bill that already includesPatrick Wolf (playing a special grand piano acoustic set), The Noisettes, Guillemots,Toddla T, Spector, Toy, Theme Park, Clock Opera, Charli XCX, Bastille, King Charles, and a wealth of other acclaimed acts to it’s 12th year line-up. Full line-up below.
Bastille, King Charles & more added to Blissfields Festival
Among the new additions are beautiful songsmiths Bastille – fronted by Dan Smith who won 1st place in the 2012 International Songwriting Competition (Pop / Top 40 category), as voted for by musicians such as Tom Waits, Jeff Beck and Robert Smith, they’ve recently performed at The Great Escape festival to capacity crowds.
The dandy king of psych-pop King Charles returns to Blissfields, following the recent release of his critically acclaimed top 40 album Loveblood and a sold out UK tour.
Dubbed a “one to watch” by MSN in their 2012 poll, Australia’s Me have played live to over 50,000 people since landing in the UK, honing their live show into a stadium-ready performance comparable to Muse, Queen or Green Day.
The haunting Emily And The Woods also return to Blissfields, with festival favorites and BBC championed Jake Bugg, and described by the Guardian as “Caribou-tiful”,Tropics complete this next announcement, with some names still to unveil for Blissfields’ sporting summer.
Blissfields Festival 2012: “Game For It”
The festival has been applauded over the past 11 years for its attention to detail, creativity, family friendly atmosphere and wide-ranging musical and arts bill, but above all, for remaining at an intimate 2,000 capacity, following years of critical praise, stellar live performances from some of the country’s biggest live music acts, and sell-out crowds.
In 2012, Blissfields nod their school cap to the world of sport, offering a dandy revival of the Great British Summertime and a golden age of playground camaraderie and frivolity. With a full program of sports day shenanigans, a school disco and late night ballyhoo, expect your mischievous tutors to be on fine form as they guide you through the most fun you’ll have with your chums all year. Hoorah! Hoorah, indeed!
This year you’ll have the opportunity to represent your House, as well as vote for House Captains, once again giving fans of the festival another way to be a part of the makings of the event. Although Blissfields will not be strict on the dress code, they warn that Hall Monitors may have to be assigned to make sure you are all upholding the Blissfields reputation.
Grab your jolly hockey sticks and catch us round the back of the bike shed for the best “last day of term” style fun you ever had, curated by TrackSuit&Tie.
The team are time-travelling to Blissfields to bring us some of the very best Old Skool 80s inspired Sports Day classics, all with some very alternative twists! Undertake some serious bonding whilst getting in the sack race, flirt your way to victory in the Egg & Spooning, find your feet in the 7-legged challenge and propel yourself into the Space Hopper Long-Jump. Show you’ve got the moves in the Hipster Swingathon, de-feet your opponent in the Sock WrestlingRing and pop yourself silly in the Balloon Fencing Championships!
Exclusively for 2012, you’ll also take on some truly British feats – just make sure you dress up for the Dangerous Dressage in our very own Showjumping Ring, and don’t forget to take time for the incredibly messy Royal Tea!
The grand finale of Blissfields Sports Day will see all four school houses enter the gladiatorial ring of the main arena to fight it out in the Greatest of all British Challenges:The Tug of War.
Prepare to sweat, endure, triumph, fall over (a lot) and WIN, and Blissfields 2012.
Ticket Info and Full Line-Up
Weekend Adult: £74.00 + Booking Fee
Weekend Youth: £49.00 + Booking Fee
Weekend Under 6: Free and No Booking Fee (Please note a nominal fee of 1p is charged to register the purchase)
Weekend Family Ticket (2 Adult & 2 Youth weekend tickets): £210.00 + Booking Fee
Weekend 10 Adult tickets for the price of 9: £666.00 + Booking Fee
Thursday Camping: £16.00 + NO Booking Fee
Live-in Vehicle Pass: £35.00
Car Park: £10.00
Blissfields Festival adds Guillemots, Clock Opera and more to lineup
Also confirmed is Josh Kumra, NZCA/Lines, Pete Roe, SixNationState, Wave Pictures, Dog Is Dead, Artrocker DJ, paradYse and Transgressive Records DJ, comedian Phil Ellis, and first winners of the festival’s regional talent search Road To Blissfields – Flashfires, Half Crown, and Ben Goddard & The Heartbeats.
These new additions join acts such as headliners Noisettes and Patrick Wolf(performing a special grand piano acoustic set), Spector, Man Like Me, Lucy Rose, Charli XCX, Crazy P (Live), Toddla T, and many more live music acts, DJ sets, comedy performances, art installations, and a sports day to end all sports days at The Park, Hampshire on the weekend of 29th June to 1st July.
Nominated for Best Live Act at the 2007 BRIT Awards, Guillemots’ beautiful live set will soundtrack the sun going down on Friday, while currently play-listed across radio with ‘Shotgun’, Eugene McGuinness will demonstrate why he’s one of the most acclaimed new songwriters of the past few years on the Saturday evening. Getting nods from taste-makers this Spring, London’s Citizens! will bring a sense of theatre with their 80’s-onica, and multi-instrumentalist Clock Opera sets to deliver one of the most intensely upbeat shows of the weekend. Theme Park’s fun, groove-filled set and the return of Blissfields favorites SixNationState, add only more excitement to this year’s already swelling bill of artists.
Blissfields Festival 2012
The festival has been applauded over the past 11 years for its attention to detail, creativity, family friendly atmosphere and wide-ranging musical and arts bill, but above all, for remaining at an intimate 2,000 capacity, following years of critical praise, stellar live performances from some of the country’s biggest live music acts, and sell-out crowds.
In 2012, Blissfields nod their school cap to the world of sport, offering a dandy revival of the Great British Summertime and a golden age of playground camaraderie and frivolity. With a full program of sports day shenanigans, a school disco and late night ballyhoo, expect your mischievous tutors to be on fine form as they guide you through the most fun you’ll have with your chums all year. Hoorah! Hoorah, indeed!
This year you’ll have the opportunity to represent your House, as well as vote for House Captains, once again giving fans of the festival another way to be a part of the makings of the event. Although Blissfields will not be strict on the dress code, they warn that Hall Monitors may have to be assigned to make sure you are all upholding the Blissfields reputation.
Grab your jolly hockey sticks and catch us round the back of the bike shed for the best “last day of term” style fun you ever had.
This year’s full line-up of activities will be announced shortly.
Ticket Info and Full Line-Up
Weekend Adult: £74.00 + Booking Fee
Weekend Youth: £49.00 + Booking Fee
Weekend Under 6: Free and No Booking Fee (Please note a nominal fee of 1p is charged to register the purchase)
Weekend Family Ticket (2 Adult & 2 Youth weekend tickets): £210.00 + Booking Fee
Weekend 10 Adult tickets for the price of 9: £666.00 + Booking Fee
Thursday Camping: £16.00 + NO Booking Fee
Live-in Vehicle Pass: £35.00
Car Park: £10.00
All tickets available via: www.blissfields.co.uk
Main Stage
Noisettes [Saturday Headline]
Patrick Wolf [Acoustic Grand Piano Headline Set]
Guillemots ~ Spector ~ Lucy Rose ~ Charli XCX
Eugene McGuinness ~ Man Like Me ~ Josh Kumra
Dub Pistols ~ Dreadzone~ Pronghorn
Fleetwood Bac ~ Subgiant ~ The Mini Band
Second Stage
Toddla T ~ Clock Opera
Dog Is Dead ~ Toy ~ Theme Park ~ Crazy P (Live)
Imperial Leisure ~ Citizens ~ Cashier No.9 ~ NZCA/Lines
Wave Pictures ~ Passenger ~ AlunaGeorge ~ Beans on Toast ~ Skinny Lister
Cut Corners ~ Eighteen Nightmares at the Lux ~ Arp Attack ~ Bear Cavalry
Kill Em Dead Cowboy ~ Little Chief ~ Live Like Kings ~ Melodramas ~ Oresteia
Reventure ~ Pussy Cat and the Dirty Johnsons ~ Sean McGowan
Smokey Bastard ~ Stinger ~ Stone Them Crows
The Lost Souls Club ~ The Queue ~ Flashfires ~ Half Crown
Ben Goddard & The Heartbeats ~ Tropics
The Hidden Hedge
Mary Miss Fairy ~ Kursa
DJ Envious Mind ~ Alex the Kidd ~ Andy Oliver ~ Dan Munrow
DJ Jet Pack Assassin ~ Dan Hayes Remnant Psyche ~ Science of Eight Limbs
Transend ~ Dr. Strangelove's Burlesque Discotheque ~ Amongst The Pigeons
Shuddervision Soundsystem featuring Digits Mcphee ~ Heath:Ward
+ Chillout and Visuals by Magnetic Mirror (VJ),
Wub World (VJ) and VJ Visualante
+ Installations and artwork by Coalescence Collective
The Hidden Hedge: Presents
(Express FM / Blissfields Festival / Turf Records /
paradYse Records / Beans On Toast)
Huw Olesker and the Barebackers ~ ME
Bebe Black ~ I Dream In Colour ~ Colourmasks ~ Sam McCarthy
Will McNichol & Jack Palmer ~ Leigh Mary Stoke ~ Luke Ferre
Owen Hackett ~ Bryony Marie Fry ~ Jonny P Taylor ~ Stir of Echoes
We Spies ~ Laura Boyle ~ Charley Farley Sunday Four
Rose Bradshaw
Blisscoteque
Olly Salter & Benzo ~ The C90s ~ Ridney
Artful ~ Bitr8 ~ thequickandthedead ~ Kiwi ~ Frankie Aglow ~ Jafr0 ~ Tanka
Soundtracks ~ Artrocker DJ ~ paradYse Records DJ ~ Transgressive Records DJ
Luca Pilato ~ Loveless DJ's ~ Psychadelia DJ's ~ MASS_IVe ~ Diska Tek ~ Ally Wolf
Rockfeedback DJ ~ Super Vs Pavilion DJs ~ Seb Marx ~ Ally Wolf ~ Matt Clark
Cholombian ~ Morgan Hislop ~ Yes Tom! ~ Deadproud & JayB ~ MattyLAH
WILLOW ~ Side A ~ Charlie Fox ~ Grrrl Scout ~ Paul Saunders
Lexy SNS ~ Little Chief Z ~ DJ Grey Jumps ~ DJ Hammy ~ Handsome Dave Rocker
Giles W & Mr Toad Z ~ The Great One
Comedy Stage
Andrew O’Neill ~ David Morgan ~ Phil Ellis
Marc Burrows ~ Bob Slayer ~ Danny Sutcliffe ~ Ed Easton ~ Tony Basnett
Fern Brady ~ Owen Niblock ~ Peter Philiipson ~ Red Redmond
with Ruth E Cockburn (compere)
+ MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED ACROSS ALL STAGES
Noisettes [Saturday Headline]
Patrick Wolf [Acoustic Grand Piano Headline Set]
Guillemots ~ Spector ~ Lucy Rose ~ Charli XCX
Eugene McGuinness ~ Man Like Me ~ Josh Kumra
Dub Pistols ~ Dreadzone~ Pronghorn
Fleetwood Bac ~ Subgiant ~ The Mini Band
Second Stage
Toddla T ~ Clock Opera
Dog Is Dead ~ Toy ~ Theme Park ~ Crazy P (Live)
Imperial Leisure ~ Citizens ~ Cashier No.9 ~ NZCA/Lines
Wave Pictures ~ Passenger ~ AlunaGeorge ~ Beans on Toast ~ Skinny Lister
Cut Corners ~ Eighteen Nightmares at the Lux ~ Arp Attack ~ Bear Cavalry
Kill Em Dead Cowboy ~ Little Chief ~ Live Like Kings ~ Melodramas ~ Oresteia
Reventure ~ Pussy Cat and the Dirty Johnsons ~ Sean McGowan
Smokey Bastard ~ Stinger ~ Stone Them Crows
The Lost Souls Club ~ The Queue ~ Flashfires ~ Half Crown
Ben Goddard & The Heartbeats ~ Tropics
The Hidden Hedge
Mary Miss Fairy ~ Kursa
DJ Envious Mind ~ Alex the Kidd ~ Andy Oliver ~ Dan Munrow
DJ Jet Pack Assassin ~ Dan Hayes Remnant Psyche ~ Science of Eight Limbs
Transend ~ Dr. Strangelove's Burlesque Discotheque ~ Amongst The Pigeons
Shuddervision Soundsystem featuring Digits Mcphee ~ Heath:Ward
+ Chillout and Visuals by Magnetic Mirror (VJ),
Wub World (VJ) and VJ Visualante
+ Installations and artwork by Coalescence Collective
The Hidden Hedge: Presents
(Express FM / Blissfields Festival / Turf Records /
paradYse Records / Beans On Toast)
Huw Olesker and the Barebackers ~ ME
Bebe Black ~ I Dream In Colour ~ Colourmasks ~ Sam McCarthy
Will McNichol & Jack Palmer ~ Leigh Mary Stoke ~ Luke Ferre
Owen Hackett ~ Bryony Marie Fry ~ Jonny P Taylor ~ Stir of Echoes
We Spies ~ Laura Boyle ~ Charley Farley Sunday Four
Rose Bradshaw
Blisscoteque
Olly Salter & Benzo ~ The C90s ~ Ridney
Artful ~ Bitr8 ~ thequickandthedead ~ Kiwi ~ Frankie Aglow ~ Jafr0 ~ Tanka
Soundtracks ~ Artrocker DJ ~ paradYse Records DJ ~ Transgressive Records DJ
Luca Pilato ~ Loveless DJ's ~ Psychadelia DJ's ~ MASS_IVe ~ Diska Tek ~ Ally Wolf
Rockfeedback DJ ~ Super Vs Pavilion DJs ~ Seb Marx ~ Ally Wolf ~ Matt Clark
Cholombian ~ Morgan Hislop ~ Yes Tom! ~ Deadproud & JayB ~ MattyLAH
WILLOW ~ Side A ~ Charlie Fox ~ Grrrl Scout ~ Paul Saunders
Lexy SNS ~ Little Chief Z ~ DJ Grey Jumps ~ DJ Hammy ~ Handsome Dave Rocker
Giles W & Mr Toad Z ~ The Great One
Comedy Stage
Andrew O’Neill ~ David Morgan ~ Phil Ellis
Marc Burrows ~ Bob Slayer ~ Danny Sutcliffe ~ Ed Easton ~ Tony Basnett
Fern Brady ~ Owen Niblock ~ Peter Philiipson ~ Red Redmond
with Ruth E Cockburn (compere)
+ MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED ACROSS ALL STAGES
Blissfields Festival 2011 headliner announced
ANDY BURROWS / GOLD PANDA / SUBGIANT / DUB PISTOLS / MAN LIKE ME / DAVID E SUGAR / SIXNATIONSTATE / CHRIS T-T / IMPERIAL LEISURE / DOM CHUNG / VARIOUS CRUELTIES / SEAN BROSNAN / THE RIFF RAFF / SOMBRERO SOUND SYSTEM / HUW OLESKER / GARY BENNETTON / BEANS ON TOAST / FEAR OF THEYDON / OLLY SALTER AND BENZO / I DREAM IN COLOUR / POLLY & THE BILLETS DOUX / D-WARRIOR / EMILY AND THE WOODS / + MANY MORE ARTISTS AND ADDITIONAL HEADLINE ACT TBA
With SixNationState headlining on Thursday night, and with former Razorlight member and I Am Arrows front-man Andy Burrows also billed, it’s a line-up that this year aims to champion local talent and celebrate those acts which have conquered every corner of the British Isles and beyond, bringing them back for the ultimate homecoming performances.
Previous years have seen Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, Mystery Jets and Super Furry Animals play the event, but with the addition of Dub Pistols, Gold Panda and many more artists still to announce, including Friday Night’s Headliner, Blissfields Festival 2011 will boast its biggest and most varied music line-up yet.
With the return of the acclaimed Hidden Hedge and unveiling of the brand new Blisscotheque, which will feature the cream of local DJ talent and some very special guests courtesy of Future Disco, ravers will be uncovering treats at every turn, while younger visitors of the festival will also find a whole new world of wonders and treats in store.
-THE FESTIVAL-
Early Bird tickets for Blissfields sold out in less than 8 hours; however general tickets are now on sale via www.blissfields.co.uk. Tickets are priced at £65.00 for an adult weekend ticket with camping. Youth tickets (ages 5 to 13 inclusive) are priced at £42.00. Under 5’s are free, but must have an Under 5’s ticket. All tickets are subject to booking fee.
Blissfields Festival has been championed over the years as a leading boutique event, claiming the 2007 Best Small Festival award at the Virtual Festival Awards. It boasts a wonderfully inclusive atmosphere in a small setting, without corners cut in terms of programming. With cafés, stalls, workshops, installations, a family camping area and four stages of live music, it truly is a fully formed British festival, scaled down for an intimate audience.
2011 will see the micro-festival retain its “small is beautiful” ethos while inducting a host of new ideas into the event. Entertainment will begin earlier on the Friday this year, while those first arriving can now expect music on the Thursday night as well.
-LITTLE FESTIVAL GOERS-
Blissfields has declared its most adventure-packed year for kids with Katy Ashworth from CBeebies, star of hit show ‘I Can Cook’ singing songs and storytelling, Family Arts And Crafts, Juggling and Circus Workshops, Puppet Shows, Hula-Hooping, Magicians and book reading with talented children’s author and illustrator Elissa Elwick.
Other fun activities across the weekend include face painting, lantern making, story telling, open mic and campfire jamming, It’s A Knockout, sculpture building, drumming, knitting, fire building classes, Wake Up Shake Up and green crafts.
-2011 THEME-
As always, Blissfields has themed this year’s event and is encouraging attendees to lose themselves in fancy dress of the most absurd festival garb…
To celebrate the transportation of the festival to its beautiful new “home-world”, the theme for the weekend will be a Sci-Fi-tastic ‘OUT OF THIS WORLD’.
Aliens, spacemen, cyberpunks, clones, body-snatchers, robots, superheroes, blobs, and mutants of all types will be welcome throughout the weekend as Blissfields celebrates its 11th year.
Festival Information
Website: www.blissfields.co.uk / www.facebook.com/Blissfields
Dates: 30th June – 3rd July
Address: The Park, Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott, Winchester, Hants, SO21 3BL
Capacity: 2,200 tickets
Ticket Info
Adult: £65.00 + Booking Fee £4.95
Youth: £42.00 + Booking Fee £4.95
Under 5: Free No Booking Fee (Please note a nominal fee of 1p is charged to register the purchase)
Thursday Camping: £15.00 No Booking Fee
Day Tickets are not currently on sale
Live-in Vehicle Pass: £35.00
Car Park: £10.00
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Thursday Camping Pass (available only in conjunction with a weekend camping ticket): To arrive before 10.00 am Friday 1st July a Thursday camping pass must be purchased for each individual over 5 yrs. This allows arrival after 4pm Thursday 30th June. For the first time this year there will be entertainment on the Thursday night! Under fives do not need a pass.
Live-in Vehicle Pass: If you are bringing a campervan or caravan a pass must be purchased in addition to individual tickets for each occupant. There is no camping in vehicles allowed in the car park
Car Park: There will be a £10 charge made on arrival for all vehicles, excluding those with valid campervan/caravan pass. Passes may also be purchased in advance.
Car Park: There will be a £10 charge made on arrival for all vehicles, excluding those with valid campervan/caravan pass. Passes may also be purchased in advance.