Latitude Festival have announced the line up for their 13th Edition, which takes place on Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th July 2018 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk. Recently awarded Best Major Festival by UK Festival Awards, Latitude returns with an all-new look for 2018 – a refreshed programme and emboldened vision retaining everything you loved about the festival, but also moving in an exciting new direction that looks to the future. Tickets are available from here.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter of A Seat at the Table fame Solange performs her first –ever festival headline slot at Latitude in a UK exclusive. It’s been over a year since she released the critically acclaimed album that she has called “a project on identity, empowerment, independence, grief, and healing”. Since its release she has introduced the work to new audiences as dynamic and daring performance art. Bold, exciting and innovative with a creative energy like no other, Solange crosses and combines artistic genres in a way that most artists wouldn't dare and is the perfect Latitude headliner.
Latitude loves a success story, and is famed for breaking new talent and nurturing artists so it’s truly thrilling to host Alt-J as headliners once more. From performing on the Lake Stage in 2012 as an up and coming act, returning to headline the BBC Music Stage in 2013, and then closing the Friday night of Latitude’s 10th anniversary in 2015, we are delighted to welcome them “home” for what promises to be an exciting show – with the possible premiere of brand new material, this one is going to be unmissable.
Alt-J said, “We are over the moon to be returning to Latitude for a fourth time. It's a festival that's nurtured us beyond any other, taking us from the Lake Stage to the 6music Stage and then to headlining in 2015. To do so again is a huge privilege. See you in Suffolk!”
The Killers, fresh from the success of chart-topping comeback album Wonderful Wonderful, headline Latitude for the first time. Part-rock show, part-art extravaganza, The Killers, led by charismatic frontman Brandon Flowers, are sure to bring something very special to this year’s line up with much loved hits ‘The Man’, ‘When You Were Young, and of course ‘Mr Brightside’.
Latitude has never been just about the music – it’s a culturally enriching experience and this year’s comedy, theatre and arts roster is set to be the festival’s most diverse and forward-thinking yet. Two exciting comedy headliners are both performing at Latitude for the first time, award-winning stand-up and star of BBC Radio 4’s Utopia, Bridget Christie makes a rare festival appearance, while national treasure Harry Hill brings a career’s worth of comedy gold to our stage. Elsewhere on the comedy bill, catch the only comedian co-signed by Drake and Stormzy, Mo Gilligan; Tim Key's new blend of poeticals, talking, spotlights, cables, old school wistfulness, Megadate; viral-video star and news satirist Jonathan Pie; brand new BBC Radio 4 panel show Where’s the F in News; Mock The Week regular James Acaster and rising star Lauren Pattison. There’s much more still to come, so watch this spotlight!
Harry Hill said, “I like latitude, I like longitude, but which is better? There’s only one way to find out – play the comedy arena at Latitude! I can’t wait!"
Latitude has a reputation for having one of the most eclectic line ups in the UK, and 2018 is no exception: Sadler’s Wells return to Henham Park presenting dance companies still to be revealed, whilst the first shows of the theatre bill include a spectacular headline performance by an international sensation: Recirquel Contemporary Circus: Paris de Nuit will transport the audience to the roaring 30s.Other highlights include Bryony Kimmings previewing her first solo show in 10 years, I’m A Phoenix, Bitch,Lyric Hammersmith presenting How To Fail At Being Perfect, their wise and witty look at through the eyes of forever children, with an all youth cast, and Scottish Dance Theatre, who present Fleur Darkin’s Velvet Petal. Among the very first speakers in The Speakeasy, BBC3 investigative journalist Stacey Dooley will talk about her new book, On the Front Line with the Women Who Fight Back.
There’s so much happening at Latitude in 2018, some serious refuelling will be in order, and the festival is upping the grub game. Latitude will become the first major festival to do away with ‘fast food’ with the Arena now catered entirely by Street Food organised by London’s Street Feast. Explore buzzing street food arenas across the site where festivalgoers can re-fuel, wind down and eat the world without leaving Henham Park. Look out for Fundi’s mighty hand-built ovens for melty, wood-fired pizzas, then dig into crispy cornbread Arepas from Venezuelan street food heroes Petare – don’t forget to order a side of their Cassava Chips topped with fiery salsa. For a mighty, meat-free meal, say hello to Club Mexicana – their vegan To-Fish Tacos and BBQ-Pulled Jackfruit Burritos are NOT to be missed. Also new to Latitude is the Theatre of Food, a fully immersive essential for any foodie – or just your average keen eater – with wild cooking sessions, hilarious and inspiring food demos and, of course, the chance to sample the goods yourself. And if there’s a comedy set or a drum solo while it’s all happening, all the better to heighten your taste senses!
Families looking for quality time together need go no further than Latitude’s Enchanted Garden, where they’ll get the chance to make some magic of their own, including VR workshops with top industry creatives, screen printing T-shirts, trapeze and circus skills, and the brilliant Family Socials which pack weekend mornings with family-friendly comedy, live music, dance and theatre. There’s a parent pen for shattered parents who can’t keep up or yoga to unwind! Meanwhile the Kids Area has live shows including AnimAlphabet the Musical, West End Kids, and Comedy4Kids, alongside puppetry, live music, award-winning children’s authors and illustrators on hand to inspire, music tuition, bush-crafts, fun with food and the Wild Science tent. Teens who want to be among their own can head to the Inbetweeners Area with its music, digital, media and fashion workshops, the Access to Music Live Stage including industry Q&A’s, how-tos on gaming, coding and VR. Daredevils can brave the Greenpeace treetop adventures, zip wires and climbing nets. Guaranteed no teenage style will be cramped.
MUSIC
Æ MAK
Alfa Mist
Alt-J
Alvvays
Benjamin Clementine
Black Honey
Bomba Estéreo
Boy Azooga
Bruce
Clark performing Death Peak Live
Confidence Man
DJ Boring
Eclair Fifi
Fazerdaze
Fickle Friends
Gang of Youths
Hannah Peel with Tubular Brass
Hinds
Ibeyi
IDLES
Jacob Banks
Jade Bird
James
Japandroids
Jessie Ware
Jon Hopkins Live
Juanita Stein
Kalyde
La Femme
Marlon Williams
Meggie Brown
Mogwai
Naaz
Nabihah Iqbal
Object Blue
Octavian
OR:LA
Pangaea
Parquet Courts
Pip Blom
Preoccupations
Rag’n’Bone Man
Sam Fender
Sleeper
Solange
Sorry
Spinning Coin
Superorganism
The Breeders
The Charlatans
The Killers
The Vaccines
Trudy And The Romance
tUnE-yArDs
whenyoung
Wolf Alice
Yellow Days
COMEDY
Abigoliah Schamaun
Amusical
Angela Barnes
Bridget Christie
Chortle Student Comedy Awards Finalists
Chris Stokes
Chris Washington
Darren Harriott
David Morgan
David O'Doherty
Fern Brady
Glenn Moore
Gráinne Maguire
Harry Hill
Huge Davies
Jack Gleadow
James Acaster
Jarlath Regan
Jayde Adams
Joe Sutherland
Jon Pointing
Jonathan Pie
Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Lauren Pattison
Lazy Susan
Lloyd Griffith
Lolly Adefope
Lost Voice Guy
Lou Sanders
Luke Kempner
Masud Milas
Mat Ewins
Mawaan Rizwan
Mo Gilligan
Phoebe Walsh
Rhys Nicholson
Richard Todd
Sarah Keyworth
Shappi Khorsandi
Sisters
Steen Raskopoulos
Stevie Martin
Tessa Coates
Tim Key: Megadate
Where's The F In News
THEATRE
Bryony Kimmings: I'm A Phoenix, Bitch (preview)
David Rosenberg & Glenn Neath: Flight
Dom Coyote: We Can Time Travel
Femme Fatale
Highrise: Lil.Miss.Lady
Lyric Hammersmith presents How To Fail At Being Perfect
Lyric Hammersmith presents The Lost Disc
Mark And Marichka Marczyk: Balaklava Blues
Middle Child: One Life Stand
Nabokov presents Benin City: Last Night
Nele Needs A Holiday: The Musical
Push Things Forward Collective: Nabokov, Middle Child and Not Too Tame
Sziget Festival, the Island of Freedom, has a lot of to offer when it comes to music from all genres and an endless variety of music running non-stop. The 7-day festival hosts more than 500.000 Szitizens coming from more than 100 countries. This year, at the 25th Sziget, Kasabian, Major Lazer, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Flume, PJ Harvey, Alt-J, Interpol, Billy Talent, Two Door Cinema Club, Jamie Cullum, Rudimental and many more names will perform.
Sziget Festival is on the European festival radar for 25 years now, bringing music and art from all genres to the huge island. Programs never stop, one can always find music or any activity non-stop during the 7 days. There are more than 50 program venues where contemporary circus, art, dance and many more entertain the Szitizens, apart from the music acts. This time, besides the already announced names, we can find PJ Harvey, Alt-J, Rudimental live, George Ezra, White Lies and Dubioza Kolektiv on the Dan Panaitescu Main Stage. One of the favorite venue of the festival, the huge A38 tent, will host once again music for all like The Naked and Famous, Mando Diao, Anne-Marie, Andy C, Watsky, Nothing But Thieves, Léon, Bear’s Den, Chef’Special, De Staat, Valentino Khan, The Strypes, Rone and Weval among the already announced names. The electronic party central of the island, the giant tent of Arena, is happy to have Steve Aoki and Nervo this round.
All names announced so far in alphabetical order:
Alt-J Andy C Anne-Marie Bad Religion Bear's Den Billy Talent Cashmere Cat Charli XCX Chef'Special Clean Bandit Crystal Fighters Danny Brown De Staat Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike DJ Shadow Dubioza Kolektiv Flume Fritz Kalkbrenner George Ezra GTA GusGus Interpol Jagwar Ma Jamie Cullum Kasabian Kensington Leningrad León Mac Demarco Major Lazer Mando Diao Maurice West Metronomy Nervo Nothing but Thieves OH Wonder Oliver Heldens PJ Harvey Rone Rudimental live Steve Aoki Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano The Kills The Naked and Famous The Pretty Reckless The Strypes Tom Odell Two Door Cinema Club Vince Staples W&W Watsky Weval White Lies
Ten years ago, Latitude Festival was born to “rewrite the festival rulebook”; to combine music with culture, inviting guests to discover a curious wonderment of poetry, music, literature and comedy, escaping reality and exploring bewilderment. A decade on, and Latitude continues to master this art. Enticing over 20,000 families, energetic teenagers and middle-aged pear cider consumers alike, Latitude is certainly a festival that stands true to its ethos; to be a multi-arts boutique event set to challenge the festival status quo. And on its tenth birthday, Latitude certainly pulled out all the stops to make this celebration one to remember.
FRIDAY:
The festival kicked off in style on Friday, with a plethora of home-grown talent and hard-hitting headliners ready to entertain the crowds of thousands. As tents were barely even unzipped, funnyman Alan Davies took to the stage of the Comedy Arena for a 45 minute masterclass in worthy stand-up at its finest. The QI team captain created a sea of giggles throughout his set, albeit in a routine that seemed slightly reined in for the younger crowd gazing at him with wide-eyes and confused faces.
After playing a touch of table tennis at the ping-pong thunderdrome at Pandora’s Playground, we saw the incredible Santigold perform hits such as Disparate Youth and Big Mouth at the Obelisk Arena, bringing the enthusiastic crowd up on stage to dance alongside her. However, it was four-piece Kendal indie rock band Wild Beasts who were definitely ones to watch – now in their sixth year playing at Latitude, the band performed intensely and luminously, with tracks such as Wanderlust epitomizing why this band are brought back to the festival year after year.
Now, some of the lucky 1,000 Latitude goers were overwhelmingly excited to witness the secret set of Ed Sheeran in the enigmatic, cosy setting of the iArena stage at 11pm. The pin-up ginger apparently wowed fans with an array of acoustic covers; from Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine to Blackstreet’s No Diggity – I say apparently, as I was one of the unlucky ditherers who missed it, instead smiling giddily at the prospect of just seeing the euphoric set that Alt-J had just performed.
Returning to Latitude for the third time, Alt-J are a band with that touch of originality that has mesmerised many. As the sun set on Henham park, the Leeds three-piece allowed their distinctive sound to drizzle onto the stage with a hauntingly charged performance of Hunger of the Pine, soon detonating the crowd into a frenzy with the epic classic Fitzpleasure. Sullen blue light and thick haze pervaded across the stage throughout the set, with classics such as Left Hand Free and Matilda allowing the mixed audience to transpire into a palpable live adventure fit for the masses. With whispers emerging that Ed Sheeran was in fact dwelling in the woods, the teenage heavy crowd tangibly began to disperse for the forests – but it didn’t take away the shine of Alt-J’s performance, and the rest of us gazed on to witness why this band were fully deserving of their headline spot.
SATURDAY:
We headed off to the comedy tent at the crack of dawn (11am) for a bit of light-hearted laughs to begin the day – in the form of Funz and Gamez, a show with an all singing host, an elf and a dog playing the piano. Sure, it has all the ingredients for a tacky kids act, but this was anything but – it was inappropriate, weird and absolutely hilarious. The songs were awful, the jokes were purely for adults and the kids had absolutely no idea – “Life lesson number six! Don’t get too close to your Grandma.” An unexpectedly hilarious show, an occurrence that happened repeatedly at Latitude.
The picturesque Waterfront Stage, set amidst the beautiful Latitude Lake – where revellers could in fact swim and enjoy a free gondola ride – played host to some fantastic acts over the weekend. Saturday bought Chilly Gonzales and the Kaiser Quartett, a classical music act who impressed the crowd so much they received a standing ovation – which, with a crowd of mainly over 65’s, should not be taken lightly. Sadler’s Wells presented an opulent display of dance acts on the stage; from Roja and Rodriguez’ Titanium to the BBC Young Dancer of the Year finalists, there was an eclectic blend of raw ballet, to hip-hop performances, through to contemporary dance. The routines were breath-taking, awe-inspiring and simply beautiful to watch – whether you understood the concept of dance or did not. It was astounding, and a true celebration of the wonderful cultural diversity that Latitude embraces.
Badly Drawn Boy’s performance at the Obelisk Arena was interesting, yet not memorable; but what we’ll all certainly remember was his sour, arrogant demeanour at his “5k” festival fee. “I’m one of the best artists of the last 20 years.” he told the bewildered crowd. “I deserve more.”
Both José González and Laura Marling charmed their audience with stunning performances at the Obelisk arena, while Manchester indie band The Charlatans brought their wistfully glorious Britpop sound to the BBC Radio 6 Stage. But what so many had been whispering their excitement for was James Blake. Injecting electronic beats with his melodic, soulful voice, he certainly pulled off an impressive and widely diverse set, gaining many a fan in the process.
The night, however, belonged to Portishead. As the majority of the younger audience shot off to see The Vaccines over at the BBC Radio 6 Stage, the rest of us were able to encounter the atmospheric and hypnotic sounds in peace, enhanced with the melancholy, haunting visuals of unnerving surroundings. The set was a cacophony of cinematic splendour, Beth Gibbon’s ghostly and poetic voice hauntingly travelling through songs such as Machine Gun and Glory Box to a crowd lost in a trance-like state. Noone really expected Beth to crowdsurf, but she hurtled into the crowd anyway. Noone really expected Radiohead’sThom Yorke to join Portishead on stage for the encore, but he did it anyway. Noone really expected Portishead to be so euphoric, sensational and explosive, but they were. And damn it, they were by far the best act at the entire festival.
SUNDAY:
With revellers aiding their hangovers with a £8 breakfast roll, Sunday began with the absolutely hilarious Last Leg Live in the comedy tent. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker brought the Channel 4 hit to the stage, and before long every crowd member was vibrating with laughter, even more so after racing both Alex and Adams’ prosthetic legs through the crowd.
Sir Bob Geldof and co caused a hurricane of festival-goers to race to the front of the main stage, as Irish punk act the Boomtown Rats performed hits such as Someones looking at You and I don’t like Monday’s to a crowd of thousands. It wasn’t a favourite for the children, as the majority seemed to be doing cartwheels and handstands. But the parents, lager in hand, seemed to be absolutely lapping up every second of it.
The beauty of Latitude is the pure fortuitous run-ins with a diverse assortment of weird and wonderful happenings in each corner of the festival; from a live mime performance, to book signings, to a herd of pink sheep, to an early morning yoga session, there’s so much for you to witness and discover – at one point, we walked through the forest to see snow white in a coffin, who then stood up – fully naked – for us all to draw her. Only at Latitude.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds brought the festival to a blissful close on Sunday. With an impressive band behind him, Gallagher delivered crowd-pleasers and unknown songs alike, not least prompting mass sing-a-longs with Oasis classics like Don’t Look Back in Anger. And who can blame him? Although not one to live up to the phenomenal performance by Portishead last night, it was a well-received by the ‘crowd of Guardian readers’ he assumes goes to Latitude, and a perfect way to end the festival.
The past decade has proved Latitude as an unconventional, yet magical adventure for all those who attend. Though clearly designed as a family-friendly festival, its sublime diverse culture allows anyone – of any age – to experience something different, something new, and something that can spark inspiration. To read about it is one thing – to experience it is another. Latitude is one of the most magnificent festivals I have had the pleasure of attending, and one I will surely wish to return to in future.
This weekend took me to Beekse Bergen, a safari park in Hilvarenbeek in the Netherlands for the third installment of Best Kept Secret Festival. As far as festivals go, it’s still a baby, but with what it has to offer it seems the Dutch have it down. From gourmet food and wooden floors, to wristbands that double as wallets and a keep it green recycling policy, there’s not much more you could want from a three day event. Not to mention its stages hosted acts such as the Libertines, Balthazar, A$AP Rocky, Earl Sweatshirt, Royal Blood, Noel Gallagher and Alt-J, with well thought out schedules which means hardly any clashes.
But that’s not all, for example, the whole festival is cashless. Some UK and other European festivals have started operating a token system when it comes to drinks, but BKS tooks things even further. On your wristband there’s a little plastic chip, which you top up (up to 150 euros a time) and anything you buy whilst inside is done via the balance on your chip. No more scrambling for change, so more losing tokens or paper tickets, your wallet has relocated to your wrist. Which is an even better thing when you realise that the food lineup is almost as good as the music one. Wood fired pizza, smokers that boast delicious pulled pork, vegan friendly cheesecake and stuffed meatballs, it really doesn’t get much better. There’s also a massive tent run by ethically sound TOMS, where for every cup of coffee sold they donate to wateraid, complete with a lounging area that where you can sit, relax, and look out over the huge lake that sits just right of the main stage.
With such entertainment and tents as this, it’s relatively easy to forget why i’ve made it all the way to Holland in the first place, but remembering the line up quickly bring me back.
MUSIC // FRIDAY
Friday saw the likes of two-piece rockers Drenge and the scouse Circa Waves take to the main stage, entertaining crowds with their own version of indie rock, with Stage Two boasting Earl Sweatshirt, who although rocked his set, would probably have been better suited to a later show, but all in good time, as The Jesus and Mary Chain worked the second stage when it came to their set. The evening brought with it stylised folk in the shape of The Tallest Man on Earth, but The Libertines, the ones it seemed everyone was waiting for eventually took to the stage at 10:30pm.
Pete and Carl rocked up, hats and all, and as per usual they did not disappoint. If anyone was wondering what ever did become of the likely lads, I can tell you that they are back and definitely not going anywhere soon. Though last year saw them play a few shows throughout the UK and Europe, their first show of 2015 has meant that they have firmly rooted themselves as rock gods once again. Even standing in the crowd you could feel the energy radiating. With a set list as strong as it could be, including new track Gunga Gin, it was an exciting time for anyone who dare call themselves a fan of the boys in the band.
MUSIC // SATURDAY
Friday came and went and Saturday rolled on through, and with it a tiny bit of sunshine. Vibing up Stage Five were spanish rock quartet Hinds, not yet well known, but ones to watch who kept the energy high and created plenty of fun for the crowd. Belgian blues rockers Balthazar tore up the main stage, lulling us all with melodic riffs, followed shortly by The Vaccines, who are set to cement themselves in the music hall of fame with the *impending release of English Graffiti, and the legend himself Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds ending the day on Stage One with his own brand of British indie charm, not to mention a couple of Oasis tracks thrown in for good measure. But Saturday for me was all about Stage two and A$AP Rocky. Not knowing what to expect, I crammed myself into the packed tent ready and waiting for what he had to offer, and though he seemed to not pay much attention to the scheduled stage time (fifteen minutes late) he definitely put on a show, using the backdrop to play self curated clips and images that was set to the music and the whole performance. Something a little different from a hip hop show that was much appreciated.
SUNDAY // MUSIC
By the time sunday came around, the hope for sunshine had definitely evaporated as we seemed to start the day with a heavy downfall, but a bit of torrential rain never stopped me at a festival before and I wasn’t going to let it this time either. With plenty to see, the day kicked off with Wolf Alice, a london group reeling in the excitement of releasing their debut album My Love Is Cool on that day tore up the stage, swiftly followed by Gengahr and then back to the mainstage for some melodic tunes by First Aid Kit. One of the highlights of the day for me however were Royal Blood, who came on complete with extra speakers and stadium lights, just in case anyone had any doubts about the ability of the two piece to put on a show. After getting the crowd a little riled up (must say there’s been a few mixed reviews on their attitude) they ended up putting on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, and the moshers in the middle seemed to agree. But coming to a Dutch festival, especially one with the vibe of Best Kept Secret, it’s clear the winners of the weekend were Sunday Headliners Alt-J. Paying back to their Dutch fans – they were bigger in Holland than they were in the UK at the beginning of their indie rock reign – the bond became apparent as they ended the festival on a massive high.
Overall, Best Kept Secret has a lot to offer. I must admit the vibe is incredibly different to anything I’ve ever been to before. A bit politer, and a lot more ‘high-end’ its perfect for anyone who likes to listen to some good bands, eat some yummy food surrounded by scenic views and a stunning lake, and lets face it, who doesn’t?
It might be monday, but no need to fret because this weekend is one of the most widely anticipated european festivals of the year. Best Kept Secret is still in its youth, in fact this year will only be it’s third birthday! But that doesn’t stop it from being one of the festival heavyweights. With headliners such as the Libertines, Alt-J and Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds, and set in Hilvarenbeek, in the middle of the Netherlands, the dutch really know how to put on a show. So with the days creeping ever closer, here are some of the acts we’re most looking forward to seeing this weekend.
Libertines
Now that they’re done making the reunion rounds, they’ve got their hearts set on reclaiming the rock and roll throne. Rumours of a new album leaving fans gripping the edge of their seat, and if their history of stage antics and cult following has anything to go by, we can tell the friday night headliners are not one to be missed. You never know, we might even get some sneak peeks of a new track or two.
A$AP Rocky
Bound to be one of the best shows of the weekend after the much anticipated release of AT.LONG.LAST, A$AP Rocky aka Rakim Meyers is on top form. Not your average hip hop star, the young kid from Harlem continues to break the mould with his interest in fashion, his discontent with his own hype and passion for the art behind the music. The two year gap between his debut LONG.LIVE.A$AP and his new release had some of us reeling with frustration but now that it’s here, we could not have asked for more. Watch him on the main stage saturday night, he won’t disappoint.
Royal Blood
One of the hottest new acts of the past year, Brighton duo Royal Blood are continuing to blow up, despite still being on their debut. Don’t let their youthfulness deter you, because the matching of heavy drums and perfectly executed riffs in their blues infused rock is enough to make your hair stand on end. Spend a few minutes with them on sunday and you’ll be the newest heir to the royal blood throne.
Wolf Alice
Often called the ‘lovechild of grunge and folk’, Wolf Alice are kicking off the sunday at the second stage. Originally a duo that hit up the London Open Mic scene, they’ve now beefed up their sound and gained a cult following, making them one of the UK’s ones to watch over the coming year. Bearing in mind they don’t even have an official album yet, they’re doing pretty well for themselves and we can’t see what their show has to offer.
Vaccines
Gracing the main stage on Saturday is the return of the Vaccines, having matured slightly from their 2011 grunge-rock, strokes inspired anthems, their awaiting release English Graffiti shows their stature and is sure to cement their place in the halls of pop-rock fame.
Balthazar
One of Belgium’s hidden gems, Balthazar are back with their third album Thin Walls, and believe me it doesn’t disappoint. Chucked full of witty lyrics, dreamy guitar and a feeling of blues, if you haven’t heard them yet take some time to listen - they’re sure to become your new favourite band.
Though these are just a few of the bands gracing the stages of Beekse Bergen, but the lineup is even better. It’s sure to be a great weekend ahead.
Now in its 10th year, Latitude has proved its point that it is far more than just a music festival. It’s an artistic, creative, inspired and imaginative goldmine, stuffed to the brim with an eclectic blend of comedy, live-art, poetry, theatre, as well as choice upon choice of world-class musicians. This is an event that can suit the most rugged of festival goers, on the hunt for a venue to head-bang and let loose, to those whose preference is to sip on a glass of chilled chardonnay, witnessing the very best in contemporary ballet. This year promises to celebrate the ten year anniversary in style, with lashings of exciting and innovative artists – in all forms – ready to entertain, intrigue and enthuse the 35,000 strong crowd.
When it comes to headline artists, Latitude have certainly pulled out the big guns to take to the stage of the Obelisk Arena – an ideal hill-top venue, overlooking the entirety of the stunning Suffolk site. It’s difficult to describe the sound of the Friday headliners, British three-piece Alt-J; they’re music is instantly recognisable, with their rustic atmospherics and melodic harmonies. This is an act with stunning crowd-unifiers such as Matilda and Hunger of the Pine under their belt, and the headline slot promises to be an enthralling affair to remember for everyone who attends. As Saturday arrives, the sounds of Portishead will be nailing the headline slot; the trio, much like Alt-J, operate in a world of their own, with a magnetic sound that seems to be unlike any other. Currently the only UK date on their tour, it can definitely be said that this is not one to be missed.
The final headliners of the weekend are Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds; yes, the rock legend himself will be gracing the stage, firing out hits from the bands’ new album ‘Chasing Yesterday’. From previous sets, it seems Noel and co aren’t shy of pulling out back catalogue Oasis classics such as Don’t look back in anger and Champagne Supernova within their set, so expect thousands of echoing voices singing in unison at the top of their lungs to top off the weekend.
Away from the headliners, there’s a plethora of incredible and unique acts performing to keep every soul entertained. Welsh rock legends the Manic Street Preachers will be making their debut performance at Latitude at the Obelisk Arena on Sunday – it seems 12 albums in, the band will never fail to attract the crowds, and Latitude should be no different. Indie rock band The Vaccines – who have just finished touring the States with Mumford and Sons – will be making their way to BBC Radio 6’s Music Stage on Saturday, providing a harder alternative to main stage headliner.
With a shimmering lake as a picturesque backdrop, The Lake Stage, curated by Huw Stephens, has an array of handpicked rising stars gracing the stage; To Kill a King, Pretty Vicious and Rea Morris, to name a few, will all be performing at this fantastic open air hub, each to show off their own fresh, unique musical talent.
The special thing about Latitude is the side-splittingly fantastic array of comedy acts present each year – and this year is no different. The festival is fast becoming a well-respected portion of the comedy calendar, and 2015 brings funny man Mancunian Jason Manford, QI star Alan Davies, and the delightfully monotone Jack Dee to the stage to add a bit of light-hearted hilarity to the bill.
For theatre fans, the National Theatre Live presents Everyman will hold a special performance at Latitude’s very own theatre stage, starring BAFTA winner and Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor. Meanwhile, The Waterfront Stage welcomes Sadler’s Wells National Youth Dance Company, bringing together some of the brightest dance talent across the UK combined with their internationally renowned associate artists. Sadler’s Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance; so whether you have a true passion for movement, or just want to witness something a bit different, this promises to be a vibrant and exciting performance for anyone who attends.
If this wasn’t enough, for the first time in the festival’s history swimming in the lake will be permitted, for those who want to take a dip as they watch the festival go by. This, combined with new hot tubs where audiences can soak up the cultural atmosphere of the site, is what makes it so much more than a festival – it’s an adventure. There’s masses to be explored; from opera, to slam poetry, to cabaret, down to a live art house, there’s simply too much to possible divulge here – you’ll have to dive in and experience it for yourself.
Tickets range from £84.50 for a day pass, to £200.50 for a full weekend with camping, with discounts available for children and teenagers.
You can check out the entire Latitude Festival line-up at the website, www.latitudefestival.com.
Best Kept Secret are certainly playing a game of cards, and they’ve just added two to their hand: Liverpudlian rock-indie band Circa Waves and Dutch hip-hop star have just been added to the lineup.
These acts join an already sensational lineup by on the Dutch Festival in June. Boasting headliners such as The Libertines, Alt-J and Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds, and other crowd pleasers such as A$AP Rocky, The Tallest Man on Earth, Drenge, The Vaccines, First Aid Kit, Royal Blood and Earl Sweatshirt, this years scope of talent is sure to please everyone.
Latitude today announces the line-up for their 10th Edition which takes place Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th July 2015 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.
Ten years ago Latitude Festival creator Melvin Benn set out to rewrite the festival rulebook, showing that music lovers could also be culture lovers, by creating the UK’s first multi arts boutique festival set out to challenge the festival status quo
First to headline Latitude’s Obelisk Arenaon Friday night is a band close to Latitude’s heart; Mercury Prize-winning art-rockers alt-J. Having delivered outstanding sets on smaller Latitude stages over the years, 2015’s triumphant return promises to be a special moment for all who have witnessed their incredible Latitude journey. With a recent sold out arena tour and two critically acclaimed albums, the Leeds trio will no doubt give the Latitude audience a stunning set.
Portishead will give a rare UK appearance as they top the bill on Saturday. Emerging in 1994 with landmark album Dummy, Portishead have remained adventurous and uncompromising throughout their 20-year career. Compelling, provoking and moving; this will be an unmissable performance.
Closing Latitude this year is an outfit fronted by one of Britain’s most loved musical figures; Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Song-writing pioneer and out-spoken cultural icon, Gallagher’s relevance has never faltered and Latitude is delighted to welcome him and his latest band to their 10th anniversary Edition. Performing tracks from the recent critically acclaimed album Chasing Yesterday (which Gallagher produced as well as wrote), plus plenty of classic sing-along Oasis tracks, this will be a closing show to be remembered.
Quotes from headliners:
"We are hugely excited to return to Latitude for the third time. Playing there has always been so memorable. Latitude has always supported us, and to go from playing the smaller stages to this means it will be a night of celebration."
alt-J
“I've been to Latitude before as a festival goer and really enjoyed it I think the effort they put into their whole programming – music, comedy and film – is what makes it a great festival to be part of. And I'm really looking forward to it.” Geoff Barrow from Portishead
“I love the vibe at Latitude and the location. Good forward thinking programming as well, I played a couple of years ago in the cinema tent with a silent film project I was doing and it was a really good experience…looking forward to this one very much.” Adrian Utley from Portishead
“Well not only have I never played at Latitude before, but I’ve never even been there, ever. So yes, I’m really looking forward to headlining the Festival on July 19th” Noel Gallagher
Other special appearances on the Obelisk Arena will include a selection of some of today’s most exciting and respected British artists; we start off by welcoming Nicky Wire back to Latitude ten years down the line with the legendary Manic Street Preachers who will be performing a selection of loved tracks from their varied and extraordinary career, Canadian electronica-maestro Caribou, electronic auteur James Blake will return for a third time, and both soul sensation Lianne La Havas and folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling for a second and all with new albums to share. Festival favourites, Wild Beasts return to share their latest critically acclaimed album with us and we also welcome the soulful Mancunian JP Cooper to Henham Park for the first time.
Gracing us from all corners of the globe are four time Grammy award nominee Nigerian musician Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, transfixing Swedish singer-songwriter and Latitude favourite José González, American soul singer Benjamin Brooker, blues veteran Seasick Steve, and soul veteran Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens will be bringing us her Daptone released gospel music.
This year the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage will host even more exciting musical treats including headline sets from three accomplished British acts; top of the bill on Friday is pioneering sonic technician Jon Hopkins, platinum selling rock band The Vaccines will headline on Saturday, and a festival exclusive show from SBTRKT who will close the stage on Sunday night with his soulful and textured take on electronic music preceded by the highly acclaimed live show from La Roux.
Other acts set to play on the coveted BBC Radio 6 Music Stage include; Catfish And The Bottlemen who have risen up through the Latitude stages, all-female punk rockers Savages, acclaimed alternative pop group Django Django, London-based pseudonymous musical duo Public Service Broadcasting and Americana four piece The Districts. With forty albums under his belt King Creosote is back to perform songs from an extensive career and has previously graced both the Poetry Arena and iArena at Latitude, also announced today is American musician and legend The Thurston Moore Band and two-piece grunge band Drenge.
Esteemed artist Mark Kozelek brings Sun Kil Moon to Latitude, also announced are Years & Years with their eccentric blend of R&B and 90’s house, and Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers returning for round three, South London’s Kwabs, alternative rock group Wolf Alice, and BBC Sound Poller SOAK is also on the bill as well as exclusive performances from Toro Y Moi and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
Announced acts for the i Arena include one of electronic music’s most renowned talents, Warp Records cult artist Clark who headlines Saturday. Joining the festival to headline Sunday are London based musical duo Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell otherwise known as The 2 Bears. Also announced; the unique and the distinctive Adult Jazz, hot new talent Jack Garratt, multi-instrumentalist DM Stith, blues rock experimentalist Duke Garwood hugely talented singer songwriter Shura, the incredibly refreshing indie rockers Gengahr, Texan gospel and soul songster Leon Bridges and folk-pop star Marika Hackman. .
Joining the eclectic line-up are; Icelandic ambient techno duo Kiasmos, hotly-tipped twin sister musical duo Ibeyi, post-punk indie rock band The Twilight Sad, captivating singer Nadine Shah, soul powerhouse Curtis Harding, Norwegian singer songwriter Susanne Sundfør and the brilliant, all-female Swedish pop-quartet Dolores Haze outrageous King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard who specialise in psychedelic tunes!
The People's Ear will present a line-up essential to create a heat to warm the ears from 11pm-3am every night on the iArena. Acts include self-taught musical craftsmen Ben UFO, three of the most innovative names in electronic music – untouchable London wordsmiths The Four Owls, Grammy nominated funk master Werkha (Live) and his live band, musician, three-piece DJ EZ, producer Monki and Alexander Nut and tropical bass heroes The Busy Twist. Expect and believe!
In an exclusive festival appearance at Latitude, Gareth Malone will this year be putting together a unique choir of Latitude festival goers. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to apply to be part of this 100-strong group who will rehearse at several points over the weekend, culminating in a Main Stage lunchtime performance on Sunday 19th July. In addition, Gareth and his Voices choir will be performing on the Waterfront Stage on Saturday 18th July.’
COMEDY AT LATITUDE
Over the last ten years Latitude’s comedy line-up has set the bar for summer festivals, offering the Latitude audience a unique opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the business all over the same weekend. It’s also the first chance to see the acts destined to make waves in Edinburgh later in the summer.
Headlining this special 10th Edition year will be national treasure Alan Davies, the longstanding QI panellist is well-known for his glorious insight into worldviews. Growing up in the ‘70s, losing his mother as a little boy, the vagaries of Facebook, sex toys and being a father are just some of the subjects he tackles.
Festival organisers are hugely excited to announce Jason Manford to headline the Comedy Arena. Renowned for his hilarious observations and loveable, friendly delivery, Jason has been a firm favourite with comedy fans of all ages since his first solo stand-up show earned him huge critical acclaim. The Perrier nominated comic won Chortle Breakthrough Act in 2006, Latitude’s inaugural year, and has risen to become one of the UK’s favourite TV comics.
2013 British Comedy Award Best Male Comic nominee, and Live At The Apollo star, Jon Richardson is one of the UK's brightest and immensely likeable stand up heroes. Back with a brand new stand-up routine to delight audiences, Time Out call him ‘Sublimely brilliant, stunning…He is a comic right on the verge of greatness. If you haven’t seen him yet, get your finger out and sort it!
Off the back of his hugely successful Channel 4 TV show ‘Catastrophe’ Rob Delaney brings his performance to the Suffolk setting. Voted the funniest man on Twitter, Latitude welcomes Rob’s hilarious but sometimes dark anecdotes and tales to the festival for the first time.
Australian comedian and television presenter Adam Hills best known for hosting The Last Leg on Channel 4 will bring his combination of positive uplifting comedy and rampant spontaneity to the Comedy Arena.
Another award-winning comic performing at the festival this year is Jack Dee. Best known for his sarcasm and deadpan humour, he takes a break from being everyone’s favourite grumpster to lend a helping hand to Latitude Festival goers with his side splittingly funny show Help Desk where he will be joined by a panel of star comedians from the festival line up to offer expert advice on the Latitude audience’s problems.
Perrier Award winning Irish comedian David O’Doherty will bring his stand-up routine to the festival this summer. Also on the bill is; Latitude’s resident prankster Josh Widdicombe, Canadian super comic Katherine Ryan, one of many stand out female comics programmed for the festival this year. With a formidable reputation on the live circuit and high profile TV appearances to her name, Katherine will pull out all the stops this summer.
This year’s festival will host; self-proclaimed “spit and sawdust” performer Shappi Khorsandi, Best Show nominee at the Edinburgh Fosters Comedy Awards in 2014 Sara Pascoe, brilliant Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss, top of the 2015 tipster list Dane Baptiste, lyrical anti-lad, Liam Williams, the hugely popular Holly Walsh, the effortlessly talented Joe Lycett, fantastic bombastic star of the hit show ‘What Would Beyonce Do’s Luisa Omelian, ventriloquist Nina Conti with her popular puppet characters and Viral Tap star Matt Richardson who all join the 10th Edition celebrations.
WATERFRONT STAGE
Following from his sold out Barbican shows, we are hugely excited to announce that piano virtuoso Chilly Gonzales will be performing his new album Chambers on the Waterfront Stage with the Kaiser Quartett. Switching gears from his 2013 collaborations with Grammy winners Daft Punk and Drake, Gonzales’ Latitude show will be an entertaining and intimate experience orchestrated especially with Hamburg’s Kaiser Quartett displaying his inimitable touch. This will be a stunning highlight of the festival and it is not to be missed.
Since 2008 Sadler’s Wells has presented a special programme of dance at Latitude Festival to audiences in excess of 40,000 people across the years. This summer the theatre returns for an eighth consecutive year, presenting a diverse programme on the outdoor Waterfront Stage that will appeal to audiences of all ages and that reflects the theatre’s reputation for presenting world class dance in all its forms. Full line-up to be announced.
POETRY ARENA
At the heart of Latitude the Poetry Arena showcases the very best stand up and beat poets, alongside laureates and literary legends. Headlining this year’s Poetry Arena will be the former laureate and award winning poet Simon Armitage CBE who is described by Poetry Review as “the front man of his generation”.
Tim Key, star and creator of Radio 4’s Late Night Poetry Programme Tim Key is as a poet, actor, comic and film star, appearing as Alan Partridge’s sidekick in Mid-Morning Matters and Alpha Papa. A brilliant poet and Edinburgh Perrier Award winner we are delighted he will be joining us in the Poetry Arena this year.
Children’s favourite and recently appointed professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths and presenter of Word of Mouth on Radio 4 Michael Rosen joins the celebrations. Last year Michael packed the Poetry Arena to the rafters. Number one poet of the parents, Michael was the subject of a recent viral campaign to hire him as Education Minister.
Punk Rock legend, performance poet and Latitude favourite the inimitable DoctorJohn Cooper Clarke is expected to bring a new collection of poetry. A seminal influence on punk the voice of Manchester and beat poets everywhere, expect a ferociously funny performance and make sure you get a seat early.
Smashing into the Poetry Arena to read his latest poems will be BBC Three’s ‘Uncle’ writer and star Nick Helm, his hilarious stand up style has been described as ‘brash and bullish’.
FILM & MUSIC STAGE
The first name announced for the Film & Music Stage is Brit Award nominated George the Poet. A poet for the people, George mixes social and political comment with humour to demonstrate his passion for poetry as a powerful tool to educate the masses. George delivers an unforgettable live performance, which consists of a hypnotic blend of poetry and rap.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
The Kids Arena keeps children entertained all day and into the night with everything from pond dipping & astronomy to pizza making and night-time disco and fire-show. There’s something for everyone! Use traditional tools or pan for gold, explore the woods or ID animal bones!…investigate a crime scene or head to the Kids Theatre for shows, music, drama classes and puppetry. There are giant crafts from building with architects to shaping willow, working with clay, knitting, felting or getting busy with a million stickers! Amazing activities come from a range of trusted names, from Macmillan’s Children’s Books to the Zoological Society of London,Suffolk Wildlife Trust to the Woodcraft Folk and many more.
The Inbetweeners’ Teen Area is a hidden woodland wonderland-offering teenagers a packed weekend. Chose music, media, fashion and technology workshops, including; a live stage, new DJ Academy and chill-out area with Culture Works East and Access to Music. Or join our friends from Greenpeace; tackle wildlife, bush-craft and survival skills or get physical with climbing nets and a zip wire suspended high in the trees – a real walk on the wild side!
SPECIAL ADDITIONS
Other Voices will bring a little bit of musical magic from its spiritual home on the Wild Atlantic Way in the West of Ireland to Suffolk for this year’s Latitude Festival. Now in its fourteenth year, Other Voices has previously accepted invitations from Le Poisson Rouge in New York City, Wilton’s Music Hall in London and The Glassworks in Derry-Londonderry during their Festival of Culture in 2013.
This year Latitude welcomes, Solas, a new spa area providing an oasis of calm by day and meticulous merriment by night. Meaning ‘light’ in Irish, Solas invites festival goers to learn the art of chilling out. Take refuge in the specially designed holistic area where expert therapists will soothe the mind and body with massages, yoga, treatments and workshops to ease and appease, while indulgence meets decadence in bubbling hot-tubs and seaweed baths. Dotted throughout the zone will be a hand-picked selection of installations; unwind under a canopy of reflective art and light and expand your mind as you investigate the sonic robotics of Indonesian inspired Gamelatron.
As darkness unfolds, Solas will become an intimate tableau of late-night party corners. A piano bar sunk into the forest floor will entertain and ignite, while the ElectroShack spins a dizzying array of upbeat earworms. Jump on the furniture and make yourself at home at My Club House, peer across the festival grounds from the secret Hilltop Hideaway, or shed your 21st century cool and embrace the sunshine kitsch at Body Holiday.
Sky Arts returns for the 10th celebrations to bring fans highlights from the Latitude weekend. Two 120minute jam packed shows of performances, interviews and highpoints will be televised the weekend after the festival.
The final of Sky Arts Guitar Star, a major new competition to search for a world-class guitarist, will film the winning player performing on Latitude’s Obelisk Arena. For more information visit: http://www.sky.com/tv/show/guitar
This year for the first time ever Latitude will be partnering with ActionAid a leading international development charity who support women and children living in extreme poverty. They work to help empower women and children to fight for their own rights and to create lasting change.
By day, the new ActionAid tent will be home to creative craft workshops, games and festival fun activities and by night the tent will transform into a late-night party venue with DJ’s playing until the early hours. Look out for signings and guest DJ sets from some of the festival acts too.
With support from Festival Republic and Firebrand merchandise, ActionAid will also be teaming up with one of the 2015 Latitude acts to create a limited Edition festival item which will be available to buy exclusively at the festival. All proceeds will go towards supporting ActionAid’s work to change lives for good.
Latitude is synonymous with the perfect festival experience, and this year organisers are going one step further with Latitude’s Charity Concierge. Imagine someone going to the bar for you…putting up your tent….even holding your place in the queue for the Comedy Stage or Theatre tent. Latitude’s team of 100 enthusiastic volunteers will be offering these services throughout the arena and in some campsites, to raise money for the Kenyan Orphan Project. And Festival Republic will match fund every penny. The team are aiming to raise £50,000 so lie back in the sunshine and let someone else do the leg work!
With only four months to go until August Bank Holiday Weekend, Reading & Leeds Festivals are excited to add over 60 new acts to an already incredible bill headlined by Mumford & Sons, Metallica and The Libertines.
Leading the charge are indie rock heroes and all round band of the moment alt-J. Last seen headlining the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage at the Festivals, the band’s sophomore album ‘This Is All Yours’ has established them as one of Britain’s brightest and biggest bands, who will deservedly step up to an evening set on the Main Stage in 2015.
Gus Unger-Hamilton says: "We're really over the moon to be returning to Reading & Leeds. It'll be our third time playing, and we always have the best time."
Joining alt-J on the Main Stage on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds, Palma Violets will be treating revelers to cuts from their upcoming ‘Danger In The Club’. Their garage rock clatter is sure to get the crowd going, whilst Drenge graduate to Main Stage status with their extremely loud brand of grunge.
Fusing dubstep and rock to create a sound that is entirely their own, London’s Modestep step up to the plate on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, joined on the bill by raucous LA skate punks FIDLAR and Japanese metal idol stars Babymetal, who will be opening the stage.
Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds will see the return of Festival favourites The Gaslight Anthem, whose signature heartfelt punk rock is sure to provide one of the afternoon’s biggest singalongs. Lead by the iconic Laura Jane Grace the passionate, dynamic punk of Against Me! will cause a similar stir whilst British hardcore titans Feed The Rhino will be providing a suitably noisy start to the day.
NME / BBC RADIO 1 STAGE
Joining the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage line-up on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds are energetic Brooklyn indie-punks Parquet Courts and LA indie-poppers Echosmith.
After storming the stage last year Scottish chart-smashing rockers Twin Atlantic will return to the bill on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, celebrating a huge year with a characteristically anthemic evening set. London indie favourites Spector and up and coming rock newcomers Nothing But Thieves return to the Festival. British soul and R&B singer Kwabs, AWOLNATION, Ghostpoet and The Skints are added to the bill on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds.
BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE
Getting the BBC Radio 1 Dance tent moving on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds will be Jacob Plant, Maribou State, LANY and All We Are, while dance-icon MK will be bringing his stunning show to close the stage on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds. Oliver Dollar is added to the bill at Reading only, while Kevin Saunderson will fill this slot with an exclusive set at Leeds.
After a stunning 2014, pop provocateur Charli XCX also joins the Radio 1 Dance Tent line-up, a highly anticipated performance in the wake of her critically acclaimed new album Sucker and a sold-out UK tour. Secondcity,Dimension x Kove and Elliphant will join an amazing line-up on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, whileBlonde Live, Rustie, Evian Christ, Snakehips, TCTS and 99 Souls are set to entertain the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage audience on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds.
THE LOCK UP / THE PIT
Joining an already huge line-up on the Lock Up, on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds will be Modern Baseball, The Bots, The Smith Street Band and Youth Man.
The Pit will feature a of line-up of gargantuan established acts and fresh emerging talent including iconic metalcore group Atreyu, PVRIS, And So I Watch You From Afar, Black Peaks, Ho99o9 and The One Hundredon Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds.
On Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds, American metalcore five piece Beartooth are added to the bill, and former Gallows frontman Frank Carter will be bringing his new band Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, whileriff-tastic Bristol rockers Turbowolf, Moose Blood, Queen Kwong, Hawk Eyes, Single Mothers, Black Foxxesand Fort Hope are also now revealed for the stage.
FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE
Fresh indie talent has been added to the line-up for the much-loved Festival Republic Stage, with Saint Raymond set to bring his joyous indie pop to the masses on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds. Bombastic Scottish trio Prides, Bear’s Den, Vaults, Joywave, Eliza And The Bear and Hunter & The Bear are also revealed for the bill.
With new single ‘Our Eyes’ currently receiving huge radio support and fast-amassing buzz for her forthcoming second album, Lucy Rose will play second on the bill on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, with Blossoms and Bad Breeding also added to the line-up.
Geordie heroes Little Comets will take to the stage on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds, along with Mini Mansions, Gengahr, Hippo Campus, Sundara Karma, Black Honey and The Sherlocks.
BBC 1XTRA STAGE
One of the most exciting stages at the Festival, the BBC 1XTRA Stage sees British legend Ms Dynamite announced for Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds, joined by visceral Tempa T, Loyle Carner, and Kiko Bun.
Dope D.O.D., Fekky, Siobhan Bell and Isaiah Dreads are revealed for the line-up on Sunday at Reading / Friday at Leeds, joining a bill which features some of the best urban talent the world has to offer.
The organizers of Sziget Festival have announced the first confirmed acts. The 2015 event will take place between 10-17 August in Budapest, providing a 7 days festival-holiday experience at the heart of a great city. And Sziget promises to be as colorful, exciting and spectacular as ever. To feel the vibe here is the 2014 aftermovie: http://youtu.be/k_JqgPOJBpA with over 100,000 views already!
Sziget hosts more than 50 venues, so the list of programs is almost eternal and takes a long time to get its final shape. The organizing crew already confirmed that Florence and the Machine will play on Day 0, 11 August, so those who want to enjoy the show of the well-known indie rock band of Florence Welch should make sure they buy 7 Days Passes.
Sziget is also proud to announce Alt-J as part of the line-up. With their debut album, 'An Awesome Wave', released in 2012, they reached a huge success, followed by this year's 'This is All Yours'. Their gig will definitely be a must-see for Szitizens.
EDM fans can enjoy the music of Thom Jongkind and Idir Makhlaf, better known as producer/deejay duoBlasterjaxx. Many successes and milestones followed their career so far which resulted in the fact that they are now seen as one of the most promising EDM artists in the world.
British singer-songwriter Jamie Woon will also hit the Sziget stage. His characteristic voice is combined with an exciting merge of cold electronic tunes and soul.
Budapest will be happy to welcome Fauve, an interesting French combination of music and videography. The second part of their debut album, Vieux Fréres – Partie 1, is expected by the end of the year or early 2015.
It has been some time that we haven’t heard about José Gonzalez, but he is now confirmed for Sziget and will also release his first solo album in seven years. 'Vestiges & Claws' will come out in mid-February and, as José sees it, the record is his personal, “zoomed-out eye on humanity on a small, pale blue dot in a cold, sparse and unfriendly space."
The Subways will definitely bring the party mood to Szitizens. They are currently working on their fourth album, so next to Rock&Roll Queen, the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy some fresh indie hits.
Babylon Circus, the French 10 member ska-reggae group, will also make the Sziget audience dance and jump around already on Day 0, 11 August. Full of life and joy, this energetic French group will definitely be a colorful part of the 2015 Sziget experience.
New colonists of the pop empire, Kadebostany have swiftly catapulted themselves into the spotlight with their irresistible blend of pop music devouring unlikely influences to create a singular yet terribly catchy universe of its own. Come to Sziget and check it for yourself.
Led by Aaron Bruno, AWOLNATION crafted one of the most influential songs in years with the chart-topping track “Sail.” The song has also achieved global success and they are coming to Sziget with their album 'Megalithic Symphony'.
