After three years the amazing Truck Festival came back too Hill Farm in Steventon, Oxfordshire. The past 3 years had been affected by COVID which meant the event could not take place. This year also celebrated its 25th Anniversary so the organisers had to make sure it was the best!! The three and a half day event had a huge lineup with Blossoms headlining the Thursday night. Bombay Bicycle Club on Friday, Sam Fender and The Kooks co-headlining on the Saturday and the weekend ended with Kasabian and a firework display on the Sunday night. Bands, Artists, Comedians etc all performed on several stages across the site. There was the Main Stage, Market Stage hosted by So Young Magazine, Thie Feeling, The Nest, Virgins and Veterans, The Rockin Chair and The Tap Room.
Across the site had a wide variety of all cuisines for everyone. The local community also have a big food tent with their homecooked food which they have served there for several years and all profits got to charity.
There was plenty for everyone to do. Familys with young children could go to the childrens area which had activities and shows on for them all to enjoy. There were stalls with makeup, clothes, accessories and more for everyone to dress up in their proper festival gear.
Our photographer Kane Howie was at the festival to document the weekend. You can check out his photos below.
Tickets for next years event are available at https://truckfestival.com/ the festival will take place at the same location on July 21st-23rd.
With the 2021 festival delayed and taking place late in September, less than nine months have passed since the crowds last cruised onboard the Isle of Wight for the legendary festival. It is understandable why the huge crowds flock back to the island each year and the event is often nominated for the best International Music Festival.
Festivals are no longer three day events, and those lucky enough to arrive on Thursday saw Rick Parfitt Jnr, son of the late Quo guitarist open this year’s festivities with a crowd-pleasing mix of classic covers from Kings of Leon, Prince, to his late dad’s classic singalong Rocking All Over The World.
Later and with considerably less energy, Shaun Ryder and his Happy Mondays headlined the opening night. While Shaun was no longer the energetic Madchester frontman, Bez made up for it, looking in unbelievable health with his freaky dancing and his trademark classic maracas. Happy Thursday indeed.
FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Allowing everyone a nice lie-in and a great opportunity to check out the mix of cabaret, circus, dance and theatre at the Cirque de la Quirk, The Vaccines began the main-stage on Friday at a lofty 4pm with their 3-minute indie-rock singalongs.
Later, Sigrid travelled from her native Norway to warmer climates, getting the crowd dancing with some fantastic new pop tunes, with great messages emphasising in her lyrics that “when the world is on your shoulders…it’s just a bad day, not a bad life…”
Shortly afterwards, the Red Arrows flew in, before Nile Rodgers & Chic took over the party. Nile was asked how his music should be described – a heady mix of soul, funk, disco, pop and rock good tunes was the broad answer. Who needs to define musicians by genres and pigeon hole when it is this enjoyable?
Both Nile Rodgers and the next band, Madness, could easily have been headliners, as they have taken the top-slot at many other festivals in recent years.
But this year, Lewis Capaldi took the final billing of the day. He stated his own surprise to be booked in his first ever festival headlining slot after a two year absence of new material and his previously cancelling TRNSMT summer festival to write new material – but it surely won’t be his last with his breathtaking voice. Despite the often melancholy nature of his songs, his charming warm chat in between each song showed his sense of self-defacing humour, despite his top-selling songs of loss, including “Someone You Loved” and “Hold Me While You Wait”…
SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS
The main stage on Saturday included a mix of classic bands from The Fratellis with their Chelsea Dagger singalong reverberating throughout Newport, to The Proclaimers through to Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, better known as the voices from the Beautiful South.
However, the Big Top hosted an assortment of exciting new discoveries.
Mark Owen, of Take That fame, ensured that getting anywhere near the tent was an impossible task for many in the early afternoon. As well as his new single ‘You Only Want Me’, he played what everyone wanted to hear – those old TT songs including ‘Rule The World’ and ‘Shine’ – in the front row, devoted fans had travelled all the way from Glasgow just for the day to see their pop idol up front and close in his orange suit, and he certainly showed why he’s had such incredible success with singalong tunes, smooth dance moves and one too many thrusting hips.
Later in the Big Top, Griff proved to be a highlight of the weekend. Having collaborated with the previously mentioned Sigrid, it’s clear why she won the Brit Award for Rising Star in 2021. Watch this space, as she is going to be huge – she deserves to be anyway…
Headlining the main stage on Saturday evening were Kasabian, led now by former guitarist Serge, who took over when the band fired Tom Meighan following his domestic abuse conviction two years ago. After a false start due to faulty microphone, the band launched into Club Foot – the skies opened for their set and there were frequent technical issues, but they blew the rain away, finishing with anthem “Fire”. Legendary footballer and friend of the band, Peter Crouch, joined the band onstage to pogo around, sadly no robot celebrations were demonstrated.
Over in the Big Top, Shaggy brought the night to a close. Describing himself as a reggae superstar, it was surprising just how many songs he had. As well as his “Boombastic”, “Angel” and “It Wasn’t Me“, for some reason known only to himself, he’s decided to release an album of Frank Sinatra covers in his own in inimitable style, playing “Come Fly With Me” and “Fly Me To The Moon” – entertaining, tongue in cheeky but very odd!
Local Isle of Wight band Wet Leg played to possibly an even bigger audience than Mark Owen. Clearly incredibly nervous at possibly their biggest gig to date, the band defy the claim that music on the island is 20 years behind the rest of the UK mainland. At the end of Ur Mum they finish with the ear splitting
‘OK, I’ve been practicing my longest and loudest scream, OK, here we go, 1, 2, 3, ‘blood-curdling shriek”
Later, fresh from his goal-scoring and man-of-the-match appearance at Soccer Aid, Tom Grennan hobbled on stage on crutches and kicked it out of the park with his set. Stating himself he looked like a cheesy-puff in his orange shirt, the crowd loved his pop tunes, even though they all sounded as forgettable as the last.
Throughout the day, it was impossible to avoid who everyone had come to see close the festival – the mighty Muse. T-shirts were seen on the young and old throughout the day and they didn’t disappoint.
Coming on dressed in matching masks, Devon’s finest blew away the crowd with anthem after anthem. If you’ve never had chance to see Muse play live, they are without doubt one of the top live acts in the world. Beginning with glam rock swagger and playing crowd favourites “Hysteria”, “Plug-In Baby” and “Time Is Running Out”, the stage show was incredible, complete with the usual stereotypical pyrotechnics and streamers. Going one further, Muse transformed the stage with a huge ‘Will of the People’ mask coming to life from the new album – very 1984! Finishing with Knights of Cydonia, they brought the festival to a dramatic close singing:
Don’t waste your time Or time will waste you…
This festival certainly wasn’t a waste of time, judging by the shattered faces on the ferry home the following day…book your ferries early next year as the island is sure to host an incredible line up again as it does each year.
Taking place at Glasgow Green from 7th – 9th July, 2017, TRNSMT will feature headline performances from Radiohead, Kasabian and BiffyClyro. The 1975, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Belle & Sebastian, London Grammar, George Ezra, Two Door Cinema Club, Twin Atlantic, The Kooks, Blossoms, Rag‘n’Bone Man, Circa Waves and many more to be announced, form the line-up for one of the most highly anticipated music events of the Scottish summer. This truly award-winning line-up, with a mighty 72 BRITs, Grammy Awards, Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize award nominations bestowed to the artists on the bill, is unyielding in its quest to provide the greatest experience of the summer for music fans.
Glasgow Green will play host to this truly metropolitan, non-camping festival, which stages global superstars alongside the very best of local talent. Glasgow, the UNESCO City of Music and cultural and artistic hub, will provide the backdrop as TRNSMT interrupts Glasgow’s summer air with an electrifying celebration of music, bringing people together to enjoy the acts they already love, discover the new, and undergo life-affirming experiences.
Fresh on the heels of the release of their ninth LP, the critically acclaimed A Moon Shaped Pool, Radiohead make their return to Glasgow, playing on Friday 7th July. One of the most iconic and innovative bands in the world, Radiohead have evolved continuously since their inception, having created an eclectic back catalogue of albums and songs now widely regarded as classics. No other British band of the past 30 years continuously tops “Greatest Album Ever” or “Most Influential Artist” polls curated by fans and critics alike, are cited as influential to countless other bands of today, and have the unique ability to command respect from a live audience, no matter the scale of event they play. Radiohead last played Glasgow in 2008, so their return to the city in 2017, a year which has already seen them BRIT Award nominated for Best British Group, is long-awaited and highly anticipated.
Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2004, Kasabian have gone on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the country and will headline TRNSMT on Saturday 8th July. They’ve continued to fly the flag for British guitar music ever since, releasing a further four critically acclaimed albums, all of which reached number one. Their new record will be released in the spring. The Leicester four-piece are known for their blistering live shows, with their unique blend of colossal dance beats and rock turning whole festival fields into dancefloors. Equally at home on the festival stage, in stadiums, arenas or in a small intimate setting, few bands can unify a crowd of thousands in quite the same way as Kasabian.
Biffy Clyro are three childhood friends from Ayrshire, Scotland who formed a band, delivered three albums of abrasive youthful exuberance and finally cracked the big time when their fourth – 2007’s Puzzle – hit the charts at number one. With a further three albums under their belt, they are now bona fide stars who can headline festivals, fill arenas and deliver hit singles in an era in which rock bands rarely trouble the charts. Currently nominated for Best British Group at this year’s BRIT Awards, Biffy Clyro’s evolution from the jagged post-hardcore of their early material to the huge alternative rock sound of recent years has won them a fervent and fanatic fan base, whose cries of “Mon the Biff!” will be heard for miles across the city when they headline TRSNMT on Sunday 9th July.
The 1975’s album I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It proved they were here for a long time, and a good time, topping the charts in the UK and US and becoming one of the defining albums of recent years. The band is nominated for Brit Awards this year including Best British Group and Album of the Year and will no doubt be one of the many highlights of TRNSMT on Sunday 9th July.
Welsh four-piece Catfish and the Bottlemen will play TRNSMT hot off the back of a world tour for their critically acclaimed sophomore album, The Ride, which saw their anthemic sound reach number one in UK album charts. TRNSMT’s Glasgow crowd will be sure to welcome the band on Saturday 8th July, as charismatic frontman Van McCann revealed his own love for the city on album track Glasgow, which fans will be hoping to hear this July.
Indie figureheads, Belle & Sebastian, bring their critically acclaimed back catalogue to Glasgow Green to join Radiohead on Friday 7th July. Emerging in the late nineties, part of the band’s appeal was their apparent obliviousness to fame, which they were thrust into in 1998 with the release of The Boy with the Arab Strap and their 1999 Best Newcomers Brit Award win. Their ability to share their affinity for culture in songs written almost personally to their fans is how they’ve become lovingly imprinted into the music industry today.
Artists also announced today, London Grammar, George Ezra, Two Door Cinema Club, Twin Atlantic, The Kooks, Blossoms, Rag‘n’Bone Man and Circa Waves, have amassed a number of award wins and nominations throughout their careers, from London Grammar’s Ivor Novello win in 2014 to Rag‘n’Bone Man’s Brits Critics' Choice Awards in 2017. The musical talent on offer at TRNSMT, led by Radiohead, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro, is the best of the best, the cream of the crop; from your new favourite to most-played artist, the line-up is yours to enjoy thanks to flexible early bird ticket packages.
TRNSMT willoffer entertainment over two stages – with a line-up that will highlight talent across the musical spectrum, from the most influential band in fans’ lifetime to their favourite new, under the radar artist on the King Tut’s Stage – powered by Utilita. Fans will enjoy music, arts, culture, bars and restaurants as they customise their individual festival experience across the 3 days.
With their sixth studio album set for release this spring, rock juggernauts Kasabian stand as one of the biggest and most beloved British bands of the 21st century. Their unmistakable modern-day rock & roll anthems have seen them reinvent themselves from the vintage classics of West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, through to the electro-infused party starters of recent album 48:13. A band leading the charge in modern British rock – their UK Festival Exclusive performance at Reading & Leeds will mark an invigorating new chapter for a defining band of our time.
Kasabiancommented: “It’s been five years, and as a band we have come a long way since then. We’re looking forward to playing tunes from the new record and bringing the mosh pit to Reading & Leeds Festival!”
Two Door Cinema Clubjoin the impressive line up for another vibrant performance at Reading and Leeds. Expect old favourites alongside new tracks from latest album Gameshow, as the Northern Irish trio smash yet another festival crowd on their way to indie immortality.
Two Door Cinema Club commented: "It's so good to be back at Reading and Leeds, it's always a highlight of our summer. Good to see so many guitar bands on the bill this year as well."
Aussie electro king Flume is set to touch down at Reading & Leeds this summer. Latest album Skin saw him branch into stunning collaborations with AlunaGeorge, Vic Mensa, Vince Staples and Beck amongst others. Expect a stellar production of the soundtrack to 2017 when one of the most in-demand producers in modern dance, Flume takes to the Reading & Leeds stage for a UK Festival Exclusive performance.
No British DJ stands as iconic as Fatboy Slim. In the span of his 20 year career, he not only pioneered an entire revolution in British dance, but became the genre’s leading face and changed a generation in the process. From ‘The Rockafeller Skank’, through ‘Praise You’, ‘Right Here, Right Now’ and many more, Fatboy Slim’s first ever performance at Reading & Leeds this summer is guaranteed to leave festival-goers wanting to ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat’ for the entire weekend.
Following the success of his top ten album The Godfather, Wiley returns to Reading and Leeds in 2017. Widely acknowledged for laying the foundations for one of the most explosive and important genres of the 21st century, catch the godfather himself performing his art in its purest form.
Circa Waves will mark their unstoppable return with an appearance at this year’s festivals, bringing their hotly anticipated new album Different Creatures to life with the live presence that has catapulted them to sold-out shows across the globe.
Talking about playing Reading & Leeds this year, Circa Waves said: “We are SO made up to be playing Reading and Leeds again. We are so ready for the festival and can't wait to tear the stage up!”
Undisputedly one of the most influential pop-punk rock acts of the past 20 years, Jimmy Eat World powered the 90’s emo scene with inimitable songwriting and epic live performances that made them a cult phenomenon. JEW’s strike rate on hit records since then speak for themselves; alongside 2001’s “The Middle”, the likes of “Pain”, “Work”, “Sweetness” and “Always Be” have not only helped them attain chart success here but also a vehemently loyal fanbase in the UK and around the world. As Jimmy Eat World return to the Reading and Leeds Festival stage once more, in support of their recently released album Integrity Blues, this will be a moment that cannot be missed.
Aussie metalcore titans The Amity Affliction will make their way to Reading & Leeds this summer for a UK Festival Exclusive performance, bringing their unmistakable sound to new levels after a mammoth 12 months of touring around the globe. One of the most talked about post-hardcore bands of the moment, their debut appearance at Reading & Leeds will be a calling moment of a band in their element.
Joel Birch of The Amity Affliction says: "I can’t actually believe we’re going to be playing Reading and Leeds. What a wild dream we’re living in. After seeing insane photos of these festivals for my entire adult life and wishing I could just go as an attending music lover, it’s going to be an extremely special experience for me personally to be standing on those stages."
After a mammoth 12 months of trail-blazing live moments with a growing legion of devoted fans, Rat Boy will be returning to Reading & Leeds in August. Sparking with a youthful rebellion that’s captivated a nation, his riotous performance is not to be missed this summer.
ANNOUNCED TODAY
Kasabian | Two Door Cinema Club | Flume | Fatboy Slim | Wiley | Circa Waves | Jimmy Eat World |
The Amity Affliction | Rat Boy
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
Muse | Major Lazer | Bastille | At The Drive In | Architects | Torey Lanez | Glass Animals | Against The Current | Danny Brown | Andy C | While She Sleeps
Although the ground was soggy, the air stayed clear for the majority of T in the Park, Scotland's biggest music festival. There had been a lot of anticipation with the change in venue from the usual Balado sight in Kinross. However it seems with a few “teething problems” set aside, Strathallan did not disappoint. With a promising line up of artists from Avicii to Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds set to headline, there was a very diverse weekend of music in store for Scotalnd’s festival goers.
The Cribs and The Wombats were the first to take to the main stage on Friday, offering a punk-rock vibe to get the crowd warmed up with their infectious energy. Tord Øverland Knudsen from the Wombats living up to his usual playful, crowd pleasing self. Meanwhile acts such as Blossoms and Indiana were pulling out all the stops in the BBC introducing and T Break stage.
Later on Annie Mac took to the Main Stage and had everyone up dancing for her first of two performances over the weekend. After her followed Hozier, performing his debut Album with hit song Take Me To Church amongst the set.
As Rudimental hit the main stage the crowd multiplied. Well known for their high energy live performances, drum and base group Rudimental put on a spectacular show, opening with Not Giving In. DJ Locksmith could not stop moving and his infection energy really rubbed off on the crowd. The DJ also pulled on the crowds heart-strings by dedicating a song to his son. Waiting All Night was a huge crowd pleaser and had everyone dancing and singing along.
When Sam Smith took to the main stage, you could hear a pin drop over at the BBC introducing stage. The crowd were hung on his every word. He delivered a very sincere performance and stated how happy he is now he creates music true to himself. He thanked the crowd for helping this happen. Some reckon they even seen Sam Smith shed a tear during his performance.
Kasabian wrapped things up on Friday night headlining the main stage. As the countdown clock displayed on stage got lower and lower the energy in the crowd lifted higher and higher. With Bumblebee and Underdog being amongst the opening songs the atmosphere was electric from the beginning of the set right through to the end. Songs from Kasabian’s No.1 UK album Empire went down a treat and it was clear to see both the crowd and the band were having a great time. People headed back to their tents with Kasabian's bass line resinating in their bones.
There were a number of early risers on Saturday morning who turned out to see acts such as The Lafontaines and The Strypes play. Later on pop-rock group Lawson took to the stage, getting the whole crowd singing along to songs such as When She Was Mine.
Jungle were a real crowd pleaser in King Tut’s Wah Wah Tent. A young boy took to the stage mid set and break danced which had the crowd going wild. Also performing in King Tut’s was St Vincent who delivered an intense and captivating performances. The set was accompanied by some spectacular lighting to add to the intensity of the performance. After St Vincent came Scotland’s pride and joy, The Proclaimers who attracted the widest age range. Delivering hits such as Letter From America and 500 Miles the Tent was full of good vibes and nostalgia.
A lot of young excited festival goers gathered to watch The Script on the Main Stage on Saturday Night. Well known for his tendency to leave the stage and come down to the crowd, Danny O'Donoghue did not disappoint the die hard front row spectators. Girls were screaming and crying and doing everything they could just to touch the Irishman’s leather coat. Danny stated he loved to play gigs in Scotland as it was close to home and had the Celts in the audience raise their hand. Performing all of the classics alongside the more recent hits, The Script attracted an enthusiastic crowd.
The Libertines, the first of the headliners to be announced when T in The Park released 2015’s line up, took over the main stage. The Libertines attracted a slightly different crowd, many excited to see the band play for the first time after their reformation. The band opened with hits such as Time For Heroes and Can’t Stand Me Now and played an encore including Up the Bracket and closing with Don’t Look Back Into The Sun. There seemed to be a great relationship between Pete Doherty and Carl Barât throughout the set which pleased the crowd.
Some of Scotland’s finest talent was on display throughout the weekend with acts like The Proclaimers, Admiral Fallow and headliners Twin Atlantic playing across the stages. Many people faced a tough decision on Saturday with Avicii and Twin Atlantic playing at the same time on separate stages. However it was safe to say whichever act was chosen would not have disappointed. Both acts offered an energetic, all singing, all dancing performance that not even the rain could hinder. The Swedish DJ, Avicii, offered a visually captivating performance with smoke, streamers and a spectacular lighting display. There was a rave taking place in Strathallan with people dancing and singing along to hit songs Hey Brother and Wake Me Up.
On the Radio One Stage, Twin Atlantic were offering heart filled seventh T in the Park performance. Amongst speaking of the honour and emotion the band were feeling to be headlining on a Saturday night, lead vocalist sam McTrusty also had the crowd sit on the ground and on his count stand up and go wild. With a wide range of new and old songs from what What is Light? Where is Laughter? to I Am An Animal, Twin Atlantic invested their hear and soul in the performance and had the audience captivated from start to finish.
The third and final day of T in the Park was kicked off by acts such as Saint Raymond, The Parsonage Choir and Ella Eyre. The View followed James Bay, whose good looks and great tunes both attracted many goey eyed females. It was great to see the amount of people out to see the opening acts on the final morning of the festival.
The Main Stage and Radio 1 Stage were both displaying tough competition on Sunday evening. Catfish And The Bottlemen, Kodaline and Jamie T all offered an indie/alternative rock performance Radio 1 Stage. In tandem on the Main Stage there was a slightly different vibe, with the soul singing group Alabama Shakes giving a spectacular performance and had people in the crowed shouting ‘We love you Brittany!’.
The crowd were extatic to watch Paloma Faith perform. She played a variety of songs, from her first ever single, Stone Cold Sober to the more recent chart topping single Changing. Although there was much controversy over Paloma’s revealing outfit, the singer-songwriter put on a great visual performance with her quirky stage set up, opposed to the black back drop the crowd had gotten used to across the weekend. This performance was not the first time the crowd has got a glimpse of Paloma. The brit appeared at the front of the stage the previous day to watch her “idol” Labrinth play and later stated he made her cry “actual tears”.
Stereophonics opened with Catacomb and a small flame display and continued to wow the crowd with all-time favourites such as Graffiti On The Train, Mr Writer and Maybe Tomorrow. Stereophonic are no strangers to T in the Park and have developed a reputation that is certain to attract a large crowd every time. Just when it seemed the energy could not be elevated any higher, Stereophonic kicked it up a notch and played finished the set with 2005 No.1 hit, Dakota.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds were the grand finale on Sunday night. The band’s own songs got the crowd going, however it was the old Oasis classics that got the crowd going wild. People of all ages showed up to absorb the atmosphere and sing their hearts out. There was many an emotional Oasis T-shirt wearer when they played songs such as Champagne Supernova and The Masterplan. Noel communicated with the audience throughout the set and offered a more sincere performance many may be used to. The band closed with Don’t Look Back in Anger. A very fitting end to both the set and T in The Park, 2015.
Global platinum-selling artist Calvin Harris and Iconic rockers Kasabian are today announced as the headliners for V Festival’s Virgin Media stage.
Taking place across the weekend of the 22ndand 23rd August 2015, the local lads from Leicester and the DJ from north of the border will be joined by a host of music heavyweights to ensure V Festival sees out its second decade in style.
Joining the headliners across the two festival sites in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire will be a supporting cast of Britain’s finest talent and biggest names. Music lovers with this summer’s hottest ticket will also see performances from recent four-time Grammy and 2015 Brit winner Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding,The Script, Hozier, George Ezra, Stereophonics, Brit winners Paloma Faith and James Bay, Olly Murs, Tom Jones, Clean Bandit, Kodaline, Ella Henderson, Nero and Courteeners plus many more to be announced across four stages at the two festival sites.
Making his debut on top of the bill, Calvin Harris said:
“V Festival is always an incredible time and I can't wait to headline it this year. See you there!”
Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno, said:
“V is for victory, V is for voodoo, V is for vacuum cloud, V is for very very very very excited. See you in the fields!”
The hugely popular Glee Club Comedy Tent also returns as the festival’s fifth stage this year, with a hilarious line-up that will be announced in the coming months.
Over the festival weekend there’ll also be sets from The Kooks, Marina & The Diamonds, The Proclaimers, Jess Glynne, Andy C, Imelda May, Gregory Porter, Fuse ODG, Clean Bandit, Duke Dumont, Jessie Ware, Ella Eyre, Hannah Wants, Reverend & the Makers, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Annie Mac.
The glamorous V Style camping will also return for its fifth year. V Style is now an established part of the V Festival family, giving music fans the chance to experience the best of both worlds – enjoying a mix of music and comedy and relaxing at pampering stations and in ready built bell tents, huts, and luxury yurts.
Tickets go on sale from March 6th at 9am with fans advised to visit www.vfestival.com, where all official outlets are detailed. V organisers again stress to fans that purchasing tickets from unofficial outlets could lead to disappointment.
The full line up includes: Kasabian, Calvin Harris, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, The Script, Hozier, George Ezra, Stereophonics, Paloma Faith, James Bay, Olly Murs, Chvrches, Imelda May, Kodaline, Ella Henderson, Nero, Reverend & the Makers, The Courteeners, Marina & The Diamonds, The Proclaimers, Tom Jones, Jess Glynne, Andy C, The Kooks, Gregory Porter, Fuse ODG, Clean Bandit, Duke Dumont, Jessie Ware, Ella Eyre, Hannah Wants, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Annie Mac.
Joining previously announced The Libertines on the T in the Park bill will be fan favouritesKasabian, who headline the historic first day at the festival’s new home. Swedish dance sensation Avicii will make his long-awaited T in the Park debut when he closes the Main Stage on Saturday. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds are sure to deliver a finale of epic proportions when they bring the Main Stage to a close, and influential dance icons The Prodigy will headline the Radio 1 Stage on Sunday night. Both Noel Gallagher and The Prodigy will become the first acts to have graced the T in the Park stage in all three of the festival’s homes – Strathclyde Country Park, Balado and now Strathallan Castle. Long-time festival favourites Stereophonics will appear penultimate to Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on the Main Stage on the final night. Superstar DJ and producer David Guetta, Sam Smith and The Script will also make a welcome return to the festival.
With some of the biggest names in music heading for Scotland this summer, T in the Park’s debut outing at Strathallan Castle is already shaping up to be an unmissable weekend:
FRIDAY 10th JULY: Kasabian, David Guetta, Sam Smith, Rudimental, Fatboy Slim, Hozier, Annie Mac, Hot Chip, The Wombats, Gorgon City, Duke Dumont, Jessie Ware, Fuse ODG
SATURDAY 11th JULY: Avicii, The Libertines, The Script, Twin Atlantic, alt-J, George Ezra, Jessie J, Courteeners, The Vaccines, Labrinth, The Proclaimers, St. Vincent,Enter Shikari, Seasick Steve, Jungle, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Idlewild, Jess Glynne, Charli XCX
SUNDAY 12th JULY: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Prodigy, Stereophonics, Jamie T, Paloma Faith, Above & Beyond, Alabama Shakes, Kodaline, Catfish & the Bottlemen, Clean Bandit, Oliver Heldens, Ella Henderson, Modest Mouse, James Bay, Years & Years, Peace
Kasabian are huge crowd favourites, and when the lads return to the Main Stage this July, they will become the first act to headline Strathallan Castle. Currently in the form of their lives both on stage and on record, their latest album 48:13 became their fourth consecutive no.1 album. The band described the album as being “about the crowd, the fans. That moment we share onstage, where they’re giving as much as you’re giving, it’s so special, so it’s a love letter to that moment and to those people.” T in the Parkers will be able to share that moment this July.
In 2014, Swedish songwriter and producer Avicii cemented his place as a true superstar recording artist/DJ with the success of his genre-defying debut album, True. The album blends the earthy sounds of folk, country, and bluegrass with soaring pop melodies, funky disco jams, and driving house beats. His 4x-platinum stomper Wake Me Up hit no. 1 in 81 countries and became the most streamed song of all time on Spotify. He’s also just released single The Nights and has a brand new album in the pipeline. Having played to millions at major festivals like Miami’s Ultra Music and Lollapalooza and at the world’s biggest clubs, Avicii will add T in the Park to this illustrious list when he makes his debut this July.
Avicii said: “Really looking forward to get back to Scotland for one of the best festivals in the world! Can't wait for July 11th!”
Noel Gallagher will go down in T in the Park history this July as one of the first artists to play at each of the festival’s three homes. Oasis played the festival’s very first outing at Strathclyde Country Park in 1994, and headlined Balado in 2002. When Noel returns in 2015 with his High Flying Birds, he’ll complete the T hat-trick. Chasing Yesterday is out on March 2nd and marks a new chapter and sound for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. It’s the first album to be produced as well as written by Noel and features a much broader array of instrumentation than ever before; the result is a rich, expansive and multi-layered record, drawing from a range of disparate influences – from west coast rock to classic rock’n’roll and even some space jazz!
David Guetta has played a pivotal role in turning dance music into the chart-topping juggernaut it is today. His impact is impossible to underestimate, and he can be considered among the elite group of super-producers whose sound is synonymous with an era. His landmark new album,Listen, proves he remains at the top of his game. With residencies at XS and Encore in Vegas, Ushuaia and Pacha in Ibiza, he DJs to millions around the world each year – next stop, Strathallan Castle.
The Prodigy have cut a solitary path through the noise-scapes of electronic dance music. They’ve dropped five epoch-defining studio albums, including 2009’s world dominating Invaders Must Die, and delivered unforgettable live performances that have taken electronic beats into unchartered territories, inspiring legions of artists along the way. They return in 2015 with a brand new albumThe Day is My Enemy. Huge fan favourites, they will join Noel Gallagher in the T in the Park history books as they become one of the first acts to have played all three of the festival’s homes.
One of the UK's most successful bands of recent years, Stereophonics defined the sound of British guitar music from the late 90s onwards. They have released 8 studios albums, 1 double live album and 1 greatest hits album and have combined sales of over 9 million albums. The band made a triumphant return with Graffiti on the Train in 2013, which became one of the bestselling LPs of the year, and was an ever-present fixture in the Top Twenty in the first six months of its release. Their hotly anticipated new album is due to be released later this year. Fronted by Kelly Jones and his distinctive, classic vocal, the band have come a long way since being signed back in 1996. After touring relentlessly to support their debut album release, they picked up a BRIT award for Best New Group in early 1998 and have never looked back.
The band said: "We are really looking forward to being back at T in the Park this year for our ninth appearance at the prestigious festival and are excited to perform at the Strathallan Castle for the first time!"
Since winning the BRITS Critic’s Choice award and topping the BBC Sound Poll at the start of last year, Sam Smith has gone on to become one of the biggest breakout UK male artists in recent years. His multi-platinum selling album In The Lonely Hour debuted at no.1 in the UK charts and has sold over 5 million copies globally, making Sam the only artist in the world in 2014 to sell 1 million albums in both the UK and US. Last year he picked up four MOBOs, Best New Act at the Q Awards and Favourite Male Rock/Pop at the American Music Awards, before becoming the biggest winner at this month’s Grammys, including the prestigious prizes for record and song of the year and best new artist.
Since Dublin three-piece The Script hit the no.1 spot with their self-titled debut album in 2008, they’ve gone from strength to strength. Their 2012 worldwide smash Hall Of Fame took them to stratospheric levels of global stardom, with record sales in excess of 20 million, achieving multi-platinum status around the world. Their fourth album, No Sound Without Silence, is the sound of a band firing on all cylinders and channeling the momentum of their last, rocket-powered campaign.The band said:“We are really excited to be playing T in the Park this summer. We’ve had a lot of fun playing at T in the past, and the Scottish crowds always offer us a huge welcome.”
Rudimental are fast becoming T in the Park favourites. The pioneering melting-pot collective rocketed to fame with the chart-topping Feel the Love in 2012, returning to the no.1 spot months later with Waiting All Night, before swiftly following up with a number 1 debut album. Now one of the most in-demand acts on the summer festival circuit, they’ll bring their feel good tunes to T in the Park.
After a soaring performance on the Main Stage at T in the Park last year, Glasgow’s Twin Atlantic have enjoyed a phenomenal year selling out venues around the country and releasing their album Great Divide which debuted at number 6 in the UK Chart. Picking up gongs including ‘Best Indie Single’ at the AIM Awards for their single Heart and Soul’Twin Atlantic have perfected stadium-ready emo-pop with their anthemic sound, and will play an epic headline the Radio 1 Stage on Saturday night.
Twin Atlantic’s Sam McTrusty said: "For our seventh appearance at T in the Park we shall be headlining the Radio 1 stage on Saturday. Expect a landmark performance from our band to christen the new T site. If you've been at any of our previous T in the Park sets you will know that this festival brings out another side to our band and has always helped push us to the next level. It will be an honour for us as well as a massive memorable party. This summer will be the last chance to see us for a while and we hope you will be there to be part of the celebrations."
Singer-songwriter Jamie T returned after a 5-year absence with Carry on the Grudge last year. The record was hailed as “consistently enthralling” by NME, and he’s sure to receive a warm welcome back from T in the Parkers.
Fatboy Slim’s return to T in the Park has been a long time coming. The legendary DJ’s live shows are an explosive mix of his own patented brand of “party acid house” and complex audio-visual production. Having last played T in the Park in 1999, he’ll surely receive a hero’s welcome.
alt-J returned last September with the hotly anticipated follow-up to their first full-length release, 2012’s Mercury Prize-winning An Awesome Wave. The latest record from the intrepid British art-rock quartet, This Is All Yours, is similarly clever and conceptual, proving the band are capable of both boldness and restraint, and earning them nominations at the 2015 Brit Awards for Best Album and Best British Group.
Hozier’s poetic lyrics and hauntingly beautiful voice has earned him a huge fanbase and a reputation as one of the biggest breakthrough artists of recent times. Reaction to the release of his debut EP, Take Me to Church has been phenomenal, and he’ll make his T in the Park debut this July.
George Ezra is one of the biggest breakthrough stars of 2014. His critically acclaimed debut albumWanted On Voyage has sold over a quarter of a million copies, reaching no.1 for the first time in October. It capped a remarkable twelve months for the singer-songwriter who has gone from virtual unknown to internationally renowned star, taking in three sold out UK tours, top 10 singles in 10 countries, a top 5 album in eight, 33 million views on YouTube, and over 70 million streams on Spotify.
Annie Mac is Radio 1's queen of dance music, and due to become the new presenter of its weekday evening new music show next month. She’ll get the party started with her dazzling selection of the best new dance music.
Rising from hotly tipped producers to their current global standing, Above & Beyond are the only dance act in history to win Essential Mix Of The Year twice (in 2004 and 2011). The London-based trio have remixed greats like Radiohead and Madonna, played to one million people on Barra Beach in Rio de Janeiro and are much loved for their epic, immersive and interactive live shows.
With a repertoire packed full of feel-good festival anthems, The Vaccines’ high octane tunes are sure to go down a storm. The band scored a no.1 album with their second record Come of Age,with their forthcoming album English Graffiti due out this year.
Labrinth’s breakthrough came with his guest spot on Tinie Tempah’s smash hit Frisky. Juggling production work for the likes of Ms. Dynamite and with working on his debut album – the acclaimedElectronic Earth, he hit the no. 2 spot with hit single Earthquake and topped the charts withBeneath Your Beautiful featuring Emeli Sande. His hotly anticipated second album Take Me to The Truth is due out this year.
Huge crowd favourites, The Proclaimers are set to bring their singalong anthems to Strathallan for the fifth time. Due to release their 10th studio album in April, the band’s return to T in the Parkcomes after the success of the movie Sunshine on Leith featuring music from the band and a globe-trotting world tour.
Dutch electronic producer Oliver Heldens knows how to get a crowd going and is sure to bring that party atmosphere to his performance at this year’s T in the Park. Capturing the attention of major DJs and producers, the talented Heldens also impressed Tiesto in 2013 with his track Geckowhich was later released on Tiesto’s Musical Freedom Label.
The Wombats’ infectious alt.pop platinum debut album Guide To Love, Loss And Desperation won them legions of fans. Their indie dancefloor smashes including Kill The Director, Let’s Dance To Joy Division and Moving To New York will surely prove popular this summer.
The band said: “We can't wait to get back to the mayhem that is T in the Park! It's been too long…”
Gorgon City’s are one of the most exciting new acts in the ever-flourishing landscape of British club savvy pop. Polished, powerful and party-minded, their Top 5 single Ready for Your Lovefeaturing MNEK was one of the dancefloor hits of last year.
Jungle’s irresistible report-to-the-dancefloor sound has generated a huge buzz, plus a BBC Sound of 2014 nomination. They sold out their US tour on the back of a SXSW appearance, before they even had an official record out in America, and will make their T in the Park debut this July.
Another hotly tipped newcomer, James Bay is the recipient of this year’s BRITs’ Critics’ Choice Award, and came second in BBC’s Sound of 2015. He releases his debut album, one of the most hotly anticipated of the year, The Chaos and the Calm, next month.
Jessie Ware’s debut album Devotion became one of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2012, lauded by everyone from Pitchfork to Heat Magazine and nominated for the Mercury Prize. She released her second album, Tough Love, in October, scoring another Top 10 record.
Fuse ODG fuses pop sounds with African rhythm and percussion to create an infectious afrobeats sound which has taken the UK charts by storm. He’ll bring his summery tunes to Strathallan Castle, including top 10 smash hits T.I.N.A,Dangerous Love, Antenna ft Wyclef Jean and Million Pound Girl, ft Sean Paul.
Featuring on huge hit records in her short career, the soulful Jess Glynne has leant her vocals to Clean Bandit for their chart topper RatherBe and Route 94’s MyLove showing off her star quality. Her solo record RightHere was also a top 10 hit and those hits are sure to please the crowd at this year’s festival.
Fresh from winning a 2015 NME Award in the Dance Floor Filler category, Charli XCX’s catchy pop has seen the artist be thrown into the realms of worldwide success topping the charts, working on hit collaborations including Icona Pop’s I Love It in 2013 and Iggy Azelea’s Fancy in 2014. Her latest single Boom Clap has seen the star hit the top 10 spot in the UK and USA.
Peace are one of the UK’s most exciting guitar bands today. Selling out numerous dates throughout the country armed with a live energy and sense of spontaneity, they are one of the most sought-after live acts in the UK. Their heart-on-sleeve indie anthemics, enthusiastic and youthful zing and an ability to write uplifting, soaring choruses make them a welcomed addition to this year’s T in the Park line-up.
There have been various rumors over the past few months with who would headline this years Glastonbury. The Summer Festival Guide can now reveal that Metallica, Kasabian & Arcade Fire will headline the Pyramid Stage at this years Glastonbury.
Also joining the headliners on the Pyramid Stage will be Dolly Parton, Jack White, Elbow, The Black Keys, Robert Plant, ily Allen, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Rudimental, De La Soul, Kelis, The 1975, Angel Haze and more.
Also gracing this years festival will be Skrillex, Jake Bugg, Massive Attack, M.I.A, Bryan Ferry, Disclosure, Metronomy, Mogwai, James Blacke, Kaiser Chiefs, MGMT, London Grammar, Dexys, Suzanne Vega, Fat Boy Slim, Richie Hawtin, Annie Mac, Above & Beyond, and many many more.
The Summer Festival Guide is excited to bring you one of the first official lineup for this years massive summer event Glastonbury.
Headliners announced so far include Arcade Fire and joining them on the 5 day extravaganza are some of the biggest artists on the planet including Paolo Nutini, Jurrassic 5, James Blake, The 1975, Kasabian, Jack White, Dolly PArton, Elbow, The Black Keys, Robert Plant, Lily Allen, Lana Del Rey, Skillex, Pixies, Massive Attack, Disclosure, Ed Sheeran, Jake Bugg, Crystal Fighters, De La Soul and many many more!
Hard Rock Calling; the sun shone brightly as we strolled down the wide paths of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park into the open space where the main stage lay in front of us. Crowds were already making themselves at home on the plastic grass, enjoying the sunshine and the catchy rock melodies of Lower than Atlantis. Across the bridge, and when I say bridge, we found the other two music venues crammed right next to each other fighting to be heard. U-turn back to the main stage and Kodaline, were winning over new fans, their mandolin led tune 'Love like this' was an instant hit and unexpected highlight of the festival.
As the day progressed, the crowds began to fill into the main stage where Miles Kane played an electric set, filled with wild solos and sing along moments, the momentum really began to pick up. Paul Weller played through all the classics to a crowd that loved it, ‘That’s entertainment’, ‘What you give is what you get’ and of course, everyone went wild singing ‘Town called Malice’.
Almost an hour later Kasabian were ready to start, the stage transformed from all black to brilliant white, cheers rose from the crowd they walked on stage for their debut at Hard Rock Calling. Tom Meighan screams ‘All humans on the earth, raise your hands to the f***ing hands to the sky!’ The beat drops, with a full LED screen behind them and a string quartet to help out, this it seems, was what we'd all been waiting for. Hit after hit from their 2004 album, heavy beats and rock anthems combined to make a great show, we paused for a quieter moment with 'Everybody's got to learn some time' A few tracks later, cue the unforgettable piano intro to Fatboy slim’s epic tune ‘Praise you like I should’ supported by the sustained and piercing notes of the trumpet, mashed up into L.S.F. It was truly epic. As crowd cheered for the encore the heavy drum and bass sounds of Switchblade Smiles began, but swathes of people reluctantly had to leave, it was a good gig, but not worth missing the last train home.
Sunday 30th June 2013
From early on the next afternoon there was a buzz in the air. The crowds which had been decent the day before, now swelled across the roads and pavements on the way to the park, and everywhere we looked were American flag bandana’s, and Bruce Springsteen t-shirts. If we hadn’t known any better we would have thought we were about to attend the Bruce Springsteen fan-club convention. We could have played Bruce Bingo with the huge variety of fan t-shirts we spotted. Walking to the main stage the soulful tones of Alabama Shakes greeted us, they were a perfect warm-up for the day, and a female vocalist was a welcome break to our ears form the men that dominated the line-up, the day before.
We really enjoyed Josh Doyle’s set in the Hard Rock Rising Tent, though it was a shame when his ballad, 'I figured the world out' was overpowered by the Pepsi Max stage only a stone’s throw away. As the Hard Rock Calling hot air balloon rose a few feet off the ground we chilled out in the Olympic garden, then slowly idled our way towards the main stage once again to watch legends of rock 'n' roll, The Black Crows. It was an hour of guitar solos, and old school rockers singing along to 'Hard to handle', but now everyone was ready for Bruce.
In fact everyone had been ready for Bruce all day.
As usual Bruce did not disappoint, the E-Street band were on top form, from 'Born in the USA' to 'Dancing in the Dark', where his mum joined to dance on stage and his little sister played guitar with him it was the family Springsteen show, pretty much all the essentials were covered. Encore after encore, the e-street band played relentlessly to a crowd that could not get enough until unexpectedly it seemed the band had enough, the show ended, half an hour before the program said. I wonder, did budget cuts mean that Bruce and his band also need to catch the last train home? Or was this just a statement about last year’s catastrophe, when the power was cut before the end of the show guest starring Paul McCartney. Either way, we all walked away happy and caught the last train home.
This years Hard Rock Calling Festival organisers made a bold move by moving the festival into the Olympic grounds, and in some ways it was a great venue, but we couldn’t help but feel the festival was dwarfed by the magnitude of the grounds, with only three venues, and little else to see, there simply wasn’t enough going on to fill out the huge space. On top of this, it seemed like all the attention was put on the main stage bookings and the two smaller stages, which in many festivals provide some of the most memorable gigs were relegated to the back fighting over each other to be heard. Regardless of that, the sun shone, there was some great acts, and absolutely no trace of mud, that's pretty good going for a festival in the UK.
