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.
Odd Future
Top Trumps released: Circa Waves and Typhoon added to Best Kept Secret bill
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.
Frank Ocean, Rita Ora and more added to T in the Park lineup
LA collective Odd Future (OFWGKTA) are one of the freshest, most inventive hip-hop groups around, and three of their finest lyrical talents Frank Ocean, Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt will add a dose of West Coast swagger to the T in the Park line-up this July. After first making an impression on the charts as a songwriter for acts including John Legend and Beyoncé, Frank Ocean emerged into the spotlight when he hooked up with Odd Future. The self-released nostalgia, ULTRA.mixtape, plus gems like Novacane and Swim Good cemented his reputation as a star in his own right and caught the attention of Kanye West and Jay-Z, who he went on to collaborate on their Watch the Throne album. Critics across the globe heaped praise on his debut studio album Channel Orange, and 2013 got off to a winning streak when he bagged both a Grammy and a BRIT Award. His T in the Park debut this July is not to be missed.
Fellow Odd Future member (and the collective’s leader and co-founder) Tyler, the Creator is also Kinross-bound this July. The rapper, writer and producer extraordinaire began making music with fellow collective members Earl Sweatshirt, Left Brain, and Hodgy Beats in 2007, and since then their loyal following has rapidly grown to become a world-wide fanbase. The rapper’s T in the Park set will showcase material from his forthcoming album Wolf – the follow-up to 2011’s acclaimed GoblinLP – which is released next month.
At only 18 years old, Earl Sweatshirt is Odd Future’s prodigal son and a hugely talented lyricist and performer in his own right. Following a brief hiatus the rapper is back and at the top of his game. He wowed a packed crowd of critics and tastemakers alike at SXSW last week, and anticipation for the release of his forthcoming album Doris is reaching fever pitch.
Rita Ora made British chart history as the vocalist on one of the first ever drum and bass number one singles in the UK, DJ Fresh’s Hot Right Now. She followed this breakout success by topping the charts with her own debut album, which spawned another two number-one singles How We Do (Party) and R.I.P. A style icon, she counts mentor Jay-Z and fellow T in the Park act Snoop Dogg amongst her many fans (with Snoop hand-picking her to feature on his latest single, Torn Apart). After a stand-out performance at T in the Park last summer, she brings her sassy party anthems back to Kinross for the festival’s 20th year celebrations.
Over 85,000 festival-goers per day will descend on Kinross over 12th – 14th July for the 20th year of T in the Park, which will feature some of the world’s greatest acts, including Main Stage headliners Mumford & Sons, Rihanna and The Killers, plusChase and Status, Stereophonics, Calvin Harris, Kraftwerk, David Guetta, Emeli Sandé, Snoop Dogg, Beady Eye, Dizzee Rascal, Foals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Azealia Banks, Kendrick Lamar, Disclosure, Rudimental, Haim, Chvrches, Modestep and many more.
Professor Green, DJ Krush and more added to Bestival
18 STAGES OF LIVE MUSIC AND DJ’S, ROCKSTARS, POPSTARS AND DIVAS FANCY DRESS, RETURN OF THE WISHING TREE, HEAVENLY HEALING, FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, COMEDY AND SIDESHOWS. NEW FOR 2011 THE ROLLER DISCO BALLROOM FIELD, THE SWAMP SHACK, AFTERBURNER ARENA WALL OF DEATH, KERSTIN RODGERS UNDERGROUND RESTAURANT, BOOM BOOM CLUB CABARET, CLASSIC ALBUM SUNDAYS, FREESTYLE SPORTS PARK AND SO MUCH MORE.
LIVE: OFWGKTA / TOM VEK / PROFESSOR GREEN / KITTY DAISY AND LEWIS / HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR / CRYSTAL FIGHTERS / SOUND OF RUM / ALEX WINSTON / BEN HOWARD / BRIGITTE APHRODITE / CATHERINE A.D. /
CATHERINE OKADA /CHANCERY BLAME AND THE GADJO CLUB / CHEVIOT HILL / CHRIS PECK & THE FAMILY TREE / DOG IS DEAD / DR SYNTAX / FLY FRANKIE FLY / GHOSTPOET / GIDEON’S DEMISE / GOODBYE STEREO /
GYPSY & THE CAT / HEMPOLICS / JACKSON ANALOGUE / JAMES OWEN FENDER / LOSERS / LUCY ROSE /
LUKE CONCANNON / MAZES / MC XANDER / MIRRORS / NOSAJ THING / PAUL CHAMBERS / PAUL KALKBRENNER / PUNK’S NOT DAD / PUZZLE MUTESON / SECRET RIVALS / STOPMAKINGME / SUBGIANT / TALL SHIPS /
THE CHAPMAN FAMILY / THE FAN JETS / THE PINEY GIR COUNTRY ROADSHOW / TRIPWIRES /
VARIOUS CRUELTIES / WOO WOOS
DJS: DJ KRUSH / APPLEBIM / PEARSON SOUND / DANNY BYRD / CHRIS COCO / CHANNEL ONE SOUNDSYSTEM ACROSS THE TRACKS / AL TOURETTES / ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE / BARMISTFITS / BEAT A MAXX / BENJI BOKO / DAVEY MORGAN / DEAF BY DISCO / DJ RASTACORE / DUFFSTEP / FEELING GLOOMY / FILTHY DUKES / JFB / JOAKIM / KAF-TAN / LEO ZERO / LOVESICK / LUKE SOLOMON / MAX BRENNAN / MONKI / OLLI DUTTON / PSYCHEMAGIK / REV MILO SPEEDWAGON / SANCHO PANZA / SHELLAC COLLECTIVE /
TAYO’S TRACKSUIT PARTY PRESENTS ‘FRESH TO DEATH’ / THOMAS URV / TIMO GARCIA / WHITE WEDDING
PLUS: COMMUNION HOST THE BANDSTAND
AND: THE NEXTMEN VS BESTIVAL 2011 – FREE DJ MIX!
Rob da Bank says: ‘Out of everyone that I’ve booked so far for Bestival I’m possibly more excited, nervous and downright psyched up that I’ve landed OFWGKTA for the main stage at Bestival. Believe me this will be a legendary, incendiary performance not to be missed. Tom Vek played one of the first ever Bestis and i can’t wait for his return as well as my main man Professor Green and a shedload more live bands and DJs to tickle your nether regions. I’m also very proud to welcome a new musical partner Communion on board – these dudes know their folk onions so watch out for them on The Bandstand on Sunday.’
We are beside ourselves with joy that the most exciting hip-hop act to have emerged for years and years Odd Future will be flying in to the Isle of Wight from LA to join our Robin Hill shebang! A true musical phenomenon headed up by Tyler The Creator, OFWGKTA’s live shows are about as punk rock as it’s possible to get and we’re going to be right in the middle of the mosh pit. See you there. That alone would be amazing but we also have the comeback king Tom Vek returning to Bestival. After a mysterious six year hiatus, Tom Vek’s new album ‘Leisure Seizure’ looks set to be one of the albums of the summer and here’s a sneak preview of a new track ‘World of Doubt’ to get you in 
the mood. Hackney’s finest Professor Green will be hyping the crowd with his trademark mix of attitude and heavy hooks, Sunday Best trio Kitty, Daisy And Lewis will be making a very welcome return to Bestival treating Bestivalites to self-penned tracks from their critically acclaimed new album ‘Smoking in Heaven’, New York discoid grooves will come courtesy of Hercules and Love Affair, Crystal Fighters will deliver a salvo of Anglo-Spanish electro action and Sound of Rum, another gem amongst Sunday Best’s august stable of delights, will be blowing the crowds away with fat beats and devastating rhymes.
There will also be sets from Alex Winston, Ben Howard, Brigitte Aphrodite, Catherine A.D., Catherine Okada, Chancery Blame And The Gadjo Club, Cheviot Hill, Chris Peck & The Family Tree, Dog Is Dead, Dr Syntax, Fly Frankie Fly, Ghostpoet, Gideon’s Demise, Goodbye Stereo, Gypsy & The Cat, Hempolics, Jackson Analogue, James Owen Fender, Losers, Lucy Rose, Luke Concannon, Mazes, Mc Xander, Mirrors, Nosaj Thing, Paul Chambers, Paul Kalkbrenner, Punk’s Not Dad, Puzzle Muteson, Secret Rivals, Stopmakingme, Subgiant, Tall Ships, The Chapman Family, The Fan Jets, The Piney Gir Country Roadshow, Tripwires, Various Cruelties, and Woo Woos.
There are plenty more DJS who will hopping ‘pon the ones and twos including Japanese hip-hop pioneer and trip-hop legend DJ Krush, sub-surfing dubstepper Applebim, Ramadanman alter-ego Pearson Sound , Hospital records stalwart Danny Byrd and horizontal groove-master Chris Coco. Plus we will have the mighty Channel One Soundsystem roaring like a lion and breaking down the barriers playing roots rock reggae music and there will be hands in the air action from Across The Tracks, Al Tourettes, Artificial Intelligence, Barmistfits, Beat A Maxx, Benji Boko, Davey Morgan, Deaf By Disco, Dj Rastacore, Duffstep, Feeling Gloomy, Filthy Dukes, JFB, Joakim, Kaf-Tan, Leo Zero, Lovesick, Luke Solomon, Max Brennan, Monki, Olli Dutton, Psychemagik, Rev Milo Speedwagon, Sancho Panza, Shellac Collective, Tayo’s Tracksuit Party Presents ‘Fresh To Death’, Thomas Urv, Timo Garcia, and mental reception vibes from White Wedding.
We are over the moon that none-more hip folksters Communion will be hosting the Bandstand on Sunday. The most cutting edge folk club around Communion will be presenting Marcus Foster, Ben Howard and brand new act Daughter.
Ben Lovett from Communion and Mumford & Sons said: ‘Bestival has fast become one of the most exciting British festivals both as an artist and a punter. With Communion hosting the Sunday bandstand this year we can’t wait to share in our celebration of new music and new communities.’
To get you in the mood for our 8th Bestival we have a staggeringly good The Nextmen vs Bestival 2011 free DJ mix available to download right now at NME.com. A roller-coaster ride of high-upon-high showboating top ranking tunes from the great and the good playing at Bestival and Camp Bestival this year, brought to you by the UK’s finest festival DJs The Nextmen, you need this mix in your life! So, what are you waiting for, get it while you can?!
Lastly but certainly not least you may have heard amidst the twitter-sphere, we have confirmed out third headliner and we’re bursting with excitement but we can’t tell you about that just yet. Combining the best elements of popstar, rockstar and diva into one super-exciting show-stopper, it will be worth the wait. Promise! So stick 1st July in your diary and we’ll reveal all then! But don’t hang around if you don’t have a ticket they’re flying; Ticketline has sold out and tickets from Red Funnel, Wightlink and Big Green Coach are selling like hotcakes.
Remember to keep on checking www.bestival.net for all the up to the minute news.
Ticket Info:
Bestival Tickets:
Tickets Only AND Ticket & Ferry packages:
0844 844 9988 / www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival
0871 376 1000 / www.wightlink.co.uk/Bestival
Ticket & Coach Packages: www.biggreencoach.co.uk/
BESTIVAL 2011 PRICES
Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £170
Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £160
Age 13 to 15 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – £85
Age 12 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) – FREE (but you must obtain a ticket)**
All Tickets:
– include camping.
– will incur a booking fee.
– there are No Day Tickets.