Dot To Dot announce another wave of artists for 2015

Winner of ‘Best Metropolitan Festival 2013’ at the UK Festival Awards, Dot To Dot Festival is established as the UKs premier festival for unearthing the hottest new talent around, alongside established acts from all over the globe. 2015 marks the festival’s 10th year and will see it returning to Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham from the 22nd to 24th May. Dot To Dot’s ever eclectic line-up is set to make this landmark year one of the biggest and best in the festival’s history.  Already confirmed so far is Nottingham’s latest success story Saint Raymond, critically acclaimed singer songwriter Rae Morris, Californian surf-pop duo Best Coast, the anthemic synth-pop of Prides and the notorious, visceral Fat White Family.

Kicking off the fourth announcement is Rhodes.  The 25-year-old troubadour from Hitchin has had a busy 18 months, with three EPs under his belt already and an eagerly anticipated debut album on the way. His epic balladry has drawn comparisons to Jeff Buckley, as well as Sam Smith, who you may have already seen him on tour with.

Ireland’s biggest indie-rock exports of recent years The Coronas also join the bill. The quartet specializes in catchy guitar hooks and towering melodies, which saw them beat U2 and Snow Patrol to Best Album at the Meteor Awards in their homeland. Their most recent effort The Long Way has seen the group take a more ambitious approach to their songwriting under the guidance of producer Eliott James (Kaiser Chiefs, Two Door Cinema Club, Noah and the Whale).

Amber Run, whose debut album 5am has just entered the top 20 in the UK midweek charts, play a slick brand of indie-pop with choruses that clearly have stadium ambition. Built on a foundation of rock, Nothing But Thieves mix a colorful pallet of fervent riffs, effortless falsetto vocals and hints of electronica. Manchester all female four PINS play a fierce brand of post-punk, which is well showcased amongst the glitter and middle finger salutes of recent single “Too Little Too Late”.

Sundara Karma boast indie anthems with sun soaked guitars turned all the way up to eleven. 23-year-old rock & roller Louis Berry has been described as “channelling the energy of Jerry Lee Lewis through the story-telling of Dylan”

Further additions include the urgent, staccato cool wave of All Tvvins, the honeyed balladry of Martin Luke Brown, the melancholy minimalism of Robyn Sherwell, as well as A.O.S.O.O.N , Aaron Keylock, Ady Suleiman, Amy Yon (Bristol only), Black Honey,                  C Duncan, Creepoid, Dark Waves, Daisy Victoria, Dralms, Easy Life, H.Hawkline, High Tyde, Jamie Lawson, K.I.D,  Ming City Rockers, Movie, NGOD, Nick Brewer, Nothing But Thieves, Pierce Brothers, PINS, Rag’n’Bone Man, Sam Sure, Seafret, Steve Parker, Sykes, Vaults and White.

Dot To Dot Organiser Anton Lockwood (of DHP Family) said: “We’re just over a month away until we bring you Dot to Dot’s 10th Birthday, something that we’re all very excited for! Of the latest additions to the line-up, one of our biggest ever to date, I’m delighted to welcome Rhodes to the bill who is set for big things for sure!”

For the uninitiated, Dot to Dot is all about bringing the best new music to some of the most forward-thinking venues in Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham. One wristband gains you access to 14 hours of music across multiple stages around your city of choice. Always progressing, the Northern Quarter will this year host Dot to Dot Manchester. Considered the creative quarter of the North West, the area is synonymous with arts and culture and its high concentration of independent venues will be sure to showcase the hottest new artists around. For further line-up additions and venues be sure to check out www.dottodotfestival.com 

Full Line-Up So Far:

SAINT RAYMOND

SWIM DEEP // RAE MORRIS
HUDSON TAYLOR // BEST COAST 

FAT WHITE FAMILY // THE WYTCHES 

AMBER RUN // RHODES // HINDS
THE CORONAS // LAURA DOGGETT
// PINS

PRIDES // HONEYBLOOD // JOSEF SALVAT

DAVE ROWNTREE (BLUR/XFM) DJ SET x

A.O.S.O.O.N // AARON KEYLOCK // ADY SULEIMAN // ALEX BUREY ALFIE CONNOR // ALL TVVINS // AMY STUDT* // AMY YON + // APRIL TOWERS // BLACK HONEY // C DUNCAN* // CAIROBI  // CREEPOID // CYMBALS EAT GUITARS // DAISY VICTORA* // DARK WAVES // DELAMERE // DRALMS* // EASY LIFE* // FLESH // FRANCISCO THE MAN // H.HAWKLINE* // HIGH TYDE //
HOLY HOLY // JAMIE LAWSON // KAGOULE // K.I.D // LAUREL // LITTLE MAY // LOUIS BERRY // MAN MADE // MARTIN LUKE BROWN // MENACE BEACH // MING CITY ROCKERS // MODEL AEROPLANES // NEON WALTZ // NGOD // NICK BREWER // NOTHING BUT THEIVES // OSCAR* // OSCAR & THE WOLF // PIERCE BROTHERS // PIXEL FIX // PRETTY VICIOUS*
// RACING GLACIERS // RAG ‘N’ BONE MAN // REMI // REMI MILES//  ROBYN SHERWELL* // SAM SURE // SEAFRET // SHELTER POINT // SINGLE MOTHERS // STEVIE PARKER+ // SUGARMEN // SUNDARA KARMA // SYKES // TEI SHI // THE AMAZONS // THE GRISWOLDS // THE HOTELIER // THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT // VANT // VAULTS ✕// VÉRITÉ // VITAMIN // WALKING ON CARS // WHITE

Manchester & Nottingham Manchester & Bristol *Nottingham & Bristol
+ Bristol Only 
Nottingham Only
Venues:

Manchester – Friday 22nd May – Cathedral, Methodist Hall, Night and Day, Ruby Lounge, Soup Kitchen, Gullivers, The Castle Hotel, Cord, Mint Lounge, Kraak, Roadhouse, The Whiskey Jar, Kosmonaut.

Bristol –  Saturday 23rd May – O2 Academy, Thekla, The Exchange, Louisiana, Trinity, The Fleece, Start The Bus, The Birdcage

Nottingham – Sunday 24th May – Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Red Room, Bodega, Stealth, Nottingham Trent University Union, Spanky Van Dykes

Franz Ferdinand and Sparks to play a joint set at Benicassim 2015

Soon to be taking the stage at benicassim in 2015 is the newly configured FFS, and by that I don’t mean for fucks sake! A seemingly different pairing, Franz Ferdinand and Sparks have united to create a sort-of super group, and to top it off a collective album produced by non other than John Congleton. Ron Mael (Sparks’ keyboardist) has said the album sounds like ‘the wreckage of a train crash between the bands’. Woah, well if that’s anything to go by we’re sure their set won’t be anything less than mind blowing, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.

But that’s not the only wonders Benicassim has to offer, with it’s coming of age this year and to celebrate the big 2-1 they’ve added some amazing bands to the bill. Headliners include britpop legends Blur and drum and bass kings The Prodigy, plus with new acts just announced theres something for everyone who wants to have fun in the sun.

On the cusp of releasing his 6th studio album Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls promises to wow us all, there’s monumental post-rock from Godspeed You! Black Emperor, raucous rock ’n’ roll from The Cribs, epic Muse-like soundscapes from Spain’s Vetusta Morla, Reverend & The Makers bring their great street songs. There’s going to be huge techno sessions from Tiga and Evan Baggs and a dash of French house from Madeon. Exciting young pups Palma Violets and Swim Deep join the bill too, whilst representing Ireland are The Riptide Movement, Hamsandwich, and Gavin James.

All these and more added to a bill that already includes the massive names above as well as Crystal Fighters, Jamie T, Kaiser Chiefs, Mark Ronson, Public Enemy, Stromae and that’s not even the half of it yet. With a few more names to be added to the bill, this is sure to be a week not to forget.

Dot to Dot Festival announce more acts for 2015 lineup

Kicking off the second announcement, we're delighted to welcome Best Coast to the bill for this years Dot To Dot. The LA two-piece comprised of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno first found success with their lo-fi surf pop debut Crazy For You and have recently released details of their forthcoming third full length 'California Nights'

Having played the festival back in 2013, it’s our pleasure to bring back Birmingham bohemians Swim Deep. With their sophomore album due later this year and its first single 'To My Brother' seamlessly incorporating a new, unexpected influence of acid house to their dreamy indie anthems, theirs is surely a set to keep a close eye on.

Joining them are the much-lauded Fat White Family, winners of the NME Radar Award in 2014. Sitting musically somewhere in between the lo-fi jangles of The Fall and the more visceral howls of The Birthday Party, the band have built a fearsome reputation for their wild, unpredictable live performances.

Anthemic Glaswegian trio Prides are also welcomed to this year’s bill. They wowed a 40,000 strong crowd at the closing of the ceremony the Commonwealth games last year with their nostalgic take on synth-pop and will undoubtedly take on the D2D crowd with the same fervour

Further additions include Alfie Connor, The Amazons, Delamere, Flesh, Francisco The Man, The Griswolds, Holy Holy, Laurel, Man Made, Model Aeroplanes, Neon Waltz, Pixel Fix, REMI, Sugarmen, VANT and Walking on Cars.

The Libertines will headline Reading and Leeds Festival 2015

Reading & Leeds Festivals are thrilled to announce The Libertines as the final of this year’s Main Stage headliners!  The indie-rockers will bring the good ship Albion to the Festivals this summer, cementing a Reading & Leeds legacy which dates back to 2002.  

Rising up through the Festivals’ billing, the legendary troubadours Peter Doherty, Carl Barât, Gary Powell and John Hassall made their Main Stage debut in 2003 and returned in 2004. The band blew the crowds away in 2010 when they famously reunited at the Festivals and now, for the first time, they will take their rightful place as Reading & Leeds headliners. With their long awaited new record in the works, their set will undoubtedly be one of the defining moments of Reading & Leeds 2015.

In an exclusive video message, Peter Doherty said

I’ve just woken up and I can’t stop thinking about playing at Reading & Leeds.”

John Hassall said

"Really excited to be playing Reading and Leeds this year. There is a great vibe in the band and we should be doing some new songs too. So it'll be the best Reading and Leeds ever!”

Gary Powell said

"We are all extremely happy to be playing Reading and Leeds this year.  As Reading and Leeds was the festival that graciously allowed us to perform back in 2010 at our first attempt at reforming, and the audience were amazing in their reception of us, it seems only right that we go back to the scene of the crime and do our best to not only replicate what we did back then – but do better, for the fans and friends we have met along the way. Here’s wishing 'us all' luck come R&L. We’ve all got a lot of work to do!!!!I for one am excited for the challenge and looking forward to seeing everybody!"

Festival boss Melvin Benn comments:

“What a band to announce as our third headliner. The Libertines are part of the Reading & Leeds family and I can’t wait for the boys to walk on to our Main Stages in their rightful place at the top of the bill.

“I’m excited to announce over 50 other phenomenally talented acts today who will bring amazing performances for our fans. I really think we’ve got the ultimate line-up this year. Where else can you see Kendrick Lamar on the same day as Deadmau5 and Years & Years, or Marmozets on the same day as Azealia Banks or Metallica, or All Time Low on the same day as Knife Party or Mumford & Sons!

“It’s almost exactly six months to the Festivals and I already can’t wait until August Bank Holiday weekend.

"Having spent some time reviewing the ticket price and talking to people about it I felt that where we had got to with the day price was too high and once I really examined it decided to go the whole hog and reduce it to £59.50. However, anyone thinking it’s a way to get the weekend including camping cheaper will be disappointed. It will not give access to the campsite as I'm creating new entrances for day ticket holders. It’s still great though for those that don't want to camp." 

 Over fifty further names are also revealed today, joining artists already announced for the Festivals including Main Stage headliners Mumford & Sons and Metallica, proving that Reading & Leeds is the Festival for true music fans.

MAIN STAGE

On the Friday at Reading and Saturday at Leeds, pop-punkers All Time Low will return to the Festival for the first time since 2012 with eagerly anticipated new album ‘Future Hearts’ in tow.

Sheffield’s Bring Me The Horizon have established themselves as the UK’s biggest and best metal crossover act, and will follow up their all-conquering sold out Wembley Arena headline show last year with a set immediately before Metallica on the Main Stage on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds. Their performance at the Festivals this summer is a European exclusive.

Grammy nominated rapper Kendrick Lamar will showcase his unparalleled ability and powerful wordplay in his debut performance at the Festivals, creative indie rock heroes The Maccabees will take the Main Stage and will play some tracks from their forthcoming album, Wakefield rock band and NME Outstanding Contribution to Music Winners The Cribs whose hotly anticipated new album ‘For All My Sisters’ will be released this March.

Panic! At The Disco will bring their incredible grown up pop-rock and infectious hooks back to the Main Stage, along with anthemic rock quintet Lonely The Brave, who return following their hugely successful set in 2014.

Pop Punk’s most exciting new band Neck Deep have set course for Reading & Leeds this summer to demonstrate exactly why they were named ‘Best Newcomer’ at last year’s Kerrang! Awards and West Yorkshire Festival favourites Marmozets will bring their incendiary live set back to Reading & Leeds as they graduate to Main Stage billing.

NME/BBC RADIO 1 STAGE

Following the release of their debut studio album ‘Abandon Ship’ late last year, electronic dance duo Knife Party return to the Festivals this summer for an extra special closing set on the Friday at Reading and Saturday at Leeds.

American rock band Limp Bizkit and rap prodigy Tyler, The Creator also join the bill, along with Birmingham indie poppers Swim Deep, inventive British art rock band Everything Everything, indie rock quartet Peace and North London production duo Gorgon City.Also revealed today are Math rock legends American Football, Liverpudlian band of the moment Circa Waves, beat-maker and prolificproducer Jamie XX, leftfield pop musicians Glass Animals, emotionally charged Pennsylvania four-piece The Districts and Punk duo Slaves.

BBC RADIO 1 DANCE STAGE

Boy Better Know featuring JME, Skepta, Wiley, Shorty, Solo 45, Maximum, Jammer & Frisco will be headlining the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage on the Sunday at Reading and the Friday at Leeds.  Headed up by JME, brother Skepta and Wiley, they are the leading collective in Grime. 

 Also performing across the weekend are drum & bass duo Camo & Krooked, producer and techno artist Brodinski, Scottish production wizard Hudson Mohawke, mysterious R ’n’ B maestro Ben Kahn and My Nu Leng, who will bring their big bounding beats to the Festival. London based feel-good House duo Toyboy & Robin, New York electric pop duo Cardiknox, geek-step Midlander FTSE, electronic producer Porter Robinson presents his incredible Worlds live show, LA DJ Dillon Francis, and self-proclaimed ‘sad dance’ musician Tourist will also be performing.

THE LOCK UP/PIT STAGE

As one of the most influential pop punk bands of all time, and with a rich history at Reading & Leeds, New Found Glory return to headline The Lock Up on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds. Three-time Grammy nominated titans of metal Mastodon will take top billing on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds.

Canadian hardcore heavyweights Cancer Bats also join the line-up, along with ex-My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero, who brings his new project FrnkIero Andthe Cellabration. Swedish theatrical metallers Ghost, technical death metal band Gojira and reunited hardcore legends Modern Life Is War will rock the stage across the weekend. Anthemic punkers The Menzingers, Sheffield’s top metal band While She Sleeps, Southampton five piece Bury Tomorrow and rockers Simple Plan are also revealed for the Festival bill.

FESTIVAL REPUBLIC STAGE

All three Festival Republic Stage headliners are revealed in today’s announcement, with a very special set from Django Django closing the stage on Friday at Reading / Saturday at Leeds. Indie rock veterans The Wombats will headline the stage on Saturday at Reading / Sunday at Leeds and fan favourite Frank Turner will bring a special solo set to Reading on Sunday / Leeds on Friday.

Legendary Irish rockers Ash will make a welcome return to Reading & Leeds, building on a rich history with the Festivals dating back to their first performance at Reading in 1995. Having recently announced their new album, their set will be yet another classic performance providing the soundtrack to the summer.

Also performing on the stage will be Canadian indie-pop quintet Alvvays, fast rising rockers Coasts, grunge revivalists Darlia and Australian indie sensation DMA’s. The soaring melodies of Jake Isaac, folky Sydney trio Little May, the socially observant hip-hop/rock of Ratboy, American baroque pop band San Fermin, young South Londoners The Bulletproof Bomb, the soaring rock of We Are The Ocean, irish rock-pop five piece Walking On Cars and Missouri garage punk brothers Radkey make the Festival Republic Stage the one-stop shop for all things on the rise, alongside some of the biggest names in music.

BBC 1XTRA STAGE

Now a well-established feature of Reading & Leeds, the BBC Radio 1Xtra Stage will bring the absolute best in urban music across the three days of the Festival. Co-headlining on the Friday at Reading and the Saturday at Leeds are Harlem trap lord A$AP Ferg and hazy Brooklyn hip hop crew Flatbush Zombies, providing an incredible East coast double header of real rap music. Having finally dropped her long awaited debut album ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ late last year, Azealia Banks returns to Reading & Leeds for one of her characteristically high octane live sets to headline the 1Xtra Stage on Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds.

With one final headliner still to be revealed for the stage, the tent will host sets from Miami bass turntablist Craze, South London hip hop duo Krept & Konan, grime hero and UK trailblazer Lethal Bizzle and the fresh sounds of Essex rapper Nick Brewer. The line-up grows even further with the addition of genre-blurring urban DJ Oneman and the unique dream-rap of Pell. New York natives Ratking are one of the purest voices of modern underground rap music and this year marks their debut R&L performance alongside MOBO Award ‘Best Grime Act’ and BBC Sound Of runner up Stormzy. Brotherly hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd are also announced today.

Newly announced today:

The Libertines (Headliner)

 A$AP Ferg

All Time Low

Alvvays

American Football

Ash

Azealia Banks

Ben Kahn

Boy Better Know

Bring Me The Horizon (European Festival Exclusive)

Brodinski

Bury Tomorrow

Camo & Krooked

Cancer Bats

Cardiknox

Circa Waves

Coasts

Craze

Darlia

Dillon Francis

Django Django

DMA’s

Everything Everything

Flatbush Zombies

Frank Turner (solo)

Frnkiero Andthe Cellabration
 

FTSE

Ghost

Glass Animals

Gojira

Gorgon City

Hudson Mohawke

Jake Isaac

Jamie XX

Kendrick Lamar

Knife Party

Krept & Konan

Lethal Bizzle

Limp Bizkit

Little May

Lonely The Brave

Marmozets

Mastodon

Modern Life Is War

My Nu Leng

Neck Deep

New Found Glory

Nick Brewer

Oneman

Panic! At the Disco

Peace

Pell

Porter Robinson

Radkey

Rae Sremmurd

Rat Boy

Ratking

San Fermin

Simple Plan

Slaves

Stormzy

Swim Deep

The Bulletproof Bomb

The Districts

The Maccabees

The Menzingers

The Wombats

Toyboy & Robin

Tourist

Tyler, The Creator

Walking On Cars

We Are The Ocean

While She Sleeps

 

Already announced:

Metallica (Headliner and UK Festival Exclusive)

Mumford & Sons (Headliner and England & Wales Festival Exclusive)

Bastille (England & Wales Festival Exclusive)

Catfish and The Bottlemen

Deadmau5

Hannah Wants

Jack Garratt

Jamie T

Manchester Orchestra

Pierce The Veil

Pretty Vicious

Rebel Sound

Refused

Royal Blood (UK Summer Festival Exclusive)

Run The Jewels

Wilkinson (Live)

Wolf Alice

Years & Years

100 acts announced for Live at Leeds Festival 2015

Officially kicking off the festival season, Live At Leeds hosts the biggest names alongside the best in new and upcoming acts. Having played host to the likes of Bastille, James Blake, Wild Beasts, Bombay Bicycle Club, Rudimental and The Vaccines over the years, last year was one of the first places to catch future superstars and BBC Sound Of poll winners Years and Years. Live At Leeds provides a snapshot of everything that is vital in music right now.

Leading the charge amongst the first 100 bands to be announced Carl Barat & The Jackals featuring the Libertines legend with his new band, London alternative rockers Dry The River, the brainy art-pop of Dutch Uncles, Leeds’ noisiest sons Eagulls, the BBC 6 Music championed songwriting of Emmy The Great, ex-Supergrass main man Gaz Coombes, the incredible wordplay of BBC Sound Of shortlisted George The Poet and Leeds psych rockers Hookworms.

Pop heroes Lawson, Grammy nominated singer and producer MNEK, rising punk upstarts Slaves, indie favourites Spector, the rip-roaring folk of Stornoway, MOBO Award winner Stormzy, British-Australian quartet Sunset Sons, Birmingham indie poppers Swim Deep, living legend of noise and punk in the guise of his Thurston Moore Band and Scottish indie rockers We Were Promised Jetpacks will also provide must see sets!

With a supporting cast of incredible talent including North London sibling trio Jagaara, hotly tipped Canadian songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr, Welsh punks Joanna Gruesome and Nottingham duo Childhood making up the 200 bands across the weekend this is one not to be missed!

Full Lineup Below:

CARL BARAT & THE JACKALS | DRY THE RIVER | DUTCH UNCLES | EAGULLS | EMMY THE GREAT | GAZ COOMBES | GEORGE THE POET | HOOKWORMS | LAWSON | MNEK | SLAVES | SPECTOR | STORNOWAY STORMZY | SUNSET SONS | SWIM DEEP | THURSTON MOORE BAND | WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS 

ADY SULEIMAN | BLOSSOMS | BOXED IN | CHILDHOOD | EKKAH | FLO MORRISSEY | JAGAARA | JOANNA GRUESOME | JP COOPER | LAURA DOGGETT | LONELADY | MENACE BEACH | NIMMO | NOTHING BUT THIEVES | PALACE | PRETTY VICIOUS | REAL LIES | TELEGRAM | TOBIAS JESSO JR 

ADAM FRENCH | ALEX BUREY | ALFIE CONNOR | ALMA ELSTE | ARCANE ROOTS | ASTRONOMYY | AYLEE BAD//DREEMS | BILLIE BLACK | BLACK HONEY | BLACK PEAKS | BLOODY KNEES | BRUISING | BULLY | CAIROBI CARNABELLS | CHAIKA | CHARLIE CUNNINGHAM | CHLOE BLACK | CLAY | CLOUD CASTLE LAKE | COLD OCEAN LIES | COLOUR OF SPRING | COMPNY | FEHM | FOREVER CULT | FRANCES | FRANCISCO THE MAN | GLACIER PACIFIC | GULF | HONNE | HOOTON TENNIS CLUB | IYES | JAKIL | JAMIE LAWSON | JASMINE THOMPSON | JET SETTER | KID WAVE | LAKE KOMO | LAUREL | LIVES | LONGFELLOW | LOUIS BERRY | MAN MADE | MARSICANS |  MONOGRAM | NEW VINYL | OCEAAN | ONLY GIRL | OSCA | OSCAR AND THE WOLF | PINKSHINYULTRABLAST | PIXEL FIX | POLO | PORT ISLA | PROSE | RACING GLACIERS | RAT BOY | ROBYN SHERWELL | SEAFRET | SHELTER POINT | SKINNY LIVING | TALOS | THABO AND THE REAL DEAL | THE ACADEMIC | THE MAGIC GANG | THE MISPERS | THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT TIBET | TWIN WILD | VITAMIN | WALKING ON CARS | WOODEN ARMS | WULF | YURS

Truck Festival 2014 Review

“Truck Festival? What’s that?” This has largely been the response when telling the tales of my whereabouts on the 18th-20th of July. With our music calendar at saturation point with all the festivals happening during this popular time, you can easily be forgiven for knowing nothing about this harmonious little gathering on a farm in Oxford.

But Truck is not your usual festival. It started 17 years ago as a small alternative to the big names such as Glastonbury, Reading or Leeds; all of which have become corporate, money-spinning beasts. Truck has a refreshingly low ticket count, which means that even though it was a sell-out, there was still plenty of breathing space and an obvious lack of hippies and try-hard rockers.

The weekend vibe was completely laid back and inclusive. It was in no way about wearing the right clothes or being seen, but rather about kicking back and enjoying the atmosphere while soaking up the vitamin-D. There was no fancy VIP area: backstage was purely functional. Instead, everyone mingles. The artists roam the site, picking up beers at the bar just like us “normal folk”. A distinct bohemian quality; Truck is clearly about the people and the music.

Typically claiming the third weekend in July, this year the two-dayer kicked off its Friday with the ‘Tropical Groove’ and Indie vibes of the four-piece HABITATS, making their Truck debut on the festival’s Main/Truck Stage. One of the fabulous things about Truck is that it’s a showcase for the area’s local scene at the same time as bringing in acts both small and big from further afield.

It’s a proper all-round arena: the same stage sees the popular rock back, The Dreaming Spires, with their clashing drums and almost-shouting-but-you-think-I’m-singing vocal sound (resulting in constant sound), immediately preceded by the relaxed and more feminine vibes of Fickle Friends singing to their soft keyboards and jingling tambourines.

Wider afield, the festival plays host to five stages, all very different in the music they were churning out over the fun-filled weekend.  The Barn Stage was focused on psychedelic noise rockers, such as Canterbury and Blood Red Shoes. Set against a corrugated steel roof, and with the scent of manure easing its way up the nostrils, it soon became obvious that we were watching psych-punk wraiths perform on a stage erected in a working barn. It was a surreal experience to say the least.

A mix of haunting sounds, hypnotic, pounding drumbeats and winking strobes were the enticing aspects which drew you into the stage amusingly labelled as The Veterans and Virgins Stage. Hosting bands such as Ralfe Band and the Brickwork Lizards, both of which offering unique experiences, often involving banjos and tambourines, the stage was both unique and alluring, tantalising the musical tastebuds. Similarly, the close-by Saloon Bar lured  people in with its refreshing western atmosphere. Set up as something out of a cheesy western movie from the 50’s, this stage offered a different experience from the other stages with a more acoustic and folk feel to all the acts, which included sets from BMW and The Buffalo Skinners.

Finally, often described as the ‘Second-in-Command’ to the Truck Stage, the Market Stage was a stage which offered a whole range of musical genres from Dance a la Plage with their Indie-Rock ambiance to the folk-electro solo artist, Dan Croll.

With every act, bar the day’s headliners, allotted a half-hour performance slot, it’s nothing if not fair. You can power through bands and stick with sets you might otherwise leave, meaning you get a great idea of each carefully edited set list designed by each band to show themselves at their best.

Friday’s headline act, the much loved The Cribbs, take to the Truck Stage at 10pm, delighting the crowd with a medley of their top hits – they’ve more than you remember after realising five studio albums – before their spectacular closing song, which left the crowds begging for more and sadly dispersing back to the camping site, or for those more eager to other stages, such as the Market Stage which offered an all-night “Silent Disco”. There is no doubt about the fact that this band knows how to rock a festival and plays a pitch-perfect set to a crowd that appreciates their longevity and experience.

When Saturday comes, eager festival goers await Truck Stage sets from M+A and As The Elephants Are. As the day goes on, things get really lively.

When the final act at the Truck Stage for the weekend, White Lies, take to stage they muster an infectious energy. People from outside the tent file in and there are heads nodding right the way to the back of the assembled throng. As they launch into the fast-and-furious first song, all pulsating drums, rumbling bass, blissful synths and deep vocals wrapped up in lyrical genius, the London trio ignite a flame within the audience which refuses to die out until the early hours of Sunday morning.

Truck is unique. Mellow, friendly and under-crowded. It’s like the best village fete you’ve ever been to. Complete with a diverse selection of bands, this is how festivals should be. You can’t help but hope Truck never gets big and becomes the commercialised spawn of the modern music industry.

Frank Turner to headline Y Not Festival 2014

Having previously announced Dizzee Rascal & White Lies as headliners for Y Not Festival, the Summer Festival Guide can announce that Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls are the third headliner for this years festival.

Also joining the festival are:

Razorlight

Shed Seven

Ella Eyre

Swim Deep

Saint Raymond

Beans On Toast

Yuck

Circa Waves

DZ Deathrays

Menace Beach

The Wytches

King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys

Amber Run

Nordic Giants

Tiger Cub

Best Kept Secret Festival 2013

Its a very rare occasion that you get to experience a new festival without hearing the experiences of others, and I wasn't sure what to expect from Best Kept Secret, but I was pleasantly surprised by the site, the friendliness of others and sheer organisation, this is definitely a top European festival to be reckoned with.

Not only is it situated on a safari park, but it is surrounded by a beautiful lake and a white sandy beach. Revellers have the opportunity to kick off those shoes, get their feet wet and go swimming whilst listening to some great bands that are were offer. And don't worry if you're not a great swimmer, there are life guards on patrol looking out for your safety.

For the foodies out there, a great selection of both meat dishes and veggie delights were on offer at a reasonable price. And although the weather wasn't on our side, this didn't stop anyone from grabbing a free poncho, throwing it over themselves and making the most of what was on offer. Like most European festivals, BKF operates on a token system, and have a great incentive to ensure you don't litter. For every cup you return to the bar you receive half a token, 2 tokens gets you a free beer, so before you know it, you'll be receiving a free beer for your efforts.

Best Kept Secret Festival

Friday saw the doors open at 5pm, and within easy walking distance you had a choice of 3 stages. Most of the artists had only a slight overlap, so if you wanted to check out a number of bands, then it was easily done. On the bill were Swim Deep, The Maccabees, Bloc Party, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Fuck Buttons and closing the main stage were the Arctic Monkeys. Not only did they pull in biggest crowd, but they played an hour and a half set including their classics which had everyone jumping up and down.

Day 2 saw the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Alt-J, Allah-Las, Koreless and Damien Rice take to the stages. Damien Rice entertained the crowd with his hits and it wasn't long before everyone was singing canon ball in unison.

The final day ended with the Local Natives, Everything Everything, Palma Violets, Kurt Vie and the Violators, Portishead and Sigur Ros. Not only was there a great selection of established bands on offer, but also some exciting new bands to watch out for. One band that stood out were Autre Ne Teut, hailing from New York, these guys provided a packed out tent to a mixture of way out musical styles mixed with some great beats to match. Sigur Ros closed the festival with an incredible set and atmosphere to match. They also donated some used signed drum heads and drum brushes, all proceeds donated to Unicef. For anyone looking for their next European festival, I would strongly recommend BKF, you won't be disappointed.

Sigur Ros @ Best Kept Secret

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEST KEPT SECRET FESTIVAL