The 2 Bears

Lianne La Havas to headline this years Leefest

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Rising from the same South London streets which saw the very first LeeFest take place in the back-garden of founder Lee Denny, Lianne La Havas stands as an untouchable enigma, leading the new wave of British soul with her delicate tales of heartbreak and triumph. Recent album “Blood” has seen Lianne take her sound around the world, touching the lives of many and culminating in huge landmark shows including sold-out nights at Brixton Academy and the illustrious Royal Albert Hall. Acclaimed, revered and loved in equal measure, the Mercury Prize and Grammy Award-nominated wordsmith will be headlining an extremely special Saturday night at LeeFest Presents: The Neverland in a celebration not to be missed.
 
Talking exclusively about her headlining appearance, Lianne La Havas says:
“I am over the moon to not only be playing but headlining at LeeFest this year. It is a beautiful part of the country and I nearly share a name with the festival! Looking forward to having a sing song with everyone!”
 
Creatively in-sync and intuitively unique, fluent wordsmith Ghostpoet will be bringing an ethereal sermon on modern life to The Neverland from across his critically acclaimed catalogue. Scooping multiple Mercury Prize nominations and an unmistakable ability to pinpoint the highs and falls of society around us, his captivating performance is one destined to leave its mark on The Neverland this year.
 
Electronic soul crooner Shura has been a new music favourite for over 2 years, releasing track after track of sublime, glistening pop and building anticipation for her debut studio effort “Nothing’s Real”. Due for release this year, expect a mesmerising showcase from the Liverpudlian pop saviour. Equally as acclaimed is British hip-hop legend Roots Manuva whose gritty tales of modern Britain have remained an essential part of UK Hip-Hop for over 20 years. Back with the BBC 6 Music-approved “Bleeds”, his performance is set to be a revolutionary experience.
 
Kaleidoscopic dance gurus The 2 Bears will be bringing the sunshine to Mermaids Lagoon with an extremely special set of “rave-garage” for a party event not to be missed as the tropical soundsystem comes to The Neverland. Pulsating genre-morphing thrives with underground favourites Submotion Orchestra as their cocktail of jazz, electronica, dubstep and soul transport The Neverland into another realm.
 
Speaking about their anticipated appearance within Mermaids Lagoon, The 2 Bears said:
“And so we pack our boat with heavy bangers and sail in to the mystic to visit mermaids lagoon. Not a bears natural habitat but I'm sure we'll make the best of it. Hopefully Cher, Christina Ricci and Bob Hoskyns will be inside the rave x”
 
One of the most admired and vital artists of recent times, North London’s poetic mastermind Little Simz has drawn vast plaudits on both sides of the Atlantic with her brutally honest tales of city life. Independent spirited and recently named in Forbes influential “30 Under 30” list, witness a cultural definer when Little Simz stops into The Neverland for an unmissable live performance. Making waves around the globe, Spring King’s infectious ramshackle rock made headlines when summer anthem ‘City” became the first track played on Apple’s Beats 1 radio station. Full throttle and unrelenting, catch the next big UK rock sesantions at LeeFest Presents: The Neverland.
 
On joining the lineup, Spring King frontman Tarek Musa said:
“A lot of our good friends and bands we love have played LeeFest, such as Stealing Sheep, Mystery Jets, All We Are and The Magic Gang! Pumped to be playing this year! Always dig a festival with a comedy stage, I’m a huge stand-up comedy fan.
See ya soon LeeFest <3”
 
Continuing the LeeFest reputation for discovering and embracing the best in cutting-edge new music, a range of rising and hotly tipped names join this year’s incredible lineup. The raw rhymes of Loyle Carner is sure to be an extremely spiritual moment at The Neverland, showcasing why BBC, NME, Channel 4 and MTV all pinpointed him as a future icon. Rough and ready pop-soul quartet Clean Cut Kid will continue their unrelenting ascent to arenas with a captivating set at The Neverland, whilst indietronic duo Formation, dream-gazers The Big Moon and the retro-futurist masters MIAMIGO will all bring unrivalled showcases.
 
MIAMIGO commented:
“We’ve heard great things about LeeFest, so stoked to be included in the line-up for this year’s event. Honoured to be sharing the stage with such amazing artists. Bring on the sun!”
 
Godfathers of Garage DJ Luck And MC Neat will be spinning their unmatched catalogue of classics to the Neverland masses, whilst riffs and rock will reign supreme with pulsating sets from Fort Hope, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Queen Kwong and Nai Harvest to truly shake up the unprecedented weekend. With riotous punk GIRLI, Big Deal, bedroom-pop slider Oscar and many more on the lineup, The Neverland is set to be the only destination needed for your next favourite act.
 
Arguably sitting with one of the best musical lineups of the summer, LeeFest Presents: The Neverland also is pleased to announce a vast array of activities for festival-goers to indulge and experience throughout the weekend. From Glitter Wrestling and Drag Queens, to Comedy, Paint Fights, Spoken Word and Theatre, the inhabitants of The Neverland are set for an immersive and unparalleled weekend of culture and partying.
 
Unleashing the careers of international icons such as Bastille, London Grammar and Years & Years before anyone else, 2016 marks 10 years since the original LeeFest kicked off in the back garden of founder Lee Denny.The Neverland represents the next chapter in their unparalleled story, standing as  the culmination of the dreams of thousands in the snowballing LeeFest community. Separated into three distinct realms, it promises a fantastical immersive adventure across the weekend, with Mermaids Lagoon and its neon-soaked opulence and glamour, the dark and dystopic fury of Skulls Ridge and the no nonsense blissfields of The Neverwoods. Combined, it provides a magical panoptic Kingdom full of unabashed creativity, diverse personalities and serious partying with an unparalleled lineup of music, performance and creativity.
 
With a Friday Night Headliner still to be announced, alongside a diverse range of dance titans and extremely special unannounced secret shows, The Neverland is set to be the defining independent festival of the summer.
 
Escaping the confines of the real world, the Neverland’s kingdom of infinite wonder awaits, allowing all of us an opportunity to escape and pursue our dream to never grow old.

8:58, The Magic Numbers and more set for Standon Calling

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Standon Calling has unveiled another myriad of high class talent for its 10th anniversary outing. Ex-Orbital's Paul Hartnoll will now be bringing his solo project 8:58 to the Big Top stage and platinum-selling The Magic Numbers lead live additions to The Last Dance Saloon, along with Ezra Furman, PINS and much more. Formerly known as the Lawn Stage and inspired by the 2015 Wild West theme 'A Town of Two Faces', The Last Dance Saloon has been curated by champions of new music BBC Introducing, and independent record labels Loose Music and the hugely influential Bella Union. Leading electronic talent The 2 Bears, Maribou State, Severino of Horse Meat Disco, Kidnap Kid, Jax Jones and more will be behind the ones and twos in after dark takeovers of Standon Calling's famous nightclub, The Cowshed. Hosted by Bondax & Friends, Sink The Pink and Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge, The Cowshedwill ensure Standon Calling's birthday celebrations continue from dusk till dawn.

Standon Calling is gearing up for a truly unforgettable 10th birthday by inviting revellers and its favourite musicians from around the world to join in the celebrations. Today even more artists have been revealed, joining previously announced heavy weights Little Dragon, The Dandy Warhols (UK Festival Exclusive), Basement Jaxx, Roots Manuva, Hercules & Love Affair, Ella Eyre, Kwabs, Slaves and many more.

Following the split of the formidable Orbital last year, one half of the brother duo Paul Hartnoll will be taking over Standon's Big Top stage in 2015, with his new solo project 8:58. Out this week, 8:58's first album is already turning heads with collaborations with The Cure's Robert Smith, The Unthanks and Cillian Murphy. Standon Calling is incredibly excited to be having 8:58 performing live in The Big Top, on the opening night of it's 10th birthday bash.

In keeping with the festival's Wild West and day-to-night inspired theme 'A Town of Two Faces', Standon Calling will be delivering the very best in live music during the day in The Last Dance Saloon tent, while at night, electronic music's finest take over The Cowshed. 

Americana label Loose Music's takeover of The Last Dance Saloon on Friday 31st July will see a special performance by The Magic Numbers. Renowned for their beautiful harmonies and blissful chorus hooks, the four-piece soared to success after their self-titled debut album. Now with Grammys, Mercury Prize nominations and four albums under their belt, the band will be unmissable in the intimate setting of The Last Dance Saloon. Also revealed for the Loose Music takeover is Danny & The Champions Of The World, who having spent much of 2014 touring around the world will be well up to the task of entertaining the crowds at Standon. They will be joined by the West Coast sounds of Treetop Flyers,  The Goat Roper Rodeo Band, Jo Rose, Canyon Ride and Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards, who's 2014 album Distance came 'hugely recommended' by The Guardian and others in praising reviews.

The impressive Bella Union welcome some of its own exciting acts in a takeover of The Last Dance Saloon on Sunday 2nd August. With rave reviews of his riotous live shows, Ezra Furman will have crowds jumping when he performs over the weekend and festival-goers will in for a treat with further performances from Manchester all-female four-piece PINS, Zun Zun Egui, funk maestro Clarence Clarity, Peter Broderick with full live band, Bernard & Edith and the long awaited return of exmagician, formerly of Cashier No. 9.

Offering something completely different after dark, The Cowshed will be taken over each night by a different host for three very eclectic parties. Joining polysexual club crew Sink The Pink and their brand new dirty disco party Savage and providing the tunes will be one half of The 2 Bears and longtime DJ Raf Daddy, Severino of notorious party-starters Horse Meat Disco, colourful MC Gaff-E and DJ/ProducerJonjo Jury.

Bondax & Friends sees the urban dance pair joined by Maribou State, another duo well known for their well crafted, melodic gems as well as Black Butter beat-maker Kidnap Kid, Grammy-nominee and Duke Dumont collaborator Jax Jones and a producer on the cusp of major success, South London's Grades. 

The Cowshed will also see Gilles Peterson & Patrick Forge haul their massive record collections into The Cowshed to present the legendary jazz, funk and dance sounds of the original Dingwalls Sunday Sessions, established in 1987.

Back to the Phuture returns to Bestival 2012

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Very much a Thursday night institution, Back to the Phuture travels through time joining the musical dots of the past, present and phuture in their own immaculate style. As ever, the line-up is second to none featuring previously announced long time Bestival cohorts Hot Chip, the governor of all things synth Gary Numan, the super-hotly tipped Alabama Shakes, electronic music pioneer and inspiration to a generation John Foxx and the Maths and electro rockers Killaflaw. There will also be floor smashing DJ sets from The 2 Bears, acid legend Adamski and Back to the Phuture’s own Mark Jones.

Hot Chip

Says Back to the Phuture mainman Mark Jones: “It's great to be back at Bestival for a third year with Back to the Phuture and a truly amazing line up of inspiring artists. Tomorrow is Today………Today is Tomorrow….. Bring the Noize!”

Also adding their not inconsiderable talents to our jam-packed bill of live musical cheer are the stunningly soulful Jesse Ware, self-described ‘motivational speaker with harmonious intentions’ Willis Earl Beal, rap-punk-ravers Murkage, super-distinctive microphone champion Skepta, singer song-writer and soon-to-be superstar Jake Bugg, spine-tingling harmonisers Staves, duelling boy-girl vocalists Sunless 97, Brit-electro types The Other Tribe, Mancunians Parma Violets, Eastern European folk flavoured South Londoners Georgeous George, folk-punk four-piece Crowns, live freestyle breaks dons Subgiant and shoestring-popsters Daytona Lights. Plus there will be appearances from Charley Macaulay, Alonestar and the Isle of Wight’s very own A Way Of Life and This Way Up.

Everyone in the Bestival Bunker is well excited about Parisian genius Brodinski coming to Bestival. A man after our own hearts Brodinski’s taste is as wide as our smiles when we’re reaching for the lasers at one of his gigs, covering filthy techno, bass heavy house and minimal vibes. You know you have to be there when he raises the roof! Anyone who knows their onions when it comes to dance music will know that Gilles Peterson is an utter legend on a quest to find the perfect beat and we’re jolly pleased that he’s taking his search to the Isle of Wight to exhibit his impeccable taste for all you lucky Bestivalites. And that’s not all, as Redlight will be navigating the space between house, bass music and beyond, smashing it up with his jet-propelled bangers, jungle pioneer Shy FX will be there in full effect, plus there will be deck wrecking action from Dalston doyens Gutterslut, glitchy Dubstepper Zomboy, cut and scratch monster Krafty Kuts, edit-genius Duff Disco, bhangra chief Sonnyji Presents Bang Bhang, cosmic disco dude Flying White Dots, and local boy done goodKaf-Tan.

We’re also delighted to announce that Bestival will be teaming up with Exit Festival to take part in the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) Twin Festivals initiative. Deriving from the popular ‘twin towns’ concept the scheme aims to create a cultural exchange between the UKs leading independent festivals and their international counterparts and both festivals have plenty of ideas up their sleeves to benefit both artists and festivalgoers from Serbia and the Isle of Wight this summer. 

Says Rob da Bank: “I’m so pleased that we're twinning with Exit – my one visit there has stayed lodged in my festival brain as one of my favourite memories…playing records in an old fort to the most hedonistic party people this side of …well Bestival! So much energy, good vibes and great acts playing – hopefully something that we share with Exit at Bestival. Long may we be brothers and sisters in sound!”

Says EXIT General Manager Bojan Boskovic: “We are so excited to be twinning with Bestival this year as we have watched it bloom from a wonderful ethos into one of the largest and most musically exciting festivals around! Bestival has a great energy, an immense and interesting line up and who can compete with the unique ideas and artwork each year. Exchanging acts and ideas, we also hope some of our followers will make the journey to Bestival and we look forward to welcoming Bestival fans to our crazy fortress”. 

To benefit local artists each festival has put forward acts to swap and play at each others events. The Playground Syndicate will play at EXIT and The Good Guys will play at Bestival. Each act will also blog about their experience playing at the twinned festival.  

Hailing for the Isle of Wight, The Playground Syndicate are made up of 2 DJ’s (Elmo & Beavz) and the visual brilliance of the A.V Circus. These boys are seriously talented individuals and when they come together they are a mega force, twisting your mind with warped visuals, DJing with huge creative energy and reinventing the tunes they play within the mix.

DJ duo The Good Guys aka Bojan Cizmic and Andrija Kovac play a mixture of electronic folk, guitars and samplers with no boundaries and are rising stars in the Serbian underground electronic music scene.  With over 30 productions under their belt covering a range of styles from folk trash to nu rave the pair have broken out of their native Eastern Europe and are now playing gigs all over the world.  

Twinned festivals will be sharing not only artists and expertise but also audiences, as 10 lucky competition winners will be given the chance to experience the twin festival in action.  And one lucky winner from each festival will also get the chance to win a trip to the twin festival with travel and accommodation for them and a mate. Announcements will follow on both festival websites in the coming months with more information and how to enter. 

Now in its third year the AIF scheme has gone from strength to strength with participating festivals successfully building local awareness of their twins through cross press and marketing promotions. As well as sharing links on their websites, twinned festivals also include twinning information on flyers, marketing materials and in their PR campaigns to local media and once their own event has sold out help to market their international twin through their media channels.  Talent discussions have helped to co-ordinate bookings of international artists and further reinforce the fundamental values that unite the festivals.

Taking place from Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th July, in the magical Petrovaradin Fortress overlooking the river Danube, EXIT continues to deliver the most adventurous and value for money festival experience, with a diverse and cutting edge line up, cheap food and drink onsite and the best campsite entertainment whilst bathing in the hot Balkan sunshine.  Tickets are onsale now from only £95 for a 4 day festival pass. For more info and tickets http://eng.exitfest.org/

Sadly we have just heard that Azealia Banks is cancelling all of her summer shows in the UK and that includes Bestival but we have just confirmed an AMAZING new act to announce which we will tell you all about early next week and we still have our Friday night headliner under wraps, news of which will be coming soon, so keep on checking in at www.bestival.net, and our Facebook page and Twitter for all the latest behaviour.

All The Acts Announced So far:

LIVE
STEVIE WONDER / NEW ORDER  / THE XX  / SIGUR RÓS / FRIENDLY FIRES / 2MANYDJS – LIVE / SOULWAX  /JUSTICE  / TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB / HOT CHIP / BAT FOR LASHES / NERO / EMELI SANDÉ / ORBITAL / SBTRKT / WARPAINT / DE LA SOUL / ROOTS MANUVA / MAJOR LAZER / SISTER SLEDGE / GARY NUMAN / THE HORRORS / SPIRITUALIZED / DEATH IN VEGAS / DOOM / BEN HOWARD / MICHAEL KIWANUKA / SUB FOCUS / ALABAMA SHAKES  /KEVIN SAUNDERSON FEAT. INNER CITY LIVE  / GALLOWS / RIZZLE KICKS / BURAKA SOM SISTEMA / SAGE FRANCIS / GRIMES / BELLOWHEAD / EARTH WIND & FIRE EXPERIENCE FEAT AL MCKAY / DJANGO DJANGO / LITTLE DRAGON / GOLD PANDA / ADAM ANT & THE GOOD, THE MAD AND THE LOVELY POSSE / THE CUBAN BROTHERS / TOP CAT FEATURING SIR COXSONE OUTERNATIONAL / CHAIRLIFT / ICEAGE / REN HARVIEU / JOHN TALABOT / LIANNE LA HAVAS / DELILAH / FIRST AID KIT / GESAFFELSTEIN / DAUGHTER / ZULU WINTER / ANE BRUN / FRIENDS / TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS / KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES / THE JAPANESE POPSTARS / CHAS & DAVE / DUB PISTOLS  / FACTORY FLOOR  / CHARLI XCX / ERRORS  / LUCY ROSE / CONGO NATTY / KING KRULE / TOY / KINDNESS / DISMANTLE / DIRTY BEACHES / DRUMS OF DEATH /JESSE WARE / JEFFREY LEWIS & THE JUNKYARD / GENERAL LEVY / SLAGSMÅLSKLUBBEN/ JAIPUR KAWA BRASS BAND  / FIELD MUSIC / JINJA SAFARI  / KAWA CIRCUS / B.DOLAN'S CHURCH OF LOVE & RUIN / 02:54 / EVIAN CHRIST / FRANKIE ROSE  / PORCELAIN RAFT / MILAGRES / THREE BONZOS & A PIANO / PRINCE FATTY / LIZ GREEN  / TRAILER TRASH TRACYS / FOREST SWORDS / WILLIS EARL BEAL  / MURKAGE / ALT-J / THE STAVES / JAKE BUGG / ALUNAGEORGE / SKINNY LISTER / JOSH KUMRA / RYAN KEEN  / STAY+ / JAMIE N COMMONS / NINA NESBITT / BIGKIDS / GABRIELLE APLIN / KWES / DIAGRAMS  / FICTION  /  TURBOWOLF  /MARY EPWORTH / WET NUNS / OTHER TRIBE / PARMA VIOLETS / GORGEOUS GEORGE / MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE  / THIS IS THE KIT  / STEALING SHEEP / CLOCK OPERA  / YOUNG BRITISH ARTISTS /  PATTERNS / GHOST OUTFIT  / L.A. SALAMI  / TO KILL A KING / DINGUS KHAN /  CROWNS / EMILY BARKER & THE RED CLAY HALO / SUBGIANT /HEATH:WARD / LAUREL COLLECTIVE  / AHAB / GECKO / MODEL SOCIETY /  / TOM WILLIAMS AND THE BOAT / DAYTONA LIGHTS / VALENTINE GRAY / CHARLEY MACAULAY / SKY SPHERE / BLACKHOUSE CROW / THE LOVELY EGGS /  ST SPIRIT  / CHARMING / ALONESTAR / SHEPHERDS / CHERISHPORT / SEÁN MCGOWAN / A WAY OF LIFE / THIS WAY UP / THE WIDOWMAKER

DJ SETS FROM ROB DA BANK AND FRIENDS: ANNIE MAC PRESENTS / FOUR TET B2B CARIBOU / THE 2 BEARS /DAVID RODIGAN MBE PRESENTS RAM JAM / DIRTYBIRD SHOWCASE FEAT. CLAUDE VONSTROKE, JUSTIN MARTIN & EATS EVERYTHING  / FRANÇOIS K / BRODINSKY /MOODYMANN / GILLES PETERSON / DJ YODA / MAYA JANE COLES / SCUBA / KAVINSKY  / JULIO BASHMORE  / LTJ BUKEM / JAMIE XX /SHY FX / PLASTICIAN / MATADOR / GREG WILSON / DOCTOR P / THE NEXTMEN / PEARSON SOUND / BORGORE  / FLUX PAVILION / MAX COOPER  / GEMINI  / KRYSTAL KLEAR  / PANGAEA / REGGAE ROAST /  BILLY DANIEL BUNTER / PARIAH / TROLLEY SNATCHA / KRAFTY KUTS / WARM & ELECTRIC MINDS / SCRATCH PERVERTS  / KOAN SOUND  / CAMO & KROOKED / GILES SMITH & JAMES PRIESTLEY (SECRETSUNDAZE) / MOSCA / NUMBERS SHOWCASE: ONEMAN B2B JACKMASTER, DEADBOY, SPENCER, REDINHO  / B TRAITS / GUTTERSLUT / BEN UFO / PBR STREETGANG / JAGUAR SKILLS & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS / DRUMS OF DEATH / BLAWAN / FRANK TOPE / LEO ZERO / EVIAN CHRIST  / GIRL UNIT / ZOMBOY / LUV*JAM / DR ALEX PATERSON / CHRIS COCO / PETE GOODING  / PHIL MISON /DUFF DISCO / DONNYJI PRESENTS BANG BHANG / MIXMASTER MORRIS / REV MILO SPEEDWAGON  / GRAEME FISHER (BALEARIC)  / DJ CABLE / FOAMO / DJ SHEPDOG / THE SHELLAC COLLECTIVE /FLYING WHITE DOTS / DJ CHARGE / PATHAAN / MOJO FILTER / FEAR OF THEYDON / TYTHE / SINK THE PINK / GEORGE B / KAF-TAN

PLUS:
MR MOTIVATOR

BRAINFEEDER PRESENTS THUNDERCAT, THE GASLAMP KILLER, TEEBS, LAPALUX, JEREMIAH JAE, DJ KUTMAH

CHANNEL ONE SOUNDSYSTEM