The Maccabees - Summer Festival Guide

The Maccabees, The National & New Order to headline Latitude Festival 2016

November 25, 2018March 3, 2016 by Summer Festival Guide

Today Latitude Festival announces the line up for their 11^th edition which takes place onThursday 14^th to Sunday 17^th July 2016 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.

The Maccabees return to Latitude to perform their first ever major festival headline show on Friday night in the Obelisk Arena. The south London five piece climb to the top of the bill to cap a remarkable twelve months that has seen them score their first number one album with the acclaimed ‘Marks To Prove It’ last July, and crowned as Best British Band at last month’s NME Awards.

Saturday welcomes one of Latitude’s most loved bands, The National, back to Henham Park as the first ever act to headline the festival for a second time. Their return to the Obelisk stage will be a UK festival exclusive this year; promising a stellar set drawn from their unparalleled six albums.

British all-time greats, New Order took the world by surprise with the release of ‘Music Complete’last year; 10 years on from their previous studio offering. With 35 years of genre and era-defining classics to draw upon, New Order are set to provide a spectacular closing performance for Latitude 2016.

Melvin Benn, founder and creator of Latitude Festival commented:

“I’m thrilled to announce the first acts for Latitude 2016. The Maccabees, The National, and New Order headlining the music, coupled with the theatre and poetry bill looking stronger than ever, ensures Latitude 2016 is already simply unmissable. Following the incredible success of our tenth edition last year, we had set the bar high for this year’s festival; we have a debut headline performance from The Maccabees to look forward to, which I’m really excited about and as always, the arts offering is set to be incomparable.”

Quotes from 2016 headliners:

“Latitude is the first major headline slot in our fourteen year existence and the culmination of the year spent touring ‘Marks To Prove It’. We're intending on it being a celebration of it all. See you there.” – The Maccabees

"Latitude has been one of our favorite festivals ever since we barely made it to play in 2006 (Cold War Kids lent us their instruments as we arrived mid set having been stuck at the border). We love the genuine multi-disciplinary format of the festival and the grounds are enchanting to wander through. We feel incredibly honored to be the first previous headliner to be asked back a second time." – The National

“We are thrilled to be headlining Latitude. It’s our first time at the festival so we’re looking forward to exploring, especially the diverse range of acts, bring on July!” – New Order
The Obelisk Arena will see performances by some of today’s most exciting and respected artists. French electro act M83 will be making their acclaimed return and Courtney Barnett will perform back to back with fellow BRIT nominee Father John Misty, in his only UK festival performance this year. Also taking to the Obelisk Arena Stage will be Denver folk rock trio The Lumineers, Glaswegian synth pop trio Chvrches, incomparable singer-songwriter John Grantand musical nomad Zach Condon’s Beirut.

Performances will come from national treasures British Sea Power, pioneering Arabic collectiveAlif, rock-soul revivalist Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, atmospheric London trioDaughter, and 70s idols Squeeze. Returning favourites genre-defying multiple award winnerLaura Mvula, Australian maverick Chet Faker, Grammy nominated country singer-songwriterSturgill Simpson and soulful BBC Sound Of winner Michael Kiwanuka also join the Obelisk Arena line up.

Latitude Festival 2016 lineup below

LATE NIGHT AT SUNRISE
JUNGLE (DJ SET) | DAVID RODIGAN (A JOURNEY THROUGH REGGAE)
MARLON WILLIAMS | MIKE SKINNER and MURKAGE present TONGA

LAVISH BIG SCREEN
GLEN MATLOCK | STEPHEN MALLINDER | DON LETTS
NATIONAL STUDENTS SELECTION | DJ HARRY K | JET LETTS

PLUS MANY MORE NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED…

The BBC Radio 6 Music Stage will continue to deliver an exemplary mix of current and future stars, including the first major headline performance by one of the undoubted stars of 2015; Canadian renaissance woman Grimes, whose ‘Art Angels’ was NME’s album of the year. Sunday’s final BBC 6 Music stage performance will come from Icelandic indie folk-pop group Of Monsters And Men.

Elsewhere on the BBC 6 Music Stage will see shows from Swedish mega group Miike Snow, Philadelphia fuzz-rockers Kurt Vile and the Violators, France’s breakout star Christine and the Queens, critically acclaimed synth pop talent Perfume Genius, British soul from Jamie Woonand minimal electronic pop songstress Låpsley. Joining them will be Frightened Rabbit with their brand new Aaron Dessner produced album, BBC sound poll 2016 finalist Mura Masa, the voice of the most streamed track of all time – Denmark’s MØ, Minneapolis synth poppersPoliça, anthemic Canadians Half Moon Run, UK rap legend Roots Manuva, acclaimed alt-pop duo Oh Wonder, the explosive Rat Boy, infectious Brooklyn quintet Lucius and ethereal Norwegian breakthrough artist Aurora.

The intimate Sunrise Arena returns with an eclectic line up that boasts some of the most exciting barrier-breaking electronic musicians around. Hidden away in the woods sees headline performances from Vancouver’s psychedelic export Black Mountain and the lauded Pantha Du Prince with his new AV show The Triad. Support comes from half of Fuck Buttons’ Blanck Mass project and Canadian experimental electro duo Bob Moses, alongside Australia’s Hayden James who brings his R&B-influenced electronic pop to the Sunrise Arena. Making their Latitude debuts are Norway’s number 1 indie pop group Highasakite and New Zealand’s singer songwriterMarlon Williams who will be bringing his emotional narratives to the stage.

America’s post-punk Protomartyr and Canada’s art-punk, krautrock inspired Suuns will also take to the Sunrise Arena stage, alongside Henham Park’s next door neighbours Drones Clubwhile Anna Meredith; the composer turned electronic producer, and Germany’s idiosyncratic pianist Lambert share their unique takes on a classical sound. Female singer songwriters command the Sunrise Arena, with Londoner Kelly Lee Owens making her Latitude debut, with Australia’s Cloves and Bella Union’s Holly Macve also performing. Toronto’s Weaves will be bending pop stereotypes alongside Ireland’s indie-rock group Little Green Cars, with Manchester’s highly loved Money returning with epically cathartic new material.

Bringing the evenings to a close on the Sunrise Arena, and rounding off the day’s proceedings are recent favourites Jungle with a one off DJ show built especially for the Latitude stage that can’t be seen anywhere else; original reggae selector and soundclash champion David Rodigan MBE, and big Tonga vibes from The Streets’ Mike Skinner and Murkage.

THEATRE AT LATITUDE
Celebrating the biggest names in comedy, theatre, dance, film, cabaret, literature and performance; the UK’s finest multi-arts festival returns for its 11^th Edition promising an unrivalled breadth, depth and quality of arts programming, offering a spectacular choice of major shows, star acts and ground-breaking commissioned works.

Latitude’s Curator of the Arts, Tania Harrison says:

“Latitude celebrates all the art forms and never more so than in this year’s theatre and spoken word performances. We have a multitude of voices, collaborations, and cross art performances – from opera to spoken word to comedy to music to circus to straight plays, puppetry, physical theatre and acrobatics to one on one conversations and encounters – there is so much incredible and exciting work to see at Latitude this year. There’s theatre in the Poetry Arena, Literary Arena, Pandora’s Playground, the Little House, the Theatre Arena and on the banks of the Waterfront. Get a seat in the Theatre, a space on the grass, a cushion in the Poetry, or even climb in bed with a stranger; we’ve got it all going on in a field in Suffolk this summer.”

This year’s theatre programme will reflect on the 2016 theme: ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. Tania Harrison commented;

“The theme for Latitude this year is 'Love Thy Neighbour' and I will be looking to explore what it really means to have an understanding and relate to others; those people next to us, on social media, in the present, across the table, across genders, across streets, across countries, across class and religion, politics and physicality. It's about breaking boundaries for the greater good.”

Theatre Arena
Circa, the stunning contemporary circus company from Australia will open the Theatre Arena on Thursday evening with their genre-defying show Il Ritorno, dazzling the crowds with riveting acrobatic performance set to Monteverdi’s operatic music. Exploring themes of displacement and refugeeism, Il Ritorno is a breath-taking physical performance that resonates with Latitude’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’.

Led by Artistic Director Lee Simpson and in collaboration with Blind Summit, Improbable will present an improvised puppetry performance like no other – Animo – where the characters will literally be constructed before your very eyes. With no script, no set, just a range of everyday materials and five improvisers, Animo will invent itself as it goes along.

Further thrills will be found in Berlin-based arts collective Gob Squad’s Super Night Shot, the second of our international theatre shows to explore the Latitude theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. InSuper Night Shot, the public will become co-stars in a movie that celebrates unplanned meetings with strangers and delights in the randomness of urban existence.

In what is sure to be one of this year’s highlights, the Lyric Hammersmith return to the theatre tent for the first time in five years with this irreverent, iconoclastic and deeply disrespectful celebration of the genius of Oscar Wilde; a work-in-progress performance of their forthcoming production, The Importance of Being Earnest. Director Sean Holmes wrangles The Great British Bake Off’s Mel Giedroyc and a dishevelled comedian, Ed Gaughan, to take on the extreme acting challenge of playing every character in Wilde’s masterpiece.

In another musical spectacular, the Theatre Arena audience will be on their feet, singing along with the Graeae and their heart-warming performance of Paul Sirett’s acclaimed coming of age tale Reasons to be Cheerful, featuring Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ greatest hits. Experience Ian Dury’s lyrics in all their glory as British sign language, captioning and audio descriptive banter are seamlessly woven into the show. Graeae Theatre Company is a pioneer in terms of access, inclusion and activism, and as an integrated disabled and non-disabled company the 2016 theme of ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ couldn't be more clearly demonstrated in their brilliantly diverse performers and working methods.

Award-winning comedian and playwright Mark Thomas will be performing Red Shed, the final part in a trilogy that began with Bravo Figaro and Cuckooed. Part theatre, stand up, journalism and activism, Red Shed sees Mark back at the place where he first started to perform in public, a red wooden shed in Wakefield – the labour club – to celebrate the club’s 50^th birthday. Touching upon this year’s theme ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, it is the story of the battle for hope and the survival of a community in a small wooden shed.

In the first of two Theatre Arena productions marking the 400^th year since Shakespeare’s death,Fight in the Dog will present some of Latitude’s favourite comedians putting their own spin on one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies; Love’s Labour’s Lost, with Liam Williams infusing the words of William with a unique freshness and fun. Following their incredible performance ofDracula at last year’s festival, Action to the Word return to the Theatre Arena with an electrifying adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, bringing their dynamic, exciting and shocking theatre style to one of the playwright’s most famous plays.

The Theatre Arena audience will need to have their hairbrushes at the ready to sing along with French company Airnadette – the world's greatest air-band – who are bringing their hit lip synching showcase to Latitude this year. Described by GQ as ‘part postmodern happening, part totally berserk’ and jam packed with references to cult classics from Star Wars to Monty Python,it’s sure to blow everyone away!

Sam Halmarack, Dan Canham & Olivia Winteringham will be presenting an early exploration of the devised musical Always and Totally Forever – a lament for what’s gone and a chaotic celebration of what’s to come. Through a riotous mosaic of song, dance and video art, the company will have the audience feeling the lust, confusion and excitement of being a teenager first-hand.

The Little House
The Little House studio space will host an eclectic variety of extraordinary performances. Opera North will be bringing a real bandstand full of musicians playing the sound of long summer nights in The Little House, with a performance of Parklife. Ferocious Transylvanian fiddling meets smoky Hungarian café songs; this whirl of European music from Bartók to Brahms will bring to life lost worlds and leave the audience spellbound.

The Young Vic & Royal Court will present Cuttin’ It – the incredibly emotive play from award-winning playwright Charlene James, tackling the urgent issue of FGM in Britain and the price some girls pay to become a woman. It’s a piece that encourages the audience to look more closely at the lives of those around them and to raise awareness of a deeply affecting procedure.

Latitude is thrilled to welcome another brand new play by Charlene James, brought to the festival by the UK’s foremost British-African theatre company tiata fahodzi, working in collaboration with world-leading Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) who have commissioned her to write with – and for – an exceptional cast of black RADA students. Their brief: to write better for black Britons, and bring the British public an enthralling new piece about humans, not stereotypes.

The phenomenally talented producer, director, performer and writer Shon Dale-Jones, best known for his comic creation Hugh Hughes, will be bringing a brand new show, The Duke, to The Little House. The show, about rearranging your priorities in a world full of crisis, gives us pause for thought.

Liam Williams, two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and “the Fringe's most articulate and original chronicler of twenty-something angst” (Telegraph) will present his debut play,Travesty, a show with a simple and striking conceit at its centre, about a couple of young, slightly lost, middle-class people who meet, start having sex and then don’t so much fall in love as cautiously negotiate their way into it.

Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit of Sh!t Theatre will present another of this year’s work in progress productions, Letters to Windsor House – a simultaneously personal and political piece of detective work and a look at how the housing crisis has affected the two performers’ friendship, a personal look at the Latitude theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. Ursula Martinez will present Free Admission, a show that celebrates the inconsistencies and contradictions that make us human, whilst having a dig at some of the mess that is of our own making.

More new work being showcased in The Little House this year includes an extraordinary new drone soundscape piece from Christopher Brett Bailey – composer, theatre-maker and author of the award-winning punk-opera The Inconsiderate Aberrations of Billy the Kid. Nabokov Theatre Company, led by their new Artistic Director, Stef O’Driscoll, will take over The Little House for an evening of live music, theatre and RAVE. As well as nabokov’s brand new show SLUG written by Sabrina Mahfouz, you can expect nabokov’s incredible associates’ artists, world champion beatboxer Bellatrix, TeaFilms and Real Media’s Kam Sandhu to present an explosive multimedia experience. Licensed to Ill will have The Little House audience on their feet with their outrageously energetic account of the Beastie Boys rise to fame.

In Jim Cartwright’s highly acclaimed play Raz, the Latitude audience is invited out on the town with Shane, one of the low-paid generation living with his parents, and living it up at the weekend, blowing his wage packet on a perfectly orchestrated evening of drinks, drugs, and girls. Directed by Anthony Banks and starring James Cartwright, Raz has won much critical praise, described by the Evening Standard as “a rhythmic, rhyming vivid treat. Beautifully written and an enthralling performance.” The hilarious comedy trio Sleeping Trees take on sci-fi movies accompanied by a rip-roaring live score in a brand new show, and internationally acclaimed comedian George Eggwill bring his sell out surreal and absurd mix of stand-up comedy and striking innovation to The Little House. The i paper have said of Anarchist Cook: One Man, One Hour, Three Courses, that “someone should give Egg his own anarchist cookery television show as soon as possible”, and Latitude agrees – this is an experience not to be missed!

Actress and set designer Stefanie Mueller will present Prelude to a Coat; an investigation into the choices we make and why we make them, from the things we own to the things we do, andRachael Clerke will be performing the highly political and very funny Cuncrete (described by one audience goer as “Eric Pickles meets Pussy Riot”). Site specific, collaborative theatre companyFlipping the Bird are set to perform a new feminist piece written by Phoebe Éclair-Powell, Fox, and in a performance exploring this year’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ Annie Siddons will bringHow (not) to Live in Suburbia, a piece based upon Annie’s gauche and wrong-footed attempts to fit in after she accidently found herself living in suburbia.

Old Trunk Theatre were responsible for last year’s smash-hit success Pramkicker, and in 2016 the hugely talented Sadie Masler and Sarah Mayhew are back with a brand new production, Fran & Leni; part of a series of performances celebrating the 40^th anniversary of punk. There will be a new show, Triple Threat from the experimental performer Lucy McCormick; a trash-step-dub-punk morality play for the modern age. And finally for The Little House audience, Pentabus Theatre will present a piece by their 16-25 year old young writers, with Last Journey; a performance comprised of interwoven vignettes, many of which explore this year’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. Silent Uproar will perform A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) – a fun, silly and sad new show written by Jon Brittain which explores the serious issues of depression and mental health, told with a mixture of storytelling, live music, and sketch comedy.

Faraway Forest
The magical setting of Latitude’s legendary Faraway Forest will see the return of Glen Neath & David Rosenberg with a Latitude commission called Séance, a piece that takes place in a shipping container, in total darkness as the audience tries to connect with the other side. Everything By My Side, by celebrated Argentinian artist Fernando Rubio and presented by LIFT, invites members of the audience to climb into bed with a stranger; one of seven actresses in seven beds, who will whisper intimate stories from their childhood. This brief encounter will take place in the middle of the Faraway Forest in the heart of Latitude Festival. Forest Fringe are also back, presenting a diverse bill of new and specially commissioned work exploring this year’s theme, along with Dash Arts who will present Ukrainian Dacha – the latest instalment in The Soviet Series – an artistic journey through the lands, people, stories and cultures of the Post-Soviet States.

There will be new work aplenty in the Faraway Forest, with Mobile by The Paper Birds, exploring themes of home, belonging, social mobility, that also tie into the theme of ‘Love Thy Neighbour’.Deanna Rodger & Gemma Rogers will present a new show, Earth: Life on Earth is baffling, and not quite what Gem & D had wished for come the year 2016, so they are on a mission to find an alternative habitat, and in the pursuit of space away from Earth they come face to face with the view of home truths.

Further new work in the Faraway Forest will include Poleroid Theatre presenting three short ballads about being alive and not, The Ballad Of The Pirate, The Talking Horse and The Monkeywritten by the award winning Luke Barnes, Brad Birch and Kenneth Emson. ARWC will treat the audience to Hang the Teasmaid, A Penguin Classic – short comedy play in the style of an Alan Bennett ‘Talking Heads’, imagining the first meeting between Bennett and Morrissey, with Alan Cox taking on the role of Alan Bennett.

Leeds Beckett will be performing the specially commissioned Borrowed Shoes: exploring this year’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, this performance is based upon ‘borrowing’ and learning from the lived experiences of real people from different generations within our society.

Pandora’s Playground
Pandora’s Playground will once again embody the spirit of experiment and carnival with performances from the likes of the award-winning Les Enfants Terribles and their The Fantastical Flying Exploratory Laboratory; a theatrical spectacular featuring a ‘hot air balloon flying machine’ that is sure to mesmerise the Latitude audience.

Pandora’s Playground will also host new productions exploring this year’s theme, includingLatitude, GDIF, Lyric & Imagine Watford presenting Home by Hikapee: Home is a new, daring outdoor circus piece, weaving together slapstick comedy with breath-taking aerial, acrobatic and physical performances to explore what it is to create a ‘home’. Latitude, GDIF, Lyric & Imagine Watford will also present The Little Gardener by How it Ended, a theatrical adaption of Emily Hughes’ popular children’s book The Little Gardener.

Poetry Arena
Theatre and poetry will collide in an eclectic programme of events in the Poetry Arena, including award-winning writer and performer Katie Bonna and her first full-length show – all new for 2016 –All The Things I Lied About. Part documentary and part personal experience, the show is a comic exploration of what happened to estrange Katie from her father, what she is going to do about it in the face of apparently being a grown-up, and why none of us really like honesty as much as we say we do. The charming, eccentric and uplifting Rob Auton, described as ‘the Brian Cox of comedy’ by the Guardian, will also be delighting the audience with brand new work: The Sleep Show.

Jemima Foxtrot is another theatre addition to the Poetry Arena – a performance poet and singer who blends powerful, sonic heavy poetry about modern life with snippets of her favourite artists’ songs. In Memory, Foxtrot will explore how music attached itself to memories, people and places – all told through a journey home from work.

POETRY AT LATITUDE
At the very heart of the festival’s mission to bring arts and music together, the Poetry Arena has always showcased the very best stand up, beat and performance poets, alongside literary legends. This year is no different, with a stellar line up set to captivate and enthral the Latitude audience.

Taking to the stage will be self-taught poet Don Paterson, whose astonishing work has garnered much critical acclaim and multiple awards, including the T.S Eliot Prize. Reading from his collection 40 Sonnets, he will tackle the form head-on, as described by the Guardian: ‘Paterson’s poetry has always been distinguished by its marriage of craft and lyricism, and the sonnet is, simply, the perfect vehicle to showcase this.’ Another highlight, the multi-talented Henry Normal– comedian, poet and writer and television producer responsible for hugely popular programmes such as Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh and Human Remains.

The famously eccentric and very funny John Hegley will also be delighting the crowds, along with prize-winning poet, novelist, playwright, biographer and translator, Elaine Feinstein. With over 4m views on her YouTube clips, UK Slam Poetry Champion Hollie McNish is not be missed, especially with such endorsement from high-profile fans like Tim Minchin and Benjamin Zephaniah, who has said he ‘can’t take his ears off her’.

Michael Pedersen, co-founder of the exciting cultural collective Neu! Reekie! will be taking to the stage as one half of ‘Scotland’s favourite avante-garde noisemakers’, as will the phenomenally successful Buddy Wakefield, who is set to deliver a characteristically raw, rounded, disarming performance of humour and heart. This year’s outstanding line up will also include co-curator Luke Wright, who will present his new work alongside a wip character Frankie Vah.

Punk poet John Baine brings his radical-force-of-nature poet alter-ego Attila The Stockbroker, who has recently celebrated the 35^th anniversary of his first gig with publication of his autobiography Arguments Yard. A former punk-folk musician, his themes are topical, words hard-hitting, politics unashamedly radical, but make festival crowds roar with laughter as well as seethe with anger. The multi-talented Joshua Idehen will delight the Poetry Arena audience not once, but twice, in a solo spoken word performance and then again as the frontman of bandBenin City. Latitude favourite John Osborne, well known for his Radio 4 comedy shows including John Peel's Shed and The Newsagent's Window will also perform at the Poetry Arena.

The Poetry Arena audience will be treated to performances by Tim Wells, founding editor ofRising poetry magazine and praised by the Guardian for his ‘wit and brilliance’. Former English teacher turned rap battle champ Mark Grist will be joined by award-winning spoken word artistTim Clare for a captivating performance. In a collaboration between The Hosepipe Band and North Essex poet Martin Newell, the band will be performing original music to accompany readings of Martin’s epics, The Song of the Waterlily and Black Shuck – about the sinister ghostly dog said to have haunted East Anglia since Viking times.

Outstanding young talent Helen Mort will be dazzling the Poetry Arena as, according to none other than Carol Ann Duffy, one of the ‘brightest stars in the sparkling new constellation of young British poets’. Talia Randall will bring the extraordinarily original Bloodlines production to the Poetry Arena, remixing garage MCing, communist manifestos and Hulk Hogan’s speeches in an inventive and heartfelt show about how we make sense of ourselves in the 21st century. Rosy Carrick's eccentric style, dense rhyme structures and forceful imagery have won her international acclaim, as well as firmly cementing her place as one of the UK's most unusual and exciting contemporary performance poets.

Harry Baker – ‘a champion’, according to Ed Sheeran, is sure to win the hearts and minds of the Latitude audience with his trademark raw honesty, tongue-in-cheek humour and blistering wordplay. And finally, Derek McLuckie will be taking the Latitude audience on a rollercoaster ride of stories and poems with his signature theatrical showcase.

Lavish Big Screen
The Lavish Big Screen will celebrate the 40 year anniversary of the birth of punk with evenings curated by three iconic legends of the punk era, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, Cabaret Voltaire’s Stephen Mallinder and the ‘Rebel Dread’ himself, Don Letts. Each day will feature film, video and music programmes handpicked by the three, followed by live DJ sets by themselves and others long into the night.

Benicàssim add Kendrick Lamar, Jamie XX, Major Lazer and more

November 18, 2018December 18, 2015 by Summer Festival Guide

11 time Grammy nominated Kendrick Lamar has firmly established himself as rap’s new superstar and will showcase his unparalleled ability and powerful wordplay in his debut headline performance at Benicàssim in 2016.

Following the great success of his debut solo album and Mercury nominated ‘In Colours’, Jamie XX will be bring a live show every bit as jaw dropping as the album. Festival favourites The Maccabees will be making a return to FIB after an incredible set back in 2012, bringing with them hits from their number 1 album ‘Marks To Prove It’.

We’ll be welcoming the epic Bloc Party, remarkably making their Benicàssim debut. The irrepressible Kele Okereke will lead the band through a set packed with hits and a smattering of tracks from their new album “Hymns”. Another Benicàssim debutant will be the remarkable Mac DeMarco. The Canadian multi-instrumentalist and all round musical wizard will have you converted in seconds to his off-kilter pop which he describes himself as “jizz jazz.” Expect mass sing-alongs.

The new South Beach Dance stage will play host to unquestionably one of the major names at the forefront of the house and bass music scene, Hannah Wants. From the Basque country, we welcome DeLorean who’ll be bringing their wonderful blend of indie pop, Balearic house and electronic dance to keep the FIB Benicàssim crowd dancing through the night.

The Libertines will headline Reading and Leeds Festival 2015

November 18, 2018February 24, 2015 by Summer Festival Guide

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

Best Kept Secret Festival 2013

June 24, 2013 by Olivia Frayman

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.

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.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEST KEPT SECRET FESTIVAL

Sam Smith announced for Latitude 2013

November 18, 2018June 2, 2013 by Anna Hyams

Latitude is delighted to announce one of the UK’s current hottest talents Sam Smith will be performing as a special guest on The Lake Stage at this year’s festival, taking place at Henham Park, Suffolk from 18^th – 21^st July. Smith’s amazing vocals featured on one of 2012’s biggest tracks, Disclosure’s Latch and he’s back at the top of the charts again featuring on hot producer, Naughty Boy’s smash Number One single La La La, currently the fastest selling single of the year. Curated by Huw Stephens, The Lake Stage has played host to countless ‘next big things’ including Alt-J, The xx and Everything Everything and as one of 2013’s most exciting artists at just 21-years-old, Sam Smith is no exception.

Also on The Lake Stage this year will be the master of beautiful folk balladry Benjamin Francis Leftwich, London indie-pop quartet Veronica Falls and hotly tipped Manchester foursome The 1975. Other must see sets include art-noise masters Bo Ningen, UK folk and grunge blend Wolf Alice, Australian rave revivalists Jagwar Ma and tropical pop reggae artist Hollie Cook.

OBELISK ARENA

Friday
Bloc Party
The Maccabees
Cat Power
Yo La Tengo
I Am Kloot
Stornoway
Tim Burgess

Saturday
Kraftwerk (3D Show)
Hot Chip
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Jessie Ware
Steve Mason
Efterklang
Charles Bradley And His Extraordinaires

Sunday
Foals
Grizzly Bear
James Blake
Local Natives
The Tallest Man On Earth
Junip

BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC STAGE

Friday
Modest Mouse
Calexico
Villagers
Richard Thompson Electric Trio
Beth Orton
Akron/Family
Willy Mason
James Skelly & The Intenders

Saturday
Alt-J
Mark Lanegan Band
Everything Everything
Daughter
White Denim
Duane Eddy
Matthew E. White

Sunday
Beach House
Disclosure
Cocorosie
Rudimental
MÚM
IamamIwhoamI
Austra
Laura Mvula

Bloc Party, Kraftwerk 3-D & Foals to headline Latitude Festival

November 18, 2018March 19, 2013 by Summer Festival Guide

OBELISK ARENA

BLOC PARTY | KRAFTWERK 3-D | FOALS

THE MACCABEES | HOT CHIP

BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC STAGE

MODEST MOUSE | ALT-J |BEACH HOUSE

EXCLUSIVE APPEARANCES FROM:

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH | WHITE DENIM | YEAH YEAH YEAHS | YO LA TENGO AND MORE

PLUS: AKRON/FAMILY | BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA | BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH

FIMBER BRAVO | FRIENDS | HOOKWORMS | I AM KLOOT | JAGWAR MA

LOCAL NATIVES | MALCOLM MIDDLETON |MARIKA HACKMAN

MATTHEW E. WHITE | MIKHAEL PASKALEV |MOON DUO | MÚM |PURITY RING

RACHEL ZEFFIRA | SERAFINA STEER| SINKANE | STEALING SHEEP | STEVE MASON

VERONICA FALLS | VILLAGERS | WAVE MACHINES

WIDOWSPEAK | WILLY MASON | YOUNG WONDER

COMEDY AT LATITUDE

DYLAN MORAN | DANIEL KITSON | SEANN WALSH | TIM KEY| LEE NELSON

JOSH WIDDICOMBE | MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE’s POLICY UNIT | MARK WATSON

MARCEL LUCONT | ROMESH RANGANATHAN | ELIS JAMES | THE NOISE NEXT DOOR

TIFFANY STEVENSON | IDIOTS OF ANTS |HENNESSY & FRIENDS | LORETTA MAINE

THE SUNDAY ASSEMBLY | HOLLY WALSH | LUISA OMIELAN | ED ACZEL | SHEEPS

BRYONY KIMMINGS |DANIEL SIMONSEN | VIKKI STONE| MCNEIL AND PAMPHILON | ALFIE BROWN

SAM FLETCHER | PAT CAHILL | MAE MARTIN | LUCY BEAUMONT | RICH & ANDY

BEN TARGET | ANDREW RYAN | NISH KUMAR | CHRIS KENDALL | DAVID TRENT

JENNY FAWCETT | HOLLY BURN | JOHN ROBINS | SUZY BENNETT | AISLING BEA

CHORTLE STUDENT AWARDS | MONSTER COMEDY SHED

MORE ACTS AND VERY SPECIAL GUESTS – TO BE ANNOUNCED

THEATRE AND DANCE

NATIONAL THEATRE WALES AND NEON NEON | SADLER’S WELLS PRESENT ‘ROCÍO MOLINA’

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH, GREENWICH+DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, WATFORD PALACE THEATRE AND LATITUDE PRESENTRASH DASH, TANGLED FEET, PIN THE TALE, PINS & NEEDLES

PLUS MANY MORE COMPANIES TO BE ANNOUNCED

ARTISTS

DAVID SHRIGLEY | ALAN MOORE & MITCH JENKINS| TIM WALKER

THE NATIONAL GALLERY PRESENT ‘TITIAN ON TOUR’ | DAVID SHILLINGLAW

FILM AND MUSIC

DANIEL KITSON FILM PLUS Q&A | JEFFREY LEWIS & THE RAIN | ICA PRESENT BOWIEFEST

REVEREND BILLY & THE CHURCH OF STOP SHOPPING | SNARKY PUPPY | CROOK AND FLAIL

ULTIMATE BOWIE |GAVIN OSBORN | TOTAL FILM Q&A

POETRY ARENA

CAROL ANN DUFFY | MURRAY LACHLAN YOUNG | LIZ LOCHHEAD

THURSTON MOORE |DANIEL KITSON & GAVIN OSBORN |DON PATERSON |MICHAEL ROSEN

LITERATURE

GERMAINE GREER| JONATHAN CAINER | JEREMY DYSON| WORDTHEATRE

ROBIN INCE’s ‘DIRTY BOOK CLUB’ | SALON LONDON | THE LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY

BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS |FESTIVAL OF THE SPOKEN NERD WITH HELEN ARNEY AND STEVE MOULD

SELFMADE HERO: GRAPHIC NOVEL DISCUSSION WITH GLYN DILLON, JOFF WINTERHART, CORBAN WILKIN

CHAIRED BY TOBY LITT

CABARET/LIVE ART

CARNESKY'S TAROT DROME

BOOM TISH CABARET | BOOGALOO STU | FANCY CHANCE | BORIS & SERGEY | SWING PATROL

ARTWANK | EGGS COLLECTIVE | RICHARD DEDOMENICI | BRIAN LOBEL

LATE NIGHT DJ’S

GUILTY PLEASURES | BUTTONED DOWN DISCO |SINK THE PINK | DISCO SHED

THE LAVISH BIG SCREEN | LATE JUNCTION

THE CHILDREN’S ARENA | THE INBETWEENERS TEEN AREA | TOUR DE LATITUDE

First to headline Latitude’s magnificent Obelisk Arena on the Friday will be Bloc Party, whose recent triumphant return to form has been welcomed by fans and critics alike. On Saturday evening German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk will take to the stage, this performance will be a rare chance for festival goers to witness one of the most influential bands of all time performing their highly celebrated 3-D concert. Oxford quintet Foals have proven themselves to be one of the UK’s most dynamic and accomplished bands of recent times, further supported by their Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize nominations and NME Award Best Song gongs. Known for creative precision, Foals are preparing a closing show to be remembered for years to come.

Yannis from Foals comments on their headline appearance: “Latitude is always exciting, because they offer a very tasteful selection of acts. For our band, it’s an honour to headline alongside someone of the calibre of Kraftwerk – they can do whatever they like, they’re unique and you know they’re going to put on an incredible show. Bloc Party will be fantastic headliners too.”

Other special appearances across the music stages include exclusive UK festival performances from the heroes of the Tex-Mex sound Calexico, the sonically adventurous sister act, CocoRosie, and the only 2013 UK live show from dancefloor favourites Hot Chip and Mark Lanegan Band. Joining them with Latitude exclusive performances will be band of the moment, Rhye, whose slinky, sensual R&B pop is currently bewitching tastemakers, the transfixing The Tallest Man on Earth, one of 2013’s most intriguing and sort after electronic acts Sohn, Brooklyn garage-maestros Yeah Yeah Yeahs and ever-evolving indie legends Yo La Tengo. In addition to these exclusives will be unmissable sets from Grammy-nominated Malian musician Bassekou Kouyate, Brighton indie darlings and NME Award Best Album winners The Maccabees, 2013 Brit nominee Jessie Ware, cult-status chanteuse Cat Power and electronic auteur James Blake.

Latitude is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with BBC Radio 6 Music, naming the second stage as the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage. This year the stage will host even more exciting musical treats including headline sets from Baltimore dream-pop duo Beach House in a UK festival exclusive; Portland’s greatest musical exports, indie-rock stalwarts Modest Mouse; and Mercury Prize-winning Alt-J, whose performance on The Lake Stage in 2012 was a festival highlight. Other acts set to play on the coveted stage include math-rock maestros Everything Everything, the girl currently on everyone’s lips, soul singer Laura Mvula, plus visually theatrical Swedish synth-pop duo IAMAMIWHOAMI and garage-rock perfection from White Denim both with UK festival exclusive performances; along with adventurous folk artistry from Villagers and much, much more.

Latitude is the event of the summer to see the very best in new music. If leftfield music is your thing, then the i Arena is the spot. Tucked away in Latitude’s beautiful woodland area, this year the stage will provide a magically intimate setting for the headliners; gloriously chaotic rock ‘n' roll of Japandroids, warped-electro hipsters Purity Ring and psychedelic husband and wife outfit Moon Duo. The Lake Stage, curated by Huw Stephens, has played host to numerous ‘next big things’ and this year is no exception with headline performances coming from the master of beautiful folk balladry Benjamin Francis Leftwich, London indie-pop quartet Veronica Falls and hotly tipped Manchester foursome The 1975. Other must see sets include art-noise masters Bo Ningen and Australian rave revivalists Jagwar Ma.

Melvin Benn, Founder and Creator of Latitude, comments: “As it enters the eighth edition, Latitude is now firmly established as the most artistically ambitious event in the UK summer calendar, with a line-up that goes from strength to strength each year. We’re delighted to welcome the forefathers of electronic music, Kraftwerk, to Latitude with their 3-D show who, along with Bloc Party and Foals, will headline an incredibly strong music programme that already includes some of 2013’s hottest acts. As always, however, music is just part of the experience, and our eleven arts arenas will play host to a selection of comedians, theatre companies, poets, writers and other performers that really do make Latitude much more than a music festival.”

In addition to the music bill, Latitude offers an unrivalled selection of innovative arts programming, with a line-up that reads like a virtual walk through the culture pages of a Sunday newspaper. Eleven dedicated arts arenas, stages and spaces will offer performances from a spectacular mix of artists across comedy, film, dance, theatre, literature, poetry and cabaret.

Daniel Kitson will bring six performances spread over four different shows to Latitude 2013. Kitson (Writer, Performer, Keen Home Cook) will be appearing across Latitude’s arts arenas throughout the weekend like a self-important, pie fingering, genre straddling behemoth. In the Theatre Arena he will present two performances of his current tour show After the Beginning. Before the End. The same venue will also play host to the first previews of a brand new theatrical work. Meanwhile, the Poetry Arena will see Kitson joining forces with big balled mega legend musician Gavin Osborn for a one off performance of Lucinda Ding and the Monstrous Thing, a forty five minute adventure poem ballad thing from the long-time collaborators. Finally, the Film & Music Arena will host the first ever public screening of It's Always Right Now, Until It's Later, a concert film of the show by the same name recorded last summer in Manchester and followed here by a Q&A session with Kitson and the film maker, Ewan Jones Morris.

Latitude’s Comedy line-up will once again play host to all manner of big-name comics. Heading up the stellar comedy line-up will be offbeat Irish stand-up Dylan Moran, best known for co-writing and starring in Black Books, which has twice won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Situation Comedy, Brighton’s finest motor-mouth Seann Walsh, the multi-talented poet, film maker and comic Tim Key and South London tearaway and man of the moment Lee Nelson with his qwaliteeee jokes, games and banter. Also appearing will be one of the best up-and-coming acts on the UK circuit, Josh Widdicombe andcomedian, author, sports pundit and husband Mark Watson and the award-winning Marcus Brigstocke’s new show Policy Unit will be making a stand in Henham Park. Bringing Latitude a preview of his new Edinburgh show will be musically minded comedian Charlie Baker, the jazz ‘n’ jokes fusion of The Horne Section. Also flying in from the US is the comic talk-show host, who turns righteous anger into breathlessly funny jokes, Jamie Kilstein. Fans of TV comedy will be pleased to seeKerry Godliman, who recently took a leading role in Ricky Gervais’ Derek and star of Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, the Canadian comic Katherine Ryan. BBC Radio 1 DJ and hot young comedian Tom Deacon will bring his combination of looks, lines and charm, as will Ed Gamble, the celebrated young comic and one half of hit podcasters and BBC Radio 4 Extra presenters Peacock and Gamble.

Also on hand to tickle festival-goers fancies over the weekend will be Marcel Lucont the laconic Frenchman with dry wit, bawdy chansons and exquisite sex poetry; critically acclaimed comedienne and TV starlet Sara Pascoe and winner of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Award, hotly-tipped comedian extraordinaire, Romesh Ranganathan.

Performance artist Bryony Kimmings will challenge opinions with her eagerly anticipated new show, Catherine Bennett, Latitude favourites Idiots of Ants will bring their madcap sketch show and The Sunday Assembly will hold an all-singing, all-dancing godless congregation. The hits will continue throughout the weekend, giving festival-goers the chance to see sell-out shows like Luisa Omielan’s hilarious meditation on celebrity culture What Would Beyonce Do?. Daran Johnson, Alistair Roberts and Liam Williams bring their infamous sketch show Sheeps and Austentatious come to Latitude with An Improvised Novel, a full-length comedy play. Holly Burn appears with The H Club, Suffolk's least exclusive private members club, as does the 2012 Best Newcomer winner at the Edinburgh Fosters Comedy Awards, Daniel Simonsen and Lucy Beaumont winner of the BBC New Comedy Award in 2012. A selection of the country’s most promising up and coming comics, selected by theChortle Student Comedy Awards will be on hand to tickle festival goers and over in Pandora’s Playground the infamously intimate Monster Comedy Shed will provide festival goers with one of the smallest and hilarious gigs of their lives.

Other comedy performers so far include: James Acaster, Joel Dommett, Brett Goldstein, Elis James, The Noise Next Door, Hennessy & Friends, Tiffany Stevenson, Loretta Maine, Ed Aczel, Holly Walsh, Vikki Stone, McNeil and Pamphilon, Alfie Brown, Sam Fletcher, Pat Cahill, Mae Martin, Rich & Andy, Ben Target, Andrew Ryan, Nish Kumar, Chris Kendall, David Trent, Jenny Fawcett, John Robins, Suzy Bennett, Aisling Bea, Rob Beckett, Joe Lycett and Matt Rees.

The Theatre Arena will serve up a whole host of dramatic performances including the National Theatre Wales’ and Neon Neon Praxis Make Perfect. An exciting and unique collaboration, set to blur the boundaries between pop gig and theatre performance. On the stunning Waterfront Stage Sadler’s Wells present the first full length dance show ever to be taken to a festival from award-winning flamenco dancer, and Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Rocío Molina, who has quickly established herself as one of the most important choreographers and performers at the forefront of flamenco. Rocío Molina’s performance marks Sadler’s Wells’ sixth visit to Latitude. Daniel Kitson will present two performances of his current tour show After the Beginning. Before the End. The fields of Henham Park will premiere the Royal Exchange Theatre’s There Has Possibly Been An Incident, Ockham’s Razor will bring the thrill of the circus to Pandora’s Playground and The National Youth Theatre will showcase their new version of Little Red Riding Hood with not one, but two separate endings, exploring the themes and fears of the fairy tale, while BAC will present Made In China’s new play Gym Party. Forest Fringe will deliver immersive theatre to Latitude, with the twist being that the festival goers both create and participate in the show, making dreams come true.

Elsewhere the award-winning theatre group Clean Break will present two new plays by Alice Birch and Sonya Hale, Hours til Midnight and Many Moons, dealing with women’s experience of the criminal justice system and performed by graduates of the company’s theatre in education programme. The Wrong Crowd reinvent one of Slavic folklore’s most extraordinary characters, the child-eating hag-witch Baba Yaga, PEEP will present Sexlife, as well as a premiere of a new play also by Kefi Chadwick, while DryWrite brings together writer and performer Phoebe Waller-Bridger and director Vicky Jones for a new production of five short plays, Good. Clean. Fun. In a special Latitude commission exploring the festival’s theme of What Defines Me? Curious Directive will debut The Yellow Path, a new play that mixes the Chinese Zodiac with stargazing.

The Pleasance will preview some of the best work appearing at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In the fabulous Faraway Forest, theatrical fun will be provided by Fuel Theatre, which will present the surprising, delightful and intriguing While You Wait sound project and a specially written tribute to Doctor Who comes from And Remember…We Care as the hit TV show celebrates its golden anniversary. Dance East will be at Latitude with their hit dance workshops, Wales’ foremost fringe theatre company Dirty Protest will bring their guerrilla approach to performance to Latitude’s Outdoor Theatre with Plays In A Bag, a series of new commissions to Welsh playwrights that must be carried everywhere… in a bag. Daniel Bye will stop by to deliver his whistle-stop tour of bizarre facts and impassioned argument The Price of Everything, and Boo Dwyer will transplant the punk spirit of late 70’s New York to Wolverhampton in Dye Young/Stay Pretty.

Following on from success of their 2012 collaboration Latitude has once again joined forces with Lyric Hammersmith,Greenwich + Docklands International Festival and Watford Palace Theatre to present a visual and physical outdoor theatre extravaganza of exciting new talent. Together four companies have been commissioned to present four new shows. The specially selected companies have been chosen for their innovation and artistic creativity in an outdoor space. For 2013, Latitude, the Lyric, GDIF and Watford Palace Theatre will present work from RashDash, Tangled Feet, Pin The Tale and Pins & Needle. Each company will perform at the commissioning festivals and spaces over the summer.

Latitude is extremely proud to present an amazing programme of renowned artists for 2013. David Shrigley, whose instantly recognisable naive style has elevated him into the world of fine art, will be making a very rare appearance and presenting from his work How Are You Feeling? One of the most influential comic book writers of all time, the man behind Watchmenand V for Vendetta, Alan Moore will be discussing the making of his short film, Jimmy’s End along with director Mitch Jenkins allowing Latitude goers to get into the minds of the creators. One of the world’s leading fashion photographers,Tim Walker, will be taking to the stage for a rare and intimate ‘in conversation’ appearance. The National Gallery invites the audience to immerse themselves in great art by Renaissance master Titian, the mobile cinema offers a National Gallery festival experience celebrating Diana and Callisto, a painting recently acquired for the nation. In The Faraway ForestLondon based artist David Shillinglaw will be painting a mural based on this year’s Neuroscience vs Sex theme where festival goers will be free to submit suggestions for words or phrases to be included in the final painting.

An exciting mix of film screenings and special multi-media live music performances will also be on offer. Appearing across the festival over the weekend will be Daniel Kitson in the Film & Music Arena to host the first ever public screening of It's Always Right Now, Until It's Later, a concert film of the show by the same name recorded last summer in Manchester and followed by a Q&A session with Kitson and the film maker, Ewan Jones Morris. Comic booker writer, artist and Rough Trade signed musician Jeffrey Lewis & The Rain will appear and The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) will, in association withBowiefest, present a celebration of David Bowie’s breakthrough year of 1973 in a programme of screenings, talks and live performances from some very special guests. Also appearing will be radical performance community church Reverend Billy & The Church Of Stop Shopping, revered Texan instrumental collective Snarky Puppy, tipped by the likes of The Guardianand The Independent, and experimental music duo Crook and Flail (Fog’s Andrew Broder and Adam Drucker of Subtle/Themselves/cLOUDEAD). The Latitude audience can prepare to be transported across 40 years of Bowie, from Spaceboy to Superstar, by Ed Blaney's Ultimate Bowie and Gavin Osborn will be on hand to entertain festival-goers with his wry musical comedy. Total Film magazine will be hosting a series of premieres, Q&A’s and more over the festival weekend.

The hugely popular Poetry Arena features the very best in poetry and this year is no exception with readings from the British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy; the spectacular British performance poet Murray Lachlan Young, The Scots Makar, Scottish Poet Laureate Liz Lochhead and Sonic Youth songwriter and poet Thurston Moore. Daniel Kitson with Gavin Osborn will perform My Adventure Poem and The Queen’s Gold Medal winner Don Paterson will also be taking to the stage.Michael Rosen, formerly the UK’s first Children’s Laureate and one of the nation’s best loved children’s poets will be appearing, as will co-curator of the Poetry Arena Luke Wright. This is just the beginning; there will be a whole host of exciting names including Ross Sutherland with an Edinburgh preview, The Islander, a 'lo-fo musical' about memory, first-loves and growing up and Tim Clare, John Osborne, Poejazzi, Apples and Snakes, Dead Poets, Katie Bonna, Mike Garry, Byron Vincent, Intensi-T, Tim Turnbull, Caroline Bird, Hollie McNish, William Letford, Steve Roggenbuck.

The Literary line-up will play host to a unique selection of the nation’s most dynamic names. The legendary Germaine Greerwill be presenting a discussion on The Disappearing Woman and Jonathan Cainer will show exactly why he remains one of the world’s most popular astrologers, expect to be riveted. Joining them will be Jeremy Dyson, best known as the co-creator of the BAFTA award-winning comedy series The League of Gentlemen, creating a ghostly atmosphere and reading from his new collection of stories The Haunted Book. WordTheatre will reveal a star studded line-up of well-known actors reading short stories and bringing his well-loved Book Club, Robin Ince will be giving it a saucy twist for 2013. Salon London,the cultural showcase that brings together some of the finest minds from the worlds of science and the arts will be there to entrance audiences with fresh perspectives and interdisciplinary discussion. There to blend highbrow thought with fun will be the artistic collective and thrower of unforgettably intelligent parties, events and masquerade balls The Last Tuesday Society.

Other authors taking the stage include Tracey Thorn with her sensational autobiography Bedsit Disco Queen, award-winning journalist and novelist Will Storr will explore why today’s heretics just don’t believe the facts and Duran Duran’sJohn Taylor will appear to discuss his candid autobiography In the Pleasure Groove. Also on Latitude’s literary line-up will beMatt Haig, author of five novels including the bestselling The Last Family in England and his latest, The Radleys, voted the winner of Channel 4's TV Book Club in 2011 and broadcaster and journalist Dawn O’Porter, who will be speaking about her gritty comical novel Paper Aeroplanes. For an academic perspective on the What Defines Me? theme, the writer and Chair of Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin Professor Ian Robertson will join the literary bill to talk about his book, The Winner Effect, which explores how worldly power affects the chemistry and structure of our brains.

Lovers of literary comedy can also look forward to a special appearance from BBC Radio 4’s Before They Were Famous, a spoof documentary which delves into the archives to present the early works of literary greats, brought to life at Latitude. The scientifically tinged fun will continue with the show that mixes sparkling wit with fascinating facts Festival of the Spoken Nerd with Helen Arney and Blue Peter’s science expert Steve Mould. Toby Litt will also chair a graphic novel discussion fromSelfMadeHero between Glyn Dillon, Joff Winterhart and Corban Wilkin.

Latitude’s Cabaret and Live Art line-up will offer up a feast of delights for lovers of the alternative arts, with a menu that runs from raucous fun to thought-provoking and daring performance. Carnesky’s Tarot Drome will be specially recreated in new form leading Latitude’s decadent Saturday night extravaganza. Leading London comedy and variety club Boom Tish Cabaret will curate their own programme of small but beautifully formed performance and the irreverent, fabulous and multi-talented Boogaloo Stu asks the audience to record a pop song, make a badge or play a parlour game. Fancy Chance will be hanging around in a red light booth that walks and hanging by her hair and Flabbergast Theatre will bring their sell-out Smash Boris and Sergey’s Vaudevillian Adventure to the Literary Salon, featuring bunraku puppetry, character comedy and improvisation of the highest calibre.

Swing Patrol will host the Sunday tea dance while live artist and connoisseur of antique pornography, Ophelia Bitz, will bring her celebrated project ArtWank, which contrasts vintage smut with modern toss. Feminist performance group Eggs Collective make their Latitude debut with a razor sharp, show of a girl’s big night out. Absurdist artist, filmmaker and performer Richard Dedomenici will perform his new show Cause and Effect, while Brian Lobel brings a digital slant withPurge, a brutal game of friendship management which explores what being a ‘friend’ means for members of the Facebook generation.

Following the success of last year’s Pagan to Occupy theme, the arts programming this year at Latitude will tackle another idea that defines our times in 2013 as it explores Neuroscience vs. Sex: What Defines Me? in association with The Wellcome Trust. Recent advancements in neuroscience are transforming the study of the brain and nervous system from a branch of biology into a wellspring of stories to explain the people we are and the societies we form. As such, neuroscience now grips contemporary artists, writers, performers and thinkers in a way we have not seen since developments in psychoanalysis shook up creative and intellectual life in the 1950’s. Alongside neuroscience, Latitude will also explore the subject of sex, looking at the central roles that sex, gender and sexual orientation play in creating our individual and collective identities. See the wonder and feel the atmosphere of Amsterdam come to life in The Faraway Forest!

Tania Harrison, Programmer of the Arts Arenas commented: “The most exciting part about creating a programme for Latitude is that it is a playground of possibility. Sometimes it feels like eleven stages packed with artists and performance is too much, too many things and ideas to get your head round and other times I think, hell, that’s not nearly enough! It’s pretty exciting this year with neuroscientists, thinkers and speakers adding to the creative mix at Latitude. There’s something stimulating for everyone from the fascinating to the roll around funny. I hope you like it.”

The first confirmed Late Night DJs are Guilty Pleasures for Friday night, an unashamedly glorious all-singing, all-dancing renouncement of pop music and an antidote to modern day clubbing fatigue created by Sean Rowley; Buttoned Down Disco, the largest indie dance party in the UK, coming to Latitude from Koko to rock the Saturday night, armed with ace music and glitter cannons! Trans-party collective Sink The Pink will be channelling some trendy East London realness at Latitude this year and Pandora’s Playground wouldn’t be the same without the Disco Shed pumping out big tunes until the small hours.

For 2013 The Lavish Big Screen presents the theme Revolution – Musical and visual anarchy, art mayhem and experimentation. This year at the Big Screen Lavish present an exciting selection of contemporary artists’ film and video plus live appearances by Phil Hartnoll (Orbital) and the legendary Don Letts (Big Audio Dynamite) and Harry K (Simply Dredd).

Late Junction, BBC Radio 3’s late night celebration of musical curiosities from across time and space returns to Latitude for a third year running. Filling the woods with captivating sounds, previous line-ups have featured music as diverse as Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier, song collector and Mercury Prize nominee Sam Lee and the tape music of minimalist composer Steve Reich. For 2013, Late Junction presenter Max Reinhardt hosts another hand-picked collection of diverse, wild music in the intimate setting of The Lavish Lounge, with highlights to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Including Newcastle’s skewed troubadour,Richard Dawson, and from Brazil, post-tropicalia polyphonic populists, Graveola.

Latitude’s recent Best Family Festival Award is testament to the huge array of family-friendly activities available for children and parents alike. Arranged around the banks of the central Latitude lake is the incredibly enticing Children's Arena, where children are entertained all day and into the night with everything from pond dipping and face painting to helterskelter rides and theatre workshops. A real hive of activity, it’s the place where children never want to leave and parents wish they could stay! The Inbetweeners’ Teen Area is for those kids who may just be a little too old for the Children's Arena, but still want to get involved. Teenagers can enjoy taking part in music, media and technology workshops, wildlife survival skills and assault courses suspended in the trees. Families can also choose to stay in the Family Campsite where like-minded people, early morning activities and easy access to the Children's Arena are guaranteed.

Sharon Reuben, Children’s Arena Booker said: “A riot of creativity, colour and curiosities, the Children’s Arena aims to be the best and doesn’t disappoint! With a backpack full of great ideas, we’re ready to entertain the most energetic kids. We also welcome back The Inbetweeners Teen Area, featuring the wild treetop and bushcraft activities of our friends at Greenpeace, alongside a packed programme of activities and workshops with music and media professionals, hosted by Cultureworks and Access to Music.”

Latitude and Marks & Spencer are excited to once again offer an adventurous way of travelling to the festival in 2013, with the second Tour de Latitude! This initiative will help participants reduce their carbon footprint by cycling their way to the festival in Suffolk, whilst raising vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, helping them in their life-saving work supporting seriously ill children and their families from across the UK. Everyone taking part will also have their ticket upgraded at the finish point with access to the Guest campsite and facilities throughout the festival, and Tour de Latitude will transfer bikes back to the start points and provide participants with coach travel back to where their adventure started.

Isle of Wight 2013 adds Jake Bugg, The Script and more

November 18, 2018December 3, 2012 by Summer Festival Guide

Jake Bugg, The Script, Bloc Party, Paloma Faith, The Maccabees, Ellie Goulding, Happy Mondays, Fun, Bonnie Raitt, Imperial Teen, The Farm, Blondie and Republica, will now be appearing, plus more to be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are selling fast for what will be an unforgettable experience, head to www.isleofwightfestival.com to get yours NOW!

Jake Bugg is the most exciting new singer songwriter in the UK and will be making his debut appearance on the Isle of Wight Festival’s Main Stage on Friday 14^th June. Also joining the Main Stage bill on Sunday 16^th June will be one of the biggest & best-loved bands, The Script, who return with their meticulously-crafted, meaningful songs.

The Isle of Wight Festival Main Stage has seen many epic performances and 2013 will be no different, with the addition of Bloc Party, a band that has shaped the sound of modern British guitar music and will be appearing on Saturday 15^th June. Returning for the second time will be Festival favourite Paloma Faith, who will be captivating the crowd on Sunday 16^th June. Next up, South Londoners, The Maccabees will also be performing their well crafted yet off-kilter alt-pop songs ahead of Bloc Party on Saturday 15^th June.

Paloma Faith says: “So excited to return to one of my favourite music festivals this year and hope the sun shines as beautifully as it did when I last played.”

Taking the Big Top by storm, Ellie Goulding comes to the Island on Friday 14^th June following a special, campers only headline performance from iconic Manchester band, the Happy Mondays on Thursday 13^th June. Over on The Garden Stage, band of the moment Fun, make their Festival debut on Friday 14^th June. If that wasn't enough, American singer Bonnie Raitt will be performing on the Main Stage on Saturday 15^th June, while one-of-a-kind symphonic pop quartet Imperial Teen take on The Garden Stage on Sunday 16^th June.

For a second-to-non party atmosphere, the Isle of Wight Festival’s Big Top is the place to be. After reforming in 2011, legendary Liverpool band, The Farm are gearing up for an unforgettable campers only evening on Thursday 13^th June. What’s more, one of music’s most acclaimed groups, Blondie, will be headlining on Sunday 16^th June. Fans will also be treated to a performance by techno-pop punk rock Republica under the roof of the Big Top on Sunday.

Blondie says: “Oh the Isle of Wight Festival is one of the best and most famous Festivals in the world. Can't wait to play it again this coming summer, 2013. Blondie plays Isle of Wight, 2013, YEAH!”

John Giddings, the Festival’s promoter, says: “We are proud to present some of the best new music around, together with artists who helped scope the face of modern music- it’s a stunning combination so far.”

NME / Radio 1 Stage announced for Reading and Leeds Festival

June 10, 2020April 24, 2012 by Summer Festival Guide

ON THE NME / RADIO 1 STAGE

Friday 24^th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 25^th August at Leeds Festival

THE MACCABEES’ third album ‘Given To The Wild’ was released earlier this year to massive critical acclaim and soared into the UK charts at Number Four. The South London five-piece are enjoying a hugely successful year so far, and with a sold out Brixton Academy under their belts The Maccabees are further cementing their status as one of the most exciting British bands of our time. We welcome them for their first headline appearance on the NME/Radio 1 Stage.

www.themaccabees.co.uk

FOSTER THE PEOPLE have garnered a huge amount of critical acclaim and public adoration on both sides of the Atlantic since the release of their debut album ‘Torches’. With last year’s feel-good hit of the summer ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, word of their music spread in a manner that was shockingly quick, even in the age of endless internet churn with everyone agreeing on one thing: this was a band on the cusp of an undeniable breakthrough and Foster The People show no sign of slowing down.

www.fosterthepeople.com

Band of the people, THE COURTEENERS, head to Reading & Leeds Festival ahead of the release of their third studio album, the follow up to 2010’s ‘Falcon’. With the Manchester four-piece eager to road test new material, head honcho Liam Fray recently declared their new sound as “industrial Motown”. An incredible live band, this could be one of the years most talked about performances.

www.thecourteeners.com

Hot on the heels of his eighth album ‘A + E’, erstwhile Blur guitarist GRAHAM COXON returns to solo business with a hotly anticipated appearance on the NME / Radio 1 stage. The critics have been positively slavering over this latest outing and will undoubtedly see this appearance over-subscribed.

www.grahamcoxon.co.uk

With the follow up to 2009’s critically acclaimed ‘Manners’ under construction, we welcome PASSION PIT to this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival. Hailing from Massachusetts, expect a blend of new electro dance tunes and old favourites.

www.passionpitmusic.com

Alternative rock band, THE BLACKOUT are Sean Smith, Gavin Butler, Matthew Davies, James Davies , Rhys Lewis and Gareth Lawrence. With a new album scheduled for release in August, these very special shows at Reading & Leeds will give fans a unique preview.

www.theblackout.co.uk

Always a favourite at festivals THE HIVES are sure to get things jumping with their infectious, thrilling garage rock hits. With new single ‘Go Right Ahead’, a sax-laden, glam-rock stomp hitting the airways now and previewing new album ‘Lex Hives’ due in the summer, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, Nicholaus Arson, Chris Dangerous, Dr. Matt Destruction, and Vigilante Carlstroem will bring the sound of the summer to the NME/Radio 1 Stage.

www.thehivesbroadcastingservice.com

This year sees SPECTOR graduate from their BBC Introducing Stage debut at last year’s festival with a well merited position on this year’s NME/Radio 1 stage. Nominated for the BBC Sound Of 2012 the band, fronted by one Fred Macpherson, were formed in 2010 and have released a trilogy of singles through Luv Luv Luv. With a debut album slated for later in the year this East London based five-piece bring their melancholic widescreen pop to the stage at Reading & Leeds.

www.spector.co.uk

Following inclusion on the BBC’s Sound Of Poll, Brooklyn’s FRIENDS are taking 2012 by storm. Armed with one of the singles of the year, ‘I’m His Girl’, and the captivating follow up ‘Friend Crush’, expect these shows to be the talk of both sites come the August Bank Holiday weekend.

www.afriendszone.com

With debut album ‘Breakfast’ unleashed last month, CHIDDY BANG are ready to step into the limelight. You’ll have heard their MGMT sampling breakthrough track ‘Opposite Of Adults’, and with time spent touring with Tinie Tempah, are sure to be ready to deliver one of the shows of the year.

www.chiddybang.net

Brooklyn’s HERE WE GO MAGIC make their first foray to Reading & Leeds this year. The band who came to the attention of Nigel Godrich with their 2010 album ‘Pigeons’ have just released the fruits of those joint labours – ‘A Different Ship’ which had Spin Magazine saying “…this is the sort of music that would happen if Paul Simon had made ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. Yes it’s that good”. Get there early and see what the fuss is all about.

www.myspace.com/herewegomagic

Saturday 25^th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 26^th August at Leeds Festival

Hailing from El Paso, Texas AT THE DRIVE-IN came, conquered and released three albums: ‘Acrobatic Tenement’, ‘In/Casino/Out’, the EP ‘Vaya’, and their ultimate swansong ‘The Relationship of Command’ which is now cited in dispatches as one the most important albums of its genre. Then they split. Now it looks like the many who were never able to see this incendiary live act back in the day will have their dreams fulfilled with this NME/Radio1 stage headline show. This band are name checked and revered by fellow musicians and fans alike and this, their ONLY UK FESTIVAL APPEARANCE will definitely be unmissable.

www.atdimusic.com

On the eve of their fifth album ‘In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull’ THE CRIBS make a return to the scene of one (or two) of their best ever shows. Recently reverting back to their near legendary three-piece status the band continues to evoke passion amongst their fiercely dedicated and ever growing fanbase. The Jarmans – brothers Gary, Ryan and Ross have always been fiercely independent, proud of their DIY ethos and from their early days adept at writing great songs leaving a catalogue of classic punk rock brilliance, battle scars and memories. The Cribs will once again be thrilling, spilling, entertaining and engaging.

www.thecribs.com

MASTODON have never really done anything the ‘conventional’ way. The Atlanta-based band formulated their own brand of highly-skilled hard rock over a decade ago when others were rehashing 80’s metal, and went on to mastermind a string of complex concept albums. With new album ‘The Hunter’ hitting the Top 10 in the US last year the band are picking up more and more fans – head-banging will be compulsory at this scorching show.

www.mastodonrocks.com

Canadian punks BILLY TALENT come to Reading & Leeds Festival with expectations for their upcoming fourth album riding high. The band, led by vocalist Ben Kowalewicz had been playing together for almost a decade before a name change lead to a record deal and their debut eponymous album was released in 2003. “A sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band has grown out of these four former Mississauga teenagers' shared high-school dreams of … well … growing into a sh*t-hot, world-dominating hard-rock band” is how they describe themselves. Check it out for yourself at the NME/Radio 1 Stage.

www.billytalent.com

MIIKE SNOW are back and return with their new album ‘Happy To You’ later this month. The hugely talented Stockholm-based three-piece have previously dabbled in the DJ scene and in punk bands, alongside electro and new wave, which lead to writing and production stints with the likes of Madonna and Britney Spears. Now ready to step out of the studio again, these shows are a must see for all music fans.

www.miikesnow.com

Anticipation is high for the return of SANTIGOLD and her new album ‘Master of My Make-Believe’ and this show will be the perfect opportunity to see this high-rising artist. Last year’s collaboration ‘Go’ with Karen O of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs was described as a "brittle and brilliant brawler of a track" by the NME and ‘Disparate Youth’ the first track released from the new album is also picking up plaudits. Citing Aretha Franklin, Devo, James Brown and Siouxsie and the Banshees as influences, this is an eclectic and exciting singer not to be missed.

www.santigold.com

Set to tear up the festival season this summer, DRY THE RIVER are one of the most talked about artists of the year. With three years and over 250 shows already under their belts, they released their debut album ‘Shallow Bed’ to rave reviews last month, with NME declaring they’ve made an “accomplished, luxuriant, expertly crafted” record. Get down to the front early for these sets.

www.drytheriver.net

Glasgow’s TWIN ATLANTIC follow a successful 2011 with the release of their Gil Norton produced ‘Free’ album. The quartet cut their collective teeth with slots supporting the likes of Gaslight Anthem, Angels And Airwaves and Taking Back Sunday and as singer Sam McTrusty says “…we’re giving people something to believe in again.” Catch them and believe too…

www.free.twinatlantic.com

Formed by ex. Gallows frontman Frank Carter and ex. Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File guitarist Jim Carroll, PURE LOVE’s debut single ‘Bury My Bones’ has just been previewed on BBC Radio 1. Currently working on their debut album due later this year with producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies), Carter commented "Rock might not have been as popular in recent years, but that's definitely going to change because we haven't released our album yet. I want to make music that's timeless and classic."

www.therealpurelove.com

Sunday 26^th August at Reading Festival / Friday 24^th August at Leeds Festival

Ed Banger’s JUSTICE make electronic music that everyone can rock to. With riffs now as heavy as their beats, the Grammy-nominated Parisian pair head for Reading & Leeds armed with new album ‘Audio, Video, Disco’. The record has established them as an international force who are equally at home blaring from a dance club sound system or performing in an arena. Expect a powerful and mesmerising headline performance from a truly unique group.

www.facebook.com/etjusticepourtous

Since releasing their debut album ‘Tourist History’ in March 2010, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB have rapidly become one of the biggest new success stories in UK music. After selling out headline tours in the UK, US, Europe, Australia, Asia, Japan and South America, playing two successive sold out nights at Shepherds Bush Empire and selling out Brixton Academy in under four hours, the band have deservedly earned both a devoted word-of-mouth live following and huge critical acclaim. The Times have called them “the band of the moment” and NME declared that they have “quietly become one of the UK’s best loved bands".

www.twodoorcinemaclub.com

The release of THE HORRORS’ third album ‘Skying’ saw the band’s already impeccable credentials soar even higher. The record was celebrated across the board by fans new and old as their finest yet and recently won the NME ‘Album of the Year’ accolade. Not that their debut ‘Strange House’ and follow up ‘Primary Colours’ hadn’t already cemented their reputation as one of the most original and ground breaking groups around. Both dense and expansive, insidiously poppy and stubbornly arty, The Horrors are one of the bands you must see at the festival.

www.thehorrors.co.uk

SBTRKT returns to Reading & Leeds Festival after last year's triumphant DJ set on the Dance Stage at both sites and live performance on the Alternative Stage in Leeds. This time round, fans will be treated to his famous live show at both sites. His self-titled debut album propelled towards the top of DJ’s playlists around the world with his combination of funk, soul, synths and bass. Fresh from releasing single ‘Hold On’ with Sampha, SBTRKT now has his sights firmly set on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

www.sbtrkt.com

The legendary vocalist fronting the MARK LANEGAN BAND has sung with some of the greatest bands of the last two decades. Lanegan formed the Screaming Trees in the 80’s and made some of the finest albums of the grunge scene. He’s worked with the coolest names around since and his distinct baritone voice has been described as "as scratchy as a three-day beard yet as supple and pliable as moccasin leather”.

www.marklanegan.com

Having wowed the Main Stage last year, THE JOY FORMIDABLE return at the personal request of Foo Fighters to play a very special set. Currently mixing their second album in New York with Andy Wallace, the trio made waves on both sides of the Atlantic with their debut album ‘The Big Roar’ in 2011, NME declaring that ‘its big but it’s certainly clever’ and Rolling Stone thrilling to ‘multi orgasmic crescendoes’. Having recently sold out New York’s Terminal 5, this return to UK shores promises to be a perfect preview of the band’s second album, due later in the year.

www.thejoyformidable.com

Having evolved from various outfits, Camden-based quartet TRIBES came to the fore at the start of 2011 and has seen the band accrue plenty of support both in print and on the airwaves. The band’s debut album ‘Baby’ was unleashed earlier this year reaching Top 30 status en route, further embellishing the plaudits already bestowed upon them. If last year’s appearance is anything to go by the tent will be filled to the gills for those to see on of the UK’s finest live acts of recent years.

www.tribesband.com

On its release earlier this year, the self-titled debut album from DJANGO DJANGO was succinctly hailed thus: "It's a dream of the psychedelic tropics, a heady explosion of colours, an album that takes what it means to be in an indie band and gives it a good shake…" This art pop quartet first emerged back in 2009 doing things their way whilst releasing selected tracks, mainlining into the nation's psyche and producing what has been one of the year's highlights.

www.djangodjango.co.uk

Young Minneapolis five-piece HOWLER marked their arrival on this side of the Atlantic last year in a barrage of hysteria. Having rapidly signed to Rough Trade Records, they consequently released the ‘This One’s Different’ EP and supported The Vaccines on their Autumn UK tour. Earlier this year saw the arrival of their debut album ‘America Give Up’ with the band showing few signs of slowing up. This summer’s shows mark their debut at Reading & Leeds and will see further clamoring down the front as they play their biggest shows to date.

www.howlerband.com

OF MONSTERS AND MEN’s debut album ‘My Head Is An Animal’ went to Number One on its release in Iceland from where the band hail. Describing themselves as “an amiable group of day dreamers who craft folkie pop songs” they turned into local heroes after winning a yearly battle of the bands competition. This will be one of the first chances to see this highly tipped six-piece.

www.ofmonstersandmen.is

Plan B, The Maccabees & Axwell for Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks

June 10, 2020April 23, 2012 by Summer Festival Guide

As always, Ibiza Rocks will also present the best DJ’s, including a welcome return from Radio 1 DJ and Bestival head-honcho Rob da Bank who has a long history with ‘Rocks’ having played at the first ever gig at the opening of the Ibiza Rocks Hotel in 2008 and then at the 5th Birthday with The Prodigy. Rob da Bank is back and joins the line up with Ibiza boy Ben Howard (04/07). On top of that there’s the brilliant breaking talent throughout the season and organisers are pleased to announce that Spector, Fenech-Soler, The Milk and Theme Park and are amongst the first set of supreme support bands to be added to summer’s best bill.

Rob da Bank said: ‘I’ve been playing at Ibiza Rocks since it started and injected a much needed different vibe into Ibiza party life. I’ve loved playing many times since and can’t wait to get back to that crazy Ibiza Rocks Hotel and warm it up for the brilliant Ben Howard. Ibiza Rocks bloody well rocks!’

Following a phenomenal headline performance by Plan B at the ‘Rocks’ opening parties last year, organisers are delighted to welcome back the multi award-winning, multi-talented star to the main stage at Mallorca Rocks (03/07) and Ibiza Rocks (25/07). A truly maverick figure in the world of music, Ben Drew’s diverse creativity is inexhaustible. Awards, accolades, acclaim and multi-platinum album sales are just the tip of his artistic ambitions. Following his quadruple- platinum No.1 second album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks, a BRIT, three Ivor Novello’s and sold out headline tours, Drew, AKA Plan B, has just completed his self-penned directorial debut film and album, iLL Manors – a stark, often brutal and provocative depiction of Forest Gate, east London, where Drew was born and raised.

Once again, Plan B will wow the crowds with chart-topping favourites form Defamation of Strickland Banks along with the promise of new material including iLL Manors, which will be a must buy, featuring production from Labrinth (Tinie Tempah), Chase & Status (Rihanna) and Al Shux (Jay-Z) – the soundscape is as bold and brilliant as its namesake. Bass-heavy, there’s references to the music Ben is listening to now (Rocks acts Azealia Banks and Maverick Sabre to name two) as well as the dubstep, bass, hip hop and D&B that have shaped him sonically over the years. In Ibiza, Plan B will be joined by Ibiza Rocks Music Director and the UK’s most influential tastemaker, Zane Lowe – two of music’s biggest champions united on one incredible Balearic bill.

It’s fair to say that The Maccabees got off to a very good start in 2012, with the release of their third studio album Given to the Wild storming into the Top 5, receiving mass critical acclaim and being hailed by The Sunday Times as ‘One of the albums of 2012.’ As well as a masterpiece of an album, the South London five-piece can boast sold out UK tours including their momentous homecoming show at Brixton Academy (their third headline sold out show at the London venue to date) and they still have their biggest headline gig to come (Alexandra Palace, 08/06). It is with huge excitement that Ibiza Rocks bring The Maccabees to the famous, open-air ‘Rocks’ stage for a truly unmissable gig that’s sure to be one of many crowning moments for the ‘must see’ band this year (20/06).

The Maccabees said: 'This will be our first time at Ibiza Rocks. It's a pleasure to be involved in such a strong line-up of shows this year. Thanks for having us!'

Also freshly announced is Swedish House Mafia’s own Axwell who will headline one of the summer’s hottest gigs, with British electro-poppers Fenech-Soler playing live in support (24/07). Given that Swedish House Mafia are now a fully bonifide stadium selling act and have just headlined Coachella, this is quite a statement to have one of the main men making their way to Mallorca Rocks for this intimate, electric, outdoor show.

Ibiza Rocks has consistently provided a platform for new and breakthrough talent, offering support slots to those they believe have what it takes to go all the way. Tinie Tempah, Bombay Bicycle Club and Example are just a few previous support acts who have returned to headline in their own right. This year will see another brilliant batch of breaking bands start their ‘Rocks’ journey.

BBC’s Sound of 2012 nominees Spector have been impressively labeled as ‘somewhere between Roxy Music and the Strokes, the Killers and Kanye West, Pulp, R&B and Frank Sinatra’ (The Guardian). Spector are currently touring Europe with Florence and the Machine and have just made their first US appearance to the masses at California’s Coachella festival. Safe to say these boys don’t mess about! They are sure to be on their finest form when they support Kaiser Chiefs at Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks in June, with Zane Lowe also added to the bill to make these shows a triple triumph.

British electro pop giants Fenech-Soler’s single Stop and Stare brought a little bit of the Balearics to the UK and Demons brought a dark mix of dancey beats to the charts. They also co-wrote and featured on Paper Romance by Groove Armada and the band is firmly at the top of the nu rave pile. They are sure to put on a show to remember for fans when they play Mallorca Rocks in July, joining Axwell on the bill.

The Milk will be supporting Ed Sheeran at both ‘Rock’s opening parties in June. These young soul rebels promise to bring something different to the Balearics, with their irresistibly infectious mix of classic northern soul, punk and reggae – a combination so favourable that NME have labeled them ‘the next band you all should be paying attention to’ and The Guardian say they are ‘the band you’ve been waiting for.’

Highly touted London four-piece Theme Park have been releasing demos online and dominating the charts on internet Radio before now finally starting to catch the attention of the mainstream, with standout tracks such as the insanely catchy Milk. They’ve been compared to the likes of Vampire Weekend and Metronomy and hailed as “fine and worthy successors to the funk-rock mantle previously held by Talking Heads.” Having toured recently with the likes of Florence and the Machine and Bombay Bicycle Club and with their debut album due out next month, Theme Park are ‘one to watch’ at ‘Rocks’ 2012 and will support The Maccabees.

The Ibiza Rocks brand consistently boasts a bill crammed with the biggest international artists and breakthrough talent live under the Balearic stars and offers a choice of quality accommodation options in Mallorca and Ibiza at exceptional value. Summer 2012 will see 32 ‘Rocks’ gigs across 16 consecutive weeks. Mallorca Rocks every Tuesday from 05 June – 18 September. Ibiza Rocks every Wednesday from 06 June to 19 September.

Tickets and hotel packages available now at www.ibizarocks.com andwww.mallorcarocks.com (Gig Tickets priced from £28.50 plus booking fee) *Special Opening & Closing Party Short Breaks from €104 (approx. £89) per person (see: Notes to Editors for full list of options and prices).

	MALLORCA ROCKS		IBIZA ROCKS
05 JUNE	ED SHEERAN \| THE MILK	06 JUNE	ED SHEERAN \| THE MILK
12 JUNE	MAVERICK SABRE \| LABRINTH	13 JUNE	MAVERICK SABRE \| LABRINTH
20 JUNE	SPECIAL GUESTS TBC	20 JUNE	THE MACCABEES \| THEME PARK
26 JUNE	KAISER CHIEFS \| SPECTOR\| ZANE LOWE	27 JUNE	KAISER CHIEFS \| SPECTOR
03 JULY	PLAN B	04 JULY	BEN HOWARD \| ROB DA BANK DJ
10 JULY	KASABIAN	11 JULY	KASABIAN \| ZANE LOWE
17 JULY	PROFESSOR GREEN \| DJ FRESH PRESENTS FRESH/LIVE	18 JULY	PROFESSOR GREEN \| DJ FRESH PRESENTS FRESH/LIVE
24 JULY	AXWELL \| FENECH-SOLER	25 JULY	PLAN B \| ZANE LOWE
31 JULY	CHASE & STATUS	01 AUG	CHASE & STATUS
07 AUG	PAOLO NUTINI	08 AUG	PAOLO NUTINI
14 AUG	TINIE TEMPAH	15 AUG	TINIE TEMPAH
21 AUG	SPECIAL GUESTS TBC	22 AUG	TBC
28 AUG	EXAMPLE \| AZEALIA BANKS	29 AUG	EXAMPLE \| AZEALIA BANKS
04 SEPT	BLOC PARTY	05 SEPT	BLOC PARTY \| ZANE LOWE
11 SEPT	NEW ORDER	12 SEPT	NEW ORDER
18 SEPT	TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB	19 SEPT	TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

The Maccabees to play Beach Break Live

June 9, 2020April 17, 2012 by Summer Festival Guide

11 time Grammy nominated Kendrick Lamar has firmly established himself as rap’s new superstar and will showcase his unparalleled ability and powerful wordplay in his debut headline performance at Benicàssim in 2016.

<img decoding="async" alt="" src="/wp-content/migrate/performers/kendrick-lamar.png" style="width: 600px; height: 318px;" title="Kendrick Lamar" />