UK ska exponents Imperial Leisure and live breakbeat act The Raged. There will also be a new stage at Nozstock this year, Tent of Temporary Thought, a proverbial literary feast which will appear alongside festival favourite Bantam of the Opera, a theatre stage by day and Velveteen Valley Caberet Lounge by night.
Sunderland post-punk power quartet The Futureheads burst onto the scene in the early noughties. After a string of releases it was their cover version of Kate Bush’s ‘Hounds Of Love’ that firmly etched them into the public consciousness garnering a No.8 slot in the UK singles chart. Since then they have released five critically lauded albums, launched their own label and picked up a legion of fans with their frenetic live show. Known for their blend of guitar stabs and rich, tonal four part harmonies, they are set to close Saturday night in style on the Orchard Stage.
Meanwhile headlining the Garden Stage on Friday is founding member of the now legendary Ganja Crew/Tru Playaz collectives DJ Zinc. His 1995 club smasher ‘Super Sharp Shooter’ and speaker-busting bootleg of The Fugees ‘Ready Or Not’ won him international acclaim and spawned the Tru Playaz club night which he set up with fellow TP cohorts Pascal and DJ Hype. Also just confirmed are North London ska-punk rockers Imperial Leisure, Kal Lavelle (who recently toured with Ed Sheeran), The Caezers, Jake Bugg, Kentish Fire, Sicknote and We Steal Thieves to name a few.
But it’s not just the music line-up that will delight this year, as there are many nooks and crannies and secret wooded glades to discover. During the day the Bantam Of The Opera tent offers a myriad of theatrical shenanigans where one can learn circus tricks, belly dancing and acrobatics or soak up puppet shows and side-splitting theatre. Midnight marks the start of the Velveteen Valley Caberet Lounge – tassels and glamour are in store here, featuring ring mistress Ophelia Bitz on Saturday in an eclectic mix of cabaret, humour, song and dance.
Elsewhere The Tent Of Temporary Thought will pop-up throughout the festival with a selection of the UK’s finest wordsmiths (such as the winner of the ‘UK young story yeller of the year’ award Rachael Rose Reid and leading Welsh poet Ifor Thomas) delivering a wide range of talks, poetry, spoken word and forums. For those who feel the creative itch themselves, the new and improved arts and crafts area is an immersive hotbed of fun featuring classes and demo’s of such forgotten arts as chalk carving, haberdashery, coppicing, spoon carving and blacksmith forgery.
THE FUTUREHEADS
DJ ZINC / IMPERIAL LEISURE / THE RAGED
IMPERIAL LEISURE / JAKE BUGG / REMEDY MC EUGENE FRANCIS JNR / LOS ALBERTOS/ KAL LAVELLE / THE CAEZERS / EYES ON FILM / KENTISH FIRE / WE STEAL THIEVES / PHYSICS / SICKNOTE
THE STOWAWAYS / CHINA SHOP BULL / THE SNARE
JOHN BLOOD AND THE HIGHLYS / ANDI SKELLAM / SCOPE / AMOS
RUBY AND THE RIBCAGE / NEW TOWN KINGS / WOODEN HOUSE
They join the previously announced…
THE PROCLAIMERS / ANDY C and MC GQ / DREADZONE / THE CORRESPONDENTS / CAMO AND KROOKED / DRUMSOUND AND BASSLINE SMITH / SKINNY LISTER / WILLY MOON / JUAN ZELADA / SON OF DAVE / OCTANE and DLR / BRASSROOTS / DOLLAR BILL / ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS /
BY THE RIVERS / TOMB CREW / YOUNGSTA / DUB PHIZIX / ED RUSH / SONNY WHARTON
Other Stages:
THE BULLPEN:
SIKA STUDIOS – hip hop takeover featuring the cream of underground UK hip hop talent, with graffiti art workshops
THE FOUR OWLS / DIRTY DIKE & JAM BAXTER / FLIPTRIX / 3 AMIGOS / ED JONES / NATALIE COLEMAN / NICK WALTERS / SAMANTHA (GET DIVERTED)
London’s MOOCH Saturday night takeover www.moochlondon.co.uk
THE COPPICE:
Bristol’s TRIBE OF FROG host psychedelic trance stage www.tribeoffrog.com
THE BANDSTAND:
MUSICBORN from London host Friday night www.musicborn.com – elite bands from the London circuit with a mix of indie, rock and electro
THE CUBICLES:
ANDY C and MC GQ / CAMO AND KROOKED / DRUMSOUND AND BASSLINE SMITH / TOMB CREW / OCTANE and DLR / YOUNGSTA / DUB PHIZIX / ED RUSH
Other Fun Activities:
Nozstock The Hidden Valley strives to bring a whole cornucopia of fun, games and happenings. 2012’s extravaganza will bring you:
Sock Wrestling, Walkabout Theatre, Ballz Out Circus Troupe, Fire Dancers, Jive and Ceilidh evenings, Sound Art, Spoken Word and Poetry, Talks and Forums from the Tent Of Temporary Thought with guest speakers
KIDS AREA: THE ENCHANTED GLADE
Slapstick workshop, Circus skills, Willow Sculptures, Face Painting, Tall Tales, Puppet Procession, Kidi Yoga, Puppet Processions, UV Disco and Dance Workshop, Hula Hooping, Gaffer Tape Roses, Bubble Making, Craft Workshops, Magician, Balloon Maker
COMEDY:
This year Nozstock is working with UP FOR COMEDY? showcasing the cream of national and regional talent plus STAND UP AGAINST RACISM as part of the SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD campaign to raise awareness. Full line-up soon to be announced.
WRONG DIRECTIONS CINEMA:
MASH Cinema have been organising events and screenings since 2002 and continue to promote art, film and music through their events locally and internationally. Over the past six years MASH Cinema has gained recognition for visual performances working with artists, musicians and DJs at events, clubs and festivals throughout Europe.
HEALING AREA:
The healing and therapy area will be offering Thai massage among other healing therapies. It is run by www.yelenisupport.co.uk who will be donating a percentage of their takings to cancer patients and their families.
FOOD AND DRINK:
As ever, Nozstock will be creating a varied menu combining local delights with foods of the World. A plethora of tasty meals and snacks will be offer with a chill out café for those seeking coffee-scented sanctuary.
TICKETS:
Gates open at 9am from Friday 27th July. Shuttle services will be on offer from local town Bromyard and to and from Hereford and Worcester before and after the festival.
ON SALE NOW
Adult Advance Weekend Tickets £80
Camper Van/Live in Vehicle Pass £28 (price freeze)
Parking Pass Full Weekend £5 in advance (price freeze)
Boutique Camping – details to follow soon
ON SALE FROM JUNE 1ST
Tier B Adult Weekend Tickets £85