The Festival Guide

Glastonbury - an unforgettable 40th birthday

2010-06-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

On my way down to the legendary Glastonbury Festival I was still envisaging muddy fields and tents being washed away. As I looked outside the window of the coach, along with a bunch of eager Glasto-lovers who were made up of various mutual friends, it was all I could think of. Even though I had constantly checked the weather reports that confirmed again and again that, yes, it would be sunny all week and for the fact I had bravely decided against lugging my heavy wellies down to Somerset, I still thought it would rain. I mean it had to, it is Glastonbury.

The man himself - Michael Eavis

How wrong was I?

Who would have thought that just a couple of days later I would be praying for a little downfall? To say the tent got hot is an understatement. Sometimes it felt like a race to get to bed before the sun rose from hers because everyone knew, as soon as she appeared, it would be goodbye to any chance of sleep.

So aside from the heat (and we really should be grateful that we didn't have any heavy downfalls, after going through the pros and cons, I think seeing your belongings swim past you in a muddy field is a lot worse than a little sleep deprivation and a hunt for shade) it really was one of the most surreal, exciting, exhausting yet energising, fun weekends of my life.

If you ask anyone what Glastonbury Festival is like most people will come back with the same reply: there aren't enough words to describe the experience and that you really have to go to know exactly what it is like.

I will try my best to endeavour to do my job and deliver an overview of one of the biggest festivals in the world.

So, let's start as we mean to go on. Wednesday June 23. Day One.

The trouble with Glastonbury is the amount of eager fans it attracts. Fans who will sleep overnight in a car park in order to be at the front of the queue when the gates open at 8am! We weren't quite so eager but still got up at an ungodly hour to begin the journey down to the beautiful countryside of Somerset. Thankfully, by the time we approached Somerset the only traffic jams we were greeted with were up to Stonehenge, so we all had the chance to have a good gawp at the eerie tourist attraction.

Top of the big hill!

So, the coach dropped us off and the next step of the journey began. We carried our heavy loads on our backs through the sunshine to the place where we wished to camp, surrounded by annoyingly more well prepared campers who were carrying crates of beer and cider in wheel barrows. Suddenly my cheap bottle of vodka felt inadequate. Pennard Hill is a relaxed campsite away from the main stages (but still in easy reach) and is situated near the divine Greenfields which features the ultra relaxing Healing Fields. It is a goldmine for people seeking alternative therapy or a place for a little solace away from the growing and sweaty crowds. This was our haven when the heat got too much, when all the shade had been used by fellow hot and sweaty festival-goers, as there always seemed to be an eternal breeze blowing through.

So our tents were all set up and at last we could chill out. I found my self getting into the slowed down vibe and energy the festival seemed to inhabit straight away. Everyone seemed to be in the same mind frame, everyone was there for the same reason. Luckily our tent was situated near the entrance to the field that inhabits the much-loved Stone Circle, a place so chilled and with a staggering view of the festival. Only there you realise just how big the festival actually is.

The crowd at the Pyramid Stage

For the first night of Glastonbury, along with hundreds of others, we chose to watch the sunset at the Stone Circle whilst swigging from bottles of luke-warm alcohol. It was heaven on a plate and a surreal place to people watch! The crowds broke into hysterics when the infamous 'Green Police' (who patrol the festival grounds looking for people who wee in the bushes etc) suddenly appeared chasing after a drunken man who had just committed the said crime. It took them a good ten minutes to finally get him but mild hysteria erupted from the crowds at the man comically kept running.

An earlyish night was needed by all and it was a good thing we got those much needed hours of sleep as the following morning we were greeted with the blazing sun down on our tents. It was a race to the sinks to splash some water on our faces. Luckily, our tent was in a very short walking distance to the 'eco-toilets' funded by Water Aid. They were clean, yes clean, and even had toilet roll! I thought I was seeing things. This was like receiving a warm hug! I know, I know, it is all about getting back nature but first thing in the morning when you're bladder is full and your eyes are still half open you don't want to be greeted with toilet seats showcasing last nights bodily fluids, do you?

Thursday, June 24th

We started to explore. Overwhelming isn't the word. We ventured into the serene Greenfields and ate a cool vegetarian cafe whilst hearing the first strummings of a band in a cafe opposite, a woman then walked past us in just shorts - nothing else - and refreshingly no one batted an eye lid, we then made our way to the hospitality reception to get our Press Passes. We felt like naughty kids as we skipped on through to the backstage area behind the huge Pyramid Stage. Now, I know I raved about the 'eco-toilets' earlier but these toilets - oh my - they actually had flushes! I had forgotten toilets actually had flushes! They also had dispensable soap and sinks and mirrors! Once upon a time these things I had taken for granted, I had to stand back and take a moment to admire these genius inventions... maybe I already had too much sun!

Back in the hospitality area I saw my first celeb, Miss Sadie Frost, no Kate Moss in sight, not yet anyway...

The legendary Boy George made an unexpected appearance that night. Many thought he would DJ, many got annoyed as he kept them waiting and waiting and even more so as he cockily said: "You don't know what I'm gonna do, do you?" to the waiting crowd. In the end he delivered his much-loved classics to an adoring crowd. A cool, quirky way to kick off Glastonbury.

Camping

That night we thought we would try a little bit of the nightlife that Glastonbury had to offer. It turned out to be one of the most surreal and crazy nights out. We arrived at a place now so talked about it is attracting huge crowds of party hungry revellers. From the outside it was a normal tent encasing a pumping bar but then we found the entrance to the Rabbit Hole! To say I felt like a kid again was an understatement. We waited eagerly at a tiny door way manned by characters from the weird and wonderful world of Alice in Wonderland. To enter we had to successfully answer a riddle. Once in we had to crawl through a small tunnel lit up with just fairy lights. At the end of the tunnel was a curtain which, once through, we realised was actually the dress of the Duchess, meaning the new arrivals had to crawl through her legs to finally get into the Rabbit Hole. The Hole featured an impressive multicoloured dancefloor with non-stop music with those lucky enough to enter dance away in their own little world.

Friday arrived, 25th June.

Again we survived this day on a few hours of sleep as the sun hadn't let up and was back in action. The heat was too much, even in the shade from our gazebo it was still too hot as we were surrounded by hundreds of other tents. I tell you, it is a real obstacle course to get through the very closely pitched together tents late at night. Sorry to any hands or feet trodden on.

So today was the day when things really kicked off. I don't want to keep going on about the heat but it really did take alot out of you to go the Pyramid Stage etc so we always planned ahead knowing what we wanted to see.

That afternoon we ventured into the idyllic area of Croissant Neuf (which is now a family-favourite festival in its own right). The small enclosure had a real laid-back and serene feeling to it. We parked ourselves under the huge tent which was a haven away from the humidity. There we saw the heart-throb that is Seth Lakeman, a folk singer/fiddle player who got the impressive turn out erupting with delight when he came on stage. "Seth I love you!" was a common outcry.

The lovely stewards gave out much needed water as Seth played his way through his much-loved hits. The intensity came strong from with his passionate singing and fiddle playing.

From folk to rap - Snoop Dogg was a must-see! The crowds were heaving as we made our way towards the Pyramid Stage and we were greeted by the ultra skinny rapper swaggering across the stage. It was cool and people in the crowd seemed to be shocked at them selves as they knew more of his songs than they realised.

This was where we had our golden celebrity spot - the one and only Kate Moss. She cut a lonely figure as she ventured out of the backstage area on her own and into the crowd to see Snoop. In her de-rigeur of khaki jacket and hot pants she appeared to be what I had always expected but her hair was so clean! It was obvious her bed-head hair was the result of a clever blow-dry, hmmm Winnebago next time I think!

We were feeling our sleep deprivation so we had a nap and opted to miss the Gorillaz headlining set. Instead, we made our way down to the mind blowing fire show at Arcadia. We watched in pure wonderment as trapeze artists were dangled above us and got into positions that could have been featured in the Karma Sutra. Fire balls were then blown out of a peculiar metal structure that appeared to be a bit like an apocalyptic spider as DJ Kissy Sell Out played a string of mind-blowing tunes, which all in all made every ones heat beat harder and harder.

Shangri-la, a collection of crazy and quirky bars, was nearby. Here we saw one surreal bar after the other such as garage karaoke, a conga in a non-stop funk bar and a caravan which featured a run-down Victorian-style lounge finished off with poles for anyone who wanted an erotic dance.

Back at Arcadia it was an endorphin fuelled experience all round when we saw the mind-blowing band, The Correspondents. How to describe their music? A mixture of swing and funk with a big dose of hip-hop. The lead singer Mr Bruce showcased his extreme talent in scatting, singing and rapping to a crowd who were all agog. Boy, did that crowd moved.

Chase & Status were playing their set on a nearby stage which featured a crowd pleasing special guest Dizzee Rascal.

Saturday, June 26.

Personally, for me, Saturday night at the Pyramid Stage was the perfect mix of pop, funk and rock. Shakira, Scissor Sisters and then Muse. For anyone with an eclectic taste in music this was the place to be and the crowds proved this to be true. After jostling our way through the crowd, my friend aptly dressed in a tiny pink tu-tu and my self in a white gypsy dress, we got ready to shake our hips to the sounds of Shakira. She didn't disappoint and it was good to see a diverse mix of people enjoying her worldly sounding music. The men in the audience couldn't take their eyes off the big screens as Shakira, all long blonde hair and very natural make-up, popped her hips and rolled her taut stomach to her hits. We were all relieved as the sun said goodbye for the night, setting behind the stage as Shakira belted out her unashamedly Latino 'Hips Don't Lie'.

Scissor Sisters were up next, with the rumour that Kylie would be making an appearance being confirmed meant their set was very much anticipated. The excitement was palable in the crowd. The Sisters brought funk, soul and infectious tunes to the stage and when Kylie was brought on the atmosphere grew so intense. Performing the disco-tastic, Any Which Way, Kylie looked happy and natural up on the Pyramid Stage. The stage had waited a long time for the pint-sized pop princess to make an appearance. It had been five years since she pulled out of headlining at the festival because of her breast cancer. Only Kylie knew just how it felt to be up there performing, looking beautiful and sounding fantastic. The crowd were very much behind her.

Muse, oh Muse. I had never heard them live before, I am a fan but their sound I have to admit does aggravate me after a while, and I had been told by friends who are huge fans that they are the best band live. And yes, I agree they are the best band live. Period. My God - how do three guys make so much noise? Matt Bellamy, the lead singer (who had new A-list girl friend, Kate Hudson, watching from the sidelines) do it? His voice, his energy, his dark charisma and those hands, how do they move up and down the piano so melodically yet so fast?! Lucky Kate is all I can say.

The highest point came when The Edge joined them on stage to perform the heart rendering, The Streets Have No Name (U2 were meant to headline but Bono has had to have a back operation so they pulled out).

Sunday, June 27.

To say we were sleep deprived was an understatement and on top of that I woke up with the worst sore throat of my life. The dryness of the fields along with the dust that was erupted by vehicles driving through the festival ground had done wonders on my chest. It pretty soon became clear it was more of a case of tonsillitis as it was proving difficult to talk. My self and weary friends surrended ourselves to the happy hippy haven that is the Sauna. The sauna area amongst the tipi field is a secret shade haven with a canopy running along the edge and a sauna, showers and plunge pool. It was worth the five pound entry fee for the shade alone, we ended sleeping through till four in the afternoon. The only drawback is naked bodies of any size and shape, I say just embrace it, go with the flow - it is Glastonbury.

After getting ourselves together we made our way back to the Pyramid Stage for the final night of music. I was dosed to my eyeballs with neurofen and my handbag was full with tissues. Not exactly how I envisaged my Glastonbury experience.

Faithless were a knock-out act performing all their famous hits mixed with their more obscure, one after the other. Having previously interviewed Sister Bliss I knew how special it was for them as a band to be back on the Pyramid and before the legendary Stevie Wonder. Rolo had the crowd in the pit of his hands as he delivered his words of wisdom above the sympth sounds from Sister Bliss. The only thing I would say is that the set would have had more intensity had it been performed later at night rather than a sunset. But hey, who is going to turn down warming up the crowds for Stevie?

Stevie Wonder. A man who I have wanted to see perform all my life. In interviews his charisma oozes out of his pores and this still came across in front of the thousands of people that had gathered to hear him perform his greatest hits. Funny, charming, flirty, he had the audience wrapped round his little finger. He and his band looked like they were having fun which brought a true connection between band and audience. When the world renowned chords of Superstition were heard the audience erupted and all you could do was dance.

A goose-bump moment wrapped up the funk-tastic set with Michael Eavis coming on stage for the final song. Stevie and the crowd sang Happy Birthday to him and thanked him for 40 wonderful years.

Here's to the next 40... to a festival that is surreal, outrageous, hard-work, creative, mind-blowing, contagious, harmonious and most importantly an experience to share with your friends that will only bring you closer together.

2010-06-29T04:33:00.000-07:00

Glastonbury 2010

Watching the first sunset!

Will, a fan of The Festival Guide!

A Quentin Tarantino lookalike reading The Festival Guide

Glastonburys' 40th anniversary!

Kylie making her debut appearance at Glastonbury - the crowd went crazy!

A great view of the Pyramid Stage

Thanks Michael Eavis!

The Pyramid Stage at the end of another night of mayhem

The crowd at the Pyramid Stage

A band decides to set up their own stage and play!

NYC Downlow - the wackiest club- ever!

Plane crash at Shangri-la!

More crazy scenes at Shangri-la

Crazy characters embracing the Glastonbury dream

The crowds just got bigger and bigger

Messages of peace and love

On the way to the mayhem and fun

The hill overlooking Glasto

Peace and tranquility in the healing fields

Glastonbury - the 40th Anniversary

2010-06-29T03:38:00.000-07:00

Glastonbury 2010 - the 40th anniversary in pictures...

South West Four!

2010-06-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

THE SOUTH WEST FOUR WEEKENDER HAS LANDED!

2010 marks a new chapter in the history of the UK’s premier inner city dance festival. Having brought alive London’s favourite field Clapham Common for six consecutive years, we are delighted to present the first ever SOUTH WEST FOUR WEEKENDER!

Featuring the world’s biggest DJs, live acts, club nights and dance music labels this summer’s South West Four is on course to be bigger, better and stronger than ever before! Falling over the glorious August Bank Holiday weekend; SW4 will provide an unforgettable experience for the UK’s most discerning dance music lovers.

NO MUD! NO CAMPING! NO HASSLE!

With a world-class line up and intergalactic production, SOUTH WEST FOUR is the ultimate inner-city festival experience offering the luxury of partying in an amazing open-air green space whilst being able to catch the last tube home. Featuring four music arenas, plenty of bars, freshly made food from an array of different stalls and fairground rides; this summer’s South West Four Weekender is NOT TO BE MISSED!

For those travelling from afar SW4 have teamed up with the best hotels in the area to offer you rooms at unbeatable rates! Check out the accommodation section of the SW4 website to receive a 20% discount when you quote SW4 on booking!

With no mud, no camping and no re-mortgage plans needed to finance your fun, the South West Four Weekender is your one-stop festival shop right here in the heart of London.

SW4 2010 DAY ONE: SATURDAY 28^TH AUGUST

Armin van Buuren has chosen South West Four as his only London performance of 2010. For the very first time the world’s undisputed No.1 DJ will close the Saturday event following in the legendary footsteps of Paul van Dyk, Carl Cox, Sasha and John Digweed from previous years.

Not only has Armin officially been voted the most popular DJ on the planet for the past three years (DJ Mag Top 100), A State Of Trance continues to set the standard as the world’s most popular radio show. It now appears on a remarkable forty worldwide FM stations and attracts more than thirty million listeners a week. His record label Armada Music is now one of the premier labels in dance music, whilst Armin’s remixes of The Killers and BT sell by the lorry load. This is all achieved whilst Armin tours the four corners of the globe headlining the world’s leading nightclubs and festivals, holding down an epic weekly summer residency at Amnesia Ibiza and regularly playing ‘Armin Only’ gigs to over 10,000 fans. Currently working on a new album that will be showcased at SW4, this set will be marked in history as his first ever headline performance at a UK festival. A true landmark gig for Armin this is a guaranteed pilgrimage for any trance lover.

Joining Armin is last year’s co-headliner and one of the most iconic names in electronic music, Sasha. We’re delighted to welcome him back in 2010 as this Grammy nominated artist and acclaimed producer proves yet again why he is a true favourite amongst the SW4 faithful. Coming off the back of another mental summer residency at Pacha Ibiza, SW4 is also honoured to welcome Erick Morillo for an exclusive London festival performance. One of the godfathers of UK house music and the voice of BBC Radio 1, Pete Tong will play on the Saturday of our new SW4 Weekender. Pete has now been at the forefront of the industry for over 20 years and we welcome back this ambassador of all things electronic for another mesmerising performance. Pete will be joined by one of house music’s most recent success stories, with Laidback Luke playing South West Four for the very first time. In a year that has seen him produce some of the biggest tunes to hit our airwaves, Laidback Luke ends a hectic summer with a trip to South West London.

After co-headlining SW4 in 2009, John Digweed returns by popular demand to deliver another epic set in his very own Bedrock Arena. John plays SW4 for the sixth consecutive year, alongside a galaxy of future stars. This year he has carefully selected an outstanding pool of artists that take Bedrock on a new musical path with a line-up that truly reflects the current direction of the label. Joining John will be acid house supremo Josh Wink, (who returns to South West Four this summer as part of Ovum Record’s 15^th Anniversary celebrations,) techno stalwart Christian Smith, progressive house hero Guy J and the ultra talented Nicole Moudaber. Bedrock also welcomes one of the fastest rising stars of the past year, Joris Voorn to perform live! The Dutch tech-house master will be joined by fellow SW4 debutants Mutant Clan (featuring Timo Maas & Santos) who hit the Common for a UK Festival Exclusive.

Heavyweights Paul Oakenfold and Judge Jules return to play The Gallery Arena, with Oakie performing at SW4 for the first time in three years. Having entered the DJ Mag Top 100 poll last year at number 10 and 50 respectively, Sander van Doorn and Marco V are two of the most popular trance acts on the planet. However, it’s their eagerly anticipated World Exclusive back-to-back set at SW4 that will get tongues wagging. Debutant Gareth Emery also stars, putting on the kind of show that elevated him to the heights of number nine in the DJ Mag Top 100 poll last year. Another UK festival exclusive comes in the form of Giuseppe Ottaviani who comes to SW4 off the back of Vandit’s 10^th Anniversary World Tour.

Completing The Gallery’s mouth watering lineup is the brilliant Jerome Isma-Ae. Finally Mark Knight brings ‘Toolroom Knights’ to the Common alongside counterparts Funkagenda, Dave Spoon, Dirty South and special guests Sharam and Joachim Garraud. Toolroom will prove just why their events continue to sell out London’s Ministry of Sound and other seminal venues across the world.

SW4 2010 DAY TWO: SUNDAY 29^TH AUGUST

With SW4 extending across two unforgettable days in 2010, we needed an act that had been there, seen it and done it all to headline the Sunday night. To use one of dance music’s most loved cliché’s we needed an act who truly needs no introduction. And for us there was only one contender. That man is Fatboy Slim. One of the greatest songwriters of the modern era, not to mention his remixing mastery – Fatboy Slim is the biggest DJ on the planet. From DJing in front of 250,000 people on Brighton Beach and the Rio Carnival, through to headlining the world’s leading concerts and festivals – Fatboy Slim has done it all. With an astounding ability to connect with thousands of people in one instant, this is the ultimate performer. Dare not miss his only London appearance for 2010 as he closes the SW4 Weekend!

After their show-stealing performance at this year’s Bloc Weekender, hip-hop legends Salt ‘N’ Pepa have confirmed to perform live at SW4 2010. Making their UK Festival debut and their first London performance in over fifteen years, Salt ‘N’ Pepa are the BIGGEST selling female rap-group of all time and without a doubt one of the most influential hip hop groups ever! Consisting of Cheryl Williams (‘Salt’) Sandra Denton (‘Pepa’) and Deidra ‘Dee Dee’ Roper (DJ ‘Spinderalla’) the trio originally from Queens, (New York) hit the UK charts in 1986 with the massive unforgettable single ‘Push It’. Peaking at No.2 in the UK singles chart this single put the act firmly on the map as one of the hottest rap groups on the block. Following the success of this came further singles ‘Shake Your Thang’, ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’, ‘Shoop’ and ‘Whatta Man’ alongside five artist albums all of which have totalled sales in excess of fifteen million worldwide. As Grammy Award winners Salt ‘N’ Pepa have gone onto inspire female artists across the globe, whilst paving the way for underground acts to break into the mainstream. It is with supreme pleasure we welcome hip hop royalty to South West Four where they will be performing all the classics live and direct for you!

Host of one of the most popular radio shows on the planet, Zane Lowe comes to South West Four in 2010 for the very first time. With appearances scheduled at Europe’s premier festivals this summer, we’re delighted that Zane has chosen SW4 for his only London festival appearance this year. He’ll be joined by fellow Radio One stalwart Kissy Sell Out, who has gone from strength to strength in the past twelve months. His jumped up ‘Rock and Rave’ show has seen a mammoth growth in followers of his ‘Kissy Club’ and we’re sure his popularity will increase further after his main stage performance. Fans of Kissy will also be delighted with the announcement that Hervé is set to join him on the main stage. The London born electro star and brains behind Cheap Thrills, joins the line-up for what is sure to be his stand out performance of the summer.

As DJs, producers, promoters, radio presenters and label owners it’s hard to define what Jaymo & Andy George do in a single sentence. One thing you can be sure of is that the duo will rock the main stage at South West Four. With intentions of showcasing the world’s coolest music and dance-floor favourites, Jaymo & Andy George are the perfect candidates to blow you away this summer. Add Dim Mak Records boss Steve Aoki to the already mouth-watering line-up, and you’ve got yourself a party. After a year that has seen him hit all four corners of the globe, Steve returns to Clapham Common after hosting his own arena at last year’s Get Loaded In The Park. Now a part of the new South West Four Weekender, Bank Holiday Sunday on Clapham Common will be one for the history books!

When you mention the words South West Four, people can’t be blamed for thinking of Carl Cox. Having rocked the South West Four main stage on numerous occasions, Carl is quite simply an SW4 legend. In 2010 he returns to Clapham Common to host his Carl Cox & Friends arena. Techno lord Dubfire makes a welcome return after his outstanding appearance last year. Another SW4 debut is handed to Vitalic, who presents his mind-blowing V Mirror show live. A man synonymous with all that is forward thinking in the techno world, Adam Beyer is no stranger to the big festival experience. The Drumcode Records boss has appeared on festival line-ups across the world but his date at SW4 will be amongst his most impressive. As torch bearers for London’s much missed institution The End and coordinators of the outstanding ‘Shake It’ warehouse parties, Layo & Bushwacka! return to SW4 to deliver more dancefloor destruction. Finally German duo M.A.N.D.Y will make their highly anticipated South West Four debut this year having recently mixed compilations for Renaissance and Get Physical.

Day two of South West Four 2010 continues to showcase yet more names on the alternative tip of dance music. None more so than the inclusion of the first lady of UK hip hop Ms Dynamite, dub-step pioneers Skream, Benga and Caspa and the world’s finest drum & bass DJ Andy C. Boys Noize, Housemeister, Djedjotronic and Shadow Dancer [Live] join Sunday’s lineup as a part of an exclusive Boys Noize Records showcase that hits the UK for the first time this summer. Fellow electro gods Erol Alkan, Switch and A-Trak have also been added to the bill, alongside debutants Jack Beats, Sbtrkt, Mixhell and queen of the airwaves Mary Anne Hobbs. With all these names now confirmed it’s clear all the ingredients are in place for another day of anarchy on the Common.

Wychwood Festival June 4 - 6, 2010

2010-06-11T04:24:00.000-07:00

Wychwood Festival

The UK’s leading boutique, family festival, Wychwood Festival took over Cheltenham
Racecourse at the weekend for a spectacle of music, comedy and family entertainment. Enjoying the sizzling temperatures, record numbers of visitors were treated to performances from The Levellers on Friday night; Manchester’s finest, The Happy Mondays on Saturday night; a stellar set from Cornish folk sensation Seth Lakeman and a high-octane performance from Dreadzone to bring the festival to a raucous close on Sunday night.

Over the weekend, visitors enjoyed an eclectic line-up across three stages: The Independent
Stage, the Big Top and the Third Stage was for the first time programmed by BBC Introducing to become the BBC Introducing Stage. Welcoming the finest emerging talent from the surrounding six counties, and of course from Gloucestershire itself, the BBC Introducing Stage produced a fantastically varied showcase of fresh talent. Cardiff-bred ISLET were one of the many musical highlights and all the bands and artists appearing raised their game to enjoy the unique opportunity to play to an audience they may never have encountered otherwise.

The Independent Stage saw a veritable musical medley across the weekend, with former Del
Amitri singer Justin Currie offering crowd-pleasers a-plenty on Friday afternoon before The
Levellers took to the stage to bring the festival to a feel-good start. Across the weekend, over 100 acts took to the stages to offer a varied mix of music, including tipped-for-stardom Beth Jeans Houghton, internationally-acclaimed Toumani Diabaté and the ever-entertaining Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer.

Saturday saw indie-favourites The Lightning Seeds entertain the sun-baked crowd with their
pleasing-to-the-ear tunes including a stripped-back, acoustic version of the anthemic Three Lions – just in time for the start of the World Cup. The pride of Madchester, The Happy Mondays led the crowd through hits including ’24 Party People’ and ‘Step On’ ensuring the Saturday revellers were in fine voice before hitting the festival’s ever-popular Silent Disco, which ran nightly during the festival.

Sunday highlights included folk and pop-tinged 6 Day Riot, Adrian Edmondson & The Bad
Shephards playing folk re-imaginings of classic punk songs and The South (formerly The
Beautiful South), who took to the stage to play much-loved songs from their repertoire including sing-along favourite ‘Rotterdam’ and ‘Perfect Ten.’ Leading the Sunday evening crowd into a folk frenzy was Cornish sensation Seth Lakeman, singing and playing songs from his latest album ‘Hearts and Minds’ as well as old favourites like ‘Kitty Jay.’ Dreadzone were the final act to appear, rounding the proceedings off with an energetic performance including a boisterous performance of ‘Little Britain.’

Away from the music, revellers were treated to a hilarious array of comedic prowess from the likes of award-winning Robin Ince, Radio 4 stalwart Pete Johansson and the celebrated young stand-up Nathan Caton over the weekend of comedy provided by e-festivals.

Well-known as the UK’s friendliest festival for families with children, visitors with little ones were once again treated to a whole host of child-friendly entertainment. The Children’s Literature Festival made a welcome return to the festival, in partnership with The Book People. Children and parents were treated to talks from Angelina Ballerina creator Katherine Holabird and illustrator of the books, Helen Craig, alongside the likes of award-winning author Philip Ardagh and Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs author Ian Whybrow. The literary-inspired fun continued with the Roald Dahl Museum – who kept children rapt, telling stories and encouraging them to get involved in a range of themed activities. Plus, new festival headline sponsor Waitrose were on hand to show kids how to make a range of yummy fruit smoothies.

The perfect place to unwind, the Healing Gardens provided an ideal setting for revellers to rest and recuperate before heading out to enjoy the next slice of the Wychwood Festival.

Download Festival

2010-06-11T04:00:00.001-07:00

This weekend sees the anticipated Download festival in Donnington Park. Jas, our Graphic Designer, is currently there braving the mud so keep an eye open for some fantastic photos and review on Monday!

Fashion at Electric Carnival

2010-05-04T02:58:00.000-07:00

More Fashion

2010-05-04T02:56:00.000-07:00

Fashion at Electric Carnival!

2010-05-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

Fashion at Electric Carnival

2010-05-04T01:48:00.000-07:00

Festival: Electric Carnival

Date: May 03/10 8pm - 6am

Location: Digbeth, Birmingham

The festival season well and truly started on Sunday with one of the biggest line ups of Electro, Drum 'n' Bass and Dub-Step music Birmingham has ever seen.

Half of Digbeth was sealed off from the public to make way for over 60 live acts and DJ's. The Custard Factory Complex and its surrounding areas was the perfect urban jungle setting for the celebration of bass heavy sounds.

The main stage in the newly licensed car park in Digbeth had an incredible atmosphere, everyone was in high spirits - especially the big bottle of dancing Corona who was never short of a dance partner.

Chase & Status delivered a heart-pounding set, having never seeing them live before I was really impressed. They really interacted with the crowd and got everyone moving.

Fatboy Slim delivered many of his famous hits mixed with classic electro tunes which really got the crowd going wild. Birmingham really knows how to dance, I saw some crazy moves!

Calvin Harris delivered a slick set showcasing his radio-friendly hits but it just seemed to lack the rawness of Chase & Status.

There were countless areas showcasing DJ's and live acts - maybe too many to choose from! My favourite area was the stage situated under the huge railway arches, there was a really good vibe and it was a really cool, urban location.

Luckily with a capacity of 1,500 people, the Air Superclub was hugely popular with a 'one in one out' situation. It was also a great place to get out of the cold!

There was no rain, thank God, but it was freezing cold which meant lots of people were wrapped up warm meaning the array of fashion on offer wasn't as good as it could have been, if say, it had been a hot, sunny day.

Denim was a hot favourite with many cool jackets, shirts and waistcoats layered over t-shirts and teamed with jeans for the double denim look.

Big bed hair was a favourite for the girls teamed with red lips and plenty of liquid eyeliner. For the boys it was quiffs and crew cuts. I expected to see more outrageous and quirky looks but people seemed to play it safe.

Welcome to The Festival Guide blog

2010-04-29T03:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the brand spanking new Festival Guide blog where we will be covering the very best festivals taking place this summer. We will be right in the middle of the muddy fields where all the action takes place bringing you the latest news, the best bands, the best parties and the best fashion.

This blog is brought to you by the The Festival Guide magazine, published by BA Media, and will be available from HMV at the beginning of June and distributed at the very best UK festivals.

The Festival Guide will feature a huge festival directory, interviews with the very best bands, DJ's and singer/songwriters including Faithless, Paul Oakenfold, Seth Lakeman and The Futureheads (plus many more), a fantastic Fashion & Beauty section, Festival Features and an Essential Guide to making your festival experience the very best.

Sunday May 2 will see us kick-starting our coverage at the Electric Carnival in Digbeth, Birmingham with over 60 live acts and DJ's including Fatboy Slim, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Dubfire, Annie Mac, Tiga, Skream and Scratch Pervets and many more. It is the biggest line up Birmingham has ever seen... Stay tuned!

BA Media produce four high quality annual titles; The Festival Guide, The Student Guide, The Graduate Guide, and The Gap Travel Guide and a website www.thestudentguide.com.
The Guides are national publications which are stocked in HMV, Smiths and Waterstones and Blacks and are also distributed through hard and electronic copies to approximately 350,000 readers. 10 % of which is hard copy. The Festival Guide is distributed at Download, Glastonbury, Wireless, T in The Park, Latitude, Glade, Global Gathering, Big Chill, V Fest, Creamfields, Reading and Leeds.