Tag: festivals

London Remixed Festival

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The London Remixed Festival just took place from 3rd-4th February, and it showcased an eclectic mix of ghetto funk, reggae, hip-hop, and folk music for the capital, ultimately engaging crowds with the finest emerging showstoppers and a number of further events.

Over the festival’s two days, people were served a creative helping of anything from brass band hip hop to electro swing, a feast perfect for those who enjoy sampling the more innovative edges of the musical world. As a centre of musical revolution, London is perfectly suited to play host to The London Remixed Festival, and visitors enjoyed performances from over 25 pioneering bands and DJs across four stages, all set within the vibrantly beating heart of happening Shoreditch.

The 2017 line-up featured:

Friday Night

  • Brass Off (Curated by Continental Drifts) delivered Bring Your Own Brass VS The Brass Funkeys, DJ Chris Tofu, and Count Bassy.

Saturday Night

  • Tropicarnival (Curated by Wormfood + Movimientos + Vibes & Pressure) supplied Beating Heart + Afriquoi, Mango Rescue Team, Matuki, JJ SoulX, and Me and My Friends.
  • Polka Club (Curated by Continental Drifts) brought Gypsy Hill Ft Koby Israelite, Hallouminati, Kefaya, Op Sa!, DJ Kobayashi, Penny Metal
  • Folk Ghetto (Curated by Two For Joy + Woodburner) fetched up The Elephant Sessions, Ruth Theodore, Screamin’ Miss Jackson, Faith I Branko.

The festival delivered on all cylinders, bringing together a diverse array of up-and-comers alongside seasoned industry legends. Previous bands that were once just getting their start at The London Remix Festival have included Florence and the Machine, MUSE and Mumford and Sons, all of who can claim The London Remixed Festival as their first ever festival stage, so we can’t wait to see which acts emerge from the 2017 line-up to become household names.

We also saw the Remix Fair taking off. Organisers teamed up with Community Music (CM), a youth and community music organisation, to provide an excellent selection of remix workshops completely free of charge. Remix studio sessions showed the basics, with live demonstrations from the likes of DJ Kobayashi and Gareth Small. Brand demos showcased the latest music production gear and software, and there was even a panel discussion on the ways funding can be made available for young and promising artists.

The London Remixed Festival once again solidified the city’s reputation as a thriving musical centre, and we’re already looking forward to hearing about London Remixed 2018.

Roundhouse Rising 2017

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The Roundhouse Rising Festival 2017 will take place on Saturday 11th to Sunday 19th of February, and promises to introduce visitors to tomorrow’s headliners.

Following the phenomenal week enjoyed by the 2016 event, this will be the seventh iteration of The Roundhouse Rising Festival, which will bring you nine days’ worth of live music spanning numerous genres, from the popular to the niche. No matter your interests, you’ll find yourself taking in the work of some of the country’s most exciting fresh talent, and there are even a whole host of further events. If you ever need a break from the music, just take in one of the panels, live demonstrations, workshops, and talks from some of the biggest names in the business.

Select acts include:

  • Catholic Action: This Glaswegian four-piece will be kicking off the festival.
  • Swimming Girls: Delivering dream-pop.
  • Calva Louise: Purveyors of ferociously inventive modern grunge
  • Mista Silva: MOBO nominee and noted afrobeat artist.
  • SumoChief: Outstanding hip hop collective.

Even better, this will be the first every Roundhouse Rising Festival to look back on its roots and celebrate the success currently enjoyed by some of the artists that helped the event make a name for itself. Returning guests include rapper Little Simz. Little Simz will be coming back with special guests, such as hip hop sensation Mick Jenkins.

Of course, the Roundhouse Rising Festival difference is the kind of exposure that these acts are able to benefit from. The Roundhouse has ever been a hotbed of creativity through which emerging artists can find inspiration and find their feet. Giving young people the opportunity to engage with the arts through music, performance pieces, and media has been central to their message from day one.

Founded by Sir Torquil Norman CBE, the Roundhouse Trust had been helping to foster the creative spirit in 11 to 25-year-olds for years, providing particular support for those young people who have felt marginalised, disadvantaged, or excluded. During 2015/16, over 55% of those who took advantage of the program had experienced personal, social, or economic disadvantages in one form or another, so it’s great to see the Roundhouse Trust encouraging their burgeoning talents through the Open Access Programme, International Youth Programme, partnerships with local schools, and the Roundhouse Youth Advisory Board.

When you attend any Roundhouse event, including the fantastic Roundhouse Rising 2017, you’ll be able to witness the raw power of talent that these young artists have been able to harness, so this one should definitely be on the calendar of any music fan interested in where the industry is heading next.

Wee Dub Festival

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Launched as recently as 2011 as a mere one-night event at Studio 24 in Edinburgh, The Wee Dub Festival has skyrocketed in popularity to stretch across three days. From January 4th to 6th 2017, 25 acts will play to crowds across Edinburgh’s Old Town, with venues including:

  • The Mash House
  • The Liquid Room
  • Studio 24
  • La Belle Angele
  • Red Dog Music
  • Hemma Bar
  • The Bongo Club

Previous Wee Dub Festivals have attracted acts from all across Europe, and Wee Dub 2017 has proven no exception to that rule. Here’s a quick rundown of who’s playing where and when:

  • Aba Shanti-I: At The Bongo Club on Sunday 6th
  • Alpha Steppa: At The Mash House on Friday 4th
  • Ben-Jamin: At The Mash House on Friday 4th
  • Big Toes Hi-Fi: At The Bongo Club on Sunday 6th
  • Blackout JA: At Studio 24 on Saturday 5th
  • Brother Culture: At The Bongo Club on Sunday 6th
  • Chainska Brassika: At Liquid Rooms on Saturday 5th
  • Chopstick Dubplate ft. Chesire Cat: At La Belle Angele on Friday 4th
  • Crucial Roots: At Studio 24 on Saturday 5th
  • Dreadsquad: At Studio 24 on Saturday 5th
  • Dubdadda: At The Mash House on Friday 4th
  • Dubkasm: At Studio 24 on Saturday 5th
  • Electrikal Soundsystem: At La Belle Angele on Friday 4th
  • Escape Roots Sound: At La Belle Angele on Friday 4th
  • FLeCK: At La Belle Angele on Friday 4th
  • Jinx in Dub: At The Mash House on Friday 4th
  • Messenger Sound: At The Bongo Club on Sunday 6th
  • Mighty Oak: At Studio 24 on Saturday 5th
  • Mungo’s Hi-Fi Soundsystem: At The Mash House on Saturday 5th
  • Nem: At The Mash House on Friday 4th
  • Nick Manasseh: At The Bongo Club on Sunday 6th
  • Papa Shanti: At La Belle Angele on Friday 4th
  • Samson Sounds (Live): At The Mash House on Friday 4th
  • Ska Ya Man: At Liquid Rooms on Saturday 5th
  • Solo Banton: At Studio 24 on Saturday 5th

The Wee Dub organisers have nicely chosen to keep ticketing flexible, so you can snag a ticket that covers the entire event or pick up individual tickets to cover each act.

Beyond music, the festival has also made sure to provide plenty of addition draws. Your tykes will be able to get into the spirit of things at the ‘Dub Station’ and everyone will be able to partake of delicious Jamaican food. Dub connoisseurs and aspiring artists can check out the dub clinic and take in some film screenings.

 

Freedom Festival 2017

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Hull has recently been named the UK’s City of Culture for 2017, and the Freedom Festival was instrumental in the success of the city’s bid.

Of course, the Freedom Festival has been an important part of UK culture for years now, and represents the most eagerly awaited summer of cultural events in the city.

The 2017, the Freedom Festival is set to kick things up a notch by creating an even more extensive programme showcasing the very best artists, producers, musicians, thinkers, and innovators from Hull, the UK, and all across the world.

Artistic Director and Chief Executive Mikey Martins boasts years of experience putting together some of the most famous outdoor arts events and festivals in the world. In his own words: “To have this opportunity here in Hull, a place with such a strong sense of identity, such incredible history and stories, and at a moment of such exciting change, regeneration and genuine positivity – that is a recipe for the extraordinary to happen!

If there’s one event that is likely to prove unmissable, it’s the Launch Party, but there’ll be plenty else on during the event, which is set to run from the 1st to the 3rd of September.

Kids will find themselves entertained by a wide selection of shows. Head to The Flycycle and The Submercycle, presented by Pif-Paf Theatre, to travel across time aboard Pif-Paf’s famous machines during an unforgettable piece of cycle-based, interactive street theatre. You can also indulge your kid’s penchant from nonsense at the Gobbledegook Theatre. For a slightly more educational day, don’t miss The Science Lab. Presented by the University of Hull, this event will make learning fun with a number of mind-boggling and entertaining science based attractions.

And there’s still plenty for the adults to enjoy. You can take in some comedy theatre from The Wandering Orquestra, check out outsider art in the forms of Olivier Grossetête’s The People’s Tower and Cirque Bijou’s The Umbrella Project, and attend The Dream Engine. The latter show, presented by Heliosphere, will feature a world-class balletic aerialist tumbling and turning gracefully through the air from twenty meters up, and she’ll be suspended by nothing more than a large helium balloon. Those with a literary leaning can head to the Beyond Words Book fair.

These are just a few of the events that will be available. With everything from comedy to cabaret on offer, make sure you check out the Freedom Festival.

Celtic Connections

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Brightening up the coldest days of the year with a whole host of acts and events, Celtic Connections 2017 brings the largest annual winter music festival of its kind to Scotland’s largest city. From January 19th through to February 5th, Glasgow will play host to more than 2,100 artists and 300 events across 20 stunning venues. Everything from folk music to rock will be featured at this wonderful world music festival across 18 days of concerts, with plenty of talks, workshops, and art exhibitions to excite the tastes of anyone with a musical or artistic bent.

Centred around the vision of Artistic Director Donald Shaw, founding member of Celtic supergroup Capercaillie, the festival has become famous for bringing together a retinue of one-off acts, and last year’s event was awarded the Art and Culture Award at the Inspiring City Awards ceremony organised by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

The festival is set to move from strength to strength, with a wonderful selection of performers confirmed for 2017. Joanne Shaw Taylor, the United Kingdom’s number one blues star, will be singing for fans on January 20th, while US folk rock trio The Felice Brothers will be coming on the 21st. Billy Bragg and Joe Henry will play tracks from their recent Shine A Light tour, plus a stream of favourites from their back catalogues, on the 26th, and the legendary King Creosote & Charlie Cunningham will be entertaining you on the 27th.

Further confirmed acts to watch out for include:

  • Mexrrissey on January 25th
  • Shovels and Rope on February 4th
  • St Paul and the Broken Bones on January 29th
  • Tom Paxton on January 25th
  • Tommy Emmanuel on January 23rd

Whisky connoisseurs should find themselves particularly at home; Celtic Connections 2017 will be hosting the first annual National Whisky Festival of Scotland. Created to showcase the best that the industry has to offer, the event will bring 2,000 whisky enthusiasts together to enjoy masterclasses, talks, food, and many drams of Scotland’s iconic national drink, all set to a fantastic programme of live music. Two sessions will run back to back on January 28th.

Whether you want to warm your blood against the midwinter air with a few tipples of world-class Scottish whisky, enjoy the vocal stylings of some of the most sought-after performers, or simply take part in a milestone cultural event to chase away the post-Christmas blues, Celtic Connections 2017 could be just what you’re looking for.

Skamouth

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The bi-annual Skamouth festival is kicking off once again from Friday November 25th right through to Monday November 28th. Taking place at the Vauxhall Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, the event will bring an unrivalled selection of acts to celebrate ska, plus reggae, mod, early R&B, bluebeat, and northern soul.

Former performers have included Derrick Morgan, Dandy Livingstone, The Pioneers, and even Simon Townshend of legendary rock band The Who. Many artists return year on year thanks to the relaxed vibe, friendly atmosphere, and inviting crowds that attend Skamouth, and this year’s line-up is looking even better than ever.

Special acts will include:

  • Mr Ken (Everything I Own) Boothe
  • Pluto (Your Honour) Shervington
  • Dave & Ansel Collins (Double Barrel)
  • Jah Baddis Sound System with Original Rudeboy Neville Staple
  • Trevor ‘ET Rockers’ Evans (ex The Specials Crew/DJ)
  • Charley ‘Redlax’ Anderson (ex The Selecter)

There are plenty of other acts to fill up the days of the festival, including Susan Cadogan, Kill The Colossi, Motor City Vipers, Toot’n’Skamen, and Andy Mittoo & The Groove Makers. There’s even a Quadrophenia Night special, and the organisers are now intriguing us further with the promise of special guests.

Beyond music, one of the most attractive things about Skamouth is its noted family-friendly atmosphere, and that’s an advantage that is emphasized by the venue. Vauxhall Holiday Park is host to more than just music. In fact, this is one of the United Kingdom’s leading family holiday destinations. The kids are going to love the indoor tropical paradise that is Waterworld, with slides and pools aplenty, plus the state of the art games found in the arcade. Teens can enjoy a night in V-Lounge, while the adults can have themselves pampered at Pinkies Beauty Health & Tanning.

You might come for the music, but it’s great knowing your family can entertain themselves with numerous onsite attractions.

If this sounds like the sort of festival made for none but you, consider signing up to the free Skamouth Members Club to take advantage of a 20% discount on all Skamouth merchandise, as well as early line-up announcements, early bird tickets, and entry into exclusive competition draws. If you’re rending your garments over an inability to make this year’s Autumn event, you can always book ahead for the Skamouth Spring Weekender, which will be taking place from April 20th to April 24th 2017.

The Big Reunion

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The Big Reunion is once again set to prove that great festivals aren’t solely a summertime affair. The unlikely venue of Butlins Holiday Centre in Skegness will play host to artists such as Rudimental, Blonde, Hannah Wants, Sigma, Sigala, Lethal Bizzle, and Ms Dynamite, as well as the 10,000 music-lovers that are expected to attend.

Taking place from 18th-20th November and then again from 25th-27th November, this is the UK’s largest indoor winter music festival. You’d be forgiven for thinking that doesn’t sound quite as fun as rocking out in the sunshine at the height of summer, but The Big Reunion takes full advantage of its location to turn the event into a holiday in its own right.

For starters, you can leave your soggy tent at home. Everyone gets indoor accommodation, whether that’s a basic room or a top-notch upgrade with luxuries aplenty. Then there’s the facilities. If you get sick of busting shapes, try visiting the cinema, going bowling, or donning your speedos for a trip to Splash Waterworld.

But maybe you’re the type of hardcore music lover who scoffs at comfort and would gladly pitch up for a mid-winter Glasto if you’d get to enjoy the festival vibe once again. No fear, The Big Reunion is all about giving you more chances to get into the spirit of things, with the following upgrades available:

  • The Big Reunion Pre-Party: If two nights isn’t enough, upgrade to the pre-party on Thursday night to get the venue warmed up for the main event. You’ll get an extra night of accommodation and epic sets from Danny Howard & Big Narstie.
  • Banter Bus: Sometimes it’s not the destination but the journey. The Big Reunion ‘Banter Buses’ have been organised to take the stress out of travelling while letting you kick back with a whole coach of the like-minded. There are pickup locations from 14 cities across the UK, but you can always book parking if you’d like to wend your merry way there by yourself.
  • Late Checkout: Only £10pp lets you stay tucked up in your bed until 2pm on the day of your departure. Whether you want the opportunity to sleep off a heavy night or simply need a chance to unwind before hitting the motorway, you’ll get your wish.

The Big Reunion makes sure UK fests are as much a winter fixture as a summertime staple, all while putting a unique spin on the proceedings. Tickets are now available if you’d like to experience the UK’s biggest winter festival for yourself.

Firework FLEX Festival

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Taking place from 1 in the afternoon until 11:00 at night on Saturday 5th November, the FLEX festival is the type of one of a kind event that makes the UK’s festival scene so endlessly inviting. Held on the River Medway in Rochester, its stunning venue will provide views over the water on one side and sights of the beautiful Riverview manor to the other. In all honesty though, you’ll probably be looking upwards for most of the night.

Before we get to the outstanding dance music acts that the FLEX festival is able to bring to you, let’s focus on what makes this such a standout event. Making sure you really do remember remember the 5th of November, the event takes place on Bonfire Night, accompanying its acts with a jaw-dropping array of fireworks, including a phenomenal opening display.

Of course, there are plenty of top-notch acts to draw the attention of even the most jaded firework display veteran. You’ll be able to take in hip hop from the likes of S.kalibre, Dark Assassin, and Camilo Musse, as well as grime from Matt Pearce and Mojo-Margz. For reggae basement sounds, check out Tokes, Micky Ragga, or Irah; to enjoy some old school dance, try Micky Crist, Brooksy, or the legendary David Zowie.

These acts will take to the stage across two arenas, with one focusing on pumping house and the other bringing garage.

Here’s the full line-up to feast your eyes on:

Headlining the garage arena:

  • Wretch 32
  • So Solid Crew (Mega Man, Asher D, DJ Swiss)
  • Deekline
  • Jamieson
  • Bugzee
  • Jason Brooks
  • Mysta Harris
  • Lady S
  • Hazee

MC’s will include PSG, Hyperactive, Roacheman, Dark Assasin, Margz, Mojo, and Kifa.

Headlining the House Arena:

  • David Zowie
  • Micky Crist
  • Ryan Brasco
  • Rob Ireland
  • Nick Gransden
  • DJ Touch (FEMININE PRESSURE)
  • Annie Short
  • Solange
  • Coda B2B Lee C

Those are the sort of names that you might expect to demand top-dollar, especially considering the festival’s cool location and assortment of airborne pyrotechnics. However, you’d be blessedly wrong to stumble to that assumption; advanced discount early bird tickets are currently on sale for a mere £25. Act fast, is what we’re saying.

The FLEX Festival is an unmissable event in its own right, but it’s also the perfect way to both celebrate Bonfire Night and bid an explosive farewell to the 2016 British festival season. With tickets available at prices that won’t break

Whitby Blues Festival

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The annual Whitby Blues festival is a fantastic event for any music-lover who likes their festivals to come on a little slower and involve less in the way of mosh-pitting and head-banging.

Taking place each year at the popular seaside town’s iconic Spa Pavilion, the Whitby Blues Festival brings a whole host of the finest Blues artists from all over the world. When the start of October rolls around, it’s a great place to find yourself.

Previous festivals have seen a smorgasbord of internationally established bands take to the stage, including The Spellkasters, Grainne Duffy, Erja Lytinnen, The Stevie Nimmo Trio, Chantel McGregor, and even legendary sixties band, The Stray. For 2016, we had an equally strong line-up of seasoned professionals and emerging home grown artists, including:

  • Climax Blues Band
  • Paul Lamb & The King Snakes
  • Kyla Brox
  • Del Bromham’s Blues Devils
  • Blue Swamp Band
  • Mick Simpson

Crowds were enthralled, and there’s little doubt that the Whitby Blues Festival will continue to grow in popularity during upcoming years. In fact, tickets are already being sold for next year’s festival, which will take place on Saturday October 14th. If you’re interested, early bird tickets are coming in at a mere £23.

Naturally enough at this early date, the acts have not yet been announced for 2017, but we can confirm that the event will be returning to the Whitby Pavilion once again, and it’s this venue, in part, to which the festival owes much of its growing popularity. As a one-day event, you need to find somewhere that offers more than just great music to entice music-lovers from outside of the local area; this is no time to look for an empty field in the middle of nowhere.

Instead, the Whitby Pavilion offers stunning views across the North Sea, plus access to all of Whitby’s famous seaside charms. After the day of the festival, you can take in Whitby Harbour, Sandsend Beach, or walk the legendary 199 steps of the “Church Stairs”, which were built over 200 years ago. You can even visit Whitby Abbey, the location that helped give birth to the story of Dracula.

Boasting a stunning location and a strong line-up of top acts, the Whitby Blues Festival is a great Autumn event, as well as the perfect way to wind down after the more boisterous festivals that mark the British summer season.

Soundclash Festival

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Soundclash is quickly coming to represent the last hurrah of the great British festival line-up. Taking place in Autumn instead of at the height of summer, it’s the perfect chaser to take away the post-season blues, but it still offers plenty in its own right.

Soundclash is really going to appeal to those who wouldn’t think of missing festivals like BoomTown and Awakening. Edging away from the rock you might find at Leeds or the pop you’d get from Party in the Park, Soundclash is mainly a techno, hip-hop, dance, and garage affair. In fact, it feels like a one-day version of your favourite underground festival, and, at a scant £40 each, tickets come at a fraction of the price.

This year’s Soundclash took place on October 1st at Somerley House in Ringwood, Hampshire. Despite the small budget, it provided music fans with plenty of bang for their buck. 20,000 people took in the talents of 75 DJs across 6 different stages. House music was definitely the focus, but you could also kick it at the retro stage. The festival even offered an array of fun fair amusements to liven up your day during breaks from the tunes, and production was truly top-notch. Think laser, light, and LED shows aplenty.

That makes you wonder just how the organisers pulled off such an event without jacking up ticket prices. They certainly didn’t cut any corners when it came to the acts. Soundclash has developed a reputation for drawing top talent, and 2016 was no exception.

Headliners for the night were Groove Armada, who took to the main stage to deliver a phenomenal show highlighted by dazzling effects. They got the stage as warm as possible for British DJ and Radio 1 presenter Mistajam, who entertained with fresh hip-hop and grime. Other top acts included DJ Fresh, who currently has over 2.5 million record sales under his belt, plus a score of top acts drawn from Southampton and Bournemouth nightlife.

You might be forgiven for being a little disappointed when you hear that the music all ended at 1am, but fret not. Soundclash teamed up with the nearby Switch nightclub; anyone with a Soundclash wristband was granted free entry. It’s a pretty perfect match since the nights of October are rarely as pleasant as those in July or August.

With Soundclash 2016 a resounding success, it seems more than likely that the festival will return again for a 5th time. In fact, tickets are already available for their 2017 Springtime kick-off event, which will take place on Sunday 30th April.