Festivals
FEST OF FUN
Green Man Festival
Summer’s here and the festival scene is in full swing. Paul Baker checks out the best of the shows still to come this year, both at home and abroad AT one time Glastonbury totally ruled the roost and if you failed to grab a ticket to that (or jump over the fence) that was your summer festival chance gone! How things have changed... Now you can’t go for a drive in the countryside without passing a field filled with revellers watching the ‘new’ Mumford & Sons, munching gourmet hot dogs and wearing designer wellies (just in case the weather lets everyone down). It’s hard to put your finger on it, but there’s something about
standing in a muddy field with a pint in your hand, waving your illuminated mobile to a wistful rock ballad, or jigging like crazy to a ragged folksy tune. While the combination of rain, camping, and crowds aren’t to everyone’s liking, it’s difficult to deny the enjoyment of the festival experience. That’s probably why those canny festival gurus have tried to think of everything to make the experience more attractive. Modern festivals are usually replete with all mod-cons.
Don’t be surprised to see a general store, cash machines, shower blocks and ready-to-rent tents all set up, perhaps even caravans and chalets on or near the festival site. Some festivals are just one day affairs so you don’t have to kip over, while others are mainly indoors so that soggy gales don’t even come into the equation. So pull on those wellies, don a sun hat, grab a scrumpy and get out there and experience the UK festival circuit this summer. Fingers crossed it’s a hot one!
RAMSBOTTOM FESTIVAL September 13-15
Photo: Robert Emmett
Festival No.6 Photo: Robert Parrry Jones
Yousef and Carl Cox will be at Global Gathering
FESTIVAL NO. 6 September 13-15 THIS is a special festival and this year it’s an even bigger deal – that’s because those ultra influential, but rarely spotted, indie feedback-sculptors My Bloody Valentine have been coaxed into playing a headline set. At one time you might have called Festival No. 6 a boutique festival but it feels like it’s all grown up now. It’s still located in the eccentric environs of Portmeirion in Wales, made famous as the setting for cult TV series The Prisoner, but it’s no longer the secretive, hidden gem it once was. But it remains a pioneering festival concept which brings together music, arts and culture in an incredible location. Manic Street Preachers, Chic and James Blake complete the big names, but there’s loads more artists appearing. www.festivalnumber6.com
LATITUDE July 18-21 A FESTIVAL that truly can cater for everyone. Familyfriendly Latitude takes place at Henham Park, Suffolk, and tags itself as “more than just a music festival”. A quick glance at this year’s line-up confirms that’s certainly true. You see there’s comedy, lots of comedy. Sure there’s your up and comings, loads of them. But there’s also Richard Herring, Josh Widdicombe, Marcus Brigstocke, Lee Nelson, Russell Kane, Tim Key, Daniel Kitson, Dylan Moran, Sean Lock and Eddie Izzard! Plus there’s theatre, dance, film, spoken word and literary chats from world famous novelists, thinkers and artists. The music end of the bargain is covered, in no uncertain terms, with headliners Kraftwerk, Bloc Party, Foals, Texas, Calexico, Alt-J, and Beach House, plus a shedload of others. www.latitudefestival.com
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BEST OF LIVERPOOL
Ramsbottom Festival
YOU might not have heard of this North West festival, but it’s been growing in size and interest for a number of years. This year looks set to be the best yet, attracting established international musicians, emerging artists and top DJs to a pleasant spot in Lancashire, just 45 miles from Liverpool. It’s a chance to enjoy great music, local food and fine ales in beautiful surroundings. Sinéad O’Connor, Richard Hawley and the Futureheads are headlining the three-day festival, alongside the likes of The Beat, Public Service Broadcasting and the Unthanks. www.ramsbottomfestival.com
GLOBAL GATHERING July 26-27
GREEN MAN FFESTIVAL August 15-18
A TRAVELLING festival, Global Gathering is cool, even if it sounds a bit Greenpeace. But when it says its goals are to break boundaries in order to bring the best electronic music to fans around the world, things are starting to sound a lot better. First held in 2001 in the normally Shakespearean surrounds of Stratford Upon Avon, the festival has since got on its bike and lived up to its name, landing in the likes of America, Poland, Turkey, Russia, and Australia. This year there are festivals in Ukraine, Belarus and South Korea, along with the UK event at its Stratford base with Plan B, Rita Ora, Carl Cox and James Zabiela, plus Liverpool DJ Yousef. www.globalgathering.com
AN intimate Welsh festival which manages to attract decent names to its line-up each year, the Green Man might just be the most attractive setting for a UK festival. Having attended a number of times in its 10 year history, I can vouch that the views of the Black Mountains are as impressive as anything seen on the main stage. A refreshingly independent festival, this year it offers 10 entertainment areas in the Welsh wilderness, 1,500 performers, 24 hour entertainment, comedy, poetry, literature, science and more. Plus it’s family friendly. Band of Horses, Kings of Convenience, Patti Smith, John Cale, Roy Harper and Edwyn Collins are among those who invite you to come, listen and enjoy. www.greenman.net