Music Mash-Up
The Summer Festivals
DJ Michelle has been rather busy in this month's Music Mashup – so busy in fact that our usual Top Five Albums had to move over so we could accommodate all her in tune, festival orientated advice! Here are the highlights of what our musically inclined correspondent has been up to.
Story Highlights
- Glastonbury
- Lovebox
- Innocent
- 12345 Shoreditch Festival
- Bestival
- Dour festival
- Benicassim
- Ibiza Rocks
The Festivals Meet Michelle Mangal Treatment
It's the end of the summer and what a summer it's been. Non stop parties, hang overs and lots of neon - well that's how I spent most of my time. But how can we possibly forget the festivals? Love them or hate them, getting a Glastonbury ticket, or a ticket for any of the festivals this year, was definitely an achievement. But even for those who didn't manage this, there was plenty going on in London town - to get you out, about and drunk in the sun. Here are the summer festival highlights and some future tips from yours truly.
Glastonbury
Oh the bother of having to register and the sitting on the computer at work, hour after hour in an attempt to get a ticket. For the lucky ones this was well worth the effort as the line up at Glastonbury was bigger and better than ever - with all music tastes catered for. For the poor souls that didn't manage to get a ticket, there was the double page spread in the Guardian newspaper – just to annoy you. The John Peel stage was the place to find new Indie talent and how they managed to get A Guy Called Gerald to play in the Dance village I have no idea - but well done. The Lounge had the legendary Erol (Alkan) which is where the Hoxtonites would have found a home away from home in the small hours! Anyone who is anyone in the music scene played Glastonbury this year but I'd argue that it offered far too much choice.
Lovebox
Set in Victoria Park, Lovebox is one of the highlights of the summer. A huge park, beautiful people and some of the best music in the world made it one to remember. Run by Groove Armada and influenced by their unique sound, artists ranged from house, with more than a little funk and soul and happily for my lascivious mind, more than a splash of Indie. Basically Lovebox is the Shoreditch scene's festival of choice and I don't blame them. Where else could you see Hot Chip, Don Letts, ISST and the Rapture all perform in one place? Add Mark Ronson, Ashley Beedle and the Trojan Sound System to that and you can most certainly get loved up in the Park.
Innocent
I've got mixed opinions on this one. The Innocent festival used to be called Fruitstock and it had a cracking music line up. I went last year and have a very vivid memory of blissfully dancing in the sun while Norman Jay played. The setting was the rather lovely Regents Park and it was free! However it has now been re-branded the Innocent festival and the emphasis is on wholesome (read wholemeal) fun for the family. The alfresco ballroom was good fun and I did eat some very good food – provided by some of the best stalls from Borough Market. However the music wasn't that good considering you had to pay a fiver to get in and if you didn't have a family or fancy doing kooky things like designing your own book cover, I'd suggest you give it a miss.
12345 Shoreditch Festival
This is what a summer festival should be about – free entry, good tunes and people with better haircuts than mine. This festival showed what you can do in a small space with the right attitude, three stages and the best new wave sounds. This festival was very now and while I enjoyed Harmar Superstar I mainly hung out by the amazing dance tent, steered by the mighty Trailer Trash crew. It was here where people did indeed party like it was 1999!
Bestival
For those of you that still want something to do, try blagging a ticket to Bestival, curated by Rob Da Bank and headlined by the Beastie Boys and The Chemical Brothers. It's set to feature various other hip and happening acts such as Roisin Murphy, Gregory Issacs and Mama Shamone. If I wasn't trekking across the Peak district, I can think of no better way to end my summer.
And next year…
For the Brits who fancy a mini sojourn abroad here is where to go (come on, the weather is likely to be better, the pound is stronger than the euro and think of all the European totty).
Dour festival
Held in Belgium, Dour has a more eclectic feel compared to some of the music festivals in the UK. It draws more heavily from Europe and embraces underground music genres such as grime (Club Circuit marquee had Dub step legend Skream). It even had Beenie Man and Sizzla performing alongside DJ Shadow. Advertised as THE European alternative music event, next year will be its 20th anniversary and with four days, six stages, 200 bands and DJs and the lovely Eurostar – there's no reason to miss it? Dour is usually in mid July.
Benicassim
This is supposedly the cultured Brit's choice - come on, it's in Spain and Brits hardly ever venture to Spain do they? It is however a weekend in the sun hearing some of the best alternative music around. Benicassim also has film and art exhibitions running at the same time, making this a unique experience.
Ibiza Rocks
Ok so it's not technically a festival, but with acts such as the Artic Monkeys and Dirty Pretty Things, as well as my favourites Hadouken and We Are Scientists performing, you'd be silly not to grab a ticket. Often you can buy tickets which give entrance to Cream and the like afterwards so you definitely get some value for money.
