2010 Festival Preview

So as February sets in and the festival fever comes once more choices must be made. In an effort to make this a bit easier for you all I’ve tried to separate some of the names out there into sections, sections bias to my own opinion but sections all the same.. I know, they are all music festivals essentially, though they all have varied directions and ethos. The same but different if you will.

Just Plain Nice……..

Secret Garden Party

Easily the UK’s most innovative, if not Europe’s. A whole host of excitement, the finest production, purposely intimate and not purely focused on the music, a journey of discovery if you will discovery. Highlights include – a spanking new kids area, the Where the Wild Things Are’ amongst many other things, line up is yet to be announced.

Field Day

A one-day beauty in Victoria Park, an enlarged village fete in essence but with music that is not purely acoustic and fancy city drinks. Urban leftfield if you will. Highlights include – Sanitgold, The Mystery Jets, Delphic, Fake Blood and The XX.

Camp Bestival

Set in Lulworth, Dorset and much smaller than her siter on the Isle, Camp Bestival is big on families. I for one found this fantastic, people kept a handle on things most of the time – quite refreshing in all honesty. A truly fantastic site, lovely woods, animals and architectural folly. Apart from the horse fly bite I had a blinder. Highlights include – The Wurzels (get in), Pete and The Pirates, the ever-present Cuban Brothers, Kid Carpet and Madness!

Just Plain Nice (but a bit bigger)…….

Lovebox

London’s only independent festival, was two days now three days, and no camping. Heavily associated with Groove Armada and thus Bacardi. Filled with quirky occurrences, some truly scrumptious food and collaborations with some of London’s finest promoters it should be as good as always. Highlights include – Dizzee Rascal, Chase and Status and much more TBA.

Latitude

Cute and cultural contrasts against great music here, they have a smoking ban that I am yet to fully understand but that’s up to them I suppose. There is a big focus on spoken word, performance art and general creativity and set in the beautiful Henham Park. As mentioned this is balanced against music – Highlights include – Nick Cave, The Rumble Strips, Regina Spektor, We Have Band and Bombay Bicycle Club.

Bestival

Just wonderful, steadily increasing in size, if this a problem see Camp Bestival above, but what a line up. Produced by Radio 1’s Rob da Bank. All good basically, though if there is serious amounts of rain yr in for trouble. On the Isle of Wight too. Highlights include – The Flaming Lips, Hot Chip and, Echo and The Bunnymen and Gil Scott Heron!

Just Plain Big……..

Glastonbury

The master of them all has sold out already, easily the biggest in the country and probably the most bizarre overall. If you can avoid the media and pr professionals getting their ‘hippy’ on you should be safe. Tradition of rain looms like a specter though. Highlights include – U2(?) and N*E*R*D so far, the key is to explore as there is always fun bits a’ ‘goin – don’t forget Lost Vagueness either. Always a winner.

Isle of Wight

As the name suggests, it’s on the Isle of Wight, where they lack in stages they make up with headliners. One of the first of the summer, this puppy is certainly more mainstream than some, though being re-incarnation of the 1970’s original it will always get some slack for this. Set in a rather idyllic location on the whole, queues can be an issue, though it never seems to rain on the weekend, big bonus. Highlights include – The Strokes, Blondie, Florence and The Machine, The Doves and Orbital.

The V’s

Split between Chelmsford and Staffordshire these badgers are ‘music’ festivals in their UK tradition. Alcaholic, burger van filled and occasionally wet. They do book some great talent though and their crew catering was immense, they had a cheese board for christ’s sake. They are yet to announce a full line up though mutterings about The Courteneers and Muse are in full swing.

Leeds and Reading

The second set of sister festivals, far rockier in their approach to music the clientele and atmosphere reflect this too. Expect fires, Gio-Gio t-shirts and a whole lot of good music. The sites have numerous stages, collaborations with NME, BBC Introducing and Dance to The Radio, Leeds based label that brought you The Pigeon Detectives and Esben and the Witch, have worked to great effect. Highlights include – Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Jamie T and Deadmou5.

Coming Up………

Camden Crawl

Coming up again in May is the Camden Crawl, set over the first May bank holiday and spanning Camden Town’s two mile stretch of high street for the 6th consecutive year. The 2009 event witnessed performances from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kasabian, The Maccabees and Little Boots at The Roundhouse alongside other notables including Echo & The Bunnymen, The Fall, Wire, 808 State and Billy Bragg.

Le Printemps de Bourges

France’s premier do, kicking off in April between the 13^th and 18^th this provides a welcome, six day rest-bite from the winter blues. Focused on world music  and emerging talent  it is really quite wonderful. In the evenings the festival spreads into the actual town of Bourges creating a street party type atmosphere. Well worth the journey.