Evolution weekender 2009

With so many of the big festivals getting mentioned I thought I would give a shout out to the North East's biggest music event Evolution.
For the first time it is spread over two days at the settings of Spillers Quay on Newcastle Quayside and Baltic Stage on Gateshead Quays.
It is to take place on the bank holiday weekeend Sunday the 24 and Monday 25 January. You may think this is a little late for letting you know however I'm sure some of use al,ready have tickets. If not there are still day tickets available at
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=xxx&query=schedule&promoter=evo&interface=evo or can be purchased by phone on
the 24hr hotline 08444771000.
I strongly believe this is good value for money as the day tickets are only £9.50 plus booking fee. If you were lucky enough to get a weekend ticket at £15 plus bf you have a bargain.
Acts announced so far include: Dizzee Rascal, The Wombats, The View, Mystery Jets, The Maccabees, White Lies, Friendly Fires, Ladyhawke, Little Boots, Florence & the Machine, Nouvelle Vague, Twisted Wheel, Imelda May, VV Brown, The Puppini Sisters, Kid British, The Big Pink, Dead Kids, Esser, Fan Death, Marina & The Diamonds, The Chapman Family, Viva City…

My favourites include up and coming stars....Twisted Wheel, VV Brown and the established The View.

Unfortunately I am leaving for Ibiza that weekend and won't be able to attend so I will keep you updated with my summer adventure as long as you keep me informed of your Evolution Weekender experience......

Rock Werchter

This legendary festival in Belgium has seen some of the greats grace there main stage with there appearances since 1974. With U2 practically calling Werchter home during the 1980s the festival has seen everyone from INXS to The Chemical Brothers, Metallica, REM and The Who.
The line up is keeping in line with the greats of the past and this year is no exception. Oasis, The Killers and Coldplay are sure to be headliners along with the biggest band at the moment Kings of Leon.
There is also a host of female acts including Lady Gaga, Lily Allen and Katy Perry to represent female pop power.
This four day festival is in easy reach with the Eurostar leaving from London St Pancras to Brussels. If you are lucky enough to get a ticket once you get into Belgium, you can get a free train to Leuven which is a quick shuttle bus ride away from the site.
The benefits of this festival is the the fact there is only two stages and the chances of you missing a band are small as you are not running around trying to catch all the bands spread over a lot of stages.
There are a host of other bands that can be found on the website http://www.rockwerchter.be/en/home/
If you have been to this event or have any other information on it, please feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks for reading and keep listening....

Lowlands Paradise

The Arctic Monkeys go Dutch at Lowlands as they look to headline this summer spectacular. This alternative indie music festival offers you everything from an amusement park, 24 hour pub and for those who enjoy some of Hollands' finest, the opportunity to bring your own marijuana.
This doesn't mean you go and smuggle some over, however they do allow a small amount that would have to be bought legally in Holland!!!
This festival also likes to explore down the more dance music side with the inclusion of Basement Jaxx and The Prodigy. While also offering some stand up comedy, film, visual arts literature and theatre for the artists hidden away inside us.
The festival takes place towards the end of the summer season between August 21 - 23 and is situated in Evenemententerrein Walibi World Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands.
BMI flies from Heathrow to Amsterdam Schipol which is the closest although Rotterdam and Eindhoven are close.
This is a truly unique festival and the 55,000 inhabitants have there own paper, radio station and currency.

European Festivals: Benicassim

If there's one festival you really, really have to experience before you die, this would probably be it. Benicassim is more of one big party than a festival, a three-day multiple stage extravaganza with a line-up to match.
After my friends returned last year from Benicassim exhausted and all partied out, they all swore to return this year.
The festival is situated in Spain near Valencia and runs over 4 days from the 16-19 July.
Unlike a lot of home grown festivals the organisers take a strictly nocturnal approach and the scheduling usually begins at 9pm and runs through to 6am.
These hours make it perfect to party all night and spend the day chilling on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
In fact it is like a beach holiday and full-on festival rave rolled into one.
As this festival is in Spain the chances of sunshine are a lot higher so pack those shades and forget your wellies as this is not going to be a wash out...
The line-up includes Oasis, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers and Friendly Fires. Camping is not recommended as you may roast alive, so local hotels may be the answer. Travelling can be organised from budget airlines to Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona.

Here is the website for more information http://www.fiberfib.com/

Leeds and Festival 2009

Since receiving a few comments regarding this music festival I thought I would give you an update on the latest news...
Leeds and Reading are lucky enough to have one of the best line-ups I have seen this year with some of the nations top acts. With the festivals exchanging bands from one day to the next it promises to be a top weekend beginning on the 28Th August.
Tickets are still available for the event and it looks to be a great way to end the summer festival season. http://www.leedsfestival.com/tickets/index.aspx
Confirmed bands so far include artic monkeys, Kings of Leon and one of my all time favourites Radiohead. There is also The Prodigy, Bloc Party, north-east favourites Maximo Park and the Leeds based Kaiser Chiefs.
The NME stage is also host to some newer bands and I recommend looking out for White Lies, The Gas Light Anthem and Florence and the Machine.
This looks to good to miss and I may make an appearance at some point over the weekend if I can get my hands on some tickets.
Let me know who is all going and we can meet up at some point during the weekend.

Glastonbury 2009

Returning back to my main input on my blog, which is, to keep you updated on information on major music festivals.
Last years UK major festival of the year...Glastonbury is returning with a stellar line up for this year. Mixing a bit of old with the new, sorry Bruce, Glastonbury will take a lot of beating to be knocked of top spot.
Lily Allen, Fleet Foxes, Neil Young, Blur, Bruce Springsteen, Emiliana Torrini, Doves, Franz Ferdinand, The Ting Tings, Echo And The Bunnymen, White Lies and Florence And The Machine.
These are the official names that are already confirmed for this years festival, although it says a lot for the venue as it is sold out already.
Seetickets.com is the only official Glastonbury ticket agency and they have implemented a picture scheme on the ticket that stops bogus ticket sellers. Refunds are only available until May 8 so if unfortunatly you can't make it visit the website for a refund.
If you are lucky enough to have a ticket enjoy the weekend and leave your comments or pictures on my blog.

Following on from my last post regarding the NME.
The awards show itself has recently become a bit of a joke regarding the way some of the artists present themselves on stage or at the show.
I also used to blame bands for not turning up to the show however do you blame them when you see the the likes of Franz Ferdinand's singer Alex booing Oasis for not turning up, who are ya!!!!!
Kings of Leon never turned up to this years show and blamed the over confident singers smoking in- doors and acting the goat for their no show.
The NME has always backed new music and has helped to promote probably all these bands in the past. The term "never forget where you come from" springs to mind.
The other side of the coin can be that the NME has only got themselves to blame for the way the awards show comes across. Pointless awards like Villain of the Year come to mind and I can't help but feel they should focus on the music.
I feel the NME needs to raise their profile once again and blogger advocacy can be a way forward for them. Using influential bloggers who believe in the NME brand can spread the word and raise their reputation. Giving these bloggers a brief and allowing them to express their opinions can be a step in the right direction.
Anybody who loves indie/rock music or believes in the NME, will be interested and will give them the opportunity to have direct opinions on what these people say.
I managed to find this site from a few years ago however excuse some of the language....they must be passionate about music...http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/116471

NME Awards

I thought I would give the NME Awards a little mention as I get most of my influences in music from the NME magazine.
The bands mentioned and who won at the event will be at the majority of festivals over the summer. Below is a list of the main awards and the winners.....
Godlike Genius: The Cure
Best British Band: Oasis
Best International Band: The Killers
Best Solo Artist: Pete Doherty
Best New Band: MGMT
Best Live Band: Kings of Leon... Only by the Night!!!
Best Track: MGMT 'Time to Pretend'
Best Live Event: Glastonbury 2008

There were other awards that don't really mean anything music wise like...
Worst Dressed: Amy Winehouse and Villain of the Year: George W Bush that I thought I wouldn't mention...aagh well I have now!!!!
However the main news from the awards is that The Libertines will be getting back together soon and hopefully for good as they are one of my favourite bands.
Blur band mates Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn got on stage for a performance giving their fans a teaser for their festival appearances in the summer.
The NME Awards is on channel 4 as I am writing this blog so you may miss it, however you can probably catch up on channel 4 on demand and see some of the live appearances by elbow and the cure to mention a few...

Keep listening...

T in the Park

From its beginnings at Strathclyde Country Park in 1994 to what will undoubtedly be the most successful year to date, in the lush environs of Balado in 2008, T in the Park has grown in size and influence to become one of the most important and critically acclaimed music events on the international festival circuit.

Originally having attended my local festival since 1998...back in the day of Pulp and the prodigy, I have loved every minute of the festival experience. Many of the acts still continue to date and the line up for next year look amazing.

Expect a line-up of around 180 artists to play over 11 stages. The many acts confirmed so far include headliners Kings of Leon, The Killers, Blur, Snow Patrol, along with The Specials, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, The Streets, Manic Street Preachers, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Katy Perry, Razorlight, Elbow, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pendulum, Peter Doherty, and White Lies.

There are not many tickets left for this year however you can try the following outlets from 9.00am Friday 27 February.

Ticketmaster:
www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 08444 999 990.

Also available from:
www.lastminute.com
www.nme.com
Ripping - Edinburgh

Below is a map for those thinking about going...


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Welcome!

Festivals and Gigs is my way of reaching out to you my fellow music fans.

I am going to try and provide some useful information for the fast approaching summer festival season throughout Europe with my favourite festivals guide.

I am also going to try and provide details of up and coming gigs in the north east and bonnie Scotland.

Having been to various gigs throughout Scotland and the North East from T in the Park to the Carling Academy in Newcastle, I will give you my run through on the hottest gigs this year!!!

As a student myself I am looking to make the most of my summer so I am going to give you my opinions on the best gigs with the line ups included.

However I have not been to all the gigs and festivals mentioned so your feedback, pictures and the music venues you are attending this year, feel free to leave your mark on my blog.

I am still deciding on what ones to attend so your opinions would be a great help.

Thanks for reading and I hope you find this useful.