Events screened...
Festivals Preview                            (Events)

The British appetite for summer musical festivals seems insatiable as organisers expand their events in both longevity and talent roster.


Kenza Darley takes her pick of this year's bunch (in chronological order)...
When? Saturday 24th – Sunday 25th May
Where? Turweston Aerodrome, Northamptonshire 

What is it?
Gatecrasher is the first major
festival of the year and it heralds in the summer with a line up for rave kids new and old. 60,000 revellers can expect a mesh of indie, dance, pop and urban music from 20 live bands and 200 DJs. Gatecrasher's big coups for '08 are Hot Chip and Mark Ronson while its 20 Years of Acid House arena features  vintages such as Mark Moore (S-xpress) and Alex Patterson (The Orb). The two day fest lets some 20,000 campers take it easy and navigate the 20 arenas at their leisure.  
Who's on? An eclectic mix that includes Hot Chip, Mark Ronson, The 
Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, CSS, Dizzee Rascal, Armand Van 
Helden, Paul Oakenfold and many more.


When? Saturday 14th June
Where?Singleton Park in Swansea


What is it? Escape Into The Park is nationally recognised as being the
biggest event in the Welsh clubbing calendar, an all dayer attracting over 
20,000 dance music fans to Swansea’s lush Singleton Park. The eleven hour
dance marathon (starts at 12midday) takes place across four arenas and a 
main outdoor stage.
Who's on? 
Underworld headline the main stage which includes Karl Hyde
 and Rick Smith, Ferry Corsten, Fedde le Grand  and the Scratch 
Perverts. The Godskitchen Arena includes Eddie Halliwell, Judge Jules,
Sander Van Doorn and Big Al. The Polysexual Arena (inc Tidy Boys, 
Lisa Lashes), Raveology Arena ( Andy C, Fabio, Friction and more)  and
 L’America Terrace (headliner Joey Negro) comprise the other 
entertainment zones. This year's  VIP Arena is hosted by Hed Kandi where
 guests can indulge in signature HK playpen theming.   

What they said:
 Underworld - "We're really excited to be playing at Escape into the Park and
we're even more excited to be playing in front of a Welsh audience for
the first time in years. This is one of the only pure dance festivals we'll be 
playing this year, so we know the crowd will be there to party." 




When?    Friday 25th & Saturday 26th July 2008 
Where?   Long Marston Airfield, Stratford Upon Avon


What is it? Global Gathering bills itself as the largest electronic camping 
weekender in the world and attracts around 55,000 dance and live music fans.
With more than 16 giant arenas housing monolithic sound systems and state-
of-the-art production, Godskitchen lays claim to hosting the biggest marquee 
tent in Europe with capacity for 15,000. Bedrock; Polysexual; Global; Random
Concept and Mixmag complete the mix. This year’s campsite has expanded 
to the size of an estimated 50 football pitches. The relative luxury of hot
showers for all guests is eclipsed by the Cloud9 VIP camping range which offers boutique
accommodation, private washrooms and access to the VIP arena.
Who's on?

Global Gathering's big exclusive is the hip hop star Kanye West who is
expected to perform his much aniticipated electric Glow in the Dark show, with a mammoth lighting
rig,robots, holograms, a string orchestra, smoke machines and dancing girls.
Other live notables include Moby, Mark Ronson Roisin Murphy and Sam 
Sparro. 
The DJ line up features Tiesto, Sasha, John Digweed, 2manyDJs, David 
Guetta and Erick Morillo, Sven Vath, Roger Sanchez, Laurent Garnier
debut and more.

What they said:
"Playing in the Godskitchen arena at Global Gathering is the best way to spend
a balmy summer evening , and I mean balmy! " Sasha


When?   16th & 17th August

Where?  Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire

What is it?The V Festival is now in its 13th year and was the first UK festival to operate over two days and swap line ups overnight. Since '96, some of the world’s most sought after performers have graced the stages including Radiohead, Morrissey, The Strokes, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blur, Faithless, Razorlight and Kylie.

Who's on?
Over 100 acts featuring old hands and new hopes across five stages.  Headliners Muse and the The Verve, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics,Amy Winehouse, Kaiser Chiefs, The Prodigy and The Kooks will be gracing both sites. Also Girls Aloud, The Sugababes, Travis, The Chemical Brothers, Pogues and more. Squeeze and The Stranglers guarantee pedigree and diversity at this year's V.

Who's airing? Channel 4 will be running a series of V Festival programmes specials in the build up to the event.

What they said:  “We’re really proud of the V Festival line-up this year.  A European exclusive performance by Muse and some truly fantastic established live acts mixed with some exciting newcomers will result in a cracking weekend.  Something to get every fan on their feet!”  Festival Director, Bob Angus



 

Where? The rolling meadows of Daresbury, Halton, Cheshire
When?  Bank Holiday Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August ‘08
 
What is it?
Live bands play alongside over 100 world class DJs in over 10 outdoor arenas
at Creamfields'  expanded two dayer at its new home in Daresbury. The event marks its 10th Anniversary  with attractions ranging from boutique camping to choirs(!) and BMXs for an explosive fusion of dance, live bands and non-stop entertainment.
The real surprise is the appearance of Chic featuring  Nile Rodgers.

Who's on?  
The Main Stage makes its return and Creamfields capitalises on the cool of  TV show, Skins which hosts an exclusive arena. Returning arena hosts include Cream & Goodgreef, Chibuku, Subliminal and Hospitality Arena hosted by Cream & Hacienda. Music fans can look forward to Kasabian, Fatboy Slim  Ian Brown, Underworld, Paul Van Dyk, Tiësto, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and lots more.

Who's airing? Radio 1 is on board this year for exclusive coverage throughout the event and broadcasting fresh announcements in the run up to the festival.
Cream also has 13 Creamfields festivals happening worldwide hosting Creamfields in Spain, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Chile, Malta, Romania and Argentina

What they said:
“We are made up to be headlining this year's Creamfields. We have heard great things about the festival over the years and it is an honour to be asked to headline on it's tenth anniversary. It will be great to bring our sound to a fresh Northern crowd"
Kasabian

"Radio 1 are delighted to be returning to Creamfields as the pivotal dance event in our live music calendar. The station is looking forward to being part of the next chapter for Creamfields as the festival extends across two days, for the first time ever. The fantastic diverse line-up headlined by Kasabian means this year's event looks set to be the best ever."
Jason Carter (Radio 1’s Editor of Live Music and Events)




When? Sunday 24th August at The Reading Festival / Friday 22nd August
at The Leeds Festival
Where? Bramham Park, Leeds & Richfield Avenue, Reading 

What is it?
This rock 'n' roll stalwart celebrates its 20th (Reading) and 10th (Leeds) anniversary under the aegis of the Festival Republic team. The 2008 outing has already sold out and this year’s bill promises a host of new names and extra special performances across the six stages.
Metallica play their only UK festival at Reading/Leeds

Who's on?
THE MAIN STAGE -Rage Against The Machine, Metallica and The Killers  (playing their only UK festival dates this year).
.
Manic Street Preachers, Babyshambles, British Sea Power and The Automatic are just some of the other 150 acts  playing over the three days.

This year’s Dance Stage reflects the popularity of the electronic and and dance music genre and is joined by some real surprises planned on the NME / Radio One Stage and the punk, hardcore and ska Lock Up Stage.

Who's airing?
Radio 1 & BBC 3. Other sponsors - NME mag, Carlsberg beer and Relentless
energy drinks.

What they said:

"BBC3 are delighted to be your TV hosts once again for this year’s Reading and Leeds Festival. Over the festival weekend we will be transmitting live from both sites with loads of sets from the three main stages, plus the usual exclusive and unique backstage performances, chat, comedy and all the festival goings-on with your hosts Edith Bowman and Zane Lowe."


RK  _________________________________________