Festivals

For the last four years Belladrum Festival has been supported by Tomatin Distillery. This year, to celebrate Bella’s 10th Birthday, the Distillery has kindly offered to donate up to 30 whisky casks to create a work of art to be displayed at the festival.

Over the previous years, Belladrum has showcased a variety of works by professional installation artists and this year with it being the 10th anniversary, it seemed the perfect opportunity to launch a public call to artists/sculptors/makers/designers to submit ideas/designs for the creation of a news piece of art to be installed at the festival.

They are looking for an artist or a collaboration of artists to design and build an artwork piece using the whisky casks, which will engage, inspire and amaze the public and create a lasting memory. Artists are being asked to register their interest in taking part using the on-line form which can be found here.

The deadline for submissions is 30th April 2013

Belladrum 2013 takes place on the 2nd and 3d of August in the beautiful Highland surroundings of Belladrum Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. The independent festival has built a reputation for its eclectic line-ups, its off beat non-musical entertainments and its all-ages approach. The festival won a VisitScotland Thistle Award in 2009 and is a past winner of the Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, the festival industry’s ‘oscars’.

Advance adult weekend tickets are £95. They include parking and camping, except for campervans and caravans which will be charged £50 per vehicle or £130 to include electrical hook-up.. As in previous years, tickets for children 12 & under are free. Online e-tickets are available from Skiddle.

For one weekend this summer, Scotland’s only dedicated cider-makers Thistly Cross will give their time and attention to some of Scotland’s most dedicated musicians,the indoor festival to be held at Belhaven Fruit Farm in Dunbar, East Lothian, will not only feature some of Scotland’s best new music but also be serving up exclusive beer and cider from across Europe/US, berry picking on the fruit farm and some cracking food.

A mainstay at many of Scotland’s independent music festivals, the bond between Thistly Cross and good music is already a strong one, and now the people behind the cider are inviting you along to the shed where it all began to explore a little further. Acts already confirmed for the day long indoor festival include; Woodenbox, Remember Remember, Found, Bwani Junction, Capitals, Kitty The Lion, Fatherson and, on the cusp of their third Album, Edinburgh band of the moment Meursault.

Tickets are available here where you can also book bus travel to and from the festival at this link.

Physical tickets can be purchased at Ripping Records and Ticket Scotland in Edinburgh.

Tickets to Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival have sold out for a fourth year running weeks before the event is due to take place at Beauly, Inverness-shire on 3rd and 4th August. Other than upgrades, no further tickets to the ninth edition of the festival of any type are available, including child 12 & under tickets. Upgrade tickets from Saturday to Weekend (£30*) and from Campervan/Caravan to Campervan/Caravan Electrical Hook-up (£80*) are still available from www.skiddle.com

“We are really delighted that, in what has been a tough year for live music sales across the UK against a background of astringent economic recession, Belladrum has sold out in advance yet again,” said festival promoter Joe Gibbs. “That we have is a tribute to the loyal audience who have supported us in gradually increasing numbers over the years, to the very talented artists that have provided music and performing arts to the event throughout its history, and to the amazing team of people who work on the festival and make it all happen each August. Bonnets off to you, one and all.”

Bella fans wanting to buy or sell printed tickets to Belladrum on the secondary market this year are being urged to avoid scammers on social networking and e-commerce sites by using an honest broker exchange set up by the Association of Independent Festivals, of which Bella is a member. Tickets may be sold at face value and bought with a 10% booking fee and postage costs from The Ticket Trust http://www.thetickettrust.com/ This is the only method of dealing in secondary tickets that the festival endorses. E-tickets should only be bought and sold via www.skiddle.com.

This year’s theme at the festival is ‘royalty’ and as usual, thousands of audience members are expected to come in fancy dress. The 15000 capacity event takes place in the beautiful Highland surroundings of Belladrum Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. The independent festival has built a reputation for its eclectic line-ups, its off beat non-musical entertainments and its all-ages approach. The festival won a VisitScotland Thistle Award in 2009 and is a past winner of the Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, the festival industry’s ‘oscars’.

A Mystery Special Guest has been added to the main stage line up on the Friday evening “The identity of this artist will not be revealed until they appear on the Garden Stage at 1830 on Friday 3rd August,” said Joe Gibbs. “But – and here’s a hint – judging by their previous receptions at Bella, they’re going to be a popular choice.”

Starting to feel like something of an institution Stag & Dagger’s fifth year in Glasgow promises to provide the vast spectrum of musical tastes we Weegies have to come to expect in mid May.

Since its inception the variety of acts prove a tasty distraction to end of the season football matches.
Athough billed as an all day event not much is scheduled to test the stamina prior to 7pm with the exception of happenings at The Captains from 1pm onwards.

Unfortunately despite my supposed best intentions I fail to catch a glimpse of either Hot Panda (combo of sleep/football) or Die Hard (just sheer laziness) both of whom I had pencilled in to attend.
So, following that less than triumphant beginning we eventually muster up enough energy to collect our wristbands.

Having previously experienced both Miaoux Miaoux and White Denim we conclude after much deliberation our first pick of the day; Post War Years.

With the ABC kicked off and some unmentionable sporting event taking place the band open to a fairly sparse disinterested crowd.

A couple of songs in and it’s coming across all Hot Chippy with synth pop tones and vocal harmonies meshed with samplers.

Halfway through the band confess to not having a setlist awakening those in The Art School as they warm to the clearly hungover four-piece.

After slowly going through the gears (as well as requesting the audience come closer) the band finally take it up a notch with ‘All Eyes’, a clear highlight with its crashing heavy bass bringing the walls down.

Instead of holding tight for Still Corners skip along to the ABC and the psychedelics that is The Phantom Band.

First off let me say I do actually like a lot of The Phantom Band, indeed I enjoyed one of their many Glasgow gigs not so long ago.

However, for whatever reason the best compliment to pay them on tonight would be ‘energetic’.
They appear to huff and puff throughout their set despite frontman Rick Anthony’s insistence “always a pleasure never a chore”.

Playing a selection of songs from both Checkmate Savages and The Wants small sections of hard-core fans drum up an atmosphere but their set will have done nothing to attract the uninitiated.

Django Django, so good they named themselves twice, have played the waiting game remaining in self imposed exile since releasing debut single ‘Storm’ in 2009.

Such patience would now appear to be paying of as fresh from an appearance on Jools Holland they find support in the form of hipster and average mr music man alike.

Awaiting Django Django’s presence with a healthy level of excitement and expectation the audience roar as they appear on stage complete with uniformesque like matching t-shirts.

Samples, blips, beeps, riffs, vocal cues and suddenly we’re transported to a jungle, very effectively, and opener ‘Hail Bop’ kicks in.

What follows is a three (or four) song medley mix of tracks like ‘Waveform’, ‘Default’ and ‘Skies over Cairo’ with interludes of lesser known songs from their debut album.

The full version of ‘Skies over Cairo’ provides a fantastic evocation of deserts, sand dunes, oases and bustling bazaars.

Watching the assembled masses struggle to find the suitable dance moves for such a track is a personal highlight.

The set builds to a stupendous finale as fan favourite ‘Wor’ kicks in; synths bounce off the walls and reverb back, bringing us all together in an encompassing Django Django embrace.

Much to many’s surprise there is even time for an encore just as people had began to creep out.
Following this we dart over to the CCA for a not so enjoyable 10 minute taster of Washington Irving.

Not that the band are to blame, the venue is at breaking point in terms of capacity meaning if you dared to sneak off for a pint you were unlikely to return to see or hear the band.

That aside, while I’d not put a huge amount of faith in my findings after 10 minutes it would seem Washington Irving are set for a bright future.

The self-proclaimed electric folk outfit speaks of their distaste for Dunfermline which gained a muted response before someone joked “haw am frae Dunfermline”.

Songs such as ‘Abbey Gallop’ suggest a band with no little skill in songcraft and raw Americana who on this evidence are likely to continue on an upward curve.

After somehow escaping the CCA there is only one plausible destination: Stereo and EMA.

Gracing Glasgow and Scotland with her presence for the very first time Erika M. Anderson is in town to showcase her debut solo effort Past Life Martyred Saints.

Her blend of introverted singer-songwriter brooding with furious abrasive punk does not immediately catch the imagination of the Stereo crowd.

Requesting the “sexy blue lights” she and her band rip through the powerful ‘Marked’, no doubt spectacular irrespective of lighting choices.

Melting through frazzled soundscapes of feedback and general bombast we are treated to ‘Grey Ship’ in all its glory before Anderson ventures on a 10-minute solo independent from her band.

By the time EMA jumps off the stage to confront the now engaged audience ‘Milkman’ is in full flow as she laments the disintegration of relationships.

While appreciating the Kim Gordon/Sonic Youth-esque screaming brilliance of ‘California’ the only minor complaint is ‘Breakfast’ is not played!

As EMA wraps the microphone cord around herself while seemingly lost for the moment there is a respectful hush in recognition of a performer whose charisma and aggression set her apart.

Naturally, following EMA’s set the only way was down, however Forest Swords‘ chillwave does provide a rather helpful nudge to Stereo’s attendees with a mellowness which comes as a welcome contrast to EMA’s darkness.

Undoubtedly not everyone’s cup of coffee Forest Swords enabled a chilled out conclusion to all the Staggering & Daggering.

‘Miarches’ loops and clattering beats combine with live guitars finish the night off nicely as the masses slowly began to slink away and retreat home following another successful Stag & Dagger.

Words: Andy Quigley
Photos: Kenny McColl

Entering into its sixth year, Field Day will be returning to Victoria Park with its unique formula of pioneering line up coupled with village fete mentality, all in the heart of east London. Due to the London 2012 Olympics, Field Day will now take place over the Diamond Jubilee June Bank Holiday weekend on Saturday 2nd June.

Among the first acts to be confirmed are Glasgow’s thin white dukes, Franz Ferdinand.

Arguably the most influential British band of the past decade, Franz Ferdinand are tipped for a major comeback next year, and this will be the first time the quartet take to the Field Day stage.

With a highly anticipated fourth album on Domino Records scheduled for release in 2012, expect big things from this headline performance.

Frontman Alex Kapranos says: “I’m looking forward to Field Day this coming summer.

“I’ve been the last couple of years and the line-up’s always been excellent. Electrelane playing Small Town Boy and Martin Creed’s set were last year’s highlights for me.

“This year’s line-up is already shaping up well with Metronomy and R Stevie Moore on the bill.

“Being in walking distance of a good pub at the end of the night works well for me too…”

The full lineup which is still to be announced will join the likes of: Metronomy/ Andrew Bird/ ERRORS / Baxter Dury / Beirut / Com Truise /SBTRKT/ Tortoise / To Kill a King / The Vaccines / Zulu Winter.

Early Bird discounted Tickets HERE!

Following an announcement made by the band earlier this evening, T in the Park organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager have confirmed that The Stone Roses will headline T in the Park 2012.

Having recently announced their ‘live resurrection’ to the delight of dedicated fans across the globe, The Stone Roses will undoubtedly provide THE seminal music moment of the summer with their hugely anticipated headline performance at T in the Park 2012.

A limited release of tickets for the 19th T in the Park will go on general sale at 2011 prices at 9am on Friday 2nd December From www.ticketmaster.co.uk and by calling 08444 999 990

Next year’s event will take place across the weekend of 6th – 8th July.

Undoubtedly hoping for a bit of end-of-summer sun, Electric Frog’s September Weekender look to round up the festival season with a packed two days of live music down at SWG3.

Apart from a brief spell on Saturday (where revelers are using the marquee for shade rather than shelter), the Glasgow rain does its best to dampen spirits, with a slightly bedraggled crowd drifting away at the end of Mogwai’s Sunday headline set.

Still all seem determined to enjoy the music, which included acts ranging from Jeff Mills to Wild Beasts. This was a game (er, festival) of two halves; Saturday showcasing some of the best of Detroit’s dance music legacy in Derrick May and the aforementioned Mills, who had help from Frankie Knuckles, Len Faki, Levon Vincent and Glasgow’s Slam, amongst others.

The crowd seems to be made up mostly of those who might have been around to experience this kind of music in early nineties warehouses, and they certainly hadn’t forgotten what it was all about. Any doubts about staging late-night music between two and 10pm were also quickly put to bed by a packed main stage from early on. There are even some Kevin-and-Perry-esque dance moves to be seen.

Len Faki set the tempo with an energetic two hours of European techno, build-ups and drops galore, although the main event, as expected, comes in the form of the two men from the Midwest. Channeling all of the Motor City’s soul, funk and disco history, first May and then Mills provided sets of a hard-hitting but much smoother variety, with a degree of subtlety that could only come from years on the DJ circuit, playing at clubs such as Berlin’s Berghain and Detroit’s The Music Institute.

Sunday’s line-up sees live bands a-plenty taking to the street stage, with a noticeably different crowd to the previous day and a deluge of almost biblical proportions to mark the occasion.

Meteorological woes were soon forgotten as punters sidestep the puddles, and dance their way through an early set by Glasgow’s electro darlings Errors, followed by a raucous outing from Mancunian post-punk legends The Fall.

Wild Beasts could be forgiven for quaking at the thought of following the belligerent tones of Mark E. Smith, particularly given the enthusiasm of punters, young and old, for the top-form set delivered by the latter, but their whimsical indie strikes a chord nonetheless.

The luscious drone of local heroes Mogwai brings open-air events to a close, while upstairs The Orb round off SWG3’s more electronically-orientated line-up, even throwing a snatch of bag piping into the closing mix for good measure.

Soggy yet contented crowds spill out of the festival, having been treated to a plethora of talent from both local and international turf. The Frog may be going into hibernation for this year, but we look forward to equally ambitious and eclectic line-ups next time around.

Words/Photos: Fran Lightbound and Nick Thomas

Nestled deep in the idyllic rolling hills of Somerset, Glastonbury is one of the worlds longest running festivals and it shows. From the free shuttle bus out of Castle Cary train station (only two hours from central London) to the free souvenir canvas bag you receive on entry helping encourage people to stop using plastic bags post festival, everything is planned to perfection. Some truly canny individuals even cycle to Worth Farm and take advantage of a new incentive to cut the festivals carbon footprint, they are rewarded handsomely with sole access to solar showers, discount on meals, free festival t-shirts and even their own camping field! I’ll be cycling next time then! Started over 40 years ago, Glastonbury has grown into something much more than a music festival, a remarkable fusion of cultures and the arts, performers from around the globe and a chance to leave the worries and stresses of the modern world behind!

Heavy rain means rivers of mud are in full flow by Thursday afternoon and it’s a serious work out getting between stages. Nevertheless it’s going to take more than a little mud to dampen the mood of the Glastonbury crowd. If anything the weather actually fells like it brings people together, there’s a real spirit of elation at being here and most people seem to have the attitude of having a blast whatever the weather. Some take to covering themselves in the mud others are happy to ignore it completely and enjoy the fringe theatre, film screenings, painting, flower arranging and hands-on craft workshops. You can even go to the circus or simply walk around, space out a little and be dazzled by it all. All that excitement builds up a healthy appetite and fortunately on hand is some of healthiest food on the planet, all freshly cooked on site, there’s even cafes offering wonderfully tasty spicy chai and rather decedent afternoon tea and cake! As part of the festivals goals to be kinder to the environment all cutlery used is compostable or reusable, coffee, tea, sugar and chocolate is Fairtrade and even the festival’s official t-shirt is printed using water-based inks and vegetable dyes…it seems at Worthy Farm they go further than most in their goal of becoming sustainable.

[Show as slideshow]

You might also be forgiven for thinking the festival is just for the hip young things, and while there are many here, there are actually people of all ages from babies at The White Ribbon Alliance rite up to BB King performing on the Pyramid Stage aged 85!! Glastonbury is as much a family event as anything else and kids have a whole field of mischief to themselves; helter skelters, stories and singalongs, kids are also treated to headline performances from The Zingzillas, The Gruffalo, Ratamouse and of course the highly controversial booking of The Wombles!

Thursday night kicks into gear with Glasgow legends Optimo spinning in the Stonebridge Bar. The dancing continues down at Shangri-la and the Snake Pitt gets ever sexier, a space that actually runs until 6am on Friday, there are nightclubs constructed out of New York tenement buildings and transvestites dancing to the crowds below at the Pussy Parlore. The ridiculous Arcadia takes centre stage though, trapeze artists hang from a spaceship like contraption that blasts fire high into the sky all sound-tracked by dj’s to rival anything in Ibiza, its a truly mesmerising experience and a masterclass in performance art!

If all the dancing and loud music gets too much then theirs the spiritual Stone Circle, perched high on the hill above the vast 900 acres site. Under a Chinese lantern lit night sky this magical area is perfect for building fires and making new friends. It doesn’t get more surreal than this especially when an impromptu bagpipe solo pipes up at 3am to cheers from the appreciative crowd! With so much diverse entertainment on offer the only problem is remembering to go to get some rest!

Things kicked off on Friday with Group Love up at the park before heading down to the Wu Tang Clan on the iconic Pyramid Stage. The group provided all the reason you could ever need to start listening to hip hop. Godfathers to the likes of Kanye West and his many collaborators, Wu Tang continue to spit rhymes and make mixes with the best of them.

Although still mourning the loss of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, veteran members RZA and Method Man had a great chemistry on stage, bouncing off each others’ quick-fire improvisations to create a set that was exciting and invigorating to watch. It was an afternoon fit only for the royalty of American music, as following the godfather’s of rap came the King of the Blues. B.B King is approaching 90, but is definitely the most energizing octogenarian I have ever seen. Whooping at the crowd to “make me shake ma booty!”, he unfortunately did not seem so invigorated by his performance that he could shake off thirty years and start cutting the rug!

Los Angeles quartet Warpaint provided some sexy grooves late afternoon at The Park for the first of two appearances over the weekend and the bewitching sun kissed Elephants provided the perfect tonic for the British rain!

Evidently finding the lure of Glastonbury too great to resist, Thom Yorke returned and brought his friends with him. Radiohead made their appearance as the surprise special guests on Friday evening at The Park. Having spotted Thom earlier stoating around in a strange fedora hat and black trench coat being uncharacteristically sociable, we knew that we might be in for a slightly strange night. Declaring that they would be playing only King of Limbs, you could almost hear the collective inward sigh of a great majority of the crowd who had been eagerly hoping for a Greatest Hits package. Catching up with him later in the weekend he even admitted so much himself  ‘last year was special with the full moon, like something spiritual, this year didn’t quite feel the same’. Whether greatest hits or not, this was still Radiohead in a rather cosy setting and their absolute brilliance did came through on ‘15 Step’ and ‘Nude’.

Talking of surprise guests, last years outrageously awesome guest at The Park Biffy Clyro have moved over to the Pyramid Stage and actually  join a growing number of Scottish artists appearing this year, form Deacon Blue and Glasvegas headlining the Acoustic and John Peel stages respectively to Paulo Nutini, Kassidy, Admiral Fallow and Edwyn Collins at the University of Glastonbury.

Its a difficult decision but ignoring a very strong lineup on the Other Stage with Bright Eyes, Fleet Foxes and Mumford and Sons who seem to be moving higher up the bill every year we decide to head for U2 at the Pyramid Stage. As the weather turned truly despicable, rain that penetrates the soul thunders down, it’s so heavy my camera even stops working! It will take more than a little rain however to dampen down Bono and The Edge who seem to be reveling in their first festival performance since the early 80s. Maybe because they are taking a gamble and playing to unconverted but for part of the set perhaps Bono seemed a little nervous. They make friends though giving a nod to Other Stage headliners Primal Scream with a couple of lines of ‘Moving on up’ on the intro to ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’. They certainly take nothing for granted and their greatest hits set demonstrates why they are still even after after a quarter of a century one of the world’s biggest and best rock bands, job done then and perhaps an initially sceptical crowd are won over!

Even Better Than the Real Thing
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Until the End of the World
One
Where the Streets Have No Name
I Will Follow
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
Beautiful Day
Elevation
Get On Your Boots
Vertigo
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bad
Pride (In the Name of Love)

With or Without You
Moment of Surrender
Out of Control

Saturday brought fair weather and great promise. Gaining comparisons to the likest of Mumford and Sons and Arcade first first act of the day was Glasgow band Admiral Fallow, down at the Avalon Stage with some soaring anthemic tunes. Their set might have started out in a sparse tent but by the time they’d powered through tunes such as ‘Squealing Pigs’ and the touching ‘Subuteo’ the tent was fit to burst, singer Louis Abbot seemed genuinely surprised by the adulation but with a debut as good as Boots Met My Face it’s perhaps a reaction there going to have to get used to!

Saturday afternoon was a chance to explore a little, sometimes the best part about the festival is simply cancelling all plans and wondering aimlessly soaking up the incredible atmosphere and vast number of activities on offer, this leads to a wonderful massage session in the very relaxing Healing Field, after traipsing through mud for two days this is most welcome relief! The Healing field is a sanctuary of spiritual renewal offering Yoga, chanting and Tai Chi,it’s an area George Harrison would have been proud to call home. The Green Area is set aside for complementary and alternative medicine, demonstrations and displays of environmentally-friendly technologies and techniques, various forms of religious expression, and a forum for debating environmental, social and moral issues, Glastonbury even has it’s own University, if only being a student in real life was this much fun! The inspirational Green Fields area is powered completely by renewable energy, possibly from the home of the Glastonbury cows, the Moo Hotel, the buildings roof actually doubles as one of the largest solar power producers in the UK!

After some rest and recuperation within the Green Area it was time to get back to the music, and where else but The Park. Not just to be famed for its outrageously good secret guests, the stage curated by Emily Eavis is fast becoming the place to go for upcoming acts and a chance to see groups before they get huge. In recent years headliners have included The XX and Bon Iver. Incidentally we spot The XX here this year, not playing but simply chilling and enjoying Warpaint. The Walkmen from NYC fill the difficult late afternoon slot with tunes so forceful its hard to distinguish singer Hamilton Leithauser’s face from the red background lights, on the indie classic ’The Rat’ he truly gives it his everything, much to The Parks delight, another standout is the wonderful ‘Blue as Your Blood’.

[Show as slideshow]

The Walkmen was just the start of what was to be a truly magical night. With The Horrors, Janelle Monae and The Kills all playing in the next hour or two, there was a real dilemma. There’s certainly never a lack of options at Glastonbury, being spoiled for choice is probably the most difficult part of the festival and having to choose between who to go see! Having run into a very very merry Paulo the previous night, in the end we decide to check out Paulo Nutini at the Pyramid Stage just to see how he is feeling!  Paulo was cackling that he had to be up by 3 pm the next day for his set and he was clearly loving every moment of being at Glastonbury. He also spoke about having a bottle of his favourite Irn Bru with him onstage and that he actually was recently gifted a lifetimes supply of the Scottish beverage after his tune appeared in one of their adverts, lucky man! Fortunately he was not in need of the famous hang over cure and thrilled the impressive crowd with ‘New Shoes’, the swaggering ‘Pencil Full of Lead’ and even managed a cheeky cover of Hot Chip’s ‘Over and Over’.

Next it was time to sprint up to The Park for the heavily rumoured guest slot from Pulp appearing in one of the worst-kept secrets of the weekend! The scramble to get inside the park was truly immense, apparently even Kate Moss couldn’t get in! Clearly having a ball Jarvis was on fine form as he threw frisbees signed by the band into the crowd and gave out sweets to those down the front, one girl I met, Jasmine from London, got a fancy Lindor chocolate ‘I’ll cherish this forever, it’s never getting eaten!!’. Highlights of the greatest hits set were Disco 2000 and ‘Sorted for E’s and Whizz’, a song highly appropriate for the crowd. Climaxing with the anthem of the under dogs, ‘Common People’, there were what felt like a lot more than 20000 people standing in a field as Pulp brought their set to a close. With the sun setting in the background and the huge crowd screaming for more, the feeling of happiness was completely overwhelming, having never seen them play before this was the true emotional highlight of the weekend, something very special indeed.

After the madness of Pulp, things calmed down at The Park and mellow out nicely with James Blake. Most of the crowd it seemed were heading down to the Pyramid stage for a magical set from Elbow. The warm energy that emanates all round Glastonbury radiates especially from Elbow front man Guy Garvey, earlier seen storming around in his welly boots, if Glastonbury was a nation Guy Garvey would be it’s ambassador! He announces quite unbelievably from stage that Elbow are 20 this year before launching into ‘Weather to Fly’, the band appear more youthful and energetic than ever, especially on the sublime ‘One Day Like This’ and the audiences overwhelming positive reaction feels like something rather elating.

Coldplay of course are the main draw on Saturday evening but we decide to take a gamble and instead head back up to the Park Stage. Our reward was at this moment perhaps one of the most under-rated bands in the country, Kendal’s finest Wild Beasts. Co vocalists Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming are in their element pounding out strangely exciting and incredibly infectious tunes. Their innocuous hipster boy look belies the skill and depth of their musicianship. Opener ‘Lion’s Share’ exhibits the provocative quality of their lyricism “I take you in my mouth like a lion takes it’s game” is rather exciting, and incredibly infectious. The set drew mostly from their recently released 3rd album Smother, although ‘Hooting & Howling’, ‘All the Kings Men’ from Two Dancers make welcome appearances the true highlights are the infectious new songs, ‘Reach a Bit Further’ and Loop the Loop. Like the album the band end the set with a stirring extended version of ‘End Come Too Soon’, a sentiment shared by the crowd and you cant help but feel that like Elbow before them future Glastonbury’s may well see this lot shuffle up the bill!

Sunday dawned hot and humid, sunshine really is the best alarm clock as temperatures inside the tent force an early start, the reward was a surprise in the way of infectious Indian band Raghu Dixit over at the John Peel Stage. Their charismatic blend of violins and guitar funkily fused with Indian folk is the perfect sermon for any Sunday morning, especially delightful is ‘Gudugudiya sedi nodo’ and even a slight interruption in electric power to the stage can’t dent the early starters enthusiasm for these very likable Indian superstars.

Sunday’s early start also gave an opportunity to spot around a hundred people in front of the Pyramid, they are not there for the music but are actually an army of litter pickers. Teams of volunteers who work 12 hour shifts tirelessly trawling the site picking up and separating all the cans, glass, paper, wood and organic waste that is cast aside by the huge audience, even with 15000 bins on site this seems like an endless task. The numbers are impressive, back in 2008, 863.32 tonnes of waste were recycled including 54 tonnes of cans and plastic bottles, that is a hell of a lot of beers! On a serious note perhaps if litter was reduced there would be less of a need for the one year break every now and then to let the fields recover. Glastonbury is a mini ecosystem and maybe the solutions they are working on here could have wider positive environmental implications, it’s inspiring stuff.

So on with the music and a stunning set by Laura Marling, perhaps slightly overwhelmed by the vast crowds of the Pyramid. Paul Simon starts a little slowly but sets the pace perfectly for the chilled crowd to relax in the sun and enjoy the glorious ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’. He then pretends to leave the stage, yet to return for the rousing version of ‘You Can Call Me Al’.

The definite highlight of the early evening is a band we caught at the Captains Rest in Glasgow late last November. The Vaccines seem to have come from nowhere to be one of the most buzzed about British bands of recent years, the sizable crowd packed into The John Peel tent know it! Playing mostly tracks from their killer debut What Did you Expect from The Vaccines rite from the opening chords of ‘Blow It Up’ to rousing numbers such as ‘Post Break Up Sex’, ‘Wolf Pack’ and ‘Norgaard’ the whole performance is something of a treat!

So as the scorching Sunday comes to an end with Queens of the Stone Age rocking out the Other Stage its time for Beyonce’s highly anticipated entrance over on The Pyramid Stage. With husband Jaz Z looking on goodness what an entrance it was, with fireworks exploding out over the opening beats to ‘Crazy in Love’, the Bootylicious performer in turn produces a stunning set set packed with Destinys Child hits and even includes a cover of King of Leons ‘Sex on Fire’. There’s no chance to draw breath as we are treated to one last reminder of just how good Glastonbury is, indeed a festival that truly has the ability to take risks and surprise like no other.

Maybe its the fact that everything is temporary and a reflection of the collective euphoria experienced from leaving behind worries and stress of real life but when Monday morning arrives many are in complete denial that it’s all over. Listening to Michael Eavis speaking over the weekend he reminisces about a chap found several years back wandering aimlessly the Thursday after the festival had finished. Everyone else was gone Eavis recalled, he went on to explain how he personally paid for a taxi home for the man who simply didn’t want to leave. There are a lot of people who don’t want the weekend to be over and it’s feeling that makes the absence of the festival in 2012 even harder to imagine!

Absence as they say makes the heart grow fonder, so expect things to be back bigger and better than ever in 2013! Plenty of time to rest up and sleep for the next one!

You can register here for Glasto 2013!!

The T in The Park bill is being tipped as the bill to beat this summer and festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager have announced a proud army of Scottish acts in the form of Big Country, Jon Fratelli, Roddy Woomble, Twin Atlantic, Emma’s Imagination, The Phantom Band, Found and Jack Townes - set to descend upon Balado on the weekend of 8th – 10th July 2011.

These acts will join fellow countrymen Primal Scream, The View, KT Tunstall, Calvin Harris, Slam and Silicone Soul as well as Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and Foo Fighters and a whole host of mega star talent on a knock out bill and the good news is - there’s more to come.

A limited number of T in the Park Residence packages are still available to buy. The Residence offers festival goers a bespoke, luxury experience where all their accommodation needs are taken care of. More information and tickets can be found here.

Following the storming success of last year’s inaugural comedy line up at RockNess, organisers have today confirmed a host of top names set to bring heaps of hilarity to the festival this summer.

Saluting today’s announcement, the heroic GARY: TANK COMMANDER took time out from his overseas deployment to record a very special one-off viral at MacSorley’s Bar in Glasgow above.

From the best Scottish talent to some of the biggest festival comics from around the world, it’ll be rip roaring giggles galore between 1.30pm – 7.30pm each day in the new and improved HOWARD’S END.

The line up is topped each day with comedy heavyweights, kicking off on FRIDAY with headliner IAN COGNITO. Ian has headlined some of the best line ups in British comedy and is renowned for taking risks (he appears to be banned from more comedy clubs than any other British comedian!). Catch him unrestricted at RockNess. Joining Ian on Friday is Scottish Aussie Comic Cowboy, and controversial Scottish Comedian of the Year 2010, RO CAMPBELL.

Headlining SATURDAY’S comedy line up at RockNess is ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ star SEAN HUGHES who is flying in especially, while SUNDAY headliner will be Scotland’s youngest comic prodigy DANIEL SLOSS. Half-man-half-Xbox, this hormone-ridden twenty-year-old started doing stand-up aged just 16. Daniel sold-out three Edinburgh Fringe seasons, starred on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Rob Brydon Show, Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks and Mock the Week as well as starring in his own BBC show The Adventures of Daniel - all before he started to shave.

Full details over HERE.

In 2001, local Dumfries & Galloway youth worker Sid Ambrose was desperate to set up a small music festival and met farmer Jamie Gilroy who wanted to diversify his farm offering. 2002 saw the launch of the first Wickerman Festival which saw 1,800 hardy music fans gather in the natural amphitheatre of Jamie’s farm near Dundrennan, with Stiff Little Fingers and Spear of Destiny headlining.

The tenth Wickerman Festival takes place at East Kirkcarswell Farm in Dumfries & Galloway on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July 2011.

Highlights on the main Summerisle Stage include Feeder who will entertain with hits from their 20-year career including ‘Buck Rogers’, ‘Just the Way I’m Feeling’ and ‘Shatter’.

The band’s lead singer and guitarist Grant Nicholas said, “The Wickerman Festival’s reputation precedes it as being one of the most diverse in the UK. This will be our first ever appearance and we’re honoured to be headlining the main Summerisle Stage in their tenth year. Even better, playing on the Saturday night is an added bonus as it means we’ll get to stay on and watch the wickerman burn!”

Further main stage highlights will be Echo & The Bunnymen, who have enjoyed a career spanning over thirty years, and The Hoosiers, whose current album ‘Bumpy Ride’ was released this week.

Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club will perform the DJ set that follows the famous Saturday night wickerman burning, with further stand out performances planned with veteran Scottish pop group The Bluebells, Wickerman favourites The Dangleberries and Edinburgh newcomers The Stagger Rats.

Tickets and full lineup details are available at www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk or at www.skiddle.com and are priced £90 for a weekend ticket including camping.

Twin Scots rock legends Texas and Deacon Blue are to headline the eighth Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival (5th & 6th August 2011).

For Deacon Blue, the occasion will mark the first Scottish festival they have played.

A spokesman for Texas, who have two six-fold platinum albums to their credit, said: “We’ve heard so much about Belladrum and are really looking forward to performing there”.

Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue, who have sold six million albums worldwide, said: “We’re very excited to be playing our first Festival in Scotland - ever! If we have played one before it’s so lost in the mists of time that we’ve forgotten. We’re particularly pleased to be playing in The Highlands in the summertime.”

Also announced for Bella are: the Brit-nominated, million selling singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner; Frank Turner, exponent of passionate folk/ punk; fast-rising Scots indie band Admiral Fallow; indie rock quartet Little Comets; up-and-coming alt-folk Dry The River who mix americana, gospel and indie rock; The Webb Sisters, otherwise known as the legendary Leonard Cohen’s backing singers; Australian blues singer-songwriter CW Stoneking; celtic rock fusion band Skerryvore from the island of Tiree; electro-acoustic band Saint Saviour, singer-songwriter Benjamin Francis Lefwich; and kick-ass gypsy punk band Drunken Balordi.

Other confirmations include the top international reggae act, Easy Star All Stars; Highland artiste James Mackenzie & The Aquascene; blues country rockers Cousti; and glam trash punks Diddums.

Festival organisers have warned regular Bella fans to buy their tickets soon as tickets are already selling at double the rate of last year’s event which sold out well in advance. “We don’t want our long-term supporters to be caught out and left without tickets if they intend coming,” said festival director Joe Gibbs.

Belladrum 2011 takes place in the beautiful Highland surroundings of Belladrum Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. The independent festival has built a reputation for its eclectic line-ups, its offbeat non-musical entertainments and its all-ages approach. The festival won a VisitScotland Thistle Award in 2009 and is a past winner of the Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, the festival industry’s ‘oscars’.

Advance adult weekend tickets are £90. They include parking and camping, except for campervans and caravans which will be charged £30 per vehicle.. As in previous years, tickets for children 12 & under are free.

Tickets HERE!