Friday 24th until Sunday 26th September 2010 @ The Amphitheatre, Bristol

The Bristol Festival is a cutting edge community showcase of local talent, designed to inspire passion and creativity. A three day urban spectacular that brings the excitement of a summer festival to the heart of the city.

The main outdoor hub of BrisFest activities including live stages, festival tents, food stalls, art installations, light shows, dance classes, street theatre, kids areas and more will be held in Lloyd’s Amphitheatre in the city centre, followed by an almighty afterparty spread throughout 12 venues across the centre.

www.brisfest.co.uk

‘My idea is that there is music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you can.’ One might consider Edward Elgar’s quote some sort of prophecy. When you look at the way in which music is consumed these days it seems Elgar’s ethos is literally being played out. There is no denying the effect modern technology has had upon independent music stores, with the internet being (generally) free, easy and more convenient. Some might argue the progress has been liberating, others diminishing with hundreds of independent record stores being buried across the world in the past twenty years.

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Getting noticed as an electronic music outfit in Bristol is a thankless uphill struggle. Not because Bristol as a place makes it hard for aspiring producers you understand, quite the reverse in fact: Bristol has a long tradition of spearheading emerging genres and fostering the artists that define them, from the Wild Bunch to Massive Attack to Portishead, as well as Roni Size, DJ Die and Daddy Skitz, all giants in their field. The last few years have seen the rise of Dubstep, from Appleblim to the H.E.N.C.H crew and, well, you get the idea… The trouble is, with so many madly talented outfits knocking about, you have to be something really special to stand out.

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Thursday 5th until Sunday 8th August 2010 @ Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire
Featuring Performances From: Massive Attack, Thom Yorke, Mr Scruff, Bonobo, Mount Kimbie, Caribou, Craig Charles’ Fantasy Funk Band, Roy Ayres

The likes of MIA, Tinie Tempah and Lily Allen drew a slightly younger audience to this year’s Big Chill Festival, though there was still plenty to be found to satisfy the festival’s more seasoned patrons. Ever since The Big Chill’s humble beginnings as a small ambient dance festival in the Black Mountains of Wales, few would dispute that Friday night’s headliners, Massive Attack were the perfect band for the festival. Silhouetted in trademark eerie shadows and dim lighting, they delighted with their menacing austerity engrossing the eclectic audience. Safe From Harm, Angel and a minimal version of Teardrop led to a predictable but triumphant climax in Unfinished Sympathy, and an inspired crowd headed in the direction of the dance tent, ready to party long into the night.
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Friday 30th and Saturday 31st July 2010 @ Gilcombe Farm, Somerset
Featuring Performances From: High Grade Rockers Dub Sound System, The Fables, Smerins Anti Social Club, Paper Tiger, Sabria Jade, Asian Hawk

Farm Festival is a two day little festival that gives you a mixture of live local bands and DJs spinning there ones and twos. With a strong anti-corporate sentiment (all the money raised is donated to the charity Practical Action) and with all food organic and local, Farm Festival is very rural.

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Friday 30th July until Sunday 1st August 2010 @ Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Featuring Performances From: Lissie, Billy Bragg, Rufus Hound, Andrew Maxwell, Jim Jefferies, Tim Minchin, Field Music, Ellie Goulding, Madness, The Boy Who Trapped The Sun, Seth Lakeman, The Wurzels, Calvin Harris, The Human League, Friendly Fires

As Suit Yourself lands at Camp Bestival having battled the traffic, it’s clear we weren’t the only ones with this problem. The Big Top stage is already running late as we wait for country-pop rocker, Lissie, to enter the fray whose shortened set is charming if a little formulaic. We bed in for the night at the Big Top to witness a cult hero Billy Bragg, who by his own admission is “not bad for an old geezer,” his tried and tested style proving to still stand the test of time.

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Everything you need to pack for the ultimate Summer Festival experience. Make 2010 a classic summer!

A Strong Friend – This fellow can be a vital commodity for many things at the festival; carrying beer, sitting on their shoulders for a view and even protection if you happen to bump into the wrong person too many times.

Cereal Bars – Trick your stomach into thinking you’ve eaten a breakfast.

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Monday 12th July 2010 @ Thekla, Bristol

For some, tonight is a chance to see the most intimate Bloc Party gig since Kele and co first hit the scene back in 2004 when they played the likes of The Louisiana and The Fleece. It is clear to see a lot of Kele’s following are avid Bloc Party fans with their merch shirts and the whispers of being fans since Silent Alarm, pledging allegiance and flying their flags for tonight’s headliner. There seems to be a somewhat unusual tension in the air though as we wait for the now solo singer to arrive. Maybe this is due to the rumours’ that Bloc Party may not return from their hiatus and as Kele seems to be the one out doing something different, he is perhaps the instigator and unforgivable in some die-hard’s eyes.
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Wednesday 23rd until Sunday 27th June 2010 @ Worthy Farm, Somerset

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Monday 14th until Friday 18th June 2010 @ Pembrey Country Park, South Wales
Featuring Performances From: Plan B, Vampire Weekend, Ellie Goulding, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, The Futureheads, I Blame Coco, Calvin Harris, Beardyman, Chase And Status, Annie Mac, Scratch Perverts

Beach Break Live, founded by Celia Norowzian and her boyfriend Ian Forshew three years ago, has become the UK’s largest student festival, growing from a mere 1,000 students in its first year to welcoming 17,500 students to its new location in Pembrey Country Park in South Wales this June.

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