This year’s festivals: the lineups, and how to get tickets now

[Jenjie]

Breaking news: despite empirical evidence to the contrary (ie, the weather), we can exclusively reveal that summer is almost upon us.

 

To prove it, in the last few days a number of festival organisers have announced their lineups for this year, and tickets are already on sale. Can’t you just feel the sun on your face already?

 

Here’s what we know so far. Grab your wellies and take your pick.

 

RockNess(Loch Ness, June 12-14) is always lively, and this year’s lineup is already excellent - the Flaming Lips, Super Furry Animals, Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal, the Prodigy and, out of retirement, Orbital.

 

Tickets are available from rockness.co.uk , priced £139 for three days with camping, or £130 excluding camping.

 

Another electronic heavyweight giving the Zimmer frame an airing is Underworld, headlining the Glade Festival (Winchester, July 16-19). Tickets are £125 from gladefestival.com .

 

Chagstock (Devon, July 17-18) is a small do - about 5,000 people - but with a big, friendly atmosphere. Its headline act will be Squeeze, but attention should be turned towards the Bad Shepherds, Ade Edmondson’s new band recreating punk classics on mandolins. Vyvyan from The Young Ones would surely not approve. Until the end of March, tickets, with camping, cost £40 for adults, £20 for children, and £105 for a family of four, from chagstock.info.

 

Last year, the Human League provided a hit of 1980s nostalga at Lovebox (Victoria Park, London, July 18-19). For 2009 the stakes have been thoroughly raised - Duran Duran have been annouced as Saturday’s headliners, along with N*E*R*D, while on Sunday, Groove Armada, Ladyhawke and Simian Mobile Disco do the honours. London’s largest purpose-built tree house, and an enormous famer’s market, are other attractions. Tickets are £42.50 for one day or £75 for both, from lovebox.net or 0844 847 2436.

 

Camp Bestival (Dorset, July 24-26) may only be a relative newcomer on the festival scene, but its big brother, Bestival, has been around for a while now, and clearly the family has a useful contacts book. The big name announced so far is PJ Harvey, ably backed up by Mercury Rev, Chic, Candi Staton and Roots Manuva. Also at the three-dayer will be various DJs, comedians and chefs - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage is making an appearance, with plenty of his nettle beer. And the English National Ballet will be offering kids’ workshops - one of 100 things to do for youngsters. Adult weekend camping tickets from £130, children aged 13-15 £65; ticketline.co.uk, 0844 888 4410.

 

Ignore the dodgy name: Get Loaded in the Park (Clapham Common, London, August 30) has booked Orbital for a London exclusive. Tickets from £35 at getloadedinthepark.com .

 

Names beginning to emerge for Glastonbury (Pilton, June 24-28) include Bruce Springsteen, Doves, Lily Allen, Franz Ferdinand and the mighty Paul Croughton Rolf Harris. Tickets have already sold out, but if you’ve previously registered, a small number of returns will be available from 9am on Sunday, April 5 at seetickets.com/g2009 . Good luck.

 

Elsewhere, a new almost-festival has just been announced in Turkey. SunSplash Antalya (May 3-10) is a beach party/boutique hotel affair - a week-long knees-up featuring Norman Jay, Gilles Peterson, Phil Asher on the turntables and Jamie Lidell playing live. It’s £540 for seven days, half-board, including entry for all parties, plus yoga and belly-dancing workshops and whatnot - see sunsplash-antalya.com . Fly from Gat-wick to Antalya with British Airways (0844 493 0787, ba.com ), from £250.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article5823285.ece

[Black Rose]

Roll on September for End of the Road

[Cobalt]

Camp Bestival Mercury Rev

 

Run the fuck away NOW.

[tauiwi]

Run the fuck away NOW.

 

SO SO true.

[Black Rose]

What;s wrong with mercury rev?