The Festival Congress is Launched!
28 Apr 2014The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) today (Monday 28th April 2014) announced details of its brand new annual flagship event, The Festival Congress, which is coming to Cardiff this autumn. Keynote speakers confirmed so far include inspiring figures from the independent festival industry including Jude Kelly (Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre), Martin Elbourne (Glastonbury / The Great Escape) Rob…
Britpoppers join the bill for Stockton Weekender
27 Apr 2014Stockton Weekender has announced that ’90s indie britpoppers Shed Seven will be joining the bill at this year’s festival, taking place on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July. Other acts announced include Hyde & Beast, Laurel, New Electric Ride, Weird Shapes, Red Kite, Dark Bells, Lilliput and PALACE, who will join the previously announced Public Enemy, Happy Mondays, Martha Reeves…
How are MPs planning to stop ticket touts?
25 Apr 2014Following a series of evidence-gathering sessions hearing from consumer groups and those working in the live event industry and ticketing agencies, The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ticket Abuse (APPG) has produced a raft of recommendations to increase transparency in the secondary ticketing market and stop fans getting scammed. The MPs say they now plan to make changes to the Consumer…
Mystery artist to play the main stage at Village Green
23 Apr 2014Media speculation as to who is “Longy” has been rife – the mysterious guise of a musician that was rumoured to be headlining Glastonbury according to The Telegraph. This, of course, turned out to be an April Fool’s, but there is a Facebook group as well as a Twitter profile, an Instagram and even a website, all dedicated to the…
Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Sonic Boom Six on board for Nozstock
17 Apr 2014Alongside confirmed acts Roots Manuva and The Skints, New York’s own noughties alt hip-hop trio Fun Lovin’ Criminals have been announced for the Orchard Stage at Nozstock in Herefordshire this summer. Ska-punk fusionists Sonic Boom Six are also set to take to the stage at the dinosaur-themed festival taking place August 1st – 3rd. Check out Nozstock here: You can…
Not so fantastic plastic: Making Waves Guide launches
15 Apr 2014AIF member and general advocate of environmental awareness, Shambala Festival previously successfully launched the ‘Bring a Bottle’ campaign, where festival-goers, staff and artists were encouraged to bring a re-useable bottle with them rather than buying plastic bottles of water on site. The audience’s response and support proved that there is awareness around the issue of plastics, and that audiences can…
Electronic and pop meets emo and indie: Full Tramlines line up
15 Apr 2014Following on from three huge lineup announcements including Public Enemy, Katy B and The Cribs, Tramlines yesterday announced that it has added a batch of new acts to the bill, including The Rifles, Simian Mobile Disco, Shift K3y, Ms Dynamite, Screaming Maldini, Sivu, Funeral for a Friend, Slow Club and over 30 more. Taking over the entire city centre in…
David Rodigan amongst the first announced for Festibelly
11 Apr 2014Festibelly has announced the first artists booked for this year’s festival in the heart of The New Forest on 11-12 July. Reggae DJ icon David Rodigan (pictured) is amongst the first names to be confirmed. For over 30 years David Rodigan has been the top dog in Britain’s reggae dance-halls. Joining David Rodigan on the dub themed Saturday afternoon will…
Sonisphere announces Japanese viral band, Babymetal
09 Apr 2014Iconic Japanese pop metal band Babymetal will make their debut appearance in the United Kingdom at Sonisphere this summer. Since uploading the video of their latest single ‘Gimme Chocolate’ less than two months ago it has received more than 5 million views. AIF member Sonisphere announced yesterday that they got the band on board in response to a Facebook page…
End of the Road Festival announces Comedy Stage line up
09 Apr 2014Alongside a plethora of bands and artists, including headliners Wild Beasts, Flaming Lips and Gene Clark No Other Band (a supergroup made up of members of Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Grizzly Bear and Fairport Convention), a host of comedy acts join the End of the Road festival line up in August this year. The comedy stage is hidden in a…
Bournemouth 7s announces full line-up
08 Apr 2014Sports and Music Festival Bournemouth 7s has announced a full line up of bands and DJs for the event, due to take place on Bank Holiday weekend in May (23, 24, 25). Not only does the festival host Rugby, Netball, Dodgeball and Hockey tournaments throughout the weekend, but attendees can also expect an Oasis tribute act, DJ Bit Cool, and…
AIF and WMF to host Festival Masterclasses in Cardiff
08 Apr 2014General Manager of the Association of Independent Festivals, Paul Reed has teamed up with the Welsh Music Foundation to bring two days of ‘master-classes’ to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. With AIF’s first annual flagship event, The Festival Congress, taking place in conjunction with SWN Festival in October 2014 in Cardiff, the city was an ideal choice for AIF to…