Wintery weather and Christmas all up in your face may be the order of the day at the moment but that hasn’t slowed the slew of festival announcements made over the last couple of weeks.
Yes, from the leviathan of Reading / Leeds to the devil horns of Sonisphere festival organisers are getting us thinking about what we’ll be hearing in the great outdoors in 2014.
Reading / Leeds – 22-24 August 2014
The first bands have been announced for the tandem-site August Bank Holiday classic Reading and Leeds Festival.
Taking to the stages will be Blink 182, Jake Bugg, Disclosure, Metronomy, Of Mice and Men, Wilkinson and I Am Legion.
The main stage headline appearance by Blink 182 will be there only UK show of 2014 so expect a mix of their classic punk-pop anthems and an outing for tracks from their new album, due for release next summer.
Mark Hoppus of the band said: ”I’m stoked to play Reading & Leeds 2014. It’s our fourth time playing the festivals, and we’re very honoured. The new year will see us in the studio preparing new music, getting ready to rock the fine people of the UK. Prepare for the fury.”
Prepare for the fury, indeed. Tickets are available at this year’s prices until January and a £50 deposit scheme is also available. Buy tickets and find out more on the Reading / Leeds websites.
Sonisphere – 4-6 July 2014 – Knebworth
Sonisphere will be celebrating 40 years of rock music at Knebworth with the only UK shows by Metallica and Iron Maiden.
This is music history folks, being the only time the two giants of metal have headlined together on a British bill.
Lars Ulrich is pretty excited about it and you should be too. He said: “To be invited to co-headline the 40th anniversary celebration at the legendary Knebworth House is truly a mindfuck. Considering the iconic bands whose performances at Knebworth are part of rock and roll history, it’s not only a next level honour, but a somewhat humbling undertaking.”
A limited amount of early bird tickets are on sale now. Buy tickets and find out more on the Sonisphere website.
Field Day – 7 – 8 June 2014 – Victoria Park, London
Metronomy and Pixies have been announced as headliners for London boutique festival, Field Day.
And how better to find out more about it than with an episode of Field Day Radio including an exclusive interview with Pixies:
Tickets and more information on the Field Day website.
Wychwood Festival – 30 May – 1 June 2014 – Cheltenham
The Wychwood Festival will be celebrating its tenth anniversary with a headline slot from Boomtown Rats and appearances on other stages from Craig Charles and The Real Thing.
The organisers are promising the biggest line-up to date and early bird tickets have already sold out. If you want to get in on the action full price tickets are available from the Wychwood website.
Bearded Theory – 22-25 May 2014 – Catton Hall, Derbyshire
This much-loved boutique festival has had a change of location for 2014 and will be held in the grounds of Catton Hall in south Derbyshire.
Already announced are Peter Hook and The Light, Fishbone and Oysterband as well as Louder Than War editor John Robb’s own band The Membranes.
The line-up is full of great alternative bands including Leatherat, Anti-Vigilante, King Prawn and 3 Daft Monkeys. The full list is still to be announced but if this has already got you hankering for the fields you can get a weekend ticket on the Bearded Theory website.
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In 2013 we bought you coverage from nearly 50 festivals in the UK and around the world and in 2014 we’ll be packing up our tents and heading out to bring you the best from the fests again. Are you already clutching an early-bird ticket? Who are you looking forward / hoping to see grace a festival stage next year?
Image by Elspeth Moore.
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