Festivals 2007: UPDATED 5 June

by New Noise

Now includes Field Day...

"Bestival is the way all festivals would be run if the Teletubbies had won the war."

The previews are listed in alphabetical order, but for the more chronologically minded amongst you, there's a list in date order at the bottom. Don't say we don't do nothing for you. Or anything for that matter.

Benicassim
Bestival
The Carling Weekend (Reading and Leeds)
Coachella
Dot To Dot
Download
End Of The Road
Field Day
Glastonbury
The Great Escape
Green Man
Guilfest
Latitude
Primavera Sound
Roskilde
Sonar
Summercase
Summer Series
Truck
Wireless

Benicàssim (Festival Internacional de Benicàssim)
Benicàssim, Valencia, Spain
Dates: 19-22 July
Attendance: Around 35,000
History: What began in 1995 as a Club Med indie blowout – with the likes of The Charlatans, Supergrass and Ride on the bill – has expanded to become one of Europe’s premier festivals, gaining Heineken patronage along the way. This  Anglophile shindig has seen a host of massive UK acts including Oasis, Blur and Radiohead stream through its gates. Last year, not even serial moper Morrissey could resist its sunny disposition.
Line-up: Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Dinosaur Jr, Iggy & The Stooges, !!!, Klaxons, Anthony & The Johnsons, Bright Eyes, Calexico, The Human League, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, CSS, The Hives, Datarock, OK GO, The Go! Team, The Rapture, Simian Mobile Disco.
Our view: Don't pack wellies, pack sun cream. Not only does this festival cram in the best bits of your current iPod playlist in living flesh, it close-to-guarantees sunshine, palm trees and blistering 30° heat. Shake your ass to your favourite band, get pissed, then jump in the Mediterranean – something Glasto, Reading et al just can’t offer.
www.fiberfib.com
groups.myspace.com/benicassim
Jim Merrett

Bestival
Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight
Dates: 7-9 September
Attendance: 17,000 (2006)
Previous New Noise coverage: 2006
History: Set up in 2004 by Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank, Bestival is a relative youngster, yet goes back to grass roots – that forgotten magical festival vibe. Tucked away on the Isle of Wight and at the tail-end of the summer, it last year boasted probably the best weather of the season. Previous headline acts have included Basement Jaxx, Super Furry Animals, Scissor Sisters, Gogol Bordello and the Pet Shop Boys. 
Line-up: Beastie Boys (twice), Chemical Brothers, Calvin Harris, Daedalus, Electrelane, Fields, Fionn Regan, Foals, The Gossip, Kate Nash, Kid Harpoon, Mr Hudson & The Library, The Noisettes, Primal Scream, Shakes, Simian Mobile Disco, The Maccabees, The Rumble Strips, The Orb, Tuung.
Our view: If the line-up, secluded fairytale setting and good natured back -to-basics festival values aren’t enough to get your arse on a Wightlink ferry then consider taking part in the world’s largest fancy dress party. Or getting married in an inflatable church. Bestival is the way all festivals would be run if the Teletubbies had won the war.
www.bestival.net
www.myspace.com/bestival
Jim Merrett

Carling Weekend
Little John's Farm, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds
Dates: 24-26 August
Attendance: 80,000 (Reading), 70,000 (Leeds)
Previous New Noise coverage: 2006 (Reading 1), 2006 (Reading 2), 2006 (Leeds)
History: The festival first arrived in Reading in 1971 when it moved from Plumpton in Sussex. Crowd rebellion at the likes of Meatloaf in the late 80s saw Mean Fiddler get involved in the organisation and in 1999 the Leeds leg was added.
Line-up: Razorlight, Kings Of Leon, Interpol, Maximo Park, Gossip, Ash, Brand New, Enter Shikari, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Panic! At The Disco, The View, Biffy Clyro, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Fall Out Boy, Funeral For A Friend, Klaxons, LCD Soundsystem, CSS.
Our view: One of the most commercial festivals, the double-ended Carling Weekender has made a habit of knocking together stupendous line-ups, which help make up for what can otherwise feel a bit painting by numbers. One field... check. A big stage... check. A few smaller tents... check. Some bars, complete with corporate branding... check. A central arena, fortified with a giant fence manned by fascist security guards... check. Atmosphere in bucket loads... ah. Still, at least it's not V.
www.readingfestival.com
www.leedsfestival.com
Jon Fletcher

Coachella
Empire Polo Field, Indio, California
Dates: 27-29 April
Attendance: 70,000
History: Coachella started up in 1999. Though initially there was no on-site camping and the first few events were plagued with problems, it has grown to be one of America’s largest festivals and has ‘reunited’ bands like Jane’s Addiction, Pixies and more recently, Rage Against The Machine, Jesus And Mary Chain, Crowded House and Happy Mondays. 
Line-up: Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bjork, Kaiser Chiefs, Crowded House, Hot Chip, Tapes 'N' Tapes, The Arcade Fire, Air, Sonic Youth, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Arctic Monkeys, The Decemberists, Klaxons, Rufus Wainwright, The Good, The Bad And The Queen, Faithless, Amy Winehouse, Kings Of Leon, Jarvis Cocker, Gotan Project, The Rapture and more.
Our view: Rage Against The Machine. For many (including yours truly) these four words were cause enough to run and book tickets to California. The awesome foursome are returning for political reasons, with Tom Morello quoted by NME as saying, “It occurred to all of us that the times were right to see if we can knock the Bush administration out in one fell swoop, and we hope to do that job well". 2007 will be the first time Coachella has expanded to three days and RATM aside, the line-up is one of the most comprehensive of the season. With a solid rock contingent, there’s also a smattering of electronic, acoustic and world music spread across two main stages and three smaller outlets. The desert, palm-fringed, setting of the site, which is within reasonably easy reach of LA and Las Vegas, is a bonus. 
www.coachella.com
Jennifer Perkin

Dot To Dot
Nottingham and Bristol
Dates: Bristol - Saturday May 26, Nottingham - Sunday May 27
Attendance: Unknown
History: Nottingham’s Dot to Dot, the spawn of prolific Liars Club forefather Ricky Haley, is now in its third year, with an electric line-up that’s spilling over to a secondary date in Bristol for the first time.
Nottingham line-up: Annuals, Architecture In Helsinki, Bearsuit, Blonde Redhead, Bobby Cook, Bonde Do Role, Boy Better Know, Brigade, Broken Family Band, Candie Payne, Chromeo, Datarock, Dj Magic (Dirty Canvas), Dj Prancehall (Vice), Dolby Anol, Draytones, Emmy The Great, Erol Alkan, Fanfarlo, Findlay Brown, Foals, Frisco (Meridian Crew), Furthest Drive Home, Gallows, Grave Architects, Help She Can't Swim, Hot Club De Paris, I Was A Cub Scout, Jammer (Neckle Camp), Kano, Kap Bambino, Kate Nash, La La Lepus, Late Of The Pier, Lethal Bizzle, Metronomy Dj Set, New Young Pony Club, Nova Saints, Olympus Mons, Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man., Para One, Paul Thompson Dj Set (Franz Ferdinand), Ratty Rat Rat, The Recovery, Scout Niblett, Sky Larkin, Slix (Ruff Sqwad), Sportsday Megaphone, Sunset Cinema Club, Surkin, Talibam!, The Black Ghosts, The Cribs, The Scare, Thieves Like Us, Think About Life, Ttc (Big Dada / Institubes), We Are The Physics, Yo Chomsky!
Bristol Line-Up: Amusement Parks On Fire, Annuals, Architecture In Helsinki, Black Ghosts, Candi Payne, Chromeo, Die Die Die, Draytones, Fanfarlo, Findlay Brown, Foals, Fortune Drive, Furthest Drive Home, Help She Cant Swim, Howlin Lord, Kap Bambino, Kate Nash, Late Of The Pier, Mighty Roars, New Young Pony Club, Nova Saints, Olympus Mons, Pete And The Pirates, Ratty Rat Rat, Sky Larkin, Smk, Sunset Cinema Club, The Recovery, Theives Like Us, These New Puritans, Ttc (Big Dada / Institubes), Victorian English Gentlemens Club, We Smoke Fags
Our view: Looking like SXSW’s anglicised little brother, the organisers of Dot to Dot have used their collective party-throwing experience to come up with a festival that could put the rest of the country’s identi-fests to shame. Moving away from the indie expectations, a range of visual and aural tastes are catered for, from pop-folk Fanfarlo to a sprinking of grime with Kano or a headline set by dance heavyweight Erol “Keeps Kids Dancing” Alkan. Nottingham is hosting the one-wristband, one-day event across six venues, with the smaller-scale event in Bristol across three. At only £10 for Bristol and £20 for Nottingham, value for money is guaranteed, along with an unmissable chance to catch acts like The Cribs and Blonde Redhead (the new album is mind blowing) in intimate venues.
www.dottodotfestival.co.uk
www.myspace.com/d2dfestival
Tsouni Moss

Download
Donnington Park, Leicestershire
Dates: 8-10 June
Attendance: 70,000
History: Starting in 2003, Download Festival takes place on the hallowed rock and metal grounds of Donnington - the home of heavy metal. In the few short years it's been going, it's taking over as THE rock festival of the summer with line-ups that always boast the best of all the metal/rock acts from both sides of the Atlantic - new and old. Previous headliners include Metallica, Korn, Black Sabbath, Tool, Guns N Roses and System Of A Down.
Line-up: My Chemical Romance, Iron Maiden, Linkin Park, Bowling For Soup, Bring Me The Horizon, Buckcherry, Devil Driver, Chimaira, Dimmu Borgir, DragonForce, Dream Theater, Enter Shikari, Evanescence, Gallows, Job For A Cowboy, Killswitch Engage, Korn, Lamb Of God, Machine Head, Marilyn Manson, Megadeth, Mötley Crüe, Slayer, Shadows Fall, Stone Sour, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Turbonegro, Unearth, Velvet Revolver, Within Temptation, Wolfmother
Our view: One of the first major festivals of the season, so sunny weather might not be guaranteed, but the sun has a tendency to shine on Donnington. Getting pissed up in a field full of rock fans is either heaven or hell, but if it's your kind of thing then you can't do much better than Download - especially with the variety of acts playing this year. And there's still loads more to be announced! Rawk!
Second opinion: For metallers Download is like all the line-up highlights of all the various festivals rolled into one - there may not be that much variety, but it’s certainly all killer, no filler. The vibe is surprisingly friendly given that the attendees are supposedly hardasses, but some of the facilities and organisation could be improved – last year many didn’t even get close enough to see the Prodigy thanks to a stupid decision to place them on the smaller stage. The main stage is one of the best, sitting at the bottom of a slight natural amphitheatre which provides excellent views and sound. 
www.downloadfestival.co.uk
www.myspace.com/downloadfestival
Laila Hassani (second opinion by Jennifer Perkin)

End Of The Road
Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset
Dates: 14-16 September
Attendance: 5,000
Previous New Noise coverage: 2006
History: End Of The Road is now in it’s second year as a festival, so is still relatively new, but this is part of its charm. The venue is Larmer Tree Gardens, a lush green park with squawking peacocks and a wood filled with strange and wonderful works of art. All this helped win it the title ‘Festival Of The Year’ in 2006.
Line up: Super Furry Animals, The Broken Family Band, Charlie Parr, Darren Hayman, David Thomas Broughton, Euros Childs, Herman Dune, Howe Gelb, Hush The Many, Monkey Swallows the Universe, Seasick Steve, Sons of Noel and Adrian, Viking Moses, The Young Republic and more to come...
Our view: For you not to enjoy End Of The Road, there must be something intrinsically wrong with you. It seems more like a fairy tale than a festival, a feeling which is only compounded by the folk-based line up and the gentle, laid back atmosphere of the weekend, which will attract families and earthy hippy types rather than up-for-it ravers. Don’t let that put you off though, this is a festival that you won’t be able to stop yourself falling in love with.
www.endoftheroadfestival.com
Charlotte Otter

Field Day
Victoria Park, Hackney
Dates: 11 August
Attendance: 10,000
History: This year will be the first Field Day.
Line up: 1990’s, Absentee, Adem, Andrew Weatherall, Archie Bronson Outfit, Battles, Bat For Lashes, Ben Fat Trucker, Boys Noize, Caribou, Electrelane, Erol Alkan, Fence Collective presents 3 Craws, Foals, Four Tet, Fridge, James Yorkston, Jo Jo De freq, Metronomy, Pull Tiger Tail, The Aliens, The Earlies
Our view: Put together by Eat Your Own Ears, Adventures In The Beetroot Field and Bugged Out, this new addition to the London festival calendar promises to be top notch. Line up screams music for musos, combining Adventures favourites Foals, Battles and Late Of The Pier with more chilled offerings such as James Yorkston and the Earlies. And if that's not enough to persuade you, there will also be a "tea and cake stall", "tug of war" and morris dancing. The idea of an olde English fayre meshed with ADHD pop kids is irresistible. Beware of flying fairy cakes.
www.fielddayfestivals.com
Christine Crowther


Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Worthy Farm, Somerset
Dates: 20-25 June
Attendance: 177,500
History: Starting in September 1970, Glastonbury has grown to one of the biggest live music festivals in the world. Battles with local planners, druids and gatecrashers have all played their part and with growth has come a certain degree of commercialisation, but the festival remains the number one choice for many. It returns this year after a break in 2006.
Line-up: The official line-up is not released until early June, but this doesn't prevent fevered speculation that generally gets pretty close to the mark in the preceding months. Likely acts this year include: Arctic Monkeys, Adjagas, The Killers, Kasabian, The Who, Kaiser Chiefs, Bjork, Arcade Fire, Editors, Amp Fiddler, Aim, The Bees, Holy Fuck, Modest Mouse, The Pigeon Detectives, The Noisettes, The Horrors, Jack Penate, Damien Rice, Mark Knopfler, Enter Shikari, Mr Scruff, Kissy Sell Out, Fionn Regan.
Our view: There may be those that claim that the festival has sold out, but Glastonbury remains a unique experience. Somehow more than the sum of its parts, it can seem wholly off-putting to those who have never been before. A little like going skiing for the first time, it all just seems like a bit of a pain in the arse, especially if everyone else you know is harping on about how much better it was in '93. But like skiing, those bastards are harping on for a reason - anyone who doesn't enjoy themselves when they get there is a fruitcake of the highest order.
www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Jon Fletcher

The Great Escape
Brighton
Dates: 17-19 May
Attendance: 5,000
History: Set up last year, The Great Escape is billed as the UK ’s answer to SXSW. Or the Camden Crawl on a seaside jolly, depending how you look at it. It’s a two-pronged attack – by day, there’s the convention (a music big cheese exercise in flesh-pressing); by night, it’s like pub golf, only with bands. The 2006 event boasted talks from Michael Eavis and the Canadian Embassy, while the evening’s entertainment included Gossip, Guillemots, Good Shoes, Klaxons, Metronomy, Shitdisco, The Maccabees, The Sunshine Underground and The Kooks, none of whom went on to do any anything special. Oh, hang on…
Line-up: People you have heard of, such as – CSS, Gallows, 1990s, Air Traffic, Blak Twang, Bonde Do Role, Friendly Fires, Future Of The Left, Hot Club De Paris, Good Shoes (again), Kubichek!, Mr Hudson & The Library, The Rakes, The Noisettes, Reverend And The Makers, Xerox Teens – plus a bunch of bands that will have ropey old Jo Whiley saying “amazing” as they step out of the Radio 1 Live Lounge this time next year.
Our view: Despite the weather’s attempts to piss on the parade, last year’s weekend (ok – two week days and a Saturday) was blinding. You were guaranteed to be left queuing for the ‘so hot right now’ names (a problem the organisers hope to fix this year with clever techy stuff from T-Mobile), but with such a strong line-up, throwing darts at the programme to sort out your itinerary would still have been worth every penny forked out for the wristband. Do: stick to one venue all night to avoid queues. Don’t: end up on West Street after the gigs – you have been warned.
www.escapegreat.com
Jim Merrett

Green Man
Glanusk Park, Brecon Beacons
Dates: 17-19 August
Attendance: 6,500
Previous New Noise coverage: 2006
History: Green Man is now in its fifth year and has moved location twice due to the popularity of the festival. With past acts such as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Bert Jansch and Joanna Newsom, it’s easy to see why, and with the added bonus of absolutely breathtaking surroundings (it’s in a national park dontcha know), you can understand why it has built up such a legendry reputation amongst festival connoisseurs.
Line Up: Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation, Joanna Newsom, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Bill Callahan, Vashti Bunyan, Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time, Dead Meadow, Gruff Rhys, Vetiver, The Earlies, Richmond Fontaine, Euros Childs, Tunng, Starless and Bible Black, Lisa Knapp, Men-An-Tol, Arborea, Alela Diane, Monkey Swallows The Universe, The Yellow Moon Band, Steve Adey, Gilbert, Gareth Pearson, John Power.
Our view: Two words: Joanna Newsom. Get yourself down there for a bit of fit harpist action, she’s well worth the effort. If this isn’t enough to convince you then, how about the thought of being able to properly escape the chaos of the outside world with the help of psych commune films and a science tent; or maybe the fact that the festival has sold out each year but has never advertised itself will sway you; or the massive bonfire... Yes it will most likely rain, but once you crack open a bottle or two of ginger wine then you know you’re onto a winner!
www.myspace.com/thegreenmanfestival
www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk
Charlotte Otter

Guilfest
Stoke Park, Guildford
Dates: 13 – 15 July
Attendance: 20,000
History: GuilFest tries to tread the find line between being not too big, not too small and independent from huge sponsors. Squashed between the local sports centre and camping sites, Stoke Park is slap bang in the middle of Guildford. The festival offers something for everyone with theatre, children’s entertainment and arts and crafts as well as very mixed line up. Jethro Tull, The Levellers, Rolf Harris, Charlatans and Guillemots have all played in the past.
Line-up: Madness, Supergrass, The Magic Numbers, Supergrass and Squeeze are all confirmed headliners. Expect a mix of the Radio 2 playlist.
Our view: With its 150 foot beer tent and calypso cocktail bar, an extensive KidZone and well maintained toilet trailers, Guilfest caters for young and old alike. It’s a relaxed, friendly festival for all the family - although the line up won’t excite younger fans, this is the festival to go to if you find Glastonbury too busy or want to take the family for their first taste of festival fun... be prepared to encounter Richard Allinson with a microphone along the way as Radio 2 broadcast live from the festival all weekend.
www.guilfest.co.uk/2007
Jeremy Hodges

Latitude
Henham Park, Suffolk
Dates: 12-15 July
Attendance: 15,000
Previous New Noise coverage: 2006
History: Latitude was launched last year by Mean Fiddler boss Melvin Benn, with the rather grandiose aim of rewriting the festival rule book by blending music, literature, comedy, film and cabaret on one site.
Line-up: Arcade Fire, The National, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Wilco, Damien Rice, CSS, Midlake, The Good, The Bad And The Queen, Gotan Project, The Rapture, Explosions In The Sky and more.
Our view: Last year's inaugural festival was a triumph, an all-inclusive blend of arts and sunshine. The high-brow billing scared off much of the festival riff raff - and a good thing too - the sub-text to the official propoganda reads "middle class, middle class, middle class". Set in a natural bowl, the festival proper is bounded on one side by a lake, replete with floating candles and multi-coloured sheep. Whether or not they are able to retain their home-grown atmosphere as the popularity grows remains to be seen, but on the strength of last year's event, Latitude should be a summer highlight.
www.latitudefestival.co.uk
Jon Fletcher

Primavera Sound
Parc del Forum, Barcelona, Spain
Dates: 31 May- 2 June 2007
Attendance: TBC
History: Primavera Sound is an independent festival set in Barcelona. The festival moved to the Forum site in 2005, giving festival-goers the chance to enjoy concerts in what organisers call ‘a modern and spacious environment with many different stages each with it’s own personality’.
Line-up: The line up is AWESOME. Three days and something for everyone - things can’t get better than just a few of the following acts which will be on the bill: Girl Talk, Patti Smith, The Apples In Stereo, Pelican, Architecture In Helsinki, Herman Düne, The Rakes, Battles, Hot Chip, Beirut, Kid Koala, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bonde Do Role, Klaxons, Sonic Youth, The Long Blondes, Maxïmo Park, DJ Yoda, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes, Explosions In The Sky
Our view: Primavera Sound is the daddy of music festivals. Not only is the line up to die for, but it is set in Spain, thus guaranteeing warm weather, sunny skies and beautiful, skimpily clad Europeans. If this isn’t enough to get you booking the next EasyJet flight to Barcelona, then maybe the fact that Primavera is organised by the same group who put on ATP will convince you. Or perhaps the fact that, unlike ATP, Glastonbury, Bestival, or even Benacassim, the festival has yet to become a commercial sell-out, where all the world and his dog are out to get a ticket and the line up is way too mainstream for the discerning music listener. How much more perfect can you get?
www.myspace.com/primaverasound
www.primaverasound.com
Charlotte Otter

Roskilde
Roskilde, Denmark – 35km west of Copenhagen
Dates: 5-8 July, warm up from 1 July
Attendance: Approx 75,000
History: Inspired by big festivals like Woodstock, Roskilde started in 1971 as the Sound festival, a two-day event for 10,000. From 1972 the Roskilde Charity Society got involved and the festival quickly grew, with Roskilde now the largest festival in Northern Europe.
Line-up: Muse, Arcade Fire, Bjork, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beastie Boys, Mastodon, Pelican, Cult of Luna, Basement Jaxx, The Who, My Chemical Romance, The Killers, Klaxons
Our view: The Glastonbury of the North consistently attracts an eclectic and massive line-up of over 150 artists, as well as punters from around the world, though the majority are Scandinavian. The independent, not-for-profit festival with a social conscience and a humanitarian focus runs for four days and includes various arty events as well as music across seven stages. The campsite opens on the Sunday before music begins on the Thursday, and in the four-day lead-up various activities take place under the banner "more than music". The event is well organised and refreshingly non-corporate – most people are friendly enough though not everyone speaks English, and the kids tend to go pretty wild. Expect to see the usual drunkenness and questionable toilet habits. Music-wise, you will need to line up to get into the front ‘D’ section of the Orange Canopy main stage but the sound and visuals are great, though shows at the second largest stage tend to get overcrowded so get in very early.  
www.roskilde-festival.dk
Jennifer Perkin

Sónar
Barcelona, Spain
Dates: 14-16 June.
Attendance: Around 80,000.
History: Now in its 14th term, the city-centre location of this "festival of advanced music and multimedia art" has basically made it an electro schmoozers' paradise in recent years, with the 'industry' often in full swing à la SXSW. However, as well as becoming a 'cool' barometer for style-mag music pages and blokes in glasses with little wispy beards who work in out-the-way record shops, it also regularly puts on one of the best and most eclectic festival line-ups in the world, quickly morphing into a three-day party the minute you hit the sauce (or something inevitably stronger). By day the acts soak up the glorious Barcelona sun in the open-air CCCB-MACBA venue, while by night the action shifts to a cavernous conference centre. There are also record fairs, film screenings and technology shows if you're geeky even when abroad.
Line-up: Beastie Boys, Cornelius, Mogwai, Devo, New Young Pony Club, Dizzee Rascal, Digitalism, Dave Clarke, Timo Maas, Simian Mobile Disco, Justice, Uffie, Junior Boys, Wolf Eyes, DJ Mehdi, Sun O))), Matthew Dear, Rahzel, Altern8, DJ Nu-Mark, Miss Kittin, Angel Molina, Infinite Livez.
Our view: Without sounding too up our own arses, it's very much 'what you make it' as there's simply so much going on, and most of it is very bloody good. Only the truly legendary or intensely stupid attempt Sónar By Day and By Night (two very different entities) in quick succession, so certainly sort out which one you fancy before you get up (we recommend a healthy mix of the two over the three days). For the day bit, make sure you get directions to the venue or you'll end up wandering round in the blistering sun wishing you paid better attention to New-Noise (and the factor number on your tan lotion). And for the night bit, ensure you check out the unofficial parties on the beach – special guests often turn up unannounced and hit the decks (last year was Groove Armada, so it's doubtful you'll get that unlucky again). Oh, and definitely buy tickets in advance as playing the 'find a local shop that has them' game is an insider joke gone too far. And trust us, this is one house (and techno) party you really don't want to miss out on.
www.sonar.es
Matt Hill

Summercase
Boadilla del Monte, Madrid
Parc del Forum, Barcelona
Dates: 13-14 July
Attendance: TBC
Previous New Noise coverage: 2006
History: This bifocal festival was founded last year by Barcelona based promoters Sinnamon. Venturing out from their resident club Razzmatazz, this is Sinnamon’s pitch in an already bullish Barcelona festival market. Vying for our attention with Sonar and Primavera, Summercase does not try to reinvent the wheel but rather lets its programme speak for itself.
Line-up: Acts playing at one venue one day, play in the alternative location the other day: !!!, Air, Arcade Fire, The Chemical Brothers, DJ Shadow, Electrelane, The Flaming Lips, The Gossip, Jarvis Cocker, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Kaiser Chiefs, LCD Soundsystem, Lilly Allen, My Brightest Diamond, OMD, The Pigeon Detectives, PJ Harvey, Scissor Sisters, Soulsavers plus some…
Our view (Barcelona): Located in an imposing, concrete modernist structure on the seafront just a short ride from Barcelona city centre, this festival has good clean fun written all over it. The sassy, toe tapping, rock operatic line-up is strong enough to attract the attention of the music connoisseur and if you somehow manage to get bored, there's plenty of alternatives. Beach anyone? Or dare I say art gallery?
www.summercase.com
Sandy Patel

Summer Series
Somerset House, London
Dates: 12-21 July
Attendance: Around 3,000 per night
History: Following a few successful years which has featured the likes of Sigur Ros, Ash, Bright Eyes and PJ Harvey putting on extra-special performances in this beautiful and unique setting, the Somerset House Summer Series is back again with some more unmissable shows. Though still a relatively new festival, the organisers have quickly learnt how to put the location, environment and a current crop of hot bands to good use.
Line-up: Mogwai (in surround sound), Kasabian, Bert Jansch with Beth Orton and Bernard Butler, Guillemots, Lily Allen, Mika, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Roots, Amy Winehouse, Hot Chip
Our view: A blissful escape from life in the capital whilst being smack bang in the middle of central London, these gigs are always extraordinary with amazing light shows that make it all the more magical – provided it doesn’t rain!
www.somersethouse.org.uk
Laila Hassani

Truck
Hill Farm, Steventon, Oxfordshire
Dates: 21-22 July 2007
Attendance: 3,000
History: This July will mark the tenth birthday of the best featherweight festival around. Truck has been running since its humble conception as a stage on the back of a truck, hosting local bands. It’s since gone from strength to strength, but with no loss of intimacy.
Line-up: The line-up is still TBA, but whispers indicate Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly, and Truck Records signings The Electric Soft Parade. Memorable past performers include The Futureheads, Editors, The Magic Numbers, and ¡Forward Russia!.
Our view: Think idyllic, middle-of-nowhere scenery, lots of straw, and…no, you haven’t stumbled onto the set of Emmerdale, it’s Steventon’s best kept secret. The remote location may put many festival-goers off, but that’s just how Truckers like it. With no corporate big names or frills, it’s a real back-to-basics, grass roots Lilliputian festival. The local Rotary Club provides the food, whilst there are numerous home ales for sale around the farm’s simple stages (one is in a barn with real cows mooing outside). At only £55 for a weekend’s camping, parking, and entertainment, it’s no surprise that the tickets usually sell out before the line-up is even announced. The music is guitar-based by day and dancier at night, with the entertainment continuing through the night at a faster pace for the hardier revellers. The bands are always well-selected, and like last year, 2007’s acts are sure to be prominent in 2008. With no hordes of school kids, over-sponsorship, or exploding Portaloos, Truck is the connoisseur’s choice.
www.thisistruck.com
Tsouni Moss

Wireless
Hyde Park, London and Harewood House, Leeds
Dates: 14-17 June (15-17 June for Leeds)
Attendance: 30,000 per venue per day
Previous New Noise coverage: 2006
History: Now in it's third year, Wireless operates in much the same way as the other split city events, sharing artists between the two. The London event is certainly accessible - slap bang in the middle of the big smoke in Hyde Park - and in its short history, the festival has boasted some big names - the Strokes, Raconteurs, Dirty Pretty Things and, er, James Blunt all played last year. It follows the standard big festival, big sponsor rules - in this case flying the flag for bubbly mobile phone outfit O2.
Line-up: Line-ups generally vary in genre and quality each day, so we advise you to pick and choose rather than going all out for the whole event ticket. While the headliners can seem either wonderfully mainstream or very tired, depending on your outlook, there's some juicy morsels hidden down the bill. This year's list will include: Faithless, Daft Punk, Kaiser Chiefs, The Rakes, Editors, Mumm-Ra, Good Shoes, Duke Spirit, Los Campesinos, Under The Influence Of Giants, Kate Nash, The Heights, Richard Swift, Calvin Harris, CSS, Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, Simian Mobile Disco, Digitalism, Metronomy, Shy Child, Kelis, Just Jack, Badly Drawn Boy (when is he going to fuck off?), Head Automatica, AiM, Paul Steel, Queens Of The Stone Age, Air, The Bees, Polytechnic, Ghosts, Alberta Cross, Pete & The Pirates, Scouting For Girls...
Our view: This could be - should be - a shmaltzy pot of corporate blandness, aged three years for... well, no flavour at all. In fact, despite (in London's case) the rather indiscriminate setting - an enclosure in a park; you really could be anywhere - Wireless can sometimes feel almost... intimate. In part this is because the number of stages is so few, people tend to camp out at the main stage for long periods, taking the rough with the smooth. This makes it feel rather more like one of those posh picnics you used to get on Hampstead Heath before Camden Council bent to the will of the local self-serving millionaires (sign petitions here please), but without the posh people. As with many of these festivals, there's a pretty anarchic drinks policy, so you may need to devise some way of catapulting the beers over the fence from distance to avoid the 'exclusive' prices inside. Otherwise, this is a rare case of lamb dressed as mobile phone mutton.
www.wirelessfestival.co.uk
Jon Fletcher

 
 From  To  Festival
 Friday 27 April
  Sunday 29 April
 Coachella
 Thursday 17 May
  Saturday 19 May
 The Great Escape
 Saturday 26 May
  Saturday 26 May
  Dot To Dot (Bristol)
 Sunday 27 May
  Sunday 27 May
  Dot To Dot (Nottingham)
 Thursday 31 May
  Saturday 2 June
 Primavera
 Friday 8 June
  Sunday 10 June
 Download
 Thursday 14 June
  Saturday 16 June
 Sonar
 Thursday 14 June
  Sunday 17 June
 Wireless (London)
 Friday 15 June
  Sunday 17 June
 Wireless (Leeds)
 Wednesday 20 June
  Monday 25 June
 Glastonbury
 Thursday 5 July
  Sunday 8 July
 Roskilde
 Thursday 12 July
  Saturday 21 July
 Summer Series, Somerset House
 Thursday 12 July
  Sunday 15 July
 Latitude
 Friday 13 July
  Sunday 15 July
 Guilfest
 Friday 13 July
  Saturday 14 July
 Summercase
 Thursday 19 July
  Sunday 22 July
 Benicassim
 Saturday 21 July
  Sunday 22 July
 Truck
 Saturday 11 August
  Saturday 11 August
  Field Day
 Friday 17 August
  Sunday 19 August
 Green Man
 Friday 24 August
  Sunday 26 August
 Carling Weekend (Reading/Leeds)
 Friday 7 September
  Sunday 9 September
 Bestival
Friday 14 September
 Sunday 16 September
 End Of The Road
Jooles said on April 15th 2007 [report abuse]

Glastonbury is defo my fave on your list. But for those who couldn't get tickets, don't forget the Workhouse Festival...great vibe, very eclectic and an awesome line-up

joan said on April 26th 2007 [report abuse]

Any details on guilfest?

Jon Fletcher said on April 26th 2007 [report abuse]

Bugger, knew there was one I'd forgotten to put up!

anna trebaczyk said on May 16th 2007 [report abuse]

this site is amazing but i feel like you are missing a review for the greatest festival that ever took place out side of the ocean (the rainy british side that is)where is the love and respect for the glade??? inflatable churches, blue people, fairies, ravers and a whole space dedicated to tea and hammocks for when the gabba boxing just gets too much. please .... get the glade on here, pronto.

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