Hi, this is Gemma Dempsey and welcome to another edition of The Global Gig Guide. This week we head to the green pastures of the UK for The Secret Garden Party and a quick roundup of other festivals around the world….
One of the most eclectic and enjoyable festivals in the UK is The Secret Garden Party. Winner of the ‘Best Small Festival’ award by the Virtual Festival website, its similar to the original Glastonbury as it incorporates music, art , no big corporate sponsors and all for a few thousand like minded individuals. It takes place about 70 miles outside of London near Huntingdon in the grounds of a Georgian farmhouse complete with a lake and stunning gardens. What began in 2004 for 2000 people has evolved into this years ‘Brave New Worlds’ for 6000 lucky punters. This came about partly thanks to a trip to Burning Man by the Head Gardener and his team. They returned duly inspired and this year the Secret Garden Party promises to be spectacular, merging the best of Burning Man and Glasto. And if that isn’t a marriage made in festival heaven I don’t know what is!
Over four happy go lucky days you can move your body to great music, relax and chill out in the centre camp, cast off your civvies and play Fig Leaf Twister, learn how to build a solar panel, throw a custard pie, observe art or be inspired to create your own – all within the beautiful bucolic surroundings of merry old england. There are several music stages at the Secret Garden Party - a floating stage on the lake where you are invited to row up and rock out, a Remix Arena with a host of Dj’s headlined by XFM’s Eddie Temple Morris, Where the Wilds things are for emerging talent, while The Great Stage has a stomping and eclectic line up including Echo and the Bunnymen, New Young Pony Club, Fugiya & Miyagi, Au Revoir Simone and I’m from Barcelona.
This years art installations are created by Serena de la Hey who will make a unique performance piece of two 8 foot figures using fire earth and wood which the audience cover with clay. The end result will be a spellbinding metamorphosis and a first of its kind in the UK – so don’t miss Secret Gardens this year – its happening really soon in the UK and if you haven’t got a ticket already, check out The A Track on KCRW.com for information on how to get some!
For those of you in other parts of the world here is the skinny on some other great festivals taking place at the end of July …
In the US Diversafest or DFest in Tulsa Oklahoma is a music conference and concert festival that seeks to connect emerging talent with the entertainment industry while enjoying cool music – artists on the bill include The Flaming Lips, Stars of Track and Field, AM and Amos Lee.
In Switzerland over 200,000 people will flock to the 32nd Paleo festival in Nyon, featuring Artic Monkeys, Natacha Atlas, Air, Pink , Robert Plant, Wax Tailor, Bjork. Arcade Fire …
And finally to Japan where Fuji Rocks to the sound of Muse, Chemical Brothers, Beastie Boys, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and Happy Mondays and many more – all up a on a mountain!
That’s it for this weeks Global Gig Guide – as always we’d love to hear about festivals in your part of the world, so why not send us an email ? Global@kcrw.com.
Otherwise check back with us next week for more information on Global Gigging.
The Global Gig Guide is produced for KCRW.com by JC Swiatek and the theme music is composed by The Plush Interiors.
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KCRW Presents World Music Festival at the Hollywood Bowl
July 15 Groove Armada & Café Tacuba
August 12 Reggae Night VI ft. Burning Spear; Sly & Robbie
September 9 Underworld, Paul Oakenfold with special guest Carmen Rizzo.
More festivals…
KCRW is a media sponsor for Lollapalooza, Grant Park Chicago Aug 3 – 5
Daft Punk, Iggy and The Stooges, Modest Mouse, Interpol, My Morning Jacket, Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs…Spoon Pearl Jam Cold War Kids
Show benefits parkways foundation (Causapalooza)
Seattle Sept 1- 3
The Shins, BRMC, Devotchka, Andrew bird – has been going for almost 4 decades!
SZIGET FESTIVAL
Budapest Hungary 8/8 – 8/15
Headliners:
Main stage
The Killers, Nine Inch Nails, The Chemical Brothers
World Stage
Salif Keita, Rachid Taha, Manu Dibango
THE GREEN MAN FESTIVAL
Where: Glanusk Park at Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales, UK
When: 11am Fri 8/17/07- 12 midnight Sun 8/19/07
Headliners:
Main Stage
8/17- Joanna Newsom
8/18- Robert Plant & The New Sensation
8/19- Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks
The Folkey Dokey Stage
8/17- Tunng
8/18- Battles
8/19- The Aliens
FAIRPORTS CROPREDY CONVENTION
Where: Cropredy, UK
When: Thur 8/9/07- Sat 8/11/07
Headliners:
Main Stage
8/9- Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
8/10- Richard Thompson
GLASTONBURRY ABBEY EXTRAVANGANZA
Where: Glatsonburry Abbey, Somerset
When: Fri 8/10/07- Sun 8/12/07
Headliners:
Main Stage
8/10- Van Morrison, Corinne Bailey Rae
8/11- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
8/12- Ray Davies, Paolo Nutini
SOLFEST
Where: Tarnside Farm, UK
When: Fri 8/24/07- Sun 8/26/07
Headliners:
Main Stage
Badly Drwn Boy, The Levellers, Easy Star All Stars, The Undertones
Drystone Stage
3 Draft Monkeys, Bex Marshall, Katus, Silverwheel
CREAMFIELDS
Where: Daresbury, Cheshire, UK
When: Sat 8/25/07
Headliners:
Main Stage
The Chemical Brothers, Groove Armada, Kelis, Mark Ronson, LCD Soundsystem
CARDIFF CALLING
Where: Coopers Field, Cardiff, UK
When: Sat 8/25/07- Sun 8/26/07
Headliners:
Main Stage
8/25- The Streets, Super Furry Animals, The Automatic
8/26- Paul Van Dyk, Sasha, Roger Sanchez
CONNECT
Where: Inveraray Castle, Western Scotland
When: Fri 8/31/07- Sun 9/2/07
Headliners:
Oyster Stage
8/31- The Beastie Boys, The Jesus and Mary Chain
9/1- Primal Scream, Mogwai
9/2- Bjork, LCD Soundsystem, Scott Matthews, Regina Spektor, M.I.A.
Guitars & Other Machines Tent
8/31- Super Furry Animals
9/1- Modest Mouse, Echo and The Bunnymen, Rilo Kiley, Vashti Bunyan
9/2- Idlewild, The Polyphonic Spree