VF Europe's weekly news roundup

Oasis, Lily Allen, tickets and more

This has been an exciting week at the VF’s London headquarters. We have been bathed in sunlight for the first time in months; the temperatures are on the up and with the announcement of a few big headliners and some white hot tickets there is a mounting anticipation for the coming European festival season.

On the line-up front....

Two major European festivals announced their first confirmations over the past few days. The first was Switzerland’s Gurtenfestival who confirmed Franz Ferdinand, Kings Of Leon, Swiss hip-hop favourite Stress and the mighty Oasis as headliners. The four will be joined on top of the majestic Gurten hill by the likes of Pendulum, Travis, Royksopp and many many more. Click here for the latest day-by-day Gurtenfestival 2009 line-up.

Greece’s Rockwave Festival was the second to whet European appetites with a star studded line-up revelation that includes Placebo, The Killers, Motley Crue and Slipknot as headliners. Moby, Gogol Bordello and Duffy were also announced with the festival also showing its heavier side with Mastodon, Monster Magnet, Arch Enemy and more also confirmed. Click here for the latest Rockwave 2009 line-up.

This heavier side is also shared by Danish giant Roskilde with Slipknot headlining. Their line-up revelation was a little more mellow this week though with the announcement of British pop-princess Lily Allen and the afro-beat godfather himself, Tony Allen. Black Dice, The Chap, Dodos, Fucked Up and Steinski were also announced, joining the likes of Coldplay, The Mars Volta and Oasis who are certainly getting around this summer.

It proved to be a big week for Lily Allen as she was pencilled in for Spanish extravaganza Benicassim. She is set to play alongside Mystery Jets, Magazine, TV On The Radio and Laurent Garnier who were also announced. Spanish favourites Nacho Vegas, Josele Santiago and Joe Crepusculo also join the bill which will be headlined by the likes of Kings Of Leon, Oasis, and Paul Weller as well as Franz Ferdinand, The Killers and Madness.

The cheeky London chappies extended their own European festival season this week as they were announced to stop off at EXIT Festival in Serbia. More names are expected to be revealed for the infamous fortress bash with a host of high calibre DJs as well as Arctic Monkeys and Moby previously confirmed.

The dance-vegan is also set for the Main Square Festival in northern France which announced sets by The Ting Tings and Birdy Nam Nam this week. Michael Franti and M Ward were also added to the four day bill which boasts Kaiser Chiefs, Placebo, Coldplay and Katy Perry among others.

To round things up for the week we travel over to Eastern Europe with a quick pit-stop in the Czech Republic where the first of the European Creamfields events sprung to life. Legendary trance producer ATB was announced as headliner for Creamfields Central Europe alongside British trio Above And Beyond, sure creating a stir among European dance circles.

Finally we head down to unveil ‘Croatia’s best kept secret’ further. Hartera Festival, which rightfully boasts this title, confirmed Royksopp and Simian Mobile Disco as co-headliners with Sasha and Klaxons previously announced for the dis-used Hartera paper factory.

Tickets...

The major tickets to go on sale this week all complemented line-up announcements. Staying in Croatia, two day Hartera Festival tickets are now available for £48.15 and £105.93 if a three day stay in a B&B takes your fancy. Click here to buy.

Tickets for Rockwave went on sale with prices ranging from €49.50 to €132.00. A number of ticket options are available. Click here to browse and buy.

Gurtenfestival passes are also available with prices ranging from 75CHF to 195CHF. A number of ticket options are also available alongside sleeping zone passes. Click here to browse and buy.

And finally, across the channel in the UK...

Motorhead and legendary Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson were both confirmed for Guilfest. Jarvis Cocker is set to headline Secret Garden Party with many more names announced. Laurent Garnier and Mr Scruff are pencilled in for the SLAM tent at Scotland’s T In The Park. Snow Patrol headline the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend whilst Solomon Burke, Fat Freddy’s Drop and more were confirmed for WOMAD.

Manchester International Festival grabbed a fair bit of attention confirming a program of exclusive commission pieces. Elbow are set to play with The Halle Orchestra while Kraftwerk collaborate with American composer Steve Reich. Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed will also join forces to perform together for the first time on the British Isles.

On a final note...

This weekend sees the official beginning of spring. Enjoy it!

Comments

Related Artists

Related Events

Related Articles