Virtual Festivals' weekly news round up

£42.50 sunshine festival, the return of Spinal Tap, more

Alex Fahey - 08 May 2009

Line-ups

The big story this week is that mockumentary stadium rockers Spinal Tap have self-confirmed for this year's Glastonbury Festival, but there’s no mention of miniature Glastonbury Tors and dancing dwarfs. Expect more mad-cap eccentricities from pop darling Lady GaGa though, who it has been reported is set to grace the festival on the Friday.

From pop culture, to well, just culture and newly crowned Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has been booked to play at this month's Wychwood Music Festival. On a more musical whim, the poet will be joined by Sleeping With The Fishes, The Black Bloc and Shtetl Superstars at the Cheltenham event.

Latitude has peppered its line-up with a bit of arts too, with Keith Allen, Jeremy Hardy and Jonathan Coe announced for the literary area and Jo Brand, Stephen K Amos and Dave Gorman lightening the mood in the comedy tent.

Eighties ska group The Beat are gearing up for a busy summer adding Guilfest to their hectic schedule. They will be joined in Surrey by soulster Linda Lewis and Rock Choir, a vocal choir who cover rock and pop hits.

There’s likely to be very little a cappella at this year's Creamfields, especially with the announcement of dubby dancefloor filler Diplo, Norwegian electro act Casiokids and Fulham rapper Example.

It's getting all dancey over in Ireland as well with Oxegen announcing a slew of DJs. Natural predator Felix Da Housecat headed up the announcement that also includes one Deadmau5, Radio One DJs Annie Mac and Kissy Sell Out, MSTRKRF andFrankmusik.

Keeping things electronic, Brighton band The Qemists won't have far to travel for their appearance at this year's Loop Festival, which takes place at the seaside city. Karin Andersson's new outfit Fever Ray have also been announced along with Zomby, Telepathe and The Jaun Maclean.

Download Festival have expanded their line-up again, confirming Hollywood Undead for the main stage and Trigger the Bloodshed and Sacred Mother Tongue set to take to the second stage. A whole host of acts have also been confirmed including General Fiasco, Lauren Harris and Japanese Voyeurs and here's one for the classics students out there - Hunting the Minotaur.

Keeping things rock, Slipknot's Corey Taylor is removing his mask for a solo show at Knebworth House’s Sonisphere with  Dirtly Little Rabbits also set for a UK exclusive on the Bohemia Stage. The arena will also feature performances from Attack! Attack!, The Chapman Family and Cancer Bats. Festival bosses have also announced a comedy arena with Gary Delaney and Sully O'Sullivan set to join host Lou Saffire.

Finally this week, WOMAD confirmed soul legend Roy Ayers along with Israel funksters The Apples, singer-songwriter Charlie Winston and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - in the words of Mr Ayers: "everybody loves the sunshine!"

Tickets

British sun-seekers have been offered a credit crunching escape this week with Bilbao BBK bosses announcing that the first 1000 tickets will be sold to UK festival goers for a mere £42.50. With Depeche Mode and Jane's Addiction set to headline we expect the tickets to go quicker than your sunbathing spot on Benidorm beach. Click here to buy Bilbao BKK tickets.

And finally…

Despite tabloid scares, Glastonbury bosses are adamant that the festival is set to go ahead as planned. "We are monitoring all developments,” said a Glastonbury spokesman, “at this stage the festival is going ahead and we are continuing to work flat out to make it a success."

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