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Festival Preview: Y-Not Festival 2015

  • Published in Live

Though now perched precariously atop a hill in Pikehall Derbyshire, Y-Not started life as a modest gathering of sixth formers in a quarry. Now playing host to thousands of punters annually, as well as the hundreds of bands which have graced its stages, Y-Not (along with sister site 2000 trees) has arguably gone on to become one of the best medium-sized festivals on the calendar.

It's been ten years this year since the fateful weekend in a quarry, and in order to celebrate, this year's line-up seeks to outdo anything the organisers have done thus far. With bands such as Augustines, Honeyblood and Jaws all joining the likes of Snoop Dogg, Basement Jaxx and Primal Scream who are headlining, it's clear that the festival isn't just indie-centric as many of their medium-sized contemporaries are; the Giant Squid stage in particular playing host to a burgeoning number of metal and post-hardcore acts like Pulled Apart By Horses, whilst the Allotment (previously hosting the likes of last year's Sunday headliner Frank Turner) offers those bands who are just starting out the chance to shine.

Like most festivals however, the music might be the main focus, but it isn't the be all and end all. The huge vistas on offer of the surrounding Peak District make for an imposing scene from which to enjoy the plethora of artisan food and drinks on offer, whilst the tongue in cheek tropicana of the Mussel Beach cocktail bar provides a welcome break from the gallons of beer inevitably being swilled.

Though ten years may have passed since the festival's very first iteration, it still manages to retain a definite feeling of intimacy, especially when compared to its larger, and less fiercely independent counterparts; a rare quality in an age where just about every festival stage is sponsored by one beverage or another. Thankfully this feeling of independence is something which bleeds through from the festival's ethos and in to its crowds, allowing for a wholly diverse, and utterly irresistible weekend away from the posturing and Instagramming that plagues other events. A perfect way to spend the last weekend of July.

This year's Y-Not Festival falls on the 31st July to the 2nd of August. Tickets for which can be bought here.

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Festival Previews: Reading & Leeds 2015

  • Published in Live

As ever, Reading and Leeds Festival(s) fall over the last bank holiday weekend of the year, and though fairly late in the festival calendar, both sites provide punters with one last weekend of hedonistic debauchery before the darker months and cold weather begins to take hold. Traditionally offering attendees a mixture of both nostalgia and the cutting edge, recent years have seen the festival's line-up diversify even further, bringing in top names from grime, electronica and hip-hop to share stages with the usual fare of punk, rock and indie. Such changes haven't been without their share of criticisms, with naysayers claiming that it waters down the alternative nature of the festival, but for those who like to taste a bit of everything, but would rather not sully themselves with the hyper-corporate V Festival the weekend before, Reading and Leeds tick all the boxes.

This year's line-up unsurprisingly boasts a host of bands and artists that you grew up listening to, whilst providing a platform for those on the up. Where else could you see Limp Bizkit on the same line up as folk troubadours Bear's Den? Or see Frank Turner headline what's arguably the smallest stage on site? The answer to that is, probably nowhere.

Headlining this year are the recently reformed Libertines,who last graced the stages of Reading & Leeds back in 2010, making for one of my most memorable live music experiences ever. Joining them will be Mumford & Sons and Metallica, who, after their headline slot at last year's Glastonbury, are bound to pull out the stops for their appearance across both sites. Elsewhere over the course of the weekend, revellers can expect to see the likes of Deadmau5 rubbing shoulders with American Football, and the Boy Better Know crew bringing their uncompromising grime to the Radio 1extra tent at the same time as post-hardcore legends Refused tear the Lock Up Stage a new one.

It's eclectic, nostalgic, and, regardless of your opinion on the line-ups diversification, it's one of the most talked about festivals of the year. What it's critics fail to realise, is that though not every act on the bill will be to your own tastes, you don't have to watch those acts you don't like. Unless of course you're the sort of person who takes pleasure in trying to heckle a stage that's half a kilometre away, then there's certainly going to be one band or artist you want to see, when everyone else wants to go and watch Bastille. And even on the off-chance that there isn't, the festival offers a wealth of non-musical (and sometimes non-alcoholic) entertainment across the weekend.

Grab your wellies, quit your bitchin' and try to conceal the smug fact that you always knew learning all the words to Limp Bizkit's 'Rollin'' would come in handy some day!

In the words of Fred Durst himself: “Are You Ready?”

 

Reading and Leeds takes place across the last weekend in August, and tickets and more information can be found at the official website here.

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