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August 2009
August 2009
Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest event in August and despite rumblings about crowd control we're hopeful it will go ahead as it has done since 1966. There are also two music festivals on Clapham Common this month - South West Four and Get Loaded in The Park - both offering excellent line ups for some high energy al fresco partying.
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Field Day 2009
Victoria Park, London, E3 5SN1st August 2009
After the mayhem of Lovebox Weekender and the trance dance-athon that will be Tiesto, Victoria Park will host a very different event as Field Day comes to the East End's lavish green space for its third year. While most of the London outdoor music events are crowded and highly commercial affairs, Field Day goes against the grain, attempting to capture the laid back sunshine-and-cider vibe of a small, rural festival. With 5,000 visitors fitting very comfortably into Victoria Park, it describes itself as a psychedelic village fete. This seems to mean folksy electronica joined by a coconut shy, tombola, sack races and bowling for bacon - with some harder beats as the sun sets (following a good old fashioned tug-o'-war). Teething problems have marred the last two years - poor sound the first year and unacceptable toilet queues last - but the idea is a good one, and hopefully it'll all run a bit more smoothly third time lucky. Confirmed acts include Scottish post-rockers Mogwai, African musician Toumani Diabate and electronic remixers Aeroplane.
Underage Festival 2009
Victoria Park, London, E3 5SN2nd August 2009
London festival organisers are quick to realise that by not allowing youngsters to many events they are alienating a hugely influential segment of the music-buying market - which explains the spate of "underage" live music events going on in the capital nowadays. The Underage Festival in Victoria Park claims to be the world's first and best under 19s music event of its type - and this one has a twist, for not only are the crowd all MySpace users aged 14 to 18, but many of the lesser-known performers are themselves teenagers, giving young bands a huge leg up in the industry. Gary Glitter headlines at this alcohol free event... only joking (about Glitter, that is, for booze is strictly prohibited and there's even an 8pm curfew). Big names confirmed for this event are The Pigeon Detectives, Ladyhawke, Hadouken!, Matronomy, Santigold, The Horrors, Mystery Jets, Underground Heroes and Patrick Wolf. Now in its third year, the Underage Festival is the brainchild of 17-year-old Sam Kilkoyne and, along with the Underage Club, the concept has been critically acclaimed by the media and the enthusiastic adolescent audience it benefits.
Carnaval del Pueblo 2009
Burgess Park, London, SE5 0RJ2nd August 2009
This loud, colourful fiesta of all things Latin American is a celebration of their roots for expat communities in the capital, and a massive party for the rest of us. This year, thanks to a £50,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, local people have been asked to contribute to the design of the main carnival float. The winner of the competition, announced on 12th May, gets to learn how to take their design from concept to completion - and can take pride in seeing their float parading down the street, admired by over 100,000 people who are expected to attend. Proceedings kick off at noon when a procession of brightly-coloured floats wind their way from London City Hall down to Burgess Park, taking in Tooley Street, Borough High Street and Elephant and Castle along the way. Once at the park, revellers can enjoy regionally-themed food, drink, live music and, of course, dance late into the night. There are a number of different stages offering everything from traditional music to the freshest reggaeton and Latin hip-hop.
London Mela 2009
Gunnersbury Park, London, W5 4NE16th August 2009
One of the biggest celebrations of Asian music and culture outside the Indian subcontinent, last year's London Mela attracted 55,000 visitors, and this looks to be even bigger. Like so many of London's festivals (the Notting Hill Carnival, the Brick Lane Festival, Baishakhi Mela) this has extended beyond its ethnic roots to attract a multitude of Londoners out for a good time. Expect Gunnersbury Park to be filled with a line-up of the brightest lights on the British Asian music scene and a few minor Bollywood figures as well as traditional and classical performances. This is all backed up with hundreds of stalls selling food and handicrafts, a funfair for the kids and a fantastic convivial atmosphere.
Hampton Court Palace Beer & Jazz Festival
Hampton Court Palace, London, KT8 9AU27th August - 31st August 2009
If you like your ale accompanied by funky music in fine surroundings then the inaugural five-day Hampton Court Palace Beer & Jazz Festival is a must. British keys-led Funk masters, the James Taylor Quartet, and Jazz maestro Courtney Pine top the bill for August Bank Holiday event at King Henry VIII's Tudor Palace as part of the horizontally challenged monarch's 500th anniversary. As well as a steady flow of established and rising stars of jazz, funk, Latin and blues, they'll be ample real ale, cider, beer and summer brews on tap at this official CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) event. Music will roll from 12.30pm till 10pm all five days, making this the ideal place to while away a sunny afternoon and evening with a bit of summer brews and blues. For more information on tickets and performances go to www.hamptoncourtbeerandjazz.com.
The Carling Weekend Reading 2009
Reading Festival, London, RG1 8BJ28th August - 30th August 2009
For rock fans, the Reading Festival has an absolutely breathtaking line-up this year, with Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead all headlining on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. Other top acts over the three days include Kaiser Chiefs, Placebo, Deftones, The Prodigy, Maximo Park, Ian Brown, Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Friendly Fires, White Lies, Lost Prophets and Gossip. That said, the Reading Festival has never had a problem attracting the best in the business; the problem lies in the miserable venue, often agressively drunk crowds, rip-off prices and the constant eulogising for Britain's wateriest lager. Critics say it makes for an exhausting and soulless experience, which is only made worse if the heavens open and the port-a-cabins are upended (as so often is the case). Reading's proximity to London makes this popular with people looking to leave the capital behind for the bank holiday. Unfortunately, they might well return wishing they had never left.
Beachdown Festival 2009
Devil's Dyke, London, RH17 5NU28th August - 31st August 2009
This four-day boutique festival party near Brighton boasts a steller line up and a superb location, making it the ideal option for an August bank holiday trip away from London. Headlining is none other than the imposing queen of the flat-top, Grace Jones, with support coming from indie rockers The Zutons, Welsh alternative oddballs Super Furry Animals, Gallic turn table legend Laurent Garnier and Mancunian post-punkers The Fall. With a whole cluster of famous DJs (Gilles Peterson, anyone?), local acts and guest residencies (Favela Chic, par exemple), combined with 42 hours of alternative film and comedy entertainment (including a top family friendly zone), all played out at a bracing location of rolling hills (which won't flood) overlooking the sea, and washed down with the best organic food and drink on offer, Beachdown really does cater for everyone. Shuttlebusses also run all day back and forth from Brighton, making this a festival that's very easy to dip in and out of if you don't fancy camping for the full four days. For more information and ticket details go to www.beachdownfestival.com.
South West Four
Clapham Common, London, SW4 0AA29th August 2009
The August bank holiday dance music marathon on Clapham Common gets off to a flying start with Saturday's South West Four festival, the first part of the Metro Weekender 2009. Headlining on the main stage are Sasha & Digweed, the Asterix and Obelix of progressive house, a timeless double act that is to dance music what Ronaldo and Rooney are to football. Also featuring is French legend David Guetta, Saved's Nic Fanciulli and the likes of Timo Maas, Layo & Bushwacka!, James Lavelle and Sander Kleinenberg. With stages run by The End, The Gallery and Global Underground pumping out beats all afternoon and evening alongside the main stage, this is as close to getting Creamfields into the capital as you're going to get. Seasoned ravers will be delighted to learn that on Sunday the whole thing is repeated with a fresh line-up for Get Loaded In The Park. For full schedule and more information go to www.southwestfour.com.
Get Loaded in The Park
Clapham Common, London, SW4 0AA30th August 2009
Orbital, the zany techno brothers who used to work the decks while wearing futuristic torch-beam sunglasses, are back and headlining this year's Get Loaded In The Park festival. Taking place on the Sunday of the August bank holiday one day after the South West Four festival - both make up the Metro Weekender 2009 - GLITP takes on a more electro-orientated tinge this year. Gone are the traditional guitar bands (such as Iggy Pop and The Hives, who peformed last year) in favour of decks and electronic heavyweights. That said, the line up is still mind-blowingly good: joining Orbital on the live stage are Norwegian duo Royksopp, French legend Laurent Garnier and glitzy electroclash combo Miss Kitten & The Hacker. With DJ sets across four stages from the likes of Felix Da Housecat, Pendulum and Rob Da Bank, Get Loaded In The Park promises to be a worthy outing on Clapham Common - even if it does have, quite frankly, a rubbish name. For more details of line-up and tickets please go to www.getloadedinthepark.com.
Notting Hill Carnival 2009
Ladbroke Grove, London, W10 5QZ30th & 31st August 2009
Held since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is under threat for 2009 due to concerns over public safety - last year saw 40 police officers injured. But we'd be very surprised if the organisers can't find a way to make the legendary street carnival to go ahead. Originally a local affair for west London's homesick Caribbean community, this has evolved into Europe's biggest street party. Carnival sets London on fire in a blaze of Caribbean spirit as extravagantly costumed dancers, calypso and soca musicians, giant soundsystems and steelbands are joined by over a million revellers of all ages. Sunday is officially Children's Day, but there are loads of kids on both days enjoying the bright colours of the floats and the dancers' feathered costumes. Adults can shake their battys at dozens of stages: our favourites are Channel 1's booming dub, and the jazz-reggae at Gaz's Rockin' Blues, but there are tunes for all tastes, from house to hip-hop. It's a huge area, and can get very crowded, so be prepared for an exhausting day out, but for anyone who loves a party, Carnival remains the absolute highlight of the London summer.
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