LONDON'S Bushstock Festival has been known to boast impressive line-ups in the past and this year is no exception. The one-day festival, which is located in Hammersmith, returns with yet another bill bursting at the seams with talent. The multi-venue festival hosted by Communion Presents promises to deliver the best up and coming sounds around and there's no doubt you'll find your new favourite band lurking around. 

Previous years have featured artists such as George Ezra, Hozier, Daughter and Jack Garratt gracing the bill, however there's a fresh bunch of bands to tickle your fancy this year; you'll certainly be hitting the repeat button on them soon enough.

The Big Moon

This London four-piece are practically on every festival billing this summer and there's no stopping their inevitable rise. Expect huge hook-filled anthems with their infamous Madonna cover thrown in for good measure. Their fun-packed sets never fail to live up to the hype and they're in good stead for the remainder of 2016. 

VANT

As the brainchild of frontman, Mattie Vant, VANT have been around for a while and their live show brims with bangers from the offbeat. They've gained themselves a huge following on the alternative scene and things are getting more exciting for the band by the day. The quartet blend distinctly political themes with angsty beats and raw vocals that go down a treat. 

Pleasure Beach 

Belfast dream-pop bunch, Pleasure Beach are hitting all the right notes and will continue to do so when they drop their eagerly-anticipated set at the festival. The five-piece have been compared to the likes of Circa Waves and The XX previously and they make a sound comprised of upbeat, jangly guitars and soft-edged vocals. Pleasure Beach provide the perfect soundtrack for your Bushstock experience. 

Flyte

Flyte are a London four-piece who make sounds similar to many much loved bands of the past - think The Kinks and Talking Heads. Having previously toured with bands such as Bombay Bicycle Club and Hinds, they've had plenty of opportunities to pick up tips on how to make bangers fit for a festival environment and they've done exactly that on their track 'Please Eloise'. Watch out for their brand of anthemic pop rock at Bushstock this year. 





Bushstock 2016 takes place in Shepherd's Bush, London on 18th June. For more information and tickets, please visit www.bushstock.co.uk 

Words Lauren Wade

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Are you a festival junkie looking to get your last fix before the summer fizzles out? Look no further than Bestival. Held on the Isle of Wight, the music festival is now in it's tenth year and celebrations are to follow this September throughout the duration of the event. Fusing music with creative arts in a remote country setting, this festival is like no other. With a theme based around the HMS Belfast, fields will be turned into an underwater paradise. Expect fishy fancy dress, pirates, sailors and wacky watery adventures.

 

Festival waters will be infected by headliners such as Elton John and his band, Snoop Dogg and Fat Boy Slim. Whilst, rock fans may not be catered for on the main stage, there's plenty of action on smaller stages coming from the likes of Sheffield based blues duo Drenge, who made waves after the release of their self-titled debut album recently. The 1975 have been tipped by almost everybody in 2013 so far, but don't just take their word for it go and check them out for yourselves, when they bring their hook laden sound to the festival.

 

Bringing solo material and hits of former band The Smiths to the table, NME's current 'Godlike Genius' Johnny Marr is worth a watch if you fancy a taste of guitar driven music with fantastic beats, equally measurable vocals and cracking on stage banter. There are instances when you might want to slow the pace briefly; Tom Odell's the guy for you. The singer/songwriter from Chichester is hardly a young Bob Dylan but he has some woozy harmonies that will definitely cause a delight.

 

One of the biggest draws at the festival, Bombay Bicycle Club will do their best to set their mood to a shimmering pace, in one final attempt to convince us that it's really summer (even if the sun's not shining). Meanwhile, a young and wildly talented four-piece rhythm and blues band from Cavan, Ireland - The Strypes will get hearts beating faster with their slick sound. Finally, Performance poet John Cooper Clarke puts on a hell of a live show, and in the late 70s the 'punk poet' became the voice of a generation and crowds gathered to witness the revolution. Experience it once more, as the poet by trade is welcomed to the festival to deliver a hell-raising live set. Jump aboard shipmates and prepare for Bestival to reach a new level of cool.

 

 

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Festivals... the place to catch new bands you've never heard of and discover something, that totally has the potential to mess with your head and change your life. Fear not! What this year's Reading & Leeds Main Stage lacks in a strong line-up, is certainly made up for in a mix of fresh artists on smaller stages, those travelling under the radar with their talented sounds going unrecognised. If you're off to Reading/Leeds this week, it's time to stick it to the organisers by packing out tents to catch sets from the likes of Drenge and The Family Rain. Here's Rock Revolver's guide to which artists you should be watching throughout the weekend.

Organisers of the split-site festival, have once again booked headline acts in a controversial fashion. Reading's Friday Night headliners Green Day don't need an introduction. Following the fallout of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong's infamous on-stage meltdown last year, the band returned on a high at Emirates Stadium, London at the start of June proving to fans they haven't lost it altogether. Whilst, crowds may enjoy their hit-crammed setlist, surely this spot would have been better reserved for the likes of The Vaccines to tackle? We're getting tired of the same old bands filling up headline spots year after year.

Standing out like a sore thumb, rap icon Eminem will guarantee a reaction from the crowds. An unlikely choice, fans of the fest have commented that he doesn't really fit in with the theme or genre that the festival evokes. We can't argue with that. Scottish trio, Biffy Clyro undoubtedly deserve their headline slot. Latest album Opposites, stormed the charts and went down a treat with fans. Don't miss this opportunity to witness all the hits played in full glory.

The NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage is the place to be all weekend. Brum outfit Peace, will bring crowds to their knees on Friday afternoon on this stage, whilst their epic guitar solos and stylish outfits are so good they will coax the goose bumps right out of you. Saturday sees Lambeth's very own indie darlings, Palma Violets take to the stage. Long gone are the days of cutting their teeth on the underground live circuit, the band are now firmly in the spotlight but they will always be a bit tattered and frayed around the edges. Still not satisfied? Check out the Aussie four-piece Tame Impala's breezy blend of psychedelic rock with a modern twist. Haim are a band close to our hearts, expect the Californian sister band to debut new material from their hotly anticipated debut album Days Are Gone in their Sunday evening set.

Tickling your fancies on the Festival Republic Stage is a line-up that sets out to dazzle, by the looks of this lot crowds should expect to be blinded by talent from this bunch of newbies. Pure magic combined with sixties psychedelia is what you will be exposed to from big-haired revivalists Temples in their Friday mid-afternoon slot; We expect the Kettering quartet to be the band of the weekend without a doubt. Harnessing a professional ease that bands twice their age struggle with, The Strypes a young Irish group (all aged under 18) will pull out all the tricks before moving on to support Arctic Monkeys throughout the course of their nine-date UK tour this autumn. Miss it, miss out.

Sheffield based duo on the rise, Drenge will also play the Festival Republic Stage on Saturday, following the release of their self-titled debut album. The Loveless brothers will woo crowds with riff-orientated rock and snarling vocals. Swim Deep follow up the latter performance by bringing the sunshine, even if it the weather's a let down. Expect memorable moments from a band who never seem to put a foot wrong. Make sure you catch high-octane, bluesy three piece The Family Rain, another band who are also made up of a set of brothers. Looks like this year's festival is turning into a real family affair.

Here at Rock Revolver, we hope we've broadened your horizons for the weekend. Discovering new bands is always a festival highlight, so scour those small stages and earn yourself serious bragging points for when you get back home.

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With a mixed bag of talent on offer for all, the UK's widely popular (and arguably more commercial) festival is back for another year. Split between two sites in Essex and Staffordshire, festival-goers and music fans have commented on the decline in quality of the event in previous years. However, there's plenty of festivals to choose from and this could finally be the year V Festival prove everyone wrong.

 

This year's couldn't be more different, which adds just the right amount of variety to the fest. Superstar Beyoncé picks up where she left off after that Glastonbury performance back in 2011. For those who weren't at Worthy Farm, V is offering you another opportunity to catch the hits played out in all of their glory. American rock band Kings of Leon will take over the remaining headline slot. Expect current single Supersoaker, everyone's favourite KoL tune Sex on Fire and if we're lucky new material from the band's upcoming sixth studio album Mechanical Bull, due for release September 23rd.

 

Also on the Virgin Media Stage, you can catch unmissable performances across the weekend from Northern Irish indie rock trio Two Door Cinema Club, one Scottish four-piece who haven't been around in a while but we'll always reserve a soft spot for them,The Fratellis and one of the biggest guitar bands in the UK - The Vaccines. To save a repeat of last September's popularity contest between Two Door Cinema Club and The Vaccines, when their albums were released on the same day sending the album chart into meltdown, the bands are billed to perform on different days. There's no real rivalry though, and even if there was it would be nothing compared to that of Oasis vs. Blur in 1995 at the heart of Britpop.

 

Offering an alternative scene, the 4Music stage is the place to chill for all you indie darlings out there. Beady Eye were expected to fill one headline slot, however news broke on August 08th that they decided to pull out of the festival, to allow guitarist Gem Archer to focus on his recovery after suffering a head trauma. The Courteeners may not be adored by the masses, however they have a huge following on social networking sites. We can only hope their set will raise awareness of their talent and allow them to receive the recognition they deserve. Brit Award winner Tom Odell was slated by NME for the release of his debut album Long Way Down, now it's his chance to shine and show the crowds that the reviewers don't always get it right.

 

The Arena Stage is handy if you're looking to shy away from the blistering sun for a bit. It also helps that there are some stellar artists billed to play this stage throughout the weekend. Make sure you catch B-Town Britpop band Ocean Colour Scene during their headline slot. South London singer-songwriter Jessie Ware is also worth a watch if you're about. Word is finally spreading about her sound and here at Rock Revolver, we've backed her since the beginning.

 

If you're looking to discover raw talent and the stars of tomorrow, look no further than the Futures Stage. A few X Factor contestants are thrown into the mix, but if they don't tickle your fancies, Liverpool band James Skelly & The Intenders should not be missed as they show the rest of the line-up how it's done properly.

 

As someone who's attended V Festival in previous years, it can be confirmed that if you only like a select genre of music (such as the alternative scene), then perhaps this is not the right choice of festival for you. Whilst there is decent music to be found here, it must be noted that V has a tendency to attract people who might only go to get pissed in a field instead of being there for the music. This can be a shame as there are people who wait to see certain bands for years, only to have their experience dampened by other people. This does happen at most festivals and nothing can be done about it, so grab a beer or two and enjoy the music anyway.

 

 

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Four days, four mega headliners, sun, sea and sand - if the mud and unpredictable weather of a British festival doesn't tickle your fancies, then Benicassim is the one for you. Located on the east coast of Spain, between Barcelona and Valencia you can catch the hottest of headliners whipping the crowds into a frenzy. Plus, if you need a break from the music the beach is literally next door.

This year's festival sees Queens of The Stone Age topping the bill on Thursday (18), whilst other headliners include: Beady Eye (19), Arctic Monkeys (20) and The Killers (21). Currently holding the crown for Best Overseas Festival (UK Festival Awards) it's not hard to see why, with scorching temperatures, a world class line up and sun kissed location.

With so much to see and do throughout the duration of the event, Rock Revolver has handpicked an assortment of acts you'd be a fool to miss. In addition, if the headliners aren't your cup of tea, or you fancy a break from the magnitude and scale of their performances - the following artists might be more of your thing.

Expect a hazy feel to take over when Kettering's psych revivalists Temples take on the Pringles Fibclub Stage on Thursday. Flower power riffs and a resurgence of psychedelic pop will ensure the masses experience feel-good moments aplenty during their eagerly anticipated set. On Friday, the Pringles Fibclub Stage also plays host to Birmingham's Swim Deep, ahead of the August release of their debut album Where The Heaven Are We. Prepare yourself for an excess of indie magic and glittering vibes.

Headlining the Trident Senses stage on Friday night, is ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. Catch his set if you're looking for an alternative to Beady Eye or if you fancy seeing a few of The Smiths hits played out almost in their former glory. The one to push your way down the front for on Saturday night, is the one and only Miles Kane. Taking to the stage shortly before his pals Arctic Monkeys, the Wirral riddler promises a storming and energetic set brimming with old hits and new wonders. Warning - it will turn into a sweaty affair.

On the final day of the festival, head over to the Pringles Fibclub Stage as baroque pop revivalist Jacco Gardner will deliver his tunes to the masses. Also, the electropop scots CHVRCHES are appearing on the same stage later in the evening.

Hopefully, this guide gives you an indication as to who to watch if you're going to the festival. Fear not, if you don't possess a ticket there's always live streaming.

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The most anticipated music event of the festival season is rapidly approaching, and this year, the line up boasts an impressive array of artists. With a little something for everyone, when the gates open in ten days - Worthy Farm is bound to be the epicentre of explosion. Here is Rock Revolver's definitive guide to the artists you need to check out if you're going to the festival, or simply streaming it online.

 

 

Announced as this year's headliners, Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones and Mumford & Sons are set to tear it up on the Pyramid Stage. Following the debut of new tracks Do I Wanna Know? in Ventura, California and Mad Sounds at Hultsfred Festival in Sweden recently, Sheffield rock royalty, Arctic Monkeys, are ones not to be missed. Considering their performance at the Olympic Opening Ceremony last summer, and the fact that the band have got their fifth album scheduled for release in September, missing their headline set would make you a fool.

 

Offering another opportunity to catch those icons, The Rolling Stones, play the hits live (factoring a few rarities into the mix), make sure you witness the Pyramid Stage play host to the band on Saturday night, especially since last year's shows at the 02 had staggering ticket prices, leaving fans forking out hundreds. Initially, Sunday night headliners and everyone's favourite nu-folk group Mumford & Sons caused a bit of a stir when announced to close the Festival. However, you can't deny the band have worked hard to get to the top in recent years. Second album, Babel, released last September proved the folk rock four piece have got the goods and now all they have to do is display it to the masses.

 

Throughout the weekend, you can also catch excellent artists on the Pyramid Stage throughout the day, stretching into evening, such as: The Vaccines with their wailing guitars, and fast paced punchy anthems. 2012's biggest breakthrough, Jake Bugg with ballads to his youth and musical ability beyond his tender years. California's most chilled exports Haim. Saturday night sees indie folk star Ben Howard deposit a mellow set of acoustic anthems, whilst on the Sunday, New York rockers Vampire Weekend take to the stage.

 

Hitting up the Other Stage, across the weekend you can catch Northern Irish indie rock trio Two Door Cinema Club, tearing it up with their shimmering tunes and spewing riffs. Tame Impala, the psychedelic Aussies are not to be missed with their tripped out tracks, whilst the majority of their back catalogue sounds like they overdoes on flower power riffs and paisley vibes.

 

Playing host to under the radar rockers and those set to be massive in years to come, The Park Stage is packed with little gems you need to get in your life. Lambeth's own Palma Violets, backed by NME, take control on Friday night, crafting sets as impressive as their sudden rise to fame in the latter half of 2012. Tame Impala's female counterpart Melody's Echo Chamber play on Saturday afternoon; prepare yourself for the French vocalist's dreampop formula and acid soaked songs.

 

Saving the best for last, the John Peel stage is steeped in artists, serving as evidence that it really isn't all about the Pyramid Stage headliners. Aiming to lead the rock revolution (and mod of the moment), is Liverpool's Miles Kane. After releasing critically acclaimed second album, Don't Forget Who You Are, at the start of June; if you miss Miles' set you really are missing out, as he plays the crowd like no other. If we were to depict his live shows in percentages, it would go a little something like this - 50% puppy dog excitement and 50% rock swagger.

 

 

 

 

Pioneers of the B-Town scene, Peace and Swim Deep, are also set to appear on the John Peel stage on Friday afternoon, whilst Saturday sees sets from The Smiths' iconic guitarist Johnny Marr, and Ireland's teenage 60s revivalists The Strypes. Continuing the party throughout Sunday are, French wizards Phoenix, who are set to headline the stage and bring with them that much needed dose of wickedly warped electronics and dance-until-you-get-stitches-in-your-stomach sizzles.

 

Whilst this is just a preview of the thousands of acts at the festival,  there are many more appearing across the weekend and hopefully this guide will serve you well, in deciding who to catch a glimpse of and who to miss. With the weather set to hit a record high in the history of Glastonbury, you're bound to have an excellent weekend regardless of which artists you watch. 

 

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