Previews

Festival Preview: Secret Garden Party 2006

by Richard Hensman

Since its inauguration in 2004, the Secret Garden has been offering an escape from reality for everyone with an inner child who remembers what it’s like to have fun. The festival’s capacity has more than…



Preview: TDK Cross Central 2006

by Jamil Ahmad

If you haven’t been left out of pocket by this stage of the festival season, you certainly will be by the close of the August Bank Holiday Weekend.The Carling Weekend, Metro Weekender, Creamfields – and...

Festival Preview: The Big Chill 2006

by Ian Roullier

The Big Chill started life 12 years ago as a monthly Sunday club in the mattress-strewn confines of Islington’s Union Chapel. Back then there were eclectic line-ups, brain machines and open access to a new-fangled...

Festival Preview: Benicassim 2006

by Jamil Ahmad

Welcome to the Latin Quarter.Eight days, 100 bands, a sleepy town on the Med. The Benicassim organisers were on to a plan when they hatched this one 11 years ago.One of Europe’s most hedonistic festival...

Festival Preview: Reading and Leeds 2006

by Tom Woods

Some would say that the perfect way to end the summer holidays is to discover that quiet corner of this much-trodden planet and wilfully pass away the days enjoying pristine nothingness.To many more, it is...

Preview: The Great Escape 2006

by Michael Hubbard

SXSW has become gargantuan. The music industry event and festival, held annually in Austin, Texas, attracted everyone from latest sensations Tapes’n’Tapes to that old timer Morrissey in 2006. But what if you don’t live in...

Festival Preview: Don’t Look Back 2005

by Steve Hands

The inspiration of gig promoters Barry Hogan and Helen Cottage, the All Tomorrow’s Parties festivals at Camber Sands in Kent have been notable for avoiding the line-ups typical to ‘corporate festivals’. Choosing as curators artists...

Festival Preview: Cropredy 2005

by Barnaby Smith

Bert Jansch and his Pentangle as forefathers, the exotic, erratic, outrageously brilliant Incredible String Band occupying the lunatic fringe, resident larrikin John Martyn struggling to stand up, and then there is the epoch’s very own...