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The weather at festivals can be extremely unpredictable. One minute it will be sunny and lovely and dry. The next minute the skies will open and the fields will be flooded with rain and that is when you get the issue of MUD.

I remember a couple of years ago at Glastonbury it was absolutely pouring it down with rain and people lying in the mud and going for a swim in it (definitely not recommended) Also there are some photographs of tents in a field floating away in a flood. Here are my recommendations below:

• Set up your tent and camp on high ground – preferably at the top of a hill.
• Don’t forget your wellies and raincoat in case the weather takes a turn for the worse.
• If possible take an extra battery for your phone so you can get in touch with your family or friends in case of an emergency Pack your sun tan lotion in case the weather is hot and sunny.
• Take your sun glasses to protect your eyes from the sun
• Take a hat, this helps to protect your head from getting burnt and can also cover your greasy hair!

I have been to many, many festivals so you could say I am experienced in what to take with you to a festival. I have included a list of the most important essentials to take with you below:

1. Toilet roll! This is my number 1 because it is essential! You should never get caught out without having loo roll. There is a very short supply provided at the portaloos and you need to be prepared.

2. Anti bacterial hand wash. After using the dirty toilets, my advice would be to take some bottles of hand wash to keep the germs away.

3. Baby wipes – at normal festivals there are some showers but they are often skanky so I suggest having a wash in your test with some baby wipes.

4. Deodorant – keep your arm pits fresh and smelling clean with some antiperspirant deodorant.

5. Dry shampoo – the best one I recommend is Baptiste, my friend had a pot of “something” thrown on to her hair and she wasn’t able to wash it all weekend! yuck!

6. Fresh clean clothes – in case you get caught in the mosh pit and you have a energetic jump around and end up getting hot and sweaty.You will need an extra set of clothes especially in case of an emergency. (ie someone spills a drink on you by accident.)

This year’s Reading & Leeds Festivals Alternative Stage line-up has been confirmed, with  a range of performances to appreciate. There will be comedy, performance art, film, cabaret acts and late night DJs after the main stages have closed. The entertainment will keep on going throughout the night which can only be good!

The headliners for the Alternative stage have been revealed as Emo Philips, Jason Byrne, Stephen K Amos, Kevin Bridges, Russell Kane, and Rufus Hound who will all perform at Leeds and Reading seperately.

Later in the day, the Alternative Stage will be showing films after the comedy and cabaret acts. To end the night a host of DJs will be performing up until 2.30 in the morning.

Just a reminder about the Leeds festival line-up,as we are not too far away now! 27^th – 29^th August, Branham Park:

Main Stage

Friday:

• Arcade Fire
• The Libertines
• DIZZEE RASCAL
• THE CRIBS
• THE MACCABEES
• MODEST MOUSE
• THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
• MYSTERY JETS
• THE FUTUREHEADS
• THE WALKMEN

Saturday:

• Blink 182
• Paramore
• WEEZER
• CYPRESS HILL
• LIMP BIZKIT
• YOU ME AT SIX
• ALL TIME LOW
• THRICE
• THE KING BLUES
• MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK

Sunday:

• Guns N Roses
• Queens of the Stone Age
• BIFFY CLYRO
• LOSTPROPHETS
• NOFX
• GOGOL BORDELLO
• BILLY TALENT
• A DAY TO REMEMBER
• YOUNG GUNS

Many other acts across other stages are also performing including Ash and Marina and the Diamonds. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Reading line up too.

A man aged 24, from Stonehaven, near Aberdeen, collapsed at around midnight at the T in the Park festival, as he made his way from the main area towards the campsite. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts by the emergency services to resuscitate him.

The death came as tens of thousands of music lovers get ready to enjoy the sounds of some of the world’s top bands on the second day of the festival. Organisers expect 85,000 people a day to attend the festival in Balado, Kinross-shire over the weekend.

There are around 450 officers policing the event, with plain clothes officers and specialist drugs dogs part of the team. It is not yet known if the man was drugged or not.

There are so many people traveling to Ibiza, the White Isle at this time of year and so many clubs and parties to go to. Some of the closing parties are shown below, so make sure you go before the end!

# Es Paradis – Closing:
Mondays – Pukka Up – Closing:
Tuesdays- Clubland – Closing:
Saturdays – Fiesta del Agua – Closing:
Sundays – Rizla Rocks – Closing:
# Ibiza Rocks Hotel – Closing: 14th September *2010*
# Eden – Closing:
Mondays – Inside Out – Closing:
Tuesdays – Tranz Ibiza – Closing:
Wednesdays – Garlands – Closing:
Thursday- Electric Vendeta – Closing:
Fridays – Wonderland – Closing: 1st October *2010*
Saturdays – Hed Kandi – Closing:
Sundays – Judgement Sunday – Closing:
# Space – Closing:
Mondays – Mondays Calling – Closing:
Tuesdays – Carl Cox – Closing:
Thursdays – Be – Closing:
Sundays – We Love… – Closing:
# Pacha – open all year round
Mondays – Swedish house Mafia – Closing:
Tuesdays – Retro – Closing
Wednesdays – Subliminal – Closing:
Thursdays – F*** Me Im Famous – Closing:
Fridays – Pure Pacha – Closing:
Saturdays – Defected – Closing: 25th September *2010*
Sunday- Pacha Classics – Closing:

These are just some of the closing parties however, there are many more to attend.

Well that’s it for another year, Glastonbury 2010 or Glastonbury 40 as it has also been known as has finished for another summer. Across all 45 stages many famous acts and many unknowns performed live music infront thousands of fans. The weather was one of the hottest and driest for a long time at Glastonbury, many people had to keep the sun tan lotion close at hand. The Pyramid stage alone hosted 8 acts per night, 24 overall. The highlights for many people included Tinchy Stryder, Muse, Gorillaz, Vampire Weekend, Snoop Dogg, Dizzee Rascal, Shakira, Scissor Sisters, Faithless and Jack Johnson.

T in the park is one of the biggest festivals around with bands such as Jay-z, La Roux, Faithless already signed to play at the event this is going to be a top notch experience. There have also been some new bands just signed to play these are Jamie T, Palma Faith and Delphic. Personally love Delphic’s music and if they play “dout” and “Halcyon” it will be amazing. Unfortunately all the tickets for this festival have sold out, however you can still obtain tickets through fan based ticket sites such as seatwave, but buyer beware as there will no doubt be ticket touts and fake tickets being sold around on the internet. So be sure to check it’s a reputable before committing to any purchasing any tickets. There are however ways to still get cheap tickets using Voucher Codes from internet sources to get some pretty good discounts, but just be aware of the risks. The festival will take place at the Balado airfield on the 9^th of july to the 11^th of july over three days. So you should not have to “hopefully” bring the wellies, although it might be best to take a waterproof coat or a umbrella just in case.

The Eden Sessions will this year play host to Mika on Sunday the 27th June.

The Eden Project in Cornwall every year plays host to a festival like setting, This year Jack Johnson will be playing on the first day with Mika playing on day two.

Mika has had plenty of Success on the festival circuit over the last couple of years, i have seen him myself and although he entertained i was only there because it was sunny and nothing better was on outside!

The concern i have about Mika is the same Concern i have with a few artists such as the Ting Tings, Lily Allen and something Amy Winehouse deffinately fell foul of and that is the lack of new material. Now i don’t know if Mika has new material and i hope he has but the popularity of some artists are producing some very repetitive performances.

However if you are interested in the Eden Sessions with Mika get over to the  Eden sessions website for more information on tickets.

Atomik Weekender announced a little while ago that it would be let loose on the 5th to the 7th March 2010 in the might Pontin Holiday Park, Prestatyn.

There are some usual suspects that are going to this and there are some new faces as well. I thought I would put together who will be attending the event. I really think that this will be a another complete success like it has been ever year previous.

The DJ’s who are going to be there are.

• Tidy Boys
• Paul Glazby
• Alex Kidd
• Lisa Pin-up
• Annie Savage
• Many More

You can get chalets to house 4 to 7 dance fiends at a reasonable price.