Divorce / Ultimate Thrush: Tour preview

Up in Glasgow way, bands Divorce & Ultimate Thrush are doing quite well for themselves. They're homegrown DIY noisy hardcore punks, known for their explosive live performances, full of costumes, experimentation, noise and general Glaswegian ganders. But they are venturing southwards and doing a couple of dates around England.This might be the most important tour you ever missed.

 But wait, you needn’t miss it. No, not at all. They’re playing:

FRIDAY 2nd: LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club Part of the British Wildlife Festival w/ Disasteradio, Bad Guys and Super Luxury

SATURDAY 3rd: LONDON, Power Lunches/ Tortura and Loveover

SUNDAY 4th: NORTHAMPTON, The Labour Clubw/ E U N U C H S

MONDAY 5th: MANCHESTER, The Bay Horsew/ Trojan Horse

I highly advise anybody into DIY experimental noise rock music, hardcore music or punk music to go to one/all of these dates as it will be fantastic. GRRL Punk ‘Divorce’ meets spazzcore odyssey ‘Ultimate Thrush’

Eliot Humphries

Kendal Calling 2012 - Preview

Oh Kendal Calling, you’ve done it again! You quietly came onto the festival scene as an intimate 900 capacity festival in the Lake District, Cumbria. You’ve moved about quite a bit over the 6 years you’ve been running and increased in capacity ever year. But that hasn’t got you down and you’ve managed to blossom into a brilliant yet still intimate festival that’s set in a picturesque deer park in Penrith. Oh and you’ve also hosted the likes of Blondie, The Cribs, Doves, Mumford & Sons, Pendulum and Calvin Harris to name but a few.

This year sees old favourites such as Dizzee Rascal, Twisted Wheel, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip and of course The Lancashire Hotpots returning to Lowther Deer Park. Dizzee joins Maximo Park and James as the main stage headliners. Although the majority of the acts haven’t been announced yet the line-up does look promising with the likes of Benga, Feeder, Shy FX, Utah Saints, Ms Dynamite and reggae legend Little Roy gracing the fields.

As a Kendal Calling devotee the line-up isn’t the only attraction at the festival. Kendal Calling is also home to the Soapbox, a stand-up comedy, dance class and spoken word tent, a “Garden of Eden” which is a chill haven with plenty of stalls to pamper yourself the morning after, the “Happy Slap” Boutique that puts on burlesque shows and fire performances, a Houseparty tent with sofas to lounge on, beds to jump on and karaoke. And if that’s not enough the Holy Quail pub hosts a real ale festival within the festival. The latest addition for 2012 is a Twin Peaks style diner café curated by Tim Burgess and aptly named “Tim Peaks”. Tim Peaks will be home to DJ sets, book readings, a mean cuppa and the only place to purchase his “Totes Amazeballs” cereal!

Oh and to top that all off, Saturday is fancy dress day. With the theme last year being Beasts and Machines it’s hard to predict what they’ll think of this year.

Kendal Calling is an eclectic, lively and fun festival that appeals to families and teenagers alike. With a unique line-up, amazing entertainment and a friendly feel Kendal Calling is set to become more and more popular every year. It’s a festival that never fails to please.

See you in the fields!

Eden Young