Features / Dot to Dot
Two unmissable festivals in May 2017
With a sizzling line-up of dance and beats-centric artists, a dazzling splash of colour and a whole lot of love – one of the hottest festival tickets of the summer returns to Eastville Park.
Love Saves The Day took Bristol by storm when it was first launched as a fast-paced, one-day fun frenzy in Castle Park in 2012.
Now celebrating its sixth year, that first flush of success show no sign of fading, with a crowd of almost 40,000 set to descend on the site for a bank holiday party to remember packed with unforgettable sounds, theatrical wonders and hidden joys.
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Grammy-nominated Little Dragon take centre stage as Saturday’s headliners, with the loveable electro pop sound of Mura Masa also on the cards, as well as Fatima Yamaha, Elder Island, Jamie Jones and many more.
Sunday’s headline slot is in the capable hands of Fat Freddy’s Drop, a band whose eclectic blend of dub, reggae, techno and jazz has made them internationally regarded as one of the world’s finest live draws.
The Mercury prize shortlisted Kate Tempest supports them on the bill with her hip-hop influenced poetry, alongside Brixton rapper AJ Tracey, recently selected as one of the BBC Sound Of 2017 artists.
The only UK appearance of the Arcadia Afterburner is a major talking point of the festival as the Glastonbury-schooled Arcadia team do what they do best with a 360-degree stage built around a central flaming spire and dance platforms radiating out to outer rings of fire shooting torches.
Line up aside, festival-goers are in for a treat as they dive headfirst into a unique world of hidden discotheques, twisted theatre performers, epic dance battles and a veritable feast of off the wall fun-filled frolics, fancy dress and food offerings.
Tom Paine, one of the festival organisers, said: “It’s amazing to think how far we have come since the first event in Castle Park in 2012, growing from a one-day event for 9,000 people, to now almost 40,000 people over two days.
“We like to think our uniqueness is all the small things and fine details we put into the show. Our aim has always been to create a proper festival, with all of the elements, right in the centre of the city, whether it is marching samba bands, twisted theatre performers, prancing unicorns, epic dance off battles, roller-discos or hidden ball pools, then we hope that people get to experience something fun and extra-ordinary across the day – alongside an amazing musical offering.”
Love Saves The Day takes place at Eastville Park on May 27 and 28. For tickets and more information, visit www.lovesavestheday.org
Bang on the dot
A firm favourite in Bristol’s music calendar, Dot to Dot Festival returns to a mass of venues around the city on May 27 or its annual one-day extravaganza of live acts and undiscovered talent.
Now in its twelfth year, the ever-popular event also takes place in Manchester and Nottingham on consecutive days, spread out across numerous venues such as the Thekla, Fleece, Exchange and Louisiana.
Festival-goers criss-cross the city hoping to spot the next The xx, Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons, The 1975, Frank Turner, Caribou, Wolf Alice, Jake Bugg, SBTKRT, Florence + The Machine, Peace, Courtney Barnett and more who have played the festival as relative unknowns
Dot to Dot won the Best Festival gong at last year’s Live UK awards and the emphasis is very much on showcasing hot new talent. This year’s lineup includes Sundara Karma, Amber Run, The Growlers, Honeygrove, The Big Moon, The Slow Readers Club, Ellie Rose and many more.
Dot to Dot takes place at various venues across Bristol on May 27. For tickets and more information, visit www.dottodotfestival.co.uk
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