Bestival 2015: The festival's must see acts

Summer is reaching it's demise, school, college or University beckon for many, and the greatest season of them all - Festival Season - is coming to an end.

But fortunately - for the lucky few who have decided to make the lengthy treck to the Isle of Wight - there is still one major festival left to enjoy.

So, if you are heading to Bestival 2015 this weekend, here are It's All Indie's Top 5 must see acts.

1. Sleaford Mods: The Big Top, Saturday, 9pm

Although the anti-establishment growl of their twitchy mouth-piece has, at times, racked-up more column-inches over the last year than their musical output, Nottingham-duo, Sleaford Mods are the most lyrically sincere and genuinely exciting bands to challenge Torrie-Britain and the status-quo since The Sex Pistols. 

Driven by angst, but backed by a juxtaposing minamilistic stage set-up of a mere laptop-come-beat-machine, accompanied by a beer-wielding counterpart, Sleaford Mods are a formidable festival force, who's live set is surprisingly, yet utterly entertaining - and every concoction of words that Jason Williamson spits at you, will be the truest you'll hear all weekend. 

And with fellow punk-duo/Radio 1 golden boys, Slaves, appearing on the same stage just prior to them, expect to be treated to a list of comedic expletives fired at their Big Top predecessors as soon as Williamson grabs the mic. 

2. Animal Noise: Caravanserai, Friday 12.40am 

They may have been in the game for a few years now, but Colchester's swampy-funk sweethearts, Animal Noise - in the wake of signing to Sony Europe and being playlisted on Radio 1 - are finally starting to reach out to the audiences and obtain the acclaim that their left-field acoustic-folk stomp warrants. They may be new to the prestigious festival circuit and many of the ears that will hear them this weekend, but the spark that they'll ignite amongst the abundance of arm-yielding festival-goers upon finding their scatty rhythm, will leave you declaring them your new favourite band. 

3. Charli XCX: Main Stage, Friday 6.15pm

Having somewhat lived in the shadows of the megastars that she's been writing hits for over the past couple of years, the past 12 months has finally seen Charli XCX blossom into the sultry and commanding popstar that her infectious song writing ability would have you suggest. And after a series of high-profile and critically acclaimed festival slots to her name already this year, expect her Bestival set to be the best possible way to wave goodbye to her and your festival season.

4. Tame Impala: The Big Top, Friday 11.30pm

Despite playing the festival's graveyard shift, Kevin Parker's acid-draped gang of psych-mind-manipulators will prove a hit with all those tripping at the sight of the bands kaleidoscope on-screen visuals - entirely soundtracked by the swirling, time-travelling phaser-draped perfection of their new album, 'Currents'. 

5. The Bohicas: Invaders of the Future, Saturday 11pm

With little in the way of gritty, straight-up guitar bands at this years Bestival, Domino's latest exports, The Bohicas will be looking to turn heads and capitalise on the indie-loving festival-goers, yearning for a piece of 2006. Who knows, it might just be their crowning moment - and it might just be the incarnation indie's next leather jacket-heroes. 

WORDS: GEORGE HENRY KING

Will The Libertines be secret guests on The Pyramid Stage tonight?

The rumour mill is in over drive that The Libertines will perform a secret surprise set on The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury tonight, filling in for Florence + The Machine's original slot. With an image circulating the web, featuring a strip of gaffer tape with the word 'Albion'.

Florence has stepped up to headline when Foo Fighters were forced to pull out, with Emily Eavis confirming 'there is definitely something filling that gap but under no circumstances will it be announced'.

The mystery slot will be from 8.20pm - 9.30pm, with Florence now on at 10.15pm.

Essential Field Day 2015 (Saturday) Playlist

Festival season is fast-approaching. Therefore, Field Day 2015 is fast-approaching. The 'inner' city festival takes place over the weekend of the 6th and 7th of June, and boasts some of the biggest names in alternative music This year the festival boasts a more diverse lineup than ever before, with the likes of internationally recognised acts such as Caribou, Chet Faker and Django Django, to lesser known bands such as Astronomyy and Jagaara, who are looking to make some traction. Set in the East London mecca that is Victoria Park, the festival brings you the best in indie, alternative, house and disco, along with a bit of African, rock, and electro-pop just to make sure. This festival is the epitome of multi-genre ambiguity.

With the Saturday acting as the main attraction (at a price of only around £55), punters have a wide range of acts to choose from. In recent years, the festival has expanded to a weekend format, where the Sunday is focused around a headline act - this year, Ride. However, with a day packed full of artists too (including Mac Demarco, Savages and Diiv to name a few), the weekend is the most attractive package at only £83 a head. You couldn't find a better bargain if you ask me.

Being an annual pilgrim, I seriously advise you to visit Field Day this year, or at least at some point in the near future. Grab a ticket and don't miss out.
Great people, great setting, great vibes, great music.

That's all I have to say for now. But please check out my essential Field Day playlist (for the Saturday) below. It compliments this great weather we are having quite well.

Written by - Richard Maver

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Through One Ear and Out the Other; A Musical Shift From 2014 to 2015

Music is a constant, merely blurred by the boundaries of our calendar. 2015 will provide nothing different on the music scene as old rockers return and new names bubble to the surface, there should be something to savour for music fans this year. Here's some personal tips and moments to look forward to in 2015.

1. Return of the Maccs

On New Years eve Orlando Weeks and co gave us news of a new album and plenty more live shows hitting us in 2015. What the details are exactly we don't know yet but if it's anything like their last album, 'Given To The Wild', then their next instalment could be the record of the year.

2. The Rock 'n' Roll Revival Hits Wembley

In June Foo Fighters will take to Wembley Stadium to play some of their biggest shows to date but what's even more tasty is their support. It comes in the shape of hard-hitting duo Royal Blood who could soon rival Dave Grohl for a headline slot. 2014 was the definitive year for the pair but 2015 ought to firmly establish them as saviours of thick riffs and drums, a lot of drums.

3. Peace is the word

B-Town quartet Peace will bring some more shimmery vibes to your ear waves early on into the year with their second album, 'Happy People', dropping in February. Having spoken to the man behind the mic it seems that it won't end there though as a sea of tour dates and plans for a third album are very much in motion.

4. A Band Called Palace

With the return of the Maccabees already being noted, a band who will be hot on their heels this year is London outfit, 'Palace'. Their alternative tinting of archaic blues brought them a support slot on Jamie T's tour and 2015 will undoubtedly see them rise from their debut EP platform.

5. King Raury

If Outkast's comeback was too 2002 for you then welcome to Raury. The teenager from Atlanta is making rifts across seas and has impressed the likes of BBC to feature him on their Sounds of 2015 list. Over the past year he's released some interesting projects touching upon Andre 3000 and Childish Gambino influences which will carry him confidently through 2015.

6. Male music

Raury's not the only young man who you'll be hearing in 2015. Bipolar Sunshine will be delivering upbeat pop rhythms whereas the more gentle whirrs of Brits critics choice, James Bay, will be prominent and for the more rugged edge, Only Real will be bringing the skatty upbeat guitar playing back. Expect these three to be very much in and around some of the best things you hear this year.

7. Festivals

Hardly a surprise this but yes the dawn of 2015 means we move even closer to festival season. Despite the slightly under-par line up, Glastonbury was a stonker last year so if Eavis manages to book the bigger acts this year, it could be one of the best yet. Elsewhere Reading and Leeds have brought in Metallica, making their Glastonbury performance last year look not so special after all. Smaller festivals to look out for include Bestival - the biggest party of the year, and metropolitan festivals, Live At Leeds and Tramlines.

8. The Brits Bullshit

It appears the only good thing going for the Brits this year is that James Corden has been put out of his misery, his script tossed to one side as Ant and Dec take over the presenting duties. Don't expect any tongue in cheek public speech by Alex Turner this year though. Instead sit back and enjoy a festoon of faces who you'll have been tired of seeing since last February - Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift will all give 'big performances' on the show - all for the viewing figures eh.

By Josh Shreeve (@JJShreeve)