Huge European festival weekend ahead

A number of big-hitters feature in IQ‘s latest round-up of festivals taking place across Europe over the next few days.

In the UK, the Bank Holiday weekend sees a packed schedule including the return of Reading & Leeds (23-25 August), headlined by Blink-182, Fred Again.., Liam Gallagher, Lana Del Rey, Gerry Cinnamon and Catfish and the Bottlemen.

This year’s lineup also includes acts such as 21 Savage, Raye, Two Door Cinema Club, Fontaines D.C., The Prodigy, Skrillex, Sonny Fodera, Pendulum, Bleachers, Spiritbox, Jorja Smith and The Last Dinner Party.

Catfish and the Bottlemen, who announced their first UK stadium headline shows earlier this week, with performances at Cardiff Principality Stadium (1 August) and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (3 August) booked for 2025, will also headline Edinburgh Summer Sessions at the Royal Highland Showgrounds in Scotland on 24 August.

All Points East (APE), which kicked off last week with Kaytranada, Loyle Carner and Mitski, wraps up from 23-25 August with  LCD Soundsystem and The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie. The Saturday event is held under the Field Day banner, topped by Justice and Charlotte de Witte.

Also on the APE bill at London’s Victoria Park are the likes of Jai Paul, Pixies, Floating Points, The Decemberists, Phoenix, Gossip, Lany, Jockstrap, Joy, The Kills, Say She She and Sleater-Kinney.

Held in Daresbury, Cheshire, dance institution Creamfields (22-25 August) will star Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Martin Garrix, Alesso, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Fatboy Slim, Tiesto, Peggy Gou, Sub Focus, Eric Prydz, Hardwell, Charlotte de Witte, Armin van Buuren, Pete Tong, Fisher, Michael Bibi, Steve Angello and Gorgon City, among others.

Meanwhile, in France, Rock en Seine (21-25 August) in Saint Cloud starts tonight with a standalone show by Lana Del Rey. The festival will also welcome stars such as Fred Again.., LCD Soundsystem, Måneskin, PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, Pixies, The Offspring, Loyle Carner, Jungle, 2ManyDJs, Baxter Dury, Kasabian, Inhaler, Gossip and Loyle Carner.

Montpellier’s Palmarosa Festival (23-25 August) has a bill featuring Phoenix, Gossip and Tom Odell, plus acts including The Kills, The Hives, Soulwax and The Vaccines, and Nice Jazz Fest (20-23 August) showcases Nas, Jungle, Phoenix, Sampha and more.

The first weekend of Switzerland’s Zurich Openair (23-24 August) boasts names including Sam Smith, Martin Garrix, Raye, Macklemore, Louis Tomlinson, Armin van Buuren, Loyle Carner, Zoe Wees and Milky Chance.

Elsewhere, The Cult, Die Antwoord, The Darkness, The Libertines, Crystal Fighters and Soulfly are among acts slated for Portugal’s Vilar de Mouros (21-24 August), and Tiesto, Zara Larsson and Alan Walker top the bill at Feelings (23-24 August) in Bergen, Norway.

Back in the UK, Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival (23-25 August) is headed by Fatboy Slim, Jamie T and Biffy Clyro. Other artists on the bill include Snow Patrol, Idles, Louis Tomlinson, Jess Glynne, Courteeners, Pixies, Sugababes, The Lathums, Holly Humberstone, Becky Hill, Wet Leg, James Bay, Arlo Parks, Soft Play and Yard Act.

CarFest (23-25 August), which takes place at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire, is topped by Richard Ashcroft, Olly Murs and UB40 ft. Ali Campbell, with support from Deacon Blue, Johnny Marr, Sam Ryder, Beverley Knight, Jake Shears, Kula Shaker, Reef and Damian Lewis.

Performers at Northamptonshire’s Shambala (22-25 August) will include Bob Vylan, The Congos, The Beatbox Collective, Sampa the Great and Brushy One String, while Camper Calling (23-25 August) will bring artists including Travis, Jessie J, Groove Armada, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Zutons, Professor Green, The Bluetones, Norman Jay and The Sherlocks to Ragley Hall, Warwickshire.

Americana and roots music and culture festival The Long Road (23-25 August) in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, will feature a UK exclusive headline show from the legendary Don McLean. Russell Dickerson will also headline the event, with the supporting cast including Chapel Hart, Ron Pope, Paula Cole, American Aquarium, Gangstagrass, Campbell Jensen, Gina Larner, Brittney Spencer, The Red Clay Strays, Colbie Caillat, Randall King, Flatland Cavalry and Pokey LaFarge.

And Blur’s Alex James’ farm in the Cotswolds’ will host Big Feastival (23-25 August), headlined by Becky Hill, Ministry of Sound Classical, Snow Patrol. The bill also features the likes of Joel Corry, Ella Henderson, Johnny Marr, CMAT, Hak Baker, Natasha Bedingfield, Jax Jones, Cat Burns and Cian Ducrot.

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CAA’s Emma Banks wins top Music Week Awards honour

CAA London co-head Emma Banks collected the top honour at last night’s 2023 Music Week Awards in London.

The leading agent was presented with The Strat – awarded annually to an industry icon – by singer and CAA client Becky Hill.

Video tributes came from the likes of Live Nation’s Denis Desmond, SJM Concerts’ Simon Moran, WME’s Lucy Dickins, Peter Mensch and Tara Richardson of Q Prime, and Banks’ CAA longtime colleague Mike Greek, as well as artists such as Katy Perry, Florence Welch, Jack Black, Paramore and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“I can’t think of anybody who deserves it more,” said Desmond. “Over the years, you’ve built a fantastic business. Your many groundbreaking achievements are well recognised in what was a male-dominated business. You were firm; you were fair. You think of the long-term interests of your artists. You have no problem telling it like it is, and that it is not always about the money.”

“You’ve had a fantastic career so far, you are one of the most influential music agents of all time and deserve – really deserve – all the accolades you receive,” added Greek. “You’re a champion for your clients, an inspiration to all of us that know you, and you’ve made such a positive difference to so many lives, be it clients, be it colleagues or friends. It’s been an amazing ride to work alongside you all these years, and long may that continue.”

“We will be a far worse place if Brixton Academy doesn’t exist”

Banks used her acceptance speech to encourage more support for grassroots venues (“These venues have given so many important artists their start. We can’t let that die”), while also rallying people to support the campaign to save O2 Academy Brixton from closure.

“We will be a far worse place if Brixton Academy doesn’t exist,” she said, while also paying tribute to touring crew and staff (“The people that get up first and go to bed last”).

Hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Vick Hope, the sold-out event took place at Battersea Evolution and was attended by more than 1,400 industry guests.

Winners in the live categories included Kilimanjaro Live (Live Music Promoter), which also triumphed at the inaugural LIVE Awards last year, UTA (Live Music Agency), Reading & Leeds Festival (Festival of the Year), Dice (Ticketing Company) and Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club (Grassroots Venue: Spirit Of The Scene). In addition, The 1975’s manager Jamie Oborne of All On Red Management was named Manager of the Year.

Emma Banks and Mike Greek will deliver a joint keynote at this year’s International Festival Forum (IFF), taking place between 26-28 September in London. After more than 30 years of working together, the powerhouse duo behind CAA’s London office will share the conference stage for the first time ever.

This year’s keynote is due to take place at 11.30am on Thursday 28 September at IFF’s new home, Omeara, in south London.

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