The Hop Farm Festival

The return of Kent's Hop Farm Music Festival was an expectedly diverse affair, with day three (July 6th 2014) mixing it up with an array of genres from folk to hip hop.

For all the old school Hop Farm revellers, there was plenty to enjoy with the likes of rhythm and blues veteran Billy Ocean, rockney pioneers Chas & Dave, Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond and 2 Tone ska from Birmingham's The Beat. Also, Joy Division's Peter Hook returned to the festival with his latest project Peter Hook & The Light.

It wasn't just a local gig either: plenty of overseas acts hit the Farm on Sunday. They included Texas folk group Midlake and Atlanta collective Arrested Development, who turned the event irresistably into the Hip Hop Farm Festival (Sorry, folks). The alternative rap band were one of the biggest of their kind during their 90s reign; their debut album '3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...' going multi-Platinum on its release. And they're still going strong, dropping their last album 'Standing At The Crossroads' in 2012.

Continue reading: Arrested Development, Billy Ocean And The Dunwells Among The Diverse Line-Up For Hop Farm Festival 2014

Prince has decided to grace us with his presence on Twitter. The elusive and technophobic singer, who famously declared in 2010 that the "internet's completely over", has finally decided to join the social networking site. Posting his comments under the name '3rdeyegirl', he named his account for the band who has been accompanying him on his tour this year. 

Prince 'Bourne Ultimatum' After Party at Shoreditch House - departures London, England 

Although Prince initially chose not to control the account himself (presumably allowing representatives to Tweet for him) he took charge on Tuesday (13 August), announcing his presence by writing "PRINCE'S FIRST TWEET. TESTING.1,2." 

Continue reading: Prince Declares The Internet Is "Not Over" By Joining Twitter

Hop Farm Festival was due to take place in rural(ish) Kent this July as has been the routine for the festival throughout it's five year lifespan, however the fest was forced to cancel for the first time this year after poor ticket sales and forecast of sales would have resulted in a massive loss for the festival's funders.

Hop Farm big cheese Vince Power posted a statement to the festival's website yesterday, outlining the reasons behind  the festivals cancelation and apologising for disappointed fans who will miss out on the event. Power's statement read that despite the best efforts of everyone involved, organising the festival "proved too much a of mountain to climb" reasoning that the circumstances "based on poor ticket sales and the forecast selling rate [would mean] substantial losses would be made."

Hop Farm Festival suffered financial difficulties last year too, but still went ahead.

Continue reading: Hop Farm Festival Cancelled Due To Poor Ticket Sales

We’re not sure how Hop Farm is back in 2013 after going into administration last year and posting alleged losses of some £4.8 million… but good news, everyone! Hop Farm’s back in 2013! And it’s announced its first two headliners as shoegaze veterans My Bloody Valentine and, well, just plain veteran Rodriguez.

A host of other names have been announced, including The Cribs, Dinosaur Jr, Jimmy Cliff and Martha Wainwright to name just a handful, and in a press release statement Vince Power, the festival organiser, said “I am pleased to announce the sixth Hop Farm line up this year, which includes headliners My Bloody Valentine, exclusive to The Hop Farm Festival, off the back of their much awaited new album. Plus I’m excited to add international folk legend Rodriguez to the bill this year. Searching for Sugar Man, has just won an Academy Award and a BAFTA, so this is a very special year to welcome him to the Hop Farm. Last year has been tough for me, as it has been across the board for the festival market. I wanted to keep the festival going, but I’ve had to make changes for it to continue.”

That difficult year was the aforementioned folding of Hop Farm last year, which makes it somewhat puzzling that it’s been allowed to return, with the NME claiming that some bands hadn’t been paid from last year. However, they also posted a statement from him that said "The Hop Farm will happen this year, this is one blip in my career spanning over 30 years. All suppliers and artists are working with me and many of the suppliers have been with me for many years, through the Reading, Phoenix and Homelands days. They are being very supportive. I spent and paid artists alone approx £350 million over the years. The losses reported are inaccurate. The Hop Farm never lost 4.8 million. These losses included a group of companies in Kent Festival Ltd." So there you go.

Continue reading: The Hop Farm Bounces Back From Administration To Announce My Bloody Valentine And Rodriguez As 2013 Headliners