| As ever, Beat-Herder will continue to join the dots between a multitude of genres across the electronic music spectrum. Notable for their pioneering mix of acoustic and electronic musical styles, Red Snapperjoin the line up at The Factory, a split-level arena in which you can clock in, but never clock out. Taking cues from classic disco and house music, Leeds locals Galaxians will bring the boogie to their hotly-tipped live show over at Trash Manor, the eclectic, electric courtyard of chaos. Original Bugged Out native, long-term Back to Basics resident, Chemical Brothers tour DJ and household name of the Manchester & Leeds club scenes, James Holroyd will be warming up for the legendary Groove Armada on the main stage, and also will make his mark over in the Toil Trees, known for it’s majestic woodland setting, and the beating heart of Beat-Herder. Joining them is Wolverhampton’s Peza, whose recent tracks have been supported by the likes of Andrew Weatherall and Horse Meat Disco. Also announced today is Beat-Herder’s comedy line up, which this year features headline talents including Hot Water Comedy Club resident Paul Smith. Known for his affable stand-up style and quick wit, Smith recently sold out Liverpool’s Echo Arena and has been awarded Liverpool’s New Comedian of the Year. Joining him is Angelos Epithemiou, a character of actor and comedy writer Dan Renton Skinner. Skinner won Best Comedy Breakthrough at the British Comedy Awards, as well being nominated for a Perrier award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Also performing on the comedy line up are Rachel Fairburn of the serial killer podcast All Killa No Filla; the unconventionally daft David Stanier; and award-winning Manchester comedian Jamie Hutchinson. Music is just part of the experience at Beat-Herder. Entirely handmade from scratch, the stages stand out as something truly different in the increasingly cookie cutter festival landscape. That attention to detail creates an immersive world full of beguiling and intriguing creative concepts. What other festivals give you the opportunity to explore underground tunnels, dance to drum and bass in a chapel or get inked in the functioning tattoo parlour? And if the hedonism gets a little too much, guests can slow the pace by lounging in the heated hidden swimming pool, sitting by the huge fire in the stone circle or enjoy some retro entertainment at the site’s very own working men’s club. |