Europe Lineup Roundup: In The Hopes Of Celebrating A Festival Summer

The entire live entertainment world has come to a stand-still. Many are doubting the curfews and event limitations are going to be lifted in time to allow for a smooth organization of the upcoming open air season.

Does it even make sense to publish lineup updates in these times of uncertainty? The most recent statement co-signed by more than 60 European festivals suggests it does.

Thom Yorke will join Massive Attack on the bill of All Points East, May 24, for what promoter AEG describes as “a unique acoustic solo performance with piano.”

So far, APE is still scheduled to take place, May 22-31. The most recent Coronavirus update on the festival’s website reads: “Over the past week we have been seeking further clarification on the government statements surrounding the emergency services and major UK events. We have also been speaking with all other relevant authorities about the safe operation of the event. As soon as we have the full information, we will pass that onto you. 

The safety, health and wellbeing of everyone is our sole priority and we ask that you follow the relevant advice and take care of yourself and your loved ones. Thank you for your patience.

Aside from headliners Massive Attack, the bill for that day also features newly added Alfa Mist and Jacques Greene, as well as previously announced Nils Frahm, Young Fathers, Neneh Cherry, Sevdaliza, Fatoumata Diawara, TNGHT, GAIKA, Skinny Pelembe, Hotel Lux and Mad Professor.

All Points East won Best New Event at this year’s Arthur Awards in London. It takes place at Victoria Park, London, across two weekends separated by a week of free community entertainment.

Meanwhile, AEG’s other big London park event, British Summer Time Hyde Park, has unveiled its final headliner, Duran Duran.

The British icons are celebrating their 40th band anniversary, and will perform their first London show in fiver years at BST, July 12.

Duran Duran is joined by Gwen Stefani as well as Nile Rodgers & CHIC no that day’s bill, with more artists to be announced. The group’s singer Simon Le Bon commented: “I look at film of The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park back in ’69 and think of all the great acts who’ve performed there since. It really is an honor to add the name Duran Duran to that roster, and to play our music at one of the world’s greatest inner city locations.”

The other BST headliners in 2020 are Post Malone (July 2), Little Mix (July 4), Kendrick Lamar (July 5), Pearl Jam (July 10) and Taylor Swift (July 11).

Like in the case of APE, there will be four days of free admission to Hyde Park in-between weekends.

As BST is an AEG event, too, the Covid-19 update on the festival’s website is the same as for APE.

 

Latitude has added comedy, spoken word and music to what promoter Festival Republic (Live Nation) calls “Latitude’s biggest ever line up!”

Celeste, Rina Sawayama, Angie McMahon, Big Joanie and Cub Sport join a musical lineup comprising headliners HAIM, Liam Gallagher, The Chemical Brothers, Bill Bailey and Simon Amstell.

 

Jo Brand and Sophie Duker are joining the bill for the Comedy Arena, while author Bernardine Evaristo tops The Speakeasy literary line-up.

Latitude 2020 is scheduled to take place July 16-19 at Henham Park, Suffolk, England.

Festival Republic, which also promotes other major festivals including Download, Wireless, Lollapalooza Berlin, Electric Picnic, Reading, Leeds and more, hasn’t changed its Coronavirus update since March 5: “At this time, all shows and events are going ahead as planned. Please be assured that the safety and health of all staff and visitors is our main priority and we are implementing recommendations and instructions appropriately.

“We are closely monitoring official guidance from the World Health Organisation, Public Health England, UK Government, local public health authorities and are working with event promoters and organisers as information evolves.”

Goldfrapp, Pollstar Hotstar The Slow Readers Club, and Feet are among the second wave of artists announced for Kendal Calling, July 30–Aug. 2, at Lowther Deer Park in England’s Lake District.

Retro Video Club, Stanleys, Marie White, Lindsay Munroe also join the bill, which already features headliners Foals, Stereophonics, Supergrass and Primal Scream.

Apart from two new stages, Kendal Calling also introduces a new late-night area for its 15th anniversary in 2020. Dubbed “Carneville”, it features “traditional funfair games and rides alongside a cast of quirky characters and more,” according to promoter From The Fields.

The latest Covid-19 update from Kendal Calling states: “We will be following instructions from the Government and relevant authorities and are monitoring the developing situation closely. With the festivities scheduled to begin over 4 months from now we are very much still planning on celebrating our 15th birthday party together with you and are working hard behind the scenes with that in mind.

“For your peace of mind, should the situation change and we are forced to postpone the festival, tickets will be valid for 2021 at the 2020 price at which you purchased your ticket for or, alternatively, receive a refund.”

Another UK festival turning 15 in 2020 is Moseley Folk and Arts Festival, which returns to Moseley Park near Birmingham, England, Sept. 4-6.

Music takes place on three stages. Newly revealed artists include The Waterboys, Richard Hawley, The Wonder Stuff, The Staves, Jade Bird, Peat & Diesel, The Nightingales, Katherine Priddy, Sinead O’Brien, Dana Gavanski and more.

They join already announced Passenger, Gruff Rhys, Stephen Duffy and Claire Duffy of The Lilac Time, Katy J Pearson amongst many other names.

Since Moseley Folk and Arts Festival isn’t happening until September, no updates on possible Coronavirus measures have been given, yet.

Creamfields has completed its 2020 lineup, which features more than 300 acts, who are going to take one of multiple stages, Aug. 27-30, in Cheshire, England.

Promoter Cream (Live Nation) expects some 70,000 visitors at a sold-out electronic music extravaganza that features Calvin Harris, Eric Prydz HOLOSPHERE, The Chainsmokers, BICEP Live, Armin van Buuren, Pendulum TRINITY, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Camelphat, deadmau5, Peggy Gou, Nina Kraviz, Above & Beyond, Charlotte de Witte, Sven Väth, Adam Beyer, Boris Brejcha, Kölsch, Alesso, MK, Oliver Heldens, and many more.

The festival’s organizers have reassured fans that “with the festival over 5 months away, Creamfields is still scheduled to go ahead. We are constantly monitoring the situation.”

However, since Cream, too, can do nothing but monitor the situation, and continues to follow the advice from the relevant public health agencies and experts, it remains to be seen how said advice develops over the coming weeks.

FKP Scorpio’s premiere of Limestone Festival, scheduled for June 13-14 at Moosburger See near Munich, Germany, is still going ahead, according to the latest update on the festival website.

Limestone will be headlined by Post Malone and Seeed, Mahalia, The Streets’ Mike Skinner, Action Bronson, Loyle Carner, Rita Ora, Joey Badass and more are on the bill as well.

Electric Castle, scheduled for July 15-19 at Banffy Castle in Transylvania, Romania, is one of the aforementioned signees of the initiative to save the festival summer. 

The festival recently announced new names, including Chemical Brothers, Placebo, Bicep (Live), Machine Gun Kelly and more. They joined previously announced Twenty One Pilots, Foals, The Neighborhood, Floating Points and many more.

Hamburg’s Elbjazz festival added soul diva China Moses, as well as Hannah Epperson, Nicole Atkins, Dominique Fils-Aimé and Wendy McNeil to a bill that features some of the finest artists in jazz, soul, mixed with some neo-classical, indie pop, rock and folk.

Promoters Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion informed fans, “We are currently planning on going ahead with ELBJAZZ as scheduled.”

In Germany, there are currently no official constraints or cancellations for events after April 30. “Please understand that these are the facts as things stand at the present time. We are keeping an eye on current developments and are in close communication with the relevant authorities. Until then we ask for you to be patient,” the statement continues.

Parookaville, by its own admission Germany’s largest electronic music festival, has added Robin Schulz, Martin Solveig, Jonas Blue, Dillon Francis, Illenium and many more to its 2020 lineup.

Promoter Next Events expects to go ahead with this year’s edition, scheduled for July 17-19 at Weeze Airport.