festivals, festivals, festivals.

Happy new year all.
Like every other year, 2010 brings with it some stellar music festivals featuring some of yours and our favourite bands.
There is something uniquely exciting and primitive about the experience of dancing about a field, beach or privately-owned paddock with thousands of other people, all smiles and personalised dance moves, singalongs, and those 'Moments' that occur every now and then where you just "had to be there".
Here we have a pick of some of the best Festivals falling within the next six months. Get your pencils ready, whip out that new calendar, and mark off the dates - it's going to be one hell of a start to the year...

Big Day Out
Dates: January 2010
Locations: Auckland, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth
The bill: Muse, Lily Allen, The Mars Volta, The Temper Trap, Dizzee Rascal, Peaches, Groove Armada, Devendra Banhart, Tame Impala, Passion Pit, Simian Mobile Disco, Dead Prez, The Decemberists
The wrap up: This is without a doubt the biggest, hottest, sweatiest festival in the summer line up and is a rite of passage for many young festival goers. BDO attracts a crowd that is as large and diverse as the bill – so prepare to be smashed by overenthusiastic moshers, pushed by aggressive drunk people, hugged by complete strangers, and surrounded by strange groups of fairies, people painted in green, stilt-walkers, packs wearing lab coats or hospital scrubs, etc.
Don’t miss: Devendra Banhart is ten types of crazy so expect the unexpected and get your freak(folk) on. Lose your shit to Dizzee Rascal where we predict a guest appearance by fellow Brit-youth Calvin Harris. And if you've never seen The Mars Volta grab a friend, smoke a joint and have a life changing experience - a legit, mind-blowing musical journey that you'll feel from finger tips to toes. Don't forget to breathe...
Avoid: The human Sling Shot ride. Trust me.
BDO website


Laneway (**Highly recommended**)
Dates: January/February 2010
Locations: Various laneways in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland, Perth
The bill: Black Lips, Echo & The Bunnymen, Florence & The Machine, Hockey, Mumford & Sons, Jonathan Boulet, Danimals, Daniel Johnston, Radio Clit, Oh Mercy, SeeKae, the Middle East, The Very Best, The XX, Wild Beasts
The wrap up: A fantastic indie festival with a street party vibe, a relaxed crowd and plenty of up-close-and-personal performances - Laneway is AoTW’s pick of the southern hemisphere summer music festivals. There’s room to dance, places to pause for a chat, drink or hot dog, fun randoms wherever you go, cool security guards, and most importantly an emphasis on nothing but stellar music.
Don’t miss: So good it almost beggars belief. Don't miss anything. But make sure you most definitely see Florence & The Machine whose live shows are rumoured to be unbelievable, SeeKae - one of Australia's best live bands of the minute, and Black Lips for onstage mayhem and punk madness. Oh - not to mention legends Daniel Johnston and Echo & The Bunnymen… Miss nothing.
Avoid: Your ex. As a smaller, more intimate festival, the chances of awkward reunions is dramatically increased.
Laneway website


Good Vibrations
Dates: February 2010
Locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Perth
The bill: The Killers, Friendly Fires, Z-Trip, Basement Jazz, Naughty By Nature, Busta Rhymes, Plump Djs, Gossip, Salt-n-Pepa, Art Vs Science, Armand Van Helden
The wrap up: This is definitely a party specifically geared towards getting folks dancing so be prepared for lots of kids on ecstasy. You’ve been warned. There does seem to be a (dare I say it) ‘good vibe’ about this festival with a good time crowd that isn’t overly aggressive or violent (probably because of all the ecstasy), although there's fashion victims aplenty so prep yourself for the cool kids and their designer sunglasses.
Don’t miss: You would be a damn fool to even consider going without catching Salt-n-Pepa and pulling out awesome 90s dance moves to 'Push It'.
Avoid: Beware Busta Rhymes' mad raps, lest you break ya neck…
GVF website



Soundwave
Dates: February 2010
Location: Major Australian cities
The bill: Faith No More, Jane's Addiction, Eagles of Death Metal, Anti-Flag, AFI, Placebo, Rolo Tomassi, Anvil, Meshuggah
The wrap up: Boasting some of the best punk and hardcore acts the world's got on offer, Soundwave promises a day of ear-bleedingly huge riffs, Ben Hur style drum solos and a delicious dash of screamo. The beauty of Soundwave is the crowd is usually made up of genuine fans of bands and tunes, ensuring the vibe is one big chilled out love-in - with a shitload of moshing and tatts.
Don't miss: Gosh it's looking good this year. Catch My Chemical Romance for their massive call-to-arms radio hits and pure theatrics; skank out to ska-revivalists Reel Big Fish's brass section; and absolutely do not do not do not miss the big ones: Jane's Addiction - the original line up with the incredible Eric Avery on bass make a welcome return after disappointing Australian fans by pulling out of Splendour In The Grass at the last minute in July. And, of course: Faith No More. Possibly up there as a band you must see live before you die. Mike Patton is untamed charisma personified.
Avoid: Eagles of Death Metal. Because Jesse Hughes is so damn fine he'll break your heart into pieces.
soundwave website


Bluesfest
Dates: 1 - 5 April 2010
Location: Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay, Australia
The bill: Crowded House, Jack Johnson, Buddy Guy, Gypsy Kings, Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Jeff Beck, Matisyahu, Ozomatli, Gogol Bordello, 10CC, Taj Mahal
The wrap up: the legendary festival is in its 21st year now. It's famously chilled beach-side atmosphere, relaxed (stoned?) crowds including hip young things, your granddad and babies in prams, and the diverse mixture of artists has made Bluesfest one of the major must-attend events on the festival calendar.
Don't miss: Blues guitar legend Buddy Guy, the incredible Cuban outfit Buena Vista Social Club, and reformation of Crowded House who are sure to bring the (crowded) house down. But most of all get yourself to see pioneering New York gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello, whose live shows are the stuff of legends.
Avoid: The Fray.
Byron Bay Bluesfest website


Noise Pop
Dates: 23-28 February 2010
Location: San Francisco, USA
The bill: A Place To Bury Strangers, Cake, Born Ruffians, British Sea Power, Apples In Stereo, Clinic, Cat Power, Cold War Kids, Cloud Room, Beach House, Devendra Banhart, Band of Horses, Black Lips, Crystal Antlers, Blonde Redhead, The Ferocious Few, Fleet Foxes, Flaming Lips, Delta Spirit, Deerhoof, Dirty Projectors, Fuck Buttons, Gutter Twins, The Grates, Grizzly Bear, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Lyrics Born, M.I.A., Neon Indian, Joanna Newsom, No Age, Modest Mouse, Peter Bjorn and John, Plants and Animals, The National, My Bloody Valentine, Sea Wolf, Tortoise, Vampire Weekend, Yo La Tengo, The Virgins, The XX, Xiu Xiu
The wrap up: San Francisco’s celebration of indie music, art and film, Noise Pop has become synonymous with bringing exposure to emerging artists and showcasing a ridiculous number of awesome acts (see above for just a small taste) and is kind of like an annual precursor to South by South West. Spread across five days and various venues it requires stamina and can be cold, so rug up.
noise pop website


Glastonbury
Dates: March 2010
Location: Worthy Farm, Pilton ENG
The bill:The only announcement so far has been U2… Reportedly, this the 40th year anniversary will feature a band from every year it has run. Bowie and the Rolling Stones perhaps? The possibilities...
The wrap up: There's no explaining it - you have to go at least once it your life. A festival experience like no other.
Glastonbury website



All Tomorrow's Parties - curated by Pavement
Dates: 14-16 May 2010
Location: Butlin's Holiday Centre, Minehead, UK
The bill: Pavement, The Fall, Broken Social Scene, Mission of Burma, Calexico, The Raincoats, The Drones, Atlas Sound, The Walkmen, The Clean, Sic Alps, Blitzen Trapper
The wrap up: Not only were we blessed with the reunion of one of the most important American bands of the Nineties, Pavement, but then they were given the curatorial reigns on ATP! ATP festivals have gained a flawless reputation as intimate, fan-friendly affairs, inclusive of every musical genre - and set at a beautiful beachside setting with more leisure activities than a Club Med, you know this one is guaranteed to make for an unforgettable weekend.
Don't miss: Pavement, Pavement, Pavement.
Avoid: Missing out on a ticket. (TOO LATE - it's sold out!)
ATP website


All Tomorrow's Parties - curated by Matt Groening
Dates: 7-9 May 2010
Location: Butlin's Holiday Centre, Minehead, UK
The bill: Boredoms, The Raincoats, Toumani Diabate, Danielson, Panda Bear, Deerhunter, Broadcast, Daniel Johnston, Amadou & Mariam, Shonen Knife
The wrap up: Curated by the genius behind the Simpsons and Futurama, Matt Groening returns for his second outing as selector of ATP artists (he also curated Long Beach ATP in 2003).
Don't miss: Of this flawless collection of artists, get thee to afro-beat duo Amadou & Mariam, and don't miss the fuzzed out garage pop beauty of Deerhunter.
Avoid: The brown acid
ATP website


Primavera Sound
Dates: 27-29 May 2010
Location: San Miguel, Spain
The bill: The Antlers, The Bloody Beetroots, Delorean, Dr Dog, Dum Dum Girls, Wild Beasts, Wilco, The XX, Japandroids, Here We Go Magic, Pavement, Panda Bear, Orbital, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Pixies
The wrap up: With a history of ridiculously good line ups, Primavera is a celebration of Indie music - from the latest 'it' bands to the pioneering visionaries that changed music…
Don't miss: Forget the new kids on the block. Gasp in awe at the legends instead: Pavement, the godfather of dub Lee "Scratch" Perry, and - hold your breath: PIXIES. Strap yourself in my friends.
Avoid: Any new bands without a good live history. 2009 featured the infamous 'performance' from bloggers' New Favourite Band, Wavves, whose drug-addled onstage blowout was heralded a down right disaster and major disappointment for fans.
Primavera sound website



Sasquatch! Music Festival
Dates: 29-31 May 2010
Location: The Gorge Amphitheatre, Washington, USA
The bill: TBA, but last year's headliners included Animal Collective, Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Devotchka, The Decemberists, Doves, and Bon Iver - to name a few.
The wrap up: Set in a breathtakingly beautiful venue, featuring what has historically been an incredibly strong line up, amidst a spacious crowd of laid-back peeps, this is considered the great "undiscovered" festival in the USA. A genius community vibe without pretension and emphasis on the good times and Woodstock-like lovin' is what it's all about. Highly recommended.
Sasquatch! Music Festival website


Coachella
Dates: April 16, 17 & 18
Location: Coachella, California, USA
The bill: TBA, but last year's headliners included an epic set from his majesty, Prince, that was apparently one for the history books, an extraordinarily huge and explosive performance by My Bloody Valentine that allegedly had people weeping, and an emotional Paul McCartney set.
The wrap up: With a reputation as being thrilling, exhausting, hot, overrated, electrifying, visceral, exciting and unpredictable, Coachella is often followed by mixed reviews. However, it usually boasts an incredible line up with every night featuring dream acts (see 2009) and - as long as you don't peak too early on the booze - it's a marathon well worth signing up for.
Coachella website



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