READING FESTIVAL - LINE UP ANNOUNCED

Reading Festival 2011 Line Up has just been announced!



FRIDAY – 26 AUGUST 2011
Main Stage - My Chemical Romance, Thirty Seconds to Mars, The Offspring, Deftones, Rise Against, Bring Me The Horizon
NME Stage – Beady Eye, White Lies, Noah and the Whale

SATURDAY – 27 AUGUST 2011
Main Stage - The Strokes, Pulp, The National, Jimmy Eat World, Madness, Two Door Cinema Club
NME Stage – Janes Addiction, Crystal Castles, The Kills

SUNDAY – 28 AUGUST 2011
Main Stage - Muse, Elbow, Interpol, Friendly Fires, Enter Shikari, The View
NME Stage – 2 Many DJS, The Streets

Plus many more!

WIMBLEDON TO BROADCAST IN 3D

Proud of its age-old traditions, Wimbledon has embraced the rapid changes in technology in recent years as smoothly as a Roger Federer forehand and now the world's most prestigious tennis tournament is going 3D.

Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Club in the leafy suburbs of south west London since 2005, has presided over a stunning transformation of the grounds and on Monday he announced that fans across the world would be able to watch this year's championships in 3D vision at home and in cinemas.

In partnership with Sony and host broadcaster the BBC, this year's men's singles semi-finals and men's and women's finals will be filmed in 3D and beamed to around 600 suitable cinemas around the globe as well as to national broadcasters.

While famous for its strict white clothing rules, strawberries and cream and ivy-clad balconies, Wimbledon has managed to move swiftly with the times.

Ritchie, whose background is in television, said that should come as no surprise.

"Starting way back, the first ever transmission in colour the BBC put out was from Wimbledon so we were innovators then," he said.

"Now there is an opportunity to expand into 3D broadcasts and it's very exciting. But as far as we are concerned it's that classic combination of tradition and innovation.

"Technically we like to be at the forefront of things and 3D is going to be a very interesting feature, not just for broadcasters but for cinemagoers around the world too," added Ritchie.

"Not everyone can be here during the championships so it's another opportunity for fans to feel a bit closer to the action.

"We see ourselves as the best tennis event in the world but we want to be seen as one of the best sporting events. If you stand still you fall behind."

Ritchie, responsible for securing multi-million pounds broadcasting deals with the BBC and American company NBC, is approaching his busiest time of the year with Wimbledon less than four months away.

A new addition for the 2011 tournament will be a Court Three showcourt - the completion of which concludes a 10-year improvement programme that included a revamped Centre Court complete with sliding roof, a new bull-ring type Court Two and the introduction of HawkEye technology.

Ritchie reeled off impressive statistics about 11 million hits on the tournament website last year and the launch of a smartphone application that has one million users.

However, while he welcomes the gizmos Ritchie is happy some things remain the same - at least until the Olympics take over the hallowed turf for a week in 2012.

"Yes, the white clothing rule will be relaxed and our strict advertising rules," he said. "They can wear multi-coloured clothing, whatever they want to wear. It's their event.

"It will look quite different and it will be an interesting experience for the players because usually they just come here once a year but in 2012 they'll be back two weeks later. It will be interesting how they cope with that."

Tickets for Wimbledon available at Tickets To Wimbledon.

Source: Eurosport

DJOKOVIC TARGETS WIMBLEDON TITLE

World number three Novak Djokovic has set his sights on winning a maiden Wimbledon title and has committed to playing at the Queen's Club in preparation.

The Serb beat Andy Murray in the Australian Open final for his second Grand Slam triumph and has quickly turned his thoughts to winning on grass.

"Wimbledon is the most important tournament of the year for me," the 23-year-old, who has twice reached the semi-finals at the All England Club, told the BBC.

"The Queen's Club has got great grass courts, it's a great atmosphere with always a packed house of spectators, and you just feel good there.

"Rafa (Nadal) and I had an incredible match in the Queen's final in 2008 and it was the closest I ever got to a grass-court title.

"I really want to do well at Queen's and Wimbledon this year."

Djokovic will once again be joined at Queen's by Nadal, the Spaniard also confirming his presence as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon title.

The AEGON Championship takes place at Queen's from June 6-12 while Wimbledon begins a week later on June 20.

Tickets for Wimbledon available at Tickets To Wimbledon.

Source: Eurosport

BOB DYLAN TO PLAY LONDON FEIS 2011

Bob Dylan has announced his only UK date for 2011. The US rock legend will play London Feis at Finsbury Park on Saturday 18 June. The inaugural event, which used to be called Fleadh, celebrates 21 years of the best Irish and international music.

Festival boss Vince Power said: “The inaugural London Feis will be a fantastic edition to the capita’s summer calendar & announcing Bob Dylan for an exclusive UK performance means that the first year will be one to remember. I’ve worked with Bob many times before and I am delighted to have him back once again.”

Many more acts to perform on 3 stages at Finsbury Park will be announced shortly.

See more...

ARCTIC MONKEYS, EMINEM AND RIHANNA FOR V FESTIVAL 2011

Arctic Monkeys and Eminem are set to headline this year's V Festival.

Artic Monkeys headline this year's V Festival

Rihanna, Plan B, Dizzee Rascal, Kaiser Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers and Pendulum will also play at the August event.

The festival will take place on August 20 and 21 on two sites, one in Chelmsford and one in Staffordshire.

Further acts set to play include Tinie Tempah, The Courteeners and The Wombats. Primal Scream will play their 1991 album 'Screamadelica' in full at the bash.

The V Festival line-up so far is:
Arctic Monkeys
Eminem
Rihanna
Primal Scream
The Script
Kaiser Chiefs
Manic Street Preachers
Razorlight
Pendulum
Duran Duran
Chase and Status
Scouting For Girls
Tinie Tempah
The Courteeners
The Wombats
Bruno Mars
Ellie Goulding
Jessie J
N-Dubz
Big Audio Dynamite
Example
Hurts
KT Tunstall
Squeeze
The Saturdays
Katy B
Olly Murs
You Me At Six
Wiz Khalifa
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Imelda May
Cast
Ocean Colour Scene
Eliza Doolittle

See Tickets for Chelmsford Park

U2 CONFIRM GLASTONBURY HEADLINE SPOT

The Edge made the announcement in a video speech played at the NME Awards ceremony

It was the worst kept secret in the music world, but more than a few music fans will be reaching for their wellies and sunglasses following the confirmation by U2 that the band will headline the Glastonbury festival's Friday night slot this year.

U2's guitarist, The Edge, made the announcement in a video speech played at the NME Awards ceremony in London shortly after Glastonbury was named Best Festival.

"Congratulations to Michael and Emily [Eavis] and the rest of the team for the continued success of Glastonbury," he said. "It's more a way of life than a festival."

The musician then recalled his guest appearance with Muse at Glastonbury in 2010, when he joined the British band on the Pyramid stage, before delivering the news that U2 will be playing at the event on 24 June .

"I have to say there is something really special and iconic about that stage. So, we're all looking forward to coming back to pick up where I left off," he said.

"U2 will be playing on June 24. And we're so excited to get to play in front of the world's greatest festival audience. We'll see you there!"

The Irish band was originally set to headline the festival in 2010 but was forced to pull out after its lead singer, Bono, picked up a back injury while preparing for a tour in the US. At the time Bono said: "We really wanted to be there to do something really special. We even wrote a song especially for the festival."

Gorillaz, fronted by Damon Albarn, were late replacements but garnered mixed reviews from fans and critics for their performance at the festival's 40th anniversary. There was also a varied reaction to the announcement by U2.

"U2, Coldplay and Beyonce healing Glastonbury. It's now a festival for the middle class and accountants," tweeted Joe Richardson in York whose displeasure was typical of some others.

However, excitement at the prospect of watching the band at the iconic event was also palpable, with U2's legion of followers tweeting their happiness in a range of languages.

At the NME awards last night, goth rockers My Chemical Romance triumphed with two prizes. The New Jersey outfit were crowned best international band, and also took the award for best video for Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na).

For the fourth successive year stadium rockers Muse were also winners, walking away with best British band having seen off Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Kasabian and Biffy Clyro.

Laura Marling continued her winning run after picking up a surprise award for best British female at the Brit Awards last week, which saw sales of her acclaimed second album 'I Speak Because I can' leap as a result, moving from No 80 to No 21 in the chart. Last night at the Brixton Academy, she picked up a gong for best solo artist, seeing off challenges from starrier names, such as Kanye West.

ADELE MATCHES THE BEATLES IN LATEST CHART SUCCESS

Singer becomes first living artist since the Fab Four to have two releases in each of the top five singles and album charts at once.

Adele has become the first artist since the Beatles to have two top five singles and two top five albums in the charts at the same time. Buoyed by her rendition at last week's Brit awards, the singer's newest single, Someone Like You, jumped 46 spots to become her first No 1 hit. That song joins Rolling in the Deep, which sits at No 4; on the album charts, Adele's first two LPs – 21 and 19 – are also at No 1 and No 4 respectively.

"It's amazing," Adele told BBC Radio 1. "I've never had a No 1 single [before]. I'm probably annoying everyone as well, as I cried at the Brits and everything. I'm just so overwhelmed – I can't believe the response to it."


Book tickes to Adele London concerts at www.premierevents.co.uk