My Guide to the Brit Awards 2013

The biggest night in the music industry’s calendar is looming just around the corner.

On February 20th at London’s O2 Arena, the world’s finest musical stars will all gather together to celebrate the greatest releases of the past year in thirteen different categories, as announced by Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Nick Grimshaw at the Brits 2013 Launch Party at the Savoy on January 10th.

The ceremony, hosted by James Corden, will be broadcast live on ITV and will see the top British performers, as well as International artists, fighting to take their relevant accolade.

Here I give you my prediction for the top spot in each category.

British Male Solo Artist: Ben Howard, Calvin Harris, Olly Murs, Plan B, Richard Hawley

After a non-stop year touring the UK, breaking America whilst on tour with One Direction as well as his presenting role on the Xtra Factor, Olly Murs has had an incredible past few months, which can only get better with a Brit Award under his belt and as the current bookies favourite, this could be likely. As the second favourite with the bookies, Calvin Harris would be an equally worthy winner; he is one of the most powerful men in the music industry with his album featuring some of the biggest stars in the music industry, including Rihanna, Ellie Goulding and Tinie Tempah.

British Female Solo Artist: Amy Winehouse, Bat For Lashes, Emeli Sandé, Jessie Ware, Paloma Faith

With 1/10 odds with the bookies, there’s no doubt that Emeli Sandé is tipped for success in this category. In 2012 Sandé was absolutely everywhere and anywhere – the Olympics, Sports Personality of the Year and of course last year’s BRITs where she picked up the coveted Critics’ Choice prize. Her anthem ‘Read All About It’ has been the soundtrack to any Olympics coverage and for this she stands out above the rest of her competitors. Jessie Ware, on the other hand, puts up a good fight also, having two nominations in her first ever BRITs year.

British Breakthrough Act: Alt-J, Ben Howard, Jake Bugg, Jessie Ware, Rita Ora

As mentioned previously, newcomer Jessie Ware is set to have a sparkling 2013, with her album ‘Devotion’ reaching #5 in the UK chart and being granted the third best album of 2012 in a Guardian poll. Despite this, all 4 of her competitors are in with a very good chance of taking this prize and therefore it is very difficult to predict. As the only category voted for solely by the public, it is understandable that chart-topper Rita Ora is topping bookie’s odds and may be in luck.

British Group: Alt-J, Mumford & Sons, Muse, One Direction, The XX

If this particularly category was decided via a public vote, worldwide starlets and chart-topping boyband One Direction would be the clear winners due to their expansive fan base. However, the industry experts who decide the winners may feel more obliged to vote for Mumford& Sons or The XX due to their song-writing abilities and musical prowess, both of whom were nominated in the same category in 2011, with both also nominated in the MasterCard award for Best Album.

British Single: Adele – Skyfall, Alex Clare - Too Close, Coldplay ft. Rihanna - Princess Of China, DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora - Hot Right Now, Emeli Sandé - Next To Me, Florence + The Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name), James Arthur – Impossible, Jessie J –Domino, Labrinth ft. Emeli Sandé -Beneath Your Beautiful, Olly Murs ft. Flo Rida – Troublemaker, Rita Ora ft. Tinie Tempah – RIP, Rizzle Kicks- Mama Do The Hump, Robbie Williams– Candy, Rudimental ft. John Newman- Feel The Love, Stooshe - Black Heart

With an abundance of fantastic British singles in 2012, this shortlist selection must have been a challenging task, with the decision for the ultimate winner even more so. However, one particular track does seem to stand out. With the name of one of the UK’s most successful musical exports of all time attached to the track, as well as featuring in 2012’s biggest film, Adele’s Oscar-nominated ‘Skyfall’ from the James Bond film of the same name is tipped to the title of the year’s greatest song. James Arthur’s X Factor winning single ‘Impossible’ and Olly Murs’ ‘Troublemaker’ complete the top three bookie’s favourites to win the prize, with strong competition being held throughout the entirety of the shortlist.

British Album of the Year: Alt- J (An Awesome Wave), Emeli Sandé (Our Version of Events), Mumford & Sons (Babel), Paloma Faith (Fall to Grace), Plan B (Ill Manors)

Due to this prize’s sponsorship by MasterCard, Best British Album is seen as the evening’s most notable accolade. As Emeli Sandé’s fourth nomination, this 5 X Platinum-selling album is predicted to surpass the four other nominees to the award, with 1/5 odds with Ladbrokes bookmakers. Multiply nominated Mumford & Sons stand in second place with 5/1 odds so this Grammy-nominated album is a very strong contender.

International Male Solo Artist: Bruce Springsteen, Frank Ocean, Gotye, Jack White, Michael Buble

If you don’t know who Gotye is by 2013, you must have been living under a rock throughout 2012, with his single ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ being the year’s biggest selling track in the UK. However, he finds sturdy competition in this category from his fellow Grammy-nominee Frank Ocean. Despite his recent public fall-out with Chris Brown, Ocean’s musical popularity is very widespread, both with the public and critics, standing him in good stead to take the prize.

International Female Solo Artist: Alicia Keys, Cat Power, Lana Del Rey, Rihanna, Taylor Swift

Having won the International Breakthrough Act award at last year’s ceremony, with an Ivor Novello since added to her list of award wins, it is just that Lana Del Rey is the bookie’s favourite to take the Best International Female crown. She does, however, face harsh opposition in Barbados-beauty Rihanna, whose #1 single ‘Diamonds’ and current single ‘Stay’ are two of the most played songs on UK radio stations. Swift and Keys continue to produce chart-topping hits year-upon-year, further adding to the rivalry of these US divas.

International Group: Alabama Shakes,The Black Keys, Fun, The Killers, The Script

2012 has been a hugely successful year for all 5 of the nominees in this category, particularly Fun whose single ‘We Are Young’ rippled through the nation via radio airwaves and was the third biggest selling single of the entire year. With 2/1 odds to take the prize, Fun are beaten only by Ohio rock band The Black Keys with 4/6 odds. Like many of the other BRITs nominees, The Black Keys are also nominated at this year’s Grammys with 5 nominations in total including for Album of the Year for platinum-selling ‘El Camino’.

British Live Act: Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Muse, The Rolling Stones, The Vaccines

Reinstated for 2013, the British Live Act award is back and tougher than ever before, with 5 festival favourites completing the competitive list of nominees. After an expansive and successful world tour with their album ‘Mylo Xyloto’, it is no doubt that Coldplay are favourites for the prize, with veteran rockers The Rolling Stones following closely behind.

British Producer: Damon Albarn, Jake Gosling, Paul Epworth

As three of the most influential producers in the British and worldwide music industry, Albarn, Gosling and Epworth have played an enormous role in shaping the year of music that 2012 brought us.

Following on from his success with Blur and Gorillaz, with Blur winning the Outstanding Contribution to Music at last year’s BRIT Awards, Damon Albarn has continued to use his musical talent in the production world, having worked with Bobby Womack and Snoop Dogg on their latest albums.

Jake Gosling is responsible for producing both One Direction multi-platinum selling albums ‘Up All Night’ and ‘Take Me Home’, as well as working with fellow former BRITs nominee Ed Sheeran with his debut album ‘+’ and Paloma Faith’s ‘Fall To Grace’.

Paul Epworth’s production credits span a long list of former BRITs nominees and winners, known most prolifically for his work with Adele on her ’21’ album. His work on both of Florence Welch’s albums and Plan B’s ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ makes him one of the most successful producers of his generation.

Critics’ Choice: Tom Odell, Aluna George, Laura Mvula

As announced at the BRITs Launch Party, Tom Odell has become the first male winner to take the Critics’ Choice prize, following in the fruitful footsteps of Adele, Florence & The Machine, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding and Emeli Sandé. 22-year-old Tom is already on his way to success with his latest single ‘Can’t Pretend’.

Critics' Choice: Tom Odell with last year's winner Emeli Sandé

The evening of February 20th is set to be a wonderful night, with the public and industry experts revelling in the remarkable talent that the UK music scene has to offer. British talents and nominees Ben Howard, Emeli Sandé, Mumford & Sons, Muse, One Direction and Robbie Williams will all feature in the evening, with performances that are set to raise the roof of the O2 Arena. American sensations also included on the bill are Justin Timberlake and Beyonce, with rumours that her other half, Jay-Z, may join both of them in their performances.

Be sure to tune in to ITV1 at 8pm on February 20th so that you don’t miss one of the greatest musical shows and celebrations on the calendar.

8 things that every festival needs

After an extraordinary summer weekend listening to your favourite bands and DJs at a festival, there’ll always be something that you consider could be different or improved as you walk away from the campsite. Whether it’s wishing your favourite artist had been on the line-up or feeling like there was something lacking once the main stage closed in the evening, there’s always something. So what features would you have at your perfect festival? Here is a list of 8 things that I would introduce as compulsory festival elements.

1 – Mobile phone charging stations

There’s nothing worse than looking at your phone to see you have 1% battery remaining, especially when you’re standing in the centre of a vast field with no idea of your whereabouts, let alone your friends’ whereabouts. Of course, some festivals do offer phone charging points in the main arena, but there never tend to be enough or the right port for you. Who wants to charge their phone in the main arena anyway? To avoid missing the day’s action, more charging stations should be added to the campsite for overnight use giving festival go-ers 100% battery and 100% confidence that they will be able to contact their friends throughout the day.

2 – Festival essentials stalls

With an abundance of stalls and festival markets selling UV body paint, performer merchandise and of course that infamous flower headband that almost every female appears to wear at a festival, there appears to be a gap in the market and it is the simplest gap to fill. With the unpredictability of the British weather, you can never be too sure about what to pack, with many essentials going a miss. A rain poncho and sun cream can be fundamental necessities that every visitor needs depending on the weather, but it can be impossible to find them for the copious amount of stalls selling straw hats and Jesus bracelets. With a scattering of essential stands around the site, or perhaps even portable walking sellers, this difficulty can be greatly minimised.

Una Healy sporting a typical festival accessory that we've seen enough of!

3 – An element of glamping for the ladies

There are two types of people at festivals: festival veterans who are understanding of the common festival conventions, a lack of showering and dodgy toilets; then there are those who are attending a festival for the first, and probably last, time. Stereotypically, this demographic is mainly female and for these ladies, they require an element of glamour-camping, or ‘glamping’, at a festival. For these festival newbies, hairdryers would be preferable, mirrors to do their make-up, but perhaps a hair straightening stand would be a step too far.

4 – Food stands

Gourmet grub is quickly becoming a common festival feature, with some outlets charging between £10-20 for their deluxe burgers or fish-and-chips. When you’ve already spent hundreds on your ticket and transport, spending such extravagant sums of money on food seems barbaric. For one weekend, there seems little sense in being too health-conscious so just indulge in a cheap, greasy burger or portion of chips.

Snacks are extremely underrated at summer events, with noodle bars and burger shacks taking precedence. Sometimes it can be easier to stock up on crisps and sweets which are rarely available. A mini supermarket-style retailer may be a very successful business prospect within the campsite arena for people to buy a plentiful supply of snacks for the day.

5 – Water filling stations

If you’re fortunate enough to have a space in the crowd close to the front, you may be in with a rare chance of being given a small plastic cup of water between each performer. However, even this is hard to come by and it is even harder to remain hydrated if you don’t have this position in the crowd. Whilst there may be a handful of water fill points around the arena, they are often very busy or positioned very close to a leaking row of portable toilets and don’t pose the most sanitary hydration location on the site! With a greater number of better-placed stations, it could be suggested that there would be a lower risk of dehydration in the heat of certain summer festivals.

6 – Clean toilets

There’s nothing worse than feeling the need to ‘spend a penny’ on the final night of the festival, knowing the doom that awaits you at your destination. The physical state of the ‘portaloos’ as well as the aroma that surrounds the perimeter of the stretch of cubicles is unlike anything ever experienced and should be avoided at all costs. If the toilets were cleaned more regularly, troublesome incidents like these could be prevented!

7 – Night time entertainment

The main stage may close at 11pm but the fun need not end here. Every festival needs a late-night schedule of activities once the action in the main arena has shut down. Silent discos and movies are a visitor-favourite but this is often where the entertainment ends. The night-time agenda should be viewed almost as important as the main line-up, with DJs to play in dance tents and artists booked to play acoustic twilight sessions.

8 – Line-up

Although clean toilets and plenty of food stands are an important feature of your festival experience, there is no doubt that the biggest pulling-power of an event lies in the line-up. Every festival needs a spectacular line-up to draw in spectators to purchasing a ticket. Depending on the genre, size and typical audience of the festival, the line-up will vary. For the likes of Reading, Leeds, Glastonbury, V Festival and T in the Park, worldwide stars are key in attracting your audience, with smaller indie festivals needing to catch the latest upcoming talent to entice pundits. The power relies in the performers and a fantastic line-up will always lead to your ultimate festival enjoyment.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR: Most Played Songs of 2012

2012 has been another prolific year in the music industry, with tracks from all around the world hitting the coveted #1 spot and entertaining us through the radio waves every day. However, there have been 6 songs in particular that have been played to exhaustion, with the first notes of their introduction resulting in a nationwide sigh when they are heard on the radio.

In January, who would have thought that the most successful song of the year would have come from South-Korea?

1. Psy – Gangnam Style

Without a mention of his name or even the song title, you know exactly who I’m talking about. Of course, it is 34-year-old Psy, whose song ‘Gangnam Style’ has inspired us all at our Christmas parties to take up that horse-like dance craze that has become a universal phenomenon. Just last week on December 21^st, Gangnam Style became the first video ever to hit 1 billion views on YouTube, but why? Despite being immensely catchy, with the phrase ‘Opa Gangnam Style’ sparking a dance-uprising whenever it is heard, we have absolutely no idea what it means! Even Psy himself in an interview said “It doesn’t have any meaning actually. I’m just saying Gangnam Style, Gangnam Style.” Nevertheless, 1 billion of us worldwide have sat and watched that video; plus, people are still buying it! After reaching the UK Number One spot in September, it still hasn’t left the Top 10, even eighteen weeks after its release.

2. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know

Gotye may not have a renowned dance routine or even a particularly catchy dance beat, but is still responsible for undoubtedly one of the most successful songs of 2012. If asked if you had heard of Wouter De Backer, I’m quite confident you would have no clue who he was, but once hearing the xylophone introduction of his universally popular song, his identity would soon become clear. After its release in January, Gotye spent 5 weeks at #1 and a sensational 18 weeks in the Top 10. His success was worldwide, particularly in his homeland of Belgium, where it became the most downloaded song of all time.

3. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe

We have Justin Bieber to thank for this one. After hearing the song and tweeting about it, the power of Bieber was truly reflected as the song began to spread. By April, the song reached the UK #1 spot where it remained for four weeks. With an incredibly memorable chorus, you will find the lyrics haunting you all day. Whether you like the song or not (although I imagine most people fall into the first category), you will have found yourself humming to its upbeat and cheery tune at some point. Just like Psy, Carly Rae Jepsen has inspired us all to take up a dance routine, although inadvertently, to sing and dance along holding our thumb and little finger in the typical telephone manner as the title ‘Call Me Maybe’ is sung and repeated.

Carly Rae Jepsen & Katy Perry

4. Fun. – We Are Young

Spending 14 weeks in the UK Top 10, this indie power ballad deserves its place on this list. After its release in April, there came a time when you couldn’t go a day without hearing ‘We Are Young’ playing somewhere. It has been said by many critics that the success of the song was propelled by hit US TV show ‘Glee’, where it was first brought to attention commercially. As the success of the band has spread, this debut #1 single and the accompanying debut album ‘Some Nights’ have both been nominated for the a notorious Grammy Award.

5. Maroon 5 – Payphone

Following on from the success of their hit single ‘Moves Like Jagger’ in 2011, Maroon 5 returned in 2012 with yet another ultimate track that remains stamped in your memory. Unlike the other tracks on this list, whose musical introductions immediately gain your attention, ‘Payphone’ is even more overt, pumping out its initial lyrics through your stereo, instantaneously launching your vocal participation!

6. Emeli Sandé – Read All About It (Pt III)

In this ultimate sporting year for Britain, this song quickly became the unofficial soundtrack to everything Olympics-themed. Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony and even BBC Sports Personality of the Year – Emeli Sandé was everywhere. Part One of the song, a collaboration with rapper Professor Green, was already a successful hit in 2011; Emeli reintroduced her part of the song as a solo track in 2012 and was clearly a favourite of director Danny Boyle, as well as the BBC who quickly pressed the ‘Play’ button on the track whenever a musical interlude was required on any Olympics coverage.

Running Joke: a worker on the underground reflects the repetition of Emeli Sande's appearances at the Olympics

Words are continuously being coined and added to the English Dictionary and so it seems only suitable that the term ‘earworm’ was created in 2012. As stated in the Oxford Dictionary, an earworm is ‘a catchy song or tune that runs continually through someone’s mind’; a term that can easily sit alongside these 6 most heard songs of the year. No matter how irritating they may become after a sustained period of time, it is without doubt, however, that these six songs deserve their success as the year’s greatest earworms.

Britain vs Europe - The Battle of the Foreign Festivals

As 2012 draws to a close and we reflect on the year, it seems that the UK has really shined in terms of cultural events. It goes without saying that not only our nation, but nations across the world, have gathered to watch the UK this year more than ever – the Brits really know how to do it best.

The London 2012 Olympics have been acclaimed and praised, with many saying that it is the greatest Games ever. Not only was the organisation of the events at the Olympic Park a roaring success, but also that of our British Olympians, with a marvellous medal haul of 65 in the Olympics and a triumphant 120 in the Paralympics.

Shortly before this was of course the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in June. As a country we were reminded of the prestigious British title that we all so proudly adorn, taking delight in the spectacle of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, whereby over 1000 boats assembled around the centrepiece of the Royal Barge, whilst the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sat in their velvet red thrones. However, cast your mind back to this very day – whether you stood on the bank of the Thames or watched the BBC television coverage, one element that will certainly be remembered is the terrible, yet typical, British weather.

Of course, it was an extra-long Bank Holiday, and it would not have been the same without a downpour, but is it occasions like these that are transporting our British festival go-ers abroad?

Whether it’s Ibiza Rocks or Mallorca Rocks in their respective destinations, or perhaps Sonar or Benicassim in Spain, you can be guaranteed that the sun will be shining upon your weekend of live music, which of course seems much more desirable than a boggy, flooded field in Somerset.

Glastonbury Festival is renowned for the climate that seems to attack it year upon year. As the festival took a fallow year in 2012, the rotten weather had to be passed on to a festival peer, with the Isle of Wight Festival taking the brunt. Across the weekend of the 21^st to the 24^th of June, Seaclose Park in Newport became waterlogged with the torrential rain that had battered it, turning the park into what can only be described as a mudbath.

Isle of Wight campsite: Tents surrounded by thick mud

Isle of Wight Festival: Tents floating on flooded water

Some people may not be too fussy about rain hammering down whilst watching their favourite bands; after all, in a packed crowd only your head and the top of your shoulders will get wet! However, it is the camping element whereby the European climate can be a clincher. The photos from these flooded festivals show tents almost floating upon the surface of the water, with attendees waging through mud and knee-deep puddles to escape from the campsite. Travel to Spain or the Canary Islands and the weather is much more camper convivial.

Hannah Jacques, winner of BBC Radio 1’s Superstar DJ Competition 2012, won the chance to open up Radio 1’s legendary Ibiza Weekend at the iconic Ushuaia Beach Hotel, and therefore knows a lot about the attraction of foreign festivals. Hannah says the thought of the chance of rain nowadays is something that would put her off attending a British festival.

“I am not one who can sleep in a muddy tent, and if I am cold and wet I know I can’t enjoy myself no matter how drunk or how good the artist is!”

“The thought of going away to a summer festival abroad does really appeal to me. The fact that it would be guaranteed good weather takes away any worry.”

Hannah Jacques

Not only is the weather becoming an issue for British festivals, but also the price tag attached to their tickets. Glastonbury, V Festival, as well as Reading & Leeds have gradually increased their prices year upon year, with the 2013 Glastonbury tickets burning a gaping £213 hole in a visitor’s pocket. With that comes an expensive train ticket and even more extortionate food and drink prices.

Although not all work out as cost-effective, some European festivals can work out cheaper, allowing for the equivalent festival experience with a summer holiday abroad also included. Benicassim tickets for 2013 cost just £130, with the cheapest return flights for these dates from London to Barcelona costing just under £80 with EasyJet, leaving just enough money to spend on a pint in the park to equal out the cost you would have spent on your Glastonbury ticket alone!

For some, the pull may not be in the weather, nor in the price, but the line-up itself. Whether it’s your favourite British band, US band or perhaps a European group, the festival bill will always be the biggest confirmation on whether to buy tickets for that gig. However, if you are willing to travel abroad to see your favourite band, DJ Hannah Jacques warns that you have to be prepared for everything else that comes with it.

“Foreign festivals would have lots of local people as support acts, so you might have to listen to lots of artists you don't have a clue who they are!”

Despite having the ultimate weather conditions for a weekend outdoors, the hassle of going abroad is not for everybody. Plus if you can't afford a flight to Europe, don't be worried that you're missing out completely. The Brits still know how to throw a party, with our festivals being just as good as any others. Some of the biggest artists from all over the world come to the UK to perform to packed out crowds, with both the performers and the fans returning year upon year, so the organisers must be doing something right to battle with the uncontrollable climate that they face.

Seeing a band you’ve seen before? The Festival Feeling that can be a huge delight or a major disappointment

You’re on your way to the festival of the year with all of your mates chatting about the line-up. “Aaah I saw them last year, they were incredible!” you might say, in response to that artist who topped the bill for you. However, their upcoming set can either remind you of their excellence and why you celebrated them so greatly, or it can completely tarnish your prior experience.

Take Madness as an example. ‘Suggs’ and his reggae pop group are a common occurrence on the line-up of many summer festivals, including V Festival in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire. I was fortunate enough to see these old favourites in 2010, when they appeared on the Main Stage. Playing all of their classic tracks such ‘Our House’, ‘Baggy Trousers’ and ‘House of Fun’, they graced the stage to a booming reception from the crowd, before starting the biggest party the park had seen all weekend. Standing at the barrier, I was surrounded by a range of age groups – teenagers like myself who have grown up listening to their parents playing Madness, as well as those who had been to see Madness in their hey-day.

Two years on and my excitement to relive this moment was one of my predicted highlights of the weekend. On the contrary, I was left disenchanted. Perhaps expectations were a little too high as a result of their performance the week before at the Olympics Closing Ceremony, or had the band prepared so much for the gig of their life and not so much for a standard festival performance? The band failed to get the crowd pumped and alive with many just nodding their heads and swaying instead of the party atmosphere I’d experienced in 2010.

Madness' Suggs in 2010

I had a similar encounter with the V Festival Main Stage crowd in 2010, where we all stood in anticipation of Paolo Nutini – an act I had praised to no end in 2009. After an electrifying and buoyant set from Katy Perry, the soulful Scottish singer had the audience in the palm of his hands, with everybody singing along to the hit tracks from his then new ‘Sunny Side Up’ album, as well as popular songs from his debut album ‘New Shoes’ and ‘Jenny Don’t Be Hasty’.

A year on and Paolo’s easy listening set had gone from bluesy to boring. He was missing a certain spark and his voice was under par in comparison to the previous year.

Paolo Nutini: From bluesy to boring

In the same year, it looked like V Festival was set for even more disappointments with the cancellation of Oasis’s headlining appearance. Instead, Snow Patrol slid up the line up to play the festival out on the Sunday night, with a performance that blew the crowd away. The set was nothing but mesmerising. Having seen the band in 2007 at the festival, I was already impressed with their ability to perform live tracks that sound so incredible that they outclass the recorded version. Their headline slot did not disappoint but instead, astounded the crowd with the sheer talent of frontman Gary Lightbody and his band. With rapturous glances at one another throughout, it was clear the band were euphoric at the crowd’s reaction, and have since praised the gig in interviews as the greatest of their life.

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody headlining the Main Stage in 2009

Snow Patrol continued to impress me this year at the 2012 V Festival, where they appeared on the bill just before The Killers. The Las Vegas band last appeared at the festival in 2009, shortly after the release of their ‘Day & Age’ album. Every band that performs at a festival runs the risk of falling into the category of being one of those bands who perform their personal favourite unknown tracks or album tracks instead of the crowd favourites. However, Brandon Flowers and the rest of his group seem to strike up the perfect balance, playing the festival anthems ‘Mr Brightside’, ‘Somebody Told Me’ and ‘When We Were Young’, as well as simultaneously introducing you to their latest album. 

This could be relayed once again to their appearance this year, whereby the band avoided playing too many tracks from their new but unreleased album, instead playing just one new track, ‘Runaways’, which had already received some airplay on radio stations.

Brandon Flowers whips the V Festival crowd into a frenzy

Another name on this year’s V Festival line-up was Tinie Tempah, who completed a hat-trick of consecutive appearances at the festival, with each set being full to the brim with Tinie’s chart-topping tracks. Never failing to get the crowd dancing and swept up into mosh-pits, you can also guarantee that this set will be fuelled with energy and exuberance, whether you have seen him once, twice or ten times!

Keep it bouncing: Tinie Tempah's brings energy to V Festival

Although there can be that fear of tainting a previous memory of a certain artist, more often than not, you’ll find those festival gems who continue to leave a lasting impression on sell-out crowds year after year.

Have you had a similar experience to those described above? Have you ever been left disheartened by a lacklustre performance from an artist you loved? Or have you been continuously charmed by a festival favourite? Leave a comment and let us know.

Age Limbo – The confusion over the labeling of ‘adult’

For the past two years I've been having the same frustrating conversation every time I step onto a bus. From the age of 16, public transport is quick to classify you as an adult, whereas other areas of society are desperate to wait until you are 18 to permit certain actions.

Currently studying for my A Levels in my final year of school, I step onto the bus in my school uniform. Although we do not have a set uniform, our black skirt-white shirt dress code alongside my 3:30pm daily departure clearly identifies my journey home from school and my involvement in education.

Approaching the bus driver I ask “a single to the bus station please”, or if I’m unfortunate enough to be taking the bus to school in the morning, it’s “a single to Moulsham school please”. If the school uniform didn’t give it away, the ticket to school surely should – I’m a student and should therefore pay an appropriate fare that matches that.

“Is that child or adult?”, I’m asked by the driver. If you have to ask, give me the benefit of the doubt and charge me the more reasonable price – the thought that immediately springs to mind. My conscience and need to be honest kicks in and despite knowing the answer already, I respond “well that depends what a child ticket is classed as”.

‘Under 16’ is quickly snapped back at me; instead of kicking up a fuss, I decide to store my aggravation and pay the extortionate £2.50 adult fare. Although this may not seem too bad, take the bus four times and you’re already paying £10 within the week, when you could be paying a £1.50 child fare instead.

£2.50 Adult Single - The need for student tickets

I appreciate that at the age of 16 it may not be right to be classed as a child, however, it is also not right to be classed as an adult and be forced to pay so much extra, especially if you’re still in full-time education. Within the next few years, it will soon be compulsory to stay in education until you are 18, meaning that there shall be even more students on the bus facing the same dilemma as myself. If we cannot be classed as a child, the bus companies should be forced to introduce a student fare to accommodate for this age limbo between 16 and 18 when it cannot be universally decided whether we are children or adults.

When you consider some of the age limits in place in the UK there are some terrible peculiarities where this age limbo comes into play yet again.

Take driving as an example; you must be 17 before you can start to learn how to drive a car, yet there is no age limit at all to start having flying lessons. It stands solid that flying a plane thousands of feet in the air must surely be more dangerous than driving a car on steady ground with an instructor, so why the confusion over the age guideline?

Another example can be found with the armed forces, whereby at the age of 16, you are eligible to join the army. However, in order to have any involvement in choosing the politicians and government who make decisions about the army, the eligibility to vote is saved for the age of 18. Is it right to be allowed to join an organisation where you are expected to fight for your country and risk your life when you have no right to vote for the political party you believe best supports that organisation?

Much worse things could happen than paying an extra £1 on my bus fare, but the principle behind it is one that correlates to various other life circumstances and therefore needs to be looked at. If everyone under the age of 16 is always a child and likewise, everyone over the age of 18 is always an adult, the middle-ground between is a huge grey area that provides much irritation to the teenagers caught within, especially when it is apparent that it consistently goes against them. 

Why Glastonbury?

Each and every year a certain festival attracts 135,000 visitors to Worthy Farm in Somerset. But what makes Glastonbury Festival so prestigious?

On Sunday (7^th October), tickets for the festival sold out in just one hour and 40 minutes, leaving many members of the public fighting with their computer’s refresh button to get their hands on a ticket to one of the UK’s greatest summer events.

2012 saw Glastonbury take its ‘fallow year’, with the immense hype for 2013’s festival being even greater. Despite being 150 miles away along the M4, the biggest summer of sport occurring in Stratford would have caused a lack of infamous festival portable lavatories and even more importantly, an overwhelming shortage of police officers and security presence, as reported in The Guardian.

There was no doubt that the demand for 2013 tickets would have been overwhelming, as understood by organisers Michael and daughter Emily Eavis. The pair, who own the most renowned farm in the country, spoke of how ‘genuinely humbled’ they were by the desire of thousands to visit the festival. ‘We dearly wish we could have you all along’, said Michael Eavis CBE, who was voted by Time Magazine in 2009 as one of the world’s top 100 most influential people.

Michael Eavis receives his CBE from Queen Elizabeth II

Whilst most other festivals reveal a date when tickets will go on sale, the Glastonbury ticketing process is much more rigorous. Anybody wishing to go must register their interest, filling in all of their details and uploading a photo. Once registration has closed, wishful spectators must rush to their laptops and phones to attempt to pay their £50 ticket deposit, guaranteeing themselves a ticket, with the full balance to be paid in April 2013.

With a big festival comes an even bigger price tag, with the 2013 event fetching up to £216 once the booking fee and postage has been applied. With an addition of £10 to the ticket price each year over the past 4 years, the public are left asking how much more the price can increase. What sparks festival go-ers to return year upon year, and what excites newcomers to attend Glastonbury over any other festival?

Abbie Elsey, a college student from Chelmsford, Essex, will be attending Glastonbury for the first time in 2013.

“I’ve watched it on TV for years now and it has always looked like one of the liveliest festivals.”

“It wasn’t until my dad mentioned he was going as he’d never been before that I decided to go. It always has music and bands for ever generation which I think makes it look so much fun!”

In 2011, 2000 performers played on 60 stages, with artists from all walks of life and from all genres of music being able to play to the crowds. With so many acts, there truly is something for everybody.

Will Smith, 19, a student at the University of Derby, will be returning to Glastonbury for a second time in 2013 due to the variety of spectacles it offers,

“I chose to go to Glastonbury because of the sheer amount you can do in one weekend. Some of the other attractions at the festival are amazing – you wouldn’t be able to see them anywhere else on earth.”

Worthy Farm: The vast site of Glastonbury Festival

For Sophie Hennessy, 17, from Chelmsford, the media response to previous Glastonbury festivals has kindled her desire to go. “It’s constantly voted best festival in NME and Q magazine.”

Despite missing out on seeing her favourite band Coldplay headline the festival last year, the bands’ reaction has inspired Sophie to buy a ticket. 

“They said it was their best performance ever. There are always massive headliners and the artists that play there talk about how important it is for them to play there.”

Ryan Booty, a student at the University of Staffordshire, attended the 2011 festival and says it was ‘the best weekend of my life’.

Ryan, who has experienced Glastonbury just once, said: “Because of how large it is, it’s hard to do everything in one year. We can take the memories of last year and do everything else this time around.”

The line-up is due to be announced later in 2013 but the organisers have said that the headliners have already been chosen. But who would be your ultimate headliner?

Abbie: “I would absolutely love to see Mumford and Sons. They’re so cool. The Prodigy are amazing live and I would just love to see them again.”

Will: “Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Oasis, but it’s not going to happen!”

Sophie: “The top three headliners would be Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes.”

Ryan: “I would love to see Coldplay again but I would also love Blur, Snow Patrol and Take That. That won’t happen though!”

If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the festival in June, tabloid reports suggest that you may witness the last ever Rolling Stones gig. Keith Richards has revealed that the band has been booked to play shows in the UK, but you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled on This Festival Feeling to find out if these rumours are true.