Festibelly

Festibelly is a one day/one night festival located just outside the idyllic New Forest town of Lymington, Hampshire. Starting out in 2008 with 500 people getting together for an exclusive summer knees up, the festival has grown a little in size but still prides itself on the intimate, carefree and friendly vibe that it's always been known for. Taking pride in its grassroots ethos, there's not a brand or sponsor in site at Festibelly and that's the way things will stay. In the last four years Festibelly has become an essential summer date for passionate, friendly and discerning festival goers and performers alike.

2011 will see additions to performance and arts areas with packed line-ups on the main stage, electronic arena, acoustic tent, arts and performance tents, as well as collaborations from a number of Festi-friends old and new.

Line up so far...

LIVE:
Headline Act TBA
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs | totallyenormousextinctdinosaurs.tumblr.com
Ghostpoet | myspace.com/ghostpoet
Drums of Death | myspace.com/drumsofdeath4eva
Man Like Me | manlikeme.net
Hollie Cook | holliecook.com
She Keeps Bees | shekeepsbees.com
Lulu And The Lampshades | myspace.com/helouisamusic
Kyla La Grange | kylalagrange.com
My Sad Captains | mysadcaptains.co.uk
Skinny Lister | skinnylister.com
The Operators | myspace.com/theoperatorsrock
Psychemagik | soundcloud.com/psychemagik
Dimbleby & Capper | soundcloud.com/dimblebyandcapper
This Is The Kit | myspace.com/thisisthekit
Oh Ruin | myspace.com/ohruin
Chancery Blame & The Gadjo Club | myspace.com/thegadjoclub
Marmaduke Dando | marmadukedando.com
Dicejar | myspace.com/dicejar

DJS:
Batty Bass - Hannah Holland, Mama & Deboa | battybass.blogspot.com
Greco-Roman Sound System | myspace.com/grecoromanmusic
Reggae Roast | reggaeroast.co.uk
Fear Of Theydon | fearoftheydon.com
Sombrero Sound System | myspace.com/sombrerosoundsystem
Mojo Filter | mojofiltered.com
Low-Fro | soundcloud.com/low-fro

+ MORE TBC

AREAS:

Massive In China
Like a rabbit in a raincoat in a box, Festibelly goers will be in for a surprise when they draw aside the curtains of the brand new Massive In China tent - a kaleidoscope of wrong cabaret and stand-up comedy, musically delightful soft to weird acoustic melodies, a bit of boombastic over to the light fantastic. Or get a bit vintage-crafty whilst watching circus performance and getting involved in a wonky gameshow or magic-not-magic act.

The Nest
A new treetop stage nestled amongst the giant oaks of the Festi-forest. Fear of Theydon will be curating a line-up that befits the mystical setting with luscious sounds of cosmic, disco and Balearic goodness pulsing through the trees.

Le Disco
Featuring everything from dubstep to disco, a full line-up of electronic acts will feature throughout the day and night. Taking it into the early hours Le Disco Silence will be catering for all the night owls.

Terrapin Station
An alternative to the main stage the Terrapin Station combines flavours of acoustic, folk, gypsy and jazz and is home to the notorious Festibelly Folk Off - the signer/songwriter competition where the discerning crowd will cast their vote and crown one lucky contestant Folk King/Queen, winning themselves an opening slot on the main stage for 2012.

Autumn Shift
Following up on their debut Festibelly appearance last year, Autumn Shift will be setting up to provide all manner of musical delights as well as their cosy café, live poetry, painting and massages should you be wanting to unwind after a hard day's party.

Amazing Radio
Broadcasting live from the Festibelly site, the Amazing Radio team will be providing as-it-happens coverage of the festival, live sessions and interviews and all the latest news and info in the run up to the event.

DETAILS:
Date: 9am Saturday 27th August - 3pm Sunday 28th August 2011
Address: Undershore, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 5QA
Tickets: £36.00 + booking fee via festibelly.com. Under 12s free, no ticket required.
Saturday night camping included with ticket
Capacity: 2,500

festibelly.com | facebook.com/festibelly | twitter.com/festibelly
By Johnny Beverton

Hop Farm Festival

Hop Farm Festival has come a long way over the last couple of years but 2011 is the finest by far.. Taking place this weekend, Friday 1st- Sunday 3rd July, it really has a lot to offer. Presenting us with headliners such as The Eagles, The Killers front man Brandon Flowers, Morrissey, Iggy Pop and now it has been revealed Prince has joined the line up for Sunday. Amongst all of that excitement, the festival offers you major activities with the Comedy Club, Ultimate Indie Disco, Fun Fair and many other major artists and bands which need to be seen.

Hop Farm Music Festival is set over 90 acres of unspoilt Kent countryside; with many convenient ways to get yourself there. You are welcome to buy one day ticket but take advantage of the camping ways as you have the choice of boutique camping, caravan or just down to your regular tent.

Click here to grab yourself a ticket for this weekend's festival and be sure you don't miss out. http://www.hopfarmfestival.com/ ( PLEASE SEE HERE FOR ALL INFORMATION)

Glastonbury 2011

I am gutted and slightly jealous I was unable to attend Glastonbury this year and not to be part of something so mindblowing.. However here are some of the best highlights...


Beyonce


U2


Friendly Fires


BB KING

Ace of Cakes

Ace of Cakes is another programme you just need to check out. The show focuses on the daily operations of Duff Goldman's custom cake shop, Charm City Cakes, in Baltimore, Maryland; including small-business ownership, working with various vendors, tasting with customers, constructing cakes, and delivering his products. The show is one of Food Network's first documentary-soap reality series, paving the way for new outside the kitchen studio programmes. They really go the extreme with the cakes and nothing seems impossible to them...








Check out their creations in the gallery... http://www.charmcitycakes.com/gallery

Cupcake Wars!

I have recently discovered the Food Network Channel, I don't know how far behind I am with this as I only have the basic channels. If I had Sky I would never leave the house, maybe this is a good thing as while I was away I became hooked. They offer one of kind shows that seem pointless yet very addictive I warn you...

Like Cupcake Wars... It is incredible. Each week on Cupcake Wars, four of the country’s top cupcake bakers face off in three elimination challenges until only one decorator remains.



Also check out some amazing recipes if you fancy a go.....


Ingredients

2 1/2 cups cake flour
8 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding mix
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
5 whole eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk
1/4 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 ounces sour cream
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 cup maraschino cherries
4 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
2 cups mini white chocolate chips
1 3/4 pounds Casey's Buttercream, recipe follows
140 large pearls, for garnish
28 maraschino cherries, for garnish
Edible glitter, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Prepare a cupcake pan with 24 cupcake liners.

Combine the cake flour, pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in 1 medium bowl. Crack the eggs into a second bowl and add the vanilla extract. Measure the milk and half-and-half into a third bowl. In a 5-quart mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until fluffy. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides using a spatula. Turn the mixer on first speed, add the sugar, and mix until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time. Scrape down the bowl. Add sour cream and mayonnaise and incorporate completely. Scrape down the bowl. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with wet. You will start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix the batter until smooth and no lumps are present.

De-stem the maraschino cherries and squeeze out the excess liquid. Using a food processor, mince the cherries using the pulse button. Do not over process. Add the minced cherries, cherry juice, and white chocolate chips to the batter. Incorporate the ingredients completely using a spatula. Fill the cupcake liners using a 2-ounce scoop. Bake until golden brown and light and fluffy, 17 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating.

To assemble: Place a round tip # 809 into a large piping bag. Fill the piping bag with Casey's Buttercream and generously pipe onto each cupcake. Garnish each cupcake with 1 maraschino cherry and 5 large pearls. Finish by sprinkling edible glitter over the tops of the cupcakes.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
Casey's Buttercream:

4 pounds butter, softened
8 ounces high ratio shortening (recommended: Sweetex)
8 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
4 tablespoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons cherry liqueur
2 tablespoons lemon extract
1 tablespoons vodka

In a 5-quart mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and shortening together. On first speed, add the sifted powdered sugar to the bowl in 3 parts. Let each part incorporate into the butter mixture before adding the next. After adding all the sugar, put the mixer on the fourth (highest) speed and mix for 8 to 10 minutes. The buttercream will begin to gain volume and look white and fluffy. Once you bring the buttercream to full volume, add the extracts and vodka and incorporate completely.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/cupcake-wars/recipes/index.html