FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Beacons

**In a Tweet at the end of last year, DJ Oneman claimed that Beacons 2012 was his favourite festival performance of the year. Yes, it was his usual sweaty Saturday night mess of house, garage, dub and techno, laced with old school RnB and hip hop, and yes, it was probably the highlight of the festival for anyone that happened to be there in the audience (including me). But Oneman has made a name for himself by the fact that he basically always nails it, so this was really no surprise. What was, in fact, was that one of the UK’s best – and most busy – DJs picked a tiny festival on the outskirts of Leeds as his favourite of the previous twelve months.**

In 2012, **Beacons** was a brand new fixture for the festival season, and really had something of an unknown quantity about it, yet it managed to offer not only a selection of well-established headliners – **Roots Manuva**, **Wild Beasts** and **Toots And The Maytals** – but a whole host of brilliant electronic artists and DJs, including Oneman, **Maya Jane Coles** and (the now well and truly blown-up) **Julio Bashmore**. It was such a success because there was an amazing variety of genres in one place, all appreciated by a crowd of real music-lovers.

Following in this not-so-ancient tradition, 2013 looks set to be another year of slick music, and, even with the line-up not fully announced (**Beacons** being so late in the year and stuff), there’s already plenty to drool over. The naturalistic, disorientating beats of **Bonobo** (aka Simon Green); the savage hardcore and witty lyricism of **Fucked Up** (whose live shows are known for being particularly visceral) and the tribal indie of **Django Django** are all highlights, but there are plenty more to be found.

For those who like their music electronic, **Beacons** 2013 will likely be as good a festival as it gets. One of seminal electronic label Hessle Audio’s founders, and another one of the most well respected DJs (like Oneman, he doesn’t produce at all) in the country, **Ben UFO** is already down to drop his usual mix of UK garage, house and basically anything electronic that’ll build the right atmosphere. And there are bigger names still, with the inclusion of Belfast-bred vinyl lovers and old school house duo **Bicep**, and the B2B double team of **Theo Parrish** and **Andrés**, hailing from Detroit.

Those less interested in 4/4 electronic beats, vinyl singles and mixing should be satisfied that **Beacons** also stars **Local Natives**, the LA boys still buzzing off the back of their latest LP _Hummingbird_, with its luscious vocal explorations and indie sensibilities. There’s also **Solange**, whose ‘Losing You’ has so much swing and soul that it’s almost impossible to stop listening to it, and also (lesser known) **Hookworms** – whose psychedelic guitars and sheer artistry on debut _Pearl Mystic_ have been tickling critics all over the web for the last month.

**Beacons** is a great festival, with music to cater for the most eclectic of listeners, but a word of warning: last year there were serious issues regarding the caretaking of the campsite, with many of the facilities not being properly seen to (not to mention the fact that it’s quite a trek to Skipton, the nearest town). Though I’m sure the organisers have learned their lesson, maybe don’t risk coming if you’re not really a ‘festival person’. On the other hand, if you are, throw yourself in and enjoy the weekend – it’ll be well worth it.