My Chemical Toilet

Vote in the Festival Awards and win a prize!

The summer is over and festival season has officially come to an end. Now it's time for you to vote, which Festival was the highlight of your summer! The UK Festival Awards will be taking place in Central London (where else?) on November 6th and is the industry’s only awards voted for solely by the people who really matter – the fans. Although it's unclear whether those that matter - the fans - are allowed in.

With so many festivals to choose from brace yourself for a hard decision. There are over 20 categories to vote in this year, including Best New Festival so it’s not all about the big guns. The UK has arguably the most vibrant festival scene in the world, and it is time to honour those who made this year a little more special. Have your say and set the standard for next year by voting now at www.festivalawards.com. As well as making a difference to the festival scene, your vote will also qualify you for an exclusive money-can’t-buy prize draw to win a pair of tickets to every winning festival in 2008! You can vote on a whole host of things, from Best Act to Best New Festival... and even Best Toilets. Sadly, we aren't in that category...

Man behind Download festival sensationally dismissed

Live Nation, the company behind Download and O2 Wireless Festivals, have sensationally dismissed their managing director, Stuart Galbraith for conspiring with their biggest rivals. The company chose to take the decision amid the speculation that Galbraith was leading a defection of employees to direct rivals the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).

He was sacked with immediate effect for a “breach of contract” and reportedly given five minutes to leave the office. Sounds like something from a film!

O2 Wireless, London, Sunday: In-Tents Questioning (2)

Glenda Young is the editor of Corrieblog - literally the greatest Coronation Street blog on this pitiful little planet of ours. She went to O2 Wireless at Hyde Park on the Sunday, which featured The Cribs, Kaiser Chiefs and Editors (pictured). On her return she underwent some rigorous interrogation. The results you will see below.

1. Kindly tell us your name, age and where you’re from. Now.

Glenda Young. I live in London but am from Sunderland.

2. Which festival have you recently attended?

O2 Wireless Festival London, Sunday 17th June.

3. Have you attended this festival before?

No.

4. Which act gave the best performance, and why?

Editors. They rocked.

In-Tents Questioning: O2 Wireless, London, Sunday - Gemma Cartwright

Gemma (that's her on the right of this photo), Shiny Media's fashion editor-in-chief, tore herself away from her beloved lolcats and went to the O2 Wireless festival on Sunday. Here she talks about coulottes, Ray-Bans and orange boiler suits. And music.

1. Kindly tell us your name, age and where you’re from. Now.

Gemma Cartwright, 23, London.

2. Which festival have you recently attended?

O2 Wireless, Sunday 17th at Hyde Park (‘Indie Day’).

3. Have you attended this festival before? If yes, how does this year compare?

Never been before. I was an O2 virgin. How’s that for a phone network pun?

02 Wireless, London, Saturday: In-Tents Questioning (no.2)

Yesterday we heard from Abi, who was not terribly impressed with the O2 Wireless festival. Today we sample the opinion of someone who went on the same night - how did her experience compare? Her name is Issy, and she would like to make it clear that the muck you see on her hand is from the camera lens, and is not a result of any poor personal hygiene on her part. Delighted to clear that up.

1. Kindly tell us your name, age and where you’re from. Now.

I’m Issy, and I’m from Balham in South London. It’s lovely…

2. That's good to know. Which festival have you recently attended?

I attended Saturday at O2 Wireless, Hyde Park.

3. Have you attended this festival before? If yes, how does this year compare?

I have, and although the lineup was very different to the year before it was loads busier, and had a new tent. But it was kind of the same – i.e., same stages, same layout, same amount of kids wearing skinny jeans. Only a different beer sponsor.

O2 Wireless, London, Saturday: In-Tents Questioning

Abi Silvester is the editor of two of Shiny Media's ethical consumerism blogs (Hippyshopper & Crafty Crafty), and went along to the recent O2 Wireless festival. She took time out of her busy day to answer our questions - and certainly didn't hold back...

1. Kindly tell us your name, age and where you’re from. Now.

Abi Silvester, 29, London.

2. Which festival have you recently attended?

O2 Wireless Festival (Saturday).

3. Have you attended this festival before? If yes, how does this year compare?

I attended last year, and this time was a big disappointment...

02 Wireless, London, Thursday: In-Tents Questioning

For our second bout of In-Tents Questioning, we have ourselves a bona fide TV star - Susi Weaser. She also happens to be the editor of Shiny Media's award-winning girls' guide to gadgets, Shiny Shiny. This means technology firms give her loads of free stuff, which in turn means she spends large parts of events like this swigging free alcohol and chatting to superstar bodyguards.

1. Kindly tell us your name, age and where you’re from. Now.

Susi. 24. Camden (sort of), London.

2. Which festival have you recently attended?

O2 Wireless.

3. Have you attended this festival before? If yes, how does this year compare?

Yes. Last year I was there on a Saturday, with picnic etc. The weather was better, and it was all a bit more civilised. Last night was messy and moshy. It was great. White Stripes beat Basement Jaxx.

O2 Wireless: Hop on the Superdrug Bus

I mentioned the other day that this summer's festival season will provide many opportunities for manufacturers of lovely consumer goods to get their logos in your face. Well, London Lite yesterday printed a map to O2 Wireless to help people get around the site.

Sadly I haven't been able to locate an online version to which I could direct you - but I can tell you some of the superfun sponsored activities that will be on offer should you be attending...

Experiential marketing is after your festival dollars (along with O2, Strongbow, Ray-Ban, Fender...)

Festival time brings the opportunity for lots of fun for girls and boys of all ages. It also allows firms to launch a plethora of marketing onslaughts which, when you read the details of them, leave you feeling slightly less warm and fuzzy about the festival season. But would these events attract as many amazing acts without such heavy investment from companies?

O2 Wireless takes place this weekend in London and Leeds. The fact that I've been able to name the festival without using the word "festival", and through the use of just a brand name, seems indicative of the impact of corporate sponsorship on live music in the twenty-first century. And you can be assured the input from O2 will not end once you walk through the gate, either.

Up-and-coming festival stars: Ghosts

Every year there are a few acts whose popularity skyrockets on the back of a few well-placed festival appearances. The Feeling did pretty well out them last year, and this year Ghosts are being tipped by many to repeat the trick.

Not that it should be considered a trick really - they write catchy, perky pop tunes which translate well to live performances. Their first single proper, "Stay The Night" cracked the top 30, but if there's any justice their second, "The World Is Outside" should prove a massive summer hit. It will sound amazing in the great outdoors on a sunny day - I just hope it gets enough airplay for folk to recognise it.

Jack White warms up for 02 Wireless festival with impromptu show

How come I never find myself in the club when an international rock star just happens to pop in and play a few numbers? Jack White is the latest to do the "secret impromptu show" thing, as reported by NME last week. White and his ex-wife / sister / nan Meg will play their first official UK date on their European tour at the London part of the O2 / Wireless festival on June 14th, with a show at the Leeds version the next day.

Best festival competition in the world EVER!!!

Over at our sister site, ShinyShiny, they're celebrating the coming of summer is coming, and more specifically,the festival season! They're offering Possibly the Best Festival Survival Kit Ever. Tent? Check. Cooking implements? Check. Means for keeping in touch? Check. Tickets to the O2 Wireless Festival 2007? Check. Read on to find out exactly what we've got for you, and exactly how you can enter.

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