Music Festivals 2014: Hip hop and R&B
Intro
2014 is packed with AAA talent, from the likes of Outkast returning for hotly-anticipated reunion shows, to Kanye West, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Public Enemy, all preparing for stellar live appearances. Here's where you'll find them…
Bonnaroo
Top talent: Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Ms. Lauren Hill
Location: Great Stage Park, Manchester, Tennessee, USA
Best reasons to go: The return of Lauren Hill is always an exciting prospect, while who in their right mind could miss a headline set from Kanye?
Other line-up highlights:Ice Cube,Lionel Richie,Broken Bells
Tickets: General admission sold out, but VIP tickets (pairs only) are $85.90 per pair
Wireless
Top talent: Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Outkast, Robin Thicke
Location: Finsbury Park (London), Perry Park (Birmingham), UK
Best reason to go: Wireless has fast evolved into one of the UK's top hip hop, R&B and EDM festivals, and this year sees it spread its wings to Birmingham.
Other line-up highlights: Drake, Bruno Mars, Sean Paul
Tickets: Three day tickets for Birmingham are £172/Three day tickets for London are £210/Day tickets also available
Lollapalooza
Top talent: Eminem, Outkast, Nas
Location: Grant Park, Chicago, USA
Best reason to go: André 3000 and Big Boi are back. Need we say more?
Other line-up highlights: Chance The Rapper, Rudimental, Blood Orange
Tickets: Sold out, although platinum passes and travel packages are available
Parklife Weekender
Top talent: Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy, Katy B
Location: Heaton Park, Manchester, UK
Best reason to go: To catch two giants of '90s hip hop on the same bill.
Other line-up highlights: Flying Lotus, Soul II Soul, Pusha T
Hot 97 Summer Jam
Top talent: Nas, 50 Cent, The Roots
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rurtherford, New Jersey, USA
Best reason to go: Probably the hottest hip hop event of the summer, stateside.
Other line-up highlights: Nicki Minaj Ft. Young Money and Lil Wayne, Action Bronson
Tickets: Prices start at $55 plus fees.
Lovebox
Top talent: Nas, M.I.A, Katy B
Location: Victoria Park, East London, UK
Best reason to go: Set in a huge sunny park in the middle of Hackney, if you live in London you've practically got no reason not to go.
Other line-up highlights: A$AP Rocky, Soul II Soul, Chase and Status
Tickets: Day tickets are £44.75
Stevie Wonder plays Rhodes, piano and Moog as he and Lady Gaga cut loose with The Rolling Stones on new single Sweet Sounds Of Heaven
Peter Gabriel reveals that he spent time in his “home studio” with Skrillex: “He was trying to encourage me to write a song about staying up all night in a night club and that sort of thing”
