The Red Bull Studios takeover stage features an array of exciting talent from the world of electronic music, with veteran German house duo Booka Shade headlining, with support from Belgian drum’n’bass pioneer and Hospital Records stalwart Netsky, Radio 1s mixtape educator Jaguar Skills, plus Russian bass moulder Proxy and nu-garage upstart Friend Within. In addition, the stage will host very special guest appearances from Red Bull Studios regulars Bobby Tank and Karma Kid both of whom have recently swung by to record sessions for the Introducing series.

Kicking off proceedings for the day will be a very special set from RockNess DJ Competition winner Aaron Russell who will perform the first set of the day having been chosen from 100s of hopefuls by festival director Jim King and Soma Records boss Dave Clarke. The prize also includes VIP tickets to the festival and entry for a five-friend entourage.

Festival director Jim King commented: “The quality of entries was really high, Dave and I have loved listening to all of the mixes. Aaron truly stood out as a DJ who can get the crowds going in true RockNess style, I can’t wait to see Aaron playing his eclectic mix of underground house, live.”

Red Bull Studios are giving away a pair tickets plus travel to the iconic RockNess Festival, head to www.redbullstudios.com/london for your chance to win. Head to the site to check out mixes from last year’s Red Bull Studios stage at RockNess from the likes of Mystery Jets, Olugbenaa (Metronomy), Eats Everything and Auntie Flo & Esa.

Tickets for Rockness are available now

Takeover stage line-up

BOOKA SHADE // Netsky Live! // Jaguar Skills // Proxy // Bobby Tank // Karma Kid // Friend Within // Aaron Russell

Work with what you have

Prior to making your first purchases of the season, take some time to review what you have in storage from last summer. While some pieces may have fallen out of style, chances are you will find at least a good pair of comfortable, yet stylish, shoes that withstood the year of changing trends. Now is also a good time to essentially take an inventory of everything you wear, not just your clothes and shoes, but your swimwear and accessories as well.  As you are taking stock of your current choices, write down a shopping list of things you need to flesh out your wardrobe for summer. If you’re on a budget, it’s always a great idea to split the list into two parts; the first is for essentials, like shorts and tanks, and the second for things you won’t necessarily need as soon as the weather changes, but that you’d still like to check out this season, like one of the great light-weight denim jackets coming back into style for cooler summer nights.

Swimwear

Summertime equals beach time. While the thought of sand between your toes while enjoying your favorite drink or book may be appealing, the thought of purchasing your swimwear may not. Fear not, as there are choices out there for every woman no matter their age, body type or budget.

Whether you are into vintage styles or are looking for that perfect bikini, 2013 is definitely your year.

If you are going to be out in the sun for long periods of time, a cover up may also be a good option. These can come in handy not only to help keep some of the sun off of you, but also to help you transition into your favorite beachside restaurant for your next meal.

Hair

You can even reflect your new style in your hairdo by adding accessories like the vintage bandana. Bandanas and head scarves are coming back into style in a big way, but they can also be a useful tool to keep your hair out of your face while you are enjoying other activities.

Day to Evening

As much as spending each day of summer on the beach might sound appealing, you do have other obligations, like work, that require your attention.  This does not mean you cannot still be comfortable and stylish. Quite the contrary, summer is the perfect time to consider outfits that can easily transition with you from a day at the office to a night out with friends, family or that special someone.

Shop for cute summer dresses that can be toned-down with a lightweight button-up cardigan for the office. Take off the cardigan and put a new spin on the dress with a bold statement necklace for the rest of the night.  If your plans will not allow you to go home between work and play, keep an extra pair of shoes in the car for the quick change.

Women’s fashion is an ever changing world that can adapt to suit anyone’s style and budget! Find the pieces that work for you and enjoy your time in the sun in style this summer

- Words by Jess Holmes

Womack’s career spans more than 50 years at the cutting edge, stretching right back to his discovery at the age of 10 by the legendary Sam Cooke. During his time he has penned Number One hits for some of the biggest bands in the industry, played guitar on some of the most enduring albums of the 20^th century, including Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin’s Pearl, and released a series of ground-breaking albums that mixed soul, disco and rhythm and blues.

Also on the headline bill is Bloc Party, Kraftwerk 3-D and Foals who will all appear across the weekend of
 18th – 21st July 2013.

Grizzly Bear will be captivating audiences with their chamber rock which has made the Brooklyn four-piece one of the most influential acts in alternative music today, devastatingly honest American musician John Grant who will be airing songs from Pale Green Ghosts the follow-up to his award-winning debut album, while José González fronted indie- folk trio Junip will also make a rare appearance performing their new material.

Grammy-nominated Duane Eddy will treat fans to classic sounds of the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s rock ‘n’ roll, whilst Austra bring their art-pop to Latitude from Toronto, debuting material from their forthcoming LP Olympia.

Joining the Obelisk Arena will be Oxford folk four-piece Stornoway. Lead singer of indie heroes The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess will also perform at Obelisk, as well as in the Film & Music Arena where he will be reading from his book, Tellin’ Tales. The ‘Screaming Eagle of Soul’ Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires will be opening the Arena on Saturday with a performance full of energy and passion.

Adding to the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage line-up is Richard Thompson Electric Trio, dubbed one of The Top 20 Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine; Hackney collective Rudimental will be bringing their energetic mix of beats, bass, horns and multi vocalists to the stage. Also appearing across the weekend is former frontman of The Coral James Skelly & The Intenders playing songs from his debut album Love Undercover and Londoners Theme Park with their euphoric groove-laden pop.

Taking to the Film & Music Arena will be British Sea Power performing the atmospheric and epic score they wrote for award-winning film maker Penny Woolcock’s stunning cinematic experience, From The Sea To The Land And Beyond. Also on will be Ed Harcourt, making his Latitude debut this summer with songs from his new EP Back into the Woods. 21 year-old beatmaker from Sydney and man of the moment Flume will get festival goers dancing, while electronic speakeasy White Mink presents The Lost Fingers, Flap, Twilight Players and New York Brass band bringing all the glamour and glitz of a Great Gatsby party to Latitude with their 1920’s themed dance extravaganza.

Tickets are now on sale, subject to booking fees. An instalment plan is available for fans who want to spread the cost of their Latitude weekend ticket between now and July, for full details head to www.latitudefestival.co.uk

Ticket info

Weekend adult tickets – £182.50
Weekend accompanied teen ticket (13-15 years) – £132.50
Weekend child (5-12 years) tickets – £5.00
Adult day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun – £77.50
Child (5-12 years) day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun – £5.00
Campervan Permit – £40-80 (dependent on size)
Locker – £16.00

Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping. Day tickets include car parking only. For weekend accompanied teen tickets, all teenagers must be accompanied by an over 18. Teen tickets can only be purchased at the same time as an adult ticket.

Credit Card line: 0871 231 0821 Online: www.latitudefestival.co.uk • www.seetickets.com

Alternative line-up

COMEDY
EDDIE IZZARD | NINA CONTI | RICHARD HERRING |  RUBBERBANDITS | BIRTHDAY GIRLS | SO ON AND SO FORTH

FILM AND MUSIC
MARCUS DU SAUTOY AND JAMES HOLDEN’S CONCIOUSNESS
BOWIEFEST IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ICA PRESENTS BOWIE 1973 | SVENGALI
PHIL COLLINS | ADAM CURTIS

DANCE, THEATRE AND CABARET
SADLER’S WELLS PRESENT BalletBoyz®: the TALENT 2013
THE FAMOUS LAUREN BARRI HOLSTEIN | ANALOGUE THEATRE | PEEP | GUY JONES | DES O’CONNOR
SOHO THEATRE PRESENTS LADY RIZO, PHIL NICHOL, BOURGEOUIS & MAURICE
EMPRESS STAH | TIMBERLINA | TWICE SHY PEEP SHOW

LITERARY
STUART MACONIE | PETER CULSHAW | JAMES SMYTHE | NATHAN FILER | STUART EVERS
GRANTA BEST YOUNG NOVELISTS:  KAMILA SHAMSIE, JAVIER MONTES & CRISTHIANO AGUIAR
THE BRITISH LIBRARY PRESENTS PROPAGANDA | PICADOR LOVE SHACK | EBURY LIBRARY DOES…
ROBIN INCE | LAURA DOCKRILL | TABLE TALKS HOSTED BY EMMA B | SCRABBLE SUNDAY

NEUROSCIENCE vs SEX: WHAT DEFINES ME?
WELLCOME TRUST | GUERILLA SCIENCE PRESENTS SONIC TOUR AND JELLY BRAINS
IN THE DARK & SAMARA TOMPSETT STUDIO | CHRISTOPHER GREEN | MOMMA LOVES | STONEWALL
THE CHAMBER OF CURIOSITIES| RAPHAEL DADEN| DUMBLOVE ENCOUNTERS| REACTOR | CAMPSITE

LATE JUNCTION
TROYKA| NANCY ELIZABETH | FLOWER-CORSANO DUO| MELT YOURSELF DOWN |WALLS | DAPHNE ORAM

The past twelve months have been monumental for the London based singer. Her debut album, ‘Is Your Love Big Enough’, was voted iTunes album of the year and she was also nominated for BBC Sound of 2012 and the 2012 Mercury Prize.

Last month, the Lumia Live Session, saw British electro-pop band Fenech-Soler perform an awesome live set of exclusive material from their second album at Leeds Cage, a mixed martial arts venue that is one of the country’s most prestigious MMA training locations.

The Lumia Live Sessions is a tour that sees Nokia and music pioneers La Blogotheque, a team of bloggers and videographers famous for helping to kick-start the careers of scores of musicians globally, team up to showcase hot new UK music talent at a series of free gigs in unusual settings across the UK.

Annie Kearney, Partner Manager Nokia UK said: “We are extremely excited to be announcing Lianne La Havas as the headliner for our third Lumia Live Session, she’s had a fantastic year and is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

“I’m particularly excited to bring the Lumia Live Sessions to Liverpool as it is my home town. The Liverpool Music scene had a huge influence in my life. Music in Liverpool is still as exciting as it’s always been, with discovering new talent at its heart and we’re really proud to be hosting the next Lumia Live Session there. We will keep you posted on the support act who will hail from my home town too”

The venue, located outside Liverpool City centre is a topflight indoor skatepark and is based in Aintree, Liverpool. Covering over 50,000-square-foot it is widely considered one of the best parks in Europe catering for roller-bladers, skateboarders and BMX.

You can apply for tickets now until 11.59pm on Thursday 23^rd May at www.nokia.com/gb-en/lumialive

Extra info

Time: 6.30pm
Date:  30^th May 2013
Location: Rampworx, 1-3 Leckwith Road, Aintree, Liverpool, L30 6UE

- Image credit: Zoe Miranda

From her beginnings with Junior M.A.F.I.A to chart smashing hits like ‘No Time’, ‘Jump Off’ and ‘Crush On You’, to classic albums like ‘Hard Core’, ‘The Notorious K.I.M’ and ‘La Bella Mafia’, Lil Kim has blazed a bold and unique path for herself in the rap landscape like no other, paving the way for current stars such as Azealia Banks and Nicki Minaj. Indeed, she is a true icon in every sense of the word, a brilliantly uncompromising artist as famed for her take no prisoners attitude as she is for her many chart successes through the years.

Her live shows have become must-see events, made even more exciting by the fact that not only is Lovebox her UK festival exclusive this year, but it will also be the first time Lil Kim has played a show in London since 2001, on her ‘Notorious K.I.M’ world tour.

One of the most hotly anticipated events in the summer festival calendar, Lovebox returns to its original weekend this year for three days in July. Celebrating the very best in music, fashion, art, food, style, drink, and much more, Lovebox looks set to deliver one of the most diverse and exciting lineups around this summer, bringing together a fantastically unique and eclectic range of absolutely top drawer talent.

Ticket are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk

Line-up so far

Plan B- Goldfrapp – Azealia Banks – D’Angelo – Jurrassic 5 – Flying Lotus – Hurts – Rudimental – Paul Kalkbrenner – Aluna George – Wiley – Foreign Beggars – John Talabot – Factory Floor – Redlight – Miss Kitten – Zebra Katz – Gold Panda – Lulu James – Purity Ring – Quadron – Le Carousel – Mykki Blanco – Benoit & Sergio – Oddisee – David Rodigan MBE – Jazzie B (SOUL II SOUL) – Toddla T Sound – Dre Skull – Artwork – Iration Steppas – Venum Sound – Evian Christ – Mark Ronson – A Trak – Kenny “Dope” – Kon & Amir – Seb Chew & Greenmoney – DIRG – DJ Harvey – Eric Duncan – Prins Thomas – Force of Nature – Idjut Boys – Jamie Jones – Disclosure – Annie Mac – Solomun – SBTRKT – Julio Bashmore – Art Department – Heidi – Frankie Knuckles – Derrick Carter – Duke Dumount – Netsky – Breach – Mele – Krankbrother – Camo & Krooked – Lee Foss – Bicep – Richy Ahmed – Subb-An – Danny Bird – HighContrast- Infinity Ink – S.P.Y – Kim Ann Foxman – Nu-Logic – London Elektricity – PBR Streetgang – Fred V Grafix – Lung – Metrik – Monki

King Krule is South East London’s rough jewel. A very talented young man, his unexpected deep and mournful baritone is disappointment and disillusionment personified. His first UK tour was a sell out and his status as ‘one to watch’ was cemented with an inclusion in the BBC’s Sound of 2013 poll. Global recognition has already started to spread, and this performance of ‘Rock Bottom’ shows why he’s making such an impact.

For more performances and interviews from King Krule and many more go to www.fredperrysubculture.com

The internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter will join headliners Snow Patrol (who will play their only European date this summer at the festival), Kodaline and Foy Vance on the line-up of Tennent’s Vital at Belfast’s Boucher Road Playing Fields on 15th August.

US singer and songwriter Jason Mraz’s breakthrough hit ‘I’m Yours’ amassed over 21 million sales worldwide and set a record for the longest-running song in the 51-year history of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with 76 weeks on the chart. Following his debut success, Mraz released his fourth studio album ‘Love is a Four Letter Word’ last year. His efforts definitely paid off as he won two Grammy Awards – Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Make It Mine and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Lucky feat. Colbie Caillat.

Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody said: “We are delighted to be playing the Tennent’s Vital festival and playing once more in our home city of Belfast. The Belfast crowd is the best in the world. Can’t wait for the 15th of August.”

Last month organisers revealed that US rock giants Kings of Leon will headline Day one of the festival on 14th August, with more top acts set to be revealed by organisers in the coming months.

Day one tickets for Tennent’s Vital are onsale now from www.ticketmaster.ie. Day two tickets go on sale at 10am from Friday 17th May. Tickets are also available in person from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide or via the 24hr telephone hotlines: (NI & UK) 0844 8472455/(ROI) 0818 719 300.

Fans of Tennent’s Vital on Facebook have exclusive priority access to the Tennent’s Vital pre-sale which started today. Join www.facebook.com/tennentsvital to find out how to reserve your ticket before they go on sale to the general public.

· Wed 14 August – Kings of Leon plus more to be announced: £49.50 incl booking fee
· Thu 15 August – Snow Patrol, Jason Mraz, Kodaline, Foy Vance: £44.50 incl booking fee

Tennent’s Vital is an over 16′s event. However, a parent aged 25 and over can take up to two under 16′s to the show. Parents will be required to show age identification and sign a consent form in order to gain admission on the day. Under 16′s must be accompanied by their parent at all times. Bars will operate a strict Challenge 25 policy.

As part of the five-star hotel’s recently-launched ‘Elephant Owner For A Day’ package, guests will enjoy a truly personal and hands-on experience as they engage with local mahout life and learn the key responsibilities in caring for healthy and happy elephants in a highly meaningful and responsible way.

The new package is designed to offer a glimpse of local elephant camp life while teaching guests how to clean, feed and look after Thailand’s sacred animals. Over the course of a full-day or half-day, guests will be assigned their own elephant for a real one-on-one learning activity. But the element of exclusivity does not end there as the whole experience is designed just for two people or for a single family with children above the age of 10. This private approach ensures a genuinely personal encounter with no other guests in sight.

Accompanied by The Sarojin’s highly-knowledgeable team of guides, guests will shadow local mahouts from the Sairung camp and learn daily healthcare for the elephants. The teaching will focus on the correct ways to interact with free-roaming elephants; how to approach them using Thai greetings; general skin care and how to bathe them in the river; their overall digestion and how to feed them; basic mahout-style riding skills; and the five key signs to identify a healthy elephant – flapping tail and ears; moisture between their toes; markings on their body to indicate a good sleep pattern; volume of elephant waste; and moisture in their manure.

For those that really wish to get up close and personal, guests can take a dip in a jungle lake and swim around their elephant offering it friendly scrubs. The trunk becomes a virtual snorkel as the elephant submerges its body underwater and enjoys its leathery hide being scrubbed. Once land bound again guests will learn how to ride elephants bareback just as a mahout would do to keep them healthy. Perched on the necks of these gentle giants, guests will trek deep into the jungle to view the spectacular scenery located within this area of outstanding natural beauty.

The bareback adventure culminates at the Sairung elephant camp to further interact with the local mahouts and their families. There is plenty of time to bid farewell to the elephants before a luxury car returns guests to The Sarojin, where they can make the most of the boutique hotel’s extensive facilities including a multi-award winning spa, deluxe swimming pool with shaded pavilions, fitness centre, fabulous fine dining and its glorious setting on an 11km stretch of secluded white sand beach.

The Sarojin’s ‘Elephant Owner For A Day’ experience offers a great day out for visitors who want to scratch beneath the surface of rural Thailand. It is ideally suited for those with an interest in learning a new skill, caring for elephants and discovering their important position in Thai culture. A full-day activity costs from THB 2,500 (approximately GBP 110) per person. Rooms at The Sarojin start from THB 6,100 (approximately GBP 135), inclusive of accommodation in a luxury Garden Residence, plus all-day à la carte breakfast with sparkling wine for two people.

The Sarojin is beautifully set on an 11km stretch of secluded white sand beach in Khao Lak, just a 55 minute drive north of Phuket Airport, and is surrounded by five spectacular national parks and the world-famous dive sites of the Similan and Surin Islands. Designed in a contemporary Asian style, the five-star resort’s 56 deluxe residences are nestled within ten acres of tropical grounds leading directly onto the beachfront. Each guest room features its own private garden and “sala” sundeck, couples’ baths with waterfall showers, and plunge and relaxation pools that blend into the natural habitat. Other facilities include an attentive “Imagineer” who can create tailor-made experiences for hotel guests and complimentary use of a fully equipped fitness centre, mountain bikes, sailing catamarans, sail boats, sea kayaks and windsurfing boards. Tranquility is guaranteed as no children under the age of 10 are permitted to stay at The Sarojin.

For further information on The Sarojin, please visit: www.sarojin.com

Launched to critical acclaim in 2013, the book Where Chefs Eat: A Guide To Chef’s Favourite Restaurants, edited by Joe Warwick, changed all that, providing insider access to the personal recommendations of over 400 of the world’s top chefs.

This incredible culinary resource is now available as an iOS app for iPhone and iPad allowing users to explore, search, and share their culinary tips from the experts like never before; on the go:

EXPLORE and filter restaurants by geographic region, recommending chef, cuisine, or meal category

DISCOVER hidden nearby treasures with interactive maps and restaurant proximity alerts

BROWSE venue websites from within the app

BOOKMARK and map favourite restaurant discoveries

SHARE recommendations with friends via Facebook, Twitter, email and text

From bargain noodle joints to high-end restaurants; late night hangouts to all day breakfasts; neighbourhood eateries to destination restaurants, the Where Chefs Eat app is an invaluable resource whether you are a hard-core foodie or just desperate to impress a date.

Where Chefs Eat (iOS, £14.95, available now through the iTunes store), features over 2,000 favourite haunts of culinary insiders in major cities across the United States and around the world. For the first time, users will have the recommendations of over 400 world-class chefs directly at their fingertips, including Hugh Acheson, Michael Anthony, Alex Atala, Sean Brock, Daniel Boulud, April Bloomfield, Heston Blumenthal, David Chang, Mathais Dahlgren, Fergus Henderson, David Kinch, Carlo Mirarchi, Magnus Nilsson, Corey Lee, Rene Redzepi, Ken Oringer, Andy Ricker, Ben Shery, Christine Tosi, Marcus Samuelsson, Daniel Humm and hundreds more.

Priced at £14.95, it’s an essential tool that belongs on every phone.

Ed Harcourt’s critically acclaimed songwriting demanded a beer that doesn’t disappear quickly from the tongue. Four malts are used to give the intensive backbone, letting the transatlantic hops glide over the top adding high notes and finish.

Throwing a big 6.8% punch of brooding, smoky, oaken flavours – this is not a beer for the faint of heart. Brewed in an initial limited edition run of just 1,000 bottles by Head Brewer Tom Bott, assisted by Ed who provided his assistance, drinking wisdom and finely-honed palette.

Ed elaborates on the beer after his own heart: “Beer has always been there for me. Like an errant lover it has run out on me countless times yet it still keeps coming back. It’s pull is it’s punch you see.

Whether it’s that Bombardier on the rug by the fire that I just made myself with my own manly hands or the Michelada in my local mexican restaurant that weakens the hellish grasp of the night before, it’s an old friend that can be used as a crutch or indeed the oil within the social machine. I’ve been very honoured to design my own beer and I can’t wait for you to all try this deep, dark ale that was forged in the caves of south London. All Hail Dark Heart!”

Sam McGregor from Signature Brew explains the collaboration: “When we were looking to make an extra special craft beer, we needed to find an artist with an extraordinary depth to their craft and a willingness to experiment; Ed Harcourt could not have been more perfect. After an extensive tasting session with Ed, it was decided that a big Brown Ale was required to match the artistry and vision of Ed’s music.”

Available to pre-order now in 330ml bottles.

Exclusive Tastings Coming Soon – details please email: DarkHeart@signaturebrew.co.uk

For info on Ed’s latest shows go to www.edharcourt.com