Secret Garden Party 2012

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Even if you’ve never been to Secret Garden Party before, you’ve probably heard everything there is to hear about the kind of festival experience it offers, from cynical cries of “it is just full of hippies and rich kids who have spent all their money on MDMA” to the more popular consensus that it is in fact one of the more “magical” weekends the UK festival circuit has to offer. Set in the heart of Cambridgeshire from 19-22 July, the festival site is consistently likened to falling down Alice’s rabbit hole or stumbling through the back of the Narnia wardrobe… in other words, it’s a bit of a fairytale.

Only this year it is a ‘Standing On Ceremony’ themed fairytale, one which plays host to the festival’s tenth year. So in addition to the usual day time lake swimming, art boat tripping, theatre watching and spa relaxing activities, revellers are encouraged to get involved with the festival’s very own momentous occasion, to “explore those ceremonies, rituals, initiations, anniversaries and carnivals that bind us together, that emphasise matter over mind, that emphasise our true gifts as humans: social existence.” There is that hippy thing again. But, importantly, in amongst all the non-music related Birthday activities on offer Secret Garden Party does offer up a healthy artist line up for 2012.

With headline performances from Orbital, KT Tunstall and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (yes they of ’Home’ fame/annoyance) there will be plenty to keep the more spirited (i.e. full of spirits) revellers occupied. So perhaps before you become one of them or skulk off to whatever tipi or hut happens to be your abode for the weekend, we recommend a healthy dose of the following performers.

Dylan LeBlanc

Returning to the musical limelight with some new material to follow up 2010′s stand out Paupers Field, Dylan Le Blanc’s folksy Americana predilections are nothing short of delightful.

Parma Violets

London four-piece Parma Violets are Rough Trade Records latest signing, so you’d better catch them now before their beyond buzzed tour with Savages kicks off.

Summer Camp

You know the deal by now, Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley are constantly fantastic and definitely worth your precious festival time… just wait another half an hour before you run to the bar, ok?

Tashaki Miyaki

The LA natives promise to deliver dreamy, almost oppressive and utterly irresistible weird, textured pop songs.

Lianne La Havas

With her debut album out now, the soulful English songstress’s wonderful, meandering acoustic efforts are at once compelling and just so relaxed.

Niki & The Dove

The Swedish electro pop duo just get better and better every time we see them.

Daughter

If Elena Tonra’s twisted tales of heartbreak and isolation don’t bring you to tears, or at least slow your heart rate then quite frankly you are missing something.

Foxes

Louisa Rose Allen’s theatrical pop vocals and Sam Dixon’s dramatic, pulsating beats create sultry harmonies that straddle the efforts of Marina and Goldfrapp, and although they don’t offer up the most original fare, we can imagine them going down perfectly at Secret Garden Party.