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US/ ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL IN BRISTOL/

The Essential Festival hits Bristol in May, having moved from a smaller site in Brighton to Ashton Court. Judging by previous years it looks as though they should be three quality days of entertainment with some top acts appearing over the weekend.

The Dance Day (Saturday 4th May) includes apperances from Richie Hawtin, Rolando, Andy Weatherall, Ross Allen and Phil Asher amongst bigger names like Busta Rhymes (Woo Hah...), Orbital and Roni Size.

The Rock/Indie Day (Sunday 5th May) features Supergrass, Jello Biafra along with all your other Reading Festival staples.

The Roots Day (Bank Holiday Monday 6th May) has James Brown, Lee "Scratch" Perry, De La Soul, Cinematic Orchestra, Mr Scruff, Cut Chemist and many more breakbeat masters.

For any fans of skating and boarding, there will be an exhibition and competition from the Globe and Stimulus teams on the half pipe, as well as graffiti artists from Europe and the UK including Loomit, Ziml, Eko, Shok 1 and She 1.

The FA Cup will be shown for those that are torn between music and football. Doors open at 1pm each day and the event runs until 11pm on the Saturday and Monday, and at 10.30pm on the Sunday.

There is no camping or car parking at Ashton Court, tickets are £35 per day; those purchased from the Essential Festival website carry no booking fee.

Watch this space for more news. Heres the full line up and ticket line numbers:

Dance Day May 4th

Mixmag Arena

Busta Rhymes
De La Soul
Orbital DJs
Lamb
Royskopp
Rahzel
Aim (live)
Dirty Vegas
System 7
Magicstar

Pussycat Club / Scream Arena

Judge Jules
Sonique
Tall Paul
Dave Pearce
Dave Seaman
Lenny Fontana
Lisa Pin Up
Lisa Lashes
Lost Witness
Pete Wardman
Amos
Simon Jordan

Legends of the Dark Black, Knowledge, Full Cycle & Driveby Arena

Roni Size
Krust
Grooverider
Fabio
Adam F
Andy C
Ed Rush
Randall
Hype
Die
Kenny Ken
Trex
Tali
Gerrard

with MCs
Dynamite
GQ
Junior Red
Skibbadee
Magika
Moose
Foxy
AD

Slam/Elite Arena

Richie Hawtin
Paul Daley
Andrew Weatherall
Funk D Void
Rolando
Slam
Billy Nasty
DJ Heather
Mark Styles

Blowpop / Jockey Slut Arena

Gilles Peterson & Earl Zinger
Jon Carter
Norman Jay
Scratch Perverts
Stanton Warriors
Plump DJs
Krafty Kuts v Soul of Man
Kinobe
John Stapleton
Stereo 8
Mr Craig
Doctor Moody

Breakinpoint Mag Arena

Afro Celt SS
Fila Brazillia
Plaid
Layo & Bushwacka!
Herbaliser
Freq Nasty
Luke Vibert
Blue States
Tom Middleton
Fat Tuesday

Bacardi Bbar

Ross Allen
Phil Asher
Simon Lee
Basil Black II Basic

Rock Day 5th May

13 Artists Arena

Supergrass
Beta Band
Shed 7
My Vitriol
Ed Harcourt
Simian
Easyworld
Dog

Metal Hammer Arena

Reef
Therapy?
One Minute Silence
Seafood
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Halo
Sneaker Pimps
Skindread

Backlash Arena

The Levellers
Asian Dub Foundation
Six By Seven
Minuteman
Athlete

Gemma Hayes
Leaves
Original Bedroom Rockers

Sidewalk Arena

Hundred Reasons
Pitchshifter
Cave In
Sahara Hotnights
Onedice
Kids Near Water
Little 10
My Deaf Audio

Sleazenation Arena

Rocket From the Crypt
Soundtrack of our Lives
The Coral
Alec Empire
The (International) Noise Conspiracy
The Dirtbombs
British Sea Power
Earl Brutus

Wipe Out Arena

Sick of it All
Raging Speedhorn
Agnostic Front
Jello Biafra
Capdown
Guttermouth
Randy
Scuttle

Bacardi Bbar
Bobby and Steve
Martin Morales
Glen Gunner
Basil Black II Basic

Roots Day 6th May

Mojo Main Stage

James Brown
De La Soul
Asian Dub Foundation
Nitin Sawhney Sound System
Herbaliser
Baz
Seventh Son

Hip Hop Connection/Hustler Arena

Phaorahe Monch
Rahzel
Doug E Fresh
Eastern Conference Tour with High & Mighty, Cage & Smut Peddlers
Aspects
Hosted by Tim Westwood

Voice Mag / Sleaze Nation Arena

Lee "Scratch" Perry
Culture
Horace Andy
Max Romeo
Johnny Clarke
Dennis Alcapone
Levi Roots
Michael Prophet
Sista
Earl 16
DJ Goldfinger

Jazz Arena

Pharoah Sanders Quartet
Courtney Pine
James Taylor Quartet
Carleen Anderson
Mr Hermano
Snowboy
Koop

Global Arena

Afro Celt Sound System DJs
Dreadzone
Badmarsh & Shri
Zion Train
Mad Professor
Kitachi
Iration Steppas
Adrian Sherwood Sound System

Keep it Unreal Arena

Mr Scruff
Cut Chemist
Qool DJ Marv
Cinematic Orchestra
Quantic
Treva Whateva
Rob Louis

Bacardi Bbar

Ashley Beedle
Chris Bangs
Dave Jarvis
Basil Black II Basic

Ticket Line Numbers

Bristol Ticket Shop: 01179 299008
Replay Records: 01179 041134
Ticketmaster: 0207 3444 444 (London) 0870 53 444 444 (National)