Festival Frolics: His Purpleness Hopping Down In Kent, Hop Farm.

As the interweb fusses and feuds over the streaming of the new Gaga LP, one little piece of news went far from unnoticed amidst the general hubbub, and that news was and is that His Purpleness, Prince, yes Prince, is to join the likes of the Eagles, Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Iggy & The Stooges and a slew of other timeless acts that read like something of a musical encyclopaedia of the past few decades at this year's Hop Farm Festival. Vince Power has been delivering staggering weekends in the sun for a couple of seasons now, and the live music lynchpin brought Bob Dylan and Van Morrison to Paddock Wood last time out although this year's rundown looks set to cement the festival's foundations in what may sometimes seem a rickety festival circuit. Amidst supermarket swindle scandals, wavering capacities and poor ticket sales, Hop Farm defies failure and defines success, remaining entirely unbranded whilst providing a largely unrivalled weekend's worth.

The full line up thus far, with further additions for Sunday to come, includes:

Friday

Main Stage
Eagles * Bryan Ferry * Brandon Flowers * Death Cab For Cutie * 10cc * Jimmy Barnes * City And Colour * Transfer
Big Tent
The Human League * Ocean Colour Scene * The Walkmen * The Duke Spirit * James Walsh* Kitty, Daisy & Lewis * Noah Francis * The Secret Sisters
Bread & Roses Stage
Stornoway * Erland And The Carnival * Goldheart Assembly * James Yuill * Summer Camp * Treetop Flyers * Ben Howard * Steve Smyth * Liz & The Ligers

Saturday

Main Stage
Morrissey * Lou Reed * Iggy & The Stooges * Patti Smith * Newton Faulkner * Brother * Damien Dempsey * Mary Coughlan
Big Tent
Manu Chao * Noisettes * Graham Coxon * Gang Of Four * Tim Booth * The Bluetones * Frankie & the Heartstrings * The Paris Riots
Bread & Roses Stage
Guillemots * Carl Barât * The Leisure Society * Cloud Control * Clock Opera * Blind Pilot * Dry The River * The Head And The Heart * Brigid Power Ryce

Sunday

Prince * Tinie Tempah * Larry Graham & Graham Central Station * Imelda May * Labrinth * Dutch Uncles * Tall Ships

Tickets are available as of now, and various weekend combinations can be acquired here.