User:LoveboxFestival/Sandbox

Lovebox is a 3 day music festival held in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, London. The event has been running since 2002 and was founded by dj’s Groove Armada. During this time, Lovebox has also hosted events in Newcastle, Dublin and Ibiza as well as numerous parties and club nights.

Origins and History
Groove Armada began Lovebox as a resident club night at London venue 93 Feet East in 2002.

In 2003 to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the night, the pair hosted the first outdoor Lovebox event. The one day event was held at the end of June 2003, on Clapham Common with a capacity of 10,000. Tickets for the event sold out in 2 days. The event consisted of one live main stage, 3 smaller dance stages plus bars and food stalls.

In 2004, the event was repeated with an expanded capacity of 20,000. The event sold out within 3 days. Lovebox also hosted a sister festival on Newcastle Racecourse followed by an after party.

In 2005, Lovebox moved to Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets. The festival expanded to 2 days and a capacity of 25,000. The event was co-headlined by Groove Armada and Mylo and featured 4 dance tents, 2 cabaret arenas, a 1900s Spiegel tent and a funfair.

From 2007 until 2008, Lovebox hosted a sister event in Dublin.

By 2009, Lovebox had increased to a capacity of 50,000 and a 40 acre site.

Lovebox has also hosted nights at The End, Turnmills, Neighbourhood, Canvas, The Key and  The Ministry of Sound in London and elsewhere in Brighton, Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Ibiza, as well as an annual summer boat party, which ran until 2008.

For 2010, the festival has been expanded to a 3 day event

Festival Culture
Despite starting out as a predominantly dance festival, Lovebox has since expanded to include a wide variety of musical genres including  indie,  rock,  world and  pop, as well as circus performers, cabaret and fringe acts. In 2009 the festival hosted 7 stages, supported by various partnerships from brands including Gaymers Cider,  Relentless and Rizla.

Lovebox is also known for being a very creative-led event, with stages and areas being elaborately built and dressed. The 2009 festival site featured a tree house, a bowling alley, a vintage fashion fair and a healing and massage area as well as several themed bars and eating areas.

Being based in central London, yet still encompassing many of the features of country-set events such as Glastonbury and Secret Garden Party, Lovebox has developed a reputation for being an “urban-based-yet-rural-feeling, multi-dimensional festival - without the camping or the endless tramping about.” The event is also fully accessible – being set in a public park, Lovebox avoids many of the usual pitfalls that befall disabled attendees at other festivals – and family friendly –  with a children’s area and family friendly performances on their Fringe stage.

The Lovebox Festival has won a selection of awards. In 2006, it won Virtual Festivals Party People Award for Dance Music. In 2008 Lovebox won the UK Festival Award for Best Medium-Sized Festival.

Lovebox 2002
Resident club night at 93 Feet East, hosted by Groove Armada.

Lovebox 2003
First outdoor event featured shows from Groove Armada, Norman Jay, The Blackbyrds, Movement plus others

Lovebox 2004
Performers included Groove Armada, Ozomatli, Richie Havens, Loose Cannons, Norman Jay, Joey Negro, Mr Scruff, Rob Da Bank plus others.

Lovebox 2005
Featuring Groove Armada(live), Mylo (live) Plantlife (live), DJ Cash Money, Norman Jay, Gilles Peterson, Joey Negro, Bugz In The Attic, Ashley Beedle, The Others plus additional acts accross 2 days.

Lovebox 2006
Performers inclued Groove Armada, Jamiroquai, Candi Staton, Hot Chip, Jimmy Cliff, Gogol Bordello plus others.

Lovebox 2007
The 2007 festival featured performances Groove Armada, Sly & The Family Stone, The B52s, Blondie, Super Furry Animals plus others.

Lovebox 2008
Performers included Manu Chao, The Flaming Lips, Groove Armada, Goldfrapp, Roni Size, The Human League.

Lovebox 2009
Headliners: Groove Armada, Duran Duran, Doves, N.E.R.D., Florence and the Machine, Simian Mobile Disco, Friendly Fires, Rodrigo Y Gabriela. Plus performances from Alan Pownall, Andy Butler (Hercules & Love Affair), Annie Nightingale, Au Revoir Simone, Bill Brewster & Frank Broughton (DJ History/Lowlife), Black Joe Lewis, Bombay Bicycle Club,  Chairlift, Chew Lips, Chipmunk, Daisy O'Dell, Dan Black, Dananananaykroyd, David Shrigley, Datarock, Diplo, Disco Bloodbath, DJ Sneak, Drums Of Death, Fenech-Soler, Filthy Luka AKA Luke Howard, Fontan,  Frankmusik, Gang Of Four, Gary Numan, Giles Smith, Gruff Rhys, Hip-Hop Karaoke, Horse Meat Disco, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Idjut Boys,  James Priestley, Jazzie B, Joakim, Joey Negro, Johnny D, Justin Robertson, Ladyhawke, Late Night Audio, Magistrates, Matt Berry, MPHO,  Mr Hudson,  N*E*R*D, New York Dolls, Nextmen, Nisennenmondai, Noah & The Whale, Norman Jay, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, Richard Norris (Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve), Rokia Traore, The Rumble Strips, secretsundaze, Severino, Stuart Patterson & Leo Elstob, Swimming, Temper Trap, The Death Set, The Emperor Machine, The Jive Aces, The RGBs, The Twelves, Tom Maddicott, Tommy Reilly, VV Brown, Wave Machines, X-Press 2, Young Fathers