Seminal 60’s space rockers Hawkind will be celebrating their 40th anniversary with an exclusive festival appearance atStandon Calling Festival.

Both bad blood and bad drugs flow freely through the Hawkwind story. But what a story it is, of unreconstructed, old-school rock’n'roll idealism, communalism and excess. They were the first truly multimedia band, the pioneers of the all-night rave, the anarchistic, anti-capitalist precursors of punk and dance. Since that first gig at ‘All Saints Hall’ in 1969, Hawkwind have played more than two thousand gigs all over the world and layed on some mind-boggling tours.Hawkwind perform, not only with musicians, but a whole entourage of dancers, fire eaters and other assorted bods all working to make each gig a multi-media spectacular of lights, sound and visual theatrics that captivate the audience throughout the show and for some time after.

Along the way, the band has had over fifty musicians pass through the ranks; including Nik Turner, the late Bob Calvert,Lemmy (of ‘Motorhead’ fame), Huw Lloyd Langton, Dik Mik, Del Dettmar, Simon King, Dave Anderson, Simon House, Harvey Bainbridge, Alan Davey, Danny Thompson and Paul Rudolph to name just a few. They have also collaborated with famous science-fiction writer Michael Moorcock on numerous occasions, while Dave Brock, himself a founding member of Hawkwind in 1969, remains the only original member as the 21st Century enters its early years.

Hawkwind have recorded more than ninety official albums, singles and videos and are still recording new material to this day – with unpredictability and experimentation being the key to retaining the cult following Hawkwind have earned themselves. They have given us a naked drummer, a topless dancer, Lemmy, a stripping sax player, an occasionally peerless blend of music, poetry, theatre, costume and lights, and one of the biggest, most varied back-catalogues in British rock history.

And elsewhere Standon Calling presents: Intergalactic dressing up competition, Stranger Than Paradise’s CCCP Cosmonaut Training Centre, Hot air ballooning, Rockaoke, Salena Godden’s Book Club Boutique tipi, Skandalous! presents: Intergalactic Red Light District, Underwater Disco, Beach Hut Karaoke, Heritage Arts’ Heliocentre live theatre experience, Extra-terrestrial experts from CERN, Astrological Blind Date with alien Cilla and loads more to be announced.

With the site set in rolling countryside only 35 minutes from London, Standon Calling is easily accessible by train, car or coach and is the musical picnic you and your friends have been waiting for.

FRIENDLY FIRES | HAWKWIND | LADYTRON | FEMI KUTI & THE POSITIVE FORCE | TONY CHRISTIE | THE WHIP | SUN RA ARKESTRA | ED HARCOURT | EASY STAR ALL STARS | GOLDEN SILVERS | FREELAND (LIVE)| CHROME HOOF | PALOMA FAITH | MICACHU & THE SHAPES | MUMFORD AND SONS | EDDY TEMPLE-MORRIS | SON OF DAVE | NOSTALGIA 77 | THE ALIENS | TOMMY SPARKS | DAVE HASLAM | N.A.S.A | BABYHEAD | WE HAVE BAND | CASIOKIDS | THE INVISIBLE | DELPHIC | CHEW LIPS | THE FONTANAS | SELFISH CUNT | DETROIT SOCIAL CLUB | DENT MAY AND HIS MAGNIFICENT UKULELE | THE FABULOUS PENETRATORS | PULLED APART BY HORSES | JOSH WELLER | JONQUIL | MR. DAVID VINER | DELIRIUM TREMENS | FIRST AID KIT | A. HUMAN | ARK PEOPLE | THEY CAME FROM THE STARS I SAW THEM | REVERE | BANJO OR FREAKOUT | TIM TEN YEN | GABBY YOUNG & OTHER ANIMALS | FLASHGUNS | YOUR TWENTIES | HOOK & THE TWIN | LOUIS BARABAS & THE BEDLAM SIX | CITADELS | CHANCERY BLAME & THE GADJO CLUB | THE LANGLEY SISTERS | YES SIR BOSS | CAT & MAX | FIVE MINUTE POP PROMO | DISASTERADIO | LULU LAMPSHADE | DOWNTOWN WOLVES | ANNIE DALE