Happy Mondays confirm Wakestock 2008

Europe's largest and most successful wakeboard music festival, sponsored by Relentless Energy Drink, have finalized their line-up ...

Madchester troubadours Happy Mondays will now join the already eclectically swelling bill, bringing an enviable back catalogue of some of the most generation-defining anthems; from '24 Hour Party People' to 'Step On' and 'Kinky Afro', their Factory Records career has been the stuff of legend. Still as relevant today, making as intrinsic music as ever, their appearance aside vocally stunning modern chart darling Estelle proves this years Relentless Wakestock to truly be unsurpassed in the summer calendar.

This is the first time that a contemporary music festival has been held within the grounds of Blenheim Palace and certainly the first that also boasts the biggest title in the world wakeboard calendar. The Relentless Wakestock is booked and primed to be a memorable occasion with an outstanding line-up now confirmed with the added bonus of the slickest water sport thrown in right next to the festival site, while the duke's palace carries the most uniquely breath-taking backdrop.

Now in its 9th sell out year, the original festival in Abersoch, North Wales (4th – 6th July 2008) and the new Wakestock Blenheim Palace both promise to serve up the pinnacle in established names playing against the preeminent emerging talents in music along with world class wakeboarding, on-site camping and a weekend full of exhilarating on and off water entertainment.

Wakeboarding is the world's fastest growing watersport with over 3 million participants worldwide. Wakeboarding began back in the 1970's when surfers who were bored of waiting for the waves began pulling their boards behind a speedboat with a ski rope. The summer equivalent to snowboarding, wakeboarding has now grown hugely over the past 10 years and is no longer the younger sibling of the boardsports world

The pool gap construction has been re-designed and built, and is ready for more epic battles. The viewing for spectators is greatly improved with a lower bottom pool, each event seeing a different rail setup to keep the riders on their toes. The Wakeskaters will also be returning for 'best trick jams' and this summer you'll see an influx of European skaters seasoning the rails along UK riders like Christian Thom and Craig McCulloch.

The second battle will commence the following weekend on the 4th, 5th and 6th July at Relentless Wakestock Abersoch while Newquay plays host to the final stop on 8th & 9th August at the Unleashed Music Festival.

For more information, the line up breakdown, plus all the essential information for 2008 be sure to check out www.wakestock.co.uk now.

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire: 27th-29th June
Abersoch, Cardigan Bay, North Wales: 4th-6th July

Estelle and Happy Mondays, Plump DJs, Nu-Mark, The Blackout, Goldierocks, Hyper, Sonny J, Uncle Buck, Dan Greenpeace, Jaguar Skills, I-Koma.

GROOVE ARMADA, MARK RONSON AND THE VERSION PLAYERS, THE STREETS, SUPERGRASS (B)

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, THE HOOSIERS (A), CALVIN HARRIS DUFFY (A) PENDULUM, SAM SPARRO, PETE TONG, ZANE LOWE, JO WHILEY, BLACK KIDS

ELLIOT MINOR, MYSTERY JETS, YOU ME AT SIX, THE FUTUREHEADS, HADOUKEN ONE NIGHT ONLY, AUDIO BULLYS, ESSER, YOUNG KNIVES, FRIENDLY FIRES, JAZZIE B, IN CASE OF FIRE, THE DYKEENIES, METRONOMY, LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION, plus many more