http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13437081

"Pop star Prince is to perform his first ever UK festival show at the Hop Farm in Kent, organisers have said.

The 52-year-old singer will perform on 3 July at the Tunbridge Wells event - his first UK concert since his 21-date residency at the O2 arena in 2007.

Prince's appearance will add an extra day to the two-day event, at which The Eagles and Morrissey will also perform.

Festival organiser Vince Power said he was "really excited" about adding the Purple Rain star to the bill.

"We have worked hard to get the third day up and running and we hope that fans will appreciate the integrity of the bill," he added.

Prince is confirmed to perform at the Open'er festival in Gdynia, Poland on the day before his Hop Farm appearance.

Yet the Minneapolis pop legend - whose many hits include Kiss, When Doves Cry and Raspberry Beret - has left fans disappointed in the past.

In February, the singer had been expected at a charity concert in Dallas only to pull out in mysterious circumstances.

He was also due to perform at Dublin's Croke Park in June 2008, only to cancel shortly before the event."

i believe it when i see it!

So damn excited, it's only half an hour from where I live...closer than London

[Edited 5/18/11 2:08am]

Just saw it on Yahoo when I logged in to check my mail.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/...00093.html

For the first time ever though, I'm not bothered about going. Firstly, i'm not 100% sure that he'll even turn up and festival means another churning out of his greatest hits.

Hope it does go ahead though and hope it's nice and sunny for those who do go

Me too erik319. Silly really as I went 4 times to the main O2 concerts in 2007 which was a predominantly a hits show too. £70 each for one day tickets puts me off a little too. Plus the logistics of getting there. the potential massiveness of a festival field, all the piss and water being chucked about in bottles etc. It's not really me scene. Excellent that he is coming back to the UK but I'll take a chance and wait for future performances in years to come I think...

KeithyT said:

Me too erik319. Silly really as I went 4 times to the main O2 concerts in 2007 which was a predominantly a hits show too. £70 each for one day tickets puts me off a little too. Plus the logistics of getting there. the potential massiveness of a festival field, all the piss and water being chucked about in bottles etc. It's not really me scene. Excellent that he is coming back to the UK but I'll take a chance and wait for future performances in years to come I think...

Yup, think I'll be doing the same. Now if he wants to put on a couple of intimate shows somewhere in the UK playing some eclectic b-sides and rare stuff, it'd be a different matter

Go on, Prince, you know you want to!

I have reservations as i know his form when it comes to these one-off gigs. Think i may have to wait and see what the rest of the line up is. However, this i believe will be Prince's first UK festival - the thought of Prince, sunshine and beer/weed is very tempting

The Saturday bill looks great with Morrissey, Lou reed and The Stooges.

Sly said:

I have reservations as i know his form when it comes to these one-off gigs. Think i may have to wait and see what the rest of the line up is. However, this i believe will be Prince's first UK festival - the thought of Prince, sunshine and beer/weed is very tempting

The Saturday bill looks great with Morrissey, Lou reed and The Stooges.

And therein lies the problem for me. Prince turning up for a one off gig in the UK is almost as reliable as sunshine at a festival

I'm not going, his "hits" shows bore me to fuck.

I hope those that do have a good time though.

And at least with it happening in the UK we will probably get a high quality recording of it, unlike the shite comming out of America at the moment.

[Edited 5/18/11 5:13am]

Not at all interested in going, but hope he goes through with it

well i would rather a see a jazz festival type gig rather than a big outdoor gig but i aint knocking back the chance to see him perform on uk soil...he is always worth seeing...

.

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Could this now see him appearing at Glastonbury? I can't see him just doing the one-off gig.