Fat As Butter festival organisers have released the following statement in after U.S. rapper, Flo Rida, failed to appear for his performance at the 2011 festival in Newcastle on Saturday October 22:

The sun was shining, the midriffs were exposed and the boys were shirtless, with perfect festival weather arriving just in time for Newcastle’s Fat As Butter festival. With an impressive line up of some of Australian’s favourite bands as well as some well known international acts (that may or may not have shown up...more on that later) the sunny weather matched the sunny disposition of the crowd for a day of what proved to be great live music.

Ahead of the Fat As Butter Festival, I got some time with the legendary (and Mike Tyson's cousin) Vin Rock of Naughty By Nature. Hip Hop Hooray!

What’s been going on mate? How’s your day?

Ahead of his performance at Fat as Butter festival in Newcastle, Nick Leighton catches up with Melbourne emcee Illy to chat about his career, the industry, the festival, and plenty more...

You’ve had a big year. What’s it been like?

It's been unreal. I've had a really big year music wise, and I'm very thankful to everyone who has supported me to get to this point. I'm hoping to build on the current momentum going into the next album.

Everything's pretty hectic for The Herd at the moment – for the first time in three years, they're promoting a new album and touring like crazy. I caught up with Ozi Batla to chat about the tour, Fat as Butter festival and the album, amongst other things.

So first of all, how's it going and where are you right now?

With 2011's Fat As Butter festival quickly approaching, The AU Review is lucky enough to catch some time with one of the highly anticipated acts on the bill, UK DJ Sinden. From Los Angeles, Sinden chats via Skype about what he's been up to lately, including his recent work with the mysterious SBTRKT, and gives us some details about his run of club dates.

So what’s been happening in your day-to-day lately?

Over the past four years, the Fat As Butter Festival has grown into one of the … well… FATTEST musical and cultural events in Newcastle, and indeed the country. But this year, we’re set to exceed all expectations with a line up of local and international acts that is sure to send your musical taste buds into a fat frenzy!

So you’ve heard the fat rumours, but now we have the hard, fat facts. The Fat As Butter Festival 2011 is wobbling all over with excitement to be able to reveal the first two names on the bill for this year’s event. They are none other than international hip hop legends, Naughty By Nature, and Australia’s very own, The Living End.

Are you fun-starved? Need some nourishment in your live entertainment diet? Fear not, dear friends! Newcastles’ Fat As Butter Festival is back in 2011, packed-full of fatty, festival goodness. October 22 is the date, Camp Shortland, The Foreshore, is the location, and we promise you all the music and good times your ravenous little senses can handle.