The Hives are set to headline Zoo-themed festival Zoo Thousand and Eight. Taking place at the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park between July 4 and 6, the band will play the festival, which will also see performances from Gallows and Ash. Speaking to NME.COM, The Hives' singer Pelle Almqvist said he was letting the zoo's animals influence his choice of setlist for the gig. "We're a bit scared that the gorillas will start a riot if we don't play the right songs," he explained. "We've never played a zoo before you know? Once we played at a festival in (hometown of) Fagersta in a field and their were cows there. Did they like our music? Well cows are pretty chilled out generally aren't they? So yes, I think so." Almqvist said that although she thought it was fine for some of the bigger animals to listen to their set, it didn’t seem right on the smaller ones. He said: "I don't think it’s fair on the small birds - they'll be pulverised by our sound." The band are also looking forward to playing on the same bill as Ash. "Last time we played a festival together we had a wrestling match together and we ended up grappling them with a chair," explained the singer. "I think we are ready for a re-match - I'm ready."

Swedish showmen will bring the curtain down on the inaugural festival at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park with their inimitable energetic garage rock 4th – 6th July 2008 Hardcore punk outfit The Gallows, Minus the Bear and Flogging Molly join the Scandinavian five-piece on the Zoo Thousand and Eight bill alongside new additions Ash, The Holloways, Pete and the Pirates, Ida Maria, Charlotte Hatherley and The Delays. The Gallows will also be playing a Zoo Thousand warm-up show at the Tap ‘N’ Tin in Chatham on Saturday 10th May. The underground music venue have signed many of the top acts for the festival, including the likes of F***ed Up who have been tipped by the NME as number four in ‘The Future 50’ list of bands, artists and innovators driving music forward. Mark Ronson (live), The Cribs, Athlete, British Sea Power, The Young Knives, Dizzee Rascal, Lethal Bizzle, Roni Size / Reprazent, Pendulum (DJ) and Andy C have all been announced for the Kent-based festival which takes places at the stunning safari park. A donation will be given to the Aspinall Foundation – the registered charity that runs Port Lympne Wild Animal Park – and festival goers will be able to visit the Animal Park for a reduced price. Want to go to Zoo8 for free? Why don’t you work for a ticket. Please click this link to find out more. http://www.festivalvolunteer.co.uk/ Also please don’t forget to join our brand new forum!

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