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UK Festivals 2010 Round-Up | reviews, news & interviews

UK Festivals 2010 Round-Up

UK Festivals 2010 Round-Up

From Aldeburgh to WOMAD, the definitive instant-click guide to festivals nationwide

Kendal Calling, Lowther Deer Park: 'Any festival that features its own Olympics alongside an area called The Holy Quail is all right by us - headliners Doves, The Coral, Calvin Harris'© Kendal Calling

Get your tent and ice-box and plan your summer's entertainment with theartsdesk's definitive clickable festival guide - listings and links for all the UK festivals this summer, from heavy rock by Scottish lochs to Morris-dancing in the south west, and taking on opera, classical and major international arts festivals for good measure.

If you know of a festival we've missed, please email info@theartsdesk.com with brief details of venue, booked artists and the website and we'll put it in for the world to see.

 

Scotland


strokesRock Ness, 11-13 June

Dores, Inverness-shire, Scotland
Fatboy Slim, Leftfield, The Strokes (pictured), Doves, Pendulum are the main headliners of a cracking clubland loch-side line-up.
www.rockness.co.uk

T In The Park 9-11 July

Balado, Kinross-shire, Scotland
Muse, Eminem, Kasabian headline the biggest festival north of the border which is always thoroughly raucous fun.
www.tinthepark.com

Wickerman, 23-24 July

East Kirkcarswell, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
The Charlatans, Ocean Colour Scene, Teenage Fanclub top a scrumptious mash-up of Nineties indie headliners, Tony Christie and a giant burning effigy.
www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk


Edinburgh Fringe Festival,
6-30 August

Venues around Edinburgh, Scotland
Thousands of hopeful comics, dancers, actors, stilt-walkers, refugee trumpeters, every kind of deluded showbiz nut at this endlessly fascinating and frustrating parade of world humanity. Programme out next week.
www.edfringe.com

Belladrum Tartan Heart, 6-7 August

Belladrum, Inverness-shire, Scotland
Headliners Amy MacDonald, Feeder, The Divine Comedy - their logo is a psychedelic highland cow but their line-up majors in indie, folk and pop.
www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk

sin_sangre_EdFestEdinburgh International Festival, 13 August-5 September

The most globally famous UK arts festival with literature, theatre, dance, classical music and pop, and venues ranging from castles to pubs. See theartsdesk full guide to events
Venues across Edinburgh (Pictured right, Sin Sangre, Teatro Cinema)
www.eif.co.uk

Wizard, 27-28 August

New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
James, Happy Mondays, Alabama 3 top the far-northern festival, going all Madchester, even adding a Stone Roses tribute band to the line-up.
www.wizardfestival.com

 

North

 

Doves_KendalKendal Calling, 30 July-1 August

Kendal, Cumbria
Any festival that features its own Olympics alongside an area called The Holy Quail is all right by us - headliners include the Doves (pictured), The Coral and Calvin Harris.
www.kendalcalling.co.uk

Burton Agnes Jazz Festival,
6-8 August

Driffield, E Yorks
Dennis Rollins, Clare Teal, Omar Puente feature in a family-friendly jazz-funk outing at stately home replete with walled garden, maze, etc.
www.burtonagnes.com

Moor Music, 12-15 August,

Carleton, N Yorkshire
Chrome Hoof, Eli "Paperboy" Read, Luke Unabomber top unpretentious Yorkshire affair that runs the gamut from drum & bass to avant-garde noisiness.
www.moormusicfestival.co.uk

prodigy-jilted_generationTribfest, 20-22 August,

Tickton, East Yorkshire
Black Eyed Peaz, Kings Ov Leon and Badness are the big guns in Britain's largest event devoted solely to tribute acts. Including the demented Prodigy tribute, Jilted Generation (pictured right).
www.tribfest.co.uk

Leeds/Reading, 27-29 August

Leeds, W Yorkshire/Reading, Berkshire
Guns’n’Roses, Arcade Fire, Blink 182 top billing in perennially popular sister festivals that showcase the biggest names in popular rock.
www.leedsfestival.com/ www.readingfestival.com

Solfest, 27-29 August

Silloth, Cumbria
James, The Magic Numbers, Alabama 3 lead 5000-capacity shindig that harks back to the original Seventies festival blueprint.
www.solwayfestival.co.uk

Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival 10, 15–19 September

Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
The programme for the 6th Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival will go live mid-August. Film submissions are being invited on the link below.
www.berwickfilm-artsfest.com


Central


National Forest Folk Festival, 2-4 July

Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Eliza Carthy, Peatbog Faeries, Adrian Edmondson & the Bad Shepherds top a folk staple based at the National Forest Visitors' Centre.
www.affc.demon.co.uk

Cornbury, 3-4 July

Charlbury, Oxfordshire
David Gray, Jackson Browne, Squeeze are hardly a challenging line-up but Cornbury is as much about chilling with a picnic as it is the music.
www.cornburyfestival.com

Bellowhead-TruckTruck, 23-25 July

Steventon, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Rootsy festival that always boasts a line-up of hot up'n'coming names, topped by Mercury Rev, Teenage Fanclub, Mew and Bellowhead (pictured).
www.thisistruck.com

Standon Calling, 6-8 August

Standon, Hertfordshire
Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Liars, Etienne de Crecy headline, and the theme this year is "Murder On The Standon Express" so watch out for pogo-ing Poirots.
www.standon-calling.com

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, 12-14 August,

Cropredy, Oxfordshire
Status Quo, Bellowhead, Fairport Convention are the expected big guns at Fairport Convention's festival which has become a place of pilgrimage for folk fans and rustic revellers.
www.fairportconvention.com/cropredy.php

Summer Sundae Weekender, 13-15 August

Leicester, Leicestershire
See Seasick Steve, Tinchy Stryder, Mumford & Sons at Leicester's city centre bonanza, an eclectic success story based at the 97-year-old De Montfort concert hall.
www.summersundae.com

V, 21-22 August

Chelmsford, Essex + Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire
Kings Of Leon, Kasabian, The Prodigy top twin festivals that provide a one hit easy access to a populist line-up.
www.vfestival.com

spencer-kennedySilverstone Classic, 23-25 July

Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
Icons of motor racing on the track and icons of popular music, including Dr Feelgood, The Yardbirds, Spencer Kennedy (pictured right), Jedward and X Factor rock chick Ruth Lorenzo.
www.silverstoneclassic.com

Shambala, 26-29 August

Secret location in the Midlands
Despite a policy of not revealing their line-up, Shambala has an enviable reputation as a "proper" festival.
www.shambalafestival.org

Creamfields, 28-29 August

Daresbury, Cheshire
David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, DJ Tiesto top the bill for the famous Liverpool club dancing into the fields for a multi-marquee rave-up.
www.creamfields.com

Twinwood, 28-30 August

Clapham, Bedfordshire
Ben Waters Band, Mike Sanchez & his Band, The Swing Commanders feature in unique festival celebrating the music that came before rock'n'roll, notably swing and jive.
www.twinwoodevents.com

Oxford Lieder Festival, 15-30 October

Oxford
The UK’s biggest celebration of song with 27 concerts given by such international artists as Wolfgang Holzmair, Katarina Karneus, Felicity Palmer and Sir Willard White. World premieres by pianist-composer Stephen Hough and Ned Rorem, and recitals by young prizewinners Gary Griffiths and Sarah-Jane Brandon mix in with masterpieces by Schubert, Wolf, Brahms and Schumann.
www.oxfordlieder.co.uk

 

West


Bath Music Fest, 26 May-6 June

Rustavi Ensemble from Georgia, English National Ballet, Joanna McGregor in this civilised festival in one of the pinnacles of UK architecture.
www.bathmusicfest.org.uk

Wychwood, 4-6 June

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Levellers, Happy Mondays, Seth Lakeman headline one for funky families - not just music but children's activities organised by the Roald Dahl Museum.
www.wychwoodfestival.com


stevie-wonderGlastonbury, 23-27 June

Pilton, Somerset
U2 may have dropped out but with Gorillaz, Muse and Stevie Wonder (pictured left) also there, it's unlikely to affect the pitch of enjoyment at this legendary annual occasion.
www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Steven_IsserlisCheltenham Music Festival, 2-17 July

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Steven Isserlis (pictured right), Sarah Connolly, Jan Garbarek, Tibetan monks of Tashi Lhunpo among high-profile artists at this expansive classical music festival. (Literature festival in October)
www.cheltenhamfestivals.com

Dartington, 24 July-28 August

Dartington, Nr Totnes, Devon
International Summer School, an annual festival of performance and courses attracting major musicians, with Indian music and Caribbean brass playing featured.
www.dartington.org

Farmfestival, 30-31 July

Bruton, Somerset
The Electric, Egyptian Hip Hop, Wild Palms top a local festival on a working farm featuring rising indie bands and a hog roast.
www.farmfestival.co.uk

Global Gathering, 30-31 July

Long Marston, Warwickshire
Faithless, Dizzee Rascal, Above & Beyond feature in a giant legal rave - expect glowsticks, gurning and plenty of top-notch beat bombardment.
www.globalgathering.com

International Gypsy Guitar Festival, 30 July-1 August

Gossington, Gloucestershire
Paulus Schafer, Antonio Forcione, Gypsy Fire top the attractions, and as well as a host of flamenco guitar action there's a Gypsy Idol competition for a place in next year's line-up.
www.iggf.co.uk

Big Chill, 5-8 August

Eastnor, Herefordshire
Big Chill has pulled though its financial problems and now boasts a feisty line-up that includes the revitalised Kelis, Massive Attack, M.I.A. and Lily Allen.
www.bigchill.net

Three Choirs Festival, 7-30 August

Gloucester, Gloucestershire
World-famous classical music festival rotating between cathedral cities of Gloucester, Worcester (next year) and Hereford and showing major artists alongside local ones. This year includes performances by the Philharmonia, King's Singers, soprano Amanda Roocroft, organist Simon Preston.
www.3choirs.org

Tribe of Doris, 10-15 August

Black Down Hills, Devon
Vibrant exchange of dance, acoustic music, song and ceremony now in its 18th year, with dance from Latin America, Middle East, Cuba, Sufi whirling and various African forms. Primarily participatory, it specialises in drumming from around the world and this year takes a Ghanaian theme.
doris@tribeofdoris.co.uk

 Beautiful Days, 20-22 August

Ottery St Mary, Devon
James, Newton Faulkner, The Wailers headline the Levellers' festival emanating punk-folk good cheer and named after their biggest hit.
www.beautifuldays.org

acoustic-ladyland_2Aeon, 27-29 August

Crediton, Devon
Cheap'n'cheerful event featuring Acoustic Ladyland (pictured left), Polar Bear, MJ Cole, avant-jazz, oddball electronica and a smidgeon of indie.
www.aeonfestival.com

Shrewsbury Folk, 27-30 August

Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Afroc Celt Sound System, Bellowhead, Dervish lead an event taking folk festivalling back to its roots, replete with multifarious Morris dance troupes.
www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

 

Wales


Coastline Bluegrass, 4–6 June

Llandudno, Gwynedd
Bluegrass Stufi, Rawhide, Baker’s Fabulous Boys top Wales' premier banjo-pickin' mandolin-swingin' deep south hoedown on the north-west coast.
www.coastlinebluegrass.co.uk

max_cooperGottwood, 11-12 June

Llanfaethlu, Anglesey
Cutting-edge electronic party takes advantage of Welsh island hospitality with DJ Format, Max Cooper (pictured), David E Sugar.
www.gottwood.co.uk

Isle Of Man Bay Festival, 18-20 June

Douglas, Isle of Man
Spandau Ballet, JLS, The Saturdays create unreconstructed poptasticness, out in the middle of the Irish Sea.
www.bayfestival.im

Wakestock, 2-4 July

Abersoch, Gwynedd
Find Eric Prydz, Maximo Park, Ting Tings at surf-centric event sponsored by an energy drink and jammed with young club sounds.
www.wakestock.co.uk


National Eisteddfod of Wales, 31 July-7 August

Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys, Ebbw Vale
The national Welsh-language festival of poetry, singing, drama and visual art. Performers include celebrated choir Only Men Allowed, the harpist Catrin Finch, Rhydian Roberts and other Welsh stars of the West End and operatic stage.
www.eisteddfod.org.uk


Festival in the Shire, 13-15 August

Pafiliwn Bont, Pontrhydfendigaid, Dyfed
A celebration of all things Tolkien-inspired in mid-Wales. Festival in the Shire will be the most comprehensive event ever held for the fans of JRR Tolkien, with a conference, a fan exposition of art, books and memorabilia with its own talks and programs as well as a large festival with stalls, local food, live music and entertainment.
www.festivalintheshire.com

Green Man, 20-22 August

Glanusk, Powys
Doves, Flaming Lips, Joanna Newsom headline. Where the Wild Things Are meets The Wicker Man to a thoughtful indie soundtrack in south Wales. Possibly.
www.greenman.net

Faenol Festival, 27-30 August

Faenol Estate, Bangor, Gwynedd
Welsh superstar Bryn Terfel’s 10-year-old outdoor "Brynfest" in north-west Wales fields big mainstream names such as Westlife, opera tenor Rolando Villazon, comedian Al Murray, singer Rhydian Roberts, Welsh National Opera and the great baritone himself. The Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary Show includes a flying display.
www.faenolfestival.com/

 

South

 

florence_and_the_machineIsle Of Wight, 11-13 June

Newport, Isle of Wight
Famous family festival includes Jay-Z, The Strokes, Paul McCartney, Florence + the Machine (pictured) and Blondie. A biggie with Hendrix heritage showcases some of the summer's biggest festival names.
www.isleofwightfestival.com

Blissfields, 2-4 July

Alresford, Hampshire
Stereo MCs, Dub Pistols, Imperial Leisure at bouncy 10-year-old bash that doesn't take itself too seriously.
www.blissfields.co.uk

Marlborough Jazz Festival, 9-11 July

Marlborough, Wilts
Founded in 1986, the festival attracts 6,000 people to watch a range of famous touring acts as well as British jazz musicians, including Ray Butcher Sextet, Chez Raja Collective, The Red Stripe Band, Nora McCarthy, World Service Project.
www.marlboroughjazz.co.uk

Larmer Tree, 14-18 July

Tollard Royal, Dorset
For those who think a weekend isn't long enough, Larmer Tree's first bands are on Wednesday night. Toots & the Maytals, Jools Holland, Martha Wainwright are on the bill.
www.larmertreefestival.co.uk

Swanage Jazz Festival, 16-18 July

Swanage, Dorset
21st year for the Dorset jazz festival, with Stan Tracey, Gilad Atzmon, Renato D’Aiello Italian Band, Sarah Gillespie Quartet, Hotsy Totsy, TJ Johnson and his Band and Amy Roberts among many.
www.swanagejazz.org.uk

staff-benda-bililiWOMAD, 23-25 July

Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Gil Scott Heron, Rolf Harris and Staff Benda Bilili (pictured) lead Peter Gabriel's original world music celebration, still going strong after 28 years.
www.womad.org

Camp Bestival, 30 July-1 August

East Lulworth, Dorset
Madness, Human League, George Clinton are featured attractions at not so much a music festival as a family festival with music.
www.campbestival.net

‘80s Rewind Festival, 20-22 August

Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Packed to the gills with Eighties pop stars, such as Boy George, Rick Astley, Tony Hadley with ABC & Go West, the ultimate feast of guilty pleasures.
www.rewindfestival.com

Brighton Kora Festival, 21 August

Brighton Parade W Sussex.
The UK’s first festival of African Kora music features Kora players Seckou Keita, Kadialy Kouyate, Jali Burama Mbye, Diabel Cissoko, Sura Susso, Modou Cissoko and Jali Keba Susso as well as African percussion-based Hilife dance band Yiraba.
Information on Facebook and tickets from www.wegottickets.com

Serenata Festival, 26-28 August

Smedmore Estate, Kimmeridge, Dorset
Light classical festival launches with five stages and a three-day show, including singers Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Faryl Smith, clarinettist Emma Johnson and violinist Ruth Palmer. A Boutique Art Fair alongside includes exhibits from Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Sir Peter Blake and Sir Terry Frost, plus emerging artists.
www.serenatafestival.com

Jersey Live
, 4-5 September

Jersey, Channel Islands
The Channel Islands more than holding their own in the festival stakes with Paul Weller, Groove Armada, Biffy Clyro.
www.jerseylive.org.uk

the_prodigyBestival, 9-12 September

Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight
Roxy Music, The Prodigy (pictured), Dizzee Rascal are top fare - this year's fancy dress theme of “Fantasy” is appropriate for Bestival's top-notch music and other-worldly frolics.
www.bestival.net

End Of The Road, 10-12 September

Tollard Royal, Dorset
A group of alt-Americana fans set up their own festival and found a devoted audience - big names include Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, Wilco.
www.endoftheroadfestival.com

 

London

 

Sydenham Music Festival, 23 May-27 June

St Bartholomew’s Church, Sydenham, South London
Opera singer Susan Bullock, violinist Sergei Dogadin and cellist Maja Bogdanovic among the classical artists in the 7th Sydenham festival
www.sydenhammusic.net

CREATE10, 19 June-1 August

Various venues in East London, including Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow, Hackney, Greenwich, Whitechapel and Docklands
Arts festival taking place in the five London 2012 host boroughs this summer. A “farmers’ market” of culture, where everything is fresh and locally sourced from 12,000 resident East London artists, many of international renown. More than 200 activities including diving into a surreal underwater soundscape at London Fields Lido, singing and dancing to urban music stars such as Dizzee Rascal, building a vegetable villa in Hackney, singing along with Paloma Faith, a ping-pong spectacular, a new ENO opera on The Duchess of Malfi with audience participation, and a special exhibition in a disused post office in Hackney.
www.createlondon.org (festival sponsored by Deutsche Bank)

08_The_Mill_iiiCity of London Festival, 21 June-9 July

Various London venues including Barbican Theatre, Guildhall, and outside St Paul's Cathedral.
International dance and classical music festival including circus from Ockham's Razor (pictured), capoeira dance from Mestre Ponciano Almeida, StopGAP Dance Company, Brazilian company Deborah Colker, and the Aurora Orchestra with Cordão de Ouro.
www.colf.org (festival sponsor: BNY Mellon)

Greenwich+Docklands International Festival 2010, 24 June-3 July, 10 days of free events

National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Park, Royal Observatory Gardens, Canary Wharf and other localities.
10 days of free events including dance, fireworks, art installations, and a particular focus on dance on 3 July in and around Canary Wharf, with all-day outdoor attractions including Cascade, a production set on a submerged island, and hip hop circus set on "silver trees".
www.festival.org

Hard Rock Calling, 25-27 June

Hyde Park, London
Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam head festival possibly designed with the media-mythic “Fifty Quid Bloke” in mind.
www.hardrockcalling.co.uk

pinkWireless, 2-4 July

Hyde Park, London
Pink! (pictured), LCD Sound System, Jay-Z are the big names - anyone looking at ads on the London Underground might well imagine this is the summer's only major festival.
www.wirelessfestival.co.uk

Lovebox Weekender, 16-18 July

Victoria Park, London
Dizzee Rascal, Roxy Music, Grace Jones lead festival curated by dance duo Groove Armada which hits pay-dirt with solid golf line-up.
www.lovebox.net


boy_blue_entertainmentShoreditch Festival, 16-18 July

Shoreditch Park, New North Road, N1
Free events involving East London and international talent, including Proms in Shoreditch Park with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra dance from Boy Blue Entertainment (pictured) and a firework finale. Music includes East London talents Brassroots, anarchic gypsy-punk outfit The Destroyers, Yiddish Twist Orchestra, Congolese Soukous band Zong Zing All Stars and headliners Choc Quib Town. Film provided by Barbican Film includes Buster Keaton silent movies with piano accompaniment from Radio 4’s Colin Sell (I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue).
www.shoreditchfestival.org.uk

L.E.D., 27-28 August

Victoria Park, London
David Guetta, Leftfield, Goldfrapp are top of the bill here - night-clubbing in daylight in a south London park is more fun than it sounds.
www.ledfestival.net

South West Four, 28-29 August

Clapham Common, London
And Fatboy Slim, Armin van Buuren, Paul Oakenfold are top here - night-clubbing in daylight in a south London park is more fun than it sounds (part two).
www.southwestfour.com

 

South-East

 

Budd_hangGlyndebourne Festival, 23 May-29 August

Lewes, East Sussex
The world-famous countryhouse opera-with-picnic festival shows its first-ever production of Britten's Billy Budd (picture left), a new Don Giovanni with Gerald Finley and a revival of the historic 1975 David Hockney Rake's Progress, Macbeth, Cosi fan tutte and Hänsel und Gretel. See theartsdesk's season's listings
www.glyndebourne.com

medway_festival_fiery_finale2Fuse Medway Festival, 12–26 June

Chatham Riverside, Rochester Castle Gardens, high streets in Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, and other outdoor localities.
High street circus and acts, video installations, a mobile grand piano, audience-participation cycling events, and all sorts of wacky family things to see and join in. Ends on 26 June with a monster firework display on board LV21, a 40-metre steel-hulled lightship (pictured right).
www.fuse2010.org.uk

International Youth Arts Festival, 2-11 July

Kingston, Surrey
Ten-day festival produced and performed by young people from all over the world, with indoor and outdoor events kicks off with Raise the Roof!, a dance and music show, and includes 100 events in nine venues, with a gala performance of Godspell attended by Prince Edward.
www.iyafestival.org.uk

The Hop Farm, 3 July

Paddock Wood, Kent
The Garden of England comes alive to the sound of Sixties icons Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Ray Davies, Blondie (and Debbie Harry)
www.hopfarmfestival.com

Lounge On The Farm, 9-11 July

Canterbury, Kent
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Toots & the Maytals, Courtney Pine shine amid a fabulously eclectic selection of bands amidst the hay-bales and gorgeous food.
www.loungeonthefarm.co.uk

GuilFest, 16-18 July

Guildford, Surrey
Orbital, Human League, Status Quo headline the only place you can catch Hawkwind sharing a stage with N-Dubz.
www.guilfest.co.uk

enter-shikariRedfest, 23-24 July

Redhill, Surrey
Enter Shikari (pictured left), Hadouken! The Sunshine Underground top noisy, ebullient crossover of indie and electronic dance - "nu rave" even - is Redfest’s game.
www.redfest.co.uk

Frimchett, 30 July-1 August

Frimley Green, Surrey
Easy-going old school soul, funk and blues festival in aid of the charity Help For Heroes with Womack & Womack, Roachford, Dr Feelgood.
http://mytchettevents.com/musicfestival.html

One Love, 6-8 August,

Chigwell, Essex
Luciano, Tippa Irie, Benjamin Zephaniah lead vital roots reggae bash appropriately sponsored by Jamaican overproof rum.
www.onelovefestival.co.uk

Vintage at Goodwood, 13-15 August

Goodwood, West Sussex
Wayne Hemingway’s new event that promises to celebrate "all that is best about British popular culture" with Sandie Shaw, Heaven 17, The Faces.
www.vintageatgoodwood.com

Weyfest, 3-5 September

Tilford, Surrey
Main acts Mungo Jerry, Seth Lakeman, The Stranglers aim at the kind of fellow who likes a bit of Focus or Curved Air with his real ale.
www.weyfest.co.uk

Offset, 4-5 September

Redbridge, Essex
The Mystery Jets, Liquid Liquid, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster and avant-indie take centre-stage at this imaginatively programmed event.
http://offsetfestival.co.uk

 

East

 

oyster_bandEly Folk Festival, 9-11 July

Ely, Cambridgeshire
Top of the bill are Oyster Band, Lau, The Demon Barber Roadshow. Folk is a core staple of Brit festival culture and Ely is the folk festivaller's folk festival.
www.elyfolk.co.uk

Latitude, 15-18 July

Henham, Suffolk
Florence + the Machine, Belle and Sebastian, Vampire Weekend lift high-end weekend where rock and pop are matched by stages given over to Sadler's Wells and the Royal Opera House.
www.latitudefestival.co.uk

mercuryrevSecret Garden Party, 22-25 July

East Anglia
Gorillaz Sound System, Mercury Rev, Marina & the Diamonds show how Secret Garden Party's profile grows incrementally with each passing year. The secret is out!
http://new.secretgardenparty.com/2010/

Cambridge Folk, 29 July-1 August

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Kris Kristofferson, Natalie Merchant, Seasick Steve are hot tickets. All the more exciting for dealing with folk on a global rather than parochial level.
www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk

Harvest At Jimmys,
11-12 September

Wherstead near Ipswich, Suffolk
The Zutons, Newton Faulkner, The Futureheads and TV docu-star Jimmy Doherty take the festival season to its autumnal conclusion.
www.harvestatjimmys.co

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Germaine Greer tops the bill at Porlock Festival Germaine Greer and Marcia Willett, are among the leading lights at this year’s Porlock Arts Festival from 9th – 12th September. Germaine, controversial author of The Female Eunuch, will be appearing on Saturday night. An acclaimed academic and outspoken broadcaster she has appeared on television in such favourites as “Have I Got News for You”, “Grumpy Old Women” and controversially “Celebrity Big Brother”. Popular local author Marcia Willett opens the festival on Thursday evening. She has a great affinity with Exmoor and a number of her stories, including her latest The Summer House, are based in and around the Porlock area. On Friday, throughout the day, over 20 local authors will gather to discuss their work and sign copies of their books. The day will be informal and relaxed with refreshments and free entrance. On Friday evening we welcome three principal artists from Opera Novella in London, who will perform a variety of opera favourites. This promises to be a stunning event to delight a musical audience. Also on Friday evening, at Dovery Manor, Widsith and Deor Storytelling Theatre will take the stage for their unique theatrically performed stories, taken from three ancient texts and suitable for adults and teens alike. On Sunday afternoon the Festival showcases Greg Chapman’s one man play ‘Small Town to Big Apple’ at the final venue of his UK tour. This promises to be a funny and moving show for everyone who enjoys theatre. Throughout the festival artists, photographers and a host of crafts people will be hosting local exhibitions, while the weekend also showcases a Writers’ Forum, a drama workshop and the Poetry Picnic. Miles Robertson, Chairman of the organising committee, said, “I am delighted that we have, once again, secured some great names for the festival. Last year we sold out in advance for four big events. This year we have even more to offer. We are advising people to buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment.” A full programme of events is available on the Festival website www.porlockfestival.org or from the Porlock Visitor Centre by phoning 01643 863150 or by emailing porlockci@somerset.gov.uk

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