MAY

LOCAL EVENT
SWINDON FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE
Where: Various venues, Swindon
When: until 17 May
What: Campfire storytelling down on the farm? Poems on the Big Screen? Children’s fun day? It’s all at this enjoyable local literary fest offering two weeks of readings and talks from folks such as Simon Armitage, Margaret Drabble, Michael Morpurgo, Julian Clary, Colin Dexter, David Attenborough, Ruth Padel and Alistair McGowan. Price: various. Tel: 01793 771080, web: www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk

BRIGHTON FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues, Brighton
When: until 24 May
What: With artist Anish Kapoor installed as guest artistic director and a new chief exec at the helm, this long-running multi-arts shebang at the seaside is as unapologetically highbrow as ever. Look out for big names such as Diamanda Galas, Shakespeare’s Globe, David Attenbrough, Takács Quartet, Antony & The Johnsons and Bon Iver across a bill containing 26 premières and exclusives, plus 11 free outdoor events. Kapoor himself provides two site-specific artworks. Price: various. Tel: 01273 709709, web: www.brightonfestival.org

LOCAL EVENT
BRISTOL FESTIVAL OF IDEAS
Where: Various venues, Bristol
When: until 30 May
What: Five years old and the local brainfest is bigger than ever. Hear scientists, philosophers, historians and thinkers such as Marcus du Sautoy, Ben Goldacre, Alain de Botton, Tristram Hunt, David Aaronovitch, Vince Cable, Susie Orbach, Julian Baggini, Susan Blackmore and the ace AC Grayling talking about the era’s weightiest issues from the economy to globalization to Darwin and body image. Price: various. Web: www.ideasfestival.co.uk

MALVERN SPRING GARDENING SHOW
Where: Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire
When: 7-10 May
What: Over 30 acres of green-fingered loveliness at the foot of the Malvern Hills. The first of the great national RHS Flower Shows, it attracts over 100,000 visitors from across Britain clamouring to see sleb gardeners, this year including James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift. Plus the RHS Floral Marquee, floral art displays, specialist food and drink hall, organic gardening corner and shopping opportunities (‘plant crèche’ is available). Kids’ stuff, too. New for 2009: Eco Home & Garden Area, Spring Fashion Day and Flavours Of The World with chef Felice Tocchini. Price: £13-£16 (no on-the-gate admission 7 May), under-16s free. Tel: 01684 584900, web: www.threecounties.co.uk

ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES: THE FANS STRIKE BACK
Where: Butlins, Minehead, Somerset
When: 8-10 May
What: First of this year’s two ATP weekends – for the uninitiated, cooler-than-thou indoor orgies of cult, esoteric music as enjoyed by girls with vintage hair and boys in Shellac t-shirts. This leg sees Devo, Spiritualized, Beirut, The Jesus Lizard and Sleep blow the roof off the Skyline Pavilion. Beach, water park, shops and services etc all open for business, too. Chalet accommodation – get a gang together or share with others. (See also 15-17 May). Price: £150-£160. Ffi: www.atpfestival.com

FOLK ON THE PIER
Where: Cromer Pier, Cromer, Norfolk
When: 8-10 May
What: Fast-selling North Sea-based roots gathering this year featuring Fairport ‘Acoustic’ Convention as well as Vin Garbutt, Strawbs (full electric band), Baka Beyond, Brass Monkey, The Two Man Gentlemen Band (USA) and many more. Price: £75, concs, day tickets. Tel: 01263 512495, web: www.folkonthepier.co.uk

HOLMFIRTH FESTIVAL OF FOLK
Where: Holmfirth, Huddersfield
When: 8-10 May
What: Community folk festival popular with both hardcore folkies and locals, much of it free. Eliza Carthy, Bellowhead, Peatbog Faeries, Ruth Notman and festie regular Simon Armitage hold up the performance end, while there are plenty of dances, ceilidhs, singarounds, sessions and workshops. Price: various, mostly free. Tel: 07841 646308, web: www.holmfirthfestivaloffolk.co.uk

SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER 44
Where: Pontins Holiday Camp, Southport, Merseyside
When: 8-10 May
What: Get your bling on! Launched 22 years ago as a soul music weekender, Southport is now a hub of all ‘black’ music and attracts 5,000 revellers twice a year. Expect soul, R&B, soulful house, rare groove and jazz from cratediggers Jazzy Jeff, Joey Negro, The Dreem Team and more, plus live acts including Ms Dynamite, Dwele, Kaidi Tatham and Stephanie McKay. Cancellations only (join waiting list online). Sold out. Tel: 0870 990 1987, web: www.southportweekender.co.uk

TREDEGAR HOUSE FOLK FESTIVAL
Where: Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales
When: 8-10 May
What: Happy 20th birthday to this folk fest that was originally set up to celebrate traditional dance styles in south-east Wales. Expect a flock of international dance groups as well as bands, ceilidhs and song sessions, too. Brass Monkey, Calan and One String Loose have all signed up for this year. Price: c£30 w/e, individual event tickets. Tel: 01633 246241, web: www.tredegarhousefolk.ik.com

LOCAL EVENT
BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL COMIC EXPO
Where: Ramada Plaza/Mercure Hotel, Bristol
When: 9-10 May
What: Comic book convention featuring dealers and presses, special guests and signings, plus a spotlight on Manga. Price: Sat sold out, some Sun tickets remain. Web: www.fantasyevents.org

RADIO ONE’S BIG WEEKEND
Where: Lydiard Park, Swindon
When: 9-10 May
What: The biggest free ticketed event in Europe. Expect over half a million people to apply for the 40,000 tickets available across the weekend – if you haven’t already registered on website, you’ll have to listen on the radio instead. Priority given to those living in Swindon and Wiltshire. Snow Patrol, Dizzee Rascal, Kasabian, The Script, Lily Allen, Ne-Yo and N-Dubz join a host of A-list names from the pop and rock worlds appearing on the Main Stage. There’s more esoteric stuff on the In New Music We Trust Stage (Maximo Park, The Enemy, Doves, Basement Jaxx et al), Chase & Status, Zane Lowe and many more on the outdoor dance stage, and an unsigned area. Price: free. Web: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/

LOCAL EVENT
SOUTHBANK BRISTOL ARTS TRAIL
Where: Southville, Ashton & Bedminster, Bristol
When: 9-10 May
What: A weekend of arts and performance in homes, churches, community centres and public houses around Southville, Bedminster and Ashton. Venues will be open 11am-6pm, welcoming the public to take in work from about 135 local artists, performers, musicians and other creative sorts. Price: free (small donation for some performance events). Web: www.sbaweb.co.uk

NEWBURY INTERNATIONAL SPRING FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues, Newbury, Berkshire
When: 9-23 May
What: 31-year-old annual classical fest, welcoming top artists from around the globe including violinist Tasmin Little, The Sixteen and The Prague Symphony Orchestra, plus jazz from Gwilym Simcock Trio, Alec Dankworth Quintet and Stacey Kent. Price: various. Tel: 01635 32421, web: www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk

ISLE OF WIGHT WALKING FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues, Isle Of Wight
When: 9-24 May
What: The biggest walking festival in Britain. Includes a speed-dating walk and children’s walks, as well as an evening with sleb rambler Janet Street-Porter. Price: various, mainly free. Web: www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk

FUTURESONIC
Where: Bridgewater Hall and various venues, Manchester
When: 13-16 May
What: Urban digital culture festival now in its 14th year with 300 artists and 100 events across 30 venues. World premières of some pretty cool conceptual art including a wheelchair rugby re-enactment of Darwin’s theory of evolution and John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ played on the bells of Liverpool cathedral, music from Murcof and Anti-Pop Consortium, and talks from key figures in the digital world. Price: various, many free. Web: www.futuresonic.com

THE GREAT ESCAPE
Where: Various venues, Brighton
When: 14-16 May
What: Over 300 bands across 34 venues in three days, courtesy of the UK’s answer to South By South West. Launched in 2006, it has already earned a reputation as a place for fans and industry pros alike to spot new talent. This year’s performing dudes include Patrick Wolf, Brakes, Noah & The Whale, Juliette & The New Romantiques, Peggy Sue and I Blame Coco. A wristband gets you into all of ’em. Industry talks, panel debates and celebrity interviews too (for industry delegates). Price: £45-£150. Tel: 0207 688 9000, web: www.escapegreat.com

SHORT CIRCUIT
Where: Roundhouse, London
When: 14-17 May
What: Five-day festival dedicated entirely to electronica and featuring performances by pioneers such as Holger Czukay, Sonar, Touch and The Radiophonic Workshop, as well as screenings, talks, workshops, installations and collaborations. Price: various. Tel: 0844 482 8008, web: www.roundhouse.org.uk

ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES: CURATED BY THE BREEDERS
Where: Butlins, Minehead, Somerset
When: 15-17 May
What: Second leg of the leftfield love-in, with a delicious spread laid out by curators Kim and Kelley Deal, aka The Breeders, who rope in old pals Throwing Muses as well as current excitement-stirrers Bon Iver, CSS and Foals, Knowle West’s own Tricky and fantastic multi-instrumentalist Frenchman Yann Tiersen. (See also 15-17 May). Price: £150-£160. Ffi: www.atpfestival.com

HARDCORE HEAVEN
Where: Pontins, Southport
When: 15-17 May
What: The only 100% hardcore event in the UK, now extended to three nights. Darren Styles, Gammer and Nicky Blackmarket do their thing. Price: £105 adult w/e, VIP sold out. Tel: 0208 3635222, web: www.slamminvinyl.com

WOOD
Where: Braziers Park, Oxford
When: 15-17 May
What: Treehuggers of the world unite for this one year-old, nature-themed festie from the people behind the Truck Festival (see 19-20 July). Music on two stages from Brakes, Dodgy (acoustic), Karine Polwart, Spiers & Boden and more plus workshops covering singing, woodcraft, making wallets from orange juice cartons, and everything in between.
Plus local organic food and drink, campfire singalongs, composting toilets, showers heated by wood-burning stove and a solar-powered stage made of – you guessed it – wood. Price: £55 adult w/e, under 14s free. Web: www.thisistruck.com

BURNS AN’ A’ THAT! FESTIVAL
Where: Culzean Castle & Country Park, Ayrshire, Scotland
When: 16-24 May
What: Billing itself as “Scotland’s biggest party”, this celebrates the life (and this year the 250th anniversary) of Robert Burns, as well as contemporary Scottish culture. Past years have drawn Pete Doherty, Lou Reed, Idlewild and Status Quo to the stage. Theatre, comedy and a coarse fishing competition too. Price: various. Tel: 01292 616265, web: www.burnsfestival.com

LOCAL EVENT
BRISTOL VINTAGE TRANSPORT FESTIVAL
Where: Millennium Square, Anchor Rd, Bristol
When: 17 May
What: Free rides on vintage buses at this family event celebrating the past, the present and the future of public transport using both classic Bristol buses and more contemporary vehicles. Price: free. Web: www.bristolbusevents.co.uk

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
Where: Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London
When: 19-23 May
What: The most important date in the gardeners’ calendar by a country mile, drawing 157k green-fingered types every year. Take in 50 specially designed gardens by the likes of Robert Myers and Luciano Giubbilei, plus over 100 exhibitors from across the world presenting everything from strawberries to succulents. And spades more. Price: various, advance tickets only, no sales on gate. Tel: 0844 209 1810, web: www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea

KNOCKENGORROCH WORLD CEILIDH
Where: Knockengorroch Farm, nr Carsphairn, Scotland
When: 21-24 May
What: The Orb, Roni Size, Terrafolk and many others turn up on the two stages of the world/roots festival formerly known as Ceilidh Gall Gallowa and now in its 21st year. Plus sessions, fire show, cabaret, ceilidh, open mic, children’s marquee, puppets, workshops, storytelling, healing area, Celtic longhouse, stunning hillscapes, global shopping and real ales. Shuttle bus from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Price: £80 adult four days, concs. Web: www.knockengorroch.org.uk

ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues, Orkney, Scotland
When: 21-24 May
What: Concerts, ceilidhs, dances, sessions and more at this island-hopping shindig of homegrown and international folk talent, which this year boasts a massive bagpipe concert at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall featuring the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and three other acts, plus shows from Fiddlers Bid, Fullsceilidh Spellemannslag, Beoga, Buille and Karan Casey. Plus Kidsamonium featuring “trumpeting chickens” and kazoo. Price: tbc. Tel: 01856 851635, web: www.orkneyfolkfestival.com

HAY FESTIVAL
Where: Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Mid-Wales
When: 21-31 May
What: The country’s trendiest literary festival always reels in the book world’s biggest fish, so expect all the top novelists, poets, thinkers and writing celebs (confirmed so far: Heston Blumenthal, Marcus Brigstocke, Clive James, Gerald Scarfe, Robert Peston, Victoria Hislop, Rose Tremain, Carol Ann Duffy, Zoe Heller), as well as music from Jane Birkin and KT Tunstall, comedy and lots of vino-drenched literary orgies. Bill Clinton called it the “Woodstock of the mind”, the aphorism-spouting rascal. Price: various. Tel: 0870 787 2848, web: www.hayfestival.com

GLYNDEBOURNE
Where: Glyndebourne, nr Lewes, East Sussex
When: 21 May-30 Aug
What: Peerless and ultra-posh black-tie opera festival celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Tickets sell out about as fast as Glastonbury’s. A relatively conservative but undoubtedly superb programme this year: ‘Falstaff’, ‘Giulio Cesare’, ‘The Fairy Queen’, ‘Rusalka’, ‘L’Elisir D’Amore’ and ‘Tristan Unde Isolde’. Price £10 (standing)-£210 (stalls). Tel: 01273 813813, web: www.glyndebourne.com

CELTIC SPIRIT MUSIC FEST
Where: various venues, Abergavenny, South Wales
When: 22-24 May
What: Cerys Matthews, Chris Jagger and Diana Jones perform at this brand new festival (and Abergavenny’s first) featuring music from across the globe. More acts tbc.
Prices: various. Tel: 01873 735767, web: www.celticspiritmusicfest.co.uk

IREBY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where: Ireby, Cumbria
When: 22-23 May
What: Situated in a village on the north-western perimeter of the Lake District National Park, with concerts from the likes of Eddi Reader, Spiers & Boden, The New Rope String Band and more, sessions, cream teas, open mics, street entertainment and children’s performances. Price: various, many Sold Out, day tickets. Ffi: www.musicinireby.co.uk

FIREGATHERING FESTIVAL
Where: Ridge Farm, Capel, Surrey
When: 22-24 May
What: Sponsorship-free indie festival which started as a party in 2004. This year’s acts include Red Snapper, Soothsayers, Saravah Soul, Haight-Ashbury, The Jellyheads and Savage Lucy. Plus circus arts, cabaret, bonfires, healing area and workshops in juggling, poi, hula hoop and the like. Price: £69 adult w/e. Web: www.firegathering.co.uk

GLASTONBUDGET
Where: Turnpost Farm, Wymeswold, Leicestershire
When: 22-24 May
What: Europe’s largest and best tribute music festival not only has a laudable lack of pretension but also an impressive rainbow of talented covers bands like Four Fighters (“Lead singer Iain Angus and drummer Ric White capture the look, manner, and sound of Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins respectively”) and Who’s Who (“acknowledged within The Who hierarchy as a band that most
interprets the songs of The Who with honesty and integrity.”). Second stage for unsigned East Midlands hopefuls. Price: £52.50 w/e incl camping. Tel: 0116 269 8807, web: www.glastonbudget.co.uk

OFF THE TRACKS SPRING FESTIVAL
Where: Donington Park Farmhouse, Isley, Walton, Derbyshire
When: 22-24 May
What: Hippie-tastic fusion fest at which Banco De Gaia is as permanent a fixture as the real ale tent. Edward II, Peatbog Faeries, Zubzub and Inter Africa play too, and there are complementary therapies, sessions, stalls, and a children’s area. As it’s a permanent campsite, the bogs and showers are better than average, and you can always check into the luxury on-site hotel if you disagree. See also 4-6 Sept. Price: £60 adult w/e adv, day tickets, concs. Tel: 07825 512 168, web: www.offthetracks.co.uk

STRUMMERCAMP
Where: Manchester Rugby Club, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire
When: 22-24 May
What: It calls itself “the only festival that matters” – and it probably is if you’re a hardcore Clash fan. This charity event, you see, is organised by ‘amigos’ and fans of the late Joe Strummer, with performances from Billy Bragg, The Damned, The Alarm, The Mahones, TV Smith and more. Real ale and camping, too. Price: £59.50 adult w/e, day tickets. Web: www.strummercamp.co.uk

ACOUSTIC FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN
Where: Catton Hall Park, Derbyshire
When: 22-25 May
What: Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson makes his only UK appearance at this fine family-friendly festival full of unplugged folksy talent. Deacon Blue, The Christians, Imelda May and Mungo Jerry turn up too. 92 acres of rolling parkland to unwind in, plus children’s activities, food, bars etc. Price: £84 adult w/e camping. Web: www.acousticfestival.co.uk

BLACK HORSE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where: The Black Horse, Telham, nr Battle, East Sussex
When: 22-25 May
What: Celebrating its 21st birthday this year, this blues/folk/Celtic/world/jazz/soul/rock festival is based in a marquee at the back of a pub (where the new landlady’s cooking is second-to-none, apparently). This year it’s snaffled performances from Jim Moray, AChanak, Abdelkader Saadoun and Aynsley Lister among others. Plus workshops and sessions. Camping nearby. Price: £42 adult w/e adv, day tickets, eve tickets. Tel: 07787 710430 (enquiries only – buy tickets online), web: www.blackhorsefestival.org.uk

CHARLESTON FESTIVAL
Where: Charleston House, East Sussex
When: 15-24 May
What: Literary festival set in the summer home of the Bloomsbury set. Graham Swift, Jeremy Paxman, AS Byatt, David Lodge and Margaret Drabble are among the invited guests. Price: various. Web: www.charleston.org.uk

CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL
Where: Kelsall, nr Chester
When: 22-25 May
What: The brainchild of a group of local folk nuts, this annual bank holiday fixture based around the aptly-named Morris Dancer pub features heaps of folk legends young and old (Lau, Brass Monkey, Keith Donnelly, Bob Fox & Stu Luckley, Pete Coe) as well as comedy and workshops. Camping limited so book early. Price: £52 w/e, concs, day and eve tickets. Tel: 07005 977045, web: www.chesterfolk.org.uk

LOCAL EVENT
CHIPPENHAM FOLK FESTIVAL
Where: Chippenham town centre, Wiltshire
When: 22-25 May
What: Four days of folk song, dance and music by the riverside at this village-y knees-up now in its 38th year. Over 200 events to choose from, encompassing dance, music, singing, workshops, ceilidhs, etc, including concerts by Brass Monkey, Bella Hardy, Zoox, Crucible, Barry Goodman and Calan. Plus crafts, sessions and plenty of youth/children’s events. Price: £76 w/e, concs, camping. Tel: 01249 657190, web: www.chippfolk.co.uk

RUN TO THE SUN
Where: Trevelgue Holiday Park, Newquay, Cornwall
When: 22-25 May
What: Hitler never imagined this when he promoted Volkswagen. You’ve got Pendulum, Grooverider, Judge Jules, Dave Pearce and Hedkandi in the main arena, live bands, comedy, silent disco, beer garden and white-knuckle rides – plus a whole load of V-Dubs, starting with an eight-kilometre convoy from Reading services on the M4. Polish up your baby for the massive Show ‘n’ Shine on Sun. New for 2009: VW-only camping area. Price: £82 adult plus camping, caravans extra. Tel: 01637 851851, web: www.runtothesun.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
BATH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues, Bath
When: 22 May-6 June
What: The free opening night Party In The City takes place in the city centre again this year, beginning with the children’s procession at 5.30pm and including live music in various city centre venues and street performers en route ending with fireworks and a headline show at the Pavilion from Mali bluesman Vieux Farka Touré and his band. For the two-week festival itself, artistic director and pianist Joanna McGregor leads the crème de la crème of classical, opera, jazz, folk, world, electronica and multimedia talent, with tributes to Appalachian music and Brit composer Harrison Birtwhistle, as well as performances by the Jerusalem Quartet, pianists Freddy Kempf and Carole Cerasi, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and jazzers Maceo Parker and Branford Marsalis, and an opera in the Roman Baths complete with model ships. Various concerts and workshops aimed at youngsters and their families, too. Price: various. Tel: 01225 463362, web: www.bathmusicfest.org.uk

SALISBURY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues in and around Salisbury, Wilts
When: 22 May-6 June
What: Over 100 concerts, plays and exhibitions including world premières, special one-off exclusives and festival commissions. The Tallis Scholars, Orlando Consort and the London Mozart Players join the classical line-up, there’s lit from Tony Benn, Graham Swift and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, a new piece created for Stonehenge from featured artist and tabla player Kuljit Bhamra and plenty of free street entertainment, trails, workshops, films, and art events. Price: various. Tel: 01722 332977, web: www.salisburyfestival.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
BATH FRINGE FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues, Bath
When: 22 May-7 June
What: Bath goes all boho during this annual fiesta which embraces all the arts you can think of (and some which don’t have names yet) in venues, parks, streets, pubs, houses, and stranger places yet (like a glorious antique Spiegeltent). Artists international to local, famous and not-famous-yet (an unknown Jamie Cullum played here five years ago) for audiences of all ages. Confirmed acts so far include The Martin Simpson Trio, Handsome Family and Alamasala as well as the Bedlam Fair street performance festival during the weekend of 29-31 May. Check Venue for comprehensive listings nearer the time. Price: various, mostly free. Tel: 01225 463362, email: admin@bathfringe.co.uk, web: www.bathfringe.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
DOT TO DOT FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues in Bristol & Nottingham
When: 23-24 May
What: An indie bender running on two different days in two different cities. Choose between Bristol (23 May) and Nottingham (24 May), buy a wristband, and drop in on acts like Friendly Fires, Ladyhawke, Little Boots, Patrick Wolf and DJ Annie Mac in a variety of city centre venues throughout the day and into the early hours. Price: £30. Tel: 0871 310 0000, web: www.dottodotfestival.co.uk

EVOLUTION
Where: Spillers Wharf & Baltic Square, Newcastle
When: 24-25 May
What: Stretched to two days this year, this stonkingly good value two stage affair set on the Newcastle/Gateshead quayside showcases up’n’coming acts like The Wombats, White Lies, Imelda May, Little Boots, The View, The Maccabees and more. Not sure how The Human League got in there. Excellent series of free educational seminars/workshops on the future of the music industry, including a staged discussion between Rough Trade founder Geoff Travis and former EMI CEO Tony Wadsworth. Price: £9.50 per day. Web: www.evolutionfestival.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW
Where: Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
When: 27-30 May
What: It’s the biggest ooh-arr of the year, this huge, historical agricultural show on a 242-acre site. Competitions covering livestock, horses, art, cider, dairy produce, poultry, rabbits, cavies (guinea pigs to you and me), honey, floral art, shoeing, terriers and sheep shearing as well as trade stands plying everything from fudge to 4x4s. An eco-zone, plenty of hands-on family fun, woodland trails, canoeing on the lake, and an off-road course. Price: £17 adv adult. Tel: 01749 822200, web: www.bathandwest.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
SUNRISE CELEBRATION
Where: secret farm location, South Somerset
When: 28-31 May
What: Famously flooded off after just six hours last year, this charmingly right-on and eco-friendly affair is back with a bang, and “going back to its roots, and is going to reaffirm everything it was born to be in this time of turbulence and change for humanity”. Look out for The Dub Pistols, Baka Beyond, Martha Tilston, Lazy Habits and more, plus solar cinemas, old-time swing boats, enchanted gardens and games. Dedicated children’s area. Price: £99 adult w/e. Tel: 0845 108 0259, web: www.sunrisecelebration.com

LOCAL EVENT
WYCHWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where: Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
When: 29-31 May
What: Super-duper stuff from this fine West Country weekender – that is, Super Furry Animals and Supergrass, not to mention The Wonder Stuff, Oysterband, The Beat and Dub Colossus as well as performance from poet John Hegley, comedy from Arthur Smith, Sol Bernstein and Mundo Jazz, cinema, workshops from laughter therapy to tepee making, and traders. New for 2009: Children’s Literature Festival and under-the-radar talent at ‘Fresh On The Net Sessions’ curated by longtime Wychwood supporter Tom Robinson and recorded for his BBC 6Music show. Price: £110 adult w/e, day tickets. Tel: 01993 772580, web www.wychwoodfestival.com

LOCAL EVENT
THE BRISTOL VEGAN FAYRE
Where: The Amphitheatre and Waterfront Square, Bristol
When: 30-31 May
What: Three stages (starring The Blockheads and Horace Andy among others) at this seventh annual meat-free fiesta run by vegan organization Yaoh. Cookery demos, 140 stalls, talks, licensed bars, food and a kids’ area. Don’t expect any bacon butties. Ffi: www.veganfayre.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
BRISTOL MINI DAY
Where: Puxton Park, Hewish, Weston-super-Mare
When: 31 May
What: The iconic Mini celebrates its big five-o this year, so expect no stop to be un-pulled at this fun day for enthusiasts and their families (“whether your interest is in the Classic Mini or the New”). If the kids are restless, hit the giant indoor three-storey playbarn. Traders, show and shine, competitions, games, etc. Dogs allowed. No camping. Price: £6, day tickets, under-12s free. Tel: 01275 330425, web: www.bristolminiday.co.uk

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