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The AccountingWEB summer festival planner

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27th May 2010
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As a resident of Brighton, the end of May bank holiday comes as something of a relief after the relentless cultural adventure of the Brighton Festival. This four-week celebration of Bohemia-on-Sea’s creativity - curated this year by Brian Eno for extra cool value - now claims to be Europe’s second biggest arts festival behind Edinburgh.

But Brighton is just an appetiser for what has become summer tradition in the UK. The “season” that used to include Ascot, Wimbledon, Glyndebourne and the Lord’s Test has now expanded to include Glastonbury and a wide variety of other festivals catering for every conceivable cultural and musical taste.

If you’re at a loose end this weekend and perhaps climate change and volcano ash have prompted you to think more about UK holidays this year, we have prepared this short guide on some of the festive possibilities in the coming months.

As always, this article is just a starting point and we look forward to suggestions and comments from members on the festivals they attend. Also keep an eye out for the entrepreneurial possibilities – you’d be surprised how many businesses and accountancy firms use festivals as an opportunity to promote themselves through sponsorships and partnerships. Insights from those with experience of this side of the festival scene would be welcome too.

JUNE

Hay on Wye (27 May-6 June) -  Better get your skates on if you want to take part in this Guardian-sponsored festival of literature and arts, which runs until Sunday week. “Explore the writer’s realm of truths and language and of private, secret worlds,” promises the official website of a programme that includes Ian McEwen, Bill Bryson, Harold Evans and many, many more.
 
Isle of Wight (11-13 June) – Ideal venue for those who like watching mainstream rock acts while corralled in an outdoor detention centre with 70,000 Carling-swilling teenagers. Paul McCartney headlines this year.

Download (11-13) – Midlands rival to the Isle of Wight offers more acts and more heaviosity – and more people. More than 100,000 are expected to turn up to enjoy AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine and Them Crooked Vultures.

Glastonbury
(24-27 June) - The big daddy of the festival scene, estimated to generate a turnover in the region of £70m, and in danger of collapsing under the weight of its own success. Hundreds of music and comedy acts and much else besides to share with your 175,000 chums in the rolling Somerset countryside.

JULY

T in the Park
(9-11 July) – The annual gathering of Scotland’s rock clans takes place in Balado, Kinross-shire and combines big international acts (Kasabian and Muse from south of the border, Black-Eyed Peas and Julian Casablancas from the US) with local heroes such as Biffy Clyro and Paulo Nutini.

Latitude (16-18 July) - Family-friendly music, comedy and fun near the Gordon Brown-endorsed holiday resort of Southwold, Suffolk. The wholesome spirit is embodied by this year’s headliners Florence + The Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend. If AccountingWEB.co.uk endorsed music festivals, this would probably be the one.

The Secret Garden Party (22-25 July) – An alternative festival near Abbots Ripton, Huntingdonshire for those who feel events like Glastonbury are too big, commercial and environmentally damaging. “By being smaller it has kept the great feel of how a festival should be, lots of mad things…” and approachable people, according to one enthusiast on UK Business forums.

WOMAD (23-25 July) – Based in Malmsbury, Wilts, WOMAD has flourished over the years with support from Peter Gabriel’s Real World record label to become the annual high point for World Music fans. Beards and tie-die may be in evidence, but recommended for family festival-goers looking for a relaxed, politically aware experience.

AUGUST

V Festival (21 Aug, Chelmsford, Essex; 22 Aug, Weston, Salop) – Two-site celebration of indie/rock “packed with polite people with crisp £20 notes” in the words of one UK Business Forums member. Kings of Leon and Kasabian headline this year.

Edinburgh (13 Aug-5 Sept) – Three-week arts festival is Europe's largest and includes everything from mainstream opera, film and TV events to digital culture and legendary fringe events that range from student reviews to stand-up comedy and two-seater, mobile film shows. This one is for those with healthy expense accounts or festival pros like PKF partner Philip Fisher, who started his career as a theatre critic by covering Edinburgh for AccountingWEB.co.uk

Beautiful Days (20-22 Aug) Organised by folk-rockers The Levellers and their entourage, Beautiful Days may come with a crusty coating, but these days includes mainstream names like Billy Bragg, Fairport Convention and Newton Faulkner.

Green Man – (20-22 Aug) Wickerman-like tribute curated by a band of hippies in the shadow of the Brecon Beacons. Expect a lot of nu-folk with a dash of psychedelia. Flaming Lips, Billy Bragg and Mumford and Sons feature this year. For a preview of the Green Man vibe, you could try taking part in their annual boat party, which sets off from St Katherine’s Pier in London at 1.45pm on Saturday (29 May).

Lowlands
(20-22 Aug) – Combining elements (comedy, literature and street theatre) and acts from the large UK festivals, Lowlands has the advantage of taking place in the socially tolerant Netherlands. If it’s possible to miss Blink-182, Hot Chip, Queens of The Stone Age or Mumford and Sons in the UK this summer, you can catch up with them here. The indoor Crossing Border festival in Den Haag in November is also recommended by AccountingWEB.

Reading and Leeds (27-29 Aug) – Celebrate the end of the school holidays by packing the kids off to either of these two-site rock monstrosities, where they can enjoy the revived Guns ‘n’ Roses and the likes of Blink-182. “Taking 20 minutes out of selling burgers to fight with customers using the ketchup and mustard are part of the festival work experience,” said one Reading veteran on UK Business Forums.

SEPTEMBER

Bestival (9-12 Sept) - Magic fairy fancy dress party and retro rave curated by the Isle of Wight's famous son, Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank. The theme this year is “fantasy” and the bill includes Roxy Music and The Xx alongside the more usual dance fare (Hot Chip, Dizzee Rascal). Also linked to the more family-oriented Camp Bestival arts and music festival on the mainland (Dorset) at the end of July.

End of the Road (10-12 Sept) - Laid back weekend event in the lovely surroundings of Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset. Music is an eclectic blend of indie and leftfield acts along with visiting Americana stars such as Yo La Tengo, Wilco and The Low Anthem.

OCTOBER

Cheltenham literary festival (8-17 Oct) – Something a little more sedate for when the days start drawing in during the autumn. lectures, poetry readings, children’s events, interviews, storytelling, book groups, writing workshops, Cheltenham has become something of a festive centre these days; as well as the literary event, you can also attend its science festival (9-13 June); classical music festival (2-17 July); and Jazz music festival (April). And did somebody mention National Hunt racing (March)?

OK - we admit it, an article like this can only scratch the surface of the events mounted by what seems like Britain's fastest-growing industry. If you want to find out more about what's going on in your area and sphere of interest, "Boho" on UK Business Forums suggests visiting eFestivals.co.uk. What they can't provide, however, are the unique insights that AccountingWEB members can - please let us know your festival tips by commenting below.

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By Becky Midgley
27th May 2010 14:14

A few more for you to consider...

Hop Farm, Global gathering, Sonisphere, Boomtown Fair, Rebellion, Brecon Jazz Fest, Guilfest, Camden Crawl, Glade, Bath Fringe, Nas, Rockness, Lovebox weekender, Big Chill and Shambala...

Enjoy this thread!

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By Darren Falkingham
28th May 2010 10:38

...and Dot-To-Dot, this weekend!

...in Bristol, Nottingham and Manchester:

http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/

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By Essex34UK
28th May 2010 11:35

Global Gathering !   Good shout Becky

Out of the office and raving on in a muddy field at 5 o' clock in the morning. Can't wait for the last weekend in July.

Are there any other accountants on here who have experienced the madness that is GG ?

 

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By Ros Martin
10th Jun 2010 19:46

Birthing problems

Just picked up on this thread - I went to Global Gathering when I was 8 months pregnant and thought I had gone into labour half way through the night!  This year am contenting myself with the annual pilgrimage to Glastonbury - but the day after the Budget is bad timing!  I will just have to answer the calls from my clients on my mobile in a field of mud ...

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
23rd Jun 2010 20:37

guilfest

If you have kids this is the best festival, the smaller tents are great, and the kidzone is fab. a really nice crowd unlike some of the others, it is a real mix for all ages with or without kids.  really easy going fest-

- Kind Regards Sarah@ Douglas Accountancy & Bookkeeping Services, Glasgow

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