WOMAD, RIVERMEAD, READING - JULY 23 -25
This year’s WOMAD is the usual mix of top quality artists from all over the world including Nigel Kennedy, David Byrne, the Dhol Foundation, Imbongi and loads more.
For more info see weww.womad.org

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL - JULY 29 - AUG 1
Amongst artists appearing this year are:
Jimmy Cliff, Beth Orton, Gillian Welch, Levellers (acoustic), Divine Comedy, Asleep At The Wheel, Bert Jansch, Brian McNeill, Dixie Hummingbirds, Dòchas, Dr Faustus,
Ezio, Horace X, Jarlath Henderson, Jim Moray, Josh Ritter, Keb’ Mo’, Kepa Junkera,
Last Night’s Fun, Loudon Wainwright III, Mariza, Michael McGoldrick Band, Mindy Smith, Oyster Ceilidh Band & Peter Buckley Hill
For full information see www.cam-folkfest.co.uk

SIDMOUTH FESTIVAL - JULY 30 - AUGUST 6
The Sidmouth International Festival celebrates its Golden Jubilee, filling the seaside Devon town with a full week of music, dance and song. A great line-up of artists includes Kate Rusby & John McCusker, Steeleye Span with Maddy Prior back at the helm, Ralph McTell, The Waterson Family Special with Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy and a rare appearance from Mike Waterson, plus many more artists. Concerts At the Radio 2 Concert Marquee includesuperb Irish group Danú who have just won the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Group; Basque Country phenomenon Kepa Junkera with his band, and captivating duo John Tams & Barry Coope.
See website www.sidmouthfestival.com for more details & ticket prices.

BROADSTAIRS FOLK WEEK - AUG 6 - 13
A host of folk and roots artists and dance troupes will be appearing at this festival. Amongst the artists are Flook, Gordon Haskell, Imbongi from Zimbabwe, The Johnson Girls and Mike West from the USA, Pete Harris & Marc Houghton, and loads more acts.
See www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk for ticket details.

CROPREDY FESTIVAL, Near BANBURY, OXFORDSHIRE - AUGUST 9 - 14
Fairport Convention’s annual get-together happens in August as usual. The intinerary is as follows:
Mon 9th - Fairport Convention - Warm-up gig at The Mill, Banbury (01295 279002)
Tue 10th - Fairport Convention - Warm-up gig at The Mill, Banbury
Wed 11th - Ric Sanders Group - Warm-up gig at The Mill, Banbury
Thu 12th - 10am: Campsite opens
4.30: Blue Meanies
5.50: Mostly Autumn
7.30: Jackie Leven & Michael Cosgrove
9.00: Oysterband
Fri 13th - 9am: Campsite opens
12.00: Earl Okin
1.15: Andy Gutteridge Band
2.50: Family Mahone
4.30: Anna Ryder/Steve Tilston Band with Maart Allcock and Clive Bunker
6.20: Jerry Donahue Band
8.10: Show of Hands
10.00: Jethro Tull
Sat 14th - 9am: Campsite opens
12.00: Richard Digance
1.20: Tiny Tin Lady
2.00: The Mightyfirebirds
3.20: Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies
5.00: Ashley Hutchings Morris On
6.40: Nick Harper
8.30pm: Fairport Convention
For festival enquiries, please fax on 01869 337142 or email on faircrop@aol.com. See website www.fairportconvention.co.uk

ENDORSE IT IN DORSET, SCOUT HUT, SIXPENNY HANDLEY - AUGUST 21
Cow-punk heroes Pronghorn have arranged this one day festival so its bound to be pretty wild. The line-up is: Dead Plants, Highliners, Myseer, Peeping Toms,
Pronghorn, The Equidistant Sound, The Hat, The Splott Brothers,Toupe, Tragic Roundabout and The Trailer Trash Orchestra. Contact LAMMA for info on 07818402201 or see the website www.lgofestivals.co.uk

THE GREEN MAN FESTIVAL, BRECON, WALES - AUGUST 21 - 22
Amongst the artists taking part in a festival iun the grounds of Baskerville Hall in the heart of the beautiful Brecon Beacons are Jackie Leven, The Memory Band, Aidan Smith, Fionn Regan, Alisdair Roberts, Chris T-T, Lucky Jim, Clayhill, Brave Captain and Sweet Baboo.
For more information hav a look at www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk

BEAUTIFUL DAYS, ESCOT PARK, DEVON - AUGUST 21 & 22
Hailed as the best new festival in the UK, the Levellers' festival Beautiful
Days is back for it's second year. Organised by Exeter based company DMF Productions on behalf of the band, Beautiful Days looks set to be even better this year! There’s music from some of the best live bands around but there's also something special about particular Beautiful Days - it creates a real sense of community which involves and benefits individuals, couples and families of all ages and from all walks of life. In short it's a vibrant, safe, well organised and very enjoyable weekend.
Headlining the Main Stage on Saturday are the ultimate festival band, the
Levellers. Joining them on the bill are Alabama 3 - the band who gave the hit TV series 'The Sopranos' their theme tune and who, like the Levellers, live quite happily outside the music mainstream and are one of the coolest and quirkiest bands around. Indie Brighton band Electric Soft Parade, adventurous Celtic band The Peatbog Faeries, The Bays, Neck and Solabeat Alliance complete the Saturday Main Stage bill. Headlining the Big Top Stage on Saturday are System 7, the psychedelic and hypnotic band based around Steve Hillage. They are joined by one-man band Rory McLeod, eco-folk band Seize the Day, Lucky Jim, She
Said, Brazil and Drugdealercheerleader.
Headlining the Main Stage on Sunday are seventies punk icons The Stranglers whose new album, “Norfolk Coast” is currently earning them rave reviews.
Joining them on the bill are the intense and lyrically superb New Model Army and the great UK reggae band Misty in Roots. Jazz swing band King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys, contemporary Jewish band Oi-Va-Voi, Rose Kemp, Skindred, Waxed Apple and Ox complete the Sunday Main Stage bill. Big Top Stage headliners on Sunday are Westcountry favourites Show of Hands - voted Best Live Act at the 2004 BBC Folk Awards. Also on the bill are McDermotts Two Hours the folk-rock band featuring Nick Burbridge, Drunk in Public aka the Levellers with
their acoustic hats on, Los Albertos, Duke Special, Blackfoot Brothers and Warmachines of Love.
Food, drink, youth theatre, craft stalls, camping facilities are other
attractions to be found at beautiful Escot Park plus plenty of activities for
children including circus acts.
Beautiful Days takes place at Escot Park, just off the A30 between Exeter and Honiton. Adult Weekend Camping Tickets are £65 but they have almost sold out!
Saturday or Sunday Day Tickets are £32.50 and there are discounted weekend and day tickets for children. Tickets are available from Solo Records, Exeter 01392 425309 / Escot 01404 822188 / www.seetickets.com / www.levellers.co.uk.
Tickets may be subject to a booking fee. Festival website: www.beautifuldays.org

SOUTHSEA FOLK 7& ROOTS FESTIVAL - AUGUST 26 - 30
Artists booked so far include Southsea  Amor, The Continentals, Martyn
Joseph,  The Crazy World Of Athur Brown, Magick Khat, Ezio, Amy Wadge, Aynsley Lister Band,  Andy Broad, and Stringybark McDowell.  See www.barkingspider.abelgratis.com/festival for full details

READING FESTIVAL - AUGUST 27 - 29
The Darkness, The White Stripes, Green Day, The Offspring, Morrissey, 50 Cent, Ash, The Libertines, The Hives, Franz Ferdinand, Lost Prophets, Reel Big Fish, Gold Finger, The Streets are acts announced so far. Many more to come.

BRIDGNORTH FOLK FESTIVAL, SHROPSHIRE - AUGUST 27-30
The great Chumawamba and Oysterband headline this festival which has concerts on 2 stages, a street festival, blues cafe, craft fair, workshops plus sessions on board the historic steam train and plenty of real ale and good food. There are also numerous dance outfits including Morris dancers and Appalachian and Cajun dance. Other folk artists on the bill include Rory McLeod, Brasshoppers, Last Night’s Fun, Christine Collister , Suntrap and about 30 more top acts.
More details to follow

POOLE PARK FESTIVAL, POOLE, DORSET - AUGUST 30
West Field at the park is the location for an afternoon of music organised by the Friends of Poole Park featuring the following bands:
13:00 Dutch Husband
14:00 Maine Street
15:00 Marlins
16:00 Dubheart
Phone 01202 772593 or 07801 312609 for more details.
Website: www.friendsofpoolepark.co.uk

WALLINGFORD BUNKFEST,  NR OXFORD - SEP 3 - 5
Music, dance, steam & beer, says the leaflet.  A selection of historic steam engines on display, a Children’s Bunkfest, lot of food and drink and good music.
The latter includes headliners Chumbawamba, a truly original band, Baka Beyond, Hank Wangford & The Lost Cowboys, engaging folk trio Last Night’s Fund, Sally Barker, Arlen and many more good acts. See www.bunkfest.co.uk for more information.

SWANAGE FOLK FESTIVAL, DORSET - SEPTEMBER 10 -12
A small, intimate festival in a beautiful location on a hill overlooking Swanage Bay. On Friday night Craigstone will launch the festival supported by one of last year’s most acclaimed bands, Serious Kitchen. On Saturday evening a real triple bill kicks off with sets by Legacy and Asha, with the engaging Last Night’s Fun topping the bill.
Dancers can head for the Festival Marquee to hear Cheap Jack headed by caller Michael Catovsky. Earlier, in the afternoon there will be a series of concerts at St Mary’s Parish Church featuring musicians Mat Walklate, Seamus Curley & Anthony Haller. Sunday afternoon sees a concert by a trio going under the name of Horses Brawl. To round the festival off the Sunday evening concert features acoustic duo Huw Chidgey and Catherine Handley.
See www.swanagefolkfestival.co.uk

SOLENT FOLK FESTIVAL, WOOLSTON, SOUTHAMPTON - SEPT 18 -19
More details to follow

BLUES AT THE FORT, FORT PURBROOK, PORTSMOUTH - SEPT 24 & 25
The line up this year is:
Fri 24th - Sherman Robertson & Bluesmove, Bad Influence, White Knuckle Blues Band
Sat 25th - Cadillac Kings, The Blackjacks, This Way Up
For further details see www.bluesatthefort.com

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Hazel O'Connor Tower Arts Centre, Winchester Thursday July 8

StiX
Talking Heads, Southampton
Friday July 9

Dionne Warwick Eastleigh Summer Festival, Eastleigh Thurs July 29

Nigel Kennedy Larmer Tree Festival, Tollard Royal Saturday July 10

Chuck Berry Prtsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth
Tuesday July 6

Zoe Schwarz
Various gigs throughout Hampshire in July