Feast of festivals
Headlined by indie favourites The Wedding Present (tomorrow) and Los Campesinos! (Sunday), the line-up also includes Airport Girl, Ballboy, The Bobby McGees, Darren Hayman, Dirty Fingernails, The Just Joans and many more.
Several local bands are set to entertain audiences this year. They include Mexican Kids at Home, Lardpony and The Deirdres, a student group who describe themselves as “eccentric, humble and excitable, gender- bending petty criminal oddballs”.
The bands will play until 10pm and will be followed by an indiepop disco. Included in the ticket price is unlimited train rides during the weekend, and full access to the normal Midland Railway Butterley attractions.
Locations in which the acts will perform include a loco shed, a railwaymen's church and even on train carriages.
Organiser Stuart Mackay is thrilled with the way ticket sales have been going and is already setting his sights on staging other events at the venue.
However, he says he recognises the need for managable progression of the festival.
He said: “At the same time as ticket sales have improved substantially from last year, it is important that the venue is capable of holding a larger number of visitors each year.”
If you can't make it to the festival but don't want to miss out on the music, you can buy a CD featuring some of the bands for £6 from www.makedoandmendrecords.co.uk, although there is currently a waiting list.
WHEN: This weekend.
WHERE: Midland Railway Centre, Ripley.
HOW MUCH: £45 for the weekend, day tickets £25.
TICKETS: 01773 747674.
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TOPPING the bill at the Y Not Festival this year are The Mystery Jets.
The band, whose single 2 Doors Down reached no.24 in the charts, are joined in the line-up by Cage The Elephant and ex-Million Dead frontman Frank Turner.
The three-day, three-night festival, at Pikehall, near Matlock, from August 1-3, provides an intimate setting for music-lovers to see 50 acts on two stages, playing everything from jazz to traditional African music to rock 'n' roll. So intimate is the festival that many of the bands camp out with the audience.
Y Not Festival also aims to promote local talent by offering a stage shared with more nationally established acts. This year the organisers have gone one step further and put on a Battle of the Bands competition. Running throughout May, June and July 60 bands competed for the chance to open the festival.
WHEN: August 1-3.
WHERE: Pikehall, near Matlock.
HOW MUCH: £36 including camping. Day tickets also available.
TICKETS: www.seetickets.com.
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GORDON BENNETT is one of the stars of the third annual Unicorn Beer Festival next week.
It's one of the 50 real ales served up by the Newton Solney pub as part of the event, which runs from Wednesday until Saturday, August 2.
Landlord Paul Needham has “draughted” in some of the best local micro-brewery beers – including Guzzler and Fine Fettler – alongside some of the most popular real ales for the festival which will also feature live music.
Paul told Qt: “We were determined to stage a diverse range of musical acts, so we're kicking off on Wednesday with Burton Concert Orchestra and among the bands appearing are top UB40 tribute act Kingston Town and Fat Digester, a funk and hip-hop collective from Nottingham.”
Other acts include Derby musician Paul Miro and James Maddock, a Leicester-born, New-York based artist.
More details on 01283 703324.
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BEST OF THE REST
Heather Music Festival: Eclectic mix of music at Heather, nr Coalville, Leicestershire, tomorrow until August 1. Call 01530 260544.
THE ROCK AND BIKE FEST: Oliver/Dawson Saxon plus The Mick Rutherford Band and more at Sandiacre, August 1-3. Call 07983 410209.
SUMMER SUNDAE WEEKENDER: All-star bill including Macy Gray in grounds of De Montfort Hall, Leicester, August 8-10. Call 0116 2333111.
CLUMBERFEST: The Feeling and Scouting for Girls are among the top acts at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire on August 15 August. Tickets from www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR: Traditional rock music festival at Catton Hall, Walton-on-Trent, August 15-17. Details at www.bloodstock.uk.com.
OFF THE TRACKS LATE FESTIVAL: Family-friendly festival offering folk, roots, dance and fusion at Donington Park Farmhouse, Isley Walton, August 29-31. Details on 07899 8269 55.
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