Comedy news: A guide to the top quirky festivals in the UK

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The Glastonbury mud is slowly drying off, the line-up's have been released and the festival season for the summer of 2011 is in full swing.

However for those who want to find out something a little more unique in their festival stocking this summer SSP asked the maestros of the festival scene The GoFestival Guide for the lowdown on the more quirky happenings across the UK this summer. 

Playgroup Festival

05-07 AUGUST Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A beautifully eccentric arts, games and music festival set in a stunning ancient deer park. With an expected attendance of only 2,000 guests, a handful of stages for incredible live music, from gypsy swing to glitch-hop, magical mystery tour buses, a cinema tent, installation art, fresh local produce, a family area, cabaret and walkabout performance, workshops and games, a healing area, 100% audience participation and a heavy dash of the absurd, we’re very happy to introduce you to your new favourite festival.

Absolutely magical. Weekend tickets £77, under 12’s go free. For more information visit www.playgroupfestival.com

Croissant Neuf Summer Party

12-14 AUGUST Momouthshire

Winner of The Greener Festival Award, with its beginnings in a tent at Glastonbury Croissant Neuf has become a unique event on the festie calendar.

Powered entirely by solar energy this family friendly, eco party has lots on offer. A wide range in music plus workshops, processions, cabaret, dance, campfires and clowns all taking place in a beautiful Welsh setting. For more information visit www.partyneuf.co.uk.

Boomtown Fair

11-14 AUGUST Secret location 40 mins from London

Boomtown Fair is the UK’s most creative escapist festival, celebrating DIY theatrical performance like no other. Hitting 2011 with intrepid new areas, earlier Thursday opening and ticket deals, last year’s Boomtown was a sell-out show.

This year is shaping up to be this season’s hot ticket for sunshine skanking and mind blowing bass in an alternative setting.

With a strong focus on site design, sprawling street sets and a mythological festival history; the creativity of Boomtown Fair transports you to another world of fantasy and escapism.

This years line up includes: Gogol Bordello, Caravan Palace, The Selector with Pauline Black and Goldie Looking Chain. For more information visit: www.boomtownfair.co.uk

Wickerman

22-23 JULY Scotland

Inspired by Robin Hardy’s cult classic The Wickerman, the festival does actually sacrifice a 30ft wicker sculpture on the Saturday night.

This is an early sell out festival with only 10,000 tickets available and its popularity growing.

Expect lots of great eclectic music - world, acoustic, reggae, punk and funk taking place across 11 stages with workshops, beer tents and crafts. For more information visit www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

Vintage Festival

29-31 JULY Southbank, London

Wayne Hemingway brings his award winning concept to the London in 2011. The festival will celebrate musical, fashion, film, art, design and cultural lineages, from the 1920s to the 1980s, and offer a glimpse of where we go from here.

The 21 acre Southbank site will be transformed into a Vintage wonderland. All the wonderful clubs, bands, fashions, art, and design, film, shops, vintage retailers, dance lessons, makeovers, workshops that made Vintage 2010 so memorable will be there along with some cool new Thames boat party surprises. For more informaion visit www.vintagebyhemingway.co.uk

Out of the Ordinary

23-25 SEPTEMBER Sussex

The perfect name for this one-of-a-kind, New Age gathering on the South Downs. Along with the music - acoustic sets, ambient and psychedelic sounds, comedy, poetry, drama, performers and a solar powered planetarium can be enjoyed with workshops covering slightly unusual subject matter for the open minded.

Good fun, relaxed and very creative - very out of the ordinary. For more information visit www.outoftheordinary.com

TribFest

19-21 AUGUST Hull

Tribfest is the UK’s biggest tribute music festival, probably Europe, now in its 5th year! It’s exactly what it says on the tin - a festival of tribute bands. 45 look-a-likes and sound-a-likes covering rock, indie, metal and dance have been booked for this family friendly

festival. VIP Marquee /bar, main bar, local unsigned bands, folk marquee, Tribbyoake marquee, dance tent, Silent Disco, kid zone, trade stands - food and non food. Plus camping is free with your weekend pass! For more information visit: www.tribfest.co.uk

And three more to consider for next year…

Bearded Theory

13-15 MAY Derbyshire

Beards ago go at this family friendly and very relaxed, the first ‘proper’ festival of the season. Bearded Theory Festival has once again expanded – this year’s festival is nearly double the size of last year - and is set to welcome thousands of festival-goers of all ages to Bradley Nook Farm near Ashbourne for three fantastic days of music and fun.

Highlights of the festival include: 5 live music stages featuring over 100 top notch acts, a ‘Busk Stop’ encouraging all to join in, a 1-acre ‘Angel Gardens’ childrens’ village (all

activities are free), large Craft and Creative Art area, on-site Sauna and Showers, three bars and a covered World Food Emporium. For more information visit: www.beardedtheory.co.uk

Strummercamp

27-29 MAY Manchester

A not-for-profit festival celebrating the life, music and influence of the Clash. Still in its infancy but growing strong, Strummercamp is an underground tribute festival to the Clash front man Joe Strummer. Features include Clash tribute bands, punk bands and named acts such as Billy Bragg. For more information on the 2011 festival visit www.strummercamp.co.uk

Three Wishes Faery Fest

17-19 JUNE Cornwall

The 3 Wishes Faery Fest is described as the UK’s most magical event. This year the festival has moved to a super new location at Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Cremyll in Cornwall (not far from the Devon/Cornwall border). It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, with 800+ acres of ancient woodland.

This will be the fifth year that the faeries have gathered to celebrate the summer solstice, and boy, do faeries know how to party! Music from 3 Daft Monkeys, The Dolmen plus workshops, unicorn rides, fashion shows, a faery village and storytelling make this a unique festival of magical adventure. For more information visit www.faeryevents.com