News: Feast On Festivals! - 3rd update…

With the festival season now upon us, we thought we'd give you a run down on all the outdoor happenings in and around Dorset over the coming months. We intend to keep this as a permanent feature on the site until the autumn, so if we hear about any further festies in the area, we'll be adding them to the page. Turn on, tune in, pig out...

Steeped in tradition, the Wimborne Folk Festival returns from 12–14 June. The entertainment primarily comes from the streets of Wimborne with the website stating: "Founded in 1980 and held in the shadow of the gracious 12th century Minster Church of St Cuthburga, the annual event of Traditional Folk Dance, English and Celtic Music & Song has become the focal point for the largest gathering of dance teams and musicians in the South of England. For the old town of Wimborne Minster, the festival is considered by many to be the major event of the year and is highly regarded nationally as one of the largest events of its kind in the country.” Links - website

Taking place on the same dates, but catering for a very different musical taste bud is the Isle Of Wight Festival. Originally, in 1968, the festival was thought of as Britain's 'Woodstock', hippies were everywhere. Though it was those peaceful folks' naughtiness which bought about the end of the festival in 1970. Recently relaunched, it now attracts pop and rock heavyweights to the island. This years headliners are Prodigy, Stereophonics, Razorlight and Neil Young. Links - website

The Best Of Dorset Music Festival comes to Milborne St.Andrew on 19-21 June. With live music and other happenings taking place from Friday evening to Sunday morning, their website says: "Set in 78 acres of grassland, it has a large barn, and hard standing, definitely far from the madding crowd." Links - website

The second Sundial Festival run by Sirius' host Frankie Milner, takes place the same weekend in the beautiful gardens of the Tudor Grange Hotel. Following on from the success of last year's inaugural event, this year will see the likes of the Sarah Griffin Band, New Volunteer, Fearne, Pete Christie and Alex Roberts and many more play to a friendly, laid back crowd... Links - Myspace

Next up, the Christchurch Festival runs from 3–5 July, featuring fifteen bands in the main marquee as well as dance groups, stalls and a barn dance. Helping to raise money for various local charities, the event organisers are always looking for volunteers, for details on the line-up and how to get in touch, take a peek at their website. As with last year, Lady Winwoods Maggott are set to round things off on Sunday. Links - website

Taking place on 4-5 July, the Gold Hill Festival returns to Shaftesbury. As yet there's no information available with regards to bands and other festivities, but the fact that the event is listed on Shaftesbury's official website makes us believe it's going to happen... Links - website

Also on 4-5 July bh one Live has its own debut two-day outdoor event - The Runway Festival - held at Bournemouth Flying Club off Matchams Lane. Both days start at 2pm with an outdoor patio area literally overlooking the airport. 12 bands, 3 djs, FairPlay live graffiti and face-painters plus art/craft/photograhy exhibitions. 300 tickets are available for each day and we'll also be raising money for Julia's House childrens hospice. Links - website - facebook

Tonefest returns for a second year - back by popular demand - to Wareham on 10-12 July. "The event planned is a bigger and better exodus of likeminded party ravers to a field in Dorset for a weekend of fun and friendship!" Links - website - facebook

The twentieth Swanage Jazz Festival takes place on 10–12 July at a variety of small venues throughout the seaside town. Their website says this: “The festival features most kinds of jazz played today and gives fans the chance to hear bands and styles they would be unlikely to hear in the normal course of local jazz club gigs. The venues are close together so you can sample everything, if you want to: New Orleans, Dixieland, swing, bebop, post bop, ‘contemporary’ and bands that are definitely jazz but defy classification.” Links - website

Also on 10-12 July the Eastleigh Music Festival comes to Leigh Road Recreation Ground. With a line-up including British Sea Power and Eddie Reader and its tag line "a great intimate festival for people who love music" this certainly looks worthy of investigation... Links - website - Myspace

On 12 July Solid Air return for the ninth annual Grooves On The Green. With minimal publicity this free all-day event regularly manages to fill the gardens near Ashley Cross in Lower Parkstone. On top of the usual stalls and fund-raising (for Greenpeace) we can expect another quality line-up playing to a laid-back, sun-drenched crowd. For more information and confirmation of artists, keep your eye on the Solid Air message board. Links - website

The list of local acts playing this year's Larmer Tree Festival (pictured above) is expanding slowly, largely restricted to the Thursday. Held over five days from 15–19 July, there is loads more to this festival than the huge variety of entertainment on show from all over the world. With over 100 creative workshops, a carnival procession, street theatre and award-winning facilities, all set amongst friendly peacocks and macaws, the Larmer Tree Festival's beautiful setting alone is one of its attractions. Links - website

The Endorse-It In-Dorset Festival has grown from a all-dayer for 700 people, to last year's three day event catering for over 3000. Its sixth annual festival takes place on 7–9 August on Oakley Farm at Six Penny Handley, with organisers (team Pronghorn) set to enhance the festival's reputation for not just the quality of it's bands (primarily roots, rock, dance and reggae) but also it's friendly vibe. Fancy dress optional. Featuring a fine array of Dorset bands, as well as bands from all over the world, this is one of our festie highlights of the year. Links - website - Myspace - facebook

The Great Dorset Steam Fair returns on 2-6 Sept, held at the village of Tarrant Hinton, near Blandford Forum. This typically British event "has something for everyone, whatever your interests! Maybe you are a collector, a steam fanatic, an exhibitor, a heavy horse fan, an avid camper, a music fan or just on holiday in the South of England at the end of August/beginning of September and fancy an excursion to what is described as the most remarkable show on earth!" Yikes! Links - website

Cowabunga Festival (the first, we believe) will be taking place on a beautiful farm by the sea in rural Dorset, over the weekend of the 4-6 Sept. Run by Beefstock Promotions, the line-up looks to be steadily growing, featuring a selection of quality bands and djs from the local area. Set to play over three stages set amongst "stalls, food vendors, tea and cakes, a 24 hour Boogaloo Bungalo, a magical chill out yurt, a holistic teepee, a room with a view and much much more!" It's early stages, but we're liking the look of this one... Links - website

Another first, The Purbeck Folk Festival (organised by the Bournemouth Folk Club and Funnybone) also takes place on 4-6 Sept, set in Steeple amongst the beautiful landscape of the Purbeck Hills, Dorset's jurassic coast. This will be a fun, family friendly event, featuring some of the best national and international folk artists, as well as the cream of the local folk scene. Tickets are on sale now, with a discounted price available until 31 July. Links - website

This year's Boscombe Community Fair is currently "in the planning stages". Online presence at the moment looks restricted to a facebook group, though with the event not due to take place til early September there's plenty of time for the organisers to get their creative heads together... Links - facebook

On 11-13 Sept another festival taking place on the Isle Of Wight is Bestival. Described as "an award winning three day boutique music festival set at Robin Hill - a beautiful leafy country park (a veritable Garden of Eden!) near Downend and Newport in the heart of the Isle of Wight. The wonderful world of Bestival was born out of ten fun years of pioneering music events and record releases from Rob da Bank's Sunday Best empire. The BBC Radio 1 leftfield DJ had a dream to one day create his vision of how the modern day festival should be." Featuring a fantastic crossover of dance and rock acts, tickets are still available, but as with previous years are sure to sell out fast. Links - website

A far more traditional affair takes place at the Swanage Folk Festival on 11–13 September. A weekend of concerts and events will be held at a variety of venues in the town centre, including "somewhere in the region of 50 dance sides from the world of Morris, Apalachian, Clog, and maybe some more exotic dance styles." Clog heaven! Links - website

The Pointy Field Faust Fest returns on 11-12 Sept to the border of the New Forest. The line-up is due to be announced in June, with children's Workshops, massage, street performers, Arts & Crafts trading and drumming workshops, all organised and run by a tight-knit group of family and friends. 100% of the profits from the Faust Fest will be invested in the development of cultural centres which will help provide traditional musicians and their communities in Kenya with a sustainable source of income. Links - website

The fourth End Of The Road Festival at the Larmer Tree Gardens on the outskirts of Dorset takes place on 11–13 Sept. Set amongst beautiful surroundings we're liking the ethos behind this one, with the organisers saying: "you won't get all the over hyped bands headlining - most bands play longer sets than usual - you can eat a range of quality food - you can drink a range of quality beers - the staff and security care about everyone and show respect - the crowd will be there for the MUSIC - you can watch the bands without having to stare at huge advertising hoardings. No sign of any local artists yet though... Links - website

The third Swanage Blues & Roots Festival, featuring over 40 gigs in 15 venues, will take place on 2–4 October. Free entry to all events will also bring you dancing, buskers, open mic sessions, jam sessions and workshops on top of acoustic, electric, rural and urban blues. Donations are all that's required to keep the festival alive... Links - website

Here's a quick list:

12-14 June: Wimborne Folk Festival

12-14 June: Isle Of Wight Festival

19-21 June: Best Of Dorset Music Festival

20-21 June: Sundial Festival

3-5 July: Christchurch Festival

4-5 July: Gold Hill Festival

4-5 July: Runway Festival

10-12 July: Tonefest

10-12 July: Swanage Jazz Festival

10-12 July: Eastleigh Music Festival

12 July: Grooves On The Green

15-19 July: Larmer Tree Festival

7-9 August: Endorse-It In -Dorset Festival

2-6 Sept: Great Dorset Steam Fair

4-6 Sept: Cowabunga Festival

4-6 Sept: Purbeck Folk Festival

early Sept: Boscombe Community Fair

11-12 Sept: Pointy Field Faust Fest

11-13 Sept: Bestival

11-13 Sept: Swanage Folk Festival

11-13 Sept: End Of The Road Festival

2-4 Oct: Swanage Blues & Roots Festival

We'd love to hear from any festival organisers who would either like to include an event we've not featured, or would like to send us further information (links etc), to direct readers to relevant sites. Please send any information to us here. Thanks!

Have a great Festival season!

bh one