26 - 27 AUGUST
Strathaven Balloon Festival I I George Allan Park, Strathaven, Lanarkshire. Free. 01357 522011. strathavenballoonfestival.co.uk Now in its seventh year. this airborne celebration is the brain child of Glasgow-born balloon manufacturer Don Cameron. Other activities include falconry and kite demonstrations. plus dog agility shows and a fun fair on the ground. But for many the highlight is the Night Glow. a display of bumer light and music on the Saturday evening. (RS)
26 - 27 AUGUST Get Loaded in the Park I
Clapham Common, London / Coopers Field, Cardiff. 225-30, 5:20-25. getloadedintheparkcom 20.000 hit the green spaces of each southern capital to enjoy another bank holiday weekend of indie/dance mayhem. While Cardiff will be treated to the bracing sounds of Snow Patrol and Badly Drawn Boy on Saturday. Sunday sees Pete Doherty's Babyshambles get Loaded on London's Clapham Common. And probably not for the first time. (MJ)
27 - 28 AUGUST
Nottinq Hill Carnival I I I I
Notting Hill, London. Free. 0870 0591111 Inhc.org.uk
Begun as a small carnival celebrating Trinidadian culture in 1964, this year the Notting Hill Carnival expects around 2 million people. Costumes. steelbands. dancing. floats and music make up London‘s biggest street festival, with over 10.000 ‘Carnivalists' making it happen over two days. (JD)
28 AUGUST - 4 SEPTEMBER
Burning Man Festival I I I
Black Rock City. US. burningman.com
Part art installation. part pagan celebration party. the Burning Man festival is one of the few that defies conventional description. The idea is to gather like- minded good people together and allow them to live in crazed harmony. It's a delicious dream for the most adventurous festivalgoer. There are however loads of rules about how to behave once in this salt basin desert Utopia. (PD)
30 AUGUST
La Tomatina I
Bunol, Valencia. Spain. tinyurl.com/mmwn3 Whether you need to de-stress and throw something, or you want to get spattered in tomato for fun. the world‘s biggest food fight is held at the peak of the tomato season in the village of Bunol. Nobody knows the reason why the tradition of
Strathaven Balloon Festival
spending two hours gratuitously throwrng tomatoes began. but now thousands 10”] the residents for this quirky celebration. (JD)
2 - 3 SEPTEMBER
Edinburgh Mela I I a I:
Pilrig Park, Edinburgh. FrecL£10. edinburgh- mela.co.uk
Founded in 1995. the Mela recognises the growuig ethnic diversity of Edinburgh, and is run by the Out of the Blue arts charity. In 2005 VISitor numbers topped 60.000. stalls numbered 80. and punters were treated to bhangra. Bollywood. fashion shows. dance and Asian DJS. all sustained by moreish world cusine. Turkey. Bulgaria. Canada. Iran and
Zimbabwe also came to the party. (BL)
2 - 3 SEPTEMBER
Indian Summer I
Victoria Park, Glasgow. £60. 0870 060 0100. ticketweb.co.uk
This brand new addition to the Scottish festivals line» up brings the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Antony and the Johnsons. Broken SOCial Scene. 1990s and Optimo to bear for two days on the city's southside. Promising healthy food. premium drinks and a chilled-out ambience. this has the potential to be a real alternative for Scottish festival goers. NR;
8 - 10 SEPTEMBER
Bestival I I I
Robin Hill, Isle of Wight. £105. 020 7379 3133. bestival.net
Organised by Radio One DJ Rob Da Bank this three- day boutique alternative music event in a leafy country park is now in its third year. Headliners the Pet Shop Boys and Scissor Sisters dominate. but elsewhere there's loads of leftfield dance. electronica. folk. ambient. pop and much else. all done With a fancy- dressed. twentysomething silliness of spirit. (DJ)
SPORT & OUTDOORS
No point in staying inside when the weather's bonny and braw. Embrace the clear skies. firm ground and simple pleasure of watching other people's exertions - or get involved and make the spectacle your own.
Bell Lawrle Scottish Series Tarbert, Argyll, 26-29 May See page 74
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Nevis Range Fort William. 27-28 May See page 75
World Cup 2006 Venues vary, Germany, 9 June—9 July See page 76
RSAC Scottish Rally Ice Bowl, Dumfries, 10-11 June See page 76
Treefest Inverleith Park, Edinburgh, 10-11 June See page 76
Skandia Cowes Week Cowes, Isle of Wight, 29 July-5 August See page 20
Strathaven Balloon Festival Lanarkshire. 26-27 August See page 23
15 - 17 SEPTEMBER
Knockengorroch Hairth O'Knokrach I I I
Knockengorroch Farm, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas. Prices vary. 01644 460 662. knockengorroch.org.uk
The Knockengorroch Halitli O'Knokracli 'llll';lf, festival is unique. Tongue tsxister 'litll“: {t‘ilfitL it" the concluding part of a festival fiiat started in May a world and folk music celebration that include, Transglobal Underground and Salsa Celtica, Its location is unique too: a glen in the niiddle of Scotland's beautiful Southern Uplarvlz. 'ABi
ONGOING
McEwan's Sessions I
Throughout Scotland. tmsa.org.uk
Less a festival than a rolling programme of around 600 folk gigs. McEwan's Sessions take place through April to December in some 1% venues between Shetland and the central belt. bringing a little of Scotland's cultural heritage to pubs - but also to locations that are perhaps less natural habitats for traditional music and song. Keep an eye on local listings fOr a boozy Celtic shindig near you. lMJi
I Entries written by Andrew Berthvvic/r. Paul Dale. Brian Donaldson, Johanna Derry, Mar/r Edrriundson. Ma/co/rn Jack. Doug Johnstone. Henry Nortnmore, Robin Lee. Cami/la Pia and Pacnae/ Street.
2:3 May—8 Jun 2006 THE LIST 23