18 - 20 JULY
Melt!
Ferropolis, Germany, 235-266 www.meltfestival.de
This Uber-hip German weekender combines rock. rave and hip hop with a line-up that pitches hardcore talent like ij‘rk and Editors alongside less familiar but no less brilliant European acts. such as Belgium’s seminal rap/rock experimentalists dEUS and Iceland's sublime art-meets-house music collective Gus Gus.
18 - 20 JULY Camp Bestival
Lulworth Castle, Dorset, £120, (£60 for 13-15-year-olds, under 133 free) www.campbestival.net
A festival of family fun combining music — Chuck Berry. The Flaming Lips and Kate Nash — with cracking comedy — Andrew Maxwell. BOy Walker and the Cuban Brothers — while there is a spoken word stage headlined by sardonic rap poet Scroobius Pip. All of which is done in the spirit of a Butlins holiday camp. There will be special Bestival Bluecoats roaming the site ready to inject a bit of festival Spirit into any situation. See page 82 for a chance to win tickets.
19 - 20 JULY
Dunstaffnage Music Festival Oban, 235-260 or £150 for a family ticket www.dunstaffnage musicfestival.co.uk
Situated on the shore by Dunstaffnage Castle with magnificent views west to Lismore and Mull. this family friendly festival features a diverse line-up with art installations. puppetry and food stalls alongside five stages offering national and international talent spanning new bands. indie, rock. reggae. folk. Celtic. electronic. funk. soul. jazz. dance. film and comedy. See page 6 for a chance to win tickets.
26 THE LIST 5— 19 Jun 2008
Whether you are a music lover, dance buff or book worm, the summer season is never short of opportunities for those hoping to find gainful employment. Anna Millar clocks on
From bar worker and front of house to book seller and litter picker. the festival world needs literally thousands of paid and unpaid staff to help make their events a success. DC Site Services help run many of the major festivals. so keep a close eye on wwwdcsiteservicescouk for any opportunities.
Food and drink are big business at any festival. with stalls and carts carrying burgers or beers all over the sites. Market traders regularly require staff and often recruit people who live nearby 0r people they know. so ask around your local area in the weeks running up to the event.
Jobs such as stage management. rigging and staging. sound. lighting. electrics and event security tend to be run by experienced crew who return year on year. but there are often some opportunities for runners or assistant trainees. Contact your festival of choice direct as far in advance as possible.
Many organisers will try to entice festival-goers with free tickets and minimum pay packages and in some cases you may be required to pay for the ticket in advance. and be reimbursed after completing your hours. If this is the case. make sure you sign a contract and know your rights.
Elsewhere. qualified medical staff can join a team of volunteers normally by applying directly through any festival website; tent stewards and campsite wardens are often recruited from local clubs. parent-teacher associations. spons clubs and voluntary groups. In the case of somewhere like Glastonbury, a company called Oasis Carnival recruit workers for stewarding. See www.0asiscarnival.co.uk for more details.
For arts. books and food festivals. front of house staff are normally recruited in June. in time for training, so contact any companies directly early on in the year. In many instances though. they are still recruiting book sellers or occasional front of house staff right up to curtain up. so check venue websites daily for opportunities and postings.
Always remember to be prepared and flexible and don't expect to be paid a small fortune: working at any festival is largely about the experience.
24 - 27 JULY
Secret Garden Party East Anglian, near Huntingdon, 2100-21 25 www.secretgarden party.com
See panel. page 28.
25 - 26 JULY
Wickerman Festival
East Kirkcarswell Farm, Dundrennan, 9250-275 www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk See panel. page 28.
25 - 27 JULY
Fuji Rock Festival
Naeba Ski Resort. Fuji, Japan, £80421 91 www.smash-uk.com/frf08 Located high up in the mountains of
Fuji. this threeday festival features My Bloody Valentine and Underworld on headlining duties and the likes of Ben Folds. Feeder, Gossip and Kate Nash providing suitably enticing support. We've seen Both Ditto rock out the stage at the Brits. now imagine her yodeling from the top of a mountain.
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25 JULY - 3 AUGUST
Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
Various venues, Edinburgh, prices vary www.edinburgh jazzfestival.co.uk
See panel. page 30.
26 - 27 JULY
The Big Tent
Falkland Palace. Fife, 26—214 www.bigtentfestival.co.uk
The Palace plays host to an array of music. art and theatre this year with acts and activities for all ages. King Creosote leads the musical posse. alongside Peatbog Faeries. Moishe's Bagel. Voces Del Sur and more. This year includes welcome additions. such as the Eco Campsite. alongside a Food Village featuring local. organic and Fair Trade foods. Elsewhere. budding environmentalists can enjoy the following 7ones: Sustainable Living (everything to green your home): One Planet (biodiversity and climate change); The Body and Soul Zone (with massage. holistic therapies and treatments): Head Zone (with talks. debates. poetry and books) and the Children's Zone (with workshops. games. crafts and other fun for kids).
30 JULY - 9 AUGUST
Aberdeen International Youth Festival
Various venues, Aberdeen, prices vary www.aiyf.org
A diverse arts festival that aims to promote the best young performers in the country with a programme boasting music. dance. theatre and workshops. Highlights include The Little Sweep. part of Britten's Entertainment for Young People. performed by Haddo Junior Choirs. AIYF and BSAMD.
31 JULY - 31 AUGUST Edinburgh Art Festival Various venues, Edinburgh, prices vary www.edinburghartfestival.org See panel. page 30.