Skip The Budgie

Now that the line-up has been published¹, I have made myself a preliminary wishlist, pending working hours etc. I don't get to see anything after about 9:30 because I work from 10-2 each night.

The line up is so uninspiring though. I'm struggling at this stage to find the gigs I absolutely cannot miss and have only highlighted two on each day so far. There are a lot of unknowns, I'm happy to take recommendations - quite a few of my Choke buddies are playing too, mainly on the bandstand I think.

So I'll probably just hang around the Jazz/World stage most of the time or amuse myself by chasing muddy naked people around with my camera.

Friday

• 10:40 - Adjegas (P)
• 13:10 - Gogol Bordello (P)
• 19:45 - Toumani Diabate and the Symmetric Orchestra (JW)

Saturday

• 17:40 - Lou Rhodes (Park)
• 19:00 - DJ Yoda (Dance East)

Sunday

• 13:30 - Mahala Rai Banda (JW)
• 14:10 - Marley Brothers present the 30th anniversary of Exodus (P)
• 17:20 - Dame Shirley Bassey (P)
• 17:40 - Tinariwen (JW)

See? Everything else is either unknown, or 'meh' for me but I'm sure as usual there'll be lots of hidden gems and secret appearances. Here is the lineup for the Dance and Fire stage where I work:

Dance Saddlespan Stage

• Carnival Collective
• Flamenco Aire
• The Esuapim Cultural Troupe
• Shindig
• Eletricat/Abolicao
• The Jaipur Kawa Brass Band
• Saddlers Wells
• Pronghorm
• The Twilight Dancers
• Rhythm Wave
• Cut A Shine
• Zambula
• Courtney Orange
• Resonance
• The Twilight Dancers
• Siyaya
• Zoid
• Courtney Orange
• Barnstormer
• John Otway
• Big Beats
• Bill Bailey

Fire Corner
"Up in fire corner, in the north east corner of Glebeland Theatre Field, there will be a great fire show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from Solar, Elemental and the Festival Fire Swingers. And, on Thursday once it is dark, and on Friday and Saturday, once the Saddlespan Dance Stage has closed, come and watch the amazing Eddie Egal and Arson Art present their stunning flame show "Pyronautic". 60 foot flames, sexy actors and some truly dangerous and ravishing effects – not to be missed."