Hay-on-Wye is one of my favourite places to go even when there's no festival gracing us with its…read morepresence. A small village tucked away in the rolling Welsh countryside, filled to the brim with bookshops of all descriptions and twinned with Timbuktu; this is a unique find. But once a year this little town becomes even fuller with excitement and literature. The Hay Festival of Literature and Arts is a mecca for anyone with a love of words and the secrets that can be entangled within them. With writers from all walks, such as Jasper Fforde, Salman Rushdi, Bill Bryson, Martina Cole and Quentin Blake, there really is something for everyone. Each performance, discussion or lecture is individually priced, from £4-£10, and intensive three day courses for £375. This is a week-long festival with an incredibly large selection of activities to take part in. It may well be hard to choose where to go and who to see, but that's about the only problem you'll have should you come to this festival.

Hay literature/literary/book festival (delete as appropriate according to your level of comfort…read morewith intellectualism) is an annual, original, event in a small Welsh town on the edge of the Black Mountains. Set in neatly organised marquees in fields outside the town, it's a big-time publishing love-in, that attracts anorak-wearing book worms, country types called Georgie or Bubbles, earth-mother families and the odd American ex-president. This years event was good for me. I avoided fiction and focussed on behavioural economics, natural capital, craftsmanship and graphic novels. Where can you hear such a varied roster of genres? I came away with ideas for my own work, pleasure and purpose. Just one day at this event will inspire, or do as many more indulgent readers do, and camp out nearby each year with those relatives you don't really like, but are ideally placed for a yearly Maytime visit. I love looking around and seeing a sea of readers, sat in deck chairs, ignoring their friends and just reading. From real, hard bound, books. It's a small, well organised festival with activities and facilities for all, and affordable. If you're a publishing nerd, it's nirvana.

Lytham is that kind of festival that attracts second-tier talent. You'll see young artists on their…read moreway up and legends who haven't maintained legendary status who can't fill stadiums anymore. We went because my stepmother is a huge fan of Jonathan Antoine. Luckily for me, the wildly underrated legend Billy Ocean played earlier in the week. Both shows were great. It's really built to be a local festival ... or Brits who have driven in ... having your own chairs and and picnic setup is VERY necessary. Go early to get a good area as people lay out and get comfortable. I also recommend bringing your own food (which many do) as there are limited choices there. There is a lot of soft lawn, so I imagine watching during a rain is unpleasant. We had great weather, so good luck if the rains come!

During Eisteddfod week this beautiful little village comes alive. Providing the weather is good,…read moreevery street is filled with music and folk dance and is a wonderful place to visit in the summer. Besides the Eisteddfod field and pavilion (which house the main competition and events) there is a growing fringe festival in town. Not forgetting the surrounding countryside (complete with river, medieval castle, steam railway and ruined abbey) which is always worth a ramble or ten.

With 200 bands playing over two days, Matthew Street Festival could well be Liverpool's…read moreGlastonbury. A free event held every August Bank Holiday, MSF finds the city centre transformed into a den of music and mayhem. Last year's festival attracted over 30,000 revellers spread across six areas and this year's on 29 -30 August looks set to be even bigger. There's six outdoor stages planned in Williamson Square, Derby Square and Tithebarn Street amongst other locations. There's also temporary bars and hot and cold food stalls. The live music kicks-off at 11am til early evening with most style of music covered from rock, pop and blues to soul, indie and punk. The only downside is that the majority of bands seem to be cover bands and whilst this doesn't seem to bother most of the revellers, bores me. Luckily, a New Bands Stage was introduced last year with no covers. If you don't like being pushed against complete strangers singing and dancing, there's big TV screens that allow you to watch the performances from a distance. Just make sure you take a sunhat, a large bottle of water and some pennies for food, beer and the obligatory festival item, an inflatable guitar. N.B. I'd give the festival 4 stars for camaraderie but the dire covers bands strips it down to 3!

5 stars is probably a little extravagant for Liverpool's Matthew Street Festival for all things…read moreBeatle related as the talent can be a little hit and miss but overall the weekend long music and booze binge is a good laugh. It is an extremely busy weekend as most bars and clubs take part hosting tribute bands from all over the world. Over the years this has changed dramatically from a few Beatles tributes in The Cavern into a city wide festival for tribute acts for all sorts of classic rock groups, performances from old favourites and even showcases for emerging Liverpool talent. Three years ago was probably the best one I had been too and was definately the biggest. The streets were rammed with people and there were numerous huge stages in the middle of Liverpool's busiest streets.

The Unity Theatre is to be commeneded for its commtiment to new theatre productions, new writers…read moreand local talent but with this in mind much of what goes on here can be a bit rough around the edges or hit and miss. With a scarcity of genuine artistic and experimental endeavour with regard some of the more obscure or alternative arts such as dance in Liverpool, The Unity is a vital outlet for such performances and nurturing a broader outlet for creativity in the city beyond music and playwriting especially when the prestigious Lippa institution is situated nearby. The building itself has benefitted from funding and development is a very pleasant, bright and modern space with a nice, if slightly sterile bar area.

Unity is another one of Liverpool's unique buildings that offer more in the way of culture through…read moreproviding a range of drama, dance, comedy, music and art. This place has won loads of awards, one's that have included: The Mersey Partnership Tourism Award for Best Venue, and The Scouseology Award. This place always offers a wide range of shows to suit everyone from young children to the older viewer. In addition, every year there is a festival for children; this makes it great for family day out and in my opinion we need more places that get children involved with music, art and drama encouraging them off the streets. Unity has been situated in Hope place for the last 26 years, and according to its website has attracted 'over 26,500 individual customers to over 260 performances each year'.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Africa Oyé cometh but once a year and you'd be a fool to miss it!…read more The biggest African festival* in the UK and growing, held in Sefton Park with artists from Cuba, Haiti, Senegal, Jamaica, UK and many others, it highlights a massive cultural celebration which people from all over the city gather to join in! Fantastically, this year (June 19th-20th) the weather was glorious, so donning suncream, picnic rug and beers we took our place on the grass and chilled to some amazing live music. Perfection. They also had loads of tents and stalls set up selling original clothing and accessories, (my friend got there early and raided the stores finding the best earrings ever.) and let's not forget the food. Spicy jerk chicken and authentic African dishes (Flava had their own stall) and a huge inflatable slide and tea-cups! They had face painting, dance classes and arts and crafts, so you've got every opportunity to get creative. A mini- festival in your back garden for the weekend. I can't think of a better way to spend my time! Did I mention all this is free? Write the date in your calendar. You won't regret it. *So I'm told!

Africa Oye is an excellent African Music Festival held once a year in Sefton Park. It is an…read moreexcellent location and I wish there were more events like this held there. The set up is really well organised. They have a big stage and also a reggae tent, providing a choice of music for the festival goers. They have a large number of stalls selling CD's, clothing, hats, gifts, records, African and Jamaican food, burgers, beer, cider, face painting, ice creams and much more. The festival has an excellent atmosphere. As it is a free festival people can float in and out as they please, or stay for the full 12-9 stretch on each day. I've been here twice so far and I am looking forward to the next one. An excellent weekend out for everyone.

You know what it's like,you win tickets to a Metal festival in the furthest reaches of North Wales…read moreat a Haven holiiday camp in the middle of march and even though the fest still wants money off you for accomodation (Didn't pay,we stayed elsewhere),and without blinking you turn to your much better (although no more responsible) half and say "Let's do it!" So because you won multiple tickets you drag a couple of friends (One of whom is a semi-metalhead and one who isn't) to Pwllheli with you. Now i've been to an indoor fest before in the shape of Damnation in Leeds,but that was at the Uni and not in a holiday camp,and I must say it did cause much merriment knowing that at some point in the weekend I would be pitting on a carpeted floor : ) Hammerfest had a good mix of Metal styles on offer from the post punk of Killing Joke,to the Hardcore of Hatebreed,to the Death of Flayed Disciple and finally to the Thrash of Sodom. Obviously there was a lot more bands than that,A LOT MORE!! As with all music fests the alcohol prices left a lot to be desired,but seeing as the onsite Spar had cans for £1.49 it wasn't that much of a problem apart from you couldn't take them into the venue,no matter though you just poured them into a plastic pint glass and Satan's your Uncle into the venue you go to jig around like a lunatic. There was also a very good market onsite that sold all of the usual stuff you want from a Metal fest,t-shirts,Cd's and sacfificial goats to name but a few. All in all it was a very well run fest in a lovely part of the world and with a decent mix of bands to keep most people happy. Will I be entering a competition to win tickets again? you bet your combat pants and new rocks I will!!! \M/ PS I did indeed pit on a carpeted floor and got the glasses smashed from off of my face (What kind of idiot pitts with his glasses on??) but the lushness of the carpet saved them. I've seen the future and it is carpeted!