Beautiful Days '12 Festival

The Levellers own festival which they hope will "offer not only the best in live music today but to re-create a community spirit that many events nowadays lack or choose to ignore. This event is about people young and old coming together and taking part in something that will be remembered for a long time." It's certainly succeeded in that aim, and has become one of the most popular, selling out year after year. The dates for the tenth Beautiful Days are confirmed as from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th August 2012 at Escot Park, near Fairmile, Devon, with gates opening on the Thursday afternoon. Line-up Frank Turner and his support band The Sleeping Souls headline on Friday night, Public Image Limited on Saturday, and festival founders Levellers will close the celebrations on the Sunday night, as is traditional followed by a firework spectacular. Headlining The Big Top is Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson plays 'Thick as a Brick' in its entirety, plus Midlake and Richard Thompson. Also announced are The Waterboys, New Model Army, Bellowhead, Inspiral Carpets, Alabama 3, Reel Big Fish, Dreadzone, Billy Bragg, The King Blues, Simon and Oscar (Ocean Colour Scene), Chris Wood, The Skints, 3 Daft Monkeys, Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo, Larkin Poe, Peatbog Faeries, and The Travelling Band. With more acts to be announced. There will be a new seated theatre venue added this year, making six stages in all. For the line-up details as available please click here. No acts have been announced yet for The Little Big Top, Bimble Inn, The Band Stand or the brand new Theatre Tent which will be hosting theatre, puppet and musical performances throughout the day and then stand-up comedy in the early evening. Theme The festival's Sunday Theme is also still to be announced. On site Improvements for 2012 include a pedestrian relief bridge, improved roadways, and a little more space for campervans and camping. The festival which is licensed for 13,500 will not increase capacity this year. As well as music there's street theatre, lots of site art and sculpture, many children's activities in a large children's area in the centre of the festival, plus theatre, comedy, family camping, camping facilities, licensed bars from local company Otter Brewery, world food, craft stalls, fancy dress, a 'village shop' on site, and more. There is plenty of family camping close to the car parks.