The Fire Gathering Festival

Next we stop off at The Fire Gathering Festival from 16th-18th May to relax in the sunshine :) Situated on an idyllic farm midway between Brighton and London, this not-for-profit festival is packed with eclectic entertainment; live music, workshops, cabaret, DJ's, circus and comedy.

The site is studded with site-wide art installations and nature trails. Organisers ensure there’s minimum impact on the stunning surrounding countryside – other than the footprints of nature-loving festival-goers.

They're be plenty of live bands on offer, check out their wares here! Ska, punk, dub, acoustic, the choice is endless. Revel in the cornucopia of lush soundscapes and layered harmonies provided by Jim Noir, and his Gnome. Battle with the melodic Little Fish, or get entranced by the psychedelic lounge rock of 12 Stone Toddler.

Acts already confirmed include cult ska collective Los Albertos, regular performers Turning Green, Digitonal, Duologue, Octavcat, John Callaghan, Timothy Victor’s Folk Orchestra, John Crampton, Opaque, Jude Cowan and Mr Finn.

There'll be oddity and illusion with Third Heaven Cabaret and Jonathan Kay and his Nomadic Academy of Fools. And if you fancy having a go yourself check out the workshops in poi, belly-dancing, juggling, hula hoops and latin dance. And of course, you'll be able to buy some fabulous, eco-friendly Curious Tales T-shirts!

Tickets are £65 for three days. For more information and directions on how to get there click here.

The Burning Man Festival

If you fancy painting yourself purple, and sunbathing nude in the desert for a week, alongside giant venus fly traps, dinosaurs, pyrotechnic motorbikes and glow in the dark insects on wheels, then head along to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for The Burning Man Festival from 25th August-1st September this year.

Make sure to bring your shaman outfit, multi-coloured sunscreen and a selection of luminous wigs!

Join avant-garde artists, wild eyed hippies, alternative musicians and performers as they gather on the white sands to take part in this radical experiment in community, self expression and self reliance, which disappears every year without a trace. Anti-commercialism is part of the philosophy and a system of bartering has evolved where people exchange gifts or favours in place of money.

There's so much to do! Why not camp under the rainbows, make a suit out of light sticks, watch fire-eaters on psychedelic stilts, play a flaming tuba or get your palm read by a green genie? Then check out the art cars, watch Dr Mega Volt and his bevvy of Giant Conductors, experience the Ocean of Fire and watch lyrca clad acrobats tumble through the air on silk ropes...


Then as the sun makes its way below the horizon, woop at the sky and dance alongside thousands of your psychedelic compatriots as a giant wooden effigy disintegrates into flames...

Are there any takers? :)