Summer Sundae Weekender 2011

A three day family friendly music festival with full camping facilities offering festival goers over 100 acts with an eclectic mix of live bands of all styles and genres over six stages, and high calibre comedy in the eFestivals Cabaret Tent. The dates for the tenth Summer Sundae Weekender held at De Montfort Hall, Leicester are confirmed as Friday 12th to Sunday 14th August.

The event offers a civilised and relaxed atmosphere, an unwavering ethical standpoint, high production values, a quality range of foods from around the world, 20 cask ales and a mean line in cocktails (all reasonably priced) at four bars throughout the site, not to mention stalls, and high calibre comedy in the eFestivals Cabaret Tent.

Line-up

The first headliner to be announced is The Maccabees. Also confirmed are Toots and the Maytals, The Jim Jones Revue, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Teddy Thompson, Young Knives, Blood Red Shoes, The Phantom Band, Example, I Am Kloot, Showaddywaddy, McFly, Chapel Club, Reef, Shonen Knife, Graham Coxon, Newton Faulkner, Warpaint, The Bees, Bellowhead, The Cuban Brothers, Wilko Johnson, Everything Everything, Portico Quartet, The Pierces, Kissmet, Hhymn, John Cooper Clarke, Little Comets, CW Stoneking, The Wolf People, Liam Bailey, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, The Raghu Dixit Project, Skinny Lister, Dizraeli and the Small Gods, Factory Floor, The Antlers, Tom Baxter, Pete And The Pirates, Dry The River, and more. There are many more acts still to be announced. For the line-up details, and day splits, as available please click here.

The comedy line-up includes Rob Rouse, Abandoman, Gary Delaney (comedian), Jon Richardson, Simon Evans, Kerry Gilbert, Pete Johansson, Sarah Kendall, Fergus Craig, Michael Fabbri, David Ward, Carly Smallman, Chris Stokes, Ola, and Andrew Ryan.

The festival now in its 10th year showcases emerging talent along with well known established acts, as well as bluegrass, folk, electronica, theatre, and entertainment all set over seven stages.

Phrased & Confused will take custody of The Cabaret Tent as well as The Bandstand Stage for a few hours each day, and they will also have a new Library Tent in The Garden Area. Already confirmed on the poetry bill are Ben Mellor, Laura Dockrill, Shane Solanki, and Yusra Warsama.

Tickets

Early bird tickets are no longer available. A weekend ticket is priced at £115. A family ticket for four (2 adults, 2 children) is priced at £322, a child (aged 5-15 years) ticket is priced at £40, and under 5s go for free. An adult day ticket is priced £30 for Friday, and £50 for Saturday or Sunday. Child (aged 5 -15 years old) are priced £12 for Friday, and £15 for Saturday or Sunday.

To buy tickets, click here.

Camping tickets

Camping tickets are per person, not per tent, an adult camping ticket is priced at £9, a child camping ticket is priced at £4.50, quiet or family camping £12 (Regents College), and child family camping £6 (Regents College), a camper vans and caravans ticket is priced at £35.

O2 Academy Thursday

Summer Sundae have decided not to go ahead with their parties at O2Academy with Jaymo & Andy George, Fenech-Soler, and Polarsets on Thursday and Sunday due to other activities in Leicester.

Fringe festival

The sixth annual Summer Sundae Fringe Festival will take place around various venues in the city before the Summer Sundae Weekender begins. Fringe coaches will be making drop offs outside of the Academy as well as the main campsite in Victoria Park. For information on the Fringe Festival, click here.

The Village

As usual there will be much more than music to keep you entertained this year at Summer Sundae Weekender. Once again The Village will provide a great selection of food and craft stalls, and the ever-popular Orange Tree Bars will be back with their Real Ale & Cocktail Bars.

Theme

After last year's beach theme, this year SSW will be taking a trip back in time to bring some Victoriana to Victoria Park! This year will see the Main Stage become a master of disguise. Watch as it evolves through the seasons of a Victorian Park from a frost bitten winter to a golden summer. To coincide with the Victorian theme there's a brand new area called Curiosity Corner which will provide a plethora of amusements to excite and amaze, including a Victorian Bandstand Stage offering music, storytelling, poetry readings, theatre and more throughout the weekend. Talks will include that from Roger Lovell, the UK's only professional Penny Farthing rider and cycling historian who'll be bringing his collection of vintage cycles to the event. Young Storyteller of the Year Rachel Rose Reid will also be performing on The Bandstand throughout the weekend.

The journey back into Leicester's history continues with the Top Hat Terrace Extravaganza themed around the weird and wonderful world of Francis 'Tanky' Smith, including delights like the pedal powered Top Hat Terrace Installation, an Evolving Sand Sculpture of Tanky by Nicola Wood, a chance to try a vintage disguise and get into character at The Vintage Fair, a QR digital art trail around the site, talks and more.

The Kidzone

The Kidzone, this year will be curated by The Spark Children's Arts Festival and will enable our younger audience to partake in Victorian games, create disguises, embark on Treasure Hunts, watch an old fashioned Punch and Judy show and much much more. The Sonic Manipulator returns, alongside other weird and wonderful sideshows including The Psychic Projection where you can catch fine bearded ladies convening with animal spirits and wonderously rapping, ringing, rope-tying to provide audiences with a spiritual experience not to be missed! Plus London Hula Hoopers will be running daily workshops introducing beginners and helping those who already have skills to pick up impressive new tricks. Be sure not to miss the Victorian Children's Parade which will take place on Sunday at 6:30pm.

Alcohol restrictions for 2011

Are not being implemented this year.

Camping

The main campsite will be in Victoria Park but for a quieter festival experience, head for the campsite in Regent College. The site will be divided into family and quiet camping, with everyone staying there being lovely and considerate to their neighbours. There will also be extra toilets and showers available, to make it the most comfy campsite, too.

Getting there

By Car: De Montfort Hall is situated at the top of Regent Road on the edge of Victoria Park. Located just one mile south of Leicester's city centre, the Hall is well signposted on the inner ring road. If using the M1 come off at Junction 21 and follow the signs for the outer ring road (Leicester South and East), turning left along the A50 or A6 when signposted. Parking is available on the edge of Victoria Park.
By Train: Leicester's train station is on the Intercity Midland Mainline, just over an hour from London. The station is on London Road (A6) and is only a 10 minute walk away from the Hall. To book tickets online click here.
By Bus: bus enquiries please call 0870 608 2608
By Bike: Throughout the weekend Sustrans staff will be on hand to provide information on local routes and giving away cyclometers to every attendee that arrives by bike. Ride Leicester – Mobile Bike Park' will provide a fully monitored, secure place to leave your bike.
By car: If you have to go by car remember eFestivals has a car share scheme click here to find out more.

Green ethos

Summer Sundae Weekender has always been pro-active about environmental issues and redeems itself year on year. Last year all power was drawn directly from Leicester City Councils eco-tariff power supply - thereby offsetting some emissions. The festival also endeavours to turn off equipment whenever it's not in use. The festival recommends festival goers arrive by public transport, and recycle as much rubbish as they make.

Amnesty International

Summer Sundae Weekender is participating in Amnesty International's 50th Anniversary special photo project, by asking the performers to have their photos taken with Amnesty placards at the festival. These photos will be available for viewing on the Summer Sundae website to raise awareness so that SSW visitors may too take action on human rights campaigns.

Video

Here is a short eFestivals film about 2009's Summer Sundae Weekender.

More info

Click HERE for information about all aspects of Summer Sundae.

More information will be here when available.

Latest Updates