exclusive: eFestivals Comedy Tent line-up for Summer Sundae

eFestivals can exclusively announce the first names for the Comedy Tent line-up at this August's Summer Sundae Weekender, and also news of the return of the Summer Sundae Festival Choir.

The packed programme in the Comedy tent will include one of the most respected acts on the circuit, Rob Rouse, currently on his second national tour with his critically acclaimed Edinburgh smash-hit 'The Great Escape'.

Joining Rob on the line-up are musical sketch duo Abandoman frontman Rob and multi-instrumentalist James Hancox reinvent hip hop in a way that appeals all age groups, creating sketches at lightning speed and no two gigs they ever do are ever the same.

Also confirmed is master of the one-liner Gary Delaney, Canadian Pete Johansson will be bringing his 'happy-apathy' attitude towards life, Australian comedian Sarah Kendall, and regular on the UK comedy circuit Fergus Craig also about to support Russell Kane on his 2011 national tour.

Also creating the laughs will be Michael Fabbri sure to delve into some of life's more touchy subjects whilst bringing light-hearted silliness. Presenter, writer and comedian David Ward will be bringing his friendly, upbeat, warm and cheeky outlook to the Comedy tent, and Carly Smallman her laugh out loud funny songs. Also confirmed are rising stars, the extremely funny and original Chris Stokes, MTV Base's stand-up comedian Ola, and Irish exciting new talent Andrew Ryan.

The eFestivals Comedy Tent is programmed by Leicester Comedy Festival, the UK's longest running comedy festival.

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. Music will include the Foresters Brass Ensemble one of Leicester's oldest brass bands, Harp for Hangovers, and 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. The city's Victorian heritage brought to light the weird and wonderful world of Francis 'Tanky' Smith, Leicester's first private detective and creator of the well known Leicester landmark the Top Hat Terrace.

There's also a pedal powered Top Hat Terrace Installation, an Evolving Sand Sculpture of Tanky by Leicester local and world champion sand sculptor 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, curated by Cuttlefish. Sunday will also feature a talk by local historian, author and total Tanky expert John Harrison.

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. Also be sure not to miss the Victorian Children's Parade which will take place on Sunday at 6:30pm.

Also confirmed is the return of the Summer Sundae Festival Choir. Following the success of last year's event, which saw 35 singers amateur singers who had never met before give a near professional performance to a packed out eFestivals Comedy Tent, the Summer Sundae Festival Choir is back! If you love singing and want to join in the fun all you have to do is buy your ticket to the weekend event then sign up. Rehearsals take place on the Friday afternoon, Saturday lunch time and Sunday lunchtime, leading to a performance on the Sunday afternoon.

The choir is led by local voice practitioner Hannah Brine and is suitable for anyone with a love and interest in singing. Accompanying the choir is pianist George Aquah, who has performed with the likes of Gladys Knight and Kirk Franklin.

Hannah said, "The Summer Sundae Festival Choir is open to anyone who enjoys singing and would like to say they have performed at Summer Sundae! You don't need to have sung with a group before or be able to read music, as all parts will be learnt during the rehearsals. We will be working on a handful of well known popular songs."

Taking part is easy. Register by sending an email with your name, contact details, and a list of any previous singing experience to summersundaechoir@gmail.com Places are limited to 50 singers, and you must have a ticket for the weekend event to take part.

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, The Bees, Bellowhead, The Cuban Brothers, Wilko Johnson, 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 as available please click here.

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.

Tickets for Summer Sundae Weekender are priced at £115. An adult 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.

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.

To buy tickets, click here.

eFestivals is pleased to again sponsor Summer Sundae Weekender. This is part of eFestivals' commitment to put 10% of our turnover back into festivals, making festivals better for us all.

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