BEARDED THEORY FESTIVAL returns from 14th – 16th May 2010 for it’s third year of action packed family-friendly fun in the heart of Derbyshire.

Thanks to 2 successive sell-outs, a UK Festival Awards nomination for Best New Festival, (not to mention a huge amount of international publicity in 2009 courtesy of some rather blustery weather), Bearded Theory Festival has firmly entrenched itself as the first ‘proper’ festival of the season.

For 2010, Bearded Theory Festival has once again expanded – this year’s festival is nearly double the size of last year - and is set to welcome thousands of festival-goers of all ages to Bradley Nook Farm near Ashbourne for three fantastic days of music and fun.

Highlights of Bearded Theory Festival 2010 include:

5 live music stages featuring over 100 acts ranging from legendary Specials vocalist Neville Staples to every MP’s favourite pop act, The Cheeky Girls

1-acre ‘Angel Gardens’ children’s village (all activities are free)

Busk Stop where festival-goers can simply turn up and play

Large Craft and Creative Art area

On-site Sauna and Showers

3 bars selling a wide range of drinks at pub prices – including the Long Beard festival ale

New for 2010, a large covered World Food Emporium.

Special bus services to and from all surrounding towns, including Derby

The Annual Bearded Theory Festival World Record Attempt for the most people wearing fancy dress beards in one place

As always, festival profits go to charity –
this year’s recipient is Shelter

Tickets are approximately half the price of many comparable festivals and include 3 nights of camping and access to all music and on-site events.
Tickets are priced at £65 (Adults), £15 (Under 16’s), £10 (Under 12’) and Under 5's are free (ticket is still required). A Family Ticket for 2 Adults & 2 Children is £140.

Tickets are available from www.quaytickets.com, www.beardedtheory.co.uk/shop, on 08432 081 835 or over the counter from major HMV and Waterstone’s stores nationwide.

MAIN STAGE

KING BLUES, THE WONDER STUFF, DODGY, SUBGIANT, AOS3, ESKIMO FIRES

BEARD TOP

Tarantism, Babar Luck, Inner Terrestrials, Pyrates, Andy Robinson, Nimming Ned, Hardluck cafe, Ragatti String Band

After a week of perishing cold it's actually warmed up a bit, and Bearded Theory is under way!

We've pitched our soulpad tent and can hear the first acts on stage. The most exciting news so far is that the special guests for Saturday night are 3 Daft Monkeys.

Main stage on the right and the all important beer tent to the left, beer tent has a resident DJ who has been spinning everything from AC/DC to the Levellers. The festival ale, Longbeard, is extremely good.

In the 'Beard top' we saw our old favourites Nimming Ned deliver a great set of their up beat pumped up folk, these guys deserve to be seen live.

On the main stage Subgiant got the early afternoon crowd dancing to their electro beats, surely one of the best UK dance acts...

Andy Robinson performed to a woman dressed as a cow. Actually there was a good crowd but that is a good headline.

Dance Tent

Busk Stop

 

MAIN STAGE

NEW MODEL ARMY, GOLDBLADE, PRONGHORN, SENSER, DR & THE MEDICS, MEN THEY COULDNT HANG, BLYTH POWER, TRUE DECIEVERS

BEARD TOP

3 Daft Monkeys, Boot Hill All Stars, Rev Hammer/Dan Donnelly, Green Man Rising, Bemis, The Violet May, Ferocious Dog, Jerzey Street Band, Ferocious Dog, Jerzey Street Band, Avondale 45, Silicon Bulet, Barking Smith & TIB

Oh the sunshine! The day dawned clear and fine, then promptly clouded over, as the day progressed it got warmer, the sun returned and Bearded Theory became a wonderful place to be.

New Model Army

The special surprise guests were 3 Daft Monkeys. They played at the first Bearded Theory, which was basically a big birthday party and made it very special. This year they played some new songs which will be on the new album that they are off to record in late May, and very good they sounded too.

Rev Hammer and Dan Donnelly

 

The Men They Couldn't Hang

Dr and the Medics

I'm typing this with an opera singer belting out some aria in the bar behind me, we've had rock and roll, folk, folk punk, can can dancers and possibly the perfect band for a sunny afternoon; Dr & The Medics rattling out some great covers from The Timewarp to White wedding and of course Spirit In The Sky.

Ferocious Dog pulled a large crowd into the Beard Top with their primal blend of folk and punk, they doffed their caps to the Pogues and The Levellers

In a not dissimilar vein The Men They Couldn't Hang took to the main stage, they seem to have a whole new energy about them these days, maybe the sunshine helped...

Still to come - video interviews with Rev Hammer and Dan Donnelly, New Model Army and 3 Daft Monkeys!

Dreadzone, headline act on Sunday were stunning. Songs from their new Album Eye On The Horizon felt like old favourites as they drew what felt like everyone at the festival to the main stage. At the end of a long sunny day as the temperature dropped and a crescent moon rose over the stage, a more perfect end to a wonderful festival than standing watching these guys is hard to think of.

With two stages and the dance tent going pell mell all day today proved to be every bit as exciting as yesterday.

Back To The Planet still have the sparkle and attitude that made them so good years back

Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs proved that you can entertain a big festival crowd with one guitar, a washboard and teachest. However they do bring a special element of talent and charisma, you can see the crowd going from 'what-the...' to clapping and dancing within the space of one song.

It has to be said that we were sceptical of the Cheeky Girls being on the bill, but we were proven totally wrong when they came and performed to a completely rammed big top and then helped on the main stage with the festivals Guinness World record attempt. Quite an inspired bit of programming, and their mum does go everywhere with them!

More to come over the next few days!

http://www.beardedtheory.co.uk/