Festival gems with no ticket rush

Most of the UK's major, established music festivals have sold out - but fans left behind in the rush for tickets should not despair.

Scores of other events are promising big names and the same festival atmosphere - with tickets still available. Here are some of the highlights.

NEW ATTRACTIONS

Connect
Who: Bjork, Primal Scream, Beastie Boys, Jesus & Mary Chain.
Where: Argyll, Scotland. When: 31 August-2 September.
What: In the grounds of Inverary Castle on the banks of Loch Fyne, this new 20,000-capacity event promises a peaceful setting, Highland Games and cabaret.
How much: £125 for weekend camping.

The Outsider
Who: KT Tunstall, Crowded House, Idlewild, Guillemots.
Where: Aviemore, Scotland.
When: 22-24 June.
What: Enjoy outdoor activities like a mountain bike marathon and white water rafting by day and music by night, all surrounded by the Cairngorms scenery.
How much: £75 for weekend camping.

Fflam
Who: Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Placebo, Feeder.
Where: Singleton Park, Swansea.
When: 13-15 July.
What: Another new event, Fflam hopes to become established as Wales' first major festival and 30,000 fans are expected.
How much: £115 for weekend camping.

Latitude
Who: The Arcade Fire, Damien Rice, The Good, the Bad and the Queen, Wilco.
Where: Southwold, Suffolk.
When: 13-15 July.
What: "More than just a music festival" is how this cultured event, in its second year, bills itself, with literature, theatre and poetry arenas.
How much: £112 for weekend camping.

NO TENT REQUIRED

O2 Wireless
Who: Kaiser Chiefs, White Stripes, Daft Punk, Faithless (London only).
Where: Hyde Park, London, and Harewood House, Leeds. When: 14-17 June (London), 15-17 June (Leeds)
What: Twin event over four days in London and three in Leeds. Leeds has a campsite but London does not.
How much: £135 for London four-day ticket, £105 for Leeds three-day ticket.

Knowsley Hall
Who: The Who, Keane, The Coral, The Zutons.
Where: Knowsley Hall, Liverpool.
When: 23-24 June.
What: A two-day event in the grounds of this stately home, seven miles from the city centre. No camping on site but hotel deals are available.
How much: £70 for weekend ticket.

Hyde Park Calling
Who: Peter Gabriel, Crowded House, Aerosmith, Chris Cornell.
Where: Hyde Park, London.
When: 23-24 June.
What: Another huge event that aims to bring festival fun - minus the hassle of camping - to central London.
How much: £80 for weekend ticket.

ALTERNATIVE FAVOURITES

Bestival
Who: Beastie Boys, Chemical Brothers, Soul II Soul, The Gossip.
Where: Newport, Isle of Wight. When: 7-9 September.
What: This funky weekend is curated by BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank and has been named best medium festival at the UK Festival Awards for the past two years.
How much: £115 for weekend camping.

Green Man
Who: Robert Plant, Joanna Newsom, Stephen Malkmus, Bill Callahan.
Where: Brecon Beacons, Wales.
When: 17-19 August.
What: One of the closest to the friendly and communal festival spirit of yore, this folk-dominated, 10,000-capacity event is now in its fifth year.
How much: £98 for weekend camping.

Beautiful Days
Who: The Levellers, Willy Mason, The Damned, more headliners tba.
Where: Ottery St Mary, Devon.
When: 17-19 August.
What: Festival veterans The Levellers set up their own event five years ago to get away from the impersonal and corporate leanings of the modern mega-fests.
How much: £90 for weekend camping.

FOREIGN FLINGS

Roskilde
Who: The Killers, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys.
Where: Denmark (35 km/22 miles from Copenhagen). When: 5-8 July.
What: With arguably the best line-up anywhere this summer, Roskilde has a similar history, atmosphere, variety and legendary status as Glastonbury.
How much: £130 for weekend camping.

Benicassim
Who: Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Iggy & the Stooges, The B52s.
Where: Southern Spain. When: 19-22 July.
What: A short distance from the Mediterranean, this festival allows you to spend the day on the beach before enjoying the music throughout the night.
How much: £101 for three-day camping ticket (four day tickets sold out).

THEME WEEKENDS

Glastonbudget
Who: Pink Fraud, Ded Hot Chili Peppers, Antarctic Monkeys, Oasish.
Where: Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
When: 25-27 May.
What: Can't go to the real thing? Don't worry - try the tribute festival instead! A host of tribute bands and new acts play, with "rip-off beer prices and nasty food" banned.
How much: £47.50 for weekend camping.

Retrofest
Who: Human League, Howard Jones, Bananarama, ABC.
Where: Culzean Castle, Ayrshire.
When: 1-2 September .
What: The 1980s festival is here - Retrofest will see 16 classic bands bash out their hits to 20,000 revellers who want to relive pop's golden decade.
How much: £75 for weekend camping.

All information correct at time of publication.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Virtual Festivals
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BBC Glastonbury
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