Stroud Fringe Festival

Head to Stroud for a weekend of cultural, artistic and musical activity during the Stroud Fringe Festival 2011, including a headline concert from The Beat.

Music and arts lovers across Gloucestershire will be eagerly awaiting the next Stroud Fringe Festival, with the fun-filled weekend set to take place from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 September 2011.

Having earned itself quite a reputation in previous years, and attracting an eclectic mix of performers spanning music genres including rock, indie, metal, hip hop, folk and country, this year’s festival is set to be the biggest and best yet.

As well as festival markets, buskers spots, plenty of bars and a kids area to tempt the crowds to Stroud, an eclectic programme of music, street entertainment and poetry will also be taking place across the town centre.

Some of the Fringe Festival highlights include free live theatre, music, poetry and ironing at The Subs Café Bar on the Saturday.

At 12pm, all ages can see Spaniel in the Works Theatre Company performing ‘Forgotten Sporting Heroes of Stroud’.

At 2pm, Glastonbury Festival-favourite Crispin the Poet will be performing Out to Lunch – with a request for audience members to ‘bring your ironing to be ironed live’!

While at 3pm, there will be live blues, folk and bluegrass from Steve Hill and Rufus Fry.

Also headlining the festival at 8pm, at Stroud Subscription Rooms on the Saturday, is ska band The Beat, with support from the Tarq Bowen Trio. Expect to hear hits spanning ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’, ‘Save it for Later’, ‘I Confess’ and ‘Stand Down Margaret’ performed live. Tickets cost £13 in advance and are expected to sell-out.