Bearded Festival: Face the facts

Last year's Bearded Festival was the one that got hit by a tornado. Which means, what with lightning never striking twice and everything, that it's probably going to be the safest festival of all this year.

If you need more encouragement, Dreadzone are playing. So are Banco De Gaia. And, in increasing order of "oh... are they still going, then", so are The Wonder Stuff, Dodgy, New Model Army and The Cheeky Girls.

There's also going to be a world record attempt for the most false beards in one place at a time - i think the current record is held by the backstage area at the last Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.

It's 14th-16th May, in Hulland Ward near Derby. No screens playing international football at all - guaranteed.

Good enough? Mathew fills Ringo's hole

With Ringo's deadline for signing stuff looming, thank god Dodgy have arranged a bail-out. Two-time Ringo in a Beatles tribute band, Mathew Priest is offering to sign on Ringo's behalf. Only from the 21st, mind:



[Thanks to Mike E for the tip]

Dodgy snap; delay tour

The Dodgy reunion is off... at least until New Year. Andy Miller damaged his arm by, erm, falling out of bed, and now needs three weeks' rest to recover. The tour has been put on hold until 2008.

Good enough? Dodgy reunite

We're not sure there's any real public demand, but Dodgy are coming back together, with the original line-up, for a quick hoof-round of some smaller venues. It's six years since they split, apparently, and nine since the original line-up last played together. It just seems like they never went away because of the number of times Staying Out For The Summer has been licensed to advertise any old thing:

5 November - Glasgow ABC1
6 - Sheffield Leadmill
8 - Birmingham Academy 2
9 - Manchester Academy 2
10 - Liverpool Academy
12 - Northampton Roadmender
13 - Bristol Academy
15 - Shepherd's Bush Empire (15)