The Proclaimers, Alabama 3, James Hunter, headline Rhythm Festival

The Proclaimers, Alabama 3, James Hunter, The Beat, and The Blow Monkeys are some of the first acts to be announced for Rhythm Festival 2009.

Scottish brothers The Proclaimers will headline the opening night on Friday, with Alabama 3 occupying the same slot on Saturday, and bluesman James Hunter and his band close the festival on Sunday.

Other acts just confirmed for the weekend include on Friday Squeeze singer Glenn Tilbrook & The Fluffers, Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, and Billy Jenkins Blues Collective.

Saturday's line-up includes the original line-up of The Blow Monkeys, The Beat, Jacqui McShee's Pentangle, Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds, and The Demon Barbers.

The first confirmed acts to play on Sunday will be Alvin Youngblood Hart, Strawbs, and Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash.

These are just the first acts for the line-up, with more than 30 acts still to be announced over the coming weeks, for the fourth Rhythm Festival which takes place from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd August at Twinwood Arena, Clapham, in Bedfordshire.

Rhythm Festival organiser Jim Driver said, "We've had some great acts at past Rhythm Festivals, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Donovan, Levellers, Dr John, Seth Lakeman, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Steve Cropper and The Saw Doctors, but I think 2009 tops them all. And, of course, Rhythm Festival is much more than just the music and we've got lots of other exciting diversions planned too!"

Rhythm Festival aims to be different from other outdoor music festivals, by being smaller (a capacity of under 5,000), friendlier and geared towards the festival goer. There's three bars sell a wide range of wines, beers and lagers, with around 20 real ales and natural ciders available.

Aside from the three music stages, the event will feature comedy, Burlesque, children's entertainment and a whole range of attractions yet to be announced.

The festival site is semi-permanent, and includes flush toilets (augmented by portaloos), and proper roads and pathways. The arena is a drained grassy amphitheatre and many attractions are housed indoors. Showers have been hired for the (supervised) campsites and there'll be free car parking adjacent to the festival site.

Adult (17+) weekend tickets are priced at £90 (£82.50 until 31/03/09), with one child free with every adult ticket-buyer; additional child tickets are £30 each, 5 and unders can go for free. Camping is from £25 per tent, £30 per campervan or caravan.

To buy tickets, click here.

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