Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and Rally 2009

Organised by the TUC, this festival takes place in the village of Tolpuddle, Dorset and takes place from Friday 17th until Sunday 19th July.

The line for Friday includes Urusen, Who's Afear'd, and Jigsaw.

The Saturday music line-up includes RSVP, Radio Gagarin, 6 Day Riot, Chancery Blame & the Gadjo Club, Trotsky's Talkin Blues Buro, The Marxist Magician, and Dublin City Workingman's Band. Saturday starts with an Open Mic area hosted by Dave Toomer from 11am, plus Poetry and Politics, Speakers' Corner with host Tim Lezard will invite stall-holders and anyone else to have their say. Then at 1pm there's the Tolpuddle talent open-mic session with host Graham Moore. Unions 21 Debate, and The UNISON Unizone with Blackdown Samba. Bristol Radical History Group offer up a subversive mix of narrative, music and performance. Look out for feisty farm labourers, incendiary milk maids and radical cobblers, all compered by the legendary hero of the deep country, Captain Swing.

Sunday's acts inclue Rev Hammer, Gris Sanderson and the Harpaphonics Ensemble, Alun Parry Band, David Ferrard, The Clay Faces, Raices Cubanas, Southern Tenant Folk Union, Transglobal Underground, Alun Parry & Robb Johnson, and Billy Bragg. Sunday also has the procession led by the Great Western Jazz Band with Cuban band Paseo Malanga, Blackdown Samba, and Eastington Colliery Band, and speakers including Brendan Barber TUC General Secretary, Shelia Bearcroft TUC President, and of course Tony Benn. Budding young DJ, Top of the Tips will be providing workshop sessions on a solar powered DJ rig in the Kids Area. Check the chalkboard by the gate for times on the day.

In and around the Martyrs Marque at the festival there will be stalls selling ideas as well as goods. Plus there will be fun and workshops for kids and creative adults.

Entrance to the festival is FREE. Weekend camping tickets are available for purchase.

CAMPING
Space is very limited and the prices are yet to be finalised. Expect around £35 for a small (2 man) tent, £45 for larger tents and campervans, £55 for 7+ tents, £35 for a Gazebo. Fee includes parking for 1 vehicle and additional car passes can be purchased at the event. No caravans. If you are planning to camp with friends, travel together, as spaces are allocated on arrival. Hot showers and breakfasts are available. No cars on the campsite.

Camping tickets are not yet on sale.

Car Parking
Free car for each camping tag or £10 per car on Sunday; £15 weekend pass, £5 each day on Friday and Saturday. Coaches Free, drop off and park to the east of the village.

More information will be here when available.

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