UK festivals in May

Are you ready? Playtime is here.

The Great Escape

What: The Barfly rounds up lots and lots of bands to play in venues across the party-town-by-the-sea... no, not Swansea, Brighton! Or, in their words: "The Great Escape is by day, a series of insightful interviews with leading figures from the music industry; by night, a festival of the very best new artists from across the globe, with over 150 bands playing 20 different venues and all within a short walk of each other."
Where: Various venues, Brighton.
When: 17th - 19th May.
Line-up: Willy Mason, Art Brut, Good Shoes, Nouvelle Vague, The Noisettes, The Rakes, Vincent Vincent and the Villains, I Was A Cub Scout and oh, so many more.
Cost: A bargain at £39.50 plus £3.75 payment processing fee for the three-day music pass (well, night really, nothing gets started til late). If you want to go to the talks as well it's more like £250.
Camping: It doesn't come with the ticket, but there are campsites just outside Brighton, or B&Bs, or a very cold and stony beach. I tried that once, I wouldn't recommend it!
Transport: Under an hour by train from London, or drive, taking the M23/A23 to Brighton & Hove.
Parking: There is a Park & Ride available from Withdean Stadium in the north of the city, signposted from the A23, that enables you to park your car and take a bus into town.

All Tomorrow's Parties vs The Fans

What: Go and play happy campers at Butlins Minehead and hear some top bands while you're at it. You, the fans, help to curate this one.
Where: Butlins, Minehead, Somerset.
When: 18th - 20th May.
Line-up: Two Gallants, Modest Mouse, The Go! Team, Yo La Tengo, Cornelius, Patti Smith etc.
Cost: £120 - £140 for weekend plus three nights' accommodation in a chalet on site.
Camping: Your ticket includes accommodation in a chalet there, or book into a B&B nearby.
Transport: You can drive and park on site or catch a train to Taunton from where there's an hourly bus to the festival, last one at 10.15pm.

Isle of Skye Music Festival

What: "This year will see 8,000 revellers gather to watch an eclectic and diverse mix of the very best in contemporary, alternative, dance and traditional Celtic artists." They won Fan Friendly Festival at last year's UK festival awards.
Where: The Isle of Skye, Scotland.
When: 25th - 26th May.
Line-up: Kasabian, Primal Scream, Echo and the Bunnymen and Seth Lakeman and many more!
Cost: Weekend tickets including camping and onsite parking are £85. Day tickets including onsite parking are £50.
Camping: Yes, included in weekend tickets.

Dot to Dot Festival

What: Join the dots in Bristol or Nottingham, as one wristband lets you into many venues to see some cool new acts.
Where: Various venues, Bristol and Nottingham.
When: 26th May (Bristol) and 27th May (Nottingham).
Line-up: Includes New Young Pony Club, Architecture in Helsinki, Blonde Redhead, the Cribbs, Erol Alkan.
Cost: Start at £10 (Bristol) and £20 (Nottingham).

Run To The Sun 2007 - 21st birthday celebration

What: The VW festival comes of age. See how it pulls the bands and the beautiful bodies down to the UK's surfing capital.
Where: Newquay, Cornwall.
When: 25th - 28th May.
Line-up: Music includes Stanton Warriors, kraftykuts, Graham Taff Powell, Ben McGowan, Three Minute Warning. Comedy from Duncan Oakley and John Mann
Cost: £81 for all festival entertainment plus one week camping.
Camping: Included in ticket price.
Transport: Drive, get a train or coach to St Austell or fly to Newquay airport.

Gatecrasher Summer Sound System 2007

What: After a three-year break, the mother of all dance festivals is back, and Pete Doherty is taking to the decks.
Where: Lotherton Hall, Leeds
When: May 27th, starts at 5pm.
Line-up: Indie stars taking to the decks include Belle & Sebastian, Babyshambles and Franz Ferdinand. PLUS Judge Jules, Mr Scruff, Dave Pearce and Timo Maas.
Cost: Details all on the website.
Camping: You won't be sleeping.