...and other line-up news

Tim Minchin is to headline a comedy and music festival in an East London park this summer.

The Australian pianist is the big draw for the comedy stage at The Apple Cart Festival in Victoria Park on August 7.

Other acts playing that stage include Abandoman, Doc Brown, Jon Richardson, Kevin Eldon and Marcus Brigstocke – while musical acts include Badly Drawn Boy, Saint Etienne and The Magic Numbers.

Early bird tickets cost £25 from See Tickets.

Meanwhile, the comedy line-up has also been announced for the Bloodstock open-air metal festival in August.

Headlining is Steve Hughes, himself a former drummer in a metal band.

He said: ‘As a rule, I usually say no to doing comedy shows at music festivals. I’ve never really enjoyed it, and as my great friend and great Canadian comic Glenn Wool once said, “You never want to do comedy, when in your peripheral vision you can see Iggy Pop.”

‘But as its Bloodstock and with a line-up like it is, what is a man to do but say yes and turn up with microphone in hand and jokes ready to rock. See you all there. Hail the gods of metal.’

Also on the bill is Jason Rouse – once described as ‘the most metal comedian on the planet’ and Stephen Hill. The musical Headliners for the festival at Catton Hall in Derbyshire on August 12 to 14 include Motörhead, Immortal and WASP.

For the more middle-class festival-goer, Latitude has also announced additions to its comedy line-up, with The Boy With Tape On His Face, Diane Spencer, Joe Wells, Joe Lycett, Eric Lampaert and Danny McLoughlin joining the Suffolk line-up for July 14 to 17.

Published: 6 May 2011