Plus you'll be able to buy Rob's new book 'A-Z of Festivals' there (a week ahead of its 1st May release date) and get it signed by the man himself!  The book gives a personal account of the glory years of festivals, crossing the globe from Coachella to Malawi's Lake of Stars, via Notting Hill, and is beautifully illustrated by Bestival Creative Director Josie da Bank.


ETHER 09 'FUTURE FESTIVALS'
This Friday, at the Southbank Centre, Rob discusses where music festivals go next.  Writer and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer interviews Rob to begin with and then they will be joined by Peter Elliot (agent for Basement Jaxx and Dizzee Rascal), James Barton (founder of the Creamfields festival in over 15 countries) and Steve Jenner (from Virtual Festivals) to discuss how festivals can continue to innovate, and whether the digital revolution will ever erode the appeal of 'being there' at the live event?

Tickets cost £10 normally but we've sorted out a SPECIAL 2 FOR 1 TICKET OFFER for you lovely people... all you gotta do is call the Southbank Centre Ticket Office on 0871 663 2500 and quote 'Future Festivals'.

More info here: www.southbankcentre.co.uk (NB: offer not available online)

ROB DA BANK'S A-Z OF FESTIVALS
My Life of Mud, Music & Mayhem in 26 Letters is a personal celebration of music, festivals and how they bring people together and comes jam-packed with his wife Josie's wonderfully exuberant illustrations. Encompassing a myriad of global festivals, from Iceland to the Isle of Wight, and covering everything from Glastonbury to Coachella, Paul McCartney to Ozzy Osbourne, BBC Radio 1 to Woodstock this is one man's up close and personal love letter to The Festival.

Published in hardback by Boxtree on 1st May 2009
- pre-order from Amazon.co.uk

"I spend approximately 12 hours a day 365 days a year thinking about festivals - when I wake up, while I'm changing nappies, if I'm watching the box and before I go to bed. It's got beyond a joke but I can't leave the blasted things alone. I haven't been to anywhere near enough of them around the world but I do know a lot about them so I decided to write a book with some beautifully eccentric illustrations
from my wife Josie." Rob da Bank