My Chemical Toilet

Festivals round-up: Everyone loves Latitude, Live Earth most watched entertainment event in history, Jarvis has the Eye of the Tiger

- The opinions on Latitude, in general, seem to come down on the side of "delightful" (apart from the litter). Even a self-confessed miserablist enjoyed it

- Hold onto your hats - an MP went on a jolly to Glasto courtesy of the BBC and some people aren't pleased

- Guilfest gets some better press from The Sun, after reports of problems with speaker stacks and, well, open sewers

Festivals round-up: Latitude and Indian Summer brighten rather than dampen spirits, problems mar Guilfest, Marilyn Manson footage from Download

- A speaker stack collapsed at Guilfest on Friday, and the comments below this story suggest that while the festival was designed to be mud-free there are other mucky elements they need to look at sorting out

- Observer Music Monthly has a focus on a few of the big events that have taken place this year. Glastonbury this year was "amazing", according to Emily Eavis (but then she would say that, wouldn't she?). Also interviewed are Damon Albarn and Johnny Borrell

- Latitude's growing reputation won't have been harmed by - whaaaat?? - good weather. CSS were among the many acts who impressed Uncut.co.uk (who are one of the festival's sponsors)

Duke Special at Guilfest

Over on the Ents24 stage at Guilfest this Sunday will be Duke Special.

Now, despite looking like a hungover Edward Scissorhands, this bloke is a fantastic performer. His album, "Songs from the Deep Forest", arrived in my life earlier this year after seeing him on Jools Holland (clips of which you can find after the jump).

If you're going to be at Guilfest, I'm pleading with you to go and see Duke. No, wait, I'm demanding you do.

Five seconds into his set you'll realise that he is a) immensely talented, and b) immensely Irish. You thought Ronan Keating had an accent, but wait until you hear Duke. His Irish is so thick you wonder how you can understand it, but it means his lyrics seem to soothe themselves out of his lungs. If he plays "No Cover Up", you'll see exactly what I mean.

Festivals Update: T In The Park reviews, Guilfest's mud-free offerings, Madonna goes gypsy-punk

- Despite experiences like those detailed here at this year's event, the early tickets for T In The Park 2008 have sold like hot tatty scones

- Latitude will have an open-air stage this year, after the original tent was ripped apart by the good old British weather. This article seems to tempt fate the whole way through, emphasising how beautiful everything looks... let's hope it stays that way after the rain, eh?

- A naughty Spiderman has been charged after climbing a speaker rig and interrupting Snow Patrol's set at T In The Park. In happier news, he interrupted Snow Patrol's set at T In The Park

The most ridiculous band names on the festival circuit: Sportsday Megaphone, The Trouser Trumpets are just the tip of the iceberg

Remember how stupid you felt when you tried to make your mates buy tickets to see a random teenager called Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly? Or when you raved about the unknown New Young Pony Club? Or you heard somebody snigger when you tried to tell them that the Victorian English Gentleman's Club is actually a group of teenagers?

Yes, they're ridiculous names, but I can now reveal that next year's successful-yet-stupidly-named band will feature the words tree or monkey and / or be called Dave. Honest.

So if you're off to a festival and you arrive early, I suggest you check out these bands or DJs. I've got no idea if they're any good, but it's worth a snidey snigger at their name now, and possibly a smug smile and getting to say "Oh yes, I saw them live last year. Keep up" when they make it big.

Festivals round-up: Oxegen survival guide, Guilfest movie, Live Earth debutants, T in the Park weather, new Latitude stage

So many fests, so little time. If you're going to any of the below events here are some nuggets to nibble on:

- "You know me, I'm all about saving lives." Bono? Sting? Nah - Ludacris, who appears on the US leg of Live Earth. Yes, that Ludacris

- It's a point more and more people seem to be making - Live Earth will need to clean up its own mess to be taken seriously as an environmentally conscious event.

- The Oxegen festival takes place this weekend in Co Kildare, Ireland. You know what that means, don't you? Survival Guide time

- There will be rain at T in the Park, you won't be surprised to hear. What may shock you is that you can also expect some sun, according to the met office. That's what happens if you get a Beach Boy in

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