Rhythm Festivals WILKO JOHNSON, THE BLUES BAND, GENO WASHINGTON, OLI BROWN BAND, BIG BOY BLOATER, HAT FITZ & CARACHANTEL McGREGOR, MICHAEL MESSER & THE SECOND MIND BAND, BUICK 6, DAVE KELLY, and more... Plus JIM MORAY & Band added to FOLK FESTIVAL stage, THE MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG move to Happy Rhythms Stage

(Note: Rhythm Festival, held as a single event in Bedfordshire since 2006, becomes 3 linked festivals in 2012 with the addition of Rhythm Folk and Rhythm & Blues and takes place at Old Warden Park in Bedfordshire over the Bank Holiday Weekend of August 24-26th.)

The announcement of the line-up for Rhythm & Blues Festival, featuring many classic acts and providing a showcase for the best emerging talent. The star Blues names include Geno Washington who brings a new band, Yo-Yo Blues to Bedfordshire, The Blues Band (featuring Paul Jones, Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness, Rob Townsend and Gary Fletcher), with acoustic guitarist Dave Kelly contributing a solo set earlier in the day; the previously announced Wilko Johnson and Big Boy Bloater; Australian New Blues sensation Hat Fitz & Cara, headlining young guitar hero Oli Brown Band and Europe's leading slide guitarist, Michael Messer & The Second Mind.

Other acts appearing on this stage over the weekend include Chantel McGregor, Buick 6, Crosstown Lightnin' (featuring Charles Shaar Murray), Lucy Zirins, Cherry Lee Mewis, Bare Bones Boogie Band and Mitch Laddie Band.

On other stages, on Friday 24th, New Folk icon JIM MORAY brings his band to the RHYTHM FOLK FESTIVAL and THE MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG move to the main Happy Rhythms stage in the main Rhythm Festival arena.

BARGAIN PRICED TICKETS which allow access to the Rhythm & Blues Festival (only) or the Rhythm Folk Festival (only) are currently available at just £70 for the weekend (including a free child/ youth aged 5-16) plus camping or THE EARLY BIRD ALL FESTIVALS WEEKEND PASS is still only £99 + camping (includes free Child/Youth ticket). To help festival-goers in these hard times, the £99 Early Bird Adult All Festivals Pass is being held at this price until May 31st. Under 5's are always free. Day tickets will not be available for general sale.TICKETS

On "other stages", Rhythm Festival is to have 2 stages: Big Rhythms and Happy Rhythms whilst the two new events, Rhythm Folk and Rhythm & Blues will each have their own areas, dominated by huge big-top stages. Camping and lots of other attractions (see below) will be shared. 

The emphasis in 2012 is on bringing gifted young performers into Rhythm Festivals, joining the veteran acts who have always been its main-stay.

Also NEW for 2012 and available to ticket-holders for all three Rhythm Festivals are Fringe Theatre performances in the The Old Dick Theatre and a huge programme of Literary & Poetry Events. Details of BIG NAME attractions on these stages will be announced soon. Comedy (again programmed by Jesterlarf Comedy Club of Cambridge) will return in 2012 as will other old Rhythm avourites, including the Groovy Movie Picture House (free sola-powered cinema), DJ Wheelie Bag in the Tavern Bar and even more children's entertainment, including Panic Circus and the Junior (London) Olympics. Many more new attractions will be added and announced in the coming weeks.