Echo & the Bunnymen will head the line up at the 2011 Headstock Festival. The Bunnymen will join more than 60 acts at the not for profit festival which takes place in the Newstead and Annesley Country Park near Nottingham on September 9-11th 2011.

Other acts across 5 stages and dance arenas include Craig Charles, Nick Harper, Tunng, African Head Charge, Aistagucca, Seas of Mirth, Turin Brakes, Royal Gala, 25 Past The Skank, Alberteen, The Halluminati, C.W. Stoneking, High Llamas, Tilted Smile plus DiY & Smokescreen, UDS & Desert Storm and Muzika! soundsystems. Many more acts will be announced soon.

Headstock Festival was set up in 2010 by Newstead Enterprise – a social enterprise set up by the community of Newstead to help create a sustainable future for the village which still suffers deprivation following the closure of the coal mine in 1987. Newstead is one of several social enterprises which received start up funding through Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS initiative. Big Lottery Fund set up Village SOS in partnership with BBC One to respond to the plight of rural villages across the UK. The BBC is filming the journey of the villages, including the regeneration of Newstead, for a primetime BBC One TV show due to be broadcast this summer.

Last year’s Headstock was runner up for Best New Festival at the UK Festival Awards and received rave reviews from media and festival attendees. This years Headstock grows from a one day event to two days and three nights with DJ performances on Friday evening.

Headstock is situated in the community’s own stunning 230 acre eco Park – with the main stage sitting in a natural amphitheatre and camping available on site. Early Bird Tickets are on sale now at £50 for the weekend, Youth Tickets at £35 and under 12s free.

Other attractions at the festival include street theatre, inspirational workshops, charity events, arts installations as well as a dedicated children’s area – Kidstock with a range of activities including drumming and DJ’ing workshops, jewellery making and puppetry. A bar will serve real ale and cider at reasonable prices and food from local traders will be available.