Towersey Festival is preparing to be 'lit up' this August Bank Holiday with the arrival of Spread The Word. Spread The Word is part of the Oxfordshire festival's Beyond The Music strand, which also includes theatre, visual arts and a range of workshops, Spread The Word presents a range of literature, poetry, and comedy performances and workshops at venues across the festival site.

Former Towersey Festival Resident Writer Paul 'Shez' Sherreard will be joined by Esther Poyer, David McGrath and Cherry Potts, plus Towersey 2013 'Word Wrangler' Debs Newbold, and Thame lad Tom Banks for a range of activities and events.

These include storytelling for grown-ups and late night poetry at a special Live Lit night on Saturday (24 Aug), a series of surprise 'pop up' sessions in the Ceilidh Tent, Big Club and Village Hall, plus a range of workshops filled with tips and tricks for aspiring, emerging and experienced wordsmiths.

In addition, there's also an Open Mic Night, where all writers inspired by the workshops and performances over the weekend can share their work in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

"We've very pleased to bring together such an acclaimed and experienced group of storytellers, poets, writers and performers," says Towersey Festival Director Joe Heap. "Shez was our resident festival writer for 2011 and 2012, while Deb's was voted one of the Top 10 Towersey artists by festival attendees last year - the first time we've had a spoken word artist in our Top 10."

Towersey Festival runs from Thursday 22 to Monday 26 August 2013 at Towersey, Oxfordshire. Headline acts include The Blockheads, The Unthanks, Bellowhead's Spiers and Boden, Show Of Hands, Home Service, featuring War Horse composer John Tams, and Swiss cajun punk trio Mama Rosin. Day tickets begin at £10, with full five-day festival tickets from £55. Under 5’s free. Camping and concessions available. Discounts for Towersey and Thame residents. 

For further information and to book tickets click here

Towersey Festival

• Thu 22 Aug: The Blockheads, The Gloworms

• Fri 23 Aug: The Unthanks, Orkestra Del Sol, Vin Garbutt, Dan Walsh, Manière des Bohémiens, Vamm

• Sat 24 Aug: Show Of Hands, Martin Simpson, Gas Mark 5, Lucy Ward, Moulettes, Manière des Bohémiens

• Sun 25 Aug: Home Service, Mama Rosin, Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy, Nidi d’Arac, The Spooky Men's Chorale, Banquet of Boxes, Roy Bailey, Polkaworks

• Mon 26 Aug: Spiers and Boden, The Spooky Men's Chorale, Roy Bailey, The Poozies, Tyde, Lisbee Stainton, James Delarre and Saul Rose, Tickled Pink

Tickets:  Full Festival - Admission only: adult £125; adult concession £104; youth £88; child £55. Admission with camping: adult £145; adult concession £124; youth £108; child £55. 

Under 5's free. Special Offer: Buy 10 adult full festival tickets for the price of nine. 

Day Tickets - Fri 23 Aug: adult £30, youth £20, child £10; Sat 24-Mon 26 Aug: adult £40, youth £30, child £20; The Blockheads: (Thu) adv. adult £17; youth/child £9; (£20/ £10 on the door).