Preview: Cloudspotting Festival

Photograph: Colorama

In a picturesque corner of the Ribble Valley, deep in Gisburn Forest, lies Cloudspotting Festival.

A festival with the unique ability to attract some of the most cutting edge acts from around the country and perfectly balance it with supporting local up and coming talent - Cloudspotting has become the small festival of choice for many. Now into its third year, Clitheroe’s Stephen Park will once again host an impressive, intelligent line up combined with the welcome return of last year's well recieved workshops.

Watch: Jesca Hoop - Born To

This year has seen Cloudspotting team up with Go Inspire! and the Forestry Commission to plan ‘forestry themed pastimes for the adventurer in us all’. Renowned for its laidback feel, unlike a lot of larger festivals it is actively encouraged to chill out and take your time, enjoying life at a different pace, making it the perfect weekend to unwind and have fun - a genuine break from the stresses of everyday life.

You're likely to come away from the weekend with a long list of bands to investigate further, as despite some of the bands being relatively unknown, the selection remains top notch. Expect to hear a wide range of music from post punk to post rock, folk to electronica, rock to indie and just about everything in between. With the booking philosophy focused on originality and creativity, Cloudspotting regularly draws in a quality, forward thinking lineup that makes it stand head and shoulders above opther festivals of this size.

Playing across three stages will be the enigmatic Clinic, Welsh indie pop cohorts Colorama, the psychaedlic folk of Sweet Baboo, supremely talented multi instrumentalist Magic Arm, Yorkshire based Hot Soles, Glaswegian electonica freethinker Jonnie Common and last years highlight for many Jesca Hoop (see above), as well as Wolf People, Marc O’Reilly, King Creosote & The Earlies, Jess Bryant and The Wave Pictures.

Watch: Clinic - Bubblegum

Its also worth noting that the festival is also child friendly, featuring an extensive arts program and other activities for your Kids, making it an ideal family destination. And most importantly - a huge range of real ales and quality locally sourced foods are on offer to add to the organic feel.

Cloudspotting is a small festival the punches above its weight, offering what even some of the most established festivals struggle to achieve - a peaceful, relaxing space, free of queues, in a stunning location, with a great soundtrack.

Cloudspotting tickets are available through Skiddle

Tickets are no longer available for this event