THE biggest-ever Another Fine Fest will take place this weekend, with more than 100 live performances, as well as a whole manner of street theatre and live art featuring on the programme.

Ulverston's streets, venues and pubs will be taken over by the free festival on Saturday and Sunday, with thousands of visitors expected from across the north of England.

The event to mark the birthday of the town’s most famous son, Stan Laurel, will feature 11 stages offering live entertainment - though every street corner will be awash with activity.

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<font size=+1>FRIDAY</font>

For the first time ever, the Ulverston festival will kick off a day early, with a performance from surrealist stand-up star Tony Law at the Laurel and Hardy Museum .

The only ticketed event of the festival sees the Canadian performing his brand-new Edinburgh Festival Fringe show. Tickets are still available from the venue.

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<font size=+1>SATURDAY</font>

Sticking with comedy, there will be a full afternoon of stand-up at the Laurel and Hardy Museum .

The main programme of family entertainment takes place on the Saturday, with The Imaginarium stage hosting non-stop performances, and the world's smallest nightclub, Club 28, also making its first appearance.

Window art, live graffiti and yarn bombing all add their colour to the town, with the Busker's Alley, in New Market Street, providing the perfect soundtrack as visitors make their way from one stage to another, or browse the various market stalls.

The music programme is as packed as ever, with 11 stages hosting some of the best local names and some highly-rated guest artists.

The Market Cross Stage sees troubadour Gacko return, and there will be appearances from Matrix Circus, Blast Furness, Deatbeats, and Bad Transmission, among many others, with the Bang Gang finalé seeing some 100 drummers gather to bring proceedings to a noisy conclusion.

Amigos hosts another popular outdoor stage, with Sonic Zoo once again chairing the entertainment in the Mexican restaurant's courtyard. Paloma Café, The Prophets, The Mooncats and Kings In Canoes are among the live bands making appearances, while there will be DJ sets from the likes of Doc Williams, Gripper, Spoovoy and DJ Jedredy.


The Mill also hosts its fair share of DJ-ing talent once again, with visits from Loz Goddard, Josh Stylus, Paul Jamez, Steff Smith, the Liaison DJs and more - this time spread across the roof terrace, attic and out-front on the cobbles.

Outdoor DJ sets at The Farmers feature some of the area's best-known names and collectives, with festival founder Mister Monster taking his turn on the decks, as well as the Homegrown DJs, Fallback, Wynd N Grynd, and Nema-Kuta.

DJs also fill the Basement Bar and the beer garden at The Sun Inn, and filling the late-night slots inside, while the daytime is dedicated to the finest female singer-songwriters around, with Cara Hughes, Evie Plumb, Beckah Lloyd, Ava Grace and Tiffany Southward among the 10 acts confirmed to appear.

A new name appearing on the line-up this time around is Twang - the popular Barrow indie radio show and club night is at the helm as music returns to the outdoor terrace at the Rose & Crown. Local favourites such as The Chadelics, Cassie, The Degenerate Art Show and Mark Pratt all appear, before the Twang! boys keep the party going into the night with their DJ sets packed full of classic indie and alternative anthems.

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The intimate Hope and Anchor will no doubt be packed throughout the day - regulars The Twitchers, Jamie Bosanko and Delicate Little Flowers are joined by newcomers such as Pariahs and Manchester outfit Envy, with performances inside and outside the cosy Daltongate pub.

The Big Kings is another to house two stages - DJs inside include Pat Godbert, Phil Johnson and Richard Sexton, and the renamed Colliewood outdoor stage will welcome the likes of Valparaíso, KITS, Sphelm, Bingo Harry, Sad-Eyed Puffins, and Honeyfeet side-project Sling will be headlining.

The stage has been dedicated to much-loved musician and Another Fine Fest favourite Collie Stewart, who sadly died earlier this month.

The Piel Castle too has dedicated its line-up to the Irish-born singer-songwriter, with The Collie Stewart Stage hosting many of his friends, such as The Coulton Brothers, Robbie Jay Coplen, Zac Thompson and Serene.

Last but by no means least is the Melodrome Stage, making its home in Brogden Street, outside the Roxy Cinema once again. The Saturday line-up sees the Be.Vocal singers perform an early set, followed by acts such as Mobius Loop, Lyons & Le Zel, and Maxiroots.

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<font size=+1>SUNDAY</font>

The Sunday entertainment is centred around the Melodrome Stage, with Jon Byrne and the Kids of Pennington School making a welcome return, and Pesky, Paper Cranes, Nathan Loopz and The Fire Beneath the Sea among the musical highlights.

The nearby Laurel and Hardy Museum will stage its second showcase day of up-and-coming comedians, each bringing their latest Edinburgh Fringe shows.

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The full programme can be viewed at www.anotherfinefest.co.uk