Outsider Festival: Now There's An Idea...

Those on the hunt for a bit of individuality among the throng of summer festivals taking place in 2009 will no doubt be delighted with the newest additions to the Outsider weekend, which kicks off on 27 June in the Highlands. In addition to outdoor pursuits (bush craft, anyone?), comedy, cabaret and music from the likes of headliners Teenage Fanclub, the Fence Collective and The Skinny's February cover stars The Phantom Band, the weekend will also feature The Outsider forum, Scotland’s first public debate on green issues.

For attendees in need of that little bit of encouragement to recycle their milk bottles, the setting for the forum, and festival, is the rather picturesque Rothiemurchus Estate near Aviemore. Along with heavyweight speakers such as Eden Project CEO Tim Smit, James Thornton, CEO of Client Earth and Virgin Galactica Chairman Will Whitehorn, it will be chaired by journalist Iain MacWhirter and eco-campaigner Rosie Boycott. Imagine your dad was chairman of Virgin Galactica. Sorry, got distracted a bit there. Still, this should be a fascinating series of discussions and represents an imaginative extension of a typical festival's remit.

With tickets for many major festivals growing rapidly over-priced, and early-bird tickets for Outsider currently costing just £60 for the weekend including camping, it may be a good shout for those on a tight budget. However, if you really fit into this category, you should probably avoid Tangerine Fields, who are offering fully equipped and ready-pitched tents, and get down to Tesco for a cheap and cheerful £4 number beforehand. If the eco-warriors ask, we didn’t say a thing.