The Nova Festival of Arts & Music is the new star on the summer events calendar

Super Nova
Here it is, the festival we’ve all been waiting for! One for those of us who are gagging for some early summer fun. Nova Festival of Arts & Music is not only based in Sussex, just an hour inland from the coast, but it’s the new baby of original Big Chill co-founder Katrina Larkin and former Big Chill fringe programmer, Victoria Burns. With a crowd of just 5,000 and a line-up that’s as visually exciting as it is musically, this July festival is not to be missed.

The line-up for Nova is a unique, creative concept, winning over party people, art students and culture heads with a whole host of comedy and theatre shows, novel dining and interactive, impromptu gigs and drama. All sorts of mysterious goings-on will unfold across the weekend, with fantastic characters waiting to grab you by the hand and lead you on a merry dance.

World famous artists will be exhibiting new or exclusive pieces. Seek out Rankin and Hirst’s beauty Vs beasts collaboration, Myths, Monsters And Legends. Doug Fishbone’s Adventureland Golf is a course of ‘mini golf sculptures’ designed by a dozen well-known artists, including Jake Chapman and David Shrigley, and will be raising funds for ActionAid. On top of this, brothers David and Peter Adjaye will be premiering the film Music For Architecture, which features the brothers’ musical score. This will make compelling night time viewing.

The stage is also set for authors and poets including Iain Sinclair, Michael Smith, Charlie Boorman and Helen Gordon.
For those who love to dance, the party DJs are Krystal Klear and Psychemagik; LateNightTales’ Belle & Sebastian and Zero 7; Ninja Tune signings and Good Times with Norman Jay. Nova also features eclectic music from established and hotly tipped newcomers including Ghostpoet, TunE-yArDs, Jessie Ware, Crazy P, The Dø, We Were Evergreen, Fink and The Phenomenal Handclap Band.

Nova Festival takes place in woodland grounds, nestled in the beautiful valleys in the Pulborough countryside. Larkin and Burns, with their 34 combined years of festival experience, can be relied upon to create a wonderland of twinkling lights and sights. Brighton hasn’t had anything as vibrant on its doorstep for a long time, and with a capacity of just 5,000 it’s best to book the time off work today and grab this hot ticket, pronto.

Nova Festival, Bignor Park, Pulborough, West Sussex, Thursday 5–Sunday 8 July 2012, £139 adults/£100 students, £60 13-17 year olds/under 12s go free but must register first.0844 888 9991, www.novafestival.co.uk