Europe's fastest, maddest and ugliest festival The Bulldog Bash kicked off on Thursday night at Long Marston, near Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Expertly organised by the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, the Bash is about noise, bikes, rock, techno and three days of 24 hour drinking (the bar never closes). Refreshingly untouched by notions of political correctness, it also features beer belly and wet T-shirt competitions, drag racing and rocket cars.

Three-chord stars Status Quo are headlining on Friday, and punk legends The Damned on Saturday. All-night techno includes a set by Adam from Lab4. Tickets are just £50 on the gate. See www.bulldogbash.com for the latest information.

Meanwhile, the excitement is reaching fever pitch, as we approach every rock and indie-lover's festival of the year - Reading.

The Carling Weekend: Reading Festival gets underway on August 24, with more than 150 bands playing on six stages. Acts include Razorlight, Kings of Leon, Interpol, Maximo Park, Gogol Bordello, Ash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arcade Fire, The View, Smashing Pumpkins, Klaxons, CSS, Unkle, and for those who appreciate a good thing when they hear it, Frank Turner, Foals and The Young Knives.

In next week's Guide, festival organiser Melvin Benn gives us his pick of the programme. See www.readingfestival.com