The 1234 Shoreditch Festival 2009

The 1234 Festival in Shoreditch Park returns for a second outing this July after its phenomenal success in 2007. Given the fashionable East London location, it's no surprise that this whippersnapper of a festival is branded as one for "stylish bands, stylish fans and stylish sounds". Pedants would point out the irony then of having the oft-insalubrious tramp lookalike Patrick Wolf as the headline act - before being sniped down for their acute sartorial blasphemy. The gamin Wolf, you see, is as hip as you can get nowadays. Anyway, the avant-garde, androgynous singer (pictured) will be joined at the top of the billing by East End indie/art punk/fashion rockers The Rakes. Support comes from a whole cluster of the best new genre-defying bands and DJs over three stages, many of which boast hilarious names such as Televised Crimewave, Ox Eagle Lion Man, Chrome Hoof, A Place To Bury Strangers and, not to be outdone, A Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump. Live music in the park closes down at an early 9pm but the fun continues in ten different venues around the area, including Hoxton Bar & Grill, Electricity Showrooms, Bar Music Hall, Queen Of Hoxton, Old Blue Last, Catch, Cocomo, The Joiners Arms and Mother. Considering the ?15 you pay for your festival wristband will get you into all these after parties for free, it's a damn good deal - and should ensure a night of balmy summer mayhem should follow. For more information go to www.the1234shoreditch.com.