The Poetry Tent this year is hosted again by Lapidus Scotland, a creative community of writers who use the literary arts for healing. Their theme this year is Freedom & Belonging: "These two values can make one person feel divided and even tear communities apart. But writing can inspire people to explore, express and resolve the dilemmas caused by these competing needs."

We are delighted that Lapidus are coming back to join the Head Zone in the orchard, where the Earth Action Talks take place. Workshops, readings and events all weekend, including Bernard MacLaverty award winning novelist, short-storywriter and now, film director, reading from his work.

Also appearing is Fiona Houston, author of The Garden Cottage Diaries, who will be talking about her year living as if in the 18th Century. Through her work as a museum researcher and educator, Fiona studied the diet of 18th century Scots and discovered they ate incredibly well in the countryside. She then began a year of living as a teacher's wife would have more than 200 years ago. The Garden Cottage Diaries beautifully document her experience.

Head to http://www.lapidus.org.uk for more info on Lapidus.

Welcome to the Family Zone!
The Big Tent is a family friendly festival and our Family Zone is designed for everyone to enjoy. As well as the range of activities listed below, look out for other fun and games throughout the festival sites including circus performances from the Chipolatas, activities in Fife Rangers Tent, traditional skills in the Climate Champions Zone and great food demonstrations for children. This year we also have a non stop Children’s Theatre hosted by travelling performers My Giddy Aunt.

Please remember that adults must be responsible for their children at all times. Children will get their own special Big Tent wristbands which must be worn (you can write your mobile on just in case you get separated. .

This is just some of the entertainment heading your way this July….and remember kids under 12 are free, free, free!

PHOENIX RISING - a paper installation with artist Polly Verity. Help create a 6 foot high Phoenix rising from the flames. The Phoenix is a symbol of regeneration, creating new from the old (recycling). After living for 500 years or over, the phoenix builds itself a nest from myrrh twigs. These twigs ignite, causing the nest and bird to burn fiercely and eventually reduce to ashes. From these ashes a new phoenix emerges.

DANCE-A-STORY. Local storyteller and dance teacher Adele Reynolds welcomes you to come and dance your way through a story, with exciting music to create a magical and inspired atmosphere. Adele specializes in using children’s ideas in the moment to create the stories we move to. This year our theme is “wood”. So would you like to come down to the woods? Who will be there? And what will we do? Come and create an adventure. Everyone welcome (including woodpeckers!).

MR. BOOM - the popular yet illusive children’s One Man Band from the moon has been visiting Planet Earth for oMr Boomver 20 years now. His imaginary space ship has landed in schools, theatres, tents and fields throughout Scotland and he’s been spotted as far around the globe as Tokyo, Vancouver and just this century down under in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Always game for spontaneous banter Mr Boom invokes wholehearted, uninhibited participation in his hour long musical show full of interactive, educational fun. You’ll never be too old to enjoy Mr Boom and there are plenty of humorous asides for care worn parents.

DRUM CIRCLE for All! Drumming and Rhythm Circle with Rhythm Incorporated. STEVE BRETEL will be back again with his wide selections of drums and infectious enthusiasm. There’ll be African and Cuban style hand drumming using djembes or congas, with ‘Bateria’ drums as seen in Brazillian carnival, along with percussion from around the world. Anyone can take part whether you are experienced in drumming or not.

Storytelling with BLETHER-TAY-GETHER. This group of local storytellers will be bringing their incredible storytelling to the Big Tent. They’ll share a packed programme of storytelling for children and adults alike, story-walks and open sessions. Set in Owen Pilgrim’s Green Shee yurt come and join the magic. There’s also readings from award winning children’s author Annemarie Allan - Breaker is an undersea adventure set in North Berwick – can Tom and Beth help save an environmental disaster? A little piece of Malawi - readings by Magdalene Sacranie from her book ’Tales from African Dreamtime’.

Kesara Tribal BELLY DANCERS. A hit every year at Big Tent, the tribal belly dancers will be displaying their graceful dancing and you get to have a shot too as they lead workshops on wiggling hips, heads and anything else!

SING FLING. Join in singing harmonies and rounds from around the world. Everyone can sing, so come along and have some fun!

The delightfully captivating Hodman Dodmanott and Sally Forth (aka the FLYING BUTTRESSES) are a wee pair of wonderful wanderers from the proud country of Oblivia. Hodman and Sally will adorably

Get on Your Bike!

Fancy leaving the car at home this year? Sustrans and Big Tent 2009 are giving twenty fantastic Sustrans t-shirts away to the festival goers who have travelled the furthest sustainably to the Big Tent 2009!!

So, if you travel to the festival by foot, bike, train, bus or a mixture of them all, you’re in for a chance of a fabulous Sustrans chopper or space invaders t-shirt! All you have to do is come to the Sustrans tent at the festival and show us on our map where you travelled from and how!

More on Sustrans Change Your World campaign at www.changeyourworld.org.uk.

And for one lucky person who has travelled the furthest in the most sustainable way, they will win a copy of all of Sustrans Scotland maps and guidebooks, including a t-shirt!