This weekend could be an ideal time to head over to Ripley, Derbyshire. Running since 2007 at Swanwick Junction on the Midland Railway the event offers noisy guitar bands, steam train rides and real ale, a combination that to be frank, is hard to top.
Indietracks (www.indietracks.co.uk) is a unique summer festival which combines heritage trains and indiepop music, and is located in the Derbyshire countryside. Guests are free to enjoy the regular facilities of the Midland Railway Butterley such as the steam train rides and museum, and enjoy a range of new and established indiepop bands.
The Bandcamp release (yours for £1 or more) is the official compilation of artists playing the Indietracks Festival this year (6th-8th July) and feature over 50 tracks! Like the festival itself, the compilation is a fundraiser which raises money for the Midland Railway Trust.
With a novel variety of venue locations (main stage, a church and what looks to be an engine shed) the festival this year is set to feature a handful of better known 'names' across the weekend including The Vaselines, Summer Camp and Veronica Falls.
So, if you fancy a few days of hearing something new and independent, and experiencing something old and industrial, and can get hold of tickets (check the website), Indietracks looks to be a perfect weekend out. Even if you can't make it - the compilation makes a pleasant jangly soundtrack to sticking up a tent in the back garden, blowing a whistle now and then and just plain pretending...
Check out this footage from a visitor to last year's event to get a flavour of the event.