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More wackiness is promised for this year's Flatlake Literary and Arts Festival, which takes place on August 23rd and 24th. It's where "high art meets popular culture", explains organiser Kevin Allen. Readings, comedy, music and theatre will take place among the barns and bales of hay, abandoned tractors and ancient oaks of Hilton Park estate.

There's a strong literary line-up for this second year of the festival, with Seamus Heaney, Edna O'Brien, Ciaran Carson, Paul Muldoon, Michael Longley and Eoin McNamee among others set for the Butty Barn stage. The author Pat McCabe will be back at his Radio Butty Booth to broadcast some country tunes, interviews and off-the-wall musings. Actor Stephen Rea, Little John Nee and the Brad Pitt Light Orchestra will feature at the Post-Lounge Tent of Sentimentalism.