Bookstock returns to Leonard Street for all-day bank holiday fun

�The Notting Hill Carnival won’t be the only option for revellers eager to soak up the bank holiday atmosphere in style.

Closer to home, a free outdoor festival headlined by live behemoths Dub Pistols takes place at The Book Club in Shoreditch on Sunday.

Bookstock, an all-day street party outside the trendy venue in Leonard Street, will boast music, dancing, dressing up, games and gourmet grub galore.

While it probably won’t exactly recapture the spirit of Woodstock – the punters will no doubt be more hipster than hippy – the bank holiday extravaganza is promised to be even bigger and better than last year’s affair, which attracted a crowd of 4,000.

Alongside illustrious dub and big beat veterans Dub Pistols, the bill features French folk trio We Were Evergreen, techno DJ Mark Archer, cover kings Bikini Beach Bond and many more over two stages.

Pistols founder Barry Ashworth said: “I’m looking forward to playing in the street, it’s going to be a brilliant vibe. I love playing at The Book Club anyway, it’s a good crowd, and taking it into the street will be awesome.”

The Pistols, fresh from releasing their fifth album Worshipping The Dollar, will be joined on stage by UK Hip Hop star Rodney P and other guests.

The nine-piece band were last year’s winners of the Best Live Act gong at the Dj Mag awards and are shortlisted for a similar title this year in the AIM Awards. So what is it that makes them such a popular live act?

Ashworth, 46, said: “It’s pure party with us, we go out there, wrench it up to full and get involved. It’s mayhem, it’s high energy stuff.”

The Pistols will appear as part of a packed bank holiday weekend that sees them play five shows, including Notting Hill – a gruelling schedule that is par for the course it seems.

“We’re constantly on the road doing four shows a week,” he said. “My liver can’t take it – I don’t know what I’m doing still alive to be honest.

“But touring is just something I’ve always done, since the age of about 22. It’s what we do for a living – everyone else has to go to the office, we go to the stage. It would be nice to have a rest and lie on a beach, but it’s just non-stop. It’s not a bad life.”

Bookstock will also feature magic, face painting and a temporary tattoo parlour. It takes place in Leonard Street from noon to 8pm on Sunday. August 26, visit www.wearetbc.com/bookstock for more.