"Following on from the success of last year's collaboration between To Hell and The Hay Fringe we have decided to permanently join forces and become To Hell with Hay Fringe.

This year we will again be taking over the British Legion and providing an alternative, affordable and energetic weekend of late night readings and music.

The 2008 line up features readings from both emerging and established names in literature including Joe Stretch, Helen Walsh, Tom Darling and Erica Wagner and music from last year's Hay favourite Simon Onions, The Walkin' Wounded and Jeb Loy Nichols amongst other. As always To Hell's resident DJ Mike Funk will be overseeing proceedings with Stove Pony Records own Gerry Ranson adding his own special flavour.

To Hell with Publishing has always been concerned with staying true to its independent nature and ignoring fashionable and commercial constraints. We are interested in proving that live readings and live music can combine to create an energetic and surprising night out. Music and writing have never been disconnected from each other and in our experience both seem stronger, more relevant and much more fun when mixed up in one evening of live performance.

There is no competition - The Guardian Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye will always be a hugely successful and popular book festival. To Hell with Hay Fringe is concerned with being an alternative in every sense of the word.

For more details of the fun to be had and to buy your ticket please visit the external website listen on the right hand side of this page."

Current line-up

(NOTE: Evening schedules run from 7pm to 2am)

Saturday 24 May
Evenings DJ: Dj Mike Funk (To Hell, Slide)
Tom Darling (Author of Glass People)
Painters Radio (ex-Canteen) TBC
Joe Stretch (author of Friction)
The Walking Wounded (London's premier gypsy punk rockers)

Sunday 25 May
Evenings DJ: Gerry Ranson (Stove Pony Records)
Helen Walsh (author of Brass & Once Upon a Time in England)
Simon Onions (Psychedelic Folk and star of last year)
Thomas Leveritt (author of The Exchange-Rate Between Love and Money)
Erica Wagner and Nick Hennessey (taking time from their busy schedule to perform some traditional ballads)
Jeb Loy Nichols (soulfull Folk Reggae)

Article written by Melanie Prince