As preparations continue to secure leading lights in the worlds of music, comedy, wellness, food and nature for ALSO24 Festival this summer, the heat is on to find Midlands volunteers willing to help bring the festival to life.

Now in its eleventh year, ALSO24, taking place on 12-14 July, brings together performers and musicians, best-selling authors, celebrated scientists and experts in a variety of fields to create a one-off ‘magical and immersive experience,’ in Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

Festival organisers are now looking for volunteers from across the Midlands who would like to take advantage of discounted or free tickets, in exchange for their time and graft in the weeks running up to the event.

Diccon Towns, the CEO of ALSO, said: “There is no doubt that ALSO wouldn’t be standing if it wasn’t for the phenomenal input from our volunteers. What sets us apart from other festivals is the myriad of ways they can engage with the event.

“If people want to get two-thirds off the ticket price and work a single shift across the weekend, they can do that. If others fancy joining a group of creative spirits on one of our spring build weekends, designing, building, sewing and painting, then come along. Some of our volunteers have been doing exactly this for years.

“The beauty of volunteering in an economic crisis is that it solves two problems: it gives access to the event for those with limited disposable income while limiting production costs to the organisers.”

Volunteer tasks include building and dismantling stages, signage, decoration, painting and building temporary structures. 

There are many opportunities to help with the build. Build weekends are on the 27
& 28th April, 18 & 19 May, 1 & 2 June, 22 & 23 June and 6 & 7 July. The Build Week is the 8 - 11 July and volunteers are needed in the days after the festival to help with the take down.

Volunteers are, of course, needed over the course of the three-day festival as well. The volunteering options range from the opportunity to secure a free festival ticket in exchange for two days of a helper’s time, to a heavily reduced ticket price of £60 in return for one 6-hour shift during the festival.

Or for those who want to get more deeply involved in the delivery of ALSO, volunteers will get a completely free ticket if they are happy to do 3 shifts of four hours each over the weekend. This will most likely be one per day and people could be volunteering on a wide variety of roles from box office and stewarding to stage management, food programming, artist liaison and tech support.

The current line-up for this inspirational summer festival is extremely impressive with big names such as comedian Sara Pascoe, Indie folk band Stornoway, Brazilian-influenced soul and funk collective, The Fontanas, broadcaster and satirist Nels Abbey, TikTok sensation Marcel Lucont, best-selling writer and comedian Adam Kay; experimental musician Jessica Winter and best-selling children’s author Andy Stanton.

Aside from performances, festival-goers can be at one with nature or join in with a huge programme of wellness activities such as laughter therapy, fitness workshops, a Zen Ten Spa, fire yoga, moon yoga or floating SUP yoga, wild swimming, paddleboarding, painting meditation, den building, rocket workshop and raft building.

Anyone interested in volunteering can register on the website or email volunteers@also-festival.com for more information.