The Balkan Rally | The Party Rally from England to Macedonia.

This years Underhill Festival is the start to the Balkan Rally and is included in the entry price. The festival has grown since last year to a two day event with 3 music stages and a host of other activities to keep you amused.

Right in the centre of the site will be the Balkan music stage where you will here some of the leading voices in the gypsy music scene. Headliner’s Gypsy Hill (http://www.myspace.com/gypsyhill/music) are an incredible act, and supporting them will be everything from Belly Dancer’s to Balkan magicians and more amazing bands.

On the other stages you will find some of the world’s leading DJs performing and some incredible up-and-coming acts. Artists such as Zombie Disco Squad (http://www.myspace.com/zombiediscosquad), Krafty Kuts (http://www.myspace.com/djkraftykuts), Lone (http://www.myspace.com/lonemusic), Le Jockey (http://www.myspace.com/lejockey/music) and Richy Ahmed (http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/richyahmed) will all be tearing it up. That still leaves the Mystery Headliner, a man who is frequently regarded as being one of the Top 10 DJs in the world. I cannot name names but this is huge.

As anyone who made it to the inaugural event last year will testify, Underhill is about much more than just music. Arts and activities events will all be laid on over the weekend, as will some delicious food and drink including some local ales and ciders.

On the final day Ralliers will assemble as best they can for the grand see-off from their very own section of the festival site. After a quick speech from the mayor and a ribbon cut by miss Wessex 2011, it’ll be time to head off into the unknown bound for Brugge…

Watch this space for the next instalment where I’ll be telling you what’s in store for the rallier’s in Western Europe

Dear prospective ralliers,

You will be pleased to know that work on this years rally is coming on extremely well. This update is not about some big event but more just to let you know that the rally is shaping up to be something very special.

Like last year your rally will kick off with Underhill Festival. Two days partying with some incredible Balkan Bands and world famous DJs such as Krafty Kuts, Joy Orbison and a very very special secret headliner (he's big).

On Sunday morning after a short ceremony you will drive off into the unknown. Through Western Europe you will be taken to some awesome events and very cool hand-picked nightspots. There will be local representatives at much of the places we visit who have been meticulously planning for weeks to give you an excellent evening.

Once you hit the Balkans everything gets a whole lot stranger and more crazy. One night you'll be partying in Jacuzzis with bikini clad women and speedo clad men, the next you'll be swigging beer at a local tavern before bedding down in a field full of goats*.

Finally, preparations for the finish party are coming along nicely. I don't want to divulge to many details but I am sure you will love it.

So, those signed up already, congratualtions you've made a great decision, those yet to sign up.... you know what to do.



 *You'll pleased to know there probably won't be goats... or will there?

The Balkan Rally Screening and after party pub crawl extravaganza took place last weekend. It was good to see most of the ralliers from last year make it, alot had flown in especially from far flung exotic places like Ireland and Scotland. It was good to see also some people who didn't join us last year. Everyone seemed to enjoy the film even if they didn't understand the miriad of private jokes that featured.

After the 5pm screening we enjoyed a pub crawl through Oxford's many historic and famous pubs. Illustrious venues like The Turf Tavern, The Kings Arms and The Bear. We finished the night (early due to the state of the ralliers) at The Cellar club for some Funk & 80s Hip Hop. An amazing reunion and a good oppurtunity to meet some of the people coming in 2011.

DVDs of the movie have been sent to all ralliers though unfortunately this 1hr long epic will not be available online. Instead we will be releasing selected clips over the coming weeks. Make sure you keep checking the website for these hilarious visual nuggets of 'the very best thing to do last summer'

The 2011 Balkan Rally dates have been posted. It will begin on the 29th July with Underhill Festival, the Balkan and Dance music festival in the West Country. It finishes a fortnight later on the 12th August on the shores of Lake Ohrid, Macedonia, at a special Balkan Rally beach party. Sign up today for early bird tickets for £125. Only 30 are available so get in quick.

The Balkan Rally 2010 film screening is edging closer. It will take place on the 12th February in Oxford and anyone can come along for free. It will be followed by a pub crawl round some of the city's renowned pubs and bars before finishing up at one of Oxford's best nightclubs. The cinema is the Ultimate Picture palace, one of the UK's oldest cinemas and one of the few with a bar inside the theatre. The film is looking excellent, I highly recommend everyone make the journey.

See you on the 12th...