A music festival returns to the stately home of rock this month for the second time.

Now in its second year, Cool Britannia will be held in the grounds of Knebworth House from Saturday, August 31, to Sunday, September 1, celebrating the best of indie and dance music.

The Main Stage on Saturday, August 31, will be curated by Jo Whiley (who will also perform a DJ set of 90s anthems) and will feature sets by The Farm, The Bluetones, Soul II Soul, Black Grape, a rare festival appearance by Sleeper, Embrace are back by popular demand after last year’s stunning performance and headlining – the one and only James.

The line-up on Sunday, September 1, will feature Babybird, Dodgy, Echobelly, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Gabrielle, Starsailor, The Coral and rounding off the weekend a DJ set from Basement Jaxx with a unique pyrotechnic finale specially designed for the festival.

The Ministry of Sound Stage is back, bigger and better than ever with an epic line up of DJs and club classics including Danny Rampling, Maxi Jazz of Faithless, Phil Hartnoll of Orbital, Seb Fontaine, Norman Jay MBE, Graeme Park as well as club performances from Baby D, Livin’ Joy and Shades of Rhythm.

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On Friday the festival opens with a welcome party for camping and weekend ticket holders, with an acoustic performance from Miles & Erica of The Wonder Stuff.

Cool Britannia also tends to the needs of festival goers with camping, glamping, campervan and caravan parks, street food, street entertainers, The Barn Stage, funfairs, kid-zone, trade stands, karaoke and even a freak show in a Victorian palace of entertainment.

Tickets are available now from www.coolbritanniafest.com

We sat down with eclectic music group Fun Lovin’ Criminals before their set at Cool Britannia on Sunday, September 1, to ask them about their favourite festival moments.

What are your thoughts on playing at such an iconic location as Knebworth Park?

The musical history of Knebworth speaks for itself. I wish I could have seen Pink Floyd in ‘75. The setlist for that show was amazing! Led Zeppelin in ‘79 would be Huey’s choice and Frank would have loved seeing Queen in ‘86.

What other band are you most looking forward to at the Cool Britannia Festival and why?

I always like seeing The Coral as I love their song ‘In The Morning’. I’ll definitely check out Phil from Orbital’s DJ set to relive my rave days of the 90s at the Limelight nightclub in NYC.

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Tell us your favourite festival story.

FLC performing on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in ‘99 was epic! We remember Lenny Kravitz was not happy he was on before us and made a big fuss about it on the day. Huey bumped into him later that summer in a club in NYC and sent him a bottle of beer on ice in a champagne bucket with a note saying: ‘To Leonard, Thank you for opening for us at Glastonbury. Love, Huey’.

Best festival advice ever.

Go for the day, don’t camp as the next day will be horrible!

Worst festival advice ever.

Definitely camp for the whole weekend, you will love it!

What is your favourite song to play live and why?

I always enjoy performing the more chilled songs like ‘Smoke ‘Em’ and ‘Up On The Hill’. Our song ‘Friday Night’ always goes down well (on a Friday night). Obviously ‘Scooby Snacks’ is the crowd favourite!

What is you favourite part playing festivals such as Cool Britannia and why?

Performing at festivals is a great opportunity to play your music to people who may not know more of your music than the ‘hits’. That, and being able to watch other bands you may or may not have seen before.

Knebworth House, Old Knebworth Lane, Stevenage, Saturday, August 31, to Sunday, September 1. Details: coolbritanniafest.com