It seems barely a week goes by these days without yet another music festival taking place somewhere in Ireland. Many are still recovering from Longitude, while a revamped Oxegen is just over a week away. Electric Picnic is drawing near too, and we haven’t got the space to mention the dozens of smaller festivals and summer concerts taking place here, there and everywhere. Frankly, it can all get a bit exhausting, and - for dedicated music fans - pretty expensive.

Another problem is that with all these events vying for attention there’s a risk of both homogenisation and ‘selling out’ (both figuratively and literally) - it was almost a relief when Oxegen opted to focus on dance acts to differentiate somewhat itself from the crowd. But as even smaller festivals like Body & Soul or Castlepalooza attract bigger crowds and bigger acts, we need festivals like Knockanstockan even more.

The Blessington, Co. Wicklow based festival is enjoying its 7th year, and has admirably maintained its initial independent spirit as others are desperate to expand. The focus is less on big name bands - the hard rocking headliners Enemies have a deserved cult following but are hardly a household name - and more on allowing a huge range of local, up-and-coming and inventive talent to share a stage.

There are well over a hundred acts lined-up for this weekend’s festival - from folk and traditional Irish acts to spoken word performances and jazz. Everything in between is accounted for too. As described by the organisers themselves: “that is the whole beauty of Knockanstockan, you get to explore and discover some of the best talent that is unknown by most but is seriously good.”

There are, of course, the prerequisite art installations and the like, while the festival’s solid but modest size ensures you’re more likely to be socialising with an enthusiastic, friendly and relaxed crowd than you might expect elsewhere. You can bring all your own supplies - drink, food etc... - but the organisers also have a committed green policy, so stick to the ‘leave no trace’ ethos. That, and the lakeside setting is particularly fetching. And there won't be an ATM or credit card in sight for the weekend.

Knockanstockan 2013 takes place between 26th and 28th of July. Weekend tickets including camping are a mere €95 (camper vans are €30 extra), or day tickets at €40. They’re available online or through Sound Cellar in Dublin. And it’s family friendly too, with children under 12 admitted free (2 children per ticket holding adult).

If you’re disillusioned with the increasingly commercialised music scene, or simply looking for something different, Knockanstockan is where that carefree festival spirit survives, proud and uncompromised.

More details - and tickets - are available on the festival's website.