This summer is promising plenty of entertainment for culture fans, with the Olympics bringing lots of free shows and events all over the country - including free performances from bands such as Friendly Fires and You Me At Six.

The Edinburgh Festival always features masses of free shows throughout August, and then there's the various carnivals in London such as Notting Hill Carnival, and the Carnaval del Pueblo. However, if you're still craving getting knee-deep in mud, and you want to go off the beaten track whilst also saving big CASH... why not try one of these cheaper festivals we've uncovered for you?

Rock In The Bog

This certainly offers the side of the festival experience that most would prefer to live without - they are proud of their swamp-like origins, making this is a rough and raw festival, offering the best local talent and the occasional tribute band in their line-up. These are not big headliners, but if you want to get muddy, this is the place to go.

• 6 - 7 July
• Lewes, East Sussex
• Tickets £30 (free camping)
• Find out more here

Chilled In A Field

This festival offers the option for you to be an early-rising family festival-goer, or an all-night party animal, with the camping separated into 'Quiet In The Evening' and 'Quiet In The Morning' for those who need to nurse their hangovers. Featuring activities such as Marble Run and glitter wrestling, this promises to be a fun and certainly 'chilled' event.

• 27 - 29 July
• Tickets £59 (free camping)
• Headlining: The Woven Project, Frodo Freud. DJs include Cal Flynn & Barbitronik
• Find out more here

Motovun Film Festival

This Croatian film festival offers a truly unique experience. Unlike most film festivals which can be full of film snobs and middle-aged, middle-class arty types, Motovun attracts all ages, with a large proportion of young people. The camping price includes five film tickets (though of course you can buy more if you wish), though the festival also features free films as well as live music after the films have finished each night until the early hours of the morning. Despite being predominantly a film festival, the party atmosphere and late night parties make this one of the cheapest festivals around, therefore making up for the air fare (flying to Venice is the easiest and cheapest option). It's also a good workout, as you have to climb a mountain every day from the campsite to the festival, where you get to watch films under the stars. Unmissable.

• 28 July - 1 August
• Motovun, Croatia
• Under £20 for the week's camping and five film tickets
• Find out more here

Monmouth Festival

A free festival! There are quite a few free festivals in towns and cities around the country, but most are only for one day. This one lasts a week, and although it doesn't offer any camping, there are many nearby campsites to satisfy your camping needs. The music ranges from rock to ska to classical, so should be able to appeal to all tastes.

• 17 - 25 August
• Monmouth, South East Wales
• Find out more here

Rhythms of the World

This festival is like a cheaper version of Womad: featuring some great world music acts, but entirely organised by volunteers. Although there is no camping, the cheap tickets mean it's worth taking the train in (it's just a short journey from London), or even finding a place to stay in Hitchin Priory. Watch out for The Boxettes, featuring Bellatrix, the world champion beat-boxer, and Molotov Jukebox, whose singer plays Tonks in Harry Potter.

• 14 - 15 July
• Hitchin Priory, Hertfordshire
• Tickets £10/day
• Headlining: The Boxettes, JuJu, Speech Debelle, Molotov Jukebox, Jassi Sidhu, Little Roy
• Find out more here

Cockermouth Rock Festival, aka CockRock

This non-profit festival gives you a great line-up whilst making you feel like you're helping out the world. With money going towards local charities, you can enjoy these amazing acts guilt-free. Located next to the Lake District, amongst the Cumbrian mountains, this is a little piece of English paradise.

• 20 - 22 July
• Cockermouth, Cumbria
• Tickets £60 inc. camping
• Headlining: Fun Lovin' Criminals, Tinchy Stryder, Buzzcocks, The Subways
• Find out more here

Fieldview Festival

Fieldview is a fantastic celebration of life and music, with workshops ranging from salsa to beatboxing to comic drawing, and Fancy Dress Friday - this year's theme is myths and fairytales. Run by volunteers, and non-profit, this four day festival has a huge line-up, all from the UK and mainly local groups to cut the carbon footprint, but they also encourage all festival-goers to bring their own instruments and get involved in the open mic sessions and campfire singalongs. They also offer a well-priced bus from London or Bristol.

• 2 - 5 August
• Little Somerford, Wiltshire
• Tickets £50
• Headlining: Kyla La Grange, Lucy Rose, Submotion Orchestra
• Find out more here

Lodestar

Lodestar was inspired by the beauty of the North Star, and this festival is a beautiful experience. Not one for ravers, but for those who love natural beauty, great music, and even comedy, burlesque and circus acts, Lodestar delivers the goods.

• 31 August - 2 September
• Lode, near Cambridge
• Tickets £45 (free camping)
• Headlining: Bob Geldof, The Go! Team
• Find out more here

The Unorthodox Paradox

Another Lake District festival here, this time overlooking the beautiful Lake Windemere. Promising an eclectic selection of music, this intimate festival is as 'unorthodox' as it says, with the campsite in a forest with small 'grottoes' for you to pitch up.

• 20 - 22 July
• Fellfoot Wood, Lake District
• Tickets £50 inc. camping
• Headlining: Circulus, Tall Ships, Jim Noir, a.P.A.t.T.
• Find out more here

Chagstock

Chagstock started off as a small family event that has just grown and grown. Now the proceeds go toward WaterAid and the Devon Air Ambulance, whilst the acts have got bigger and bigger as well. This year's theme is Kings, Queens & Knights of the Round Table - so anyone who missed out on a Jubilee Party can get into the royal spirit here.

• 20 - 21 July
• Chagford, Devon
• Tickets £65 inc. camping
• Headlining: Fun Lovin' Criminals, KT Tunstall, Alabama 3
• Find out more here

Richmond Live

The price says it all - this is ridiculously cheap, organised by extremely passionate music-loving volunteers. As a result, the line-up is incredibly diverse and promises something for everyone.

• 3 - 4 August
• Richmond, Yorkshire
• Tickets £12 (£25 extra for camping, organised separately)
• Headlining: The Chapman Family, Flash Fiktion, Cast
• Find out more here

Curious Yellow Weekend

With one of the greatest number of acts on this list, Curious Yellow is a unique experience, with eclectic music, comedy and even spoken word workshops. Having grown from the underground free party movement in Wales, with roots in the rave scene, this is a party not to be missed.

• 6 - 8 July
• Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
• Tickets £40 (inc. camping)
• Headlining: Hedflux, Future Swing Stories, Pedestrian
• Find out more here

If none of these are quite cheap enough, remember you can always steward at many festivals, check out our guide to volunteering at summer festivals 2012 for how to get the whole experience for free!

Tags: Student festivals , Student summer , Cheap fun - we are the kings , Student Summer Made Easy