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Big Chill
One of the most interesting festivals on the music calendar, the Big Chill brings together trendy twentysomethings and young families to Eastnor Castle Deer Park in the Malvern Hills for a weekend of great music and relaxed enjoyment. It describes itself as a multimedia festival, bar, club event, record label and lifestyle. This year's event takes place from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th August and the eclectic line up includes Nitin Sawhney, Alice McLaughlin and DJ Norman Jay.
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 Leeds Castle Open Air Concerts
The magical setting of Leeds Castle in Kent is the perfect place to spend a summer evening. Concerts include Ronan Keating on 1st July, performing ten years of hits as part of the Summer Nights Open Air Concert Series, while more classic music-lovers shouldn't miss the BBC Big Band on 2nd July, along with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) and The Opera Babes. The evening ends with the 1812 Overture and a spectacular fireworks display. Other concerts are Van Morrison on 3rd July, Meatloaf on 8th July and Will Young on 10th July.
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 Kenwood Music on a Summer Evening
Arguably one of north London's most elegant places, summer at Kenwood is even more of a treat with its fantastic concert calendar. This year's performers include Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Cuban legend Ibrahim Ferrer, Will Young, Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and Katie Melua. Other evenings include Grease! The Musical, Classic Fm Live Opera Gala And Last Night Of The Kenwood Proms. The setting, on Hampstead Heath, is stunning.
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 Electric Picnic
Just an hour from Dublin in the 600-acre Stradbally Hall Estate, you can hear the sounds of Kraftwerk, Fatboy Slim, Stereo MCs, Royskopp, De La Soul, The Human League and Asian Dub Foundation. You can join around 25,000 fellow revellers on the 3rd and 4th September for this music extravaganza as well as enjoy the Comedy Tent, acoustic tent, chill-out zone with a healing area, tea tent and plenty of organic food and juice bars.
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Womad
As well as great music, Womad is one of the child-friendliest festivals around, along with Big Chill. From 29th to 31st July, you can enjoy the Thames riverside location near Reading and soak up the global sounds. The line-up includes Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri, Nitin Sawhney, Youssou N'Dour, Totó la Momposina and the celebrated Richie Havens. It's world music at its best. Kids will love the outdoor space, with the on-site fun fair and plenty of great food outlets.
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And that's five to name a few! Other ones to look out for are Pop2thepark on the 7th August where Carlisle's Bitts Park plays host to a number of pop acts including Natasha Bedingfield and Estelle.
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Jazz lovers should head to the gorgeous market town of Brecon in south Wales for the Brecon Jazz Festival from the 12th to 14th August. Line-up includes Lucie Silvas, Dizzy Gillespie All Star Alumni Big Band and Billy Jenkins Blues Collective.
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And dance music lovers shouldn't miss Creamfields UK on the 27th August. The UK's premier dance festival at the Old Liverpool Airfield plays host to the likes of Basement Jaxx, Faithless, Fatboy Slim, Eric Morillo and Paul Oakenfold in its seven arenas and two outdoor stages. There's also a Gurn Fun Bus Mobile Disco and a chill-out arena.
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For all the latest music news and updates on what's going on this summer, visit our music channel at http://www.ntlworld.com/music/
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