WHEN? 22-25 July

WHERE? Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS: £142

WHO'S PLAYING? Gorillaz Sound System, Mercury Rev, Marina and the Diamonds, Skatalites, The Jessie Rose Trip

WHAT TO EXPECT? The unpredictable. Arty hippiedom in gorgeous idyllic fields. Lakes for skinnydipping and waterpolo. Fancy dress. All-night dance tents playing everything from big band jazz to banging beats.

new.secretgardenparty.com

WHEN? 16 - 18 July

WHERE? Victoria Park, East London

TICKETS? £45 (1 day) - £99

WHO'S PLAYING? Grace Jones, Dizzee Rascal, Hot Chip, Roxy Music, Wild Beasts, The Maccabees

WHAT TO EXPECT? Music legends. Cutting-edge upstarts. An extra day (it used to be two!). Oh, and its Sunday is being transformed into a 'freewheeling, groundbreaking, no-holds-barred, non-stop polysexual party'!

www.lovebox.net

WHEN? 30 July - 1 August

WHERE? Knebworth

WEEKEND TICKETS? £132.50/£157.50 (with camping)

WHO'S PLAYING? Iron Maiden, Slayer, Iggy and the Stooges, The Cult, Rammstein, Motley Crue, Alice in Chains, Placebo, Alice Cooper

WHAT TO EXPECT? Britain's 'other' ultimate metal festival features two stages of VERY LOUD music from rock's undisputed kings. Lots of black. Lots of leather. Lots of legal highs. Lots of crowd surfing. Lots of devil salutes!

uk.sonispherefestivals.com

WHEN? 2 - 4 July 2010

WHERE? Hyde Park, London

WEEKEND TICKET PRICE? £110 (no camping)

WHO'S PLAYING? Jay Z, Lily Allen, DJ Shadow, LCD Soundsystem, UNCLE, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot, The Big Pink, Pink, Gossip, Plan B, The Ting Tings, Slash, Friendly Fires, Dan Le Sac

WHAT TO EXPECT? An unprecedented level of trendiness and hipness for central London. Personally we recommend Saturday's dancefest (DJ Shadow and LCD Soundsystem). Plus plenty of sunshine. Hopefully.

Official site

WHEN? 11 - 13 June

WHERE? Donington Park

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £145

WHO'S PLAYING? AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine, Aerosmith, Stone Temple Pilots, Them Crooked Vultures, Deftones, Slash, Megadeth, Steel Panther

WHAT TO EXPECT? MONSTERS OF ROCK (literally), an eclectic heavy line-up, non-stop air guitar, the best music to get sloshed to. Download isn't regarded one of Europe's biggest and best rock festivals for nothing, it's because it really is! Truly!

Official site

WHEN? 25 - 27 June

WHERE? Hyde Park, London

DAY TICKETS? £47.50 - £62.50

WHO'S PLAYING? Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, Paul McCartney, Wolfmother, Jamiroquai, The Hives, Ben Harper, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Gaslight Anthem, James Morrison

WHAT TO EXPECT? Big London vibe, the sensation that you're on holiday (even if you live in London), a sweet selection of big-selling artists, a commercial crowd of all shapes and sizes

Official site

WHEN? 28 - 29 August

WHERE? Daresury, Halton, Cheshire

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £100/£185 (hospitality weekend)

WHO'S PLAYING? David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Deadnau5, Audio Bullys, Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Eric Prydz, Paul Van Dyk, Sasha, Judge Jules

WHAT TO EXPECT? Music Week's 'festival of the year', Creamfields is arguably Blighty's most prestigious open-air rave. Plenty of close-up body bouncing and smiley faces, and big, frantic tunes.

www.creamfields.com

WHEN? 2 - 3 July

WHERE? Paddock Wood, Kent

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £135

WHO'S PLAYING? Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Mumford and Sons, Peter Doherty, Seasick Steve, Laura Marling, Ray Davies, The Magic Numbers

WHAT TO EXPECT? Virtual timewarp back to '69. Back to basics mentality. Acoustic guitars. ZERO corporate sponsorship and branding. Fairground. Possible band 6-a-side tournie as well!

Official site

WHEN? 10 July

WHERE? Temple Newsam Park, Leeds

TICKETS? £40 - £75 (VIP)

WHO'S PLAYING? Sven Vath, R. Villalobos, Loco Dice, Adam Shelton

WHAT TO EXPECT? In its second year, Cocoon unleashes loud, super-cool techno from electro giants, whilst surrounded by picturesque lakes and forests. Expect some nifty light shows, too!

www.cocooninthepark.com

WHEN? 6 - 8 August

WHERE? Standon, Hertfordshire

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £95

WHO'S PLAYING? Buena Vista Social Club, Liars, Gilles Peterson, These New Puritans, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, A Hawk And A Hacksaw, Efterklang

WHAT TO EXPECT? A tiny but amazing festival full of eclectic but memorable oddness. All-night party license. A nightclub in a cowshed. Classy art installations. Lots of showers. Clean(ish) toilets!!!

www.standon-calling.com

WHEN? 9 - 12 September

WHERE? Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS? £150

WHO'S PLAYING? The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, Flaming Lips, Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Jonsi (Sigur Ros), Fever Ray, Tricky, Gil Scott Heron, Roxy Music

WHAT TO EXPECT? Epic and eclectic boutique festival in a 'veritable Garden of Eden'. Fancy dress. Hidden discos. Bollywood cocktail bar. Pioneering music and alternative giants. Lots of happy people getting mashed!

www.bestival.net

WHEN? 27 - 29 August

WHERE? Richfield Avenue, Reading/Branham Park, Leeds

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £180

WHO'S PLAYING? Guns N' Roses, Arcade Fire, The Libertines, Queens Of The Stone Age, Biffy Clyro, Blink 182, Cypress Hill, LostProphets

WHAT TO EXPECT? Axl Rose not speaking to the crowd. Pete Doherty's spinning eyeballs. A shedload of great (and generally rocky, punky) music for a crowd that's young, old and in-between.

www.readingfestival.com

www.leedsfestival.com

WHEN? 9 - 11 July

WHERE? Balado, Kinross-Shire, Scotland

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £180

WHO'S PLAYING? Muse, Eminem, Kasabian, Jay-Z, Biffy Clyro, The Prodigy, Wolfmother, Jamie T, Madness, Dizzee Rascal, The View, Groove Armada

WHAT TO EXPECT? Bonnie Scotland's biggest festival isn't just about getting trashed in the sun to musical behemoths, they also have a fancy dress Friday and a giant, multicoloured fairground to puke up all those ciders you've downed.

www.tinthepark.com

WHEN? 30 July - 1 August

WHERE? Lowther Deer Park, Lake District

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £85

WHO'S PLAYING? Doves, British Sea Power, The Futureheads, Wild Beasts, Calvin Harris, Scratch Perverts, The Coral, Badly Drawn Boy, Stereo MCs

WHAT TO EXPECT? Eden-like beauty across the green hills and lakes of The Lake District. Immediate desire to fall in love. Shedloads of eclectic attractions including comedians and a village pub. All-nighty party atmosphere with a banging dance tent.

Official site

WHEN? 30 - 31 July

WHERE? Long Marston Airfield, Stratford-Upon-Avon

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £120/£180 (VIP)

WHO'S PLAYING? Faithless, Dizzee Rascal, 2 Many DJs, Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold, Chase and Status, Sasha, Eric Prydz, Steve Angello, Armin Van Buuren

WHAT TO EXPECT? Internationally renowned 2-day dance festival of loud, bouncing beats. As well as some of the genre's most enduring spinners, you can also expect a large, jiving crowd attired almost exclusively in shades and sweaty vests.

www.globalgathering.com/

WHEN? 15 - 18 July

WHERE? Henham Park, Suffolk

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS? £155

WHO'S PLAYING? Florence and the Machine, Vampire Weekend, The National, The Horrors, Belle and Sebastian, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, The Big Pink, The Coral

WHAT TO EXPECT? Scenery. Trees. Hippies. Facepaint. Poetry. Theatre. And more importantly, MASSIVE music acts in a sprawling, gorgeous woodland retreat in the heart of Suffolk. Lovely jubbly.

www.latitudefestival.co.uk

WHEN? 20 - 22 August

WHERE? Glanusk Park Estate, Brecon Beacons

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £120

WHO'S PLAYING? Doves, Flaming Lips, Joanna Newsom, Beirut, Billy Bragg, Tindersticks, Mumford and Sons, Fuck Buttons, Wild Beasts, Laura Marling

WHAT TO EXPECT? Extreme relaxation. Wistful tunery. Sunsets. A very cool, friendly and arty crowd. Desire to lie wasted in a green field listening to the best in folk and Americana.

www.greenman.net

WHEN? Aug 5 -8

WHERE? Eastnor Castle, Malvern Hills, Hertfordshire

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £155

WHO'S PLAYING? Spencer Tunick, MIA, Massive Attack, Plan B, Kurt Wagner, Andrew Weatherall, Little Dragon, Gilles Peterson, The Craig Charles Fantasy, Roy Ayers

WHAT TO EXPECT? Laidback, friendly and fun, where you can piss about playing croquet and swingball with your mates, and guzzle ice-cold ciders to cool ambient bands.

www.bigchill.net

WHEN? 16 - 17 July

WHERE? Upcote Farm, Cheltenham

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? £50

WHO'S PLAYING? The Subways, Frank Turner, Metronomy, Bombay Bicycle Club, 65 Days Of Static

WHAT TO EXPECT? Best of Britian's emerging indie talent. Views of the picturesque Cotsworlds. Headphone discos! Campfire sing-alongs. Communal village spirit!

official site

WHEN? 23 - 27 June

WHERE? Worthy Farm, Pilton

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKET? Sold out. Try gumtree, seatwave, ebay etc!

WHO'S PLAYING? U2, Muse, Scissor Sisters, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, Vampire Weekend, The Dead Weather, Shakira, The Flaming Lips, La Roux

WHAT TO EXPECT? Drug-filled, mud-caked carnage at West Country's largest party. Joyous hippiedom. Stalls selling all sorts of random weirdness. Face paint. A horrible ability to get completely lost. A line-up that's sold billions and billions of records. Bono preaching.

official site

WHEN? 21 - 22 August

WHERE? Weston Park, midlands and Hylands Park, Chelmsford (alternate days)

WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS? Sold out - shop around or check out sites like Seatwave and Gumtree

WHO'S PLAYING? Kings Of Leon, Kasabian, Paul Weller, Editors, Stereophonics, Doves, Florence and the Machine, Madness, The Courteeners, Goldfrapp, Cheryl Cole

WHAT TO EXPECT? A riotous, very busy open-air disco, full of chart-busting acts. Just be sure to elbow all the youths out the way!

www.vfestival.com/

WHEN? 16 - 18 July

WHERE? Stoke Park, Guildford

WEEKEND TICKETS? £110

WHO'S PLAYING? Orbital, The Human League, The Twang, Seth Lakeman, Hawkwind, Status Quo (!), The Blockheads, Just Jack, Level 42

WHAT TO EXPECT? Family-friendly frolics. Enduring music vets rifling through decades of hits. Outdoor swimming Lido and leisure centre. Holiday-like festivity for young and old. '70s disco tent!

www.guilfest.co.uk

WHEN? 26 - 29 August (bank holiday weekend)

WHERE? Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire

WEEKEND TICKETS? £109

WHO'S PLAYING? It's a secret! The organisers never release the line-up in advance.

WHAT TO EXPECT? An eclectic arts and music festival taking place in the grounds of a gorgeous stately home. Highlights include underground poets, knife throwing, reggae den, a crafts village and a Wild West saloon bar.

www.shambalafestival.org