Sounds of the Summer

UK summers do not mean guaranteed fine weather， but rain or shine， for thousands of young people this is the time to head outdoors and enjoy some great music.

Summer music festivals are a much-loved tradition in the UK and hundreds are now held every year. Whatever your musical taste， there is something for you—from peaceful folk festivals in country fields to giant global gatherings in city parks and rock festivals held on the grounds of stately homes. More and more locaI organisers are getting in on the act， too， with small towns and even villages staging their own events.

Here is a quick guide to six of the biggest and best UK summer festivals.

Download Festival： With two outdoor stages and a “chill out” area in the woods， this threeday festival is held at Donnington Park racetrack and is a mecca[眾人渴望去的地方] for rock and heavy metal fans. Headlining in 2012 were The Prodigy， Metallica and Black Sabbath.

Glastonbury： Dating back to 1970， this Somerset- based festival with its striking main Pyramid Stage， is probably the most fomous of all. It is also the biggest， with around 150，000 tickets selling out in a matter of days. Global Gathering： Over 100 acts and 80，000 festivaI goers descend on Stratford-upon-Avon for two days of house， dub step[電子樂(lè)的一種] and electronic dance music.

Isle of Wight Festival： First held in 1968 on a pretty island off Englands south coast， this festival is one of the oldest. Legendary acts like T-Rex， Jimi Hendrix and The Doors have graced its stage. In 2012， thousands will flock to see groups like Pearl Jam， Biffy Clyro and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

T-in the Park： This weekend-long festival， held in Scotland， boasts an impressive thirteen stages and up to 180 acts. Headlining in 2012 are the recently reformed The Stone Roses.

WOMAD： Now in its 30th year， this family festival celebrates the World of Music， Arts and Dance.

Tips for a happy festival.

Be prepared for all weathers—Take both Wellington boots AND sunscreen！

Buy a map—No matter how well you know your tent， it can be hard to find among thousands of others.

Travel light—You may have a long way to walk and NEVER leave valuables in your tent.