As London's BST festival lines up a season of music for all tastes and ages, Tim Hughes looks ahead to a top summer of live music

It’s the festival of the summer, with a dream line-up to appeal to all tastes. And you don’t even have to stay in a tent.

British Summer Time is a series of shows taking place in London’s Hyde Park – with days tailored for lovers of indie-rock, alt-rock, metal, pop, Americana and more.

The season gets under way on Thursday, July 3, with a show headlined by Arcade Fire, and featuring Jake Bugg, Wild Beasts and Future Islands. The next day, Friday July 4, is hard-rocking heaven with metal legends Black Sabbath topping a bill which also contains Soundgarden, Faith No More, Motorhead and Soulfly.

The weekend continues, on Saturday, July 5, with Peter Doherty and Carl Barat reuniting for one of the most talked-about events of the summer – a show by the Libertines. They are joined by The Pogues, Spiritualized, Maximo Park and The Enemy.

Things take a poppy turn on Sunday, July 6, with a chart-friendly day angled squarely at the girls, featuring McBusted, Backstreet Boys, the Vamps, Scouting for Girls and Diversity.

After a few days’ breather, the crowds return to Hyde Park on Thursday, July 10, for a day of comedy courtesy of musical comic Tim Minchin, and stars Alan Davis, Nina Conti, Milton Jones, Gina Yashere and host Jasper Carrott.

The laughter is replaced by smooth country-rock two days later, on Saturday, July 12, when musical legends Neil Young & Crazy Horse take to the stage to headline a day of Americana and singer-songwriter talent. Also up are the National, Tom Odell, Half Moon Run and Lucy Rose. The festival comes to a finale on Sunday, July 13, with a family day headlined by the one and only Sir Tom Jones.

“I love playing in Hyde Park,” said the Sex Bomb star. “It’s such a beautiful place and so many of the greats have played there. There is a real sense of musical history and a fantastic atmosphere that comes with playing in the middle of a great London park on a wonderful summer evening.’’ Fresh from the latest series of the BBC’s The Voice, Sir Tom is one of Britain’s greatest ever vocalists, with an illustrious history, stretching way back to the 1960s.

Oxford Mail:

Black in business: Sabbath hit the park

From the day he crashed on to the scene with his first smash hit It’s Not Unusual, it was clear that one of the all time great singers had arrived. Still in a class all of his own, he has stayed contemporary by collaborating with a succession of new artists that see him as a true musical hero, from Cerys Matthews, to The Stereophonics. His two most recent albums, Praise & Blame and Spirit In The Room were produced by Kings of Leon’s soundman Ethan Johns.

Well used to Royal surroundings, he became Sir Tom for services to music in 2006 and with hits like Green Grass Of Home and Delilah.

Tom will be joined at the family day by Boyzone, Little Mix, 10CC and The Bootleg Beatles. There will also be children’s entertainment from Horrible Histories, Shaun The Sheep, Mr Men, and Go!Go!Go!

Oxford Mail:

Sex Bomb: Tom Jones

“There's no bigger gig than Hyde Park and no better day out than playing British Summer Time alongside Sir Tom Jones,” said Boyzone’s Ronan Keating.

It was a view echoed by Little Mix. “To be on a line up with Sir Tom Jones is a true honour,” said the band.

“We can’t wait to see all The Mixers in the summer sun. And it’s Perrie’s 21st birthday a few days before, so we will be celebrating in style.”

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The shows are presented by AEG Live and The Royal Parks.
For the family day, five year-olds and under go for free and a family of four can buy a ticket for just £90. For details and tickets for all other days go to bst-hydepark.com