While free spirits are sobbing into their pear cider, lamenting the lack of a Glastonbury Festival this year, there is no shortage of al-fresco bashes waiting to take its place, from established events to cheeky young upstarts.

Some, like Cropredy, Womad, Reading, the Bull Dog Bash, and our own Truck Festival, are veteran gatherings, with their own armies of faithful pilgrims. The young pretenders include Cornbury, featuring Robert Plant, Texas, and The Waterboys, from July 8-9; and the Ascott Music Festival, starring Richard Thompson, Paul Jones, and Nine Below Zero, in Ascott-under-Wychwood, from July 21-22.

One of the first out of the blocks, is Wychwood Music Festival, which kicks off next Friday. The three-day festival, takes its name from the ancient Wychwood Forest Fayres, held in west Oxfordshire, which attracted up to 40,000 revellers with drinking, dancing and singing, until being cut short in the 1850s, when the landowner had the idea of chopping down the oaks, and selling them to the Navy.

Despite its Oxfordshire roots, Wychwood takes place further down the A40 in Cheltenham, as festival director Graeme Merifield, from Witney, explained.

He said: "We came up with the idea four years ago and spent ages trying to find a site in west Oxfordshire. But people decided they didn't want it on their patch."

Eventually finding a home at Cheltenham Racecourse, the first Wychwood Festival, pulled in 7,500 people, attracted by good music and a friendly ethos. And the same is true for this year which boasts 70 bands, 10 comedians, and 80 workshops. Headliners include Billy Bragg, Eliza Carthy, inset, Dreadzone, Saw Doctors, Martha Wainwright, The Guillemots, and, making their first festival appearance, The Feeling.

Dance fans won't miss out either Mr Scruff, DJ Shantel and Gilles Petersen, seen working the crowd in the main picture, among the artists taking to the decks for late night sessions.

"This is a festival which appeals to ordinary working people," said Graeme. "It is also an Oxfordshire event, with loads of Oxfordshire based artists."

Among the local heroes are The Gs, Matt Sage, of Oxford's Catweazle Club, Lisa Fitzgibbon, and Tandara Mandara. And should Oxon festival-goers get homesick, those nice people from the Zodiac are running the bars.

"We are hoping to eventually bring the festival back to Oxfordshire," said Graeme, who proved his credentials by running the One Night Stand gig nights in Witney's Red Lion.

"But at the moment we do have a brilliant site. We have worked hard to make Wychwood the festival we want it to be, and people have stepped up to the mark. It's not a big corporate event. It is organised by just six people who wear their hearts on their sleeves, and just want to give something back to the community.

And Graeme's hot tips? "Amadou & Mariam are BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards winners and will be amazing as will Polar Bear and Farmers Market. I am also looking forward to seeing Peatbog Faeries, The Ralfe Band, The Bays and The Broken Family band."

Organisations set to benefit include Oxfam, Greenpeace, the RSPB and Friends of the Earth.

Day tickets are £20-£45, and £70-£85 for the weekend. Under 11s and camping are free. Log on at www.aloud.com, or call 0870 998 8888.