The Great Escape is half frenzied gig-dash, half music-biz convention. But it's a hundred per cent fun

Former salesman books in for 55 concerts as BBC favourite enjoys record ticket sales

'Nowadays it's tombolas and village fairs rather than munching on ecstasy at festivals'

Until two years ago I served on the committee of our local free pop festival in north Devon. Each year we would invite a bunch of bands down and throw a really fantastic party on the seafront in Lynmouth, Exmoor. This is a lovely setting for bands, with the cliffs on one side and the sea on the other. In the evening, the festival would move to the various pubs in the area and merry-making would ensue.

Rock and pop stars gearing up to play at British festivals this year may be playing to one man and his dog as festival-goers desert in their droves, according to new research.

Shall I compare thee to a classical composer, Rufus?

Interest in the Big Chill has cooled, Glastonbury is too now commercial... Summer festivals need to get creative andreinvent themselves if they hope to survive, says Lena Corner

Interest in The Big Chill has cooled, Glastonbury is too commercial... Summer music festivals need to get creative and reinvent themselves to survive

Peter Dubens' Oakley Capital is among the private equity firms and trade players considering a bid for the live music business of HMV, the troubled entertainment retailer.

During the most commercially fruitful chapter of his life, Howlin' Wolf's earthy lyrics and bestial growl were lacquered with the terse and inventive lead guitar of Hubert Sumlin.

For entertainment journalists, covering a music festival is as close as most will come to war reporting.

At least three people were killed last night, and 71 injured, when a stage collapsed during stormy weather at a Belgian music festival.