The Ten Best: Summer gigs

Pixies, Edinburgh

Pixies, Edinburgh

Fresh from playing the most anticipated reunion tour in recent history, the Bostonian demigods take their alternately frazzled and euphoric show to the largest outdoor gig in the history of the T on the Fringe festival. Support comes from Teenage Fanclub and Idlewild.

Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh (0870 169 0100), 28 Aug, 4pm, £30

Somerset House Series, London

This cracking courtyard venue has great sight lines, keen acoustics and a very strong line-up of gigs, including Doves, Super Furry Animals and Queens of the Stone Age.

Somerset House, London WC1 (0870 400 0700), 6-13 Jul, 7.30pm, £22.50-£25

Eden Sessions, St Austell

The beautiful Cornish eco-park's summer gig season welcomes baggy royalty in the shape of Ian Brown, currently the focus of rumours that his old band, The Stone Roses, will reform. Plus, Basement Jaxx, Embrace and Keane.

Eden Project, St Austell, Cornwall (01726 811972) 1-27 Aug, 7pm, £25 (per gig)

Jazz Café Picnic, London

Camden's classic music joint decamps for two concerts in ornate surrounds, featuring mellowed-out dance and world vibes. Lemon Jelly play in July, and Royksopp play their sprightly Euro pop-house in August.

Kenwood House, Hampstead, 10 Jul, 3pm, £32.50-£40; Marble Hill, Twickenham, 14 Aug, 1.30pm, £32.50 (0870 060 3777)

REM, Glasgow

U2 and Coldplay have sold out their summer shows, but you can still book for the band formerly known as the biggest band in the world. The ever-engaging Michael Stipe and co marry cult kudos with crack crowd-pleasing.

Glasgow Green (0870 060 0100) 14 Jun, 6pm, £35; then touring to 10 Jul (0870 400 0700)

Hampton Court Palace Festival, London

Light listening is the keynote of these concerts in swish surroundings. Beach Boy Brian Wilson has sold out, but you can still book for the likes of José Carreras.

Hampton Court Palace, Surrey (0870 060 2338) 7-24 Jun, times vary, £33.50-£150

Green Day, Milton Keynes

This Californian punk-pop trio grew up into fully fledged Bush-bashers on 2004's American Idiot album, with hugely successful results. The subsequent tour was a riot of colours, so these two all-dayers should be a celebration of punk-powered indignation.

Milton Keynes Bowl (0871 220 0260) 18 & 19 Jun, 2pm, £28.50

Picnic concerts, London/Essex

Scoff a sandwich to the sounds of Elvis Costello, now a crooner more than a punk, in keeping with the gentle flavour of these events in soothing surroundings. Proms, polite pop and world music.

Kenwood House; Audley End; Marble Hill (0870 120 1149; www.picnicconcerts.com), 2 Jul to 28 Aug, all shows 7.30pm, £16-£33

Forest tours, across the UK

Since 2002, the Forestry Commission has hosted annual tours in woodlands nationwide, which makes a change from sticky-floored indie holes. This year, shows include The Beautiful South, Jools Holland and Daniel Bedingfield.

Various forests (01842 814612; www.forestry.gov.uk/music) 10 Jun to 29 Jul, call for times & prices

Live 8, London

Get your texts in now to try to win a ticket to the huge awareness-raising event on 2 July - the deadline is midnight on Sunday. The line-up is a heady mix of old and new, with U2, Sting, Madonna and Paul McCartney appearing with The Killers and Coldplay.

Hyde Park, London (for a chance to win a ticket, see www.live8live.com)