Layla, don't forget to turn on the red light
Hyde park, 28th-29th June
What with all the furore surrounding the line-up at Glastonbury, it's easy to forget that there's a whole lot more to life than druids, rap-artists and the cosmos.
That said 'whole lot more' is rock: hard rock, and to drag out this tired, desperate parallel to it's limit - it's calling you. Yes, this summer marks the first year of Hard Rock Calling, the re-branded live music event that was formerly the hugely successful Hyde Park Calling.
What's in a name, as they say, and nothing has been lost with the switch, quite the opposite in fact.
The line-up is nothing short of spectacular with the legendary 'slow hand,' Eric Clapton, headlining the main-stage on the Saturday and the rhythmically blessed trio that is The Police, topping the bill the following day with their last ever UK appearance.
If that's not enough (you selfish sods, you) then bringing up the rear across the weekend will be no less than, Sheryl Crow, The Charlatans, KT Tunstall, Starsailor, The Stranglers and plenty more besides.
Now that the bods at Hard Rock Café are on board (hence the name change, yeah), there'll be a temporary restaurant on site providing their usual kicking delights for the stomach and the liver.
So, when June nears its end, make sure you're parked on that big patch of turf out west for what's shaping up to be one of the year's hottest jaunts.
Tickets are £50 for Saturday and £65 for Sunday. Weekend tickets can be purchased for £110 but these have limited availability.
Book through www.livenation.co.uk or call the 24hr hotline 0844 576 5483 (all tickets subject to a booking fee).
PD
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