FESTIVALS Your essential festival guide to...

Nestled on the edge of the Lake District, Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre will open its doors for three weeks of music from some of the world's top performers.

Gateway international Roots Festival will feature reggae, traditional and contemporary folk, dancehall and dub

The Vibraphonic festival is held across eighteen venues around Exeter and it brings together an eclectic line-up of artists and DJs with it that all perform over much of March.

The festival has already had the likes of Audio Bullys, Mr Scruff and Misty In Roots in the past, so expect more of diversity this time around

Unfolding across a myriad of venues in the capital's East End, the Word Festival is set to unravel the magic of the 'word' exploring everything from blogs and Boggle, to poetic lyricism to lyric poetry

This weekender is a Northern Soul extravaganza, which will include two marquees playing mod music, RnB, ska, northern soul and motown and a live stage of music with various artists playing over the weekend

Held at Tolbooth in the heart of old Stirling town, Scotland, this annual festival unfolds into a massive celebration of roots and folk music.

As the name implies, there is a mix of talent on show, with past acts including Lisa Knapp, Lau and Chris Wood