Natalya Wilson celebrates the great British tradition of summer festivals – and checks out some of those happening in and around Ryedale.

THE weather forecasters have predicted that we’re in for a long, hot, sunny summer, and so far, there have been plenty of fine days to back up this theory.

And there’s nothing better on a gorgeous day than gathering together a group of friends, popping some beers and a picnic in a cool box and heading off to find a pitch in the middle of a field, forest or the grounds of a fine country pile to enjoy some live music.

There’s a great tradition of music festivals in this country which has existed for many a long year. I remember, back in the 70s, when I was a little girl, spending most weekends of the long balmy summers heading off to many a folk festival around the country with my family and a tent in the back of the car. Then, as a student, I found myself spending summer weekends heading off to rock festivals with my comrades to catch the hottest bands and enjoy making new friends on the crowded campsites.

These days, I still manage to get to at least one or two festivals each summer, plus several day-long gigs in the great outdoors. It’s something I feel compelled to do, and my enjoyment of these events never diminishes, even though I’m now in my mid-thirties, and more used to wearing killer heels in the office than trudging through muddy fields in wellies.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that, whatever your age, you can enjoy some kind of outdoor music event, whether that’s a full-on festival or an evening at the Last Night of the Proms. And in Ryedale and its environs, we really do have the pick of the lot, whatever your musical tastes.

During the last eight years, there have been a string of stellar artists and bands that have performed at open-air concerts in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, attracting 75,000 music fans since The Levellers and Jools Holland first took to the woodland stage back in 2001. And this year’s line-up has upped the stakes, with tickets for Paul Weller, dubbed The Modfather – who plays on June 27 – claiming the title for the fastest selling artist, shifting 5,000 tickets in just six days.

Meanwhile, almost 4,000 tickets have been sold for chart-toppers, McFly, who play on June 26. And not only have the organisers brought some of the top names in the music industry to Dalby Forest, but profits raised from these concerts have raised £150,000 for environmental projects and to conserve rare wildlife in the forest.

“Staging mega open-air gigs in the heart of the North York Moors raised lots of eyebrows at first, but the public have given us terrific backing,” said concert organiser Paul Cody.

Tickets are still available for McFly’s gig, phone 01842 814612, Dalby Forest Visitor Centre on 01751 460295, or book online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music

If you find that you’ve caught the rock festival bug, Leeds Festival, one of the largest and most popular of the UK’s summer festivals, is staged at Bramham Park, near Wetherby, just a 45-minute drive from Malton, with headliners including the Kings Of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, The Prodigy and Kaiser Chiefs. Visit www.leedsfestival.com for more information.

Taking a completely different musical tack, the Ryedale Festival, which runs from July 17 until August 2, is a predominantly classical event, although there are talks, theatre and some world music concerts, too.

This year, the festival is hosting 43 concerts in 24 locations across Ryedale, many of them stately homes, and the theme celebrates the life and works of composer Joseph Haydn, who died 200 years ago. Much of Haydn’s music is influenced by Austro-Hungarian gypsy melodies and Croatian folk tunes, so this year’s programme focuses on gypsy music and Hungarian art music inspired by the folk tradition. For further information, visit www.ryedalefestival.co.uk

Whether you’re a rock fan or love classical music, the spectacular backdrop of Castle Howard is the stage for two outdoor music events in August, with an evening celebrating The Music of Queen – A Rock and Symphonic Spectacular on August 21, featuring stars from the West End musical, We Will Rock You, joined by a 60-piece symphony orchestra and a rock band. This is followed by the annual Proms Spectacular on August 22. For more information, visit www.castlehoward.co.uk

There are also a number of folk festivals in the area, most notably the week-long Whitby Folk Festival, from August 22-28, with more than 600 concerts, dance events, workshops and informal musician and singer sessions at a plethora of venues throughout the town. The festival is one of the longest-running in the country, having attracted performers and fans for more than 40 years. See www.whitbyfolk.co.uk for information.

There are many more little festivals and free events happening throughout the summer around the area, so it’s well worth keeping your ear to the ground to find out what musical delights you can enjoy on your doorstep.