Despite all those cuts and closures it's not all doom and gloom for London's cultural calendar. Venues throughout the city this summer play host to the inaugural Bluesfest. Featuring BB King, Booker T and others, its soundtrack is blues, soul and jazz.

One-day music festival headlined by The Saturdays and featuring performances from alternative rock band Kasiuss, and local unsigned talents including Stephen Innes.   Read more

Once known for raucous debauchery, the BoomTown Fair has cleaned up its act and is now family-orientated, with a huge emphasis on eco-initiatives. Musically, ska and reggae predominate; Toots and the Maytals headline, along with the Wurzels and Babyhead.  Read more

The 10th anniversary of this medium sized community festival, featuring music of many genres, food, beers & ales, kids activities, a funfair and a battle of the bands competition. Doctor and the Medics headlined in 2011 and highlights this year include Circa73, Power Surge, Forty Fiver and Citizen Smith.  Read more

BPM has quickly become one of Europe's biggest events dedicated to DJing. Housed in Birmingham's NEC, it brings together DJs, producers and promoters for a weekend dedicated to the best of dance.  Read more

On the first Tuesday of every month, within the shabby chic walls of Favela Chic, Baby Girl Media and Milkshake Events presents London's first and only R&B and hip-hop karaoke party.  Read more

The vibrant Brecon Jazz festival takes over this mid-Wales market town each year. The programme features jazz from trad to free, with performances at Theatre Brycheiniog, the Cathedral and other venues around town.  Read more

Brighton Pride takes over the town for a week in summer, culminating in a flamboyant parade from the seafront to Preston Park and street parties on St James's St. It is now the biggest free Pride festival in the UK.  Read more

The male voice choir tradition is an important part of Cornish cultural life. Truro's British International Male Voice Choral Festival invites choirs from the UK and abroad to join Cornwall in celebrating beautiful voices and song.  Read more

During Broadstairs Folk Week the small town is completely taken over by music and dancing, from Cajun to traditional folk and ceilidhs. Performance venues range from parks and pubs to gardens, beaches, restaurants and the promenade.  Read more

During the BSO Fireworks Proms, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra delivers a series of performances in various venues. Visitors are invited to enjoy the concerts while picknicking under the stars, and the event concludes with a rousing fireworks display.

Free weekend of music from the 205 Olympic and Paralympic nations. Six stages are set up to represent the continents; Asia (Battersea Park), Africa (Jubilee Gardens), Europe (Trafalgar Square and Somerset House), the Americas (Tower of London) and Oceania (Greenwich Old Royal Naval College). Performers include Scissor Sisters, Naturally 7 and Andy Sheppard.   Read more

Among Europe's biggest biker rock festivals, the Bulldog Bash takes place at the Shakespeare County Raceway on Long Marston Airfield. There are displays by professional drag racers and supertuned bikes, and bikers stage their own races down the strip.  Read more

Since 2002 Ayrshire has hosted the Burns an a' That Festival which celebrates Ayr's most famous son, Robert Burns - Scotland's national poet. Alongside the poetry, the event brings top bands and classical music to Scotland's west coast.

The Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival is an annual celebration of music set within the beautiful surroundings of Burton Agnes Hall. A wide range of musical tastes are catered for, and festival-goers are invited to picnic in the grounds.  Read more

One-day festival showcasing the best new talent and established artists in Shepherds Bush, West London. Performers include Amber States, Burning Beard, Daughter, JP Cooper and Fionn Regan.   Read more

The Peak District's very own spa town, Buxton, boasts an exquisite opera house. Every year since 1979, the Buxton Festival has created its own niche in the operatic world by unearthing some rare pieces. There's a literature strand too.

Lashings of silk and velvet are liberally draped over every surface at Cafe de Paris, open since 1924. Harpists, cigar girls, sugar daddies and diamante-clad divas are on call to ensure that the collected throng have every need pandered to.  Read more

Held annually in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall, the Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the most famous in the world. Listen to the best traditional UK folk to North American country, blues, roots and jazz on three stages.  Read more

Indie junkies in skinny black jeans head for London's Camden Crawl. Fifty venues across Camden welcome bands and surprise guests and host quizzes, film shorts, DJ aftershow parties and musical bingo!