It's a big festival weekend ahead, with a string of al fresco events across the county.

  • The biggest is the Big Feastival, which sees Alex James flinging open the gates to his immaculately manicured farm tomorrow. Over the course of the festival, revellers will be treated to sets by the likes of Mark Ronson, Tinie Tempah, Kaiser Chiefs, Roisin Murphy, Foxes, DJ Fresh, Reef, Toots & The Maytals, The Proclaimers and Ella Henderson.

For details go to thebigfeastival.com

  • At the other other end of the spectrum to Alex's bash is Reading.

While The Big Feastival is all about family-friendly music, food and family, Reading is just about music –much of it distinctly un-family friendly.

Highlights are numerous but include Oxford lads Foals, who head up the action tomorrow, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, who headline on Saturday and Biffy Clyro and Fallout Boy on Sunday.

Other names to watch out for include Disclosure, Imagine Dragons, The Vaccines, Courteeners, Boy Better Know, Duke Dumont, Oliver Heldens, DJ EZ, Good Charlotte and Kidlington's own David Rodigan.

Good times are all but guaranteed.

It takes place at Little John's Farm, Reading, from tomorrow to Sunday. Go to

readingfestival.com

  • For something folkier, check out Towersey. Featuring sets by Billy Bragg, Kate Rusby, The Wonder Stuff, Midge Ure and the Thom Robinson Band, this runs from tomorrow to Monday at Thame Showground. Go to towerseyfestival.com
  • For something smaller, there is Tadstock, at Kencot Hill Farm, Brize Norton, which runs from Saturday to Monday (tadstock.co.uk).

A festival on a solar farm with a social conscience and sense of fun, its line-up includes Melbourne’s nine-piece indie-orchestral act Other Animals, Lonnie Donegan’s son Pete, and Jade Henderson from Burford.

  • For a completely free festival, try Peace in the Park.

This gathering at the Global Retreat Centre, Nuneham Courtenay features music, talks and meditation in a glorious setting. Unusual, uncommercial and extremely child-friendly, it runs from Saturday to Monday. Free tickets at peaceintheparkfestival.org. But be warned, if you are a bit of a party animal: there's no alcohol on site - and absolutely no smoking. Inner peace and mindfulness is the key here.

Neither a misspelling of the Oxfordshire town, nor a tribute to the work of Ms Houston, Whitney are the indie-rock band set up by Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich, formerly of Smith Westerns.

The Chicago band effortlessly fuse mellow country with rock and retro soul – all of which makes them irresistable. They play tunes from album Light Upon the Lake at The Bullingdon, Cowley Road, Oxford, tonight.

wegottickets.com