This weekend BT hosts its own mini festival around London although the event isn’t your average Glastonbury or Reading and Leeds experience. 

BT River of music may indeed draw parallels with the festival season by putting on an array of acts covering six alternative stages but being stretched out over the capital city the muddy fields will be nowhere in sight. The event is also free of charge and by the looks of it, here’s the main surprise, the two-day event looks to be taking place in the sunshine. 

Celebrating the week before the Olympic Games each stage will bring a mixture of music culture from around the globe. 

Allow us to paddle you down the Thames for a moment and point out the stages and their headline acts (the full line-up can be seen on the BT River of Music official website)... 

The Africa Stage at the Pleasure Gardens sees Baaba Maal and Staff Benda Bilili + Zao, Americas stage situated in the grounds of the Tower of London will be headlined by the Scissor Sisters and Carlinhos Brown, over in Battersea Park Guilty Pleasures will round off both days, Europe takes over stages at Somerset House (where you can catch Fyfe Danderfield and Jools Holland & his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra) and Trafalgar Square (headlined by The Big Gay Sing and Ludovico Einaudi) and finally over at the Old Royal Navy College you can catch Wantok Musik Sing Sing and Green Fire Islands. 

Each stage will have accessibility although the areas at the Europe Stage (Trafalgar Square) Oceania Stage (Old Royal Naval College) and the Africa Stage (London Pleasure Gardens) will be predominantly for wheelchair users. 

Viewing platforms will be situated at the Africa Stage (Battersea Park) and the Americas Stage (Tower of London). 

If you are travelling to the event by car disabled spaces can be found for the Africa Stage (London Pleasure Gardens) and the Asia stage (Battersea Park) and all stages will have disabled toilet facilities. 

...And one more thing which we can rarely say when it comes to British festivals...You can leave your Wellies at home this weekend. 

BT River of Music takes place around London this Saturday and Sunday (21 & 22 July) for more information visit the BT River of Music Website.

Article By Able 2UK