Gaynor Edwards rounds up the best of some of the season's festivals...

GOSPORT & Fareham EASTER FOLK FESTIVAL: April 17 - 21, various venues. Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: from £15 Box office: 01329 231942. For further information check out the website www.gosportfestival.co.uk

Fareham's 12th annual folk festival kicks off this year's festival season in the south, with five days of top-quality entertainment.

The main concerts take place at Ferneham Hall and are: Eddi Reader - formerly of Fairground Attraction on Thursday, Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson on Friday, The Saw Doctors on Saturday night and Show of Hands plus Martyn Joseph on Sunday.

Eddi Reader has confirmed that she will be giving an exclusive preview of her new album, when she headlines the opening night of England's biggest indoor Folk & Roots Music Festival.

Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull's flautist, singer and songwriter will be joined by a number of special guests in an evening celebration of the music of Tull. In his 30-year career he has also gathered some anecdotes, which will perfectly punctuate the performance.

The Saw Doctors, one of the Emerald Isle's top rock bands, will be using the festival to conclude their own two month tour of North America and Britain. You can be assured that it will end on a high note as they are widely recognised as one of the most exciting live bands in the world.

The Saw Doctors line-up now includes Anthony Thistlethwaite on bass, one of the founders of the Waterboys. The Doctors' latest CD, Play It Again, Sham!, recently received a rave review in the New York Post: "as near perfect a collection of the Saw Doctors best songs." The 20-track compilation features material from 1990-2000 and includes UK top 30 hits Small Bits of Love and World of Good.

During the recent US tour, the Doctors were invited to play Capitol Hill, Washington at the annual St Patrick's Day lunch. A number of big name Irish MPs were in attendance. President Bush was unable to attend, apparently called to take a phone call from Tony Blair regarding the Gulf crisis.

The festival has, as ever, been superbly organised by Peter Chegwyn. Early ticket purchase has been advised as the event was the most successful in Hampshire's friendly music festival's history.

Headline acts playing Ashcroft Arts Centre, with tickets priced at £10, include: Lindisfarne, Chris Wood, Roger Wilson, Martin Carthy and North Cregg. There is also a host of other events on offer, including music and dance workshops and a craft fayre.

HOMELANDS FESTIVAL: Saturday 24 May, Matterley Estate, Winchester.

This all night, open air dance extravaganza which runs from 1pm to 6am will feature: Groove Armada, The Streets, The Chemical Brothers, Jeff Mills, Sasha, Roger Sanchez, Pete Tong, John Digweed, Dave Clarke and Derrick Carter.

Prices: £49 in advance. For further info: www.homelands.co.uk or Tel: 020 8963 0940

ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL: Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 June, Seaclose Park, Newport.

Headliners include Paul Weller, Star Sailor, Iggy Pop, Counting Crows, Bryan Adams, The Cooper Temple Clause, The Darkness and The Thrills.

Prices: £30 for the day, £50 for the weekend. For further info: www.isleofwightfestival.com

LARMER TREE FESTIVAL: Thursday 17 - Sunday 20 July, Larmer Tree Gardens, Tollard Royal, Wilts.

Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will be the headlining act. With a strong emphasis on world music, other confirmed acts include:

Oysterband, Shooglenifty, Wai, Joseph and One, Ron Sexsmith, Pape & Cheikh, Eleyo, Oi Va Voi, Ali Slimani, Croft No Five, Terra Folk, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike (USA), Little Big Session, Jackie Leven, Jelitara Futa, Boomclick, Rose Kemp and Pronghorn

Prices: Ticket prices vary. For further info: www.larmertree.co.uk or Tel: 023 8071 1820

TROWBRIDGE VILLAGE PUMP FESTIVAL: Friday 25 - Sunday 27 July, Stowford Manor Farm, Wingfield, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Headliners include: Runrig, The Proclaimers, Eric Bibb, Kate Rusby Band, John Otway, Shooglenifty, Los Pacacminos (featuring Paul Young) and Flook.

Prices: Ticket prices vary. For further info: www.trowbridgefestival.co.uk or Tel: 01225 769132

READING FESTIVAL: Friday 22 - Sunday 24 August, Little Johns Farm, Richfield Road, Reading, Berks

Headlining acts on the main stage include Linkin Park, Blink 182, Blur, The White Stripes, Metallica and System Of A Down. Some of the bands appearing on the other six stages are: Sum 41, Beck, Placebo, Doves, The Streets, Elbow, The Music, Courtney Love, Good Charlotte, the Polyphonic Spree, The Datsuns, AFI, The Mars Volta, Hundred Reasons, The Yeah Yeah Yeah and Cooper Temple Clause.

Prices: Weekend tickets are £95, day tickets are £40 (these prices are subject to a booking fee and include parking but not camping). For further info: www.meanfiddler.com