THE tang of crushed grass is in the air, the faint waft of chemical toilets drifts on the breeze and over-excited revellers are setting up camp in fields across Britain.
The festival season is upon us and from the biggies such as Party in the Park, V 2001 Gig on the Green and Creamfields, to the myriad of smaller-scale local events, the hills truly are alive with the sound of music.
T In The Park, at Balado, Kinross, set the ball rolling in the north this month.
In the middle of the Scottish Countryside hundreds of thousands of young folk gathered under tarpaulins to see the likes of Catatonia, Nelly "I'm Like a Bird" Furtado, and the Proclaimers give it some wellie.
The truly hard-core donned customised plastic bin bags to watch David Gray, The Strokes, James and of course the Stereophonics beneath a thunderous black sky.
Despite the best of efforts even Mr Gray's charming head wobbling technique couldn't detract the crown from the fact that their feet were wet and their faces were muddy.
Subdued humming was the best most fans could muster.
But the tartan-clad crowd, determined to extract some pleasure from the event, headed for covered tents in their droves.
The Proclaimers have never been so popular and Paul Weller's set practically caused a stampede.
Smoozing in the media tent reveals some frighteningly glamorous blond people who have perfected the don' t-you-know-me-I'm-famous look along with some b-list genuine articles such as Michelle Collins aka Cindy Beale and Heidrun Anna of Gloss.
OK so the rain poured, the sun didn't shine once, but the steely Celtic crowd remained undeterred.
If you are into character building, forget Ayai Napa, stick to home grown, rain-soaked festivities - just don't forget your bin bag.
Coming soon to a damp crowd not too far from you are:
l Lancaster and Morecambe Street Theatre Festival, tomorrow and Sunday.
l Lancaster and Morecambe Streetband Festival, July 28 and 29.
l Appley Jazz Festival, July 27 and 29.
l Appleby Extra global music festival, August 3 and 5.
l Eden Festival, August 11and 12.
l The Morecambe Festival of Light and Water, August 4 and 5.
l Morecambe Bay Worldbeat August 24 to 26.
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