STARTS 12 JULY: So much of summer is overrated, it almost makes me want to leave my Haviananas in the wardrobe and spend the season hiding in an industrial freezer unit in protest. Why must we drink Pimm’s when no-one really likes it? Also, putting ice in the glass still doesn’t make cider anything other than a yokel’s drink. Yet the prospect of all the musical outdoor events that start springing up is worth the investment in aftersun. Foremost amongst all of these events is The Somerset House Series, a fabulously debonair and delightful cycle of gigs by artists that may be varied to say the least but are still united by their quality. The setting itself is rather majestic, a Neoclassical courtyard of imposing proportions and the prospect of seeing The Roots, Amy Winehouse and other luminaries taking charge of the venue is an even tastier thought than a raspberry sorbet. It all kicks off on the glorious 12th with Mogwai performing in surround sound. I don’t know quite what that entails but we’d all be lying if we said we weren’t curious. The Roots on the 19th would have to be the hot ticket, but we recommend checking out folk patriarch Bert Jansch getting together with Beth Orton and Bernard Butler on the 14th for all your head becalming needs.

For more info, go to www.somersethouse.org.uk/music