AIR out those tents, dust down your sleeping bags and buy some paracetamol - festivals are back!

Promoters from Eastnor to Presteigne are busy finalising preparations to ensure festival fever makes a welcome return this summer.

Herefordshire certainly has more than its fair share of big live outdoor music parties, each retaining its own certain style and identity.

In fact, many revellers believe the county's circuit has more of the traditional core values than some of the larger and more commercial festivals held in the fields of Somerset and beyond.

The Linton Music Festival, near Ross-on-Wye, will be the first to kick off next Friday when blues and rock bands fill the grounds of the Alma Inn.

Dave Finnegan's Commitments, 60s favourites The Manfreds and British R&B band Nine Below Zero are some of the highlights appearing.

Charities will again play an important part in the three-day event and organisers hope to raise a similar sum to the £4,000 that raised a cheer between seven groups a year ago.

Celebrations were also sparked all along the Welsh border when it was announced that Sheep Music was to return for three days from July 20.

The Presteigne festival had a break last summer but work has been under way for some time to ensure the 15th festival is the biggest and best yet.

Festival director Pete Smith said: "Top musicians from all over the world will appear alongside the home-grown musicians who keep the Welsh borders musically vibrant all year round.

"There are two stages for the plugged in bands, an ambient tent where you can chill out to some laid-back and funky sound systems, and an acoustic venue where you will hear the best of unplugged music and variety."

Variety will also be in abundance when rock, punk, indie, folk, blues and dance music are mixed together at the Nozstock Festival, in Bromyard, on July 13 and 14.

Many of the 3,000 people expected to descend on Rowden Paddocks will have the chance to see former Cast frontman John Power, drum n' bass powerhouse DJ Friction and Hereford hip-hoppers, The Anomalies.

Festival organiser Peter Nosworthy said Nozstock would also offer theatre, comedy, circus activity, tractor exhibits, poetry, storytelling and a cinetent to those who have paid the £28 entrance fee.

The Big Chill festival, in the grounds of Eastnor Castle Deer Park, costs a little bit more to enter but, once again, promises to be one of the highlights on the national festival circuit.

Jamaican rockers The Skatalites, Brazilian bass fan DJ Marky, London hip-hop maestro Ty and Barcelona's new age flamenquistas Ojos de Brujo are just some of the hundreds of artists performing from August 2 to 4.

And just over the Herefordshire border, a slightly smaller gathering will be taking place at the Chickenstock Arts Festival near Malvern.

But organiser Charles Vafiadis promises there will be just as much fun to be had when theatre, magic and live music come together next weekend.