The event is supported by City of York Council and will be held on the Knavesmire on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July. The festival will offer something for everyone, with live acts playing sounds from the 60s, 70s and 80s, right through to the present day.

Headline acts include Bad Manners, The Animals and Friends and The Yards. International acid-jazz musician Bherman, will making his first appearance at York and will lead the entertainment in the marquee stage. Local talent also includes Dust Bowl Central, The Stanley's, Hardwired and AKp.

Organisers are also taking steps to ensure that the festival is fun for families, with three giant art panels on site for people to add their own mark to the weekend. Paints and marker pens will be on hand and festival goers will be able to paint, doodle, or simply write their names on the huge boards. The finished artwork will be exhibited at the Grand Opera House, York.

Liz Topi, events officer, City of York Council, said: "It's really quite unusual for a music festival to offer such a wide diversity of acts, with music from the 60s right through to today's cutting edge bands. The Knavesmire is a fantastic setting for a summer concert and we're hoping that festival goers will help us to create some fantastic art to exhibit. We'd particularly like children to get really involved because this is a festival for the whole family to enjoy."

The festival will also feature a market, food village, beer tent and overnight camping facilities. Tickets are available at the Barbican Centre or from the York Arts Forum website at www.yaf.org.uk.