Robbie Dale chases away the exam blues.

LAST weekend I joined a crowd of 12,000 in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens to enjoy a free homecoming gig from those masters of Indie pop, Belle And Sebastian.

The sun was shining, the beautiful people were bathing and copious amounts of picnic fare was ingested - ah, festival season is upon us.

Now, the big guns are yet to unleash their fury on the youth of Britain with their 'headliners' and fancy extras among their arsenal.

The likes of V, Leeds/Reading and Glastonbury are still gearing up their spectaculars to impress the ticket-buying public and make their event endure down the years.

Fret not, however, if money is tight and capacity has been met at your chosen weekend of debauchery for right here in York, this weekend indeed, is a little festival with a big name that may just be as much fun.

York RAG at York University do a lot of great things, but the best is Woodstock, an outdoor festival guaranteed to draw the exam-wearied masses away from their books for a day and back out into the sun. If you are cynical about the weather being fine, this event will be so good that even a large burning gaseous sphere will be coming along. Possibly.

Anyway, this year's festival is taking place today and tomorrow and will provide a little bit of everything for the hardcore all-day fan, to the connoisseur who prefers to dip in on occasion and check out the action.

Today will be a more relaxed affair with some drama, busking and general chilling in the day before an outdoor showing of The Italian Job in the evening which will give campus that 'drive-in' feel.

The Saturday however is a more upbeat affair with all manner of bands taking the stage to perform for the masses. It'll be big, it'll be good and, if the sun doesn't have a prior engagement, it should be the perfect way to enjoy the last weekend of the university year.

The bands playing are Scassa Monakee Synth Quartet, Bugalee, Seven Shades, Getaway Plan, Hidden Agenda, Skatesian and many more. Please note that this festival is for students only.

Updated: 15:36 Thursday, June 17, 2004