Northern summer

Enues in sublime settings for revellers with some cash to spare

quarry turned music venue is another great example of the elements delivering a natural stage.

Thanks to a meteorite strike that left the region rich in limestone and 50 years of excavation, a perfectly shaped acoustic bowl emerged. Now crowds descend into the 55m-deep, 400m-long hole for the ultimate in surround sound experiences.

The dramatic layers of rock that rise above just add to the visual effect. Patti Smith adds her music to the mix this summer as well. Kootenay Lake, Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada Here’s a venue you won’t find every day. In fact, it only exists for a threeday music festival held each August.

The stage for the Kaslo Jazz Festival floats just off the beach on a serene lakefront, with deep blue water, bobbing boats and even some distant hilltops as a backdrop. With attendees lounging in beach chairs or swimming around the stage, the whole event has a casual summertime feel. However, when the musicians take to the floating stage, the energy spikes and the crowd dives into the music as well.

With performances from the likes of Tiempo Libre and Dave Brubeck, the festival offers a great combination of setting and sound. Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia This outdoor museum is a living exhibition of the many tribes and cultures of Malaysia.

Visitors can explore the homes and lifestyles of various native populations in this ethnically diverse region and are treated to daily dance and music performances. Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens, Greece Initially built between 160 and 174 AD by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, this amphitheatre on the southern slope of the Acropolis is a storied as well as scenic venue.

Extensively restored in the middle of the 20th century, the Herodeon is a centrepiece of the annual Athens Festival, a summer-long programme of arts and entertainment dating back to 1955.

In addition to classical, jazz and folk performers for the Athens Festival including, this year, the Greek National Opera as well as Haris Alexiou, the reborn ruin has been centre stage for a number of historic music moments.

Elton John, Sting, Yanni and Andrea Boccelli have all performed major events here. Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, NY, US A landmark for Long Island and the greater New York area, this waterfront amphitheatre once had a true standout stage.

It was on an island, with a moat separating the audience from the performers. A boat had to deliver the stars of the show to perform. The moat has since been filled in, but the feeling of seeing a show with the waves lapping at your feet remains.

Expect to take in Maroon 5, Bob Dylan, The Black Crows and Lil’ Wayne along with the view this summer.

Ushuaïa Beach Hotel, Ibiza A renowned party spot, Ibiza is a mix of blue waters, stunning sunsets, big rock faces, large yachts and scantily clad tourists.

In the midst of this scene lies Ushuaïa Beach Hotel.

Steps from the beach, the hotel features a stage that, from early afternoon, pulses with electronic music.

A mix of local artists and DJs keeps the party going all summer and the hi-tech light show often keeps going until the rising sun takes over. – Reuters

CAST ADRIFT: Jazz lovers can watch worldrenowned musicians perform on a floating stage at the Kalso Jazz Festival on Kootenay Lake in Canada.

oncert attended by thousands of people.