Wembley Park Live

Time was when the area around Wembley Stadium was a disheartening urban desert with little to recommend it apart from the international temple of football. But not any more. Over the past few years Wembley Park has undergone extensive redevelopment and become a colourful neighbourhood, a lively community hub with attractive streets, a permanent art trail, plenty of restaurants and shops, a theatre, children's play areas and bustling street life.

And this spring and summer, Wembley Park will add free music to its offer with a new programme called Wembley Park Live.

The programme aims to showcase emerging talent from across the city, but in particular from the adjacent boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Camden, and is supported by the Mayor of London and Busk in London. In May the BBC will host a special event, called BBC Introducing.

The various acts will perform on Wembley Park's newest stage, the Sound Shell (pictured top), designed by architects Flanagan Lawrence to echo Wembley Stadium's famous arch, and the stage is placed in front of the stadium whose lines it mirrors.

The Sound Shell offers ideal acoustic conditions for buskers and solo performers. Among the acts already confirmed are Charlotte Campbell, Beth McCarthy and Sam Walwyn. For details of participating performers and all relevant info click here.

Why not make a day of it, and sample some of Britain's up-and-coming musical talent, while enjoying a lazy summer day strolling in the streets of Wembley Park, maybe have a bite to eat and do a spot of shopping?