YOU might not think it’s the time of the year for people to be thinking about outdoor music festivals.

But you’d be wrong as that’s exactly what’s happening at Wallingford Rugby Club with its organising team promising that Rugfest 2015 will not only be brilliant but also bigger and better than before.

And they have already signed up the hit band The Christians to headline at Wallingford’s Summer Music Festival on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, at Hithercroft Sports Park.

The soul-influenced group, who had a string of hits in the late 1980s and 1990s including Forgotten Town, Harvest For The World, Born Again, Ideal World and Hooverville, will be topping the bill on the Saturday night.

Other bands appearing at the seventh annual festival will include Land of the Giants and Will and the People.

Organiser Guy Hewitt said: “We are overjoyed to announce that none other than The Christians will be headlining Wallingford's Summer Music Festival.

“We are really excited and I am proud that the team have managed to secure such a coup. With their catalogue of hits, I think that this year’s festival is already irresistible.

“I also know some of the other names that are being lined up but cannot be announced yet and have to say that this year Rugfest is truly going to be the biggest, best and most brilliant Rugfest so far.”

Rugfest is not just for music fans either as it promises to be a truly family event — with children set to be spoilt for choice for fun next summer with all manner of activities from trampolines to Jan’s Blackboard Van, zorb balls to an arts and crafts tent.

And if that doesn’t wear them out, there’ll also be bouncy castles, bungee runs, blow-up boxing, face painting and a two-hour children’s disco.

With their little ones fully occupied, parents and others may want to quench their thirst with a freshly-made cocktail shaken up by experts from Wallingford’s Old Post Office or choose from Loddon Ales, Cotswold Lagers and chilled ciders from across the country also on offer. There will also be a range of hot food available from stalls throughout the Friday night and all day on Saturday.

Hewitt added: “This year’s Rugfest was the biggest and best event so far and I believe really lives up to its billing of Wallingford's Summer Music Festival.

“We as a club have been running the event for six years and Rugfest is now firmly established in the Wallingford music calendar alongside our friends at Blues and Beer and Bunkfest.

“It’s a lot of hard work for the team to put the event on but the reward of seeing the festival site crammed with people enjoying themselves is phenomenal.”

Tickets for the Friday night session are £10.50, a Saturday day pass is £15 and a weekend pass, £20. Under-16s when accompanied by an adult are free and on-site camping is available for £2.50 per person per night.

For more information, visit www.rugfest.co.uk