THE serene grounds of Blenheim Palace have long been favoured by countryside lovers, who enjoy its landscaped rolling acres.

But this summer the peace will be shattered by a heady mix of rock music and adrenaline sport.

We can reveal that the World Heritage site, in Woodstock, has been chosen as a new site for Britain's most exciting summer festival - Wakestock.

The three-day party, named in honour of the iconic 1960s US hippie gathering Woodstock, will see some of the country's biggest bands playing to at least 10,000 people - many camping in the palace grounds.

And as its name suggests, it will also be a celebration of wakeboarding - a watersport similar to waterskiing, in which participants surf behind a boat.

Among acts already booked to play, during June 27-29, are The Streets, Oxford bands Supergrass and Young Knives, dance act Groove Armada, rockers Funeral for a Friend, and DJ Norman Jay.

Many more bands will be announced in the coming weeks.

The festival, which for the past eight years has also been held in Abersoch in North Wales, makes Oxfordshire one of the UK's biggest festival counties.

It already hosts Truck Festival, in Steventon; Fairport's Cropredy Convention, near Banbury; and Cornbury Music Festival, in Charlbury.

The festival's organisers have enlisted the Cowley-based promoters TCT Music, run by Alan Day and the former owner of Cowley Road's Zodiac club, Nick Moorbath.

The pair, who will host their own 7,000 person-capacity music marquee, have a wealth of experience.

For many years Mr Day was responsible for bringing scores of major acts to Steventon's Truck Festival, while Mr Moorbath, a talented musician in his own right, staged Oxford band Radiohead's historic homecoming show in the city's South Park.

Mr Day said: "We've never had anything like this before - it will be the biggest contemporary music festival in the county, and will be on the most beautiful site."

Wakestock Founder Mark Durston said: "We've built the festival in Abersoch to be a really cool mix of the world's best wakeboarders, bands & DJs, right at the forefront of the live music scene and with a lifestyle that is unrivalled by any other festival. Adding a venue as stunning as Blenheim Palace is an opportunity to relish."

Blenheim chief executive John Hoy said: "We are delighted to stage an event geared specifically for the younger audience who will attend."

  • Tickets go on sale on Friday. Weekend tickets are £85 and weekend with camping tickets are £110 (plus booking fee) from wegottickets.com

The bands booked so far:

The Streets

Groove Armada

Young Knives

Supergrass

Funeral for a Friend

Hadouken

Audio Bullys

Friendly Fires

Royworld

Metronomy

The Dykeenies

Jazzie B

Norman Jay

Brandon Block