ONE of the biggest names in pop music has been signed up to play a music and watersport festival at Blenheim Palace this summer.

Mark Ronson, whose groundbreaking collaborations with artists such as Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and Robbie Williams have earned him three Grammy awards and a Brit Award for Best Male Artist, will headline June's Wakestock festival, the Oxford Mail can exclusively reveal.

The artist, who had a top ten album with Version, will join a growing line-up of top-name acts already booked for the three-day party, which takes place in the grounds of the World Heritage site, in Woodstock.

advertisement Already confirmed are Oxford bands Supergrass and Young Knives, and dance act Groove Armada.

Other new additions to the bill are The Futureheads, Calvin Harris, Pendulum, Lightspeed Champion, Trophy Twins, and Part Time Heroes. Ronson is famous for his live shows which include spectacular special guest appearances.

He has recently performed alongside Amy Winehouse and Tim Burgess of The Charlatans, and his appearance at Wakestock will attract dance and pop music lovers, hopeful of catching special appearances from artists he has worked with - who also include Paul Smith of Maximo Park, and Leicestershire dance-rockers Kasabian.

The festival will attract at least 10,000 people to Wakestock - many camping in the palace grounds.

It will also showcase the sport of wakeboarding - an activity similar to waterskiing, in which participants surf behind a boat.

Cowley-based TCT Music, run by promoter Alan Day and the former owner of Cowley Road's Zodiac club, Nick Moorbath, are helping promote the event.

Mr Day said: "Mark Ronson is the hottest name in pop music this year, and is a great addition to an already amazing bill.

"He will be joining many acts we have recently promoted in Oxford and a selection of the county's finest new bands."

Chief executive of Blenheim Palace, John Hoy, said the palace would provide the ideal backdrop for a music and sport festival.

He said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to add this exciting event to our calendar and to stage a festival geared specifically for the younger audience who will attend."

Tickets for the festival, which runs from June 27-29, are £40 for the day; £85 for the weekend; or £110 for combined weekend and camping passes. For tickets, visit wegottickets.com