ENGLAND’S largest summer community music festival is set to return – and Cumbrian musicians and community groups are being urged to sign up.

Funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Our Big Gig will once again host hundreds of music events in communities across the country from July 11-13.

Grants and support are available for event organisers who wish to hold community events in their area.

Last summer, over 200,000 people attended 326 free Our Big Gig events which saw a wide variety of musical activities take place in a range of unusual spaces from schools to skate parks.

In Cumbria, performances took place at the Library Gardens in Windermere and the Harbourside Gazebo in Whitehaven.

Organised by music and arts organisation Superact, Our Big Gig has grown out of the Bandstand Marathon; a London 2012 festival event that helped close the Games with 9,000 people across Britain simultaneously performing Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’.

All successful applicants receive grant funding and event management training is provided.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: “It is fantastic that last year two of the events were held in Cumbria.

These events are a fantastic day and I hope more venues will bid to host an event this year too.”

To apply to host an Our Big Gig event visit www.ourbiggig.co.uk and fill out the online form which can be found here: http://www.superact.org.uk/ourbiggig/apply-now.