EUROPE's biggest free music festival will be taking place on Tyneside this month.

Orange Wow (Window on the World) may attract more than 500,000 visitors to North Shields Fish Quay.

The festival is now in its 15th year and will take place over the three days of the bank holiday weekend.

It will present more than 150 hours of music and street theatre from around the world, as well as new UK musical talent, exhibitions and fringe events.

The festival boasts five stages with performers including The Levellers, Jimmy Bosch, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Lojo and Roy Bookbinder.

Meanwhile, the Monster Bus will throb with three days of urban dance, heavy house and big beat with local would-be DJs and professionals.

The Window on the World theme also extends to the food court where there will be a mix of international flavours. Stalls selling arts and crafts will line the quayside.

The event will also include Tyneside's biggest carnival, The Rhythms of the World Carnival Parade, with more than 1,000 musicians, dancers and performers.

It will set out from North Shields town centre at 10.30am on Saturday, May 26, symbolically bringing the world of music to the festival site for the official opening.

Festival marketing director John Sargent said: "With five stages, Orange Wow is bigger than it has ever been and that's saying something. The quality and range of the programme is stunning. It will be the party of the year."