After the last few years of Abba tribute acts and average revue shows, Kew Gardens’ rebranded summer music festival is upping the ante for summer 2011.

The newly named, Kew the Music Festival, will take over the Royal Botanic Gardens from July 6 to 11, and highlights include a solo performance from Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry and a gig from punk legends Blondie. Other acts slated to appear are pop-rockers The Feeling and jazz star Jamie Cullum.

On July 9 the suave as they come Ferry will be performing tracks from his latest solo album, Olympia, alongside a number of hits drawn from Roxy Music’s magnificent back catalogue. Support on the night will be provided by Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Debbie Harry and Blondie will bring Kew the Music to a riotous end on July 11 so expect to hear Atomic, Call Me, Heart of Glass and many more of the band’s classic tracks.

The other important dates for your diary are July 6, when The Feeling and The Noisettes will take to the stage, and July 8, the night when Jamie Cullum will be the star attraction.

Of course, no outdoor summer music festival would be complete without an appearance from Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and the former Squeeze ivory tinkler will be providing a cracking night’s entertainment on July 7.

Fans of Cuban-style jazz are also in for a treat as the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, a group that combines members of the original Buena Vista Social Club with a new generation Cuban musicians, will be getting the crowd dancing on July 10.

Tickets for all shows are avaiable now and be booked by visiting the Kew the Music website at kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/outdoor-concerts/. Keep an eye on RT2 in the coming weeks for interviews with Kew The Music performers and for a fantastic ticket competition.