Apple's jamboree of free gigs at the Roundhouse seems to get a little bigger every year. For 2013 the tech giant has pulled out all the stops (or, more likely, flashed even more cash) to secure a host of huge acts for the month-long event.
Taking place every night in September, the line-up includes living legends, big names from the worlds of rock and pop and — of course — up-and-coming acts of the moment.
Tickets to each gig are free and allocated via a ballot. In the festival's early days it was easy to get in, but nowadays your chances are limited, especially when it comes to the most popular acts.
That's no reason not to try, of course, but get your skates on for this year's event. Entry to each ballot closes about a week before the gig in question, so you've already missed out on the chance to see performers like Lady Gaga, Sigur Ros and Paramore.
You can, however, still pop your name in the pot to see sophisticated rockers Queens of the Stone Age, a fully-recovered Elton John, or Chic Featuring Nile Rogers, which surely has the potential to be the most feel-good evening of the month.
Other obvious options include Justin Timberlake, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal and Kings of Leon. However, you might find demand a little lower for some slightly less high profile — but equally entertaining — bands. Seminal rockers Pixies and intelligent French five-piece Phoenix are both tempting live prospects.
It's true that we have found some iTunes gigs to be a little lacklustre in the past. When tickets are decided by ballot, it's literally a lottery as to who'll be in the crowd.
But with such a stellar line up, it's hard to imagine many of these evenings falling flat. Besides, with gig tickets routinely topping £40, it's nice if you can get a freebie.
iTunes Festival runs from 1-30 September at the Roundhouse in Camden. You can apply for free tickets via the festival's website.
