Channel 4 plans cricket concerts

Channel 4 will be hoping for better weather at Lord's

Channel 4 is holding a series of concerts at English cricket grounds to promote the visit of the West Indies team - starting with Jools Holland playing at Lord's.

The show, which also features the band Third World, will take place on the pitch while the teams break for lunch on 29 June, the first day of the second test.

Further shows will take place at Old Trafford in Manchester, Headingley in Leeds and The Oval in London later in the test series.

Acts performing include drum 'n' bass performer LTJ Bukem, Jamaican reggae artist Beenie Man and brass band The Black Dyke Band.

Jools Holland will be performing at the first show

The channel's cricket presenter Mark Nicholas said: "This finally does mean pop at Lord's. The MCC have allowed something more adventurous than the egg and bacon tie."

Channel 4's director of strategy, David Brook, said: "Third World will be playing live right on the pitch, not tucked away behind the stands. We think that sort of thing will bring new colour to the game."

As part of the station's Caribbean Summer promotion, it is also erecting giant screens in public parks so fans can watch the games for free, alongside swimming pools and sandpits to recreate island life.

One will be at Roundhay Park in Leeds during the Headingley test - from 17-20 August - and talks are going on to erect one at Clapham Common, south London to coincide with the action at the nearby Oval from 31 August.

Sir Viv Richards is joining Channel 4's cricket team

Special programming will range from a Barbados version of dating show Street Mate and a special edition of The Richard Blackwood Show to a tribute concert for Bob Marley.

Darcus Howe will also front an investigation into nationalism and independence in the Caribbean islands in Trouble In Paradise.

On the cricket coverage itself, West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards will be joining Mark Richards' presentation team.

Since it first started showing test matches last year, Channel 4 has picked up a series of awards for its coverage, which is intended to widen the game's appeal to younger audiences.

Brook said: "When Channel 4 first acquired the cricket we planned to bring a fresh approach to the game and to bring new audiences in."

"The traditional fan wants to see the game regenerated," he added.

Last year the music chosen for Channel 4's coverage, Mambo No 5 by Lou Bega, reached number one in the UK singles charts.