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By Kevin Young
Entertainment reporter, BBC News
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Big-name acts such as The Police, Take That, George Michael and Girls Aloud are touring the UK this year.
But with concerts often selling out in a matter of minutes, how easy is it to get hold of tickets for some of the musical highlights of 2007?
TICKETS LIKE GOLD DUST
It appears too late to buy Take That tickets through official outlets.
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Take That have this week's number one single with Shine
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Tickets for the reformed group's national tour in November and December sold out in three hours last Friday, crashing the website of agency Ticketmaster.
Pairs are already being auctioned for £1,000 and above on eBay.
Genesis are playing live for the first time in 15 years, but it is hard to find spares for either their London or Manchester shows in July.
Duran Duran, Sir Elton John and Bryan Ferry are lined up to perform at the Concert for Diana almost 10 years after the death of the Princess of Wales.
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The 100,000 tickets for Genesis' UK gigs sold in 90 minutes
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Tickets to the event, on 1 July at London's Wembley Stadium, are sold out "for now" - but more may be released.
There are some tickets left for Bob Dylan's six-date national tour, but not for fans who want to see the guitarist in London, where gigs are sold out.
Muse play Wembley Stadium on two nights in June, with some room at the second gig - but not the first.
GET THE CREDIT CARD READY
Certain landmark gigs have yet to go on sale, with the first tickets for The Police's four UK dates available from Friday.
The reunited band, one of the biggest of the late 1970s and early '80s, play London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff in September and October.
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The Police drifted apart after releasing Synchronicity in 1983
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George Michael will perform at five football grounds in June, including the opening concert at London's rebuilt Wembley Stadium on 9 June.
He also goes to Glasgow, Manchester, Norwich and Plymouth. Fan club members can already apply for tickets through the singer's website, but they will only be available to the wider public from Thursday.
Eight Live Earth gigs - "the concert for a climate in crisis" - are due to be held in separate countries on 7 July, having been announced by ex-US Vice-President Al Gore last month.
More than 100 acts have agreed to play, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi, Keane and Snow Patrol. But full details have yet to be confirmed and no tickets have been released.
SOME AVAILABILITY
A number of tours have availability on some of the dates.
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Rod Stewart tours the UK after a four-month North American tour
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This is the case for Justin Timberlake, who plays in the UK in April, May and July.
Tickets remain for some of the eight dates by guitarist-turned-photographer Bryan Adams this summer, while Rod Stewart's tour of six outdoor arenas in June and July also has spaces.
The stars of ITV1's The X Factor are halfway through their run of gigs, but it is still possible to get into many of their remaining nights.
Places are available for about half of Girls Aloud's UK dates in May, and it is a similar story for Westlife, who start their concerts on Monday in Nottingham.
EASIER ALTERNATIVES
If you're having trouble getting tickets for the most in-demand acts, there are still a number of big tours with more space available.
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Last month Beyonce won best R&B album at the Grammys
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The Sugababes have yet to sell out most of their greatest hits gigs in March and April, while Lionel Richie, Simply Red and Michael Bolton are also hitting the road in the coming months.
And fans who missed out on Take That tickets could relive the 1980s and '90s through Marti Pellow and the reunited Wet Wet Wet or Jason Donovan. Both tour later in the year.
Other big names with tickets easily available also include Beyonce in June and The Who in May and June.
All information was correct at time of going to press but is subject to change.
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