ICA to host free gigs during July

Mika came top of the BBC's Sound of 2007 poll

London's Institute of Contemporary Arts is to host free gigs every night in the month of July with acts including Mika, Mutya, Amy Winehouse and Stereophonics.

More than 60 acts, ranging from major stars to newcomers, will play intimate sets in the ICA's 350-seat theatre.

Other performers include Editors, Travis, Groove Armada, Ash and Athlete.

Tickets for the iTunes Festival will be offered via a lottery system, and every concert will be recorded and made available to buy on iTunes.

Crowded House will also be playing one of their first London gigs after more than a decade apart.

'Exciting, hottest acts'

The ICA has supported music acts for the past 60 years, including The Clash's debut gig when they were still unsigned in the '70s.

It has also hosted The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Pet Shop Boys, The Stone Roses, Sonic Youth, Franz Ferdinand, Suede and The Beastie Boys.

The institute's artistic director, Ekow Eshun, said: "Live music has always been at the heart of what the ICA does. We really wanted to mark that history during our 60th anniversary."

He added that the festival would present "31 days of free gigs from some of the most exciting, hottest acts around in Britain today".