The memory has never left me. It was 2005 and I was cruising the badlands of Wanstead, East London in my emasculating but fuel efficient entry level Ford Ka. I noticed that I felt a bit on edge, but I couldn’t quite figure out why. Then it hit me. The advert on the radio had been looping for at least 90 seconds now - “a ring ding ding ding ding ding, a ring ding ding ding bem bem bem.” But wait, I was tuned into Radio 1, where there are no adverts. So, if this debilitatingly painful sound was not an advert, then it surely must be… a song!

Alas, the Crazy Frog was number one and the UK Music Chart had hit rock bottom.

Having avoided commercial radio with great success since that day six years past, I was pleasantly surprised last week when I inadvertently tuned into a Radio One daytime chart show to be greeted by new Jamie Woon and Aloe Blacc tracks in fairly quick succession. In my absence, it turns out, the UK Music Chart had undergone some semblance of a makeover. Talented songstress Adele’s album ‘21’ had just finished its twelfth week in pole position, James Blake had transformed from underground sensation to international festival headliner, and not one frog (or even meerkat) clogged up the charts.

But how did these formerly low-key, credible musicians make the difficult transition into the commercial realm? The likely answer; a combination of increased accessibility of music to the public, alongside the guiding hands of some of radio’s most impactful ‘tastemakers’ such as Jo Wiley, Zane Lowe and Rob da Bank. Perhaps the most noteworthy of all the influential radio personalities is Gilles Peterson: a DJ who has been dubbed as the ‘new John Peel’ by many journalists and fans.

Syndicated to many radio stations worldwide, Peterson’s weekly show emphasizes ‘joining the dots’ between different types of music, in effect providing context to the wide selection of tracks his audience are treated to. Whether a cinematic Egyptian guitar ballad, a Coltrane inspired freeform jazz session, or the latest Jamie XX dancefloor killer, Peterson clearly delights in informing his listeners of the seemingly small but ultimately fulfilling sleeve notes that add such colour to the many standout tracks you’ll hear on his show.

And so, for anyone who is looking for a heartfelt, soulful and reasonably priced music experience this summer, look no further than Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival; located in the beautiful port town of Sete in the South of France. With a lineup that boasts some of the most talented rising stars in music, highlights include live performances from Raphael Saadiq, Ghost Poet, and Mount Kimbie.

For a little taster, check out the following videos, or just pay a visit to http://www.worldwidefestival.com/ for full details.