ESCOT Park was alive with the sound of music as two of the country's biggest pop acts performed major concerts over the weekend.

On Friday, soulful singer-songwriter James Morrison gave a picnic concert in the grounds of the Georgian stately home in Ottery St Mary.

And on Saturday the venue welcomed boyband JLS, who were top of the charts with their fourth single The Club is Alive.

Husky-voiced James pleased the crowd with a 90-minute set featuring all the ballads for which he is best known.

These included You Give Me Something, which saw him shoot to fame in 2006, Wonderful World, the duet Broken Strings, which he performed with one of his backing singers, and Please Don't Stop the Rain — but though the sky looked threatening the audience was lucky.

Julie Way, 41, a driving instructor from Exwick, Exeter, went to the concert with a friend after being given tickets by another friend who couldn't go.

"We took a picnic and sat up on the hill to watch it," she said. "We had a really nice evening." She had not seen James live before, but was a big enough fan to have his CD.

"I think he's really good, especially after seeing him live," she said. "My favourite part was when he did a Stevie Wonder song. He did it really well. He interacted with the audience a lot and came across as being really friendly."

James proved he was more than a "housewives' favourite" by performing some up-tempo songs which had men and women of all ages dancing in the moonlight.

Tim Heal, 41, a solicitor from Ottery St Mary who went to the concert with his wife Rachel and some friends, said: "You don't get many events two miles from your doorstep.

"It was a lovely evening and James did a nice long set. It was very relaxed and there was a nice atmosphere."

James was supported by Lauren Pritchard and Joshua Radin, who achieved chart success in April with the song I'd Rather Be With You and was well received by the crowd.

Supply teacher Katy Clemens said Joshua was "really good" and that both supporting acts were better than the one James had when she saw him perform at the University of Exeter.

The 25-year-old used to live in Exeter, but now lives in Penryn, Cornwall, from where she travelled to attend the concert with three other big fans. "I like the fact that James is originally from Cornwall, and also that he writes his own songs and plays his own guitar," she said. "I think that's important."

The concert on Saturday sold out — perhaps partly due to the strong line-up of support acts for JLS, the X Factor 2008 runners-up.

The event featured Diversity, the street dance group that won Britain's Got Talent last year; Diana Vickers, who was an X Factor semi-finalist in 2008; and the Scottish pop singer Alex Gardner.

But there was no doubt that the crowd was mad for Aston, Marvin, JB and Oritisé — collectively known as JLS, standing for Jack the Lad Swing.

The boyband, who were pipped to the X Factor crown by Alexandra Burke, have previously enjoyed number one singles with Beat Again and Everybody in Love, and One Shot had a stint inside the Top Ten.

Karen Gold, a finance manager from Clyst Heath, Exeter, went to the concert with her eight-year-old daughter Katie, a big fan whose favourite song is the band's most recent chart-topper, The Club is Alive.

Katie said: "JLS can sing really well and I like their songs. And I like Aston. I liked Diversity because they have got lots of skills."

Karen said the concert was excellent. "It was worth everything to see the girls' reaction when JLS came on," she said. "They were thrilled.

"It was a super venue and the weather held off, which was fantastic.

"The fact that Diversity were there was a huge bonus. They're fabulous. I enjoyed it. It was brilliant. It was nice to get some big names like that close to Exeter."

Student Daisy Foan, 20, from Bradninch, who was at the concert with two friends, also has a soft spot for Aston and Marvin.

She said: "I was quite far away and wish I'd been closer, but it was fun and really laid back.

"JLS got the audience going and their dancing was really good, and Diversity were also amazing."