An eclectic mix of events have been planned for an exciting arts festival which starts next week.

The 14th Halesworth Arts Festival kicks off next Saturday, October 10 with Jewish music group Shir.

Performing at 7.30pm, the band will be appearing due to popular demand.

Festival director Matthew Wetmore said: “So many people have asked us to have some Klezmer music that we’re opening this year with Shir, one of the top bands playing this music in the country.

“Then the following night we’ve got Echoes of Ellington big band – a 19 piece orchestra playing the timeless music of the Duke.”

The Echoes Of Ellington was first formed in 1994 to celebrate the Duke’s music, and to bring it by live performance to a modern audience.

Today, the orchestra is in its finest incarnation yet and audiences are in for a big band journey like no other.

“We’re really excited about this year’s line-up,” said Mr Wetmore.

“It’s a great mix of folk, classical and jazz music, with some dance, theatre, poetry and books in the mix.

“Once again, we have evenings in partnership with the World Land Trust, The Poetry Trust, U3A, the Waveney Bird Club and even our local belly-dancing group.”

The shows will kick off 22 evening and daytime performances over the festival fortnight, which will also include cello octect Cellophony and an evening of Middle Eastern Dance with Zahara Belly Dance and Mirage. Most events are held at The Cut arts centre in New Cut, Halesworth.

The patrons of this year’s festival are Bernard Hill, Maggi Hambling, Diana Quick, Kenneth Sillito and Julia Blackburn.

Full details are online at halesworthartsfestival.org.uk or call the festival box office on 01986 874 264.