The line up of young bands who will be appearing at the Hoxne Music Festival at the end of May has now been finalised, and includes recording artistes and a group making its first public appearance.

The line up of young bands who will be appearing at the Hoxne Music Festival at the end of May has now been finalised, and includes recording artistes and a group making its first public appearance.

“There is a huge amount of young musical talent locally in North Suffolk and South Norfolk and this is a really good opportunity for them to showcase what they can do” said Craig Hill, who is organising the event at the village playing fields.

Mid Suffolk council, Suffolk county council, Hoxne parish council, Adnams Brewery and M J & J A Easey are among those supporting the May Bank holiday Hoxne festival to enable some events to be staged free of charge.

All The Answers from Hoxne will be making their first live appearance to start off the programme, followed by a ska influenced Hoxne band Blue Marsupials.

A rapping duo from Framlingham and Hoxne make up $treet$oulJaz as the third band on stage, with folk influenced rock band Tamal, also from Hoxne, following.

Making the short trip from Harleston will be The Oppenheimers, a lively 90s influenced indie/rock band who are about to embark on a nationwide tour in support of their debut single on the Norwich based label, All Sorted Records.

Band number five will be the more experienced Bear from Bungay who have been on the local circuit for several years. The finale performers will be Vanilla Kick, who are based in Eye. They were formed just over three years ago, have already produced three ep's and have more recordings planned in the near future.

The Hoxne Music Festival opens with a family ceilidh on Friday evening, May 23, followed by music on the village green during the afternoon of Saturday, May 24 including a 16 piece big band, and buskers as well other other young performers.

Top of the bill on Saturday night is sixties soul star Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band, supported by Denny Newman and the Regulars. Denny has written songs for and performed with the Manfred Mann band and released three of his own CD's.

There is a classical performance on Sunday evening May 25 in the Hoxne village church of St Peter and St Paul. World famous Piers Adams will be playing a Recorder Rhapsody, accompanied by Howard Beach on harpsichord.

On Monday May 26 there will be children's musical workshops, with Zimbabwian singer/songwriter/composer and musician Chartwell Dutiro, West African drumming with John Sutton and vocal sessions with Janet Koralambe. Morning sessions will be for 6 to 10 years olds and afternoon sessions for 11 to 16 year olds.

Tickets for the three events for which there is a charge - the Ceilidh, (£10) , Geno Washington and Denny Newman (£15) and Piers Adams and Howard Beach (£10) are available from the Hoxne Post Office. More information on all the performers and events can be found on a specially dedicated website www.hoxnemusicfestival.com.

Ticket information is also available at this email address: scoop.sj@tiscali.co.uk