Tickets are now on sale for the first ever Hoxne Music festival to be held over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May.“We are trying to provide something for everyone whatever their age, and catering for as many different musical tastes as possible” said chairman Stuart Jarrold.

Tickets are now on sale for the first ever Hoxne Music festival to be held over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May.

“We are trying to provide something for everyone whatever their age, and catering for as many different musical tastes as possible” said chairman Stuart Jarrold.

The festival runs from Friday, May 23 until Monday, May 26. For several months residents have been putting together a diverse programme of events to be staged at various local venues.

It begins with a family Ceilidh in the village hall on May 23 and continues with jazz, busking and an open microphone session on the village green during the day on Saturday, May 24.

Sixties soul star Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band top the bill, with a support band, on Bank Holiday Saturday evening.

Local young bands will be performing in an open air festival type atmosphere at the Hoxne playing fields during the day on Sunday May 25, before a classical concert in the Hoxne church on the Sunday evening. World famous Piers Adams will be accompanied by Howard Beach for a recorder rhapsody.

On Bank Holiday Monday, May 26 there will be musical workshops for children, concentrating on drumming and singing.

Other events are also scheduled to take place at the Swan public house in the centre of Hoxne including a samba band.

More details on all the performers and events can be found on a new website www.hoxnemusicfestival.com and tickets are available from Hoxne Post Office.

“Some of the events are entirely free of charge, but with top name performers like Geno Washington and Piers Adams we have had to make an admission charge to cover the costs” explained Mr Jarrold.

“However ticket prices have been kept to an absolute minimum because one of the main ideas behind the festival is to bring quality musicians to a rural area and save people the cost of travelling to places like Norwich or Ipswich to see them perform. Also we are hoping to make a surplus which we can distribute to various local village charities and organisations.”

Mr Philip Flagg, chairman of the Hoxne parish council said: “It promises to be a tremendous weekend for the village and we are all looking forward to it. The dedicated committee of volunteers have worked hard for many months and it deserves to be a huge success.”

Hoxne parish council, Mid Suffolk district council, Suffolk county council, Adnams brewery and M J & A J Easey are among several local businesses and organisations supporting the festival which it is hoped may become a regular event.

For any further information contact Stuart Jarrold on 01379 668317 or 07711 146351 or scoop.sj@tiscali.co.uk.