WITH the line-up of this year's Roman River Music Festival already creating quite a stir, why not whet your classical appetite with the festival's very first Summer Festival.

It's due to take place over the weekend of July 8 to 10 and with three of the four venues close by to rivers, the event looks set to have a very cool watery theme.

The festival starts off on the Friday, July 8, with the popular return of stunning New York-based violinist Elena Urioste, who wowed audiences at last year's event.

She will be joined by pianist Tom Poster, violist Tim Ridout and Roman River artistic director Orlando Jopling at St Mary and St Michael's Church in Mistley for a programme that will include Schumann and Fauré pieces.

Then on the Saturday Tim Ridout, who also appeared at last year's main festival but as part of the Celan quartet, performs a solo concert of works by the likes Telemann and Bach at St Mary’s Old Church, West Bergholt, while at St Mary the Virgin, Wivenhoe, oboeist Daniel Bates will be leading the way in a concert that shows off the versatility and colours of the wind ensemble.

As well as Daniel, also appearing in the ensemble concert will be Juliette Bausor on flute, Katherine Spencer on clarinet, Stuart King on bass clarinet, Peter Whelan on bassoon and Pip Eastop on horn.

Finally on the Sunday there will be two concerts both on Mersea Island.

First up at 11am in the Mersea Centre, High Street, West Mersea, will be a real family treat in Billy’s Band.

They are led by Dan Newell, trumpeter with the LSO and author of the acclaimed Billy’s Band books and as part of the morning concert children will be taken on

a musical adventure with lots of singing, dancing and even a spot of conducting for anyone who wants to have a go.

Then from 4pm in the pretty St Edmund's Church in East Mersea, winners of the Oxford Lieder Young Artists competition, baritone Nick Mogg and Jâms Coleman on piano, will be performing an impressive range of repertoire and musical styles for their Roman River début.

That includes Schubert's Ganymede, Britten's The Foggy, Foggy Dew, and Quilter's Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind.

Orlando says: "This should be a magical weekend of inspiring music, food and drink in lovely venues hidden along North Essex estuaries.

"Take a stroll by the sea, visit a country pub and then lose yourself in sublime performances from world-renowned artists in these very special places.

"This weekend is perfect for those dipping their toes into classical music for the first time, as well as for experts and music-lovers."

To book tickets go on-line at www.romanrivermusic.org.uk. For enquiries only e-mail info@romanrivermusic.org.uk or call 07759 934860.