A FESTIVAL is continuing to maintain its reputation for diverse and varied music by hosting a wide programme of world and folk concerts.

Kicking off the folk music side of the Harwich Festival will be traditional folk-dance group The Hosepipe Band, at The Redoubt Fort on Friday June, 23.

In the interval, acclaimed poet, and songwriter, Martin Newell will perform one of his new poems accompanied by original music composed by members of The Hosepipe Band.

On Tuesday, June 27, folk music duo Graham Vincent and David Mitchell will appear at the Hanover Inn, in Church Street, Harwich, to play a combination of traditional tunes alongside song from around the British Isles. The pair first met playing in a ceilidh band and with a shared music taste, they have been playing gigs ever since 2012.

On Thursday, June 29, the Hanover Inn is also hosting multi-award winning folk group Ninebarrow who have impressed audiences up and down the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk traditions.

Jon Whitely and Jay La Bouchardiere combine breath taking vocal harmonies and melodies delivering songs that are inspired by the history of the British Isles.

World music also starts on Thursday where there will be a concert of Classical Indian Music at the Salvation Army Citadel, in George Street, with ARC Music releasing The Best of Baluji Shrivastav with an eclectic range work.

Later in the afternoon Samia Malik will be performing her newest musical project drawing on her multiple heritages called Azaadi:Freedom at the Electric Palace.

The concert is also part of a tour which focuses on his mastery of North Indian Classical Music.

Peter Davis, Harwich Festival artistic director, said: “One of the greatest instrumentalists to come from India, Baluji Shrivastav is a blind musician who excels in playing the sitar, dilruba and tabla and is accompanied by Sukhdeep Singh on tabla. Sitarist to the Stars’ Baluji has played with Stevie Wonder, Massive Attack, Annie Lennox, Shakira, Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay and Madness.”

The folk strand of the festival finishes on Saturday, July 1, back in the Salvation Army Citadel where singer-songwriter Lucy Ward will be making a welcome return.

Peter said: “Lucy is a lyrical powerhouse, her beautiful words are laced with majestic imagery and meaning.

“Her songs are always thought provoking and delivered with a passion and sincerity that, married to her amazing, attention grabbing, stage presence, makes her one of the most exciting and compelling acts on the music scene.”

For more information and tickets, visit www.harwichfestival.co.uk.