World class musicians will converge on the seaside town of Deal for more than two weeks of artistic celebrations.

The festival, now in its 35th year, features varied events at a range of settings from live music to art and sound installations.

The opening weekend includes jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine with pianist Zoe Rahman, playing the Ballad Book, while there will also be a return appearance by the popular Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. Ronnie Scott’s Big Band will recreate two iconic jazz albums, The Atomic Mr Basie and Ellington at Newport, in a sell-out night on Friday, July 7.

World famous opera singer Dame Sarah Connolly brings works by Schumann, Mahler, and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, himself a former president of the festival.

The 17 days of the festival also include contemporary dance and music at the Turner Contemporary in Margate, an open air performance of Hamlet at Dover Castle which will be interpreted for the deaf, and the Academy of Ancient Music and choristers of Canterbury Cathedral. Many of this year’s shows also include free pre-concert talks.

FIRST WEEK HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, June 30

After festival president Alison Balsom, who married Skyfall director Sam Mendes earlier this year, was forced to pull out as she is expecting a baby, rising star French trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin-Vary will open this year’s event on Friday, June 30, at 7.30pm at St George’s Church, Deal.

Saturday, July 1

Natasha Greenham and Lord Gawain Douglas together with Singing for Pleasure will perform at St Saviour’s Church, The Strand, Walmer at 11am.

Deal photographer Harold Chapman will mark his 90th birthday at the Linden Hall Studio in St George’s Road, Deal, at 6.30pm, where an exhibition of his work – Not Only the Beat Hotel – is running.

Saxophonist Courtney Pine will present an intimate evening of jazz accompanied by fellow Mercury nominee and MOBO Award winning pianist Zoe Rahman at 7.30pm in St George’s Church, Deal

Sunday, July 2

The festival Mass, led by the Rev Peter Russell, will be held at St Andrew’s Church, Deal at 10am.

The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain will bring their fast and furious popular playing to St George’s Church, Deal, at 7pm.

Monday, July 3

Marking 300 years since the birth of the Georgian scholar and “blue stocking” Mrs Elizabeth Carter, the daughter of the cantankerous Dr Nicholas Carter, Perpetual Curate of St George’s Church in Deal, a play, Parson Carter’s Daughter, written by local author Gregory Holyoake, will be staged at St Andrew’s Church, Deal, at 7.45pm, with the show starting at 8.15pm.

Tuesday, July 4

In collaboration with the Bay Trust, a show bringing art and music together with Robert Jarvis’ sound installation will take inspiration from the apparent rotation of stars around the Celestial North Pole at The Pines Calyx in St Margaret’s Bay from 7pm.

Wednesday, July 5

Harpist Alex Rider presents a programme of works from the 17th century through to the 20th century, including music by Purcell and Benjamin Britten, at 1pm at St Andrew’s Church, Deal.

DETAILS

This year’s Deal Festival runs from Friday, June 30 until Sunday, July 16. To book, call the box office at the Astor Theatre on 01304 370220. Brochures are available at Visitors Information and local shops and for postal bookings call 01227 786111. Full details are at dealfestival.co.uk