Bands ready to shine for nine-day Sunfest

Music from around the world comes to Bognor Regis this month.

The town's second Sunfest music and arts event highlights global sounds as well as some of the best of the British.

Jazz great Humphrey Lyttelton, joined by vocalist Tina May, will appear at the nine-day aural feast along with the Warsaw Village Band, US singer Ruthie Foster and Lithuanian heavy rock band Mountainside.

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Others to appear include country music band Capricorn, Bognor Regis Handbell Ringers, Hendrix tribute band The Hamsters and Bognor Regis Concert Band.

All this, and Rox will start the occasion with two days of seafront music and arts on July 21 and 22 on a return to The Esplanade.

By the time of the festival's closing event, at 8pm on July 29, when Lauren Holliday and Friends perform at The Railway pub in London Road everyone's musical tastes should have been satisfied.

Bognor town mayor Cllr Don Eldridge said: 'Our aim in establishing the festival is to try and have a range of musical styles in venues throughout the town, giving residents and visitors a chance to sample something completely different, as well as enjoying their favourite types of music.

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'From cream teas and church choirs, to the music of ZZ Top and Hendrix, Sunfest offers a diverse musical programme.'

More than 30 different events pack the timetable. Hotham Arts Centre will be the main venue.

Acclaimed American blues gospel singer Ruthie Foster (July 23), Mountainside (July 25), top British blues band The Hamsters (July 26), the BBC Radio 3 world music award winners Warsaw Village Band (July 27), jazz giant Humphrey Lyttelton (July 28) and Capricorn (July 29) will be appearing there.

Audiences can also wander Down Memory Lane (July 22) there and hear the unique sound of the handbell ringers on July 27.

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There is also a good scattering of events for all ages throughout the town centre. The town centre library will be used for The Big Wild Read and various concerts will take place at the Regis School of Music and Bognor Regis Music Club.

A number of free events will be held on the seafront and Hotham Park bandstands, The Railway pub, St Mary Magdalene Church hall and the Royal Norfolk Hotel.

Local performers include Bognor Regis Concert Band, Sussex Folk Orchestra, West Sussex Guitar Club, Carla Hendricks and the Ken Morgon Quintet, the Salvation Army band and two pom-pom troupes.

The photographic collection '“ From New Orleans to Bognor Regis '“ of former Middleton resident and jaz critic Max Jones will be on show at the Hotham Arts Centre to celebrate the performance of his friend, Humphrey Lyttelton. Sunfest is organised by Bognor Regis Town Council in partnership with organisations such as Rox and Roots Around the World.

The website '“ www.sunfest.org,uk '“ has the full festival programme.