A wandering minstrel delighted guests at the launch party for this year's Salisbury Festival, held in the Banqueting Room at the Guildhall, on Tuesday.

Violinist Kai Chai from Godalming in Surrey was busking in the city to promote his string quartet and festival director, Trevor Davies, so impressed by his playing, invited him to play at the launch. As the invited guests assembled to hear Trevor Davies present his programme, they were greeted to the familiar sounds of Pachelbel's Canon. Perhaps, this is Trevor Davies's good omen for a successful 2004 Salisbury Festival.

This year's Festival will be the fourth and last for Trevor Davies and both the chairman, Carolyn Newbigging and Jane Stephens, on behalf of principal sponsors Friends Provident, paid tribute to him.

In presenting his programme, Trevor Davies expressed optimism that it "would be a contender as the best Salisbury Festival ever, of the 31 festivals to date."

Cathedral concerts, comedy, dance, jazz, world music, theatre, circus and sounds - an eclectic range of arts from around the world with something to suit all tastes is on offer this year.

Linking a number of events is the theme of earth including a Flamenco requiem composed by Paco Pea, returning to Salisbury Festival with his Flamenco Ensemble, Salisbury Festival Chorus, Salisbury Festival Children's Chorus and conducted by Howard Moody. This exciting event on two nights, May 22 and May 23 is in Salisbury Cathedral and for the sheer passion of flamenco, one not to be missed.

Outdoor film accompanied by soundtracks in four different venues celebrates the earth by showing films in 'natural' settings. Downton Moot, the top of the Old George Mall car park, Old Sarum and Salisbury Market Square are the venues with the film Microcosmos showing as a free event on the festival opening night on May 21.

Cathedral classics include concerts from the Hilliard Ensemble and Britten Sinfonia and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra who will perform a programme to include work by Smetana, Rodrigo and Holst's popular Planets Suite. International cellist, Natalie Clein will play Dvorak's cello concerto with the City of London Sinfonia and the Academy of Ancient Music perform an all Bach programme in Romsey Abbey.

Hugely popular at the 2002 Festival, the Brodsky Quartet returns with a programme of Dvorak, Gershwin, Barber and Javier Alvarez. Violinist Ken Aiso, pianist Angela Hewitt, and guitarist John Williams, are among the chamber music recitals.

Billed as classical adventures, The Gogmagogs bring their fusion of music, theatre and physical movement to Salisbury Playhouse with Gumbo Jumbo. St Petersburg based theatre company Derevo, a huge hit at the Edinburgh Festival, bring their visual theatre, Islands in the Stream, to Salisbury Playhouse.

Theatre, dance and circus feature with three French productions - Au Cul du Loup's environmental show Monsoon, the latest new circus sensation Le Jardin and a unique version of Wagner's Ring Cycle in 90 minutes by Les Grooms in a specially constructed indoor tent. Cult performer Benji Reid will perform his show 13 Mics and sensational tango from Subitango!, can be seen at Salisbury Playhouse.

You can delve into the world of Shakespeare with Forkbeard Fantasy's latest show, Shooting Shakespeare, using early film technology it makes a silent film of The Tempest.

South African singer Miriam Makeba will be backed by her six-piece band and backing group for one of only two UK concerts this year. Other sounds include singer-songwriter Richard Thompson with award winning folk singer Jim Moray and Sidi Goma with the Black Sufis of Gujarat, a 12-piece group of drummers, singers and dancers from Gujarat.

The Festival would not be the same without the Family Fireworks Fiesta. This year it is on the final Saturday headlined by Georgie Fame with Celtic musicians Blazin' Fiddles and salsa band Roberta Pla. Also in the Cathedral Close, on the Friday night of the final weekend, a special outdoor concert and one that is sure to sell out, is Willard White and the BBC Concert Orchestra with That's Entertainment.