CORSHAM Festival 2003 promises a very diverse range of musical performances, from first class artists.

The festival runs from June 21 to 28, and the new programme boasts prestigious acts, including the multi -media show from Ensemble X Jordan Town named recently as pick of the week by the Guardian at its London premiere.

The piano and voice performance, with dance and film visuals, and music will take place in Corsham Town Hall on June 21 at 7.30pm.

"Many of this year's headline acts see an exploration of new media in the arts," said festival director Nicholas Keyworth.

"Wai brings 100 per cent modern Maori music to Corsham with organic, natural beats and rhythms complemented by contemporary jungle, funk, reggae and deep house grooves.

"Luke Daniel's Lost Music Of The Gaels is an extraordinary triple screen performance telling the tale of 300 years of lost music."

Two young music ensembles will perform at the festival this year.

The all-female chamber ensemble the Orchard Trio will bring a mixed programme of music to a Sunday morning coffee concert.

The trio, established ten years ago, features a flautist, pianist and oboe player.

They will play at the Pound Arts Centre at 11am on June 22.

Kokoro, the contemporary music ensemble of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, will perform work by Britten, Bartok, Varese and Adams at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon on the same day at 7.30pm.

Monster Music, will give a family concert in the town hall at 7.30pm on June 25.

Musicians Karen Lane and Karen Street will team up for an evening of jazz and contemporary music on June 27 at 8.30pm.

Karen Street, a former member of the all-girl saxophone quartet the Fairer Sax, is a musician and composer of international stature and her trio will perform compositions ranging in style from contemporary jazz to folk and tango.

Karen Lane is set for jazz stardom after her debut album Once in A Lifetime won critical acclaim throughout Europe.

The festival will culminate in a performance by the New London Chamber Ensemble on June 28 at 7.30pm.

A series of lunchtime events returns this year, with a mix of talks and recitals.

Guests include pianist Raphael Luszczewski, cellist Juliet McCarthy, pianist John Barker, Graham Tomlinson who will talk about tennis, and author Nicholas McCamley, who will talk about the history of the town's underground.

The programme also includes an exhibition in Corsham Court Gallery, a display of Corsham past and present at Corsham Library, and a screening of the 1928 silent film A Girl In Every Port, accompanied by improvised music performed by pianist James Harpham.

Full details of the festival programme are available from the Corsham Festival office, at the Pound Arts Centre in Pound Pill.

Alternatively, you can contact the box office by telephone on (01249) 701628 or visit the website www.corshamfestival.co.uk