Tickets are set to go on sale this week for the hotly-anticipated 2016 Southwold Arts Festival.

Rick Wakeman, the Blue Band and Lucy Worlsey are just some of those lined up for the 2016 event, with those behind the event saying: 'Every year the festival seems to get stronger and stronger.'

There will be performances every morning, lunchtime and evening during the festival dates of Saturday, June 25 to Saturday, July 2, with the High Street closed on the opening day for an afternoon of music and dance and a circus-themed parade.

Southwold brewer Adnams is sponsoring the event, with chief executive Andy Wood saying at the festival's launch: 'It is natural for Adnams to be supporting an arts festival in Southwold and being part of an event which the town can be proud of. Art is part of the glue that holds communities together

'The team has put together a great programme and every year the festival seems to get stronger and stronger.'

Chris Ure, former deputy director of Southwold Arts Festival said: 'This year they have combined dance, photography and other performance arts in a rich mix. I know how much time is spent in the organising process and I commend them for their work.

'The idea for the festival started over a pint in the Blyth Hotel in Southwold between Simon Tobin, Graham Denny, Sarah Green and myself; it grew and grew. The festival goes to show that from a small idea anything can happen.'

Lin Le Versha, director of the arts festival, said: 'We have a full festival of over 30 performances that will appeal to the full range of ages and tastes.

'These events happen because of the hard work of the Southwold Arts Festival Committee they work behind the scenes from the first of September to the end of the festival, making sure we have a strong programme of performers.'

Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, March 1, although members of the newly-created Friends of Southwold Arts Festival have been able to get tickets earlier.

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