BEWDLEY’S annual arts festival will kick-off tomorrow with the official opening followed by a sell-out concert from Midge Ure on his 61st birthday.

The opening ceremony will be carried out by arts correspondent of BBC Midlands Today, Satnam Rana at the Mercure Hotel Kidderminster, in Habberley Road.

Organisers say the festival aims to “bring the best to Bewdley and the best out of Bewdley” while over the next nine days, welcoming an eclectic mix of international and national stars as well as regional and local talent.

The fastest selling tickets of the festival were for Midge Ure’s gig, Max Keen’s history lecture with a difference, TV star Judy Cornwell and Lesley Smith’s portrayal of Anne Boleyn, which are all sold out, as are Severn Valley Railway’s special family rail tickets.

There are still a few seats remaining for jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine, and Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri’s Acoustic Journey.

The festival features acts of all genres, with fans of Joan Bakewell being invited to spend an evening in her company, mountaineers have Doug Scott’s talk to look forward to and there are laughs from Jo Enright, who is back on TV in the latest series of ITV’s The Job Lot.

There is also comedy from stand-up Hal Cruttenden and fun, words and music from Ian McMillan and Luke Carver Goss.

New this year is Classical Sunday which features a piano recital by Russian born Andrei Gavrilov and Baroque music from the Chamber Ensemble of The King’s Consort.

Other events include Me, Myself and Miss Gibbs, investigating an intriguing warning on a 1910 postcard, The Odyssey of Tommy Atkins commemorating the First World War, The Night Watch performing Shakespeare’s Songs from the Shows, a talk on the opulence of Georgian Dining and author and politician Chris Mullin’s Appreciation of Tony Benn.

Visitors can party the night away during Party Night which includes music of the sixties with The Overtures, DJ Chris Martin and cabaret from local Dance Collective, Belly Fusion.

The festival will close with its traditional church service, but an art exhibition at Bewdley Museum, featuring Keith Noble’s Journey in Light, Mood and Atmosphere, continues until November 9.

Tickets are on sale from WorcesterLive by calling 01905 611427 or Bewdley Tourist Information Office.

For more information on any of the acts or for a full event schedule visit bewdleyfestival.org.uk

To see a photo gallery of the acts appearing this year, click here.