A CELEBRATION of local music and local music makers is due to be held in Tavistock this month — part of a determined fundraising campaign to raise much-needed funds for the town's annual music and arts festival.

The event, at The Wharf on Sunday January 18, will showcase the breadth and wealth of musical talent in West Devon.

The first part of the 'café style' music event will consist of local musicians performing traditional music which has South West origins or references, for example, mining, seafaring and local heroes. After an interval, there will be performances of locally commissioned and written new work by local musicians.

Event organiser Stephen Wallace said: 'We are still looking for local writers and performers who would like to present their work at this event.

'We hope we will continue to get interest from older players who may never have had their music performed publicly, and younger players who will gain the invaluable experience of working in the wonderful Wharf venue.'

Anyone interested in performing or contributing to the evening in any way should call Dr Stephen Wallace on [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01822 832843. Tickets are available from The Wharf price £5.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the organisation of Tavistock Music and Arts Festival 2009.

Festival chairman Christopher Kirwin, said: 'Funds are urgently needed to pay for the printing of the festival brochure and for marketing the series of events. Without marketing, the box office revenue required to pay for the festival will not be achieved,' he said.

The festival friends support group has held small fundraising events already, including 'starvation lunches', the last one of which raised £325.

January's events start with a series of music workshops at the Wharf on January 7, in association with Joined Up Thinking Projects (JUTP), to provide a musically enriching day for young people in the area.

Mr Kirwin said: 'The morning session will explore all aspects of string playing, while the afternoon will be spent preparing for the concert in the evening. In this, participants of the workshops will join members of South West Camarata and the JUTP team in a concert of vocal and chamber music.'

During the afternoon there will also be a vocal workshop for young people who wish to be in the chorus of pirates and policemen for the performance of 'The Pirates of Penzance' during the festival.

Music teachers or young people wishing to know more should call Fiona McLean on 01626 889566 or 07773 423855 or email [email protected]">[email protected]

A Burns Supper will be held in the Nicholls Hall in Lydford on January 23, with details available from Christopher Kirwin on 01822 859477 or [email protected]">[email protected]

New to the festival in 2009, which will run from April 28 to May 4, will be a day of dance workshops on April 29, World Dance Day, in addition to other events that day.

There will be art exhibitions, and the art market, which was a great success last year, will be repeated, with stalls being nearly fully booked already. There will be concerts, recitals and workshops as usual.

On April 30 youth choirs will be performing, and included will be a new work by Kelly College musical director Andrew Wilson about the destruction of Fitzford House by the Cavaliers. Another big feature of the festival will be a performance of The Pirates of Penzance by Dartington Plus at the Wharf on the afternoon on May 3.

Tickets for both of the evening concerts are available from the Wharf box office, price £5, with admission for children free on January 7.

The music workshops are free but places need to be booked through Fiona McLean.