THE second Tavistock and Dartmoor Festival will be bigger than ever. Running from Saturday, September 23 to Saturday, October 1 it has grown from an eight to a nine day event — taking in two full weekends.

Boasting a line-up that includes broadcaster Angela Rippon, folk singer Cyril Tawney and local band Equation it promises a programme to suit all tastes.

The exciting Drum Crazy percussion group will perform courtesy of the West Devon Forum on Saturday, September 23. They will be followed later in the day by Tavistock's Stannary Brass Band playing in Bedford Square.

Festival chairman Sue Spackman believes the extended programme is a sign of great support for the festival.

'Both Stannary Brass and the West Devon Play Forum wanted to be part of the festival and that is a very positive thing. We had already put together a programme with a very broad appeal and these two additions make it even more attractive,' she said.

At the opening night at the Wharf around 100 children from local schools and organisations are putting on an ambitionus programme organised by the festival's artistic director, John Bartlett.

This year's theme is New Beginnings and is intended to provide a platform for up-and-coming performers.

The search for six singers to take part in a masterclass held by internationally-renowned opera singer Benjamin Luxon has yielded quick results.

An initial announcement brought 12 enthusiastic responses and there is still time for applicants to put their name forward. The masterclass will be held on Friday, September 29 at the Wharf. The six chosen singers will work with Benjamin Luxon and at the end of the evening present their work in concert.

Also in the festival line-up will be the Dartmoor Entertainers, Buffseeds and Boulevard Django. Film, ceilidh and an exclusive gardening event at Buckland Abbey complete the programme.

Full details of the festival — which is part-financed by the European Community's Regional Development Fund —are available at the Wharf. You can also phone (01822) 614222 or visit the festival web site: http://www.pwcomms.co.uk/tdf">www.pwcomms.co.uk/tdf