AN opportunity to try out all sorts of musical instruments, including mandolins, violins, accordions and melodeons will be offered by Okehampton-based community music organisation the Wren Trust on Saturday, April 24.

Wren are staging a day of music in the town with a music workshop and concert. The workshop will offer the chance to make a noise with many different musical instruments with professional musicians on hand to advise on how to play them, so previous musical experience is not necessary.

Participants will be encouraged to rehearse and perform a tune or two with others at the end of the workshop if they wish and there will be an opportunity to make a guest appearance at the evening concert that follows.

In the evening, there will be a concert of traditional and roots music performed by members the Wren team.

Paul Wilson and Marilyn Tucker, founders of Wren, will perform some of their repertoire of traditional and self-penned songs.

?Marilyn and Paul combine striking harmonies and a repertoire firmly rooted in West- Country tradition with old and new songs punctuated by tunes, stories and anecdotes,? said a Wren spokesperson.

Matt Norman will perform traditional tunes on the mandolin and fiddle, Rebecka Slater-Lyons will sing self-penned and traditional English and Swedish songs accompanied by her distinctive guitar style, and David Faulkner, one of the UK?s foremost English bagpipe players, will perform original and traditional tunes from English and European traditions.

During the evening the musicians will come together to perform in various combinations and there will be a guest appearance of some of those who attended the workshop.

The music workshop takes place at the Octagon Theatre, Okehampton Community College, starting at 10am and finishing at 4pm. All age groups are welcome, although no unaccompanied children can be permitted. Tea, coffee and soft drinks will be provided. Please bring your own lunch.

The evening concert in the Octagon takes place from 7.30pm to 10pm, with a bar provided by the Plymouth Inn.

Tickets are available on the door or can be purchased in advance from Wren at 1a St James Street, Okehampton,

telephone 01837

53754 or e-mail: