A WEEKEND of simply stunning music gets under way in Tavistock today (Thursday), as the town plays host to the Tavistock Sings! music festival. The five-day event, promoted by Tavistock Forward, will see a wide range of music and singing being performed at different venues throughout the town, which should attract visitors from throughout the county. This year, eight out of the 12 events have no admission charge, making the festival more inclusive than ever. Simon Ible, festival director, said: ?For the first year we have included these free events, to encourage our audiences to explore and enjoy different forms of music. ?There are opportunities to participate in the Dawn Chorus and the Bach singing day, and the four main events include local, regional and nationally acclaimed professional musicians, including our very own Ten Tors Orchestra. Tavistock will resound to the sound of music.? The festival kicks off with a performance of The Land where the Bong Tree Grows by Kelly College director of music Andrew Wilson, to be performed by local choirs in Tavistock Parish Church at 7.30pm. Tomorrow (Friday), Kelly College plays host to an American showtime cabaret festival supper, featuring favourite songs from the shows. On Saturday there will be a free performance of La Beata Olanda, featuring 17th century virtuoso violin music from the Austrian and Italian courts, performed on period instruments, which takes place in the Catholic church in Callington Road. On Saturday night, there is the gala concert by the Ten Tors Orchestra, conducted by Simon Ible, in Tavistock Parish Church. A new event for this year?s festival is the May Day dawn chorus on Sunday, when chants and music will welcome the dawn at Merrivale stone circle at around 5.30am. (see page 11). There will be traditional music and dancing in Bedford Square at 11am, provided by Plymouth Folk Festival, and at lunchtime, the town hall hosts a jazz concert with acclaimed singer Gary Williams. During the afternoon, Stannary Brass Band will perform on Bedford Square at 4.30pm and there will be a festival evensong at the parish church at 6pm, before a choral concert at 7.45pm. A Bach singing day will be held at the church on Monday May 2, to culminate in a free public performance at 5pm. John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said: ?This is our third and by far the biggest festival with twelve performances, most of which are free. We hope the local community will enjoy these events.? Full information and tickets, where applicable, for Tavistock Sings! are available from Tavistock Tourist Information Centre. 01822 612938.