The Hexham Abbey Festival of Music & Arts returns for its 71st year (71st year!) this September with a programme on the theme of ‘Ancient to Modern’.

I’ll say it again: 71st year! That’s some staying power and testament to the sheer quality of programming that makes this four-day festival such a huge hit every year. From jazz to choral to classical music, this year’s acts are straight out of the top-drawer and will see the venerable abbey (which itself is celebrating its 1350th year) filled with the most glorious sounds possible. Among the acts appearing will be Jo Harrop, Paul Edis and Friends, who’ll be hitting us up with an evening of jazz for the ages. Elsewhere look out for Riccardo Pes (the renowned cellist reprising his ‘Lament for the Tree’, which he performed at the site of Sycamore Gap last year), Classico Latino (Latin music blended with the smooth sound and virtuosity of the classical tradition), The Hexham Abbey Festival Chorus and Orchestra (with Joseph Haydn’s masterpiece ‘The Creation’), and The Marian Consort (pictured – the highly sought after vocal group exploring music from the very earliest times right up to the present day). Full programme and ticket details from the website, below.

Hexham Abbey Festival of Music & Arts, 26-29 September, Hexham Abbey. Full programme & tickets: hexhamabbeyfestival.org.uk