Tuned up for festival

THE Lewes International Guitar Festival is back from August 5 to 11 with its best programme so far.

The week-long festival has attracted artists from Spain, South Africa, Cuba, Holland, Italy and all over the UK to celebrate the guitar.

This is the fourth year of the festival which has featured largely sell-out concerts in the past.

This year includes fiery flamenco prodigy Jeronimo Maya from Madrid in a UK exclusive show; Fapy Lafertin, the gipsy jazz guitar virtuoso and heir to Django Reinhardt; a rare solo show by Durutti Column and Morrissey's Vini Reilly; brilliant young Cuban salsa group Asere, and accoustic virtuosos Erich Roche plus Tony Cox from South Africa.

The event, entirely run by enthusiasts, also features free daytime concerts in the grounds of Lewes Castle, moving to the Grange Gardens at the weekend.

And there are steelstring, classical and flamenco guitar classes, Elena's famous tapas bar, guitar workshop tours and 'meet the players' sessions.

Building on the town's growing reputation as a centre for guitar making, the festival also features a guitar exhibition in the Star Gallery and a wide range of guitar classes, as well as local players performing during the day.

The events include:

l FAPY LAFERTIN quartet, gipsy jazz virtuoso, Mon 5th, All Saints Centre, 8pm 10/8 conc.

l SERCI DAVIES, maestro classical guitarists, Tues 6th, All Saints Centre, 8pm 7/6 conc.

l ERIC ROCHE with TONY COX, dynamic US-Irish and top South African steelstring acoustic double bill, Wed 7th, All Saints Centre, 8pm 8/7 conc.

l VINI REILLY, rare solo show from a true original, Thurs 8th, All Saints Centre, 8pm 7/6 conc.

l ASERE, hot young Cuban salsa group, Fri 9th, Lewes Town Hall (tbc), 8pm 9/7.50 conc.

l JERONIMO MAYA (above) group, fiery flamenco guitar prodigy direct from Spain, Sat 10th, Gardner Arts Centre, Falmer, 8pm 15/12 conc.

Also part of the festival is a film screening of LATCHO DROM (U) - a remarkable film of travelling from India to Spain with the Romany gypsies.

It has no dialogue or narration, just stunning images and fabulous music.

Sunday 11th, All Saints Centre, 7.30pm 4.