NEARLY three weeks of music, dance, comedy and much more will being on June 3 when the curtain goes up on Devizes Festival.

The box office opened yesterday (20) and tickets for many events had already been in demand by the friends of the festival who get first pick.

Festival chairman Margaret Bryant said: "I am delighted with the brisk ticket sales so far with 26 per cent of tickets sold to date. This is up on this time last year with Friends getting in early with their choices and online sales now coming in daily.

"Feedback from the local community about this year’s programme has been really encouraging and generally people seem to feel the committee has put together a great variety of events with some very exciting acts coming to Devizes in June.

" They also love the new style programme with a fold out diary of events.

"Cafe Scientific has already sold out and headliners, including Arthur Smith, Navarra String Quartet and Brian Blessed, are proving popular with other events also selling fast.

" Don't miss the chance to see the West End hit Showstoppers!, Mexican band Mariachi el Mexicana, Terry Waite, bassoonist Amy Harman, poet John Hegley and many more, as well as our free fringe events."

The festival starts with performance poet John Hegley who was described by the Sunday Times as scandalously talented. He will be in the Town Hall at 8pm on June 3 with his show New And Selected Potatoes. His act includes songs, dance and meditation on everything from celery to Daleks.

Navarra String Quartet will be at the same venue on June 4. They have a reputation as of the most dynamic string quartets of today.

There will be more comedy on June 6 with Arthur Smith who moans about the world and laughs at himself. He will be in the Corn Exchange from 8pm.

The box office is situated in Devizes Books from now until June 13 9.30am to 4.30pm and then from June 15 to June 20 9.30am to 2pm. Closed Sundays.

Full details are available on the website devizes festival.co.uk