HIGH living, controversy, drama, dance and first class music of all sorts are the potent blend for this year's Devizes Festival programme.

The committee has announced the draft programme for 2004, which includes visits from pioneering feminist writer Germaine Greer, historian Philip Ziegler, stand-up comic Dominic Holland and real ale aficionado Jeff Evans.

The festival begins on June 9 with an illustrated lecture on the Hadrian's Wall fort Vindolanda, where famous writing tablets were unearthed from the site of an ancient bonfire, revealing intimate details of the social life of a Roman outpost in the first and second centuries.

On June 10 John Etheridge's Sweet Chorus presents a tribute to those legends from Le Hot Club de Paris, violinist Stephane Grappelli and guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Young pianist Tom Poster makes a welcome return to the festival on June 11, with a concert of Beethoven, Debussy, Scarlatti and Liszt.

The Wharf Theatre is the venue for a hit comedy from last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Flamingo Flamingo Flamingo is about preparations for the perfect wedding that turn to disaster as a result of greed, envy and deceit.

Roots Night on June 12 has become a popular regular and this year will feature Croft No 5 and Beltaine, both experts in performing Celtic music, well spiced up with funky rhythms.

Following last year's successful rock workshops, Rick Payne and Innes Sibun will be offering workshops for acoustic and electric guitars on June 13. Early booking and own instruments are essential as there are only eight places available in each workshop.

Poet Kit Wright is involved in an afternoon for children aged six to ten and their parents on June 13, and there will be a coffee concert by the Ephyra Duo. Comedy's ultimate everyman, Dominic Holland, will also hold forth at the Corn Exchange.

The Jiving Lindy Hoppers also return, bringing their own band.

Jeff Evans, eight times editor of the Good Beer Guide and author of CAMRA's Good Bottled Beer Guide, will talk during a dinner at the Bear Hotel on how fine beers can form the perfect partnership with any meal.

Philip Ziegler, who has written histories of Lord Melbourne, King William IV, Earl Mountbatten and King Edward VIII, will talk about Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth, Devizes' only MP to hold the post of Prime Minister, on June 19.

There will also be a full programme of free fringe events.