Previews

Running from Friday 11 May, the festival offers 17 days of music, cultural events, theatre and comedy.

Mbawula will be joined by 380 locals!

As usual, the climax will be a weekend of live music in partnership with BBC Radio Suffolk. The Festival In The Gardens series, compered by presenter Rob Dunger, will this year star the band from the legendary film The Commitments (25 May), a tribute night dedicated to Queen and Madness (26 May) and a festival-closing set on Sunday 27 May by Mbawula.

Mbawula, made up of musicians from the UK and South Africa, will also appear at the festival's ambitious opening ceremony. This time, though, they will be joined on stage by 380 other people!

The biggest ever Bury St Edmunds Township Choir will join Mbawula on a huge 80-foot long stage in front of the Anthenaeum at 7pm, where they will perform traditional songs in Zulu, Xhosa and other African languages taught by the band's leader ahead of the festival.

Before this, at 6.30pm, the Royal Artillery Band will officially kick things off with the traditional Beating Retreat Ceremony on Angel Hill.

High hopes

Festival Manager Nick Wells is confident 2007's event will top previous years', and is confident the public will agree: "It looks as though we are on schedule for the most successful festival ever.

"The last three festivals have seen our highest ever ticket sales and the 2007 festival is on track to smash all previous records."

Philharmonia Orchestra appear on 23 May

Due to the sheer volume of events, 15 venues across the town will be used throughout the 17-day festival - with each one being picked to compliment the production. St Edmundsbury Cathedral will be a popular stop for lovers of classical music, with the Tord Gustaven Trio playing there on 11 May, the English Chamber Orchestra on 15 May and Philharmonia Orchestra returning to the festival on 23 May.

The Corn Exchange is likely to draw in a more leftfield crowd, with events including the Fat Cat Comedy Club's International Headliners Night (13 May), Homage To Grappelli (14 May) and Blue Note Records' Stacey Kent (21 May).

Children's stand-up James Campbell

Cultural events and something for the kids

Following on from BBC Suffolk's series on the abolition of the slave trade, historian Maureen James will present a lecture on Thomas and James Clarkson at the Athenaeum on 22 May.

Events are also being held at Ickworth House, with a Book Tour (18 May) and Chandelier Tour and Supper (17 May) showing off the full grandeur of the oval landmark.

The Bury St Edmunds Festival isn't just for adults though. A strong family-friendly schedule kicks off with James Campbell performing his unique brand of comedy for a children's audience in the Abbot Ale Marquee on 12 May, a day which also sees street entertainers of the year The Maniax perform comical stunts on an eight-foot high platform.

For a full list of events, venues and ticket details, visit the Bury St Edmunds Festival website.