An award winning music and performing arts festival is gearing up to return to Kent after the pandemic, and the line-up has been announced.

Following Monday's announcement by the government that concerts can restart, the organisers of the Deal Festival 2021 revealed they'll put on a full programme of events from July 1.

Artistic Director Paul Max Edlin has made sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy during the 16-day festival, while keeping audiences safe by limiting the number of seats at all venues.

Tickets go on sale on June 11 at the website dealmusicandarts.com or at the Astor Theatre's ticket hub theastor.co.uk/.

The theme this year celebrates Women in Arts and organisers Deal Music and Arts is putting women composers and performers centre stage, with Kingsdown based jazz legend Norma Winstone and Nikki Iles, brilliant Baroque violinist Rachel Podger, singer Lucy Stevens and pianist Elizabeth Marcus profiling Virginia Woolf and Dame Ethel Smyth.

Classical highlights include oboist Nicholas Daniel with students of the Purcell School and the Academy of Ancient Music joining Guildhall School Music and Drama students in music from Charles II’s London. DMA is known for its promotion of young talent and it is pleased to present a concert by members of the NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) and to host their South East Academy later in 2021.

Brilliant young accordionist Samuele Telari brings out the drama in Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition; award-winning duo Michael Foyle and Maksim Štšura perform the complete Beethoven Sonatas for Violin and Piano and Jamie Rogers, one of DMA’s original bursary winners and now Assistant Organist at Canterbury Cathedral, is back to give a recital.

Local resident Gavin Esler talks about his latest book How Britain Ends. The Changeling Theatre Company performs A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the grounds of Walmer Castle, there’s a spooky showing of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari with a live score by Minima and a knees-up with The Old Time Sailors.

The Community Stage at the front of St George’s Church offers a feast of free music; there are lunchtime concerts by rising stars and the full programme is live on the Deal Music and Arts website.

Deal Festival 2021 takes place between Thursday, July 1 and Saturday, July 17.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal