Music, art and a day devoted to children's activities are all part of an 11-day arts celebration in the heart of Romney Marsh.

JAM on the Marsh will feature seven concerts, five exhibitions, three poetry recitals and two theatre shows, and around half of the events are free to enter.

This year's festival also includes free steam train travel between New Romney and the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre on Sunday, July 8 with the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway and a churches tour.

The Changeling Theatre kicks off the festival with their open-air production of Noel Coward’s comedy classic Blithe Spirit in the Old School Garden in New Romney, on Thursday, July 5.

The first of the festival's musical offerings will be on Friday, July 6, when vocal ensemble voces8 and the Canterbury Cathedral Girls’ Choir - who both topped the classical charts this year - perform together for the first time.

Before the concert, the Singing Stars of Palmarsh and Hythe Bay primary schools will jump on the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway after school for a workshop with the group.

The following night, the BBC Singers and BBC Radio 3 return to the festival with Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, which is one of several events stage in collaboration with the Hythe Festival.

The BBC Singers performance from St. Leonard’s Church, Hythe, will be broadcast on Monday, July 9 on BBC Radio 3.

The second weekend’s musical highlight is a rare orchestral performance of Fauré’s much-loved Requiem with the London Mozart Players and Mousai Singers, conducted by festival curator, Daniel Cook.

Family events include a free Children's Sunday at Romney Marsh Visitors Centre on Sunday, July 8 between 10am and 1pm.

AN EYE FOR A PICTURE

Art and photography exhibitions cross the Marsh from Hythe to Dungeness.

Local artist Ruth Parkinson will bring her dramatic Time and Tide exhibition, with paintings inspired by the local coastline and countryside.

Local photographer Susan Pilcher has a display, featuring the Marsh night sky, disturbed by unidentified objects created by Susan from things ranging from Christmas lights to lit, steel wool.

And renowned photojournalist Justin Sutcliffe will display a range of pictures, Objects Are People Too, in which he captures faces in unlikely objects, from buildings to bus seats, and even puddles in car parks at the Romney Marsh Visitors Centre in Dymchurch Road throughout the festival.

DETAILS

JAM on the Marsh will be held from Thursday, July 5 to Sunday, July 15. For a full programme and to book tickets visit jamconcert.org or call 0800 988 7984.

Throughout the festival there will be a bus service to most events running from Folkestone, via Hythe, along the coast road and onto the events for just £1 return, which should be booked in advance with JAM.