An eclectic line-up including folk, acoustic pop, choral, samba and a musical saw is on offer at this year’s IOFringe Festival, taking place in St Albans in July.

The festival takes place in various venues throughout St Albans and runs from Wednesday, July 3, to Saturday, July 13. Most events are free to attend.

Programmed by St Albans Arts Team, IOFringe promotes the diversity of excellent local music from the St Albans District whilst also offering inspirational performance and participatory opportunities to compliment St Albans International Organ Festival.

There will be participatory performance opportunities including two IOFringe Open Mic Specials hosted by local promoters. Leading up to the festival, music facilitator Dawn Hudson will be bringing together students from Aboyne Lodge School with Trestle Theatre’s Sing Out Community Choir and residents of Park Side View Residential Home to produce a massed choir. This IOFringe Community Choir will perform at the IOFringe Street Party event in the heart of St Albans Market on Saturday, July 6, alongside artists from St Albans longest running open mic night, The Blue Angel Acoustic Café.

The Festival will close on Saturday, July 13, with a celebratory garden party event in Vintry Garden. The afternoon will open with the joyful sound of Revellers Steel Band and finish with the massed ukuleles of Katie’s Jumping Fleas. In between will be folk and Americana from Burdock and Life’s a Gas along with the wonderful Sandringham Community Choir.

Elsewhere during the festival you can catch samba band Sambuka at St Michael’s Street Folk Evening as well as a Vintage Dance Organ, joyful accordionist and musical saw virtuoso Dennis Teeth at St Albans Clock Tower.

Councillor Mandy McNeil, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Business, Culture and Tourism, said: “The fringe events are an outstanding addition to the St Albans International Organ Festival.

“There is an incredible range of music on offer, provided by local performers including community choirs, folk musicians, acoustic guitarists and a ukulele group.

“Most of the events are free to attend and it would be fantastic if residents can show their support for our local music scene by getting out to some of this great summer entertainment.”

For details of events pick up a programme from key venues around the district or visit facebook.com/IOFringe and enjoystalbans.com