Forget classical music, Northern Aldborough Fest is fun!

It's just unveiled its largest, most varied programme since it was founded in 1994.

And this small but brilliant festival's programme this year includes a major departure.

For the first time, the festival will also embrace a younger generation of music lovers with a family-friendly production of The Magic Piano.

The animated film from Oscar® award-winning creators BreakThru Films, will be accompanied by solo piano, introducing the music of Chopin whilst creating a spellbinding performance for children and parents.

Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred, chairman of the festival, said: “One of the overriding objectives of the festival is to bring outstanding music to new audiences in locations where it wouldn’t normally be heard. By introducing a family event to the programme we hope to inspire and educate the next generation of music lovers.”

Taking place from Thursday, June 23 to Saturday, July 2, the festival is held in and around the picturesque Roman village of Aldborough near Boroughbridge.

Now in its 23rd year, the event is renowned for presenting exceptional music in charming rural locations.

Combining world class acts from a variety of genres, the event will be headlined by the winner of the 2015 Leeds International Piano Competition, Anna Tsybuleva, and will also feature a talk by Norman Lebrecht, famed commentator on music and culture.

Perfect Pitch Opera will open the festival with a new, heart wrenching production of Bizet’s Carmen and they will be followed by the much celebrated musicians, James Gilchrist, Philip Dukes and Anna Tilbrook.

For theatre lovers, the entertaining Three Inch Fools will return for their second year, bringing their highly acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

There’s also jazz from the award-winning Liane Carroll Trio while the closing outdoor family concert in the grounds of Aldborough Manor will feature a return to the good old days of classic rock ‘n’ roll - plus a fireworks display.