Guiting Music Festival is celebrating 55 years of entertainment in the Cotswolds.

Run by an enthusiastic group of volunteers in Guiting Power, we caught up with head of PR and Publicity, Rosie Bartlett, to discover what music fans can look forward to this year.

It's 55 years since Guiting Music Festival first launched, how has it changed over the years?

When the festival began, all the shows were held in Guiting Power Village Hall which held just over 160 people.

It was primarily an opera and jazz festival and in 2010 a Sunday afternoon concert, dedicated to jazz, was introduced.

In 2014, the festival was extended to 10 concerts with a second Sunday outdoor concert, given over initially to folk music and, latterly, to the blues.

Following lockdown, the 2021 concert was allowed to go ahead with the introduction of a large marquee on the playing field with more seating, which is where it is now held.

The programme has also changed a little to accommodate our audience's tastes and to offer a wider genre of music.

What does Guiting Music Festival offer the region?

The festival offers the chance to listen to and experience the best in blues, jazz and classical music in beautiful surroundings and at an affordable ticket price.

What is special about this year’s festival?

There are some wonderful highlights this year – the queen of British Soul Mica Paris will perform her classic songs.

Alistair McGowan presents an evening of classic comedy, poetry and beautiful piano music.

Liza Pulman (one third of the brilliant trio Fascinating Aida) will be singing the iconic songs of Streisand and Thibault Cauvin – a guitar superstar and one of the best classical guitarists in the world will also be performing.

The iconic The Manfreds will be performing on the open-air Blues Sunday – it's not to be missed – it will be a wonderful day out for all the family.

Is there anything about the festival we haven’t covered that you would like to share?

There is a hospitality tent serving food and drink for all the shows.

And we have free parking in the field opposite the festival site.

For tickets and information visit guitingfestival.org