STROUD Sacred Music Festival, now in its third year, will be opened by The Right Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester.

A highlight of summer, this family-friendly festival takes place from June 30-July 1 , and offers a variety of daytime workshops and evening concerts in Stroud town centre.

The Right Revd Rachel Treweek said: “I’m greatly looking forward to the Stroud Sacred Music Festival this year. This is an opportunity for people of different faiths and cultures to come together in song and dance to express our human unity in a world in which we are acutely aware of division.

"This wonderful Gloucestershire Festival focuses on celebration and peace amid difference. I hope that many people will come and be part of it.”

Headliners include the high-energy, internationally known, Praying For The Rain, Samswara with Indian classical music and a return (by request) of the Tribal Rhythms Orchestra.

Homegrown highlights include Gospel Groove and world fusion devotional dance band, The Raga Babas.

While workshops include African drumming, Plain Chant and Egyptian Dance.

The Festival was started by Rev Simon Howell and festival co-director Girish Patel, who together share the belief that music is the language of the heart and can succeed in bringing people together.

And community spirit is very much part of the festival with a band of volunteers coming together to organize the event.

Philip Booth, one of the Festival volunteers added: "The Festival brings a message of unity and peace that is perhaps needed more than ever in these times of uncertainty.

"The musical acts represent major faith traditions as well as those of indigenous peoples – it is for those with faith and those who have none. It is also very much a celebration: Stroud’s very own mini-Womad with amazing world music".

  •  Tickets are on sale at Stroud Subscription Rooms or at Girish’s Samosa stall in Stroud Farmer’s Market. The £30 ticket includes the two days, 15 bands and the workshops. Day tickets are no available at the moment but returns may be available from the desk in St Laurence's.
  • Parking in Church Street car park next to the church is free after 6pm on Friday and free from 5pm on Saturday.
  • For the full programme visit sacredmusicfestival.org.uk