By Chris Roberts, Wider View PR

THE line-up for the Shipston Proms 2016 Music Festival is taking shape with the annual two-week festival promising another eclectic mix of music and entertainment for its followers.

All genres from classical, folk and blues to heavy rock gives musicians of all ages and backgrounds a chance to be part of one of the town's most eagerly anticipated festivals.

The 18th Shipston proms starts on Friday June 17 beginning with a big launch party night with local 2015 Fame Contest winning local band Brixton Alley and local DJ Dirty Harry, all performing in the Townsend Hall. They will be accompanied by DUKE, a beatbox band which plays at festivals up and down the country.

A spokesman for DUKE said: “Since our performance (last year) we have fans from Shipston contacting us every week asking when we'll be back, well, we're back and we couldn't be more excited. We have been invited to play at the launch night of this year's proms and we can't wait to see everyone from last year."

The Fame Contest, on Saturday June 18 in the Townsend Hall, is a must for aspiring local musicians to enter, with the winners of solo/duet and bands categories getting an opportunity to play on the main stage on the proms' last night.

Classical music includes The Orchestra of The Swan, the Shipston Town Band and young musicians' night at St Martin’s Church Barcheston. World music comes from Leamington Spa based community samba band Sambassadors of Groove and folk with Stratford Folk Club coming into town.

As usual the power of music will be celebrated in schools, halls, and pubs in the town and surrounding villages with events every day over the period.

The fortnight finishes with the now legendary free concert in the town square with a Goin’ Local theme with the two Fame Contest category winners then two legendary local bands Kinky Farnham and Wired to finish off the night in style.