A HISTORIC music festival is returning to the Cotswolds this summer.

The Guiting Music Festival is being held from July 22 to July 31 in the village of Guiting Power, near Winchcombe, in the North Cotswolds.

The festival has been held for the last 51 years to some of the finest acts from the classical and jazz world, together with up and coming artists who perform at the Sunday blues show.

As in recent years, the festival has ten concerts over the ten days at the end of July against a backdrop of the Cotswolds hills surrounding Guiting Power.

The festival begins with jazz on the first three days, including two jazz groups on the first Sunday.

We move to folk music on Monday evening followed by five evenings of classical music throughout the week. Our festival ends with two blues bands on our final Sunday.

All the concerts will now be held outside under a large marquee overlooking the rolling hills.

Cotswold Journal: The Guiting Music Festival.The Guiting Music Festival. (Image: Guiting Music Festival)

On the Wednesday, the festival is hosting a fundraising concert for humanitarian relief in Ukraine with conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh and the Fantasia Orchestra, and all money going to the UNHCR.

The evening concerts will start at 6.30pm with a half-hour interval, finishing shortly before dusk.

The Sunday concerts run from 12.30pm to 4.00pm and the marquee will be opened with chairs removed to allow for a more open-air experience.

For the first time this year, the festival will be held in a new marquee which will allow for up to 220 people to attend the shows.

In addition, the marquee is equipped with amplified sound and two large monitor screens for the benefit of those sitting towards the back.

The bar in the hospitality marquee will be offering a selection of wines, beer, cider and soft drinks, from 5.45pm before the evening concerts and at 11.45am before the Sunday concerts.

Food For the evenings is also being provided by Cotswold Event Catering, with options for Post-Concert Suppers available in short supply on the event's website.

Well-behaved dogs are also welcome at the event.

For more information and ticket availability, visit www.guitingfestival.org.