POPULAR musician Julian Lloyd-Webber and opera singer Sir Willard White will be the star names at the 46th Bromsgrove Festival.

Famous cellist Lloyd Webber will be appearing at the town's Artrix centre on April 28 with his band IBossa Nova. While Sir Willard White provides the festival's finale at St John's Church on May 14.

This year's festival will be a celebration of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday.

The festival kicks off with a performance from the London Mozart Players, at the Artix in School Drive, on April 22.

Other top attractions include The Young Mozart show at the Artrix on May 5, leading ensemble the Chilingirian Quartet, which plays at Hagley Parish Hall on May 10, and the Dutch Swing College Jazz Band at the Spadesbourne Suite on May 12.

The Festival Fringe programme, incorporating other musical events across Bromsgrove during the festival period, includes popular town Samba band Someone at the Door, who appear in the High Street on April 22, and folk act The Edwards Brothers, who play at Bromsgrove Rugby Club's Finstall Park on April 27. Local rock bands will also go head-to-head in a Battle of the Bands at the Ryland Centre on May 5.

Festival chairman Mary White said: "I hope everyone will find it an interesting programme and since we try and have a varied musical experience, I hope people will attend several concerts."

Tickets for all events are available at Bromsgrove Tourist Information Office in Birmingham Road, or by telephone from 01527 876504.