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Festival patrons will be delighted to learn of improved conditions inside the Waterside marquee this year, with a specially designed air extraction system to enhance ventilation and better sound proofing.

Events for this year’s festival include major headline acts such as The Levellers, Amy Winehouse, Roland Gift and The Fine Young Cannibals, The Stranglers, Jim Moray (two-time BBC Radio 2 Award winner), the Jazz Jamaica All Stars, The Commitments, Roberto Pla and his Latin Ensemble (the UK’s number one Latin jazz band) and Glenn Tilbrook (ex-Squeeze songwriter and front man), each bringing their wide range of musical talents.

For classical music lovers, the Festival is delighted to welcome Channel 4’s Operatunity winners Jane Gilchrist and Denise Leigh in the first performance of their brand new UK tour A Night at the Opera and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra playing a programme inspired by the works of Shakespeare. St Mary’s Church will play host to a rare performance of Handel’s unique baroque masterpiece Acis and Galatea, whilst at the Baptist Church there will be four lunchtime concerts by young musicians.

To add an international flavour to the Festival, there will be a brilliant Berlin Circus Cabaret Night, full of amazing aerial acts, contortion and underwater dancing. Hot from Belgium come Les Petites Frappes with the UK premiere of their show ‘I Had A Drum’ - a delirious percussion experience for all ages with every type of music from techno to rap and reggae! Direct from Canada come BAM with their amazing Blue Barrel Show, full of savage drumming virtuosity and hilarious sketches as they perform in a double-bill of comedy, percussion and juggling with juggling connoisseurs The Gandini Jugglers. Adults and children alike will be mesmerized by Italian theatre company,'TPO,' who will be creating a brilliant animated stage show entitled, 'The Japanese Garden,' using the latest in digital technology and video projection. The show creates a magical story with extraordinary interactive video illusions leading you on a journey through a very special garden with a multimedia soundscape.

For drama lovers, the Phoenix Theatre company presents the classic comedy Shirley Valentine. Heartbreak Productions, the UK’s premier professional open-air touring company come with their wonderful production of Macbeth at The Prospect, one of the most historic and unusual settings in Ross. BBC Hereford & Worcester’s Clare Fischer and Julie Tyler will also star in a brand new comedy which demonstrates that the only way to approach your forties is with a sense of humour!

On the comedy front the Waterside Comedy Club presents a terrific trio of top comedy acts, headlined by Terry Alderton (previously nominated for a Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe) with his electrifying stage presence and hilariously uncanny impressions.

There are also many children's events, workshops, walks, films and free and fun things to see and do, not only at the Waterside site but all around Ross-on-Wye.

For a full brochure and to buy tickets contact the Box office on 0870 1122330 or go to the web site www.ross-onwye-intfestival.co.uk

Nearly 300 people handed completed forms into the Ross Heritage Centre having taken part in the Odd Object Competition, which took place as one of the many free competitions during Carnival Week.

Marking was very long and very close. The following were successful in gaining the most points for each of the two walks around the town.

Walk A: First Ellie, Lauren and Ryan Hodges of Duxmere Drive. second place to Jordan Marshall of Orchid Close.
Walk B: First place to Amy Ridge of Merrivale Crescent. second place to Liam Davies of Court Road.

Some of the objects could be easily found whilst others were more difficult. The Heritage Centre object was very topical with the Ross-in-Bloom competitions, which had been taking place throughout July and was placed in the glass cabinet amongst the awards. All the awards were for "Best" categories - except the award for the "Most Weediest Garden". The date for the decision on the award should have been the give away, amongst other things, but this was not to be as only twelve of the entries had the answer correct.

Mary Powell of the Heritage Centre and Ross-in-Bloom has decided to give a small award to those who were successful. They were: Mrs P Thompson of Rowan Close; James Davies of Court Road; H Lewis of Bakers Oak; B Yemm of Arbour Hill; Shai and Chloe Hardwick of Tudor Rise, Laura and Ben Hardwick of Tudor Rise, Rose Hardwick of New Street and three members of the Ferry family of Colraine, N Ireland.

The prizes for all of the above are waiting to be collected at the Heritage Centre, between 10am and 5pm daily. A reference copy list of the answers is also available if you would like to know which objects you could not find.

A final word from one of the competitors: "A Big Thank you to all the shops taking part in the competition, which was very interesting. Some hard to find, some easy to find. Thank you again. Sophie Leeth, aged 8.

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