TOMORROW night, Friday, sees the start of the annual Monmouth Festival, one of the biggest free music festivals in Europe with a line-up that includes some of the best of local and national musicians, from rock, classical and pop to folk, jazz, ska, punk, world music and beyond.

Two high energy live performances, from Rusty Shacked and 2Rude, kick things off tomorrow night while the classical programme opens with an all-Bach concert given by violinist Alan Parmenter in St Mary’s Church.

Eight further days of great free music follow, with swaggering rockabilly from the Hailbails and The Tenors of Rock put their stamp on rock classics on Saturday, and on Sunday Oasis UK, the only Oasis tribute band to have gained recognition from Liam Gallager bring their show to Monmouth.

Peasant’s King – who have been likened, sonically, to Kings Of Leon, Vampire Weekend and Mumford and Sons – appear on Monday, which closes with a set from Young Kato, whose blend of surging, fuzzy guitars, irresistible pop hooks and all-in-it-together chants found them appearing on E4 reality series Made In Chelsea. It was, they admit, “the strangest gig we’ve ever played”, but overnight, last year’s debut EP climbed swiftly to number 31 on the Official Album Chart.

Next Thursday and Friday see Lisbee Stainton and Jodie Marie respectively on stage and the festival closes on Saturday, August 3, with appearances by the Siren Sisters delivering the glamour and sound of the 1940s.

Eric Faulkner’s Bay City Rollers re-create the BCR’s string of 1970s hits.

Following record audiences for last year’s classical events, 2013 offers several new collaborations and innovations.

This Saturday features local flautist Sarah Waycott with pianist Hannah Mitchell; collectively known as the Tranquillo Duo – their performance will include much-loved works by Poulenc and Massenet, There will be three further classical events – including the popular male voice choir event – over the following weekend.

As with every good festival, there’s also a fringe, which takes place in the Three Horseshoes, and this year includes performances from Welsh vocalist and songwriter Berney, singer-songwriter Andrew Duhon, visiting Monmouth all the way from his native New Orleans USA, Vince Freeman – a live finalist on The Voice – and The Indigo Kings.

For details of the full line-up and venues, visit monmouth festival.co.uk.