POETS and musicians from Palestine, Spain, Cuba, USA and the Caribbean will be taking to the stage at this summer's fourth Ledbury Poetry Festival (June 29-July 9) alongside many performers from closer to home.

Highlights include eminent Palestinian poet Zakaria Mohammed, who will be reading from his new selection of poems in Arabic with Sarah Maguire translating and chairing a discussion. Senior editor of Al-Karmel, the prestigious Arab world literary quarterly, and columnist for Al-Ayyam newspaper, Zakaria Mohammed lived in exile in Beirut and Tunis before returning to Palestine after the Oslo Accords in 1994. Sarah Maguire, well-known contributor to BBC radio arts programmes, is a poet and author of two collections, Spilt Milk and The Invisible Mender.

The Spanish flavour comes via a joint music and poetry event led by poet and flamenco specialist Jose Maria Velazquez. He will be joined by singer Maria Vargas, known as the 'Queen of Gipsy Song', and guitarist Paco Cepero. More music comes from Cuban band Raices Cubanas, who will bring festival-goers to their feet with their Samba rhythms during the open-air town party, and New York jazz vocalist Stacey Kent.

US poet Michael Donaghy will be performing alongside Jean 'Binta' Breeze, the extraordinary dub poet and storyteller from Jamaica, and poet and critic Roger Garfitt will be leading a workshop showing how budding poets can learn from the Chilean master Pablo Neruda.

International

Other international artists on show include German-born Michael Hoffman, Guyana's John Agard, New Yorker Eva Salzman and US-based Irishman Greg Delanty.

These inspiring performers join some of Britain's leading poets on the Ledbury bill, including Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage and Craig Raine, as well as up-and-coming talents from throughout the British Isles.

For more information about the Ledbury Poetry Festival see the official website at www.poetry-festival.com or call 01531 634156 for a programme.