MUSIC from around the globe will greet the world's best cyclists when the Tour de France races through to Essex.
As part of the county's cultural project, Tour de France – Creating the Way, the Booking Hall Festival at the Station Café in Rayne is extending its weekend music festival to Monday July 7 to include the Tour de France.
The line-up will showcase a wide variety of talent from the town and a range of genres from jazz and blues to contemporary pop.
In Wethersfield, the Tour de France riders will be welcomed into the village by a vibrant cultural extravaganza including a procession of Indian, African and Brazilian drummers.
Once the race has passed through, the global feel will continue with music from around the world performed on stage.
Tony Morrison, from music promoters Eastern Roots which has organised the festival in Rayne, said: "The Tour de France is so much more than a cycle race with a long tradition of original music created especially for it.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for some really talented local artists to help bring the Tour to Essex. We have a great selection of music from jazz and blues to the group Next of Kin who reduced Nicole Scherzinger to tears on the X-Factor.
"The atmosphere is going to be fantastic and it will certainly add something a bit extra to will already be a really exciting day."
Indi Sandhu, manager of the Essex Cultural Diversity Project, which has organised the world music event in Wethersfield said: "The range of music we will have on show reflects the global appeal of the Tour de France.
"On the road there will be riders from as far and wide as Australia and Colombia, while on stage we will have music from Bhangra and Samba, to African drumming.
"It will be a fantastic spectacle and emphasises that the Tour is not just bringing Essex to the world, but also bringing the world to Essex."
In addition to these events, there will be a 'Best of Essex' showcase at the live screening site in Admirals Park in Chelmsford, while Chelmsford Community Radio will also be doing a live broadcast throughout the day.
Artists in Rayne on July 7 include singer/songwriter Paolo Morena who is a multi-award winning jazz trumpeter Digby Fairweather, a Blues artist Ramon Goose and Braintree brothers and X-Factor contestants Next of Kin.
In Wethersfield there will be performances of African drumming by Harlow-based Efua Sey Cultural Academy, Bhangra drummers DEA Dhol Drummers, Samba drumming by Brazil Arte, singer Namvula who will mix Zambian folk and urban traditional music with London's eclectic music scene, plus Braintree-based arts organisation Chakardar with a Tabla with an Indian drum performance.
The Best of Essex event will featuring performances by Black Cherry Pop Tart, Spin, Pie Face, and Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective, and has been organised by It's Your Media and Chelmsford Community Radio.
You can find information about the Tour in Essex on the dedicated Tour de France website www.LeTourEssex.com.
