Performers from around the planet will bring an international flavour to intimate venues across Oxfordshire for a festival celebrating the best in world music.

The Big Village series will see musicians from as far afield as Palestine and west Africa playing everything from folk to middle Eastern jazz, in small venues including village halls.

Before most of the performances the artists will share their expertise and knowledge of their cultural backgrounds through master classes, workshops, forums, talks, films and food.

Music director Matt Sage said: "This new series is our sixth in three years and once again we are presenting some truly great artists that will not necessarily be known to most people.

"We are presenting world-class artists in beautiful and unusual environments, in the hope that the audience will discover something new and pretty amazing.

"In the past three years we have built up a large, loyal following of discerning music lovers who are returning again and again to savour what they have come to trust will be a magical and intimate event."

First up will be Scottish folk musicians Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham who will perform at New Beaconsfield Hall, in Shipton Under Wychwood, near Witney, on Friday.

Other highlights include a return of the Israeli bassist and band leader Daphna Sadeh. They perform their unique style of Sephardic and Middle Eastern jazz at the North Wall Arts Centre, in South Parade, Summertown, Oxford; Marwan Abado, at Ramsden Memorial Hall, near Witney, on April 2, and Justin Adams and Juldeh Camera at the Oxford Academy on April 26.

The series will come to a close on Midsummer's Eve - June 19 - with a combined concert and contemporary stone sculpture exhibition, featuring Senegalese master kora player Seckou Keita corand his band, in the gardens of Asthall Manor in the Windrush Valley, near Witney.

Oxford Mail music editor Tim Hughes said: "Big Village shows are never less than spectacular events featuring some truly world-class musicians who are more than capable of packing out major venues in London - and particularly in their home countries.

"To see them playing in village halls and other intimate venues is a treat for any lover of world music."

For more information and tickets, visit bigvillage.org