The Hay festival has announced details of The Sound Castle, a new music venue that adds considerably to the music programme running at the internationally known literary festival this year. The Sound Castle is a new late-night venue in Hay on the Welsh borders and artists booked include Zara McFarlane, whose debut Until Tomorrow for Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label appeared to acclaim last year and who back in March was on fine form during Jazzwise To The Power of 15 at Ronnie Scott’s supporting the great Ron Carter.

Also for Hay are Mancunian big band pacesetters Beats & Pieces; MC/alto sax star Soweto Kinch, who’s preparing to release his latest album based on the Seven Deadly Sins in the autumn; soul-singer Ola Onabule; cult poet Anthony Joseph and The Spasm Band; and the Sound Castle hosts the return to Wales of underrated Brooklyn pianist Elan Mehler.

Also booked are: 9Bach, Alex Valentine, Julie Murphy, folk star Chris Wood, Jono McCleery, Alice Russell and The Hidden Orchestra, Lianne La Havas, former Mercury winner Speech Debelle, Cerys Matthews, Frank Turner, rapper Ghost Poet, Winter Villains, Frente Cumbiero, The Gentle Good, Herbaliser, Paper Aeroplanes, Belleruche, Anchorsong, and Sava Medan.

Sound Castle runs from 1-9 June.

- Stephen Graham

For more go to www.hayfestival.com/thesoundcastle

Zara McFarlane (pictured, above)

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