Musicians from around the world are preparing to line up for south east London’s biggest arts and culture spectacular.

The sixth Sydenham Arts Festival kicks off on Saturday (July 5) with five hours of free live music, dance, street performance and food at three locations on the High Street.

Among the musicians involved throughout the 16-day festival are award-winning folk and blues artist Ian Siegal, an all-male production of the opera Carmen, Colours of India, the Incredible Sax Band and Squeeze’s Glenn Tillbrook with his band, The Fluffers.

Younger audiences can explore the delights of classical music at Toy Symphony’s workshop and concert on Saturday, July 19, and for the more advanced in age there is Puccini’s Tosca.

There will also be lots of theatre, film, workshops and family events, and spoken word, featuring poets John Hegley, Jackie Kay and award-winning author Jeremy Strong, along with the annual Artists Trail, which will be showcasing the work of more than 150 local artists.

Go to sydenhamartsfestival.co.uk