There’s just days to go before Lancaster reverberates to the sounds of one of the country’s biggest city centre music festivals.

And even before a single note is played or sung at Lancaster Music Festival, events are taking place to whet the appetite for the main festival which runs from October 8-11.

The Talks, Walks & Stories series begins on October 5, the Monday of festival week, and includes award-winning beer writer and broadcaster, Pete Brown’s talk – Tasting Notes: The Art and Science of Pairing Beer and Music – which blends beer, music, storytelling, a touch of science and a few jokes at the Stonewell Tap on October 8. Pete has also collaborated with Lancaster Brewery to design a special festival ale.

At The Storey, talks include running music events by industry professional, Tony Rigg; protest songs and the classic era of music video by Lancaster University lecturers while First World War stories in music are presented at Westfield War Memorial Village, a new festival venue. More talks take place during the weekend at Lancaster Castle and the Gregson Centre.

Another new venue added to 50 others across the city is the chapel at Lancaster Castle and among the events it hosts will be an intimate evening with She Drew The Gun, combining songs with poetry, spoken word and stories by songwriter, Louisa Roach on October 10.

Also featured in the eclectic chapel programme will be Teri & the Electric Sunrise promising a big audio visual journey with their own brand of space rock fusion on festival Friday, while bringing the chapel’s music programme to a close on the Sunday will be HENGE frontman, Matthew C Whitaker and his latest solo release – Songs for the Weary - featuring gentle classical guitar pieces.

Lancaster Music Festival prides itself on its offer of more than 300 acts performing a wide range of music genres in a variety of settings. Where else could you tune into musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music performing a combination of progressive metal and chamber music at the Priory while across town at St John’s Church, festival favourite violinist Laure Chan joins a local chamber group in a programme featuring Mozart’s Violin Concerto No 5.

The festival also celebrates its Northern roots with Rise Up! events marking the 200th anniversary of the weavers uprising while continuing to feature music and dance from around the world too as part of its Songs From Home theme.

There will be countless opportunities to join in many participatory events as well as enjoying the varied music programme at the beloved Melodrome stage at Lancaster Castle, the Craic Inn in the Storey Gardens, Kanteena, the Gregson and around city centre streets and squares.

And if you really want to drink in the festival atmosphere, head for Lancaster’s pubs, many of which will be hosting acts day and night.

All these festival events and more are supported by funding from Arts Council England, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster BID and by public donation via LMF’s crowdfunder appeal.

For information on ticketed events and workshops, visit www.lancastermusicfestival.com