THE York Spring Festival of New Music takes the theme of Carnival from tomorrow until Sunday.

“This year, we're really embracing our status as one of York's incredible festivals and our festival promises to be bigger and better than previous years," says festival director Andrew Hume.

"Our carnival theme has allowed us to create a fantastic programme filled with our passion for new music and this weekend is the perfect opportunity to experience something new

"Whether it’s a new pop song or symphony, the rediscovery of something old or a favourite that’s been put in to a new context, this festival of pop, rock, jazz, music theatre, classical and world music celebrates the stream of constant creativity which has the power to transform and inspire.”

Tomorrow's opening event, Welcome To The Carnival, takes place at the University of York’s Sir Jack Lyon’s Concert Hall at 7.30pm and promises a "new music tasting plate" of new works by young composers associated with the university, such as Rose Hall, Peter Smith, Martin Scheuregger, Joe Steele and Ben Turner.

Closing the concert will be a new work for electric cello, counter-tenor, chamber ensemble, choir and fixed media, created by the winners of this year’s Terry Holmes Award, University of York postgraduate students James Cave and Christopher Mullender.

Saturday promises family fun with an afternoon of free Carnival performances in St Sampson’s Square from 2pm to 4pm, featuring live music by Alice Ostapjuk and Leo James, a samba drum workshop, carnival dancing and face painting.

Martin Scheuregger's young chamber ensemble, Dark Inventions, return to the Spring Festival programme on their Firewheel Tour.

Joined by singer, composer and songwriter Stef Conner at the National Centre for Early Music on Saturday at 7.30pm, the group will be performing old folk songs interwoven with music by emerging composers of the contemporary British scene, centred around Philip Cashian’s new work, Firewheel.

Sunday kicks off with an informal festival brunch at the Pitcher and Piano, in Coney Street, where the festival performers, composers, and organisers come together for a morning of new music debate and discussion at 11.30am.

In the afternoon, Victoria Bernath, James Whittle and The Carnivore Troupe present Carnivore, a performance promenade that draws inspiration from the City of York's historic sites.

Setting off from the Pitcher and Piano at 2pm, this musical walking tour of York’s landmarks explores the city centre in unexpected and intriguing ways, blending contemporary and historical styles in a fusion of music, theatre, spoken word and choreographed movement. This event is free for children under 16.

The festival concludes with Club Carnival, a contemporary music club night at The Duchess, in Stonebow, where Nonclassical, from London, make their York debut with their combination of live musicians and remixed classics fit for a party. Tickets cost £3 in advance from the venue.

You can access the entire festival for £25 with a Festival Weekend Ticket. Alternatively, visit yorkspringfestival.co.uk for more information on venues, starting times and tickets.

 

• MARTIN Scheuregger's ensemble, Dark Inventions, set off on their Firewheels Tour this week, playing Manchester tonight, Leeds on Sunday, Newcastle on Monday and Liverpool next Friday, as well as the York Spring Festival of New Music this Saturday.

"The tour is supported financially by Sound and Music's composer-curator scheme and the Britten-Pears Foundation and is the largest project we've undertaken so far," says Martin. "We've commissioned leading British composer Philip Cashian, which is a first for us. I'm playing in the concerts, having a piece performed, and have been organising the project."

As in York this weekend, Dark Inventions will perform works by Stef Conner, Patrick John Jones, Benjamin Gait and Christopher Leedham, Sound and Music composer-curator for 2013-2014, as well as by Scheuregger, composer-in-residence at the British Music Collection.