TOP names in jazz and folk feature in Ripon International Festival’s 20th anniversary in September.

Jacqui Dankworth makes her first appearance in Ripon, with acclaimed American vocalist and pianist Charlie Wood in a celebration of a century of song inspired by great musical partnerships of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and Betty Carter, George and Ira Gershwin and others.

Wood, from Memphis, Tennessee, has received rave reviews for his album New Souvenirs. The venue is Holy Trinity Church, Ripon, on Saturday, September 9.

Virtuoso jazz violinist, Tim Kliphuis, travels from Amsterdam to the village of Helperby with his trio to play dazzling arrangements of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Paganini, Strauss, Faure, Ellington and Grappelli. A legend in the gypsy world, he is widely regarded as Stephane Grappelli’s heir (Millennium Hall, Sunday, September 3).

From Quebec, Le Vent Du Nord, at the forefront of international folk, regular play to adoring audiences across Europe and America and had great success at Celtic Connections and the Savannah Festival Georgia this year.

They bring their inimitable style of French humour, relentless energy and four-part harmonies to Masham Town Hall (Thursday, September 7).

The festival opens with the Orchestra of Opera North conducted by Janusz Piotrowicz in a programme of Great Russian Classics: Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet, the vibrant Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor and the haunting Fifth Symphony of Shostakovich (Royal Hall, Saturday, September 2).

Go to www.riponinternationalfestival for the full programme and to book online. Box offices: 01765 605508 and 01423 502116 (Harrogate Theatre),