Singers due to take to city's streets

On Saturday, July 10 a total of 35 choirs and 800 people will perform a range of styles in the city centre streets, from protest songs to pop, folk to world music, rap and soul.

The festival will open with a public "mass sing" in Barkers Pool at noon, followed by the different choirs busking separately across the city centre between 12.30 and 3pm. The weekend-long programme will also include an afternoon and evening concert at Sheffield City Hall.

Festival musical director Val Regan said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to hear community choirs from all over the country."

The festival is organised by Out Aloud, Sheffield's gay and lesbian choir, with the help of other community choirs in the city.