Preview: Spitalfields Music Summer Festival

Spitalfields Music started as a small classical music festival in Christ Church, east London, 1976. In the following three decades, the festival became an annual Winter and Summer Festival covering other genres, including events, workshops and participation across Tower Hamlets. Tomorrow, the Spitalfields Music Summer Festival opens - and the scope of it shows just how far the festival has come since its early days as a local music festival for local people.

No longer held in Christ Church alone, the Spitalfields Music Summer Festival will also venture out to Whitechapel Gallery, Shoreditch Church, Village Underground, Arnold Circus and Old Spitalfields Market too. For 16 days (ending 26 June), there will be classical, contemporary and newly commissioned music, some events free, some ticketed. World-class artists, youth orchestras, amateurs, students and audience participation are all mixed together and the places you'll them are just as varied.

Particularly intriguing is the Music Road Family Day this Sunday (13 June) which promises "ukuleles, musical trasure hunts, vegetable instruments and three new commissions" in Arnold Circus. We're also tickled by the drawing room concerts offered on several different days, allowing audiences into early Georgian houses in Spitalfields - it's the chance to do a little historical snooping to music. Also local groups such as the women's choir Women Sing East and young musicians from Hackney and Tower Hamlets have their slots and these are good chances to see London talent. Classical and contemporary music, by established, amateur and first-timers in unusual and unique settings seems to be the theme of this festival and we're quite sure there's something for everyone in the programme. It's summer, in Spitalfields and there's music everywhere...

Spitalfields Music Summer Festival, Friday 11 to Saturday 26 June. For more information, go to the Spitalfields Music website.