The Ross-on-Wye International Festival runs from Thursday September 16 to Monday August 27 in a purpose-built auditorium on the banks of the River Wye. Mono checked out the pop and jazz on offer from Atomic Kittens to Lulu, from Vanessa Mae to the Blind Boys of Alabama.

(For tickets dial (01989) 563330 or surf to www.festival.org.uk) THURSDAY 16 AUGUST

Joan Armatrading (10pm - £20) Acoustic songs tinged with jazz and rock. Joan covers everything from pop to soul with her stunning voice.

FRIDAY 17 AUGUST Hothouse Flowers (10pm - £17) A band from Thatcher's decade the world lost, presumed split but here they are still going strong, they've just be in hibernation in their native Ireland. Gather thee for another rousing chorus of 'Don't Go!'

Vanessa Mae (7pm - £25) The child prodigy grew and bought a transparent metallic violin to continue to dazzle the world with her virtuoso playing. A household name in hundreds of countries she has sold six million albums and holds 32 international Platinum and 17 Gold awards for both pop and classical recordings!

SATURDAY 18 AUGUST Vanessa Mae (10pm - £25) - see above

Ballamy-Carstensen Duo (Ross-on-Wye Baptist Church - 3pm - £10) Iain Ballamy, one of the UK's most talented and original saxophonists and composers, performs with the incredible Norwegian accordionist, Stian Carstensen. Expect a lot of fun and an eclectic range of music from jazz to folk.

Lulu (7pm - £20) She's back with a little help from Sting, Russel Watson, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Barry White (who won't be appearing with her at Ross), her list includes David Bowie's Man Who Sold the World, reaching number three.

Coe-Horler Duo (Ross-on-Wye Baptist Church - 7.30pm - £12) Man of sax, John Horler's career has moved from modern jazz to trad jazz calling on John Dankworth, Cleo Lane, Pete King and Ronnie Ross for jams along the way.

SUNDAY 19 AUGUST Midge Ure (10pm - £15) Midge is organising Aids Aid, a night of musicals in the Millennium Stadium, but the Ultravox star has still got time to run through some of the old classics and new songs for the faithful at Ross.

Stacey Kent (6.30pm - £15) Winner of the 2001 Best Vocalist, British Jazz Awards and host of shows on Radios 2 and 3 Stacey Kent conjured up images of a young Ella Fitzgerald with a touch of Billie Holliday.

Helen Shapiro Gospel Evening (Ross-on-Wye Baptist Church - 7.30pm - £5) A highly respected jazz and gospel singer, Helen presents her challenging story beginning with a selection of worship songs with live accompaniment.

MONDAY 20 AUGUST Blind Boys of Alabama (10pm - £17) Them Blind Boys sure get around. From Brecon to Ross, the Blind Boys of Alabama are taking their sixth decade together in their stride. Their Ross appearance is part of a 100 year retrospective of gospel and spiritual music.

Billie Jo Spears (7pm - £20) International country star with 30 albums sold on the back of ability to delight audiences, largely due to her lack of pretension and knack of talking directly to everyone in the audience on a level, at the same time.

WEDNESDAY 22 AUGUST Atomic Kitten / The Honeyz (3.30pm/7pm - £18) Two groups with ten Top 40 hits between them including Whole Again and Never Let You Down.

THURSDAY 23 AUGUST Feeder with support from Mark B & Blade (10pm - £17) Gwent boys rock with a little oriental help. Recent album Buck Rogers spawned several hits. The support has risen from the hip hop underground with a stunning album, The Unknown.

FRIDAY 24 AUGUST Van Morrison (7.15pm/9.15pm - £25) Known and loved throughout South Wales, Van 'the man' Morrison is one of a handful of acts on the Ross bill for whom no introduction is required. Uncompromising, mesmerising and a genius.

SATURDAY 25 AUGUST The Bluetones (10pm - £16) One of the most unoriginal bands to survive from the mid 1990s Beatles aped revival of guitar bands, The Bluetones are still bashing out those familiar sounding riffs and melodies.

Eddi Reader (2pm - £15) Fairground Attraction woman just won't stop twirling, writing and entertaining her clutch of dedicated fans that grows with every album and tour she completes, usually one a year.

* In the picture: Vanessa Mae