POSTAL bookings for this year's Thornbury Arts Festival don't even get underway until next Tuesday but interest is already high in several events.

Festival 2005 opens on April 15 with An Audience with Joan Bakewell, one of the great pioneers of TV journalism and an icon for her generation, who in her time has interviewed so many influential figures - from Georges Simenon to Margaret Thatcher.

Early appearances on BBC2s Late Night Line Up provided evidence of her intellectual grasp of a range of subjects. Later work on Granada's consumer affairs programme Reports Actions, the long running The Heart of the Matter and many other programmes and articles have allowed her gradually to shed the tag relating to her youthful good looks originally bestowed by Frank Muir.

Ms Bakewell will talk about her life and times, give her views on the BBC's policies (including the Corporation's attitude to women) and tell of highlights from a life of interviewing. She will also take questions from the audience when her story reaches the present day.

Dr Karen Bultitude from the University of the West of England has a mission to make science exciting for children and to this end is bringing her show Cool Science to Thornbury on Saturday, April 16 at 10.30am. Karen will use liquid nitrogen at 196 degrees below zero to illustrate the underlying principles of the effect of changing temperature on different objects with spectacular demonstrations such as using a banana as a hammer and firing a Pringles tube like a rocket.

Karen's show will be fun and of interest to all members of the family; the underlying scientific principles are important for children aged five to 11.

On the same day (8pm), opera fans are in for a real treat when Hatstand Opera bring Golden Moments from Opera to the Armstrong Hall in a cabaret-style setting that allows the audience to get very close to the action.

Hatstand are renowned for their infectious sense of fun, their unique informal presentation and quick-fire costume changes and regularly thrill audiences with their hilarious scenes and heart rending arias from the world's favourite operas.

On the afternoon of Sunday, April 17, Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel is the setting for guided walks around the arboretum with head gardener John Hunt followed by a delicious cream tea included in the price of the ticket. There are two tours, starting at 2pm or at 4pm, but numbers for this Tea and Trees event are limited.

September, Mutende and Underdown are the three local rock bands featuring in the Festival Pop Concert this year as one of the main Festival events.

September, described as "a young museque trio with a strong sound and solid performance", is made up of Dan Goudie on drums, Dave Hazel bass guitar, and Ollie Huggins on lead guitar and vocals. Mutende members are Stephen Roberts on drums, Dan Roberts on lead guitar and vocals, and Dan Staley on bass guitar. Both September and Mutende are associated with the Castle School in Thornbury. Underdown, a smart Indie pop group associated with ngm, are made up of Mark (vocals and guitar), Will (keyboard and vocals), Thorn (drums), Nick (guitar), and Jon (bass guitar).

This excellent concert in the Armstrong Hall on Sunday April 17 at 8.00pm, and is organised by the Christian based charity ngm, based at the Caedmon Complex in the town. Ngm has the aim of training young people in music and the arts encouraging them to volunteer in the community, working particularly with people who are disadvantaged in some way.

Festival lunchtime events are expected to be as popular as usual, starting on Monday, April 18 with a fascinating demonstration of the art of Sugarcraft with Iris Seymour from the Keynsham and Saltford Branch of the Sugarcraft Guild. Pat Hase - visiting Thornbury again - highlights the pleasures and frustrations of delving into one's family history in Family History - Fact or Fiction? on Tuesday, April 19.

The Festival Committee is delighted that the lunchtime concert on Wednesday, April 20 will feature four bands from Thornbury's highly successful and musically vibrant Castle school. The concert is set to provide a musical feast, featuring the school's Samba Band, Brass Quintet, Wind Quintet and String Quintet. Thursday, April 21 will see another highlight when David Howard, Priunce Charles's head gardener at Highgrove, takes us on an illustrated tour of the Prince's garden. The royal connection continues on Friday, April 22, when Susan Marshfield takes a light-hearted look at palace garden parties in Barefoot to Buckingham Palace.

Full details of Festival events are summarised on the website www.thornburyartsfestival.com which includes up-to-date news, a downloadable Events Guide and an order form for tickets.

Postal booking for all events opens on Tuesday on 01454 411695 and the box office opens in the town hall from April 4 (10am to 4pm).