Teesside is to host its firstworld music festival this month.

There are three events in the festival - WinterFest 06 - which has been organised by Tees Valley Arts and the African Arts Association.

A spokesman for the organisers said: "There are three events in the festival this year, and we hope that in future years the festival will be even bigger and better, with programmes of workshops leading up to it, offering new opportunities for performers and musicians in the region - beginners, students and experts - plus a chance to network with music industry professionals.''

The pilot festival will include an acoustic evening with poetry, music and acappella, upstairs at Sassari's, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, on Friday.

There will be music and performances by groups from Zimbabwe, the Ivory Coast, Iraq, Kurdistan, and Asia in Middlesbrough town hall crypt, between 1.30pm and 4pm on Sunday, March 19, which is being billed as a Teesside world party.

While the party is free, there will be an admission charge to a Big Night Out, at Middlesbrough town hall on the night.

The evening lineup will include Sakoba Dance Theatre UK, the Steven Wright Reggae Band, the Dede Saint Prix Band and Transglobal Underground.

A spokesman for the organisers said: "Teesside is becoming a more diverse place, with people from different cultures and different ways of living and enjoying themselves.

"If we celebrate this together, we can learn from each other, and have a really good time as well.''

The Big Night Out runs from 7.30pm until 11pm at Middlesbrough Town Hall, on Sunday, March 19. Admission charges are £5 and £7.50, with tickets available by ringing (01642) 729729.