MARLBOROUGH has become rightly famous for its annual International Jazz Festival, that attracts top stars from all over the world.

The 2007 Marlborough International Jazz Festival will be on the weekend of July 13-15.

It started in 1986 but has grown in size and fame.

One Sunday newspaper columnist summed up the MIJF saying: "Each year the exquisite market town of Marlborough becomes a mini New Orleans."

Every hall, pub and club in the town is pressed into service as jazz venues.

Even the local Fire Station gets used with the fire engines providing a rather unusual backdrop for international jazz performers.

Another unexpected place to find jazz is at the local lawnmower centre and also the former ropeworks in Kennet Place.

Even the churches get used, either for concerts or for highly popular jazz themed services.

A marquee in the Priory Gardens becomes the largest single venue and there is also open-air jazz with bandstands in the street.

Some claim that jazz has its roots in African music, and that has been a major feature of the MIJF in recent years with a dedicated African bandstand.

Over the years the MIJF has attracted top international stars including Jools Holland and soul singer Elkie Brooks.

The Sixties folk legend Julie Felix has become a regular performer.

The festival has developed a name for picking out new talent that goes on to become internationally famous and probably the best example is singer Clare Teal, who was voted Vocalist of the Year in the 2005 BBC Jazz Awards.