It has been promoting contemporary music for almost 40 years.

And organisers of Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival cannot wait to lift the curtains on their 37th annual event.

The sounds of electronic beats intermingled with symphonies and seminal rock bands will ring out from church halls, photography studios and the Lawrence Batley Theatre, when brave new styles will be showcased for the first time in between November 21 to 30.

And even strains of Spike Milligan will be heard in the distance when the Huddersfield University-based Edges Ensemble stage a free event at Wakefield’s renowned Hepworth Gallery, the newest venue to join the ranks of the UK’s largest international feast of new and experimental music.

This time a total of 37 world and 79 UK premieres will be aired to hundreds of music lovers from across the globe, which this year includes an abundance of free and family events to encourage more people to discover new genres than ever before.

Amongst the acts performing, all of whom have been tipped as pioneers of their crafts by the organisers, include Huddersfield lecturers Philip Thomas and Liza Lim as well as acclaimed Scottish composer James Dillon and rockers Henry Cow.

Philip Thomas
Philip Thomas

Meanwhile, even more quirky performances will come from a show of wooden Greek percussion instrument Simantras and a strong strand of musical theatre, which will explore madness, censorship and a homage to a resistance fighter who was executed by the Nazis.

This will be accompanied by a new showcase of performances which aim to improve health and well-being, which will culminate with the return of a whole free day of events on November 24.

BIT20 Ensemble
BIT20 Ensemble

Commenting on the festival, artistic director of HCMF, Graham McKenzie, said: “This year sees the festival, which generates £1.2m to the local economy over 10 days, run across the full range of musical experiences from celebrating the 40th anniversary of the mighty Arditti Quartet, to a morning of songs based around international lullabies by Dewsbury-based Indian arts organisation Manasamitra.

“If you’ve never been before this is the year to come.”

To find out what’s on and to buy tickets go to www.hcmf.co.uk