UNCONVENTIONAL sounds of all descriptions came from an array of instruments including a vegetable orchestra and an afro-beat band at a Hampshire music event.

The Festival of International Music, which began yesterday at the Courthouse in Eastleigh, brought together musicians of a variety of genres to encourage young people to have fun.

Activities included percussion making, storytelling, a drum workshop, and origami creation, while live music was played into the evening.

One Root, Ben Rouse (pictured below) and the Sea Slugs graced the stage at the unusual venue and Matt Salvage, director of Soco Music Project, hopes it offers something new to the area.

Daily Echo:

He said: “It’s about people having fun and listening to music and experiencing something new and coming together with the community.

“We do a lot of work with vulnerable adult groups and with young offenders and every day of the week there’s music on.”

Some of the more weird and wonderful instruments designed for the vegetable orchestra included carrot recorders and a broccoli trumpet.

The event has been continuing today with percussion making and live acts from 6pm include Bassline Dhol Drummers and Bat2K.