If your only experience of world sacred music is that bloke who plays the panpipes outside Churchill Square, then you could do with broadening your horizons.

Returning for its fourth year, the Brighton Festival of World Sacred Music aims to "promote understanding and tolerance between people of different faiths and none through something that we all share - the love of beautiful music".

This hands-across-the-world approach may not be to the liking of the average cynic but it's a fine opportunity to bring together a rich and diverse selection of world music performers.

This year, a ceremonial Native American teepee will peg out in New Road and provide a focus to the festival. There, Raymond Redfeather, a mixed-blood Ojibwa Indian, will be playing his own hand-crafted flutes and run flute-making workshops - passers-by can also drop in and talk to Colorado-born Raymond about Native American life.

If that's not your cup of tea(pee), other festival highlights include a visit to the seaside from Britain's hottest gospellers, the London Community Gospel Choir, as well as Swati Natekar, the haunting voice of Nitin Sawhney's hit album Beyond Skin.

Other festival firsts include a screening of film Sufi Soul: The Mystic Music of Islam, which will be introduced by its director Simon Broughton at the Duke of York's Picturehouse.

There's even a 100-strong children's parade, as well as live outdoor performances of Chinese and Indian dance.

With a myriad concerts taking place from St George's Church in Kemp Town to the Brighton Buddhist Centre, there's no excuse not to dip your toes into something different.

  • Various start times and ticket prices. Call 01273 709709 or visit www.worldsacredmusic.org