Originally conceived to tempt bored office workers away from their desks, these midday gigs are now an integral part of The Brighton Festival.

Cheap tickets and their central location have turned these intimate events from an alternative to a sandwich in front of your computer screen to a quiet highlight of the festival.

Running Monday to Saturday for the duration of the festival, the line-up takes in jazz, classical and world music. The programme of 19 lunchtime concerts has relocated from The Friends Meeting Place in Ship Street to the roomier and refurbished Pavilion Theatre.

"They're very popular among older people who haven't got much money or who don't want to venture out at night," says festival organiser Gill Kaye. "We still get a lot of workers turning up for a break from their daily grind, but the audience is a real mixed bag."

This year's programme is launched on Saturday by Tomorrow's Warriors, formed by Gary Crosby of pioneering Eighties band Jazz Warriors, which kick-started the careers of jazz greats Courtney Pine and Cleveland Watkiss. This modern British jazz band was set up to provide apprenticeships for young musicians and Saturday's gig comprises some of the UK's freshest talent.

On Monday, young French pianist Alexandre Tharaud, one of Europe's most exciting classical pianists, puts in a performance. He will be playing extracts from Rameau's Suites, Ravel's Mirroirs and Chopin's Six Valses.

Classically-trained multi-instrumentalist Debashish Bhattacharya appears on Tuesday. The guitar virtuoso combines Indian ragas, jazz runs, slide guitar and blues bass lines while switching between classical Indian instruments such as veena, sitar and sarode. Debashish's brother Subhasis joins him on tabla.

Pianist Catherine Milledge - a Guildhall postgraduate - will accompany Sydney Symphony Orchestra saxophonist Amy Dickson on Wednesday for a wide-ranging recital. This promises to be a romp through some of the most exciting saxophone pieces, from Gershwin to Bozza to Yoshimatsu's Fuzzy Bird Sonata.

Thursday is a real treat for fans of avant-garde world music courtesy of Julien Jacob. At the age of four, West African Julien moved to southern France and absorbed rock and jazz influences there.

After a stint in a pop band, Julien hung out with Fela Kuti, Miles Davies and Al Jarreau, while honing his songwriting skills in a small Brittany town. His music is distinctly African, but full of Breton flourishes and cultural twists. He sings in an imaginary language, which might hamper lesser singer-songwriters, but this merely focusses the audience's attention on Julien's rich, soulful voice.

Lunchtime concerts start at 1pm. Tickets cost £6. Call 01273 709709.