After one of the biggest build ups to an arts event staged in the region, the curtain finally went up on the Women's Arts International Festival, writes Adrian Mullen.

Held at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre, the atmosphere was electric as queues spilled out of the Brewery doors and people stood shoulder to shoulder for the opening night of the 21-date showcase of women artistes.

At the festival launch, Brewery chief executive Sam Mason painted a picture of how the festival had evolved from a suggestion by one of the world's leading women's artists, Dr Pam Johnston, two years ago in the Brewery garden, and paid tribute to all who had been involved in staging the festival, particularly Linda Graham, the festival director, who he said was the driving force behind the whole event.

Introducing the various speakers, Linda - who had worked tirelessly for nigh on 18 months to pull it all together - said she was "proud" to be involved.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron, a self-confessed "music anorak", told the gathering that the Brewery festival "demonstrated the region's cultural cutting edge" and he was "blown away" by the fact that Patti Smith, often referred to as the godmother of punk rock and who had influenced many of the bands he'd liked, would be playing "here" at the Brewery.

In her speech, deputy director of the Arts Council England, North West, Aileen McEvoy, described the Brewery as a "cultural powerhouse" and how lucky people in the area were to have the Kendal arts centre.

Pam Johnston - as inspirational as ever - outlined some of the thinking behind the festival.

She said: "I was filled with awe and wonder at what had been achieved since it (the festival) was first mentioned in 2005 on my first visit to the Brewery."

Agenda-setting author, feminist and outspoken broadcaster Germaine Greer provided the introduction for the first artist under the festival spotlight on opening night - Marianne Faithfull. Ms Greer defined the 1960s icon as a "woman of great courage and skill".

As soon as Marianne hit the stage she connected.

She was wonderfully expressive, and her unique vocal chords, a little rough maybe around the edges, captivated the audience - her easy, natural charm so seductive and mesmerising.

She began with No Regrets, had us stamping our feet to the thumping Spike Driver Blues (featuring great bottleneck guitar from Joe Sands) and we listened intently to the lyrics of Marathon Kiss, All the Best and Something Better, a song from the Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus live album.

With a three-piece band that had the musical depth of a far bigger line-up, her set also featured tunes penned for Marianne by Nick Cave and PJ Harvey, and the pulsating title track from her 1979 album, Broken English, fairly rocked the Brewery theatre.

Few I've seen could hold an audience so well and behind most of the songs was a story to be told, which she did with a sharp intelligence, humour and a glint in her eyes, her warmth washing over those enthralled.

Hinting occasionally at that endearing, youthful fragility, she was otherwise magnetic and assured.

To finish, she went back to the beginning, with the song written for her when she was 17 by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards - As Tears Go By - and had us all singing along.

The strain of a world tour started to show by the closing notes. However, determined Marianne came back for more and sang the late, great Harry Nilsson's Don't Forget Me.

We certainly won't, Marianne.

The film Sisters-in-Law and Mrs Barbara Nice hosting an all-funny, all-female Barrel of Laughs, both at the Brewery, plus dance with State of Emergency, at Kirkby Lonsdale's Queen Elizabeth School, were the other opening festival events.