It's the tour of the bush with a touch of class as the Australian Festival of Chamber Music prepares to take its world-class wound west.

As part of the 20^th anniversary celebrations the festival has extended its geographic reach to include  various events held across the region including Ayr, Mount Isa, Richmond, Cloncurry and Charters Towers.

With Townsville hosting the opening event in two weeks, the roar of the V8s will become a distant memory as some of the finest chamber musicians perform for the city.

The 2010 festival programme will feature more than 25 concerts, an outback tour, a Winterschool programme, a series of reef talks, a young families' concert and Chefs in the North dinner.

The main festival will take place from July 30 to August 7 and then in September, for the first time, Taste of Townsville, a fine wine and food festival will continue the AFCM celebration.

Recognised as the most prestigious international chamber music event in the southern hemisphere, the 2010 AFCM anniversary programme will bring a mix of contemporary chamber music artists.

Under the direction of world-renowned pianist Piers Lane, the AFCM 2010 offers locals a diverse programme of events.

"With an enviable global reputation for the quality of its distinguished artists, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music has become a happy meeting place for Australian and overseas visitors who enjoy the opportunity to hear and meet international musicians in a wonderfully inviting and unsurpassed winter beachside setting," Mr Lane said.