WESTBURY Festival kicks off next week and there’s still time to get your hands on tickets for some of the exciting events lined up.
The annual music and arts festival which is now in its 10th year, will run from Friday 22nd September to Saturday 7th October, and the programme is bursting with music events, workshops, tours, arts and crafts, and comedy.
Headlining the festival are 60s’ pop group, The Bachelors, who will be performing on Friday 6th October. Now referred to as, Bachelors – Con & Dec, during the 1960s the group had many successful hits in music charts in the UK, USA and all over the world.
Also featuring will be the recently-crowned ‘English Comedian of the Year’ Nick Page, who will be providing a belly full of laughs at the final event of the festival, ‘Comedy with a Bang(er)’ at the Laverton.
Westbury Festival chair, Ian Cunningham said, “We’ve got an absolutely fantastic line-up to celebrate the Festival’s tenth anniversary. And with more than 50 events, there’s something for everyone!
“The Westbury Festival is not-for-profit, and staffed entirely by hard working volunteers who give hundreds of hours of their time. Many of the artists and performers give their time for free or little money. Our generous commercial festival sponsors, Elkins Ford & Hills Group, don’t support us because we offer the best package, they do it to support our community.
“There a complete mix of entertainment including comedy, magic, live music – from classic to modern – afternoon teas, an organ recital, talks and exhibitions and over half of the 50 events are free! We’ve got everything from songs & rhyme for the under-3s to an evening of bagpipe music. There’s even a ghost walk thrown in!
“The opening night of the festival will be Friday 22nd September at The Laverton and as usual will include a variety of acts, some local, some old friends, some new, some young, some old and hopefully something for everyone to enjoy.
“We welcome a performance from international soloist Graham Dalby who, among his many talents, is the director at the London Swing Orchestra. We are also delighted with the return of Nicole Micheli and Vincent Ling, who thrilled us all last year with their performances on saxophone and piano.
“Young performers from Matravers School will perform some selections from their upcoming production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast including, ‘Gaston’ and ‘If I Can’t Love Her,’”
New to the festival this year is Emma Webb. Known to us locally as the leader of Westbury’s Rock Choir, Emma will be performing solo with a mix of musical theatre and acoustic pieces with her guitar and also some of her own songs.
Finally, back by popular demand, Tom Bond performs ‘Feeling Good’.”
Other highlights of the festival include; a session with the Wiltshire Scrap Store at a ‘Princes, Princesses, Knights and Damsels’ event at Leigh Park Community Centre, Dr Zebo’s Wheezy Club, Fairfield Farm College Afternoon Tea with magic from Jayne Corrigan and Marc Allum & His Band at The Hollies.
There will also be French Country Dancing, Leighton House Walks, Jonathan the Jester Circus Show, The White Horse Community Choir, Brass Ensemble and an organ recital – plus much more.
“In many cases, what you pay for the ticket goes straight to the group or charity organising it, while many of the events are raising funds for good causes,” added Ian. “A ghost walk with Michelle Slade, for instance, is raising money for children’s charity Breakaway; a slap-up tea at Fairfield College with a magician to entertain you raises money mostly for Fairfield (the magician knocked 90% off her fee when she saw what the college does for young people); the teas on sale at events in All Saints, West End Baptist Church, Victoria Gardens and Stormore Chapel, all raises funds for those organisations.”
To see the full programme of events, which will take place in venues throughout the town, see our 4 page festival pullout link below. To book tickets go to www.westburyfestival.org.uk or visit the box office at E.J. Crafts on Maristow Street.
http://www.whitehorsenews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/westbury-festival.pdf
