WESTBURY Festival is well under way with almost 20 events already taken place, but over 50 more fantastic events are still to come.
This year’s festival – the tenth – has a wider range of events than ever before and people have been turning out in force to support the annual fortnight of local culture and entertainment.
Festival chair Ian Cunningham says, “The Festival got off to a cracking start with delightful performances by two choirs from Matravers and a brilliant preview by some of the soloists from the school’s upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast. Vincent Ling (piano) and Nicole Micheli (saxophone) gave astoundingly accomplished performances (they are both still at school). And “old pro” Graham Dalby (from the London Swing Orchestra) showed his versatility with a very mixed bag whilst “young pro” Emma Webb (leader of Westbury’s Rock Choir) finished off a wonderful evening with some of her own songs. So far every event has been great – I’ve managed to get to them all.
“This festival is not for profit, run by volunteers to promote our town. We’d really like people in the town to come and celebrate. There’s something for everyone and it’s certainly not over yet!
“This weekend, for instance, on Friday night you can hear the remarkable Catherine White (professor of harp at the Royal Academy) play at Holy Trinity, Dilton, and hear the Tone Takers (with BBC Antique Roadshow’s Marc Allum) for free in the Hollies at 9pm (you can do both, I will). On Saturday the 30th you could take the kids or grand kids to Jonathan the Jester & Circus friends at the Laverton – only £1 (booking advised), take the little ones to Festival Rhyme time at the library, help with one of the Lions’ remarkable giant jigsaws, listen to Dr Keith Hooper talk about new information in his just-published book on Dickens at the library 11am (get tickets from the library in advance as we sold out last weekend!), go to Victoria Gardens (free entry) for tea with poetry and prose at 2pm, or hear some excellent music and raise money for Crosspoint and Wiltshire Air Ambulance with the White Horse Community Choir (and friends) at West End Baptist Church, at 8pm.
“On Sunday join Va-Riotous (3pm West End Baptist Church) for only £6 as they take liberties with Swift’s Gulliver, with musical accompaniment from Baroque to Big Band – wonderful singing but also very funny.
“Then you’ve only got 26 events left to do before finishing up eating bangers and mash with Nick Page, former BBC presenter and 2017 English Comedian of the Year and a full list of comics at the Laverton on Saturday 7th October.
“Even cultural icons like Frome would struggle to compete with Westbury. So get out, show you care about the town and do something with your community!”
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.
At the final event of the festival, ‘Comedy with a Bang(er)’ at the Laverton on the 7th October, the recently-crowned ‘English Comedian of the Year,’ Nick Page, will be providing a belly full of laughs
Mayor of Westbury, councillor Gordon King officially opened the Festival on Friday 22nd September at the Laverton.
Cllr King said, “The challenge facing any organising committee is to keep moving forward, to find new things, new relevances; to re-charge our interest and curiosity, to find new things for us to do. Well, haven’t they done just that?
“The idea began its life as a music festival. Over time, what they meant by music was stretched and we were curious and wanted more. Now, as well as music we have a history festival, a cultural festival, a festival of literature and a celebration of comedy. Should you be so inclined, you can listen or participate, sing or dance, read or walk, study or chuckle.
“Putting the festival programme together has been no easy feat. I give my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Ian and the team.”
To see the full list of events and to book tickets go to www.westburyfestival.org.uk or visit the box office at E.J. Crafts on Maristow Street.
