THE Westbury Music and Arts Festival is in full swing, with more events this week, before two big events finish the festival at the weekend.
Top singer / songwriters Sam Kelly (of Britain’s Got Talent) and Luke Concannon (known for his hit with the JCB song) will top the bill in an evening of entertainment at the Laverton on Saturday 12th October.
Then on Sunday afternoon the popular Opus One Swing Band return to the Paragon Hall to provide a fitting end to the festival.
Other events this week include a talk on Jane Austen, a glass fusing workshop at Matravers, an organ recital, children’s choral group, rhyme time at Westbury Library for babies and toddlers, an author talk, and Bratton Silver Band’s charity concert.
Festival chair Roy Inwood says the first week of the festival has gone well. “We have had three events that have been sellouts, Finnegans Wake at the Laverton, Akabella group at Chantry Court, and John Law and Sam Crockett at The Three Daggers Edington. All great entertainment and good musicians, as have been all the other artists that have taken part so far. If this is anything to go by, the remainder of the festival should be really great.
“The Imber Service went really well, the church being full and the service was really moving. The Reverend Mark Jones commented how good the musicians and choirs were, and BBC Wiltshire did us proud, with Sue Davies, BBC presenter, leading the way. It was recorded and went out on radio Sunday morning at 8.00am, it came across really well. I feel it put Westbury and the Music and Arts Festival on the map.”
Arts and crafts, jazz, poetry, local history, workshops, popular music and classical music are all part of the festival, which is now in its sixth year. Many events are free to attend and most others are under the £10 mark.
The festival aims to bring more events and activities to the Westbury area, as well as showcasing talented local artists. Find out more about the events at www.wmafestival.co.uk
