Buildup begins for biggest ever festival

THE full programme for this year’s Westbury Music and Arts Festival has been released with something on offer for all the family.

The festival, which will run for 16 days in September and October, is again packed with a range of events and workshops to suit all tastes.

The first event to whet the appetite will be the annual music and arts festival quiz on Friday 28th August before the festival really gets under way on Friday 25th September.

Festival chairman Ian Cunningham said, “It’s been a busy few weeks finalising events for what will be the biggest festival yet. We hope that we will be able to encourage people who haven’t been to an event before, by having such a wide range of items on offer with many offerings that are free or at a very low cost.

“We want people to feel this festival is for them and about celebrating their town. We had quite a few visitors from outside Westbury last year and really hope that some Westbury residents will invite friends and family to show them how much goes on here.

“All the events are listed on the website and our brochure is available for download and should be appearing around the town next week.

“After much fun last year we are running another pre-festival quiz this Friday , 28th August at the Laverton Hall from 7.00pm. Teams of up to six people are invited to compete in  rounds on music, arts, general knowledge and a wealth of quirky quiz questions.”

This year’s programme has over 40 events on offer including concerts, talks, workshops and exhibitions in venues across the town.

Tickets are flying off the shelves already for the big names including actor and radio star Craig Charles’ DJ set, and returning favourite Sticky Toffee Jazz.

There will also be appearances from previous years’ success stories Fiata Trio and Finnegan’s Wake. Workshops on offer include lessons in Djembe drumming, harmonica and pottery.

For the first time this year, the festival will have a series of free short lunchtime concerts in All Saints Church. The lunch break series will run from  1.10pm each weekday from Monday 28th September to Friday 9th October. Tickets are £4 per person and available online  or on 03336 663 366.

For full details of the festival lineup and to book your tickets, visit www.wmafestival.co.uk or call the enquiries line on 01373 302956.