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 from Friday 25th September, is again packed with a range of events and workshops to suit all tastes. This year the festival will have a large number of free events on offer.
Festival chairman Ian Cunningham said, “With just three weeks to go we are very excited about our biggest ever festival. 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.
“Thanks to our large number of fantastic sponsors there is a lot for free or at reduced cost. It is a real community event with generous support from both small businesses and larger sponsors such as the Hills Group, and principal sponsors HPH Ltd all.
“Of course, it’s not all free and we hope you will buy tickets to some events such as the Ceilidh with Pilgarlic, fun Opera in Access all Arias, Tea for Two (at Fairfield College), a chance to sing the Mikado with Bath G&S Society, the Frome Swing Band (sponsored by Co-Operative Funeral Care -Southern) or a dinner & a dance with Sticky Toffee Jazz to name but a few.
“We have a free family variety show taking place at Leigh Park Community Centre (who are kindly sponsoring the venue) on Saturday 10th Oct at 2pm. This will feature a professional ventriloquist, magician and juggler – the acts sponsored by Elkins Ford.
“Another free family event will be the making of a community wall hanging with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at the Laverton on Sat 3rd Oct at 2pm. And if you are available in the morning you can learn to drum with TWM music school for £1, or learn to play the harmonica for £4 – but you can keep the harmonica which costs £3.99 because the events are supported by TWM, Westbury Lions and Westbury Town Council/Laverton.
“All Saints Church will be offering a series of free lunchtime concerts each weekday during the festival as well as the popular festival choral evensong on the Sunday the 4th Oct.
“There will be a free WW1 themed Art Exhibition at the Laverton from 26 Sept to 1st Oct (excluding Sunday 27th) sponsored by Wiltshire Council, Westbury Town Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“Several pubs are putting on free events including Stamp at the Horse & Groom, Paul Dumas (ventriloquist – adult show) at the Hollies amongst many others. Westbury Schools Partnership are running a free Creative Art Extravaganza at Matravers School from 4pm on 7 October.”
The Westbury Festival lineup at a glance:
Fri 25 Sep 7:15pm Opening Concert Location to be confirmed
Fri 25 Sep 9.00 pm Craig Charles, Funk and Soul Club DJ at Club Ice, Westbury Trading Estate
Sat 26 Sep 10.00 am The everyday Tommy – Art Exhibition Helen Chester at The Laverton, Bratton Road
Sat 26 Sep 7.30 pm Ceilidh with Pilgarlic Ceilidh at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury
Sun 27 Sep 2.00 pm Stamp and Us Two at the Horse & Groom, Edward Street, Westbury
Sun 27 Sep 3.00 pm Naomi Bignall – Access all Arias at West End Baptist Chapel, Westbury
Sun 27 Sep 11:00 am Blue Plaque History walk with Steve Hobbs at Churchyard, Westbury
Mon 28 Sep 10.00 am The everyday Tommy – Art Exhibition Helen Chester at The Laverton, Bratton Road
Mon 28 Sep 1:10 pm Little Lunch Music – Fiona Harris Contralto at All Saints Church, Westbury
Tue 29 Sep 10.00 am The everyday Tommy – Art Exhibition Helen Chester at The Laverton, Bratton Road
Tue 29 Sep 1:10pm Little Lunch Music 2 – Hilperton Recorders at All Saints Church, Westbury
Tue 29 Sep 2 & 3.30 pm Tea for Two with accompanying pianist, Sue Miles at Fairfield College, Dilton Marsh
Tue 29 Sep 7.00 pm Dr Keith Hooper – Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend at Westbury Library, Edward Street
Wed 30 Sep 10.00 am The everyday Tommy – Art Exhibition Helen Chester at The Laverton, Bratton Road
Wed 30 Sep 1:10pm Little Lunch Music 3 – Organ Talk & Demo at All Saints Church, Westbury
Wed 30 Sep 7.30 pm Poetry Out Loud at Chantry Court, Church Street, Westbury
Thur 1 Oct 1:10pm Little Lunch Music 4 – Organ Dewar at All Saints Church, Westbury
Thur 1 Oct 10.00 am The everyday Tommy – Art Exhibition Helen Chester at The Laverton, Bratton Road
Fri 2 Oct 11am Festival Rhyme Time for Toddlers Westbury Library, Edward Street, Westbury
Fri 2 Oct 1:10pm Little Lunch Music 5 at All Saints Church, Westbury
Fri 2 Oct 7.30 pm Sticky Toffee Jazz (doors open at @ 7 pm) at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury
Sat 3 Oct 10.00 am Djembe Drum workshop at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury
Sat 3 Oct 10.00 am Harmonica Workshop at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury
Sat 3 Oct am & pm Talk & walk around Leighton House, Warminster Road, Westbury
Sat 3 Oct 2.00 pm Make a Community Wallhanging with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at The Laverton, Bratton Rd
Sat 3 Oct 3.00 pm Gilbert and Sullivan “Scratch Mikado” at Methodist Chapel, Westbury
Sat 3 Oct 7:30pm The Live Session – Leander Morales at Dilton Marsh Village Hall
Sun 4 Oct 2.30 pm Fiata Trio at West End Baptist Chapel, Westbury
Sun 4 Oct 6.30 pm Festival Evensong at All Saints Church, Westbury
Mon 5 Oct 1:10 pm Little Lunch Music 6 at All Saints Church, Westbury
Tue 6 Oct 1:10 pm Little Lunch Music 7 at All Saints Church, Westbury
Wed 7 Oct 1:10pm Little Lunch Music 8 – Organ Bennett at All Saints Church, Westbury
Wed 7 Oct 4:00pm Westbury Area Schools Partnership Arts Extravaganza at Matravers School, Springfield Rd
Thur 8 Oct 1:10pm Little Lunch Music 9 – Organ & Viola – David & Hilary Dewar at All Saints Church
Fri 9 Oct 1:10pm Little Lunch Music 10 at All Saints Church, Westbury
Fri 9 Oct 7.30 pm Music for Three Guitars at Dilton Church, Dilton Marsh
Fri 9 Oct 11.00 am Festival Rhyme Time for Toddlers at Westbury Library, Edward Street
Fri 9 Oct 7.30 pm Finnegan’s Wake Irish music at The Three Daggers, Edington
Fri 9 Oct 7.30 pm Community Pub Night various events around the town
Sat 10 Oct 2.00 pm Family show with various artists for children at Leigh Park Community Centre
Sat 10 Oct 10am & 2pm Pottery Have a go at White Horse Pottery, Bratton Road, Westbury
Sat 10 Oct am & pm Talk & walk around Leighton House, Warminster Road, Westbury
Sat 10 Oct 7.30 pm Lightgarden and Georgia Lewis music event at The Laverton, Bratton Road
Sun 11 Oct 3.00 pm Frome Swing Band music event at the Paragon Hall, Haynes Road, Westbury
For full details of the festival lineup and to book your tickets, visit www.wmafestival.co.uk or call 01373 302956.
