AN exciting line-up has been announced for this year’s Westbury Music and Arts Festival, with nearly 50 acts already lined up to bring the best in entertainment to the town.
A provisional lineup has been released by the festival committee and tickets are already being snapped up for some of the festival favourites. The programme offers something for everyone, old and young, whether your taste is learning to drum, dancing an Irish jig, singing opera or just enjoying a range of folk, jazz and classical music.
There are also history walks around the town, pottery and poetry, choral music and even magic.
The festival kicks off on Friday 25th September and runs until 11th October.
Arts festival chairman Ian Cunningham said, “This year is offering our most varied line up of events ever. We have listened to what people told us, taken on board their comments and made sure we have a range of events that will be both fun and entertaining.”
Now in its 8th year, the festival is run by volunteers and has won funding and support from the Arts Council, Westbury Town Council and Westbury Area Board as well as a host of local businesses, including principal sponsors, HPH Commercial Property and festival sponsors, the Hills Group and Elkins Ford.
The festival website, wmafestival.co.uk now has a complete listing.
Making a popular return to the festival line up is Sticky Toffee Jazz, offering mellow jazz and swing sung by Sandy Ince, dinner and backed with Jacinta Landon’s Elevate Vintage Dance Group.
For a more energetic evening the festival offers Ceilidh dancing with the 6-piece Pilgarlic Band led by a caller who guarantees that everybody should be able to join in whatever age you are or whatever your experience.
There will also be a series of short, free, weekday, lunchtime concerts in All Saints Church offering an alternative to a sandwich at your desk for those who are in the town.
And for those who have a yearning to try their hand at Gilbert and Sullivan, the festival offers just that – a Mikado workshop with the Bath G&S society followed by a performance to friends and family alongside celebrated singers and soloists from Bath.
The festival kicks off with a double whammy – an extravaganza of music provided by local choirs at the Laverton – and then the appearance at Club Ice of celebrity DJ and TV personality Craig Charles.
To get in the mood, festival organisers are staging a welcome return of last year’s popular music and arts quiz complete with film, sound and lots of fun. That will be at the Laverton on Friday 28th August.
For all this and much more, please visit www.wmafestival.co.uk for more details, look out for the launch of the full programme and come and visit the festival organisers in their pop-up shop…. coming soon to a town centre near you!
