WESTBURY Music and Arts Festival is launching the programme for this year’s festival, which takes place from Friday 21st September to Saturday 6th October.
A printed programme is now available from outlets in the town including Westbury Visitor Centre in the High Street. The festival brings a host of events including music concerts, art exhibitions, and workshops to the town. This year audiences can expect to see the return of old favourites, as well as the opportunity to enjoy new and different events such as walking tours.
Roy Inwood, chair of the festival committee says, “We do have some events returning from last year or the year before, like Finnigan’s Wake – they’ve done two years and they’ve been such a big success we’re putting them on again. John Paul Ekins came to Edington two years ago, which was a great success. This year we’ve got local girl Liz Anderson doing one half of the programme, then John Paul Ekins doing the other half, with afternoon tea in between.
“Din Ghani, the lute player, is going to do a workshop before the concert at Westbury Leigh Church and he wants to get people interested in learning about the lute, whether it is the construction or playing.
“Lee Ingram will be at The Three Daggers in Edington, where you can have a three-course meal to go with it, or just sit in the bar and listen.
“New this year is Tony Hazzard, who has written a lot of well-known songs for the likes of people like Lulu. Another new event is the history walk around Westbury on Sunday 23rd and Sunday 30th September – it’s free but there’s a maximum of 25 so you do need to get a ticket.”
Now in its fourth year, the Westbury Music and Arts Festival seeks to bring culture and entertainment to the town and villages with something for all ages and tastes. From classical music at the Priory Church to jazz in local pubs, and from exhibitions to the ‘Big Draw’ workshop for all budding artists, the festival continues to widen its appeal. Another new aspect of this year’s festival is that the festival will be taken into some of the local schools with special events for children.
Roy Inwood hopes that the festival will build on the success of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert at All Saints Church, which the festival committee ran over the celebratory weekend, as well as the festivals of previous years. “We’re trying to continue to develop the festival. We’ve got our funds to do things and if we make the money each year we can plough that back in and hopefully keep bringing something bigger and better as time goes on.
“It’s pretty good for a town the size of Westbury, and we hope it’s putting Westbury on the map.”
The festival is also looking for volunteers to help sell tickets and steward at events. Volunteers do not need to have any musical knowledge, just a few hours to spare to help the events run smoothly. If you can help, please contact the festival on the numbers below.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday 6th September from Town & Country estate agents in the High Street, and on subsequent Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9.30am-2.00pm. You can also book by ringing 01373 864 364 or 01373 302 956.
