POPULAR folk music musicians performing in the town’s pubs, and exciting days of entertainment will form just part of this year’s Westbury Music and Arts Festival.
With just six weeks to go, the festival is set to kick off with a flying start on Friday 16th September. A popular addition to this year’s festival will take place at 6.00pm that evening when Drumming Workshops will bang out the first beats for the following 14 days of Festival Music and Arts events.
The inclusion of folk music in the festival calendar for the first time will start on the opening night, Friday 16th September, with the extremely accomplished Blackthorn Band, who will take the stage at the Laverton Main Concert Hall at 8.00pm. The four-piece traditional folk band consists of Mannie and Fergus McClelland, Alex Percy and Sarah Mooney. They play a variety of instruments including concertina, bouzouki, fiddles, guitars, bass and flute.
The organisers say, “They have a life-long passion for traditional music and dance and will provide a wonderful evening’s entertainment which is guaranteed to get your feet tapping and put a smile on your face.”
The festival is delighted to have the co-operation of three of Westbury’s popular pubs, who will host folk music performances. The Angel in Church Street will be the venue for ‘ Folk at the Angel ‘ featuring local musicians, in the skittle alley on Friday evening and also Saturday lunchtime and evening.
The Lopes Arms in the Market Place will have the infectious Wiltshire band, Get Reel, with its Folk/Country/ Bluegrass catalogue of music on Friday evening and Saturday lunchtime.
The Crown Inn, also in the Market Place will host local live bands. The organisers still have a few unfilled slots at this time, so if you are a member of a local band and wish to perform as part of the festival please ring Mick Franks on 01373 825039 or email; franksm@btinternet. com for further information.
On Saturday 17th September from 11.00am through to 6.00pm there will be a wonderful atmosphere around the town, with dance troops made up of Appalachian Clog Dancers, Folk Dancers and Morris Dancers all clattering and jingling their way around the town and round All Saints Churchyard.
Market stalls will also be set up in the churchyard for festival goers to try, taste and buy local produce, and to browse and buy the wares on other interesting stalls. There will also be an Autumn Market just up the lane in Chantry Court with a variety of produce, including a delicatessen and a raffle, all in aid of Alzheimers Support.
On Saturday evening at 8.00pm at the Laverton Main Concert Hall will see the thrilling performance from the internationally known Irish Folk band, Guidewires. This is a five piece band with a mix of Irish and Breton members. They are described as being ‘The freshest sound in Irish Music’. The instruments they play range from guitars, concertinas, fiddles, bodhran, mandolin and resophonic guitar.
It promises to be a very interesting and exciting evening for all lovers of the good craic!
Along with all the above mentioned musical offerings, we must not overlook other festival events happening at the same time. There will be another popular interesting Gambia Exhibition at the joint venues of the Co-op Supermarket and the Laverton. On Saturday morning, the Library will have a Poetry Workshop between 10.00am and 12.00noon with the distinguished poet and artist Rose Flint, who will provide inspiration and encouragement. Tickets available at Westbury Library.
Folk music will start the festival, but will also be present at the end, when on Friday 30th September there will be a performance by last year’s crowd pullers, Finnegans Wake. And the exciting Bluegrass band, Bowlegged Skeeters will perform on Saturday 1st October. More information on these events will be published later.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the Festival Information Board in the window of Davies of Westbury from the start of September. Tickets for all events will be available from the middle of August. For more information contact: Roy Inwood 01373 864364 or Mick and Helen Franks 01373 825039.
