TICKETS are selling out fast in the final weeks leading up to Westbury Festival – one of the town’s biggest and first post-lockdown events for the community to enjoy.
The festival runs from 25th September to 9th October in numerous venues, and organisers hope that this year will be “bigger and better” than ever before!
There are over 60 events on the calendar with some selling out rapidly, including an evening with Channel 5 TV’s Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen, and a workshop session learning how to paint the “castle and roses” seen on canal barges.
The festival will kick off with the town council-organised Chilli Fest and after that, the world famous Adlbourne brass band will be coming to All Saints Church (save £5 on the door price with an early bird ticket).
Other music events include Tenby Duo – two talented young musicians from the Birmingham Conservatoire performing a repertoire on saxophone and cello – and a themed 1920s evening with Trio Paradis presenting the delights of a palm court playlist. 1920s dress will definitely be encouraged!
Amanda Owen – shepherdess, farmer’s wife, mother to nine children, a passionate photographer and Sunday Times bestselling author – will be doing a talk at the festival on 1st October. The Owens live a life that has almost gone in today’s modern world, one ruled by the seasons and their animals. Home is Ravenseat, a 2,000-acre hill farm at the head of Swaledale, North Yorkshire, one of the highest and most remote places in England.
In November 2018, the Owens became the stars of their very own Channel 5 TV series ‘Our Yorkshire Farm’, which became the channel’s highest rating factual show of the year in the 8pm slot, attracting an average of 2.2 million viewers per week.
The castle and roses painting workshop will take place at All Saints Parish Rooms at 1pm on 2nd October and is an opportunity to learn how to paint in the traditional style with Louise Williams, who will take people through the basics and show them how to decorate their own jugs – all equipment provided, just bring an apron or shirt to cover up!
There will also be exhibitions, drawing and photography sessions, open mic events, a vintage film and cream tea afternoon, stained glass workshop, history and mystery.
Among the festival performances will be magic by OzMoses, and a one-woman theatre show, Oh Mary!, by Bec Applebee. The tale is a story of endurance and spirit based on the incredible life story of Mary Bryant; Cornish highway woman, convict, mother and maritime adventurer.
Tickets for all events will be available from Spacecraft in Edward St as well as from the festival website www.westbury festival.org.uk.
Spacecraft is also hosting a number of events which can be booked directly through them and, as usual, Westbury Library is getting involved with talks on Dickens, a glimpse at Westbury’s past and poetry.
The acclaimed series of free little lunch concerts are back at 1pm every weekday in All Saints Church during the festival fortnight.
The festival will be rounded off with a finale at The Laverton on 9th October from 7.30pm to 10.30pm, featuring Bristol’s faux-French band Fromage en Feu, Wiltshire singer-songwriter, Harmony Asia, festival favourites, The Frukes ukelele group, Bradford-on-Avon’s The Towpath Singers, and Westbury’s very own Leander Morales, who will also compere.
Organisers are delighted at the booming ticket sales and are hoping that the festival fortnight will once again bring a variety of entertainment to the town.
Festival chair, Ian Cunningham, said, “We are delighted to see the interest being shown in the town.”
