FEAST OF MUSICAL TREATS
| Published: 24th June 2008 12:21 |
This year the Lichfield Festival is going further afield than ever to bring events of the highest quality to venues right across Staffordshire.
From Brewood to Hoar Cross, Barlaston to Clifton Campville and Dunstall to Swinfen, musicians and actors will be filling country churches, village halls and even grand country house gardens with their performances.
The Lichfield Festival is the premiere multi-arts festival in the county and draws national and international attention to Staffordshire during its ten days each July. For the 2008 festival it introduces the FEAST (Festival Events Around STaffordshire) programme of concerts.
Touring Staffordshire will be ZUM3, a trio of expert musicians whose influences embrace gypsy music, tango, bluegrass, jazz and klezmer styles. They bring their hot-blooded rhythms and astonishing instrumental virtuosity to Brewood and Hoar Cross churches, and to Barlaston Village Hall.
Northumbrian piper Andy May, who was a huge hit at last year's Festival, is back with his sparring partner, guitarist Ian Stephenson. This time he is playing at St Andrew's Church in Clifton Campville.
Badke Quartet Other events around Staffordshire include the MDCC Theatre Company which is venturing into the elegant grounds of Dunstall Hall, just outside Barton-Under-Needwood, for one performance of their latest Shakespeare production, Henry V, and the Badke Quartet, who will be playing a lunchtime concert in the ballroom at the Swinfen Hall Hotel.
Two of the FEAST performances have received generous funding from Staffordshire County Council's Local Member Iniative Scheme.
County Councillor Matthew Ellis is supporting the performance by Andy May and Ian Stephenson at St Andrew's Church, Clifton Campville, and County Councillor Timothy Corbett is supporting the performance by gypsy tango trio ZUM3 at Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross.
Full FEAST programme:
- Sunday 6 July
2pm MDCC presents Shakespeare's Henry V in Dunstall Hall Gardens.
3pm Andy May and Ian Stephenson at St Andrew's Church, Clifton Campville. - Tuesday 8 July
12.30pm Badke Quartet in the Ball Room, Swinfen Hall Hotel.
2pm ZUM3 at St Mary & St Chad, Brewood.
7.30pm ZUM3 at Barlaston Village Hall. - Wednesday 9 July
2pm ZUM3 at Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross.
The Lichfield Festival (3-13 July 2008) is the premiere multi-arts festival in the West Midlands. Festival Director is Richard Hawley. The 2008 Lichfield Festival is supported by principal partner BMW Plant Hams Hall and funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by Lichfield District Council.
For more information on the Lichfield Festival call 01543 30627. To book tickets call the Box office: 01543 412121 or go to www.lichfieldfestival.org
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