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Neston Music Festival Reaches Climax - What Did You Think?

An energetic performance by Billy Thompson brought the 2018 Neston Music Festival to a conclusion on Thursday last week (24th May).

The wildly enthusiastic full house gave his Gypsy Style band a standing ovation.

Billy Thompson closed this year's Neston Music Festival with a rousing performance at St Thomas' Church in Parkgate.

Playing numbers ranging from Vittorio Monti's well-known Czardas, to pieces written for Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, to some of his own compositions, the classically-trained improvising violinist again returned to his boyhood hometown of Neston prior to travelling with his band for a tour of Norway.

Closing the festival, coordinator Mike Shipman said: "The number of sell-out events suggested the festival aim of bringing to Neston professional performers and yound gifted amateurs who might otherwise pass the town by, has resulted in six weeks of really enjoyable music.

"If you have any comments, good or bad, or ideas for the future, maybe even offers of help, please get in touch via nestonmusicfestival@gmail.com."

He thanked the sponsors of the events - Neston Civic Society, Neston Methodist Church, Parkgate & Neston United Reformed Church, Parkgate Society, Rotary Club of Neston, St Thomas's and Mersey Morris Men.  He paid special tribute to the festival organising team of Ina Bushell, Dave Carter, Clive Edwards, Marie and Patrick Hughes, Scirard Lancelyn-Green, Alan Passmore, Angela Pettit-Jones, and Frank Wood.

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Comments

Rob Ward

At 15:23 on 29th May 2018, Rob Ward commented:

What a fantastic ending to a brilliant music festival. Billy Thompson was amazing: I didn't know anybody could get all those sounds out of a violin. So many of the concerts were sold out, the organisers can be proud of their hard work. Such a variety of music. I do hope we will have another music festival. Since it took 15 months to organise this one, perhaps we will have to wait for two years for another? Mike and the team deserve a rest, but I hope they will soon find the energy to start again.

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Grumpy.Old.Git

At 09:48 on 30th May 2018, Grumpy.Old.Git commented:

Went to five concerts, all were excellent and Billy Thompson's finale was superb. Had no idea what to expect in a concert of "Gypsy Style Jazz", but was enthralled all the way through. Can't wait for next Neston music festival, and seriously hope it is becomes an annual event. BT did finish with "See you next year".

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Angela C

At 13:36 on 30th May 2018, Angela C commented:

I went to three concerts Rhos Male Voice Choir, Fordante and Billy Thompson. All were excellent. The organisers of the music festival did a sterling job and thoroughly deserve our thanks.It would be great if this did become an annual event.

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Dave Carter

At 20:15 on 30th May 2018, Dave Carter commented:

Many thanks to Mike for the fantastic work he has done here, the planning for the festival began well over a year ago but it is Mike's drive and organisational skills which have seen this through. Having been involved, to a much lesser extent, it is my view that a biennial festival is ideal. One reason is that the lead time for booking some of the performers is over a year. If we wanted to hold a similar festival in spring 2019, we should have started the process several months ago. So I would be in favour of, and prepared to take part in, starting planning later this year for a festival in Spring 2020.

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