THE BROMSGROVE Festival is now in full swing and the events are coming thick and fast.
This weekend’s events were covered in last week’s paper and the story can be read online at www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk
Here are some of the events coming up:
* FROM TOMORROW (Saturday), there will be three exhibitions launched.
One is is the annual Bromsgrove Art Exhibition which runs at All Saints Church, Birmingham Road.
It will feature 300 paintings, all done by local artists, mainly from art clubs and societies in the area.
Mike Hurst, the Vice Chairman of the Art Society, said: “This is always a popular event, which attracts many visitors.
“There is always something to interest everybody, as the variety of subjects always ranges from traditional to occasional abstract subjects, and in all types of medium.”
All pictures are for sale with prices ranging from a couple of points to more than £100, depending on the size.
Members of all local art clubs, societies and local artists are invited to showcase their original art work.
A catalogue and entry to the exhibition, which runs until July 4, is £2. It is open from 10am to 4pm weekdays and between midday and 4pm on Sundays.
To enter a picture, call Tony Turpin on 01527 876659. Proceeds go to the historic church.
* THE SECOND, which runs until the following Saturday (June 27) at Rubery Library, is of work done by the South Birmingham Guild of Silk Painters.
The works will be on show during library opening times – from 9.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays except Wednesday and between 9.30am and 4pm on the Saturday.
The library is closed on Sunday.
E-mail [email protected] for more on the silk painters and the exhibition.
* AND THERE will be an art textile exhibition of work done by students of Edwina Mackinnon and Ineke Berlyn in the main hall of Avonroft Arts Centre.
That runs from 10am to 5pm next Saturday (June 20) and between 10am and 4pm on the Sunday (June 21).
The work displays all aspects of the processes involved, including sketchbooks, dyed and printed textiles and the completed item.
Admission, which includes tea or coffee and cake, is £3.
For more, visit www.edwinamac.blogspot.co.uk or call 07891 079080.
* ALSO TOMORROW (Saturday) will be Barnt Green Choral Society’s Summer Concert – ‘Eat, Drink and Be Merry’ – at St Andrew’s Church, Sandhills Road.
This will feature a selection of songs on the theme of eating, drinking and being merry, with light instrumental ite,s and solos from baritone Dave Coulson.
It will be followed by a buffet supper.
* THE REDDITCH and Bromsgrove branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) will hold its first ale trail tomorrow (Saturday).
The event – in Bromsgrove town centre – will start at 12.30pm outside The Red Lion.
It is billed as ‘an educational tour of Bromsgrove’s finest taverns’.
* TOMORROW (Saturday) there will be the first Summer Jam in Sanders Park.
It is an eclectic event which runs from 1pm to 7pm and will include high octane skateboard demonstrations and competitions, stunning live graffiti and mouth watering street food.
It will be set to a soundtrack provided by Bromsgrove’s finest DJs playing music from across the urban spectrum.
* THE PRIMROSE Choir and Songstars will take to the stage in Sanders Park on Sunday (June 21).
The free performance will begin at 2.30pm and end at 4.30pm.
Visit www.bandsinthepark.org.uk/bgrove.html for more on the free entertainment taking place in the Jubliee Bandstand throughout the summer.
* A RENOWNED organist will take to the stage at Bromsgrove’s All Saints Church this Sunday (June 21).
Henry Fairs, who has won multiple competitions and is the head of organ studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire and organist to the University of Birmingham, will perform betwen 6pm and 7pm.
The programme will feature works from Bach, including Toccata, adagio and Fugue in C, Partite diverse sopra il corale ‘Sei gregusset, Jesu guttig and Toccata in E.
Tickets, which include a drink, are £8 for adults and £4 for those under 16.
For more information or tickets, e-mail [email protected] or call 01527 873135.
* ON WEDNESDAY (June 24) from 3pm to 5pm at the Plaza Coffee shop, Chapel Street, there will be the latest ‘Acoustic Cafe’ event for young and old musicians, singers and poets of any genre.
Everyone is welcome to the free event. Call 0121 476 50938 or 07828 716842 for more.
* FOLK FAVOURITES Belshazzar’s Feast will be in town on Thursday (June 25) when they play Catshill Social Club, Meadow Lane, from 8pm to 10.30pm.
The event has been organised by Bromsgrove Folk Club and the evening will feature inventive folk music, jazz music and some witty banter.
Tickets are £10 for non-members £6 for members and for £3 under 21s get admitted and 12 months free membership. Visit www.bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk to download the application form for tickets.
Alternatively. call 0121 476 5938, visit www.bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk or e-mail [email protected] for more.
* NEXT SATURDAY (June 27), there will be family-friendly street theatre in Bromsgrove High Street between 10am and 4pm.
Visit http://www.bromsgrovefestival.co.uk/ for more.
* A CELEBRITY Chamber Concert will be given by The Midland Sinfonia at 7.30pm at St Laurence Church in Alvechurch next Saturday (June 27).
Among those performing will be violinists David Le Page, Shulah Oliver, Amy Littlewood and Richard Laing, cellists Eduardo Vassallo and Nick Stringfellow, Charles Wall on Bass and Cathy Bower and Ann Beilby on violas.
Among the pieces will be Strauss – Capriccio Sextet, Bruch – Concerto for String Octet and Mendelssohn’s Octet.
Tickets are £13 on the door or £12 in advance from www.midlandsinfonia.co.uk or The Village Greengrocer.
FT students go free with an NUS card, schoolchildren accompanying an adult free.
For more information, go to [email protected] or 0121 447 7040.
* TARDEBIGGE Church will play host to an event which will celebrate English Song at 3pm next Sunday (June 28).
The concert will begin with a free pre-concert talk from Richard Wilmott, chairman of the Traherne Association.
Among those starring will be Elizabeth Watts (soprano) and pianist Audrey Hyland.
The music will feature Finzi’s Dies Natalis, Elizabeth Maconchy’s Sun, Moon and Stars, and four songs each from Elaine Hugh-Jones, including Eight O’Clock, and Rebecca Clarke, including Down by the Sally Gardens.
There will also be six Bridge songs.
Tickets, are £15 or £4 (registered unemployed or full-time student). Accompanied children in full-time education go free.
They are available from: Coombe Cottage, 56 Alcester Road, Finstall. Applicants should send an SAE and a cheque made out to ‘Celebrating English Song’.
Alternatively, call 01527 872422, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.celebratingenglishsong.co.uk for more.
* ON SUNDAY (June 28) there will be a history walk around Bromsgrove.
Participants in the stroll, which runs from 2pm, will find out more about the town’s history, its buildings and its people.
* THE BOWLING Green Inn in Stoke Prior will play host to a free celebration of dance on June 29.
The event, at 7.30pm, will see Step On Board (Appalachian music) and Nancy Butterfly (NW Clog music) join forces to display two contrasting styles.
That will be followed by a drinking and singing session led by Bromsgrove Folk Club’s resident band Fairfield.
