Music is set to fill the streets, squares, parks and pubs of Wymondham as the town gears up for its annual 'festival fortnight'.
The two-week period, which will be launched on Saturday at Market Place, encompasses most of the events of the Wymondham Music Festival, which each year draws hundreds of visitors attracted by the range of performers and lively atmosphere.
Richard Elliott, festival chairman, said: 'All is set for a fantastic fortnight of music in Wymondham.
'Then we are off with a packed programme of events and concerts, with Wymondham Symphony Orchestra's Summer Concert on Saturday evening and The Vagaband at the Regal on Sunday evening.
'Other highlights in week one include our annual Jazz Picnic with DixieMix on July 3, Jazz at the Abbey with the Jo Fooks Quartet on July 6 and the beautiful harmonies and soulful folk from Arcelia at Central Hall on July 7.'
Visitors can take a journey through time as guitarist and luthier Peter Turrell performs pieces from 500 years of stringed instrument history, from early renaissance lute music, through to baroque and romantic period tunes, as well as some modern classical and flamenco music.
The event called Music Lecture: Peter Turrell will take place on July 4 at 7.30pm.
Community book shop Kett's Books will host a 'Debut Concert' event on July 7 from 6pm, giving visitors a chance to hear young performers at the start of their careers perform.
Mr Elliot said the second week of the festival would feature a Young Musicians' Concert on July 10, a contemporary clarinet concert with Luca Luciano on July 12 and a blues evening with Robin Bibi and the Shunters on July 13.
He said the festival promised to have something for everyone. Mr Elliot said: 'Festival Fortnight rounds off with Wymondham Choral Society's Summer Concert on July 15 and the Family Finale concert with The He Hews on July 16.
'I'd like all our sponsors and patrons for their support and the volunteer team that makes the Festival happen and look forward to a busy and exciting festival.'
For more details about what's on during the festival, visit www.wymfest.org.ukProgramme of events
Wymondham Market Place NR18 OAX
Saturday 1 July 11am to 1pm
Festival Fortnight Launch with Wymondham High Academy
Featuring performances from Wymondham High Academy's Academy Orchestra, Academy Singers, Jazz Collective, Brass Band, String Ensemble, Reed Ensemble, Guitar Group, Samba Band and more.
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Saturday 1 July, 7.30pm
Wymondham Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert
Overture Der Freischütz – Carl Maria von Weber
Cello Concerto in E minor – Edward Elgar with Andrew Harsley, cello (Norfolk young Musician of the Year 2016)
Symphony No.1 in D minor – Antonin Dvo?ák
Tickets £12 adult, £10 Friends, £2 children. T 01953 798784
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Sunday 2 July, 6.30pm
Festival Evensong
Wymondham Abbey Choir conducted by Rob Goodrich with Peter O'Connor, organ
www.wymondhamabbey.org.uk
The Regal (Ex Services Club), Wymondham NR18 0AT
Sunday 2 July, 7.30pm
The Vagaband
The Vagaband is an up to eight-piece band based in Norfolk. Among the instruments they play are fiddle, mandolin, pedal-steel guitar, clarinet, flügelhorn, banjo, squeezebox and piano. They play original song-based roots music; a soulful mix between Americana, blues, jazz and rock.
Ticket £10 , student under 25 free
Becketswell, Wymondham NR18 9PH
Monday 3 July, 6pm to 9pm
Jazz Picnic with DixieMix
Simon Nelson's DixieMix, who famously toured with Rod Stewart, will once again be entertaining the crowds at our annual summer evening picnic, now in its 22nd year. Bring picnics, chairs and rugs. Ice cream and real coffee will be on sale.
Please use the free shuttle bus service from Central Hall car park from 17.45 to 21.15. The only parking available at the venue is for disabled drivers. Free event (bucket collection)
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Tuesday 4 July, 1pm
Lunchtime recital: Lucy Thalange, Norfolk Young Musician 2017
Lucy's programme includes Frauenliebe und Leben, by Schumann, Villanelle (from Les nuits d'ete), by Berlioz, Romance, by Debussy and A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square, by Sherwin. Accompanist Duncan Barlow.
Retiring collection.
Wymondham Baptist Church NR18 0AY
Tuesday 4 July, 7.30pm
Music Lecture: Peter Turrell, guitarist and luthier
Peter will play a musical programme that spans the past 500 years of stringed instrument history. From early renaissance lute music, through to baroque and romantic period tunes, as well as some modern classical and flamenco music.
Light refreshments served. Retiring collection
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Wednesday 5 July, 5.30pm
Teatime recital: Rachel Groves – Harpist
Rachel will be playing the Scottish harp, the instrument on which she first fell in love with music. She will perform Scottish airs and dances along with some of her own compositions and favourite tunes that she has learnt over the years.
Rachel was joint winner of The Times newspaper's national carol writing competition 2016 and last Christmas performed her carol it with the Bach Choir at the Cadogan Hall. This year she won the Clarsach Society's Young Composer award. Her winning duet Sun Moon and Stars was premiered at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival 2017. Retiring collection.
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Thursday 6 July, 7.30pm
Jazz at The Abbey – Jo Fooks Quartet
Jo Fooks Quartet - Jo Fooks saxophone, Ted Beaumant, piano, Val Manix, bass and
Bobby Worth, drums.
Ticket £10, student under 25 free.
Kett's Books, Wharton Court, Wymondham NR18 0UQ
Friday 7 July, 6pm
Debut Concert
Our second evening of music from youngsters at the start of their musical careers.
With the support of the town's dedicated private music tutors, we are able to showcase budding music talent.
Central Hall, Back Lane, Wymondham NR18 0QB
Friday 7 July, 8pm
Arcelia
Arcelia's core trio Gavin Alexander, Teresa Gallagher and Simon Foster, will be joined by Martin Elliott on bass and Perry White on piano. Since getting together in 2012, Arcelia's reputation for beautiful songwriting and stunning harmony has begun to spread and they now enjoy a wonderfully busy diary,including supporting Chris Difford's (Squeeze) solo tour.
Ticket £10, student under 25 free.
Wymondham Market Place, NR18 0AX
Saturday 8 July, 11am to 1pm
Meet Arcelia
Arcelia will perform their songs and giving an insight into the life of a gigging musician and songwriter. Simon for instance also sings with The Flying Pickets and they all work with some of the best songwriters and performers in the UK, so if you have a question, don't be shy come and ask it. If not, sit back and enjoy the music in our historic Market Place.
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Saturday 8 July, 7.30pm
Wymondham Youth Orchestra Summer Concert
Wymondham Youth Orchestra is a complete chamber orchestra catering for players garde 3 to 8+. Their repertoire is varied and tailored to its membership. Works classical to contemporary (including jazz) are tackled with enthusiasm. Wymondham Youth Orchestra has also inspired and premiered works by local composers.
Ticket: pay on the door.
King's Head Meadow, Back Lane, Wymondham NR18 0QB
Sunday 9 July, 11am to 1pm
Teddy Bears' Picnic
Two hours of musical fun for the under-fives with professional musicians and entertainers. This is a great opportunity for those with young children to relax with friends and other families. Bring a
picnic and rugs to sit on. Hopefully, umbrellas will only be required as sunshades! The clubhouse bar (Wymondham Football Club) and facilities will be available if required. Free event.
Wymondham Baptist Church NR18 0AY
Sunday 9 July, 7.30pm
Massimo Redaelli Brown Harpsichord Recital
The Welcoming Land – English and Italian seventeenth-century harpsichord music.
The concert will be an exploration of the interplay between indigenous and
imported Italian elements in the music of the time, from Philips to Purcell and Byrd.
Retiring collection.
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Monday 10 July, 7pm
Young Musicians' Concert
The Festival's annual evening of music provided by local young musicians, including the premier of a piece for violin by Ken Crandell.
Ticket £5 on the door, students under 25 free.
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Tuesday 11 July, 5.30pm
Teatime Recital: Alice Godfrey, trumpet and Rob Goodrich, organ
Programme includes Vocalise by Sergie Rachmaninov (arr. Goodrich), Prayer of St. Gregory by Alan Hovhaness, Après un rêve by Gabriel Fauré (arr. Goodrich), Toccata for Organ by Theodore Dubois and Pie Jesu by Rob Goodrich. Guest soprano – Phoebe Pennington.
Alice Godfrey was a music scholar at Wymondham College and a member of the National Youth Wind Orchestra. She has just completed her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Rob Goodrich studied organ and singing at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Formally an alto lay clerk at Rochester Cathedral, he is now Organist and Director of Music at Wymondham Abbey.
Retiring collection
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Wednesday 12 July, 7.30pm
Luca Luciano in Concert
Luca Luciano – clarinet with piano accompaniment. Contemporary clarinet recital featuring original material from Luca Luciano's last releases, along with classics by Gershwin, Weill and Piazzolla.
'Such a virtuoso musical performance and such joyful uplifting music I just couldn't resist it.' Tom Robinson, BBC Radio, 2009
Ticket £10, student under 25 free
Wymondham Methodist Church
Thursday 13 July, 1pm
Wymondham Ukelele Group
Lunchtime performance by Wymondham Ukelele Group
Retiring collection.
The Regal (Ex Services Club), Wymondham NR18 0AT
Thursday 13 July, 8pm
Robin Bibi and The Shunters
Robin Bibi – vocals and guitar with The Shunters (house band for the
Dereham Blues Festival). Robin Bibi is one of the UK's top blues/rock guitarists.
Having 'paid his dues' working with such names as Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Ben E. King, The Pretty Things and Helen Shapiro, he launched the Robin Bibi Band in the late 90s. Since then he has recorded 11 albums and has a very busy gig diary.
Ticket £10, student under 25 free
Wymondham Baptist Church NR18 0AY
Friday 14 July, 10am to 12noon
Coffee time music with The Squeegees
The Squeegees return by popular demand for their fifth appearance at the Festival. John and Dave are both skilled musicians and great fun. Enjoy sing-a-longs and memorable songs from the fifties, sixties and more. This is a drop in event. Arrive any time during the session.
Retiring collection
Wymondham Baptist Church NR18 0AY
Saturday 15 July, 11am to 1pm
Happy Feet Ceilidh Band
Happy Feet Ceilidh Band is a group of professional musicians with many years of experience who will play the music while you dance under the guidance of a
very experienced caller, or just listen to the tunes and songs.
Retiring collection.
Wymondham Abbey NR18 0PH
Saturday 15 July, 7.30pm
Wymondham Choral Society, conductor Claire Dixon, presents Handel's 'Alexander's Feast' with The Amadeus Orchestra of London and Catherine May, soprano, Daniel Joy, tenor, and Andrew McWilliams baritone. This lively, tuneful work was composed to celebrate St Cecilia, the patroness of music. It has the sub-title 'The Power of Music'.
Ticket £12, under 16 £5, from Reeve's, 2 Market Street, Wymondham NR18 0BB or on the door.
Wymondham Baptist Church NR18 0AY
Sunday 16 July, 3pm
Wymondham Music Festival Finale – The He Hews
Norwich's The He Hews round of Festival Fortnight
with an afternoon of 'sophisticated silliness – from flapper to disco, with
a New Orleans Twist' – great fun for all the family.
Ticket £5 on the door, student under 25 free.
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