A weird and wonderful mix of music surprised people on the platforms at Norwich Railway Station to herald the start of this year's Norfolk and Norwich Festival,
The Public Jukebox - part of the festival's free outdoor programme - paid a visit to the station yesterday for a special curtain raiser for the annual arts extravaganza which starts tomorrow and runs until May 29.
The event also celebrated the festival's partnership with its principal travel partner, Abellio Greater Anglia and saw festival director William Galinsky and Abellio Greater Anglia's head of corporate affairs Jonathan Denby pick out some of the crazy tunes.
There was dancing on the concourse as passers enjoyed the sounds of the retro music machine which will tour the city throughout the festival.
It is one of a huge array of acts that will be entertaining audiences, with everything from Adnams Spiegeltent fun to sublime classical concerts to cutting edge theatre packed into the programme.
William Galinsky, the festival's artistic director, said: 'We have got 17 days of some of the best art and culture from all over the world - music, theatre, circus, dance, lots of great free outdoor work, visual art. There's something for all and some very unusual things that you cannot see in Norwich and Norfolk at any other time.'
About some of the opening weekend's highlights, he said: 'The big free event of course is Flat, which is in front of the Forum. That's going to be a real visual spectacle with a great aerial dancer and 3D projections. It's a bird's eye view of a guy in his apartment. It's really beautiful. It's like you are watching a live cartoon or animation.
'We have also got The Tempest in Great Yarmouth Hippodrome and the most fantastic Festival Commission with the Festival Chorus and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. It's been composed by Kemal Yusuf who is a real rising star of the classical music world. I'm really looking forward to catching up with the Public Jukebox and there's The Story Machine at Writers' Centre Norwich, that's going to be really interesting.'
He also said he wanted to say a big thank you to the festival's supporters who help to make it such a success.
He said: 'For a region of our size the Norfolk and Norwich Festival is a very significant festival in terms of its impact nationally and internationally and I am really proud of what we have been able to achieve with the support of people like Abellio Greater Anglia, Norwich City Council, the Arts Council and our fantastic audiences.'
Norfolk and Norwich Festival runs from Nay 13 to 29. For more and to book tickets, visit www.nnfestival.org.uk or call the box office on 01603 766400.
For the latest festival news, visit www.edp24.co.uk/nnf
Do you have a festival story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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