This year’s festival takes places from 19th June to 5th July
Performances that aim to delight, inspire and amuse are in store for visitors to this year’s Ashbourne Festival. Celebrating classical and contemporary arts, the festival begins with an energetic musical tribute to Michael Jackson, followed by the equally lively International Streetfest, which attracts talented artists from across the world. Performances range from a trapeze fairytale and a roving theatrical experience to The Smallest Theatre in the World - a two-seater motorcycle side car where festival-goers can enjoy the epic King Kong.
The main festival line-up includes talks from former MP Edwina Currie, historian Lucy Worsley and broadcaster and food critic Jay Rayner. A talk on the discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard promises to be both fascinating and intriguing, whilst verse-lovers will make a beeline for Poetry in the Garden at Offcote Grange, with performance poet John Berkavitch.
The Comedy Night’s crowd-pleasing offering boasts radio and television stars Gary Delaney and Paul Sinha of ITV’s The Chase. Continuing the lighter mood, but with a more poignant tone, is Geoffrey Holland’s tribute to comedian Stan Laurel – This is My Friend Mr Laurel.
The musical offering includes shows from soul and R&B star Geno Washington, ceilidh band Pandemonium and the Fiori Musicali chamber ensemble, who will play in the atmospheric surroundings of St Oswald’s Church. At the opposite end of the musical spectrum is Strange Face, a fascinating insight into the discovery of unpublished recordings by influential 1960’s musician Nick Drake.
The Summer Art Exhibition in Ashbourne Town Hall will once again showcase work from professional and amateur artists, enhanced by an art competition supported by St John Street Gallery. As part of a month-long residency, sculptor Rachel Carter will be developing new work in a temporary studio throughout June.
For full details visit www.ashbournefestival.org. Tickets are available from Ashbourne Visitor Information Centre
Music
19 Michael Jackson Tribute 8pm
20 Pandemonium Ceilidh 7.30pm
24 Strange Face: Adventures with a lost Nick Drake recording 7.30pm
26 Fiori Musicali 7.30pm
27 Geno Washington 8pm
30 Wobble and Wheeze 7.30pm
5 Jul Picnic in the Park 1pm
Talks & literature
19-5 Jul Poetry Trail
22 ‘Ronald Pope: Lost Sculpture’ by art historian Dr Robert Burstow 7.30pm
23 Rousseau Salon: This is Mine, A Source of Inequality 7.30pm
27 Poetry workshop with John Berkavitch 10am
27 Poetry in the Garden at Offcote Grange 2.30pm
28 ‘My Dining Hell’ by journalist, writer and broadcaster Jay Rayner 7.30pm
1 Jul ‘The Staffordshire Hoard ’ by Dr Kevin Leahy 7.30pm
2 Evening with Edwina Currie 7.30pm
4 ‘A Night of Murder’ by Lucy Worsley 7.30pm
Drama & comedy
25 This Is My Friend Mr Laurel 7.30pm
3 Jul Comedy Night with Gary Delaney, Paul Sinha, Julian Deane and Sally-Anne Hayward 8pm
4 Peakland Players acting workshop at 10am, followed by a performance of ‘Longitude and Servitude’ at 2pm
Other events
3-28 June Residency: Sculptor Rachel Carter
20-21 International Streetfest
21-27 Summer Art Exhibition
27 Young Musician Competition 1pm
