It’s festival time in South Derbyshire.
The 14th Melbourne Festival Art & Architecture Trail takes place on 15th and 16th September with 70 venues hosting 140 artists. Not only will amazing artists be displaying a vast range of work, there’ll also be great food, a Teddy Bears Picnic with a visit from ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’, and local bands with live music.
In memory of the men who lost their lives in the First World War, the Festival will also be ‘painting the town red’. Local fused-glass artist Karen Worrall has been making glass poppies and framed glass plaques, and artist Michael Cook’s ‘Swords into Ploughshares’ painting will be on display. It was commissioned by Melbourne Parish Council to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I and features a man returning to the land after the end of war. Last year, Vivienne Toon knitted 89 poppies to commemorate the men from Melbourne who lost their lives in the Great War. This year, Frank Green, her stepfather and a Grenadier Guard, suggested commemorating the members of his regiment, so 4,680 poppies have been knitted and will form a dramatic display by Melbourne Pool and at key sites.
‘Melbourne Remembers’, will be another of this year’s highlights. On 22nd September, 3pm, a free open-air concert will feature Melbourne Town and Junior Bands, Melbourne Male Voice Choir, Melbourne Operatic Society and A Choir’d Taste. Then after a ‘Sunset’ fanfare at 7.05pm, there will be a Festival of Remembrance supported by over 100 local musicians. Melbourne certainly looks set to host a festival to remember.
festival programme
1st: Village Folk presents ‘Sound of the Sirens’, Assembly Rooms, High Street, DE73 8GF
7th: MARs present ‘Ben Bowden’s Songs from the Village’. Assembly Rooms
14th: Melbourne Festival Funhouse Comedy Club. Royal British Legion, DE73 8FE
15th & 16th, 10am–5pm: Melbourne Festival Art & Architecture Trail, DE73 8DW, 10am-5pm, £5 under 18s free. Also Melbourne Festival Family Trail with Teddy Bears Picnic and activities for children and families.
21st: Hot House Jazz, Assembly Rooms, DE73 8GF
22nd: Melbourne Remembers - Open Air Concert and Festival of Remembrance, Castle Square, DE73 8DY, 3-7.30pm.
23rd: Paul Marshall, Emily Kent & friends, The White Ballroom at Amalfi White, DE73 8FE
28th: Open Road Productions presents Highlights from Grace- the Lighthouse Girl, The Same Sky & Silver Dollar, Assembly Rooms
29th: Wil Pearson Live in Melbourne, Assembly Rooms
5th & 6th Oct: A Choir’d Taste with London Camerata String Quartet, Assembly Rooms
12th Oct: MARs present ‘A Band Called Malice’ (The definitive Jam tribute), Assembly Rooms
27th: LIVE JAZZ featuring Annie Whitehead with Steve Lodder, Jennifer Maidman and Liam Genockey, Melbourne Parish Church DE73 8EN
For further information and tickets please contact www.melbournefestival.co.uk 07765 819428 info@melbournefestival.co.uk
