A round-up of events taking place in May
29th Apr-1st May: The Big Session The cream of English folk music descend on the town with concerts from Oysterband with June Tabor and Sam Carter, Seth Lakeman supported by Lucy Ward, Edward II, Will Pound and Eddy Jay, and the Emily Portman Trio, plus a beer festival with over 100 real ales. www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
29th Apr-8th May: Derby Film Festival A celebration of film culture for fans and aspiring film makers alike, with preview screenings, talks and special themed events. www.derbyfilmfestival.co.uk
29th Apr-8th May: Derby Comedy Festival Over 60 events including stand-up, variety, outdoor and indoor events. Highlights include Mike McClean, Paul Tonkinson, Imran Yusuf, Verbal Discharge, Vincent Saxby and Chris Brooker, Patrick Monohan and Shazia Mirzawith. www.derbycomedyfestival.co.uk
30th Apr-1st May: Bakewell Food Festival Showcasing the area’s wealth of produce with stalls, beer festival, wine tasting and food sampling. Visit www.whatsonbakewell.co.uk
30th Apr-2nd May: Great British Food Festival Food producers, cookery lessons and chef demonstrations. Hardwick Hall, NT, Chesterfield, www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com
30th Apr-2nd May: Bands at Crich Music and bands of all genres but especially brass, jazz and folk. On 2nd May, the Ripley Morris Men will perform in the street from 2pm. Crich Tramway Museum, Crich. Tel: 01773 854392
1st-30th May: Belper Arts Festival A celebration of art, music, dance, photography, film, literature and theatre. Festival Trail 1st and 2nd May. Music Festival 7th-21st May. Open Houses 28th-30th May. www.belperartsfestival.org
1st, 7th, 14th May: Music at Haddon Hall Performances from professional and amateur musicians in the stunning surroundings of Haddon Hall. 1st Music Work Vocal Ensemble; 7th Doncaster Waites; 14th NEDMC Chamber Orchestra. Haddon Hall, Bakewell. Tickets included in admission price. Tel: 01629 812855
7th May: Voices Choir Choral concert. St Mary’s Church, Derby, 7.45pm. Tel: 07973 512560
7th May: Berlie Doherty and Caroline Pitcher The award-winning authors will be reading and signing books at the National Trust’s Eyam Hall.
Eyam, 11.30pm-12.30pm and from 2pm. Tel: 01433 639565
7th-15th May: Chesterfield Area Walking Festival Guided walks with themes ranging from history and heritage to wildlife. Visit www.chesterfieldwalkingfestival.co.uk
9th May: Chloe Hanslip and Danny Driver Talented violinist Chloe performs with one of Britain’s most respected and versatile pianists. Abbotsholme School, Rocester, 8pm. Tel: 01543 263304
11th-14th May: Absurd Person Singular Alan Ayckbourn’s black comedy documenting the changing fortunes of three married couples, performed by the Chellaston Players. St Peter’s Church Hall, Chellaston, 7.30pm. Tel: 07553 088197
13th-15th May: Chatsworth International Horse Trials World-class equestrian sport from top riders and Olympic hopefuls, combined with entertainment, activities and quality trade stands. Chatsworth, www.chatsworth.org
14th-15th May: Arts Festival Marston Montgomery Arts Society’s Annual Arts Festival, with floral, photographic and art exhibitions. Village Hall and St Giles’ Church, 10am-4pm, Marston Montgomery
14th-15th May: Derbyshire Food & Drink Fair Cookery theatre, celebrity chefs, local producers, delicious refreshments, crafts and gifts, children’s entertainment and live music. Kedleston Hall (National Trust) near Quarndon, Derby, www.derbyshirefoodanddrinkfair.co.uk
14th-15th May: Multiple Memories Weekend Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s Railcar Gala. Wirksworth Station. Tel: 01629 823076 or see www.e-v-r.com
14th-15th May: National Mills Weekend Celebrating our milling heritage and offering the chance to visit local watermills and Heage Windmill. www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk
14th-26th May: National Forest Walking Festival A host of walks to suit all abilities, led by local enthusiasts. www.thenationalforestwalkingfestival.co.uk
14th May: America! Derby Concert Orchesta perform works from Bernstein, Copland, Barber, Ives and Marquez. St Mary’s Church, Wirksworth, 7.30pm. Tel: 01332 763594
14th May: Sitwell Singers Rheinberger’s ‘Mass’ and Parry’s ‘Songs of Farewell’. St Nicholas’ Church, Allestree Lane, Derby, 7.30pm. Tel: 01332 662519
14th May: Come and Sing Faure Rehearse and perform Fauré’s Requiem with Derby Bach Choir. St George’s Chapel, Ticknall, 1.30pm. Tickets: £20 singers, £5 audience. Tel: 01332 344842
15th May: Swadlincote Festival of Transport Classic vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, buses, lorries and tractors, entertainment and stalls. Swadlincote Town Centre
19th-21st May: Rail Ale Festival Over 250 real ales plus world beers, train rides, live music and food. Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Staveley, Chesterfield, railalefestival.com
21st May: Chapel Park Big Band Jazz in the style of Count Basie with the Friends of St Chad’s. St Chad’s Church, Church Wilne, near Draycott, 7.30pm. Tel: 01332 872148
21st May: Alfreton Male Voice Choir Performing alongside five other choirs in an East Midlands concert. The Grange School, Alfreton, 7.30pm. Tel: 01773 829248
21st May: The Rag Time Band Dove Jazz Club. The Village Hall, Dove Holes, 8pm. Tel: 01298 814722
25th May: Maverick Sabre Optimism abounds on the band’s second album, ‘Innerstanding’. The Venue, Abbey St, Derby, 7.30pm. Tel: 01332 255800
26th-29th May: Bearded Theory Festival Creative and performing arts festival set in the grounds of Catton Hall. Public Image Ltd, Levellers and Arrested Development are headlining this year’s event. Catton Park, Walton upon Trent, www.beardedtheory.co.uk
27th-29th May: Buxton Three Days in May Festival Mini music festival with artists including US acoustic blues singer-songwriter Eric Bibb, Irish folk star Luka Bloom and Denmark’s eight-piece Habadekuk. Call 0128 72190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
27th-30th May: Have-a-go Archery at Haddon Marks’ Archery Events will be on hand with their trained coaches to give you all the instruction you need. Haddon Hall, nr Bakewell. Tel: 01629 812855
28th-30th May: Derbyshire Open Arts Festival Hundreds of local artists and craftspeople display their work in venues across the county. www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk
28th-30th May: The Bushcraft Show Woodland crafts and skills, shelter building, foraging and games. Beehive Farm, Woodland Lakes, Rosliston, thebushcraftshow.co.uk
28th-29th May: National Trailboat Festival Combined with Chesterfield Canal Trust’s annual festival. Highlights include an illuminated parade of boats on the Saturday night. Staveley Town Basin, www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk
28th May: Georgian Weekend Georgian market and games, plus ‘meet the mill workers’ and pony and trap rides. Cromford Mills, nr Matlock. Tel: 01629 825995
29th May: Discovery Day With Eric Knowles at The Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre, Stoke-on-Trent. Enter the world of the applied arts with a day at one of the finest art potteries alive today with television celebrity, and ceramic expert, Eric Knowles and paint your own heirloom! 10am-5.30pm. Booking essential. Price: £150. Tel: 01782 820500
SOCIETIES & TALKS
Allestree Flower Group 19th ‘Anything Goes’ floral demonstration by Wendy Pitkin, Evergreen Hall, Cornhill, Allestree, 7.30pm
Ashbourne Heritage Society 10th ‘Work of the Landmark Trust’ by Amy Taylor, St Oswald’s Church Hall, 7.30pm
Chesterfield Embroiderers’ Guild 5th ‘Seasons in Colour’ by Tracy Oldhead, Parish Rooms, St Mary’s Gate, Chesterfield, 7pm
Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society 24th ‘The Grantham Canal’ by Rosemary Gibson, The Wilmot Arms, Derby, 8pm
Derby Decorative & Fine Arts Society 3rd ‘The Italian & Northern Renaissance: The Relationship Between Italian Art, Durer and the Northern Artists’ by Leslie Primo, Landau Forte College, Fox Street, Derby, 7.15pm
Derby Poetry Society 13th Grevel Lindop reads from his new collection ‘Luna Park’, Friends Meeting House, Derby, 7.30pm
Derbyshire Embroiderers’ Guild 14th ‘Embroidered Space’ by Isobel Currie, followed by member-led workshop, St Mary’s Church Hall, Derby, 11am
The Hardy Plant Soc (Derbys) 16th Plant Fair, Shirland Village Hall, 11am-1pm
Matlock Antiques & Collectables Society 13th AGM and ‘Shelley Ceramics’ by Chris Davenport, Imperial Rooms, Matlock, 7.30pm
Sawley & District Historical Society 30th ‘Robert Bakewell’ by Richard Stone, Sawley Church Hall, 8pm
Spondon Historical Society 9th ‘The Philanthropy and Libraries of Andrew Carnegie’ by Simon Cork, Spondon Village Hall, 7.30pm
Ticknall Preservation & Historical Society 20th ‘Echoes of the Past’ with Celia Sanger, Ticknall Village Hall, 7.30pm
