A Summer of Festivals

Shrewsbury Folk Festival
22 to 25 August
Following its triumphant 2007 debut on its new West Midlands Showground site, Shrewsbury Folk Festival is now firmly established as one of the country’s biggest and most important events of its kind.
This year there have been even more improvements to the set-up, ensuring four relaxing days of total immersion in a fantastic musical experience.
Attracting internationally famous artists drawn from a wide diversity of genres, the Festival provides music and entertainment, food, drink, camping, dancing, kids’stuff and fabulous fun over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The programme this year includes veteran folk heroes, the groundbreaking Oysterband; brass/folk fusion innovators Bellowhead; Fairport Convention stalwart Richard Thompson; the incredible Japanese-influenced drumming duo Pete Lockett and Jojo Hirota and Canadian superband the Dukhs. Lots more to suit every taste, from  traditional folk ballards to cosmopolitan world music, with excursions into blues, comedy and even a bit of bellydance along the way.
Real ale and cider bars,  festival food, entertainment for children,  ceilidhs,  workshops,  morris, singarounds and pub sessions in town – it’s all happening at Shrewsbury Folk Festival this August.
For full details see www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

From the last production of King Lear, Much Wenlock Festival courtesy of Sabine Hutchinson

Much Wenlock Festival
31 May to 22 June
The eagerly awaited biennial Much Wenlock Festival has come around once again, and this year’s programme is brimming with performances, arts and entertainment for the whole family. There are 23 different events scheduled,  designed to reflect the very best of local talent alongside nationally acclaimed performers.
Running for three summer weeks from 31st May to 22nd June, the Festival has been put together by the local community.
The fun begins with a party for families on the historic Windmill Hill, followed later in the week with an open air concert in the grounds of Wenlock Priory, featuring songs and performers from London’s West End.
Sir Roy Strong will be speaking on all things horticultural, and TV presenter Mark Horton will be coming to discuss the development of TV archaeology. Mark once lived in Much Wenlock and the Time Team concept was actually conceived in the town.
Shakespeare’s Richard III, will be performed on the Church Green during the second week. The festival welcoms back the Shropshire Drama Company who have an outstanding reputation for superb professionalism. Raked seating is provided, so just bring along your picnic.
For the full schedule of everything that’s happening during this fabulous festival, see the Review’s events listings in the following pages or visit the festival web site: www.muchwenlockfestival.co.uk

Quarry Picnic Concerts
The Quarry, Shrewsbury
11 and 12 July
Once again Shrewsbury’s historic Quarry site will host two consecutive evenings of fabulous entertainment when a galaxy of internationally acclaimed superstars come to Shropshire. Bring a picnic, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy!
On Friday 11,  the fantastic Katie Melua will be appearing as part of her world tour. Katie’s meteoric rise to fame began upon the release of her debut single ‘The Closest Thing to Crazy’ and she has been breaking sales records and winning awards ever since.  With over 7.5 million albums sold, she has collected gold and platinum discs all over the globe, and in 2006 was the highest performing European female artist in the world, selling more than 3 million copies of her second album ‘Piece By Piece.’
Katie’s concert offers a rare opportunity to see this amazingly talented artist performing live, with the songs that have made her famous. Don’t miss it!
The following night sees the Quarry come to life with an exciting trip back to the ultimate decadent decade with The Magic of the Eighties. Evergreen stars Rick Astley, Bananarama, Midge Ure, Nick Heyward, Heaven 17,  Toyah and T’Pau, featuring Shropshire lass Carol Decker, get together to dazzle, sparkle and shine! This show brings together some of the biggest names of their generation, with some of the most memorable music ever!
Both concerts end with a spectacular fireworks finale, and tickets can be booked through the Box Office on 01603 6600444.

Bridgnorth Children’s Festival
Oldbury Wells School
24 and 25 August
This year the ultimate family-friendly festival runs on the Sunday and Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. Offering free admission to a whole host of attractions and entertainments, the Festival is now in its third year and looks like becoming another resounding success.
As we go to press, final details are being decided, but it’s certain that the tried and tested formula of games, interaction, fun and clowning, music, hands-on activities and all-round entertainment for children of all ages will be repeated. Once again, the policy of keeping down the costs will be repeated; whatever isn’t free will be very affordable, so parents can look forward to two full days of family entertainment that won’t break the bank!
For more details see www.childrens-festival.co.uk

Cosford Air Show
RAF Cosford
1 June
An internationally acclaimed event, the annual RAF Cosford Air Show attracts visitors and participants from all over the world.
This year spectators are in for an even bigger treat as display teams from all forces and individual aircraft put on a show that’s guaranteed to take your breath away. Lined up so far are the Red Arrows; the historic Battle of Britain Memorial Flight; RAF Falcons; RN Historic Flight; RN Black Cats; Army Blue Eagles; Great War Display Team; Yakolevs and The Blades. Aircraft include Typhoon  Chinook; Hawk, Spitfire Mk. 1a and Hurricane Mk. 1: American P-51 Mustang; Gnat; Hunter and the fantastic De Haviland Vampire among many others. Food and drink; ground displays and exhibitions; stalls and lots more to see and do make this the perfect family day out.
Tickets 0871 230 1083

Ludlow Festival
23 June to 8 July
One of the county’s longest-established festivals, Ludlow continues to stimulate and delight with an eclectic mix of music, drama, literature, talks and walks in an incomparable historic setting.
This year’s events include open-air performances of Richard III in the castle; lectures by Colin Dexter, Gabriel Woolf, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, Professor Stanley Wells, Simon Hoggart and others. Music programme includes opera, choral, early music,  sixties classics, and ukeleles!  Youth dance and ballet are also promised; there are festival walks and coach tours; various exhibitions and of course a fabulous fireworks finale!
For tickets call 01584 872150.

Shrewsbury Summer Season
May to September
Once again, the county town hosts a fabulous summersworth of exhibitions, concerts, plays, music, dance, arts and family events. Far too much going on to list here, but at random we’ll mention The Jazz Dance Company, Non-Stop 60s Show, Food and Drink Fair, all on 6 June; Rock against Racism, Family Bikefest and The Blockheads Concert on 7th; Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra on 11th, Beatles Experience, Open Air Proms and Shrewsbury Cantata Choir  and the Town Carnival on 14th; Dragon Boat Festival on 29th. That’s just a fraction of June’s events, without even touching on the rest of the programme’s 100 days of fabulous family entertainment, which includes a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the castle.
See www.shrewsburysummer.co.uk for full details.