» Festival Feature

FROME FESTIVAL

1 - 10 JULY 2022

This year, Frome Festival will return with a full line-up from Friday July 1st to Sunday July 10th. Headliners include Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley,

Andy Fairweather Low, Wilko Johnson, and the Kris

Barras Band, at the Cheese & Grain. Popular vocal group Blake will appear at the Memorial Theatre on

July 9th.

Quite possibly Frome’s favourite event of the year, the Food Feast is back on Saturday 2nd, with a great choice of delicious food and drink from local traders, live music and entertainment by the river in the Market Yard. The Frome Street Bandits will open the live music with a procession from St John’s Church at 5pm, making their way to entertain the crowds at Market Yard. The headline band Jump 66 will play, with local support, street performers, Rock Choir, comedy and more.

Ever-popular performance poet Roger McGough, once a member of The Scaffold, who topped the charts in the sixties with hits like ‘Lily the Pink’, will be appearing at the Merlin Theatre. David Olusoga, the historian and TV presenter, will give the second Bob Morris lecture at the Cheese & Grain, discussing his hugely popular programme ‘A House Through Time’.

Roger McGough Food Feast

David Olusoga

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Ecos Amphitheatre, a new musical called ‘The Haunting of Richard the Third’ will receive its premiere on July 7th and run for three nights.

The musical tells the story of the last English king to die on the battlefield, and whose body was found ten years ago, extraordinarily, under a car park in Leicester.

One of the distinctive differences about this year is the number of free and outdoor events. There are two free children’s theatre shows, a Turkish dance and music display and two big bands in Victoria Park, a free ‘Richard the Third’ show for Frome College students, and many walks, talks and health events, thanks to generous funding from Frome Town Council, the Cooper Hall Trust and the Foyle Foundation.

This year’s Hidden Gardens will be open from Fri July 8th - Sun July 10th, 10.30-5pm. There are a record number of gardens this year, details of which can be found in the Hidden Gardens booklet. This will be on sale at the Box Office and various outlets throughout the town, and it’s still £5.00. A digital version which you either print off, or scroll through on your phone, can also be purchased through the website. Tickets will be available through the Festival Box office from Friday the May 20th for Festival Friends, Sunday May 22nd for the general public, and online from Monday May 23rd. www.fromefestival.co.uk.

David Olusoga Roger McGough Jo WHiley dance night Wilko Johnson // Blake Andy Fairweather-Low Kris Baras band

The Food Feast, Hidden Gardens, Exhibitions, Concerts, Drama, Poetry, Small Publishers Fair, Theatre in the Park, Frome Tunnels, Open Art Trail, Literary events, Walks, Talks, Workshops and more.

www.fromefestival.co.uk Poster artwork ©Sholto Walker

PHOTO|FROME

Photo|Frome is a new festival featuring local, national, and international photography. The theme of this very first festival is The Independent Eye – celebrating photography as an art-form and it’s ability to allow the artists to present personal viewpoints and perspectives on the world. The theme also nods to Frome’s much celebrated independent mindset.

Exhibitions will take place at five venues across Frome, including works by well-known, contemporary photographers, work that is of historical importance to the South-West, and projects by emerging and local photographers with wide ranging experience.

Rook Lane plays host to some incredible works as Dave Grohl, Oasis, U2 and other bands in photo form, courtesy of Danny North, one of the UK’s top music photographers. Astronauts are landing, in John Angerson’s NASA Space Shuttle work. Olga Karlovac offers an emotionally rich portrayal of her native Croatia and Hanna-Katrina Jędrosz documents the European Green Belt along the former Iron Curtain. Conceptual photographer Vanessa Fairfax-Woods offers a unique perspective on the role of women. And Trinidad-born Robert Huggins captures East London strangers.

A group show from a diverse group of photographers from Frome and the surrounding areas, including acclaimed professionals and dedicated amateurs, will be house at Gallery At The Station, with work ranging from portraits and documentary to abstract and urbanscapes.

Talks and workshops by exhibiting photographers will be taking place throughout the festival. For more information and book tickets www.photofrome.org.

Opera at The Bishops Palace

Opera comes to Somerset this July with glorious works by Puccini and Rossini. In partnership with Project Factory CIC, Opera Brava, Britain’s leading outdoor touring opera company, is bringing Tosca and The Barber of Seville to the beautiful grounds of The Bishops Palace in Wells.

Wonderful music and stylish performances are promised in relaxed surroundings, with both operas sung in English. If you have never been to an opera before, this is your chance! Bring family and friends, spread a rug on the ground or set out your chairs, have a picnic ready for the interval, and enjoy fabulous entertainment for a fraction of the cost of city offerings.

Producer Bronek Pomorski says: “We can’t wait to bring this amazing music to Wells, and to be able to perform in the gardens of the Bishop’s Palace is very exciting for us. These operas are among the most adored by audiences worldwide and our cast are professional and experienced national and international opera singers who have worked with major companies including English National Opera and Covent Garden.”

Tosca will be performed on 14th July, followed by The Barber of Seville on 15th July. Book tickets online at www.bishopspalace.org.uk . Picnics can also be ordered online through the box office.

TOSCA

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

14th & 15th July 2022 Britain’s Leading Outdoor Touring Opera Company At The Bishop’s Palace, Wells

Bring family and friends for wonderful music in the beautiful Bishop’s Palace gardens. Bring your own picnic and seating. Artisan picnics can also be ordered online through the box office. Pimms, Prosecco and other refreshments available.

Tosca £35 / Under 16 £10 The Barber of Seville £35 / Under 16 £10 Both evenings £65 / Under 16 £15

Gates open 6.30pm performance starts 7.30pm Book online www.bishopspalace.org.uk

Americana Fest

Celebration of American Culture

Americana Fest is a new three-day festival of American culture organised by The American Museum & Gardens. It takes place on 1st -3rd July in the Museum’s spectacular hill-top estate on the edge of Bath, with performances from some of the biggest names in comedy and the UK’s Americana music scene, on four stages. The festival will also offer a variety of entertaining family activities, including a scavenger hunt through the grounds, games, workshops, vintage cars, and American food trucks and bars.

Coinciding with celebrations for Independence Day in the US, the weekend programme includes an allAmerican comedy bill, with comedian Reginald D Hunter headlining on the Friday; award-winning star of the Americana music scene, Robert Vincent & Band headlining on the Saturday; and folkrock legends, The Magic Numbers closing the festival on the Sunday. There are 40+ acts booked to perform across the weekend, the music has been curated by Matt Owens, founder of The 7 Hills and ex-Noah & The Whale band member, the comedy has been curated by curated by awardwinning comedian Jarred Christmas and Somerset based Pop-Up Comedy, with production provided by JudgeDay whose clients include Peter Gabriel, Birdy, Kate Bush, Robert Plant and the Thin Lizzy estate, together with regular events including Soho House Festival, Cornbury, Greenbelt and the international WOMAD Festivals.

For more details and to book tickets go to americanmuseum.org/americanafest Twitter @Americanmuseum | Facebook @ AmericanMuseum | Instagram @Americanmuseumandgardens

Magical Outdoor Spaces

From Hearthworks

Hearthworks are the award-winning Tipi and Yurt makers who create the famous Glastonbury Festival Tipi Field. Their country workshop in the heart of Pilton is a hive of activity all year round, and they’ve been in business since 1999, employing a number of local craftspeople. Woodworkers lovingly shape each piece of wood, and master tailors hand-sew each cover for these stunning, iconic structures.

Tipis and Yurts have a magical, romantic and ancient feel to them – there’s nothing quite like looking at the stars through a Yurt wheel or heating a kettle on a Tipi fire. While they do make quirky additions to gardens and inspiring accommodation, Hearthworks have made and installed them for an array of uses and clients all over the UK and beyond. School rooms, yoga studios, retreat centres and hideaways for famous rock stars are some of the more unusual jobs they’ve had, but whatever your passion project is, with structures to hire and buy.

For more information on go to www.hearthworks.co.uk

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2nd – 3rd June, Ashton Court, Bristol www.lovesavestheday.org

Top Of The Gorge Festival

14th – 16th June, Cheddar Gorge

Marstonbury

24th – 26th June at Martson Park marstonpark.co.uk/marstonbury

Priddy Folk Festival 8th – 10th July, Priddy www.priddyfolk.org

Bristol Harbour Festival

15th – 17th July, Central Bristol www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk

FarmFest

29th – 30th July, Gilcombe Farm, Bruton farmfestival.co.uk

Valleyfest

2nd – 4th August, Chew Magna www.valleyfest.co.uk