Festivals August WolvesShropsStaffs.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2021 17:23 Page 2
Festivals
Festival previews from around the region
Lichfield Blues & Jazz Various locations in Lichfield, Wed 18 - Sun 22 August
A local independent charity organisation run mainly by volunteers, Lichfield Arts is back for its 30th year, presenting three days of exceptional jazz and blues performed by some of the region’s - and indeed the country’s - finest musicians. For jazz fans there’s everything from traditional gypsy jazz to swing plus funk and big band, whilst blues fans can revel in the magic of rocky, good time, soulful and acoustic.
Shrewsbury Folk Festival Greenhous West Midland Showground, Fri 27 - Mon 30 August
A highlight of any folk fan’s calendar, this four-day fest brings together centuries of musical tradition in one picturesque setting. Steeped in history, the border town of Shrewsbury makes an ideal backdrop for the festival’s mash-up of modern and medieval and everything in between, where grassroots cultures collide in dynamic fusion styles.
This year’s festival celebrates British-based folk bands and features three open-air stages - The Cuckoo, The Skylark and the Purity Village - meaning that the festival can accommodate everyone at a safe social distance. Sadly there’s no dance tent, though. Line-up includes: Kate Rusby, Oysterband, Show Of Hands, Afro Celt Sound System, Seth Lakeman, The Christians, Dervish, Lindisfarne and The Young’uns and Calan (pictured)
Witcombe Festival
Relight Festival
Brockworth, Gloucestershire, Fri 27 - 29 August
West Park, Wolverhampton, Fri 20 August - Sun 5 September
Taking place on a beautiful site in Gloucestershire, and one of the fastest-growing festivals in the UK, Witcombe has previously featured, among many other talented artists, Dizzee Rascal, Plan B and Faithless. The festival came into being back in 2012, when founder Joe Pointon started making his own organic cider and suddenly found himself with way too much for one man to drink! The rest, as they say, is history... Now attracting in excess of 22,000 people, Witcombe has enjoyed a rebrand but remains fully committed to providing excellent ciders and an impressive line-up of musical talent.
Award-winning comedians, music icons, Wolverhampton Wanderers football legends, children’s TV favourites and animatronic dinosaurs all feature in the line-up at this brand-new summer festival. Organised by Wolverhampton City Council and taking place inside a giant big-top-style marquee, Relight aims to offer something for everyone and cater for all ages. And judging by its inaugural programme, we reckon it has every chance of doing exactly that.
Line-up includes: Basement Jaxx, John Newman, Andy C, Tinie, Annie Mac (pictured), DJ Luck and MC Neat, DJ Ez, Joel Corry, Artful Dodger and Raye
Line-up includes: Boyzlife, Soul II Soul, Katrina And The Waves, Sonia, Brother Beyond, Bill Bailey (pictured), Shappi Khorsandi and Gary Delaney
Line-up includes: Some Kinda Wonderful, Climax Blues Band, Brass Monkeys, Dennis Rollins, Robert Jackson Trio, Apex Jazz & Swing Band, Alex Clarke Quartet and Walsall Jazz Orchestra
Fuse Festival Beacon Park, Lichfield, Fri 13 - Sun 15 August
Founded in 2001, Lichfield Arts’ annual freeto-attend music & arts community festival is this year taking place a month later than usual. The event features a tremendous line-up of music that spans genres as diverse as rock, afrobeat, RnB/soul, ska, pop, folk, jazz and reggae. Commenting on the event, the festival’s organisers said: “We want to make Fuse broader and even more inclusive, offering more people more opportunities to perform, play, dance, sing, share, laugh, enjoy and celebrate.” Line-up includes: The Social Ignition, The Ronaldos, Magnalium, Kissmet (pictured), Thomas Atlas, Translucent, Nick Dewhurst Band and Fred Zeppelin whatsonlive.co.uk 17
