Out & About April 2017

So Newbury Spring Festival’s all about classical music. Too high-brow. Not my thing. Right? Wrong...

Over the years I’ve seen all sorts turn up to concerts at St Nics Church, from pearls and cravats to ‘sloppy Joes’ and piercings (and that includes the musicians). There’s something special about live music of any genre, and the rumbling of organ pipes, the boom of timpani that shake the pews and vibrate through your torso, or a plaintive string solo that brings tears to the eyes, have made many a convert. There’s nothing quite like a full-on orchestra, especially one of international renown. Once experienced, never forgotten. Besides, the festival fortnight offers a feast of alternative events featuring jazz, folk, World Music, cabaret and musicals, as well as concerts for young children. From May 6 to 20, the festival returns for its 39th year and, as always, world-class artists comes to our town to perform at venues in and around the area. There are 45 concerts to choose from, all for a fraction of London prices. In the heart of town, the Corn Exchange hosts a daily programme of diverse events featuring established groups such as Marlborough Jazz Dixieland favourites, the Dutch Swing College Band, one of the oldest and best-known brass ensembles in the world, the Black Dyke Band, and famous Welsh male voice choir, the Morriston Orpheus – and now here’s a point in question, I thought I wasn’t a fan of the genre until I was engaged to look after this big, bold bunch of Welshmen before a London gig. That night their sensitive and haunting rendition of Cwm Rhondda reduced me to tears. They stir your soul. Alongside these acts are performers like Kathryn Tickell – long-revered in folk circles as the foremost player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and an ace fiddler – coming with her band, and one of Africa’s leading traditional drumming groups, Kakatsitsi from Ghana, who have taken Glastonbury by storm. And destined to get you on your feet is the Bollywood

Brass Band with their compulsive dance rhythms – funky drummers and hot horns play massive hits from Indian films, driven by the punchy beat of the dhol drum. Britain’s leading international concert pianist Stephen Hough – hailed by The Economist as one of 20 living polymaths, a true renaissance man; writer, composer and painter – has won global acclaim for his outstanding interpretations of the piano repertoire. He has played the top venues, from the Festival Hall to Carnegie Hall, where he was the first musician to give a solo recital in 20 years, and now comes to our town for a Sunday afternoon performance at the Corn Exchange. It’s great for children to experience the thrill of live music, and the festival is a lovely place to start. Families with children of all ages, including toddlers and babes-in-arms can go to Sound Beginnings, where they will be introduced to the wonderful world of Tchaikovsky’s ballet music in an informal atmosphere, as well as enjoying a wholesome lunch at Sheepdrove Eco Centre, Lambourn. Or there’s a family puppet show in the Corn Exchange and Travelling by Tuba, a duo who show that serious music-making really can come with loads of fun and laughter.

But this is all for starters Visit www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk and discover a whole world of music right here on your doorstep from May 6 to 20. You might even give classical music a go. Tickets are selling fast, book online or in person at the Corn Exchange.

To win a pair of tickets to Voces8 at East Woodhay Church, with a pre-show dinner at The Crown and Garter Inkpen see p49

Stephen Hough

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