Saturday 11th July
FULL DETAILS OF ALL FESTIVAL EVENTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE 88 PAGE SOUVENIR PROGRAMME WHICH INCLUDES
A VOUCHER FOR 10% OFF TICKET PRICES (Tickets Available from 1st June)
10.00am – 4.00pm MARKET FAIR IN THE SQUARE
The Festival Market and Craft fair is taking place in the lovely Market Square today. We have some wonderful crafts this year and still lots coming in at the time of press. There will be jewellery, paintings, woodwork, pottery, plants and handmade bags and ties. The Festival stall will also be there with programmes and ticket information. Homemade refreshments will be available in the Parish rooms. Also in the Parish rooms is the exhibition by the Marmaduke Cradock Trust
For information on booking stalls see Booking Market Fair and Funday Stalls Page. Click Here
The approximate times for the free entertainment are as follows.
10.00am - 11.00am Tranters Folly
11.00am - 11.30am Punch and Judy
11.30am - 12.30pm Tranters Folly
12.30pm - 1.30pm The Ice Cream van of Horror
1.30pm - 2.00pm Punch and Judy
2.00pm - 3.45pm The City Steam Jazz band
10.00am - 4.00pm REFRESHMENTS – LIZ’S LAIR
Liz once again has agreed to lead her willing group of helpers to serve the usual tasty array of excellent home made cakes and sandwiches, as well as refreshing tea, coffee, squash or a nice cold drink. So come on in and say hello and get a wonderful cheery welcome from them with plenty of seats to rest your limbs and enjoy their wares.
Parish Rooms - Entry Free
Fantastic free entertainment will be continual throughout the day.
TRANTERS FOLLY 10.00am – 11.00am and 11.30am – 12.30pm
Tranters Folly is a popular West Country group consisting of Roger Trim, Eddie Trim and Nick Thomas. A very talented group of versatile instrumentalists and vocalists they have performed at a wide variety of venues and have appeared on national TV and Radio. Songs and West Country humour - a great way to start Market Fair day. From Olympia to the Dartmouth Regatta, from village halls to theatres, Tranters Folly has delighted audiences with their versatility and enthusiasm.
Sponsored by Colin & Enid Thresher
Back again by popular demand is the best Punch and Judy show ever
Punch and Judy 11.00am – 11.30am and 1.30pm – 2.00pm
“THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT”, No introduction needed, you should know all the characters and if you don’t, then ask the children.
Sponsored by Somerton Town Council
We are all very excited about our next entertainment – The Ice Cream Van of Horror wow!
ICE CREAM VAN OF HORROR 12.30pm – 1.30pm
The I Scream Van is coming to the Somerton Arts Festival. It is a show full of surprises that will delight you with a menu of visual comedy, circus and spectacular treats to suit all ages and tastes.
Ice cream van of horror can be seen at www.fuseperformance.co.uk
Sponsored by Somerton Town Council
Music this afternoon comes from a new jazz band to Somerton
CITY STEAM JAZZ BAND 2.00pm – 3.45pm
The band has been playing in the Exeter and Devon area since 1985 and is enthusiastically led by Dave Martin (cornet) and Pete Bradley (clarinet/tenor sax). Other members are Ron Hurst (trombone), Norman Clipson (drums), Tim Walker (bass) and Pete Miller (tenor banjo/guitar).
Primarily purveyors of traditional jazz, the band has an extensive repertoire which includes numerous numbers played in other idioms from the 1920’s, ‘30’s and ‘40’s with even the odd Fats Domino tune thrown in! There are also a number of novelty tunes available should the audience wish. The members of City Steam share a huge enthusiasm for the music together with a sense of fun and friendship which lends an informal air to the band’s performance.
Sponsored by The Globe Inn
10.00am – 4.00pm SOMERTON PAST EXHIBITION by the MARMADUKE CRADOCK TRUST
Come and see an exhibition about Somerton’s old industries and workshops – the Brewery, the Gypsum Quarry, the Milk Factory and more, and a chance to see some of the Marmaduke Craddock historic items which are rarely exhibited. Beer jars and an enormous cider jug, a quilt made in 1892, alabaster bowls – and all sorts of other things belonging to the days when Somerton people lived and worked here in Somerton and did not commute. Buy all the latest books about Old Somerton.
Parish Rooms - Entry Free
2.30pm EFFECT OF THE CREDIT CRUNCH ON RURAL AREAS - A TALK BY DAVID HEATH MP
“Our man in Westminster” has had his usual busy year, but once again has kindly agreed to give a short talk followed by a question and answer session. One of the current hot topics is the “Credit Crunch” and we will all be feeling its effects to some extent, whether we are borrowers, savers, pensioners or businessmen. David will discuss the special difficulties faced in the more rural parts of the UK, with particular reference to Somerset. He may also add some comments about personal freedom. Come and listen to a non-political view and add your own observations, comments and questions.
Methodist Church - Entry Free
4.00pm ORGAN RECITAL by MATTHEW OWENS
Matthew Owens is Organist and Master of the Choristers of Wells Cathedral, having previously been Organist and Master of the Music at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh (1999-2004). He is also Tutor in Organ Studies at Wells Cathedral School (one of the five specialist music schools in the UK), Conductor of the Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society and Conductor of The Exon Singers. Born in 1971, he studied at Chetham’s School of Music, The Queen’s College, Oxford, the Royal Northern College of Music and the Sweelinck Conservatorium, Amsterdam. From 1994-99, he was Tutor in Organ Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham’s and worked for BBC Religious Broadcasting. He was Assistant Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain from 1993-1999 and has conducted the BT Scottish Ensemble, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He is increasingly in demand for choral workshops, masterclasses and adjudications in the UK and abroad, and has made over twenty CDs as a conductor or solo organist with major labels including ASV, Blackbox, Delphian and Hyperion.As an organist, Matthew has given recitals in France, Ireland, Switzerland and throughout the UK, including many festival appearances, and has a recently launched organ duet partnership with international concert organist, Daniel Moult. He has championed new music, premiering many works by leading composers ranging from Jools Holland to James MacMillan, and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies to Arvo Pärt.
St Michael and All Angels Church - Tickets £4.00. A voucher for 10% off ticket prices (Tickets available from 1st June) can be found in the 88 page Souvenir programme Click here for information
Sponsored by The Unicorn Hotel
7.30pm CWMBACH MALE CHOIR
The very best of Welsh choirs
The Cwmbach Male Choir has functioned without a break since it was formed in 1921 during the miners’ strike and is truly indicative of the proud choral tradition of South Wales. Over the years they have succeeded in winning or appearing in the frame at every major Eisteddfod in Wales, notably winning the first prize at the National Eisteddfod on two occasions. They were the first choir to sing behind the Iron Curtain, having visited Debrecen in Hungary in 1961 to take part in the Bela Bartok Festival and returning by invitation to undertake two further concert tours in 1977 and 1986. They were also the first choir to be invited by the Welsh Rugby Union to perform at the world famous Cardiff Arms Park to entertain the crowd and lead the singing prior to a Four Nations Rugby International. They also performed when Wales beat Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in 2005, when they completed the ‘Grand Slam’. They had the honour of performing at the final night dinner of the 1999 Rugby World Cup held at the Cardiff International Arena. The choir, with nearly 100 singing members, has appeared at many prestigious venues, including the Barbican Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall. They have shared the concert platform with many world famous artists including Paul Robeson, Sir Geraint Evans, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Shirley Bassey, Sir Cliff Richard and the internationally renowned guitarist John Williams, to name but a few. They have an extensive and varied repertoire, which includes music for all tastes ranging from operatic choruses, Negro spirituals, hymn tunes and folk music, through to popular ballads. In 1996 the Choir celebrated its 75th anniversary. It performed 23 concerts during the year, the highlight being the Gala Concert given at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, when the choir was joined by the renowned Italian soprano Nuccia Focile and the internationally famous baritone, Jason Howard. We are very fortunate to have been able to book the choir to perform a concert as part of this year’s Festival.
See www.cwmbach.com
The soloist for the evening is Nicola Wydenbach a graduate of the Royal College of Music. She continues her studies with Marie McLaughlin and Gerald Moore. Supported by a scholarship from Diva Opera she completed her Graduate Diploma in 2003. The previous year she gained a First Class degree in performance from Trinity College of Music where she was also awarded the TCM Silver Trust Medal for outstanding contribution to the Vocal Faculty. In 2004 she was chosen as soloist at the Académie Européene de Musique in Aix-en-Provence giving recitals in Aix and the Provence countryside. She has recently worked at Scottish Opera on their production of Smetana’s Two Widows as well as Peter Grimes at English National Opera and Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall.
St Michael and All Angels Church - Tickets £12.00. A voucher for 10% off ticket prices (Tickets available from 1st June) can be found in the 88 page Souvenir programme Click here for information
Sponsored by Williams Supermarket
8.00pm MIKE PENDERS SEARCHERS with support band TRACKS
Throughout the History of Popular Music and in particular the "Swinging Sixties" the "Charts" have been dominated by groups. These inevitably produced a front man, usually with a distinctive vocal style that became that group's signature. The Searchers were one such 60's group, sweeping to fame in 1963 with their first recording, "Sweets for My Sweet" which was the first of three No. 1 hits, followed by no less than 14 more chart hits. Voted second only to the Beatles in 1964, the Searchers became a household name on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mike Pender was an original founding member of The Searchers. He performed on all the hit records and was the actual lead singer on most of the big hits. Mike was entirely responsible for the unique 12 string guitar sound, which some say inspired Roger McGuinn and The Byrds. After singles such as SWEETS FOR MY SWEET and SUGAR AND SPICE, Mike took over lead vocals from Tony Jackson and fronted THE SEARCHERS on chart-topping hits such as WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO THE RAIN, GOODBYE MY LOVE, TAKE ME FOR WHAT I'M WORTH, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, DON'T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY, WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM, NEEDLES AND PINS plus many more.
Support band for the evening is Tracks. A six-piece band formed in 2004 by two of its members Phil and Geoff. They all live local to Street, Glastonbury and Wells and find time to socialise, as well as playing great music together. Tracks plays classic covers as well as some more hidden gems from the late 60's to the present day, gigging as far afield as South Wales, Weymouth and Bristol or local in Glastonbury or Wells is always enjoyable and a real buzz for them. Tracks are proud to be supporting Mike Penders Searchers at this year's Festival.
A selection of Bar-B-Q meets and vegetarian options will be available 1 hour before the start of the Event and throughout the evening
The Festival Marquee Somerton Sports Club – Tickets £12.00. A voucher for 10% off ticket prices (Tickets available from 1st June) can be found in the 88 page Souvenir programme Click here for information
Sponsored by M B R Gillingham Ltd – Builders
8.30pm CLAUDE BOURBON
A breathtaking acoustic fusion of blues, jazz, folk, classical and Spanish guitar from a stunning guitar virtuoso. Born in France in the early 60’s, Claude Bourbon grew up in Switzerland, where he was classically trained for many years. This finger picking guitarist has performed and studied all over the world; he has crafted an unbelievable fusion of classical and jazz, with ethereal Eastern influences, Spanish and Latin elements with strains of Western folk. Now based in the UK, some of this guitarist’s influences allow us a fascinating insight into this remarkable musician; Paco De Lucia: Deep Purple’s Richie Blackmore; Joaquin Rodrigo; JJ Cale, Monty Python; JS Bach and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks…. One reviewer even noted that although “Claude’s roots were in blues, that is like saying Leonardo da Vinci was a painter”. Intrigued? Claude’s inimitable style incorporates all five digits on each hand dancing independently but in unison, plucking, picking and strumming at such speed and precision that his fingers often seem to melt into a blur. Thousands of people in the UK, Europe and USA have enjoyed listening to this virtuoso and for the majority of his audience it is an experience that compels them to return again and again to hear and watch him play, as his fingers lightly dance over the strings of his guitar and create a unique sound that is ’Claude’. This accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision. His sound instantly creates ambience – from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz, Claude Bourbon provides both a rich evening of music for lovers, and a real treat for music lovers…”. See www.myspace.com/claudebourbon
The White Hart Inn – Tickets £5.00. A voucher for 10% off ticket prices (Tickets available from 1st June) can be found in the 88 page Souvenir programme Click here for information
Sponsored by D G Wellington & Co Ltd