Village to host new music festival (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Village to host new music festival

12:20pm Wednesday 16th March 2011 in Leisure By Warwick Payne

TICKETS are now on sale for the new folk festival in St Mary Bourne near Stockbridge that will be held this summer.

Valley Music is bringing a packed three-day programme of traditional song, bands, dance and workshops to the upper Test Valley.

The family festival runs from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26 and will take place in venues including the village’s historic church, community hall and a special tent near the war memorial.

St Peter’s Bell Ringers will kick off a celebration of English music on the Friday, introducing performances from schoolchildren along with award-winning folk duo Belshazzar’s Feast among others.

Highlights on Saturday will include master classes on some of Britain’s most historic instruments including the bagpipes, hurdy gurdy and the fiddle.

There will also be a performance from Hampshire vocal harmony group Craig Morgan Robson and an evening dance with English folk band Blowzabella.

Sunday’s programme focuses on world music, with performances from Uganda’s Mityana Choir, samba, African drumming and a Bollywood disco.

Valley Music founder Mary Childs said: “As the big weekend gets closer and closer, the village is becoming increasingly excited about hosting our first ever music festival.

“We hope families will come from all over Hampshire and our neighbouring counties to help us celebrate the musical heritage of the British Isles and countries around the world.”

Tickets are already on sale for many events, while some of them have free admission.

Bookings qualify for a discount before Wednesday, June 1 and can be made at the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244 or by email at box.office@anvilarts.org.uk.

For more information about Valley Music including ticket costs go to www.valleymusic.org.uk or call Mary Childs on 01264 738400 or 07721 866434.