The 22nd Bury St Edmunds Festival runs from Friday 11 May to Sunday 27 May, bringing top performers from all over the world and attracting record audiences to the historic market town at the heart of the Suffolk countryside.
This year’s festival programme offers another enriching mix of orchestral concerts, new music, choral fusions, open-air party nights, lunchtime jazz and folk, top classical players, community workshops, dance, theatre, opera, art, film, walks and more in some spectacular settings.
Festival manager Nick Wells strives to find new events that are ‘refreshing and different’ to combine with old favourites; a winning formula that ensures there’s always something for everyone to enjoy and a few surprises.
This year sees an even bigger Bury St Edmunds Township Choir with up to 400 local children and adults performing South African songs on stage with jazz band Mbawula for the Opening Night Celebrations(11 May).
Composer Terry Mann will be in residence at St Edmundsbury Cathedral for the Bells of Paradise project; using recordings of church bells from across the country to create new music with free performances daily.
Last year’s festival broke box office records. Highlights for this year include:
Spectacular Opening Night Celebrations: the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas beating the retreat and a 400-strong Bury St Edmunds Township Choir performing South African songs on stage with jazz band Mbawula on Angel Hill (11 May).
Gala Concerts: the English Chamber Orchestra (15 May) performing Bach, Boccherini, Bartók and Dave Heath and the Philharmonia Orchestra (23 May)returning with a programme of Elgar and Tippett.
Acclaimed performers: the top-selling Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (12 May) back by demand; children’s comedian James Campbell (12 May), The King’s Singers (18 May), and guitarists John Williams and John Etheridge (24 May).
Exciting combinations: The OrlandoConsort’s medievalchoral music mixed with jazz from the Perfect Houseplants (19 May); and Opera East (22 May) performing The Rake’s Progress at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
Hot jazzers: local girls made good Polly Gibbons Trio (21 May) and Anna Brooks Quintet (18 May) plus Stacey Kent and her band(21 May), Phil Mason’s New Orleans All Stars (25 May) and a Homage to Grappelli from Chris Garrick and his band (14 May).
New music: tenor and harp duo James Gilchrist & Alison Nicholls (17 May)performing the UK premiere of a piece by Nicola LeFanu and the Sacconi Quartet (14 May) with a new work from John Metcalf.
International flavour: the Tord Gustavsen Trio (11 May)from Norway and Indian sitar and tabla player Gaurav Mazumdar (23 May). British musicians also bring a taste of far away places in Tango Siempre (13 May), and Trio Gitano (16 May).
Party nights: sing and dance the night away in the beautiful AbbeyGardens with The Commitments band (25 May), a Queen & Madness tribute night (26 May) or the hot grooves of Mbawula for a fizzing Festival Finale with fireworks (27 May).
And much more: weekday lunchtime concerts, organ recitals, Festival walks and talks, pre-event suppers, a kite-flying festival, a flower and continental market, and touring theatre.
Councillor Paul Farmer, portfolio holder for Arts and Culture, St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said:
“Each year it becomes harder to believe that the festival can improve on its last success, but it always does. This year’s programme contains popular reprises from 2006, yet adds further variety to what is already an eclectic mix. As usual our many visitors will be spoilt for choice at this artistic feast!”
Festival brochures will be widely available from February. Visit the website at www.buryfestival.co.uk or call the festival hotline on 01284 757099.
Tickets for all festival events go on sale to the general public from Monday 26 February. Book through the Festival Box Office or the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds on 01284 769505 (early booking and group discounts are available).
The Bury St Edmunds Festival is managed by St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
ENDS
Press enquiries: Nick Wells, Festival Manager at the Festival Office on
01284 757630, or Jane Sneesby, Festival Press Officer, on 01359 258464.
