HERE is your guide to week three of the Bromsgrove Festival, writes Scarlett Brunning.
- A Summer Serenade concert takes place today (Saturday) at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Church in Barnt Green. It will be given by the Sinfonia of Birmingham and the repertoire ranges from Beethoven to the rarely-played works of Villa-Lobos.
Among the eight cellists will be Eric Martens, the primary cellist of the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, and his son. To buy tickets, call 0121 445 4696 or 0121 447 7671.
- The Bromsgrove Bluegrass Bash Charity Pickathon welcomes everyone for ‘another marathon charity jam session’ in aid of the charity ‘Burnaid’ at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The free event takes place today from 9am to 9pm. People are urged to bring their fiddles, guitars and banjos. The funds will be collected by the Rotary Club of Bromsgrove.
- Free family fun also takes place tomorrow on Bromsgrove High Street from 10.30am to 1.30pm today. There will be music, performances as well as magic for people of all ages.
- The Clent Consort will celebrate 16 years since its formation on Sunday (July 1). Its ‘Compline with the Clent Consort’ will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church in Tardebigge at 6pm. Admission is free.
- On Monday, July 2, witness a fusion of cultures in the ‘UK Clog meets US Appalachian’. This free event at 8pm at the Bowling Green Inn, Stoke Prior, features great dancing and singing for the whole family. Afterwards there will be a ‘singing and sipping’ session in the pub.
- ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ will be staged at Droitwich’s Norbury Theatre from July 3 to July 7. Performances start at 7.30pm and tickets, at £14 for adults and £8 for under-16s, are available online from norburytheatre.co.uk or by calling 01905 770154. The show is suitable for those aged 11 and over.
- ‘Gems of G&S and More’ will be performed by Joanna Goldspink and friends at the New Guesten Hall, Avoncroft Museum from midday to 1pm on Wednesday, July 4. There will be a medley of songs from Gilbert and Sullivan as well as some light opera classics. This is the latest in the festive classics where there will also be an optional lunch at 1pm. Tickets cost £9 for the concert or £18 for the lunch as well. Available from festiveclassics.co.uk or by calling 01527 874136.
- Fans of Dylan Thomas will enjoy ‘Dylan Thomas: Clown in the Moon’ on Thursday, July 5, at 8pm at Artrix. This dramatisation of the Welsh poet’s life is suitable for anyone over 12. Tickets, which are £12 (£10 concessions), are available from artrix.co.uk or by calling 01527 577330.
- The week will end with the ‘Season’s Finale’ at 7.30pm next Friday, July 6, at St Laurence Church, Alvechurch, featuring London Sinfonietta’s Tim Gill as the solo cellist. He will play works from Boccherini to Strauss. Tickets cost £14.50 on the door.
Visit www.bromsgrovefestival.co.uk for more information.
