Biggest ever Frome Festival kicks off this week

FESTIVAL fever has hit Frome as this year’s Frome Festival kicks off this week and once again offers a mouth-watering line up of top class entertainment. 

The build up to the Festival has been bigger than ever with huge demand for tickets, and several workshops, walks and talks sold out within days.

The Ukulele Orchestra of GB, at the Cheese and Grain, has sold all seats and standing room only tickets are available. Other shows at the Cheese and Grain including Billy Bragg, From the Jam, and Reef are all looking set to achieve near capacity or sell-outs while Dr Phil Hammond tickets are now in short supply. The Cheese and Grain box office has sold its entire allocation and only a few are left direct from the Merlin Theatre.

Tickets for Pee Wee Ellis’s Funka-Nova Quartet are also selling well and are available from both the Merlin and Cheese and Grain box office’s for the final show of the Festival. At Rook Lane, TV presenter and writer Michael Wood had already sold out his presentation of ‘In Search of Shakespeare’ but a few extra seats have been added at the time of going to press. Selling well, but with some availability at Rook Lane, Snowapple on Thursday 7th and Praying for the Rain on Friday 9th July, both superb internationally renowned bands, fusing various styles into a melodic and engaging sets. ‘From Laugharne to Frome’ a presentation on the life and writing on Sunday 10th at Rook Lane is proving popular with a limited capacity due to cabaret-style performance.

Performances at Cooper Hall are selling well, particularly, ‘A Weekend in the Country’ a professionally produced new musical based around the songs of Bernstein and Sondheim on July 1st and 3rd. The Silk Mill is presenting a range of excellent events including the delightful FB Pocket Orchestra on Tuesday 5th July and the immersive sound and cutting edge projections of Sensonic, providing a great party night on the final weekend.

Christ Church will present a number of excellent classical concerts, noticeably Stephen Marquiss brilliantly utilising the church’s superb grand piano on Wednesday 6th July in the evening, whilst Ann Burgess plays an organ recital that lunchtime entitled “The Isle is Full of Noyses” inspired by the works of Shakespeare. Look out too for fabulous concerts at St. Katherine’s Church, East Woodlands; St. John’s, Frome; and the Tin Church, Brokerswood.

Frome FM will host the Festival Club at the Granary, the secret venue behind the George Hotel, with some exciting acts. Some are free on the door, including a superb opening night party featuring the eclectic Alan Clayson and the electric Sweet Machine with VJ Flux-us; and the emerging female duo The Worry Dolls, on Monday 4th July (not Wednesday 6th as previously publicised). Ticketed shows include comedian and writer Viv Groskop and the stunning duo Arch Garrison from the North Sea Radio Orchestra.

For further details including exhibitions, Open Studios, Hidden Gardens, quizzes, pub shows and more, check out the Frome Festival website or download the app on: www.fromefestival.co.uk  Brochures are running out fast but still available from venues around town.