With a few weeks to go to the Frome Festival (4th – 13th July) ticket sales have exceeded expectations.
The Frome Tunnels and Christina Oswin’s Jewellery course sold out on the box office opening day as limited places were available for both.
The festival workshops have also been booked up quickly, with Natural Perfume Making, Jam Jar Posies, and Glass Bauble Blowing now all sold out. There are still a few spaces left on: Design and Make a Linocut Card, Jane Austen Dance, Hula Hooping, Qi Gong, Blues Harmonica, Felting a Top Hat, Paper Piecing Patchwork and just one place left on Portrait Drawing in Wire and Stone Carving.
The festival has taken over the Granary (the hidden venue behind the George). Tickets are still available for all events at the moment, but Eddie Martin’s Blues evening is selling rapidly on Saturday 5th, after the Food Feast. Also on at the Granary on Saturday 12th is Snowapple the highly rated Dutch folk band making a rare appearance in the UK. Also new to the festival this year, the Australian/Moroccan guitar master, sponsored by Gibson guitars Albare will be playing the Cheese and Grain on Wednesday 9th, and violin virtuoso Billy Thompson will play Rook lane, Gypsy style.
After the success of last year’s comedy, another amazing selection is on offer for you this year. Jeremy Hardy at the Merlin has now sold out and Frome favourite Paul Merton and his Impro. Chums at the Memorial are selling fast. For the first time in Frome, Paul Chowdhry with his show ‘PC’s World’ is at the Cheese & Grain and well known TV comedian Seann Walsh at the Merlin.
If this wasn’t enough, the Submarine Comedy Club will return during the festival, at the Archangel compered by Tim O’Connor, who will also be hosting comedy events at the Old Bath Arms, and bringing back his comedy walk ‘The Alternative Guide to Frome’ under his nom de plume Dr Archibald Combellack.
There are also many free events. The World Food Feast on Saturday 5th promises to be the biggest and best ever. More delicious food stalls, a great selection of live music from Acoustic Plus and NEW this year a special guest market – The Anonymous Travelling Market a happy band of stall holders… Also the Childrens Festival will be providing some fabulous free activities for the little ones.
The Open Studios will be open both weekends of the Festival from 11.00am-5.00pm. Pick up a free trail booklet from the library or the Cheese and Grain box office. The Blue House will have an open garden on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th with entertainment and refreshments, and the Archangel, Griffin, Old Bath Arms and the Cornerhouse are putting on a superb mix of live music and events during the festival.
Finally if you’re looking for something a little different, why not try a historical walk by Frome Society for Local Study, visit the Hidden Gardens of Frome (Friday 11th-Sunday 13th), or take part in the Festival Treasure Hunt (with the chance of winning a voucher for some amazing Annette Gabbedey Jewellery), Frome’s Antiques Roadshow ‘Valuation day’ at the Cheese and Grain (Tuesday 8th) or a Vintage themed Bike Ride around Victoria Park (Thursday 10th) with a prize for the best outfit.
For further details see: www.fromefestival.co.uk box office: 01373 455420.
