TICKETS go on sale next week for Frome Festival 2016 with another impressive line-up offering a jam-packed ten days of top class entertainment.
This year’s Festival, running from Friday 1st to Sunday 10th July, will see Frome come to life again with nearly 200 events spread throughout the town. Tickets go on sale to Festival Friends on Friday 13th May and to the general public on Sunday 15th May. Full details are available online at www.fromefestival.co.uk
Headlining acts, as revealed in Frome Times last month, include Billy Bragg, the Ukulele Orchestra of GB, From the Jam, Reef, and Pee Wee Ellis. Arthur Lee’s Californian rock band ‘Love’ reunite with ‘Love revisited’ for a special pre-Festival show.
Frome FM’s ‘Festival Lounge’
Frome FM’s Festival Lounge will return to the Granary, with free events starting with an opening party – a complimentary double bill of electro legends Alan Clayson and Sweet Machine. Later in the week are the Lump Chronicles, Worry Dolls and Bonne Nouvelle, Three is the Magic Number, the Three Corners and Molly Ross Gum Girl. Ticketed events include comedienne Viv Groskop (one of Jo Brand’s favourites) and Arch Garrison of North Sea Orchestra fame.
Music around town
The popular Magical Folk Garden returns to the Archangel this year over four days from Tuesday to Thursday, with amongst others Al O’Kane, Alex Taylor, Beth Porter and Rivers of England, and on the last weekend, the famous Sensonic dance night at the Silk Mill.
There are free music nights at the Cornerhouse including The Valley and Flash Harry, with the Mother Ukers and John D Revelator at the Griffin. At the Artisan this year there is a free festival on the terrace, followed by Festival Jazz Monday.
Walks and workshops
There are many daytime events, including some free and low cost workshops from Making a Book Cover, a Beginner Jewellery Making day, Vintage Hair and Makeup, to a Photo Walk around the historic town.
The ever popular Hidden Gardens takes place from Friday 8th-Sunday 10th with lots of new gardens to explore this year. The Frome Artists Open Studios are open both weekends, with many open throughout the week. There will also be art exhibitions including the Evolver Magazine Prize exhibition at the Black Swan and the Art Car Boot sale on the last Sunday.
This year the Frome Treasure Hunt is back, and the theme is ‘Doorways of Frome’ with a £200 Annette Gabbedey jewellery prize to be won. In addition, Black Swan Arts have organised a Secret Swans trail of artworks throughout the town with badges to be won and a secret auction of the artworks on show.
Books and bards
Literary events this year start with Michael Wood’s talk ‘In Search of Shakespeare’ at St John’s, and culminates with a script in hand performance of the controversial life of Dylan Thomas ‘From Laugharne to Frome’ at Rook Lane Chapel. In between, there will be author talks, workshops at the library, the Short Story Competition prize giving, and Small Publishers Fair. Competitions include a Short Story and Poetry slam, the Poetry Café Festival Poet Laureate, the Bard of Frome and the Book Lovers Quiz.
Family fun
Children and family events start with the Frome Festival Food Feast with many food stalls, a fabulous street market of arts, crafts and edible treats and superb live music; the Wild Golden Goose Chase at the Steiner School, the Higgledy Piggledy Pie puppet show by Noisy Oyster at the Merlin, and the White Row Summer Night Festival and the Children’s Festival on the last weekend.
The pop-up Festival Roti Shack at the Silk Mill will provide family friendly and deliciously authentic West Indian food, so drop in for Caribbean flavours and Calypso cocktails.
Brochures are available around Frome, and all information is online at www.fromefestival.co.uk
For enquiries, call the festival office on 01373 453889, or the box office on 01373 455420.
