Jam-packed Frome Festival lineup is unveiled

EXCITEMENT is building rapidly for Frome Festival 2016 after organisers revealed a jam-packed bill including several big names, among them the legendary Billy Bragg.

This year’s festival will run from Friday 1st to Sunday 10th July, and will again see Frome come to life with nearly 200 events spread throughout the town.

Festival HQ last week told Frome Times that among the headline acts lined up this year are singer/songwriter and activist Billy Bragg; the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain; Bruce Foxton’s The Jam spin-off band, From the Jam; California rockers, Love (to play in a pre-festival event); veteran Somerset band, Reef; and James Brown’s saxophonist, Alfred ‘Pee Wee’ Ellis.

Creative director Martin Dimery says the festival is enjoying the pick of the bunch as it goes from strength to strength.

“We’re very excited about this year’s line-up,” he said. “Choosing the acts is becoming ever more difficult because we’re being offered more and more acts as the festival’s popularity grows. Our bill is jam-packed already and we simply have no room for more acts this year.

“Frome Festival is very much on the up; I think a lot of similar events envy what we are achieving here and it’s all because of the support and involvement of local people.

“We try to get the people of Frome as involved as much as possible and strike a good balance between local artists, ones from further afield, and the big name headliners – I think getting that mix right is key to the festival’s success.”

In addition to big musical names, popular writers and comedians Dr Phil Hammond and Viv Groskop will be making appearances.

Perennial favourites like the hidden gardens, tunnel walks, and open studios will all be remaining on the programme.

Other musical acts lined up include Alan Clayson, Sweet Machine, Worry Dolls, Snow Apple, Arch Garrison, and indie eight-piece We Used to Make Things, who will be launching their new album at St John’s Church during the festival.

The festival will have a Shakespeare theme this year, to commemorate this year’s 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death.

Newer ventures for the festival include a small publishers’ fair to be held at Silk Mill Studios, and an increase in ‘site-specific theatre’; drama performed outdoors at special locations around the town.

Tickets for some larger events are on sale already via the Cheese and Grain, and the full box office opening will be on Sunday 15th May.

Find out more about the festival online at www.fromefestival.co.uk