Winchcombe

An exciting new line-up of musicians, performers and artists will be taking centre stage at this year's Winchcombe Festival of Music and Arts.  Many events this year will celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 500th anniversary of the birth of Queen Katherine Parr, who is buried at nearby Sudeley Castle.

Music and performances at the popular Gala Night on Saturday 2nd June will honour the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, while a Madrigals event and medieval music by Waytes and Measures will pay homage to Queen Katherine Parr, Henvy VIII's last wife.

The Festival will run from Monday 28th May to Sunday 3rd June and will see many "hands-on" workshops and activities, with everything from a Poetry Grand Slam, a Gamelan day, an open-air bands event and a disco all being provided for younger residents.

Popular events returning for 2012 are the Art Trail (this year also featuring a young artists section), an art exhibition, piano and poetry sessions, coffee concerts, a blues night, pottery workshops, jazz night, choir concerts, pub gigs, town walks ..... and of course a street fair.

New for the 2012 Festival will be folk music, French music, floral art, creative writing, a bell-ringing taster and a separate line up of Festival fringe events.  The programme has also been extended to include both early and late evening events.

Festival Chairman Roger Paine said "2012 promises to be a fantastic festival, with a brand new programme, yet more professional performers, increased community involvement and a royal theme".

Winchcombe will be buzzing with more than 40 events taking place at 20 venues in and around the town. With many new activities, concerts, music and events lined up that will appeal to an even wider audience there really will be something to suit everyone's tastes. 

The Festival committee has also signed up a number of new Festival venues, with the town's St Nicholas RC Church, the Tithe Barn at Postlip Hall, St Andrew's Parish Church at Toddington and St Michael's at Stanley Pontlarge all hosting events.

Brochures with full details of the Festival programme will be available in april and tickets will go on sale that month.  As well as Festival webpages there will also be a Festival Facebook page and will be tweeting@winchcombefma.