Shipston Proms Festival to get off to a rousing start
THE 18th Shipston-on-Stour Proms Music Festival begins with a big bang on Friday, 17th June.
Beatbox band Duke, who were hugely popular on last year's last night in the square, will be playing in the Townsend Hall along with Brixton Alley and DJ Harry.
The fortnight-long festival was officially launched earlier this week with a reception at Sheldon’s Wine Cellars in Shipston, attended by the town mayor, Councillor Ronnie Murphy, who thanked the Proms sponsors, along with volunteers and committee members, who were also present.
Saturday’s Fame Contest at the Townsend Hall to choose extra acts for the Proms’ grand finale on 2nd July spearheads a week of great musical treats. This includes a concert at the Townsend Hall by the Shipston Town Band and Music In The Garden at the Gate Inn on Sunday.
On Monday, blues guitarist Debbie Bond is over on tour from her native Alabama and plays the Cherington Arms. The next day, Tuesday, jazz group Incognito are on at Brailes Village Hall, and a night of The Carpenters music will be rendered by The Vale Musicians in St Edmund’s Church. A Folk Music Night takes place at the Black Horse on Wednesday.
The Methodist Church welcomes the Klee Quartet on Friday, when there is also a Ceilidh at Shipston Primary. The week finishes off with a Pubs And Cafés Music Trail on Saturday.
The festival continues into its second week with many more ecletic events which features: a tea dance, The Sambassadors Of Groove, American singer-songwriter Andrew Duhon from New Orleans, a Young Musicians' Concert, Songs From The Shows, and much more.
The Proms culminates in a big street party in Shipston Square on Saturday, 2nd July, and will feature local groups Kinky Farnham and Wired, who both play familiar songs that will get the crowd dancing.
Proms chairman, Tim Porter said: “Once again we have a terrific variety of music on offer, and hope that people will find their favourites, but also explore areas they are less familiar with, and may find they like.”
All information and tickets are available on the website: www.shipstonproms.org or telephone 01608 685332.
