So Many Festivals, So Little Time

Once summer actually arrives there's never quite enough time to do everything you'd like to. It's certainly the case with festivals. There are so many out there - inspiring, fun-filled and delightful - but, with only a certain number of weekends for them to take place on, some are bound to clash.

Here are some I wish I could go to, if it weren't for other plans ...

Tangled Roots - photo credit; Camilla Arnhold

First, this weekend, is a new festival  - Tangled Roots at Radford Mill Farm in Somerset. It describes itself as a 'Contemporary Folk, Roots and Acoustic Festival' with music ranging from India Electric Co with their award-winning contemporary folk, to French gypsy jazz from Petites Annonces, a cappella, acoustic soul, roots Americana, and traditional Spanish music and dance from Flamenco Loco. As well as performances on stage, there'll be a choir workshop, a chance to try flamenco dancing yourself, campfire story-telling from Noah and the Whale's Matt Owens, and impromptu acoustic sessions around the site, or at evening by the campfire, that everyone can join in with.
It's location sounds idyllic - an organic farm with a stream running through the festival site

I already have tickets for a local festival this weekend - no, not Download, although that's not far from here, but a quieter affair, Wildside run by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust - but maybe next year I'll head south to Somerset ...


Also Festival, at Compton Verney, Warwickshire, is another fab-sounding event. It's a much bigger affair than Tangled Roots, offering over 200 experiences over the weekend 5th -7th July.










There will be talks and discussions to stretch your mind, music and comedy to entertain, food to keep you going, and a wide range of activities to take part in, from light sabre workshops to wild swimming.



 Where would I start? Well, what attracts me is the mix of informative talks, and hands-on experiences, so I'd maybe head to hear Margaret Macmillan on The Uses and Abuses of History, or James Wallman talk about Time and How To Spend It (as relevant to a person of my advancing near-retirement years as to younger folks), then make a flower crown, and join a foraging walk, though checking out the wide range of food on offer, from Tibetan curries to pizza, seems like a 'must' too.

This year though, Timber Festival falls on the same weekend, and I'll be covering that.

photo credit; Michael Bowles

Heading down to Cornwall later in July, you'll find another festival of ideas, Port Eliot. Running 25th - 28th July this year, this is timed awkwardly for me as it falls close to, some years actually on, a family birthday.

photo credit; Sarah Louise Bennett

 There are several stages showcasing different musical styles, so there's bound to be something for everyone, though I'd probably give the late night pop dungeon a miss :) I'd head instead to the estate's Church, the oldest in Cornwall, for some quieter acoustic sounds.

The church. photo credit; Linday Melbourne

Around the grounds you'll find a wide range of activities from river-based activities like wild swimming, mud baths, and canoeing, to star-gazing, yoga sessions, and Viking tournament games.

photo credit; Louise Roberts

The literary line-up boasts novelists, journalists, and comedians; there'll be cookery demonstrations to inspire your meal-times; and the drawing room of the house will play host to an exhibition celebrating fifty years in the fashion industry for designer Zandra Rhodes.
 An event mixing art, fashion and books with music and comedy, set on the riverside Port Eliot estate in a romantic landscape designed by Repton, sounds like another one I should catch sometime (and preferably before I'm too old to enjoy a few nights under canvas)


Looking further ahead, I've spotted another festival clash - Derby's own street festival Feste takes place the same late September weekend as Deepdale Festival in north Norfolk. Sometimes I feel a time machine is the only answer to doing everything I'd love to!

Making plans for late summer/autumn - local festivals (2018)

A drop in temperatures, a shower or two of rain, and it's staring to feel like summer is over already (and I still haven't been on holiday). I'm not ready to get out winter woollies and start Christmas shopping yet, though. September and October can have glorious weather, and festival season hasn't quite come to an end yet. With that in mind, I've been looking around, both locally and further afield, at what's happening in the next few months ...

Originally this was going to be one post but I've decided to split it into two - home and away. Firstly because of the number of exciting things I've found going on (far too many for one post), and secondly because 'at home' I don't need to worry about events being dog-friendly (he can stay home alone for a few hours with no worries), whereas for a weekend away I'd rather take him along.
So you'll find dog-friendly festivals here, but lets begin with festivals happening round about Derby ... links will take you off to the individual festivals' sites.

First up is Wirksworth Festival which runs from 7th to 23rd September. It opens with a weekend in which the whole town becomes a festival site. An art and architecture trail leads to displays of art in unconventional settings. There'll be a wide range of art from painting, print-making, and photography to  ceramics, jewellery and textiles; you can meet the maker, buy original art, and get a glimpse behind doors which are normally closed to the public.




Meanwhile, on the streets and in the market place there'll be music, food, family activities, and street theatre.



Over the following couple of weeks the festival continues with events  taking place in the Town Hall, and, like any self-respecting festival, there's a wide-ranging series of  'fringe' events running alongside. There'll be music ranging from the Climax Blues Band to Verdi's Requiem, puppetry, theatre, and performance poetry from Elvis McGonagall.

It's a festival I've always intended visiting but coming just at 'back to school' time, I never have. This year I intend to visit, if only for one day!

metal sculpture
 David Turner

Unfortunately this clashes with another festival (see how busy the local arts scene is!) - as for two days, 15th and 16th September, the quiet town of Melbourne (Derbyshire, not Australia) becomes host to its own Art and Architecture Trail, with houses, shops, and businesses opening their doors to the public, hosting artists and their works. You'll find paintings, ceramics, jewellery, photography and more. All for sale, and in most cases you can meet the artist, chat or perhaps catch a demonstration. The buildings that are opened are of historical interest in themselves, hence the 'architecture' part of the trail. Buy a badge and a leaflet of the trail and off you go!

poppy-making

Each year the festival has a theme or special project - and this year hand sewn and knitted poppies will be decorating the town commemorating lives lost in WW1.

abstract expressionism
Heidi Best

Alongside this there'll be a teddy bears' picnic for younger visitors, live music in three marquees, pop-up cafes, and a classic car rally. Something for everyone!
You can find more on their website here, and I'd highly recommend checking the Gallery page for details of artists exhibiting over the weekend, meanwhile here are a couple of examples from Heidi Best and David Turner.

Elvaston Hall
photo credit - Derbyshire County Council

Once you start to look, there's more taking place than you might realise, for the weekend 22-23rd September sees another clash - this time with Derbyshire Woodland Festival, held at Elvaston Country Park.

photo credit
Derbyshire County Council

As you might guess from the name, it will be focusing on woodland-related activities, with a wide range of crafts on display - wood carving and turning, furniture, bushcraft, willow weaving and sculpture - plus children's activities, wide variety of food stalls, birds of prey and shire horses. Also, there'll be an appearance by the Vikings of Middle England with a living history encampment, and Arbor, the 18ft part-tree, part-man!

photo credit, Derbyshire County Council

Photo credit
Derbyshire county Council

Circa Tsuica

The next weekend there's even more happening in Derby!

For over ten years Derby Feste has been brightening up the city centre in late September with a weekend of entertainment. This year it runs 27th to 29th September and will be celebrating 250 years of circus. From Thursday, Circa Tsuica will be pitched on Bass' Recreation Ground with several performances each day. On Friday evening there'll be 50s style sideshows and a Virtual Reality Playground in the Marketplace.

Compagnie Quidams FierS a Cheval

Saturday starts with a circus procession through town, followed by free events taking place throughout the day, and a parade of super-sized illuminated horses through the city's Cathedral Quarter in the evening, followed by a light show in the Marketplace to celebrate ten years of the Quad film and arts centre.





4-7th October is Folk Festival time for Derby, with musical events taking place at the Guildhall, the Cathedral, and City Marquee. Alongside these there'll be an arts and crafts fair on the Market Place, fringe events at the old Bell Hotel  - and a flashmob ceilidh, free for anyone to join in.







Over to Nottingham to round things off, with Hockley Hustle, held on Sunday, 28th October in Nottingham.

Nottingham cellist
Sheku Kanneh-Mason

It's an arts and community event, working with local promoters and creative groups, and raising money for local charities. There'll be music, art, food, and street performances, with over 300 acts performing at more than 30 venues - the organisers suggest you book the Monday off work! I can't get to Edinburgh Fringe this year, but it looks like someone brought it to me :)





Children aren't forgotten as there are special events and classes for 'Young Hustlers' - ranging from a silent disco to learning how to beatbox or DJ, and even how to improve your graffiti skills!

Hackney Colliery Band
 playing in the Spiegeltent

It's the furthest off of these events (over two months), and it's a little early for everything to be organised and ready to announce, so I'll be watching their FB page in the coming months for further details.

Harleighblu and Liam Bailey
with The UFO Orchestra

If I get to half these events I'll have had the busiest autumn ever! And then it WILL be time for warm sweaters, winter boots and Christmas shopping :)