Wymondham Music Festival 2016

The Wymondham Music Festival 2016 team were at Saturday’s Farmers’ Market to launch the 2016 Festival brocuhure. Wymondham Music Festival Fortnight returns for the 21st year from Friday, July 1 to Saturday, July 16.  The annual Town Busking Day is also on the menu, taking place on Saturday, May 28 (11am-2pm), and there are two Market Place Music sessions on Saturdays June 11 and 25 (both 10am-12noon).

Festival Fortnight kicks off on the evening of Friday, July 1 at Central Hall with the Festival Ceilidh, featuring Whirligig (7.30pm). Then on Saturday, July 2, Wymondham High Academy will officially launch Festival Fortnight in the Market Place (10am-12noon) with performances from the Academy Orchestra, Academy Singers, Jazz Collective, Brass Band, String Ensemble, Guitar Group, Samba Band and more.

The Festival’s largest event, the Jazz Picnic returns to Becketswell on Monday, July 4 (6.30pm-9pm) with Simon Nelson’s Dixie Mix, and the popular Teddy Bear’s Picnic for the under 5s will be at King’s Head Meadow on Sunday, July 10 (11am-1pm).

Folk fans have a real treat in store; Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage will be at Central Hall, supported by Wymondham’s own Johnny Steinberg & The Bluefish on Friday, July 8 (8pm). Local talent will feature at Wymondham Entertains, also at Central Hall on Thursday, July 14 (8pm), followed by gutsy blues from Spikedrivers at The Regal (Ex Servicemen’s Club) on Friday, July 15 (8pm).

The Abbey has a busy programme of concerts and recitals featuring Wymondham Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert, Saturday, July 2 (7.30pm), Chiron String Quartet, Tuesday, July 5 (1pm), Lady Sings the Blues (music of Billy Holiday), Wednesday, July 6 (5.30pm), Jazz at The Abbey, Renato D’Aiello Trio, Thursday, July 7 (7.30pm), Knights-Tidar Harpsichord Duo, Friday July 8 (11am), Wymondham Youth Orchestra Summer Concert, Saturday, July 9 (7.30pm), Young Musicians’ Concert, Monday, July 11 (7pm), Anne Vallins & Rob Goodrich, Violin and Organ Recital, Tuesday, July 12 (5.30pm), Norwich Camerata, Wednesday, July 13 (7.30pm), and Wymondham Choral Society Summer Concert, Saturday, July 16 (7.30pm).

The annual Music Lecture & Recital on Tuesday, July 5 (7.30pm), at Wymondham Baptist Church, features Anna Mudeka talking about and playing the mbira, the instrument of her homeland, Zimbabwe.

Singers of all abilities are very welcome to join Wymondham’s Big Sing at Wymondham High Academy on Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10, culminating with a concert at 4pm on the Sunday.

Head to Wymondham Arts Centre for a special exhibition celebrating 21 years of Wymondham Music Festival from Tuesday, July 12 to Sunday, July 17 (10am-5pm, Sunday 12noon-5pm).

Richard Elliott, Festival Chairman said, “This year we are celebrating our 21st Festival and are focussing on community and family events and live local music, combined with a selection of top artists with a national profile. Local highlights include our Festival Fortnight launch with Wymondham High Academy and our special Wymondham Entertains evening, which is a partnership with Wymondham’s Got Talent. And our Wymondham’s Big Sing weekend is a chance for singers of all abilities to get involved in putting on a scratch concert.”