A Message From Anwen Hurt, Artistic Director, Holt Festival 2021

I am absolutely delighted to launch Holt Festival 2021 and to introduce you to our programme which I hope you will love as much as I do.

First things first though, and with the health and security of everyone involved very much in mind, we have elected to programme the festival with the current Covid protocols in place so performances will be socially distanced, masks will need to be worn for indoor events and we will be operating track and trace. Should restrictions be lifted, as we all hope they will be, additional tickets will be released so do keep an eye on our website and social media for further announcements.

Our opening night is Wednesday 28th July and we have a variety of performances throughout the rest of the week at different venues in Holt, culminating with The Vagaband outdoors on Saturday evening.

We’re delighted to be supporting some of our other wonderful East Anglian talents like Luke Wright, The Jefford Brothers and Holt-based poet and writer James McDermott but we also have some exciting internationally known performers including Julian Bliss who will be performing a mixture of classical and jazz clarinet works accompanied by Robert Bottriell and the fantastic Dom Joly with Holiday Snaps: Travel & Comedy in the Danger Zone. For those of you, like me, who have spent much of the last year in the garden, a special treat with Bob Flowerdew and No Work Gardening. I will be avidly taking notes!

Tickets can be booked online via our website at www.holtfestival.org

For lovers of the visual arts, the Sir John Hurt and Sworders Art Prizes shortlist exhibitions open on Saturday 24th July at Adrian Hill Fine Art and in St Andrew’s Meeting Room.

Look under Free Events on the website for details of the St Andrew’s Concert Series and Children’s Storytelling with the delightful Amy Finegan to complete your week.

Can’t wait to see you!

Anwen Hurt